Start Them Young

I think I mentioned before that we have recently been having the loft insulated, this meant all the stuff in the loft had to be brought down and we have lots of it! Alice had mostly games and books stacked in her room and was interested in trying her hand at a few of them and as we have played a few games with them already (Take It Easy and Gallop Royal) with simplified rules we were happy to give it a go.

When Cath and myself were regulars at MannorCon and MidCon we used to take Looping Louie for the Friday or Saturday night late sessions. Nothing like seeing grown ups play kids games! So it was strangely right that we should play this game first. I remember it as lots of fun and yes the kids loved it, it's been in the loft all the time we have lived here, (13 years) and really we should have pulled it down before but you forget these things. Joseph at going on 5 is a natural at this, he picks a player (usually Daddy) and wipes them out first then moves onto the next player. Yes he can judge how to bounce the plane onto your chickens without you being able to respond. When he is interested he wins 60+ % of the games!!!

Alice had spied the horse game so wanted to have a go. Now First Past The Post is one of those games that many gamers would pass over as 1. it's Waddington's and 2. it's so obviously targeted at kids and as such it's got to be all chance right? No wrong, lots of bluffing and edging your bets can give this game a real replay value. Back in the day when I had a regular 4-5 player sessions we used to pull this out as a nice finisher or a filler between longer games. Best of three or five never seemed to take over an hour at best and the need to change style of play made it more interesting. It was also nice to play something in English that was fun as at that time most of the games were in German with photocopy rules in English. Alice who just turned 7 just over a week ago really got the idea, though she seemed to need you to know what horse she was backing ! She won the first game whilst Joseph took great delight in stuffing Daddy at every opportunity. Joseph really did not get this game as shown in the second game were he constantly sent the white horse backwards much to his sisters annoyance until he was forced to play his own horse card which was the white horse. So intent on stuffing big sister that he did so to himself. Well we had plenty of fun which is what it's all about.

To finish up we played Ker-Plunk, a game I had bought Cath as a joke 8+ years ago along with Twister. It was rather strange breaking the wrap off it after all these years of sitting unplayed. This was the winner of the night as both kids really enjoyed it and Joseph still thinks he won as he had the most marbles whilst Alice and me shared the same amount so I guess you could say we all won.

When it came to putting everything back in the loft we choose games that we think we can play with the kids with a few tweaks and other games that we can play two player. I am also hopeful that whilst we can't get the old gang back together again we may get a few other gaming friends to try Euro's and get some more gaming done. No we will not be able to go back to the full day long sessions of yesteryear but a few hours of games and nibbles can't be bad really can it?

SAN ANDRES Y PROVIDENCIA EN COLOMBIA

El archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina es un derroche de belleza con su mar de siete colores, sus palmeras y las cálidas sonrisas de sus habitantes.

El archipiélago es la joya del Caribe colombiano, tiene a mano todo lo imaginable para disfrutar de la naturaleza, compartir con los nativos y divertirse en el mar por lo que vale la pena descubrirlo.

Estos departamentos colombianos se encuentran cerca de Jamaica y Honduras, tienen las mejores playas de colombia y la gente mas amable y cordial. El mar es espectacular y entre sus tesoros naturales encontramos la tercer barrera de coral mas grande del mundo.

LA MODA PARA EL OTOÑO 2011

Ya tenemos el otoño encima y tenemos que cambiar nuestro vestuario.  

Te explicamos cuales son las tendencias de moda para este otoño 2011.

Recupera el glamour de sus looks de cine recurriendo a trajes sastre ultra-slim, estolas de piel, faldas midi y trajes de noche de satén para ser la más espectacular de este otoño.

La moda de los años 60 se reinventa este otoño para crear tendencia con trajes de chaqueta lady, toreras, faldas de línea trapecio y colores empolvados y vibrantes.

Los años 70  también marcan tendencia este otoño,déjate seducir por el look de mujeres como Marisa Berenson a mediados de esta década y elige pantalones de campana, cortes rectos y cinturas altas y estrechas.

Este otoño la moda son las prendas XL, que te queden bien grandes. En relación a esta moda de tallas grandes, otra tendencia: las dimensiones de volumen exagerado. 

Los drapeados vienen este otoño a la moda para ayudarte a darle una espectacular medida a tu cuerpo.
Finalmente, otra sugerencia de tendencia para este 2011: no te puede faltar el aspecto más sexy del otoño, gracias a los vestidos y tops de encaje bordados con flores. Dale una oportunidad a la seducción y la sensualidad y no te arrepentirás.

TRUCOS CASEROS PARA BAJAR DE PESO

Hoy te traemos  algunas recetas naturales para adelgazar ,por ejemplo: 

prepara una solución con dos litros de agua y unas cucharaditas de vinagre de manzana y bebela durante todo el día,de esta manera, te ayudará a quemar grasas.

Tómate dos cucharadas de linaza en polvo disuelta en cualquier zumo de fruta o en en plato de cereales y conseguirás perder un poco de peso a la semana.

Recurre a la dieta de la piña,dura tres días y en ellos debes comer cada día lo mismo  para adelgazar:
Una rodaja de piña, 2 huevos hervidos, té o café sin azúcar o con azúcar dietética para desayunar.
 

Una rodaja de piña, 1 trozo de pollo al horno sin piel y ensalada verde con limón o vinagre para comer.
Pescado, ensalada verde y café o té en la cena. 

Otro remedio, esta vez especial para perder volumen, es que te tomes cada día en ayunas una taza de agua caliente mezclada con el jugo de un limón y una cucharadita de aceite de oliva.

Y una última recomendación: prepara una sopa especial quemagrasas que forma parte de una dieta de una semana,tan solo tienes que hervir 6 tomates pelados, 6 cebollas grandes, 2 pimientos verdes, apio, col y sal y pimienta. El primer día solo puedes tomar la sopa y frutas frescas y poco se van introduciendo nuevos elementos como la verdura, la leche y la carne.

Bullitt County health board will appeal judge's ruling against smoking ban, with financial help from Clark County

The Bullitt County Board of Health will appeal a local judge's ruling that it lacks the authority to impose a smoking ban, and it will get some help from the board in Clark County, one of four where bans have been enacted by health boards instead of county fiscal courts.

The $5,000 will come not from tax dollars, but from "money received from the University of Kentucky for consulting services provided by Health Department Director Scott Lockard," Rachel Parsons of The Winchester Sun reports. UK "contracted with the Clark County Health Department so Lockard could work with the university and other local public health directors on smoke-free issues."

If the Bullitt County ruling is upheld, the decision could invalidate regulations enacted by health departments in Clark, Madison, Woodford and Hopkins counties. At the Court of Appeals, “If they uphold the lower court’s ruling, then we will have an injunction against our ruling until it goes to the Supreme Court, so we will suspend the enforcement of it until we get a final determination,” Lockard said. “We fully anticipate that the ruling will be in favor of the boards of health, because this is just a very narrow interpretation.” (Read more)

Dispatches From The Bunker #33 Now Out

See my other Blog Wall Advantage on the sidebar for the full review.

Looks another great issue with 4 scenarios for ASL in this ASL only zine. Subscribe for only $16 ($20 outside the US) for a four issue subscription, issues every 6 months.

Now is the time to get flu vaccine, state health officials warn

State public health officials are encouraging Kentuckians to be vaccinated for flu now to reduce the spread of the illness. Steve Davis, M.D., acting commissioner of the Department for Public Health, said in a news release, “Getting the flu vaccine each year is the best way to protect against the flu’s spread and severity.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends flu vaccine for anyone older than 6 months. People who should especially receive the flu vaccine, because they may be at higher risk for complications or negative consequences, include:
• Children age 6 months to 19 years;
• Pregnant women;
• People 50 years old or older;
• People of any age with chronic health problems;
• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities;
• Health care workers;
• Caregivers of or people who live with a person at high risk for complications from the flu; and
• Out-of-home caregivers of or people who live with children less than 6 months old.

Healthy, non-pregnant people age 2-49 years can get either the flu shot or the nasal vaccine spray. Children younger than 9 who are being vaccinated against flu for the first time should receive a second dose four or more weeks after their first vaccination.

Flu is a very contagious disease caused by a virus. About 23,000 Americans die from seasonal flu and its complications in an average year, but actual numbers vary from year to year.

In addition to the flu vaccine, officials encourage all adults 65 or older and others in high-risk groups to ask their health care provider about the pneumococcal vaccine. This vaccine can help prevent a type of pneumonia, one of the flu’s most serious and potentially deadly complications.

For more information on influenza or the availability of flu vaccine, please contact your local health department or visit www.healthalerts.ky.gov.

New survey shows dramatic increase in employer-sponsored health insurance rates

The average cost of employer-sponsored health insurance has increased 9 percent for family coverage and 8 percent for individual coverage since last year, a new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Education Trust shows. "Both increases are the largest since 2005," Tony Pugh of McClatchy Newspapers writes, surpassing the national 2 percent increase in wages and 3.2 percent increase in inflation.

Since 2001, family coverage premiums have escalated 113 percent while workers' wages have only risen 34 percent and inflation – 27 percent, Pugh reports. Researchers are unclear if the increase in premiums is temporary or whether higher increases will continue. "We really don't know, and we won't know until next year," Drew Altman, president and CEO of the Kaiser Family Foundation told Pugh.

Employers pay on average about 72 percent toward family coverage and 82 percent for single coverage, Pugh reports, leaving workers paying 28 percent for family and 18 percent for single coverage. Of those surveyed, about 31 percent of covered workers were in high-deductible plans, a 10 percent increase from 2006.

Increasing costs in medical care is "the main culprit behind the rate increases," Karen Ignagni, president of America's Health Insurance Plans told Pugh. "Insurers' expectation of stronger economic recovery" and insurers' fears of increased costs from the 2010 Affordable Care Act may be driving higher premiums, Pugh reports.

Despite insurers' fears, an analysis by Kaiser and the federal government suggest that the 2010 Affordable Care Act accounts for only 1 to 2 percentage points of the increase. Only two measures, coverage of adult children to age 26 and no patient cost-sharing coverage on certain preventive medical services, were implemented thus far with the remaining provisions taking effect in 2014, Pugh reports. This month, insurers will be required to publicly disclose information about rate increases of 10 percent or more for review by state or federal officials to determine if the increase is warranted. (Read more)

Caregivers of wounded soldiers find their lives are also changed; getting compensation

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan disproportionately affect rural areas, which provide more than the average number of recruits. The soldiers who make it home alive come back changed, with traumatic brain damage, post-traumatic stress syndrome or other injuries that require full-time care. Mostly wives and older parents are left bearing the burden.

Catrin Einhorn of The New York Times reports that many caregivers have to quit their jobs and are forced to spend their savings and retirement funds to pay for treatment. A growing number of caregivers suffer from anxiety, depression and exhaustion as a result of their new routines. Rosie Babin, 51-year-old mother of a severely wounded 22-year-old son, was managing an accounting office before her son's injury. Though she's happy to have her son home alive, she now has to take blood-pressure medicine and sleeping pills. "I felt like I went from this high-energy, force-to-be-reckoned-with businesswoman to a casualty of war," Babin told Einhorn. "And I was working furiously at not feeling like a victim of war."

According to research by Joan Griffin, a research investigator with the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, most of the injured are in their 20s and 30s, making this the first time since Vietnam the V.A. has seen such an influx of youth, which extending the length of care to years and sometimes decades. On average, Griffin found that family members spend more than 40 hours a week providing care, making it nearly impossible for them to keep a job.

Organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project have tried to ease the financial burden on these families by lobbying Congress to provide direct compensation and other benefits to caregivers and their families. In 2010, the veteran's agency approved 1,222 applications and awarded monthly stipends of $1,600 to $1,800 to caregivers. Along with the money, they can receive health insurance and counseling, Einhorn reports. This law only applies to caregivers of service members injured after Sept. 11, 2001, and it's uncertain who will qualify and how compensation will be determined.
(Read more)

Hospitals merging to shore up finances and, as federal health-reform law encourages, improve patient outcomes

With one expert calling it "merger mania," Robert Hadley of The Lane Report looks at how Kentucky hospitals and hospital systems are banding together as they brace for reimbursement changes mandated in the new health care law.

The most discussed merger is that of Louisville's Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's HealthCare, Lexington-based St. Joseph Health System and University Medical Center at the University of Louisville. "At stake in the plan is not only the sale of a physical asset (University Hospital) that belongs to the commonwealth, but also potential changes in delivery of care that ceding control to a faith-based organization might bring," Hadley writes. Saint Joseph is owned by Catholic Health Initiatives, which follows the Catholic directives that prohibits abortion, sterilization and euthanasia.

Baptist Hospital East has since stepped in and said University of Louisville Medical School physicians are welcome to perform needed procedures at its facility.

Though complicated issues need to be addressed, hospitals are eager to merge regardless. Why? Financial viability, especially in the face of change as a result of the federal health-care reform law, sometimes called "Obamacare." Starting in 2013, hospitals will be reimbursed for Medicare and Medicaid procedures differently. Rather than be paid using a fee-for-service model, in which facilities are paid for each procedure performed, they will be paid based on quality and outcomes. If the outcomes are good, the facility will get paid more. The goal is to encourage care with good outcomes, rather than just pay for treatment, in which the incentive might be to over-treat in order to get more reimbursement.

"More and more of the reimbursements we receive in the future are going to be tied to performance, our quality and satisfaction scores," said Andy Sears, vice president of planning and system development for Baptist Healthcare System, which is looking to merge with Madisonville-based Trover Health System. "That's what the value-based purchasing coming out of Obamacare is all about. It's going to cause Baptist, Trover (Health System) and any other health-care organizations to begin to address how we're going to provide more value for the care we deliver."

"Pressure to leverage cost savings as reimbursement declines while being able to afford facility expansion are the two primary reasons" for the Baptist-Trover merger, Hadley reports. "As a single hospital in a rural community, Trover is finding it difficult to attract capital investment, much like University Hospital."

The Jewish-St. Joseph-University Hospital merger will mean at least a $200 million cash infusion for University Hospital alone, and nearly $1 billion of capital investment, including information technology, over the next five years, said Dr. Dan Varga, chief medical officer at St. Joseph Health System.

Essentially, with new changes coming, there is power in numbers. "Trover is a big organization and clinic," Sears said. "But they're facing the same situation a lot of stand-alone facilities are facing. Business is declining, reimbursements are declining, and when you don't have payments in, you can't take care of capital needs." (Read more)

Milk is the Best Source of Vitamin D

The benefits of milk not only for baby and toddler. Milk is really good for all of age, adolescent and for elderly, The latest research show that milk is one of the prime source of vitamin D, and and supplying almost half of all vitamins that needed by the body.

According to researchers, there is no other foods that contribute to vitamin D as milk accounted for. In fact, for children aged 2 to 18 years, milk provides almost 2/3 of all the vitamin D in foods.

"There are only a few foods that can replace the package of essential nutrients found in a glass of fat-free milk, or low-fat," said Keith Ayoob, a pediatric expert food and nutrition. "Without milk, it is difficult to meet the needs of a number of nutrients, especially vitamin D," he said.

Besides widely known for its role in keeping bones strong, the presence of vitamin D in milk at this time, has also been believed to provide many health benefits.

Emerging evidence suggests that vitamin D can also help a person is protected from dangerous diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and certain cancers. It also, helped support a healthy immune system.

The experts from the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) recommends 400 IU of vitamin D every day, which is equivalent to four cups fat-free milk or low fat.

Porridge Harisah, Enhancer Stamina and Male Vitality

Porridge Harisah, is the popular cooking in Middle Eastern societies. Many people believe that is a typical aromatic pulp that can add stamina and vitality of men.



Hj Anisah Sutrisno, the owner of Porridge Harisah food disclose a key ingredient in porridge Harisah. Start mutton, wheat, rice flour, glutinous rice flour, garlic, pepper, ginger, cloves, kapulogo, shortening and oils.

"Manufacture, goat meat cooked on the stove and banana leaf-covered ground plate large saucepan for about five hours. After cooked the goat meat, then add oats and mix up to separate goat meat from the bone, after the dough is quite tough. Only later on add and glutinous rice flour and other ingredients mix evenly into one, "said Anisah.

CONSEJOS PARA TENER UNOS GLUTEOS PERFECTOS

Para lucir unos glúteos espléndidos y en buena forma puedes optar por hacer algunos ejercicios en tu propia casa que harán que en pocas semanas, si los realizas con constancia, obtengas resultados increíbles.

Empezare por explicarte un ejercicio muy fácil  que seguro harás sin problemas: empieza por ponerte a cuatro patas y en esta posición levanta la pierna izquierda con la rodilla doblada, a la vez que inspiras, y mantente así. 

Cuando vuelvas a bajar la pierna deja escapar el aire retenido,repite el movimiento hasta hacer 3 series de 10 ejercicios.

Una vez hayas acabado haz lo mismo con la pierna derecha,realiza este ejercicio cada día durante un cuarto de hora y en pocas semanas te darás cuenta de los excelentes resultados que te proporcionará.

Otro ejercicio muy interesante para reforzar tus glúteos es que te pongas de perfil, con una pierna adelante y otra atrás, y las manos en la cintura. En esta posición flexiona las rodillas manteniendo siempre la espalda derecha. También tienes que hacer 3 series de 10 movimientos . Es ideal que lo complementes con el primero que te hemos explicado.

Blast From The Past

In the post this morning I received a surprise and a trip down memory lane all rolled into one. This was in the form of a Postal Games Zine. Something I used to have a lot of back in the day. Seemsa guy called Colin Bruce has started a zine called Fury of the Northmen (FuN) which plans to run various games. So far we have Chess and Britannia running (one of each) with lists open for Chess, Diplomacy and Risk. This was issue 3 so it is very early days and was sent out as a speculative issue possibly from the mailing list for the Convention Scene zine Queens Advertiser. This issue is just 6 pages long and beyond the introduction come editorial the current game of Britannia has 3 pages dedicated to it with a short article on people born in an area depicted on a province within the Diplomacy game and within the time frame of a normal game. Rather a nice touch and runs about a full page. Contact information and game lists along with the deadline all fill up the back page.

The zine looks crisp and due to it's early stage is rather thin but I expect this to be popular as for one I really miss the old Dip zines of the early 90's. Subscriptions are £15 for 10 issues which given it's present size I feel is rather steep though lets face it well affordable to most. I would have preferred to see a minimum sub fee with a note that early issues were £1 and once the thickness of the zine builds up the cost will rise. Being an old zine editor I feel the cost of running a zine should not be born by the editor and whilst I am tempted I feel I can't justify taking on a sub just at the moment.

Anyone who has interest in this zine and want contact details let me know and I will send you Colin's address. I think it may well be a good investment if you want to play these games.

Funds awarded to educate East End Lexingtonians about food, health

Getting community elders to talk to youth about gardening and cooking is one of the missions to be accomplished in Lexington's East End neighborhood from a $52,000 grant.

The funds will create a virtual center where community members can go to learn about food and health. "Our goal is to improve decision making about food through information," said Steve Austin, vice president of the Blue Grass Community Foundation, which was awarded the money by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

"Residents will have the opportunity to talk about what they need to make better food choices," the Lexington Herald-Leader reports. "A digital food information center will then be created so people can go online and learn about all things related to food." Printed information will also be available.

Adults and children living in the neighborhood will interview older members of the community about gardening, food preparation, cooking methods and entrepreneurship. "If we succeed here, we can do it across the city," Austin said. "We can transform Lexington, no matter where people live, to make better decisions about food." (Read more)

Child abuse rates have risen significantly since the economy went into recession, survey in Ky. and 3 other states shows

Child abuse rose as the economy went into recession, shows a study of reported abuse to children under 5 in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington.

From 2004 to December 2007, before the financial meltdown, the rate of abusive head trauma in the four states was 8.9 per 100,000 children. During 2008 and 2009, the number jumped to 14.7 per 100,000. Though the study established no cause-and-effect relationship between financial difficulties and an increase in abuse, "earlier research has tied parental stress to child maltreatment," Frederik Joelving of Reuters Health reports.

The study "showed that from 2004 to 2009, there were 422 children diagnosed with what doctors call 'abusive head trauma.' The majority ended up in intensive care units, and 16 percent died of their injuries," Joelving reports. The average child examined in the study was 9 months old.

"The number-one perpetrators are fathers and male caretakers; very few perpetrators are mothers," said Rachel Berger, a child-abuse expert at nationally recognized Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh and co-author of the study. "It's the people that mothers give their kids to that end up being the perpetrator(s)." (Read more)

Lexington council turns to wellness center to cut insurance costs

Following a national trend to improve employee health so companies can cut health-insurance costs, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council agreed Tuesday to set up a wellness center for city employees.

The center will "be voluntary and free for employees, retirees and dependents covered by the city's health insurance plan," reports Beverly Fortune of the Lexington Herald-Leader. Acute and primary care, chronic-disease management and preventive screenings will be among the services provided at the center, the location of which has not yet been chosen. It is estimated to cost $1.3 million.

Chattanooga opened a similar center in 2006. Its health insurance costs were increasing about 20 percent annually, with health benefits costing the city $16 million that year. Today, the city is saving about $5 million a year, said Madeline Green, director of risk management and incentives for the city. (Read more)

A million more young adults have health coverage; law cited

One million more young adults ages 19 to 25 had health insurance in the first quarter of 2011 than in the same period a year ago, data from the National Health Interview Survey show.

The increase is largely due to the federal health-reform law, which allows children to remain on their parents' health insurance plans until age 26, a press release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said. No other age group had a significant increase in coverage. (Read more)

Feds give Ky. $3 million to hold health insurers accountable

Kentucky will receive more than $3.2 million in federal grants to help state officials track health-insurance premium increases and make insurers more accountable.

The funds are part of guidelines set forth in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the federal health reform law. It requires makes rate increases of 10 percent or more in the individual and small-group market subject to approval by experts who will determine if the increases are reasonable. The law also requires insurers to to justify to the public rates that are considered unreasonable.

The Kentucky Department of Insurance will use the federal funds to expand the scope of its rate reviews; improve transparency by establishing a tool on its website that will give consumers access to rate filings without an open records request; hire new staff, and improve its technology. (Read more)

Some worry that patient care will get shortchanged as Kentucky Medicaid moves to managed care

While moving Kentucky's Medicaid patients to managed care for will likely reduce costs to the taxpayers, patient care shouldn't be shortchaged in the effort to save a buck, Deb McGrath writes in an op-ed piece in The Courier-Journal.

"It is critical for quality patient care to always remain a priority," writes McGrath, executive director of the Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana. "All citizens, including the 540,000 Kentuckians under the new managed care plans, deserve access to the best possible care recommended by their doctors."

McGrath is concerned about the "fail first" policy, also known as step therapy. "In this practice, the insurer will initially cover only the least costly medication in any drug class, forcing doctors to prescribe these medications first," she writes. "This is problematic because many times there are different medications that the physician feels would be the most effective treatment."

The policy can adversely affect Kentucky's 90,000 patients who have epilepsy, a disease that comprises 40 different seizure types and epileptic syndromes. "Fail first is not something a person with epilepsy wants to hear, especially when this policy can compromise their well-being and even their life," McGrath writes. "I urge Gov. Steve Beshear, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, our state legislators and the new managed care organizations to keep patient care in mind as they get ready to implement this new system on Nov. 1." (Read more)

PARQUE NACIONAL DE PUINAWAI

Para vivir unas vacaciones diferentes disfrutando de la naturaleza y conociendo uno de los parque más emblematico de Colombia, te invitamos a visitar el Parque Nacional de Puinawai en la juridición del Municipio de Puerto Inirida, junto a la frontera de con Brasil .

Con unos  25 grados centígrados de temparatura temperatura lo hace uno de los sitios turisticos con un inmejorable clima,esta región es habitada por indigenas Puinaves , Kurripacos y Cubeos, quienes colaboran con la proteccion de la naturaleza de la región.

Este lugar es apreciado por sus cerros de Mavicure, junto a la comunidad de Venado, estos sitios son visitados a diario por turistas, donde pueden apreciar la naturaleza y lo agreste del lugar.

En el Parque Natural de Puinawai es posible convivir con delfines de agua dulce o algunas Toninas, algo para destacar es la Flor de Inirida la cual nace en la sabanas,ademas Puinawai es la única reserva Natural Nukak.

PARQUE ECOTURISTICO AMACAYACU AMAZONAS

El Parque Amacayacu es una aventura de exploración insuperable.

Se trata de un bosque húmedo tropical ubicado dentro del trapecio amazónico, que limita con el río Amazonas en su parte sur. 

Amacayacu es el hábitat del tití leoncito el primate más pequeño de América ,de una tortuga que se mimetiza entre las hojas secas bajo el agua, de mariposas enormes de azul plateado, del loto más grande del mundo, y muchas especies más. 

Además de contar con  una fauna y flora exuberantes, el área del Parque se encuentra compartida en un 10%con territorios indígenas ancestrales, de la etnia Tikuna ,  quienes hoy buscan un equilibrio entre las formas  tradicionales y las dinámicas contemporáneas de la vida moderna..

Un denso bosque húmedo tropical cubre  toda la geografía  del Parque.  En esta selva hay más de 5000 especies de plantas y 150 especies de mamíferos; entre los que se destacan el delfín rosado , la danta, el jaguar, el manatí y la nutria. 

Lancer Love

On a post below I mentioned I painted and based 5 Regiments of Lancers in 24 hours. So I thought I had better show the results. I know I can paint better if I paint slower but the plan is to move over to Baccus if they are easier to paint detail onto (a major problem with these Irregular models).

Most of the paints are Vallejo and the flock is a mix of two suppliers, the brown a wargames supplier whilst the Green mix is a model railway supplier that is sold by many figure suppliers now. I have put a 5p coin (same size as a dime I think) to show scale for anyone unfamiliar with 6mm figures.

Overall I am happy with the flocking. Three of the regiments have red (well scarlet and crimson too) facings whilst the others have blue and as before mentioned orange. £1.80 for a Vallejo tub and I needed just 8 dots, now I need to find another use for German Orange.

More effort went into these guys than the Hussars I have already done. Red edging on the saddle cloths for one. Pennants on the lance tips in red and white for another. The figures are based on Warbases as per a previous post. Only one more Lancer regiment wore the green coat, the rest all have dark blue but only one of these have I found listed as being at Borodino. Plenty of Polish to consider once I have the French well represented.

Derby in 10 Days!!

The World Wargames Championships is in just ten days and will be my first major Con in far to many years. Went to The Other Partisan a few weeks ago but was not really going to buy much and just came away with a set of rules. Derby is different, I have pre-ordered a bunch of Chariot Miniatures and Baccus. This means I wont be looking at spending much more when I am there but that's no bother. High on my list will be meeting up with fellow wargamers who I am sure will be there (having already agreed to meet a ASL and figure gaming bud Andy). I am also taking a couple of show virgins in the guise of James "The Machine" my nephew who is no stranger to games cons but this is his first figure con. Having turned 18 the beers are on him LOL. The other is a mates son Tom who has yet to confirm but he has played 40K in the past and may well be ready to see what else is out there.

Other items on my wish list is spend some quality time watching a few games and get a feel for the various rules used and hopfully score a few answers to a few questions.

Wargaming Neutral.

Well I have been on fire, I have just got to finish basing the last of the French Infantry and flock them then all I have left to do is most of the limbers and all of the command bases and lastly 6 regiments of Cavalry. That means I can walk up to the Baccus stand head held high and buy a big bag of lead. The 15mm Ancients have ground to a halt with just 16 figures left to paint but that is because I need to get a game of Naps in before Derby and the clocks ticking. Once I am up and running I will swap back to 15mm, I will need to as I have rather a lot to pick up.

Been in the Loft again!!!

This time to remove everything out in time for this Friday as we are having the loft insulated. This has got Cath pawing through the old German boards games and me looking at the Magic cards, I can see us running through them. Once the loft is done it's down with some boards, up with shelves and more games brought from my mothers. Wait for the classic game AAR's LOL

Medicaid's move to managed care delayed until Nov. 1; hospitals need more time to sign contracts

The move to managed care, which the state has touted as the answer to improve the quality of its Medicaid system and solve a budget deficit, has been delayed by a month in response to the Kentucky Hospital Association saying hospitals need more time to sign contracts and prepare for implementation.

"We have made great progress in Medicaid managed care since we first announced the contract awards in July," said Janie Miller, secretary for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. "Thousands of providers have signed up with the managed care organizations ... but we still need the hospitals to sign contracts before we can implement managed care across the commonwealth."

Mike Rust, president of the KHA, said of about 100 hospitals that will be affected by the changes, only about 20 have signed contracts so far, reports Deborah Yetter of The Courier-Journal.

Four managed-care organizations, including the previously established Passport Health Plan in Jefferson and surrounding counties, will take over health-care management of the state's 730,000 Medicaid recipients. The companies will be paid a per-patient, per-month amount set by contract negotiations. Because they won't be paid using a fee-for-service model — believed to be more costly — and will try to streamline care, the move is expected to save $1.3 billion in the next three years, Miller has said.

Earlier this month, Kentucky got the green light from the federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services to proceed with the transition to managed care. (Read more)

Law enforcement and allies getting ducks in row in 2nd bid to pass bill to require a prescription to buy pseudoephedrine

By Tara Kaprowy
Kentucky Health News

With police finding 20 percent more meth labs in Kentucky than a year ago, they and others are again encouraging state legislators to make pseudoephedrine less available by requiring a prescription for it. And the senator who tried that last year says he is talking with his colleagues to see what can pass in the 2012 General Assembly.

Supporters of the bill to quash "meds for meth" met in Laurel County last week, where the incidence of meth labs recently became the state's highest, Bill Estep of the Lexington Herald-Leader reports. They unveiled an educational campaign intended to teach people about the dangers and costs of the deadly drug. Their campaign includes a video produced by the Kentucky State Police, Operation UNITE, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program and the Kentucky National Guard.

"They're going to try to show that video as often as they can between now and January across the state to try to get a grassroots effort behind this bill," Estep said on KET's "Comment on Kentucky" Friday night. "They didn't start off early enough last time to get that to happen." Meanwhile, the number of reported meth labs in the state climbed to nearly 1,100 in 2010 and is on track to exceed 1,400 in 2011.

Pseudoephedrine is the key ingredient in manufacturing methamphetamine, which can be made by combining a few ingredients in a pop bottle. Last year, Sen. Tom Jensen, R-London, sponsored a bill to make "pseudo" available only by prescription. Jensen told Kentucky Health News Monday he is planning on introducing a bill in the upcoming session that "deals with pseudoephedrine and how to control that." "The details of that are not ready to be sent out yet," he said. "I'm negotiating with some other members to see if we can get support."

Pseudoephedrine is also a main ingredient in cold and allergy medicine. Opponents say making it a prescription-only medicine is unnecessarily inconvenient and could be costly. In a legislative brief, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce said the proposed law would drive up insurance premiums for Kentucky employers and the taxpayers' cost of Medicaid. Their estimates show the new law would result in 17,000 more doctor visits per year. The chamber and other opponents are backed by the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, which was the top-spending lobby against Jensen's bill.

Only Oregon and Mississippi have passed laws making pseudoephedrine available only by prescription; both have seen the number of meth labs fall sharply. Mississippi, where a ban took effect in 2010, has seen a 66 percent drop, according to the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. Oregon has seen a 96 percent drop in meth labs in the five years since its law passed, said Jackie Steele, commonwealth's attorney for Laurel and Knox counties and a proponent of limiting pseudoephedrine access.

Opponents say the drops in Oregon and Mississippi have led to surges in adjoining states, and Steele said "They're probably correct. But I'm looking out for Laurel and Knox and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. I hope that everybody else gets on board so we don't have to worry about shuffling problems to another county or another state."

Though several individual municipalities in Missouri have made pseudoephedrine available only by prescription, Steele said that is not likely to happen in Kentucky counties since there would be "constitutional issues."

At the meeting in Laurel County last week, Abby Hale, co-director of the Laurel County Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management, said cleanup of a meth lab can cost up to $2,100 just in manpower and disposal, reports Nita Johnson of The Sentinel-Echo in London. If meth labs are inside a home, homeowners have to get the building decontaminated at their own expense, which can cost up to $3,000.

Statewide, Steele said the cost of meth is in the millions because of the expense of corrections; local health departments dealing with skin irritations and rashes; loss of learning time for kids in school; and putting children in foster care. "The Kentucky State Police spent $2 million in meth lab cleanups, not to prosecute them, just to clean the toxic dumps up," Steele said. "So you can see that the cost per year is staggering."

Funding available to help communities fight cervical cancer

For the second year, agencies, coalitions and community groups are invited to apply for funding to improve cervical cancer screening rates and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations in their areas. Cervical Cancer-Free Kentucky, housed in the University of Kentucky College of Public Health, has funding available and will be awarding mini-grants in the coming year, Ann Blackford of the UK news service reports.

In August, 13 agencies received CCFKy funding ranging from $7,000 to 20,000 for projects that will help residents in 19 Kentucky counties.

"CCFKy saw great results from the first year of funded projects," said Dr. Baretta R. Casey, director of CCFKy. "The projects' outcomes convinced our team that increasing the number of funded agencies in the second year will move our mission of a cervical cancer-free Kentucky forward. Let's stop the deaths of women in Kentucky from this preventable and curable disease."

About 391 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year in Kentucky and 66 Kentucky women die. (Read more)

Bases Arrive!!

I received an e-mail a few days ago informing me that my order had been dispatched from Warbases, which I think is a rather nice touch. I had already been waiting impatiently as per above so it was good to know it had been dispatched and that I could have one day off waiting by the letter box.

So fast forward two days and I am back in position (think less cute than a dog but higher on the dribbling and you got me). Finally he arrives with the goods. A rather imposing and none too light package which is very neatly wrapped. Rather exciting to say all it is, is bits of MDF but such is my life these days. Off with the paper covering and now a sealed box that did not withstand my efforts very long but provides excellent storage of them for the short period they await deployment. Overall my imprecation is rather positive, well very positive to be honest. Well packaged and a printed sticky address label so it has the lowest chance of getting lost in the post. So due props to the guys at Warbases. However I have one thing above all that tends to send my vision red and that's postage cost. Too many times have I suffered postage costs far greater than the item has actually cost to post and the stock answers of Handling or Packing Materials (usually a second hand jiffy), so looking at the printed stamp what do I see? Cost of postage of £4.41 and I paid 10% of order, something around £2.50. What a class act! They are at Derby in just under two weeks time and I am sure to pop onto their stand, thank them for the service and hand over more coinage for more bases, what more can be said?

Inside the box. that's a lot of bases. I only had enough sent to base my Prussian and French (yes more than I need but I plan on getting more French!) and have not ordered any for my Ancients as unsure what size bases to use as awaiting contact with some of my old playing pals.

The bases are all uniformly cut and dust free so can be used straight from the box. I have already based up 26 units, more on this later and very happy with the look and feel. I will never go back to cardboard again and for the price it really makes sense to go this route. The time saved alone is worth the cost. Now all I need to do is base up over 100 Prussian units and finish painting and base about 60 French and all before Derby. Well I will settle for half that.

Yes it's a deep box as well! Whilst waiting for the bases to arrive I started painting the French Lancers, I had 5 Regiments for some reason, well I won't be getting any more for awhile whilst I catch up with all the others. More again to follow on a later post.

Laughter The Best Medicine

Laughter The Best Medicine - Laughter is the best medicine to reduce pain. Moreover, if carried to laugh out loud, the effect is much larger than the laughs are on hold.

When we laugh, the body will release hormones that affect pain signals caused by physical illness or psychological stress to the brain so the pain will be reduced. This substance will also cause feelings of pleasure.

Hormones are involved in this case is especially endorphins. The same hormone released when we do sports like running, swimming, yoga, and so on.

Scientists from the UK conducted a study to determine the reaction of the body when we laugh. They recruited participants for the following two types of tests.

The first test is to watch a comedy show from the movie of "Mr. Bean", the series "Friends", or non-humorous impressions like a documentary about animals and the game of golf.

The second test is: watch the direct action of the comedian (stand up comody) or theatrical drama. In this second test, before watching them asked to do a hard workout, like sitting on a hard bench, or standing in a certain position, which essentially causes pain or soreness.

The result, within 15 minutes after watching the action of the comedian to laughter, the participants claimed that the perceived pain was reduced to 10 percent.

According to Robin Dunbar, one of the researchers, not all comedy impressions produce the same effect. "When watching a comedy, a situation they laugh three times more often than the smart comedy," he said.

Bullitt judge strikes down health board's smoking ban; could lead to decision with statewide impact, if appealed

A Bullitt County judge has extinguished a countywide smoking ban that was supposed to go into effect Monday, saying the county health board overstepped its authority. The ruling could lead to a decision with statewide impact, determining whether county health boards have such power; a judge in another county approved a ban there and the ruling was not appealed.

Circuit Judge Rodney Burress called the ban void and unlawful, Charlie White of The Courier-Journal reports. "This court does not believe that type of 'Big Brother' conduct was anticipated by the Kentucky state legislature in its grant of power and authority to boards of health," Burress wrote.

"It's a win for business and a win for choice in Bullitt County," said Harlen Compton, one of the founders of Bullitt County Choice, a group of area business owners and residents.

The ban would have prohibited smoking in bars, restaurants and all public places. But even before the Bullitt County Board of Health passed the ban, the county's eight cities and its Fiscal Court sued the board, White reports.

Swannie Jett, the county's health director, said health officials were "very disappointed" and will decide in the coming weeks if they will appeal the decision.

Burress wrote that Bullitt County residents "are entitled to be governed by their elected representatives and should not be subjected to additional laws enacted by an administrative agency without an express grant of authority."

The health board passed the ban under Kentucky Revised Statute 212.230, which says health boards "shall" adopt, implement and enforce regulations necessary to protect public health. Opponents said such a far-reaching regulation as a smoking ban can only be legally passed by city councils or fiscal courts, White reports.

However, the Bullitt County board is not the first in Kentucky to enact such a ban. Health boards in Woodford, Hopkins, Madison and Clark counties have done likewise. The move in Hopkins County did result in a legal battle, but the judge sided with the health department. (Read more)

Last year, 17.4 percent of Kentuckians lived in poverty and 17.5 percent did not have health insurance

More than one in six Kentuckians lived in poverty last year and almost exactly the same number didn't have health insurance, preliminary U.S. Census numbers show.

The state's poverty rate was 17.4 percent and the uninsured rate was 17.5 percent. Nationwide, 15.1 percent of Americans lived in poverty and 16.3 percent were without health insurance in 2010, reports Valarie Honeycutt Spears of the Lexington Herald-Leader.

To be considered to be living below the poverty line, a family of four must earn less than $22,314 each year.

About 640,000 Kentuckians do not have health insurance. Those numbers have risen as employers have stopped offering coverage to employees, said Jason Bailey, director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. In 2000, 65 percent of Kentuckians had employer-based insurance, but in 2010 only 57 percent did.

Medicaid, which provides coverage for the country's poor and disabled, covered almost 1 in 5 Kentuckians in 2010, up from 1 in 10 in 2000, Bailey said. "The percent of children covered by Medicaid in Kentucky rose 6 percentage points since 2007-08, to 40 percent, keeping the number of uninsured children low," Spears reports. (Read more)

Regulations allowing optometrists to use lasers pass; opponents may sue for violation of Open Meetings Act

Though ophthalmologists and the Kentucky Medical Association strongly objected, a legislative committee passed regulations Tuesday that will allow optometrists to perform some eye surgeries using lasers. In answer, opponents says "they might file legal action against the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners, which drafted the regulations, for failing to comply with the state's Open Meetings Act," reports Beth Musgrave of the Lexington Herald-Leader.

The regulations, authorized by Senate Bill 110 in this year's General Assembly, now go to another legislative panel for final approval. The bill has been cause for controversy, in large part because it passed through the legislature in a swift 12 days. Oklahoma is the only other state that gives similar operating privileges to optometrists.

Ophtalmologists said Tuesday the optometric board "used a task force appointed by the state optometric association, a trade group, to develop the regulations, and those meetings were held in secret with no public input," Musgrave reports. Legislators and optometrists disagreed, saying public comment was allowed at an open meeting in July, and the regulations were altered after task force members took the comments into consideration.

Dr. Woodford Van Meter, president of the Kentucky Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, said patient safety is at risk of optometrists are allowed to perform the procedures, in part because the bill states they only have to receive 32 hours of training and show they can do the procedure once before they can use lasers. By contrast, Van Meter said ophthalmologists have 17,000 hours of surgical training and perform surgeries hundreds of times before being allowed to do them on their own.

If the regulations pass, optometrists may be allowed to perform the surgeries by year's end. (Read more)

Work locally for health care solutions, experts say at annual policy forum; contrasting Medicaid approaches seen

By Tara Kaprowy
Kentucky Health News

After hearing experts say communities should take the lead in improving the quality of health care and lowering its cost — especially because there are so many unknowns about the new federal health care law — McCreary County mother and health activist Susan Taylor stepped up to the microphone Tuesday in Somerset.

"I hear what you're saying, but how do you go about getting our leaders motivated?" she asked a panel at the 2011 Howard L. Bost Memorial Health Policy Forum.

"That has sort of been my challenge," replied William Hazel, health and human resources secretary in Virginia. "It's an education process."

There were no simple answers, but experts, medical professionals and community members were willing to ask the tough questions and offer their views at the forum, sponsored by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and named for a Kentuckian who played a major role in writing the Medicare law.

Again and again, experts said solutions can be found by going local, rather than focusing on goings-on in Washington or Frankfort. "My whole point is this: Make it work where you live and work and the whole country will want to be like that," said Len Nichols, left, professor of health policy and director of the Center for Health Policy Research and Ethics at George Mason University.

Nichols, the forum's keynoter, advised state legislators and rural Americans to stay calm about health care, focus on what can be measured and change accordingly. "Forget politics," he said. "Forget Obama. Don't watch TV at all. Focus on where you live."

He acknowledged that is easier said than done, because politicians can't talk about health reform "without making half the population mad and half the population scared." "People are scared, and why wouldn't they be scared?" he asked. "It looked and felt and still feels like the Great Depression."

But federal health reform is necessary, Nichols said, because the current system is unsustainable: 7 percent of the average family's income went toward paying health insurance premiums in 1987. By 2006, it had risen to 17 percent and by 2016, withough reform, it is projected to be 34 to 45 percent. Medicare is likewise unsustainable, Nichols said, with a projected 7.3 percent of the gross domestic product being spent on paying for Medicare alone by 2035.

While the majority of the new health law won't be implemented until 2014, and with repeal still a possibility if Obama loses the 2012 presidential election, community-based changes can contain health care costs.

In West Tennessee, businesses have banded together and formed the Memphis Business Group on Health, which represents 350,000 employers, employees and their families. The group chooses its providers based on value and performance and, because its numbers are significant, providers are willing to comply with the group's requirements. CEO Cristie Upshaw Travis said the private sector can "transform the market" by banding together in this way. "They've had absolutely no choice but to change how they do their benefits," she said.

Hospitals, physicians and health plans are all assessed using survey reporting instruments, whether that means an administrator answering questions about the number of pressure ulcers in a hospital or an insurance agent evaluating a plan on consumer engagement or chronic disease management. "Having this public report in our community has had an impact on the improvement, quality and efficiency of care," Travis said. "In one way, it gave them something to focus on."

In North Carolina, the state has turned to patient-centered medical homes for Medicaid patients. In this model, a family doctor's office becomes the hub of a patient's care. With the help of physician assistants and nurse practitioners, doctors use electronic health records to track patients between visits, communicate with specialists, monitor blood sugar and blood pressure and are actively involved in whether patients are getting enough exercise or taking their medicine.

There are 1,400 medical homes in North Carolina, the first of which was developed in a rural county in the late 1980s. "There was a huge access problem, the emergency room was overrun," said Tork Wade, executive director of Community Care of North Carolina. But by increasing access points, linking patients with a primary care physician and engaging community leaders — "That was another key thing," Wade said — the effort worked. "We got money to go to another 12 counties," Wade said. "(The model) responded to a real need, it wasn't just top down."

The state's embrace of Wade's non-profit program, which is effectively a managed-care plan for Medicaid, struck a contrast with Kentucky's current shift to a managed-care system run by competing, for-profit companies. "My problem with a competing system is that it doesn't lift all boats," Wade said at a breakout session, where advocates said the Kentucky plan seems more concerned with saving money than ensuring quality.

Kentucky Health and Human Services Secretary Janie Miller, left, a McCreary County native who gave openign remarks, said Medicaid should provide what patients need, "but there hasn't really been a strong, deliberate, structured method . . . to really assure we're getting the best bang for the buck."

Though the North Carolina program is now statewide, the key was that the answers came from the communities, Wade said: "It has to be local. If it doesn't work in the community, it's not going to work. So you might as well start there." Getting buy-in from rural communities was easier than in urban centers because "in urban areas there are competing health systems," Wade said. "In rural areas, there is a single system of care and a history of people working together."

Susan Taylor is going the local route by focusing on prevention with Get Healthy McCreary County, which the health department there formed in 2007. The mission is to create awareness about healthy living in the community and promote any events that relate to it.

Though the group has hosted a few events, including a cooking class for kids and an educational session on the health reform law, Taylor says she is having trouble generating interest. "I just think they haven't really realized how important our health is," she said. "Once we get sick, then we'll go to the doctor and worry about it. They don't understand prevention."

Taylor went to Tuesday's forum to find answers, but came away with more questions. As for the federal health care law fixing community problems, Taylor — whose personal interest even prompted her to get a copy of the 1,200-page health care law from her congressman — admitted she doesn't know if that will happen. "I think we saw that" at the forum, she said. "Even amongst the people who seem aware, still no one really know how it's going to play out."

Beautiful glowing skin make-up tutorial

COMO QUITAR LAS MANCHAS DE LA PIEL

Muchos de los problemas  que puede sufrir nuestra piel acaban provocando cambios en su coloración, con alteraciones  antiestéticas que nos afean especialmente si se localizan en el rostro. 

Una buena opción para eliminar estas manchas sin recurrir a tratamientos médicos agresivos es usar algunos trucos de fitoterapia, basados en plantas especialmente beneficiosas para las pigmentaciones de la dermis.

La aplicación de zanahoria, el perejil o el diente de león produce un sorprendente efecto decolorante de las manchas marronáceas hasta prácticamente eliminarlas en su totalidad. Simplemente machacando unas ramitas de perejil y restregándolas por las manchas con una gasita conseguiremos que ejerza su efecto blanqueante.

Por otra parte, el limón restregado directamente sobre la mancha dos veces por día es un potente decolorante que acabará devolviendo el tono normal a nuestra piel.

La zanahoria tiene efectos mucho más concretos sobre la piel. Tiene un poder importante sobre el tratamiento de los eczemas, las quemaduras y las heridas de cualquier tipo que podamos tener. Tampoco podemos olvidar el efecto que tiene sobre nuestra piel como protector del efecto de los rayos solares y las posibles manchas que puedan causarnos.

Otros trucos naturales para eliminar las manchas de la piel son emplear una infusión de caléndula sobre la zona manchada varias veces al día o también el zumo resultante de machacar un pepino.

Awaiting Bases

I have had these Prussian's for years and years and have played with mostly Computer rules which we have had issues with but were better than over complex paper rules or dots or over simplistic ones. So stuck with them. Now I want to give Polemos rules a bash and for this they need basing, as do the French that I am part way through painting. No mean task given the 100+ units I will need to base when all is said and done.

Yes I am impatiently waiting for Warbases to drop through my letterbox LOL.

These Prussians were painted for me by Red Triangle, I don't even know if they are still in business, all I know is at the time they were considered the best and cost a packet but I have always been very happy with them. It's the only time I ever used a painting service and I doubt I will ever do again though I was very happy with the result. Good job I enjoy painting figures I guess.

The only view I want to see of them, that is advancing to victory. I can't wait to base these and get to see what they look like, only problem will be storage of them.

Some of the French I did too many years ago. The latest batch of 12 regiments took less than a week to do (these need finishing touches which I will do over the next day or two). Not as nice as the Prussians but I have the knowledge that I did them myself.

I am hoping that the Baccus paint easier that these Irregular as the paint does not flow on these guys and most detail is not well enough formed to paint well. Or is it my painting skill?

Warganing Neutral

The idea is not mine, not at all but I first saw it in Another Slight Diversion which is a great figure gaming blog if you don't already know it. In fact I think Andy is a good part of the reason I am back to figures and also running this blog, so you can blame him. I have taken Andy's idea and twisted it to my advantage. My idea is that I have to fit to the two rules (with slight alteration) that Andy works to, these being

1. Can't Buy a Figure unless I have painted a figure from my lead pile.

2. Can't spend money unless I have either created money from sale of hobby stuff or it's from my gameing stash.

Due to the low level of figures I had at the start of the process I am allowing myself one free splurge at Derby in a few weeks. This is fine as rule 2 still applies. Good job I just sold a ASL item then ;-)

Paint, bases, materials and Rules do not count to 2 as it is the figures that need watching.

I also have an idea that may well help me out with getting figures and keep me supplied with things to paint without the cost impact. More on this at a later date.

The Books.

Figures owned since last purchase

6mm all Napoleonic's

14 Cav regiments 3 painted

31 Infantry 24 painted

12 scermish strips 6 painted

9 guns and limbers 3 painted

15mm

ECW

10 mounted Dragoons Painted

10 dismounted Dragoons Painted

30 figure regiment of foote

Ancients

56 infantry 40 painted

Most of these have been painted in the last 4 weeks so I have mounted up plenty under rule 1 and paying for the replacements is covered as well. Good times.

I plan to buy a bunch of Baccus French Naps to round off the French army and can do this under 1 as I should have almost all the above painted by then. But I also plan on buying a fair chunk of Chariot Miniatures for a Macedonian army but not knowing what rules set I am likely to use this could limit me to buying the obvious troop types.

I also want to go into another period at some point but need to start gaming again and reach out to suitable rules.

Feds OK managed-care Medicaid; firms advertise for enrollees

The move to managed care for Kentucky's Medicaid patients is one step further to being implemented. The federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services have approved the state's plan to have three managed-care organizations provide care for 560,000 people statewide, The Courier-Journal reports.

Services will not change for about 170,000 people in Jefferson and 15 nearby counties, who have been receiving managed care services through Passport Health Plan for several years. Local newspapers are running advertisements from the three managed-care companies seeking enrollees.

Moving to managed care is Gov. Steve Beshear's answer to fill a $166 million hole in the Medicaid budget, created by a lack of expected federal funding. The federal government pays more than 70 percent of Medicaid costs, bringing the expected savings to $1.3 billion over three years. Under a managed care model, the companies will be paid on a per-patient basis. State officials say there will be an incentive for the companies to keep costs down because the lump sum received for each patient will stay static, unlike in the fee-for-service model in which the state has paid for whatever bills are incurred. (Read more)

7 Ways to Relieve Pain Without Medication

Relieve Pain Without Medication | Pain is a symptom often experienced by anyone. You do not need to panic, because the cause of the pain may not be something dangerous. Form of pain can vary, can be attacked in different places and represent a variety of health problems.

Here are some ways to reduce and eliminate pain. This method is an alternative that can be done if you do not want to take medications for pain:

1. Fill your need for vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency could be the cause of chronic muscle pain. Fish and morning sun is the largest source for this vitamin. The average person needs about 200 IU vitamin D per day, but for those aged 50 to 70 years, the need for vitamin D increased to 400 IU per day. For those who have tread the age of 70, needs vitamin D to 500 IU.

A study at the University of Minnesota found that 93 percent of the total respondents who experienced a non-specific musculoskeletal pain, suffer from a lack of vitamin D. The supplementation of vitamin D to patients, alleviates muscle pain arising. The researchers also concluded that those who have non-specific musculoskeletal pain, constantly, need to undergo screening for the deficiency of vitamin D.

2. Inhaling aroma of green apples

Research carried out "the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation" in Chicago, USA, instruct the participants - who at the same time being migraine pain - to sniff the smell test tube containing a green apple. The results showed that the condition of those who inhale the smell of green apples is improved compared with those who do not inhale the smell of green apples. The researchers assume, given by the aroma of green apples able to compensate for muscle contractions that occur in the head and neck, thus providing a sense of relief in the head. In previous studies, the smell of green apples are also found to be against anxiety.

3. Meditating

The effectiveness of meditation in relieving pain without the side effects have been revealed in several studies. The experts in this field think, meditate for about one hour can help relieve pain. Research also shows that meditation can improve brain activity in areas such as the anterior cingulate cortex, anterior insula, and orbito-frontal cortex. These three areas are part of the brain in charge of mapping the various forms of pain received by the brain from the nerve signals to various parts of the body.

4. Balneotherapy

Balneotherapy is not something strange, because it has been practiced since ancient times. The term "balneo" comes from the Latin word "balneum" which means bath. Balneotherapy is a kind of hydrotherapy, where the treatment is done by using a mineral water bath or hot water. Mineral water, which is used is formed of magnesium sulfate or Epsom salts, is capable of flexing muscles. Both magnesium and sulfate, a mineral that is easily absorbed by the skin, and studies have shown that the amount of magnesium in the body will increase after a shower using plenty of water containing Epsom salt. In addition, balneotherapy can also increase blood circulation and relieve inflammation.

5. Magnetic Therapy

Magnetic therapy is a method of minimal risk, which use magnetic fields for therapeutic purposes (treatment). This therapy can stimulate the healing process and affect the quality of sleep in a positive way. Researchers from the University of Virginia showed that the magnetic field strength is being able to help reduce swelling if applied immediately after injury. Swelling is basically caused by the dilation of blood vessels and magnets are believed capable of restricting blood flow to the injured area.

6. Chromotherapy

Chromotherapy is a kind of other natural therapies, effective pain relief using the techniques of color. Those who believe and support the chromotherapy argues that the origins of various diseases or health conditions can be mapped by looking at the lack of a specific color in the human body system. The way it works is to emit a color to the body to help fight health imbalances, and the color blue is believed to be able to effect a fresh, relaxed, and soothing and can be used to relieve pain.

7. Breathing techniques

Relaxation by drawing deep breaths can help relieve headaches, back pain, joint pain, and pain caused by cancer. Breathing techniques can be used to relieve the mind so that the body aches can be reduced, this can occur by considering the relationship between mind and body. This technique is capable of incorporating elements such as body awareness, breathing, movement, and meditation in one stream. Even more encouraging, in addition to easy and can be done anywhere, this therapy does not cost anything.

The trick, breathe for a count of four, try to fill your lungs with air from below to above by pushing your stomach, then followed until it reaches the bottom of the rib cage and finally make sure your chest is full of witchcraft air, hold for three seconds, then exhale. Breathing can distract you from the pain.

Some pain will come and go, and some will not disappear. If it happens, it means you need to get treatment against pain.