There’s no star power here, but many of them are solid rotation players for NBA teams.
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Saturday, April 30, 2016
Thunder or Spurs: Who has better fans?
Former NBA player Eddie Johnson breaks down who has the better fan base, the Spurs or the Thunder.
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Friday, April 29, 2016
Billy Donovan showing he belongs in first NBA season
USA TODAY Sports’ Kevin Spain and Jeff Zillgitt sit down to discuss the success the Thunder coach had in this year.
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Shaughnessy Residences – 3- & 4-Bedroom Pre-Construction Marpole Townhomes by Alabaster
At a Glance
- Located at 8123 Shaughnessy Street
- 15 4-storey townhomes
- 3- & 4-bedroom floor plans
- ideal for families
- near schools, shopping, recreation, rapid transit
Traditional Architecture, Contemporary Interiors
From the developer of Osler Residences and Oak + Park, these 15 Marpole townhouses offer an attractive opportunity to enjoy the perks of living in a quiet residential South Vancouver neighbourhood. Near David Lloyd George Elementary and Sir Winston Churchill Secondary, an International Baccalaureate School, Shaughnessy Residences is an ideal location to raise a family.
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Shopping and leisure opportunities are close at hand. For groceries, choose from the new Safeway at Granville and 70th Avenue or the brand new T&T supermarket at Marine Gateway, where a new Cineplex has also opened. Oakridge Centre Mall and the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet are less than a 10-minute drive by car. Just five minutes away, the Marine Drive Canada Line station offers easy rapid transit access to YVR Airport and Downtown Vancouver. And to keep fit, enjoy Oak Park’s grass playing fields, tennis courts, baseball diamond, and walking trails.
Pricing for Shaughnessy Residences
Sales start May 2016. Sign up to our VIP list above to ensure you’re immediately informed of Shaughnessy Residences pricing as soon as they’re released. Alabaster’s recent project, Osler Residences, sold out quickly, so we expect the same level of interest for these spacious homes.
Floor Plans for Shaughnessy Residences
Alabaster has yet to release floor plan details for Shaughnessy Residences’ 3- and 4-bedroom townhomes.
Amenities at Shaughnessy Residences
Details have yet to be determined.
Parking and Storage
Alabaster has not released details, but we expect at least one underground parking stall per residence.
Maintenance Fees at Shaughnessy Residences
As this development is in pre-construction, maintenance fees have not yet been finalized.
Developer Team for Shaughnessy Residences
Alabaster Homes is a boutique Vancouver developer inspired by the city’s neighbourhoods. From the classic beauty of Shaughnessy to the urban energy of Oakridge, their vision is to enhance communities and create new legacies.
Alabaster has teamed up with Formwerks Architectural and Occupy Design to create Shaughnessy Residences. Formwerks has a reputation for sensitive, user-friendly architecture that embodies clients’ functional requirements within an artistic building form. Their experience ranges from single-family homes to multi-family projects and commercial buildings. Similarly, Occupy Design seeks to achieve the best experience for those using the spaces.
Expected Completion for Shaughnessy Residences
To be announced.
Are you interested in learning more about other homes in Marpole, South Vancouver, or near the Cambie Corridor?
Check out these great Marpole presales!
The post Shaughnessy Residences – 3- & 4-Bedroom Pre-Construction Marpole Townhomes by Alabaster appeared first on Vancouver Real Estate by Mike Stewart 604-763-3136.
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Arne Vancouver – 20 Danish-Inspired Mount Pleasant Pre-Construction Townhomes by MONDEVO
At a Glance
- located at 321 East 16th Avenue
- courtyard-separated, 3-storey twin buildings
- 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom contemporary townhomes
- 29 area transportation options
- 115 nearby eateries
- boutiques, cafes, shops within walking distance
- close to parks, schools, churches
Danish-Inspired Modernity
Arne by MONDEVO is a boutique collection of twenty Mount Pleasant townhomes with a clean, warm expression that balances architectural modernity with flexible layouts. Its floor space ratio, open courtyard layout, outdoor stroller lockers, and proximity to a park with a playground make this development ideal for young families. Arne’s first two storeys are a very crisp cube in white brick veneer, with form and material emphasizing the individuality of each dwelling. The upper storey is a more subtle, contrasting expression of metal faux wood siding that recedes from view, giving the impression of a smaller external facing.
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Situated in eclectic Mount Pleasant, vibrant Main Street, with its wide assortment of independent businesses, is just outside your doorstep. From bakeries, cafes, and eateries, to boutiques, shops, and professional services, here is where you’ll find your everyday needs. Nearby parks, schools, Mount Pleasant Community Centre, Science World, and False Creek ensure families need not travel far for their educational and recreation needs. To venture further afield, frequent trolley bus service on Main Street is a popular way for neighbourhood residents to conveniently access other parts of the city.
Pricing for Arne
As this development is in pre-construction, details are still forthcoming. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to buy into Arne. Subscribe to our VIP list above for priority announcements.
Floor Plans for Arne
Although MONDEVO has not published any plans for Arne, there will be a mix of flexible layouts for nine 1-bedroom units with private patios on the ground floor, two 2-bedroom homes, and nine 3-bedroom townhomes with rooftop patios.
Amenities at Arne
A central courtyard with a hopscotch design will act as a community social space where children can be easily supervised while playing outside in a secure environment. Each ground level home will have private outdoor patios that are planted and screened to accommodate barbecues. Townhomes will offer relaxing rooftop patios. For more open spaces, Tea Swamp Park is on the next block and Robson Park is three blocks northeast.
Parking and Storage
Resident parking will be available in one level of underground. Six Class B bike stalls are slated for the front, east-side yard, and there will be outdoor stroller lockers.
Maintenance Fees at Arne
As with pricing, these are to be determined.
Developer Team for Arne
MONDEVO and b Squared Architecture, who brought us the successful Skala development just one block away, have partnered to demonstrate, yet again, artful homebuilding.
Vancouver-based MONDEVO combines cutting-edge design and smart floor-planning to create highly functional, stunning homes that exude urban sophistication. b Squared Architecture is a young Vancouver design firm that was founded in 2005. Their penchant for crisp, modern design has attracted the accolades of a young and optimistic client base. In 2008, b Squared was awarded the BC Wood Works Award for the Multi-Family Division.
Expected Completion for Arne
Date pending.
Are you interested in learning more about other homes in Mount Pleasant, East False Creek, or the Cambie Corridor?
Check out these great Mount Pleasant presales!
The post Arne Vancouver – 20 Danish-Inspired Mount Pleasant Pre-Construction Townhomes by MONDEVO appeared first on Vancouver Real Estate by Mike Stewart 604-763-3136.
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Friday Links
– Cardboard ‘Landmark’ play houses for small pets (via designboom)
– Exciting? Dyson Hair Dryer
– Radio: How ArchDaily began
– The real reasons you procrastinate — and how to stop
– The Power of Ten by Charles and Ray Eames (just a reminder)
– The 10 best jobs for introverts (so says Business Insider, I’d like to add ‘design blogger’ to the list)
– ‘Ghostbusters’: Then and Now
– Smart: Traveller T-Shirt
Enjoy your weekend!
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Case Study Planters
You just can’t go wrong with a Case Study Planter; they’re a classic choice. There’s no drainage hole, so they’re ideal for indoors (place your plant with its plastic sleeve inside the planter, so excess water may drain). Plus, with a choice between metal and wood stands and a variety of ceramic colors and sizes, you’re sure to find just the right home for your green friends. A smaller size might be a an excellent Mother’s Day gift, perhaps?
Case Study Apex Planter with Metal Stand, $125.00
Case Study Bowl Planter with Metal Stand, $99.00 -$330.00
Also available directly from Modernica.
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Coloring Washi Tape
Um, say goodbye to your productivity, because there’s patterned Washi Tape that you can color. Now you have an excellent excuse to give people gifts, and those gifts don’t even have to be particularly special or amazing, because you colored the tape with your own two freaking hands. You’ll have to make a point of this or else your hard work will be ignored and forgotten, and that is just not acceptable.
– Assorted Paterns / Picked At Random.
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TNT wrestling match: Charles Barkley vs. Shaquille O'Neal
Courtesy of Jarrett Jack‘s Instagram, we have footage of a wrestling match between Inside the NBA analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal Thursday night. Based on size, age and WWE experience, you would think Shaq would come out victorious. Not the case.
For the record, this is not the first Barkley-Shaq fight. There was a real one on an NBA court back in the day.
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Pau Gasol: Spurs would be an interesting option for me
Earlier this week, Grizzlies center Marc Gasol went on the record saying he would like brother Pau to join the Spurs in free agency this coming summer.
Now we’re getting Spurs talk straight from the horse’s mouth. In an article for Spanish newspaper Marca, the free agent forward admits San Antonio would be an interesting destination for him.
“There’s talk about passing of the torch with San Antonio and a hypothetical passing of the torch with Duncan,” Gasol wrote. “For starters, nobody knows if Tim is retiring and he’s somebody whom I have maximum respect for. In closing, I have to admit the Spurs would be an interesting option for me. I recognize I’m a fan of the way the franchise has done things over the years and the way they play basketball on the court.”
The Spurs took part in the Pau Gasol sweepstakes a couple of years ago, but the Spanish big man opted for the Chicago Bulls instead.
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NBA A to Z: Billy Donovan's success story
Not many coaches have made the leap from college to the NBA and been successful right off the bat. Jeff Zillgitt, USA Today NBA reporter, sat down with one of those guys, Billy Donovan of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The two discuss the move Donovan made, what he’s learned on the job and his relationship with Thunder stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
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London Marathon: Charlotte’s story
After Charlotte finished her first marathon on Sunday, I asked her to share some words here. Here’s her advice to budding marathoners.
Last Sunday I joined the ranks of London marathon finishers. I ran a consistent pace all the way, and even persuaded my tired legs to speed up fractionally at the end, whilst raising £2300 for Age UK in the process. Here are some of the steps on my journey to first-time marathon runner.
To begin
– Relax (but make a plan and see it through). I dreaded the miles and hours on my training plan, but in the end I loved training almost as much as the big day. Laura wrote my plan for me, and then I just had to make sure to tick it off, one run at a time.
That may not sound too thrilling but setting a mini-goal of ticking off a run and achieving it gives a little boost of self-confidence, and four of those little boosts a week added up to a brilliant feeling. In addition, I have a busy job as do a lot of people who decide to run a marathon, and fitting in my runs made me more efficient and organised in the rest of my life.
Running your first marathon is hard. All those months of training were essential to get me through some of the tougher miles on the big day. It was only because of my training that I knew in the tough moments that I could keep calm, keep going and I would be fine.
To prepare
-Be kind to yourself. Remember you are demanding a lot of your body in the crucial training months, so the nicer you are to it the better.
I missed runs on my plan and I even missed two weeks due to illness; if that happens, stay calm. Part of being kind to yourself means not beating yourself up when you have a bad run.
One of my favourite discoveries of building up running fitness is those fleeting moments when body and mind seem to synch up perfectly in that particular moment and running feels so easy and free. Some runs feel like dragging two sacks of lead instead of legs. Without the bad runs, there would not be the good ones.
– Enjoy it. I went to Laura’s running groups; being in a group and having a chat was a much more pleasant way to get through some intervals or hill training. Make long runs an excuse for being out for a few hours on a weekend, in my case this meant discovering London’s tow paths or parks. Stop and rest if you fancy, take a detour to check out an interesting sight if you want, plot a route that ends in a pub if you need, just enjoy it.
-You are what you repeatedly do. One of the most powerful things I have learned over the past few months is that I can change how I think of myself. One of the hangovers of never being very good at sports in school is that, when it came to physical activity, I always mentally defined myself as the girl squirming in her hockey skirt trying to avoid the ball, probably cold and being rained on.
Because of all those hours of training and ticking off my completed runs, noticing my legs getting stronger and my body finding previously unthinkable distances manageable, I started calling myself ‘a runner’, ‘fit’ and ‘sporty’ in my head. The amazing thing is that as soon as I told myself those words, I actually did it. Now I can say that I am a ‘marathon runner’ and there is no way I am going back to thinking of myself as the asthmatic at the back of cross country class.
-People. Whilst fundraising and posting about my training, I spoke to a lot of people. People’s imaginations are sparked by a marathon – it certainly caught mine – and they have been so interested and supportive. There are also the people I have met, whether through running groups or charity training days.
Even my best friend Marty has very stoically become a regular training partner, not to mention a great runner, and paced me through many a tempo run; and the hardy Welsh fell runners in my family have started to see me in a different light. This equates to a sum total of fantastic positive reactions which make me feel privileged and excited in equal measure.
The Big Day
The hype is not wrong; London is a brilliant marathon. Running across Tower Bridge, having just spotted my Mum and Dad in the crowd, I felt absolutely unstoppable. As strangers shouted my name I learned that running and trying not to cry is challenging, and finishing in the mall made me feel like a much slower, more tired, Paula Radcliffe.
I did cry at the finish, due, in equal parts to: sheer exhaustion; the emotion of having prepared for something for a long time then actually just bloody doing it; and the reality of having to hobble the short distance to meet my friends and family.
Everyone is different, but in my experience, as great as the day was, the run up to the marathon is just as good. I think all those miles have certainly changed me for the better and, I would like to hope, permanently.
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Chiropractors, Blind Pigs, and Acorns
When people are at the end of their life they like to pass on their life lessons. One thing I have never had a patient say is “Doc I sure wish I had spent more time at work.”
I try and keep that in mind, but then there are those work commitments that are hard to avoid. I need to have a talk with Dr’s Gorski and Novella. No one should have write a blog entry any week their team is in the play-offs. The Blazers were not meant to win more than 25 games, much less be the 5th seed in the West with a chance to make the conference finals. I know. Trailblazers fans are not always grounded in reality. But we are up on the Clippers 3–2 and heading home to close out the series tonight. For the record I wrote the preceding sentence during the game 5 tip-off. I really should not have to do any work this week. Basketball is simply more important.
Case reports are a tradition in medicine. Usually they are unique or unusual cases, diseases you are unlikely to see but once in a career, if that. There are all sorts of medical curiosities that need to be reported. I have a blog over at Medscape devoted to Infectious Disease case reports.
Some case reports, however, inspire eye rolls and sniggers. Why are these even reported?
Take Cellulitis of the Knee in a 16-Month-Old Boy: A Case Report.
Somehow it is worth killing a tree to discuss a child with cellulitis, a common a disease, in a chiropractic journal.
A diagnosis of cellulitis was rendered based on the presentation of the rapidly spreading erythema and radiographically confirmed findings.
Sorry. Any one who knows anything about cellulitis would not get an x-ray to confirm a diagnosis of cellulitis. And I take water is wet, fire is hot for 500 Alex:
This case demonstrated that for this young patient with cellulitis of the knee, timely recognition and referral, together with patient or parent education and immediate treatment, were essential to a successful outcome.
Really. My god. Who would have thought proper medical care for the treatment of an acute infection? For chiropractic, the most mundane of medical cases is considered worthy of publication. It shows that chiropractors either have zero experience of cellulitis or no publishing standards, not that the two are mutually exclusive.
You learn early in medicine that patients never read the textbook. Actual disease presentation is often very different from the typical case you learn about in lectures and books.
Angina, for example, is classically heavy, substernal chest pain radiating to the neck and down the left arm brought on by exertion. Angina, by the way, means neck pain in latin. I once had a patient who only had exertional left wrist pain as the only manifestation of angina, quite the language/anatomy disconnect. Everyone knows the presentation of angina, and of all diseases, is as often atypical as typical. It is part of what makes medicine difficult.
Except for Presentation of Coronary Artery Disease in a Chiropractic Clinic: A Report of 2 Cases by Captain Obvious.
Patients may present for chiropractic care with what appears to be musculoskeletal chest pain when the pain may be generating from coronary artery disease necessitating medical and possibly emergency care.
It does make one worry how many coronary artery patients have been missed if chiropractors need to be reminded of information learned in the 4th year of medical school.
Unfortunately chiropractors are 4 years of medical school and residency short of medical training, which is why they need to be reminded to consider imaging for patients with unexplained focal neurologic symptoms.
Examination showed slow gait with a lack of arm swing, bilateral hip flexors and knee extensors were all graded as 4/5 on muscle testing, and cranial nerve examination was unremarkable with the exception of 2 beats of nystagmus on left lateral eye movement. Because of these findings and a family history of multiple sclerosis, the patient was referred for a brain magnetic resonance imaging scan… Imaging showed a craniocervical junction mass centered at the floor of the fourth ventricle with obstruction of foramina and marked impingement on the medulla.
It is the purpose of medical case reports to make other clinicians aware of unusual manifestations of diseases. Or in the case of these reports, remind the oblivious chiropractor of the medically obvious.
Or the patient who has a ““crunch-like” sound” and sudden onset of 7/10 neck pain. Crunching sounds from bone should make one cautious. That would be an impressive presentation of a subluxation. Let’s try
Axial compression of 2–3 lbs of pressure did not contribute to or alleviate his symptoms. Cervical traction was painful.
Mucking about on a crunchy neck with no diagnosis. Gives me the willies. Nothing bad happened to the patient, which is lucky since since the patient had a burst fracture of C4 from myeloma without the typical findings. They conclude
This case should serve as a reminder that in some circumstances, orthopaedic tests may be of limited clinical value. Practitioners need to be diligent in their clinical assessment of patients to be aware of subtle signs of disease processes.
Which is difficult when you have no real training in medicine.
Or
A tall thin 25-year-old male anxiously presented to a chiropractic clinic with six days of sudden unexplained left thorax pain. His breathing was laboured and his dry cough aggravating.
Is it worth presenting a classic case of spontaneous pneumothorax for chiropractors? I suppose they are so short for real medical knowledge anything would help.
One case report was published only because it supports the contention that chiropractors do not cause stroke, but they can recognize it. As a providers who allege they are expert in the nervous system, one would think they would recognize a stroke in progress. I guess not, since it was worth publishing Vertebral artery dissection in evolution found during chiropractic examination.
Or be wary of metastatic breast cancer.
The aim of this case is to heighten awareness of the presentation of metastasis to the brain and the spine in a chiropractic patient.
What an insight. Cancer metastasis can show up late? Who knew? I mean besides everyone with an MD/DO/NP/RN but not DC after their name.
Not all case reports are diagnostic triumphs worthy of a medical student on their first clinical rotation. One chiropractor sat on a acute appendicitis for two weeks, the patient “was treated with soft tissue therapy (?)” and eventually diagnosed with a
phlegmonous appendicitis. After a failed trial of conservative care (antibiotics and fluids), he required an emergency hemicolonectomy due to the massive inflammation that encased and adhered the ruptured appendix and ileum, to the abdominal wall.
Diagnosing an acute appendix can be difficult for trained physicians, much less chiropractors with no experience because
physical tests taught in the chiropractic curriculum may be antiquated. As such, it is pertinent that chiropractors co-manage patients who present with complaints that may be visceral in origin.
Co-manage? Why on earth would you need a chiropractor for an abdominal complaint of any origin? Chiropractors would add nothing. The correct phrase should be “it is pertinent that chiropractors have no business managing patients who present with complaints that may be visceral in origin.”
These reports never seem to mention specifically whether spinal manipulation was done. It makes me wonder if manipulation was not done or not reported due to embarrassment.
These are all be interesting cases. If you were teaching 4th year medical students with zero clinical experience.
But these cases are directed towards practicing chiropractors to make them aware of diseases that are bread and butter for real medicine. The editors of the journals felt that such papers would be of value to their readers. Maybe they should start with I Am Joe’s Body for supplemental information. It would be age appropriate for those that found these case reports valuable.
And remember, chiropractors are agitating to be primary care providers.
These case reports confirm chiropractor’s understanding of basic medicine is every bit as lacking as you would expect from their education and training, just what you want in a PCP. At least in Oregon.
Over the years I have had casual conversations with chiropractors as patients or at social events, situations where I try to be less snarky. It is not uncommon for them to mention the one medical case they diagnosed, demonstrating their medical competence. Color me unimpressed.
Even a blind chiropractor gets an diagnosis once in a while.
By the way. I had a patient years ago who was literally a blind chiropractor. He assured me he could still read the spine x-rays, that he could sense the energy signature of the subluxation. True story. And one of the few times in my life I was speechless.
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Thursday, April 28, 2016
Quick Link: 5 Cases of Dangling Modifiers
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Difference between Blinds and Curtains
Before you start looking for window coverings, it’s important that you understand the difference between binds and curtains. Read below to learn more.
Blinds – Blinds are not just about keeping heat in but they are a means to filter light in and out of the room. Blinds are a great way of stopping direct light coming into the house, without blocking out the view or making it feel like night time. Blinds are mostly installed inside the home but they don’t have to be. Blinds can be made of Wood, Aluminium, Fabric and plastic. Blinds usually come down across the window horizontally from a cord or pulley
Curtains – Curtains are all about keeping warmth inside the home, blocking out the sun from over heating the house, privacy and protecting your house and furniture from fading. Curtains are about light, keeping it in or keeping it out.
Curtains are always installed on the Inside of the House and comes across the window vertically. Source: Quora
Blinds -From translucent roller blinds to romans and timber venetians, the enduring beauty of blinds is their ability to control light – and disappear when required. “Roller blinds are a great solution for achieving light control with minimal design impact,” says Andrea D’Cruz. A less-formal style of window treatment, they tend to be relegated to family areas, where blockout styles offer UV protection by day and added insulation at night. Motorised roller or panel glides also make them easy to control over large spaces. While see-through styles diffuse light without losing the view, in winter, “The most important thing is to make a large room feel cosy,” says Paul Hecker, who often layers blinds beneath curtains. He prefers soft roman blinds, which can be sheer, textured or bonded with a blockout fabric.
Curtains – Whether you like heavy drapes or soft sheers that billow in the breeze, “Curtains can be used to frame a window, layer a room or add warmth, movement and texture,” says Paul Hecker, director of Hecker Guthrie. Traditionally kept to bedrooms and formal living areas, there’s a growing trend for sheer and motorised curtains in open-plan living spaces. The most style-savvy homeowners are also embracing muted colours and folk- and floral-inspired prints. “We will be seeing a shift towards ‘beautiful’ fabrics and a softness that moves us away from minimalism,” says Toby Gray, director of BQ Design. Organic grey shades now offer a modern update on cream and white, and richer hues can be introduced to complement a room’s colour palette. The only rule? “Curtains should always touch the floor,” says Paul. Source: Homelife
If you want to enhance your home’s interior with new window coverings, make sure you come and visit us here.
Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9
Canada
Phone: (604) 559-1988
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Which is better: Western Red Cedar or Yellow Cedar
If you are considering a custom home there are numerous decisions you have to make including what type of logs and timbers to build with? When building a custom home, it’s very important to select the best wood species for your project in order to maximize overall durability, while minimizing cost. Today we are going to look at two of the most popular types of cedar, Western Red Cedar and Alaskan Yellow Cedar. Known for their rich aromatic and being highly decay resistant We will look at the advantages and disadvantages of building with each and the costs associated.
Western Red Cedar
Western Red Cedar is also known for their flared butt ends that offers a unique character to many log homes both inside and outside. If you like this type of look and feel for your home western red cedar may be the best type of timber for your home. If you don’t particularly like this look you can still use red cedar without flared ends.
Alaskan Yellow Cedar (also known as Cypress)
Considerably harder when dry than most commercial softwoods, and therefore much stronger, AYC has excellent strength and wear properties as well as great impact resistance. It is suitable for all types of joinery and carpentry due to its appearance, durability and easy working characteristics. This wood is so easy to work that it has become prized for applications such as joinery and carpentry, decorative panelling, furniture, mouldings and cabinetwork. It also withstands constant wear and load impacts without forming ridges or splitting, and does not splinter.
One of the disadvantages of Alaskan Yellow Cedar is the ability to sourcing large diameter high quality wood. For this reason many builders choose red cedar over yellow cedar.
Cost Comparison: Western Red Cedar vs Alaskan Yellow Cedar
This chart compares the average cost of Western Red Cedar vs. Alaskan Yellow Cedar depending on the style of timber home you choose:
| Western Red Cedar |
Western Red Cedar w/Flared Ends |
Alaskan Yellow Cedar | |
| Full Scribe | $55-$75 | $65-85 | $50-$60 |
| Post & Beam | $40-$65 | $45-$70 | $35-$55 |
| Timber Frame | $55-$65 | N/A | $40-$55 |
We hope this has given you a better understanding of the differences between the two cedar options available, and why we choose Western Red Cedar. If you have any specific questions we would be happy to discuss them. Please feel free to email us: info@artisanlog.com.
If you would like to know more about the cost associated with building your custom log home you may want to read these articles as well:
- What are the best logs for building my log home?
- How Much Do Log Homes Cost
- How Much Does It Cost To Transport and Export a Log Home
- The Difference Between Timber Frame, Post and Beam and Full Scribe Log Homes
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Types of Bathroom Vanities and Their Benefits
Bathroom vanities are extremely useful and are the best addition to bathroom decor. If you’re planning to have one of these, then here are a few ideas for you.
Glass Bathroom Vanity
At any clear finish or frosted tempered glass provides a single, sleek and modern, as well as the set of bathroom vanities. This is one of the easiest surfaces to clean and has very good tolerance of heat does not dissolve or burn, if you forget the curling iron out! Tempered glass isalso a non-porous surface, bacteria and germs have no place to grow, which is hygienic and resistant to stains. Another advantage of glass is that you will not need to worry about communication with your bath or color, because it is a different material, each device color (white or bone) game. Finally, the most dramatic for the bathroom remodeling project to install lights beneath the surface of tempered glass to add. Source: ModernBathroom
Double Bathroom Vanity
Double sink vanities are often seen in home design magazines. They are extremely stylish and provide a fantastic combination of form and function. Double sinks look great when they fit the dimensions of the room nicely; they also provide personal space in the bathroom for individuals living together in the same house. A bathroom vanity with two sinks is very practical. Two people can save a considerable amount of time just by having two sinks in one bathroom. The basic components of a double sink vanity include the countertop, cabinet, basins, fixtures, and hardware such as knobs and drawer pulls. You have two options, you can look for each item individually or you can look at furniture style complete vanities. Source: Ezine
Floating Bathroom Vanity
The main advantage of a floating vanity is the illusion of space it creates in the room; the room seems bigger because of the light that passes beneath it. In a small bathroom where space is already a premium, adding strip or spot lighting beneath the floating vanity helps to enhance the illusion of additional space. It also makes the bathroom less cluttered and simpler, rendering it easier to keep clean, a plus in any home. Source: Home
While selecting vanities for your home, you need to consider several things such as the size of the bathroom, as well as your budget along with the rest of decor. If you want more suggestions, please contact us here.
Contact Us:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com
The post Types of Bathroom Vanities and Their Benefits appeared first on Perfect Bath Canada.
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Rockets post-mortem: What went wrong and how they can fix it
Nothing could have summed up the Rockets’ horrific season better than Dwight Howard hoisting up a three-pointer in the final seconds of Game 5 – down 33 points to a Warriors team playing without the best player in the world, Stephen Curry. After all the reported chemistry issues between Howard and James Harden, firing Kevin McHale 11 games into the season and struggling to make the playoffs, losing to the Warriors in 4-1 in the postseason again feels almost like a cruel twist of fate. After so much optimism following last year’s conference finals run, the most recent loss will likely put an end to an era of Rockets basketball that was supposed to last much longer.
From top down, the Rockets are built to be an outlier. A team different from everybody else, aggressively pursuing every advantage in their grasp, from player personnel decisions to the way the team plays on the court. The Rockets shoot by far the fewest mid-range jumpers per game, attempting just 11.0 per contest while the league average is twice as high. They also led the league in corner three-pointers, and ranked near the top of the league in paint points and drives per game. The Harden trade was among the best trades ever made by an NBA team, and it’s clear that an incredibly amount of care and thought goes into the way Houston operates.
On the flip side, the Rockets and general manager Daryl Morey are often vilified (perhaps unfairly) because of their perceived lack of emphasis on chemistry and continuity, only chasing talent and star power. People have criticized both Howard and Harden for their lack of leadership, and pointed to the acquisition of Ty Lawson during the summer as another example of the Rockets placing too much stock in talent over chemistry.
Interestingly, the problem for the Rockets this season is extremely straightforward from a statistical point of view. Offensively, the team was great ranking 8th in efficiency at 105.5 points per 100 possessions. Despite all the talk about how Harden hogs the ball and Howard never gets touches, the Rockets were better than they were the previous year when they made the conference finals. In fact, in 2014-15 the Rockets defense was actually better than their offense, ranking 6th in efficiency compared to being 12th on the offensive end. Unfortunately, Houston was a horrible defensive team this season, ranking as the ninth worst defense allowing 105.6 points per 100 possessions.
The biggest question the Rockets have to answer is what went wrong with the defense, and how does that influence where the team goes next. Championship teams tend to be near or in the Top 5 in both offense and defense, and just a year ago the Rockets were pretty close to that mark.
NBA defense has gone through several different transformations over the past few years – from the way big men drop down to the foul line to contain the pick-and-roll, to overloading the strong side and employing schemes that incorporate more and more switching. Especially this season, it’s become increasingly clear that there are multiple ways of building a great defense, almost regardless of individual talent. In team schemes, how many points an offensive player scores on his defender says almost nothing about said defender, because doing the right things within the team concept is the best way to make your defense better. The best examples of this are the Hornets, Celtics and Hawks, teams that managed to build a great defense despite not having an obviously intimidating rim protector. Each built their defense on different principles. The Hornets stopping all transition baskets, Celtics applying crazy pressure on the perimeter and Hawks’ defense working around the versatility of Paul Millsap.
Being a great defense is about communication, execution, precision and effort before talent – or at least it can be under the right coaching and commitment from players. But this season, the Rockets showed none of the qualities that make up a good defense. Harden may the international Vine star of the team with his mistakes and laziness, but he’s just the tip of the iceberg of the Rockets’ problems.
As recently as the 2014-15 season, Howard was still an incredible defender, one of only three or four players in the league who could guarantee a Top 10 defense no matter the talent around him. Even if Howard was just 85 percent the player he was with Orlando. With Howard on the court, the Rockets allowed just 97.0 points per 100 possessions, which would have ranked the team as the best defense in the league that year, and just below the historically great defense of the Spurs this season. And after posting those numbers, even with the health concerns there was reason to believe Howard was still easily a max player, especially considering the strong playoff performances he’d put on.
Howard completely disappeared this season, and it made practically no difference whether he was on the court or not. Howard posted his lowest PER since his rookie season, and his offensive game has now deteriorated where he is a clear minus on that end. With a 18.3 percent usage rate, Howard was responsible for the lowest number of his team’s possessions since Howard’s rookie year and ranked 228th in the league overall. In his best seasons in Orlando, you’d see Howard blow up a pick-and-roll at the three-point line and recover to the rim to block the ball on plays where you’d say to yourself “How can anyone score with that guy on the court?” This year, Howard ranked 96th among 125 players with over 200 plays defended at the rim, allowing opponents to shoot 49.7 percent at the basket. At the very least, Howard could always make the defense respectable. And while he isn’t bad, Howard certainly isn’t the singular answer to a team’s defensive woes.
That being said, the Rockets perimeter defense hasn’t done anything to put Howard in a position to succeed. Harden, of course, does whatever he wants. Jason Terry can’t stop anyone. Lawson was a disaster during his time. More notably, however, both Corey Brewer and Trevor Ariza are among the most overrated defenders in the NBA. Brewer mainly due to causing havoc and doing a ton of active-looking stuff, Ariza because he looks the part of a lengthy wing defender who can switch and cover ground.
Brewer is a horrible defender, and among the most frustrating players to watch off the ball. Brewer is out of position with such frequency, and gets backdoor cut so often, that it feels like he’s doing the wrong thing as a matter of principle. Ariza works fine is certain situations, but he’s not mobile enough to get around picks and is at his worst chasing shooters – something the Rockets made him do to start Game 5 against the Warriors and ended up in Klay Thompson raining three-pointers on the Rockets.
Corey Brewer overreaction
The Rockets have no discipline defensively and starting from the team’s leader, who was actually respectable the year before, everyone on the roster has to be better. Individually, taking pride in playing within the team concept both with effort and better execution.
Rockets disorganized defensive play of the year
The play above is a perfect example of a “What went wrong with the Rockets’ defense”. Beverley fails to show any effort on two drives to the rim on the same possession, Capela runs out to a shooter in a superbly lazy closeout, no one has any idea where they are supposed to stand and rotate to. In the entire possession, you won’t find one defender in a proper stance. I couldn’t diagram, draw or explain the reasons behind why any of the Rockets players are doing anything, and it’s obvious neither can JB Bickerstaff or anyone on the floor.
WHAT’S NEXT?
On the court, Howard and Harden paired together made perfect sense. Running spread pick-and-roll with shooters all around them was a sure-fire way of becoming a great offense. Pushing the ball and turning transition opportunities into corner three-pointers and getting to the foul line is smart. Howard could man the defense, and with tall and long wing players and a switch-heavy scheme, the Rockets could build a great modern defense.
Reality turned into something else entirely. Howard doesn’t command the gravity of a DeAndre Jordan on the pick-and-roll, the Rockets were never able to find multiple good shooters to surround them with and we were forced to watch Brewer (and Josh Smith) brick endless jumpers. Howard declined really quickly, and those long wing players couldn’t stop anyone on the perimeter and were prone to simple mistakes.
At the very top of the NBA, the margin for error is none, and while Harden is an awesome player who instantly makes an offense go, pure talent isn’t enough to compete with the best. The best player on a team has to set an example, and Harden coming into the season overweight and not ready to play was a sign that he didn’t handle the relative success well. Harden loudly proclaimed himself deserving of the MVP award, but it was the actual winner who came into the season with something to prove and better than ever.
The general manager of the Warriors, Bob Myers, emphasized this point at the this year’s Sloan Sports Conference: “If Steph Curry, who won a championship, does the same thing this year that he did last year and acts the same way… you better believe everyone else is going to get in line.”
If Harden doesn’t begin the lead by example, the Rockets ceiling will always be short of a championship.
Like most teams in the rising cap environment, Houston will have max cap space this summer, and the first interesting domino to fall will be Howard likely declining his $23 million player option to hit the open market. Despite the fact that Howard had a bad year, it’s more than likely that he’ll opt out due to being dissatisfied with the way the Rockets have used him on the court, the chemistry issues with Harden, and the fact that during a summer when everyone has cap space, you’ll likely see desperate teams throw out money they’ll regret spending later.
Before the season, the Rockets looked to be overflowing with frontcourt depth. Clint Capela had broken out in the playoffs with Donatas Motiejunas injured. Motiejunas himself had a great season and emerged as one of the league’s best post-up bigs and playmakers from the elbows. Terrence Jones was a surprise with incredible rim protection stats and was in the process of extending his range to the three-point line. Howard not being on the roster wasn’t going to be the worst thing in the world, and the frontcourt depth should have allowed the Rockets to look for a Howard trade to bolster their young talent on the wing and in the backcourt.
Since then, Motiejunas has been either injured or terrible, and Jones has fallen off a cliff in virtually every aspect of the game. Had the Rockets negotiated an extension with either last summer, both could have commanded starting salaries north of $10 million for sure. Both are entering restricted free agency this summer and the Rockets could easily find themselves in a position where they aren’t comfortable matching other offers. In Harden, Motiejunas, Jones, Capela and KJ McDaniels, the Rockets had a core of five promising young players. Potentially, one of the bigs could have been moved to acquire point guard talent if need be. Now, that core has been slashed to potentially just Harden and Capela, since McDaniels failed to crack the rotation (though being only 22, there’s still a chance for him).
Operating under the safe assumption that Howard isn’t coming back, the Rockets can potentially get up to over $40 million in cap space by renouncing Bird rights to their outgoing free agents. Al Horford would be the dream target, being a smart and versatile defender as well as a great locker room presence. About half the league is going to be competing for Horford, and so far the Celtics and Magic have been considered front runners, but if there’s anything the Rockets can do to get into the competition they will.
Replacing Howard with a younger and better version would be to go after Hassan Whiteside, but with the chemistry issues that have plagued the Rockets this season, Whiteside would seem an even more volatile option. A slightly less well-known but great option would be going after Ian Mahinmi of the Indiana Pacers, who had a career year and is a wonderful defender in the middle. Mahinmi is currently one of the most underrated players in the NBA and should have deserved buzz for Most Improved. The team that signs him next summer will most likely end up a huge winner.
On the wing, as better 3-and-D options than the Rockets have had, Courtney Lee is a solid possibility as a player who can work off the ball in catch-and-shoot situations, in addition to being a solid team and individual defender. Luol Deng would work as a slightly bigger version of Lee, and could play the majority of the minutes at power forward, being a clear upgrade on Ariza and Brewer at that position.
Harrison Barnes will be a restricted free agent, and his ability to defend power forwards and stretch the floor would fit perfectly with what the Rockets want to do. Fresh off what is going to be a deep playoff run where he’ll undoubtedly have good moments, Barnes is extremely likely to entice offers this summer that will sound absolutely ludicrous, perhaps even near max money. It would be highly unlikely for the Rockets to sign a player to a deal that is clearly above market value. The Rockets already have their ballhandler in Harden, and thus it seems unlikely they’d be in the mix for a point guard like Mike Conley. Other names in free agency that the Rockets could target are Joakim Noah, Jared Dudley and Ryan Anderson, but what’s clear is that unless the Rockets get a big unexpected hit, this year’s free agency is unlikely to change their fortunes.
Best case scenario for the Rockets would be to keep Motiejunas and/or Jones under fair contracts and hope both (or at least one) can get back to where they were a year ago. The offense isn’t going to be the problem next year either, and finding the right group of guys who can defend together as a unit could be enough for the Rockets to be quite competitive, perhaps even pushing one of the top teams in the first round of the playoffs. Hope McDaniels, Sam Dekker or Capela make an unexpected leap and that you can find an unexpected gem in the draft. Perhaps snag a restricted free agent or make a sneaky trade to get a young player whose team gave up on him too quick – a la Trail Blazers getting Moe Harkless for nothing.
It’s been reported that the Rockets will evaluate both Morey and Bickerstaff during the offseason. And after such a disastrous season, who could blame them? But what’s frustrating is that the Rockets were just an average defense away from being a very dangerous team, even if they were never going to be on the same level with the Spurs, Warriors, Cavaliers or Thunder. Being more disciplined and cutting out the stupid mistakes on defense would have already made a huge difference. Houston ranked last in the NBA in points allowed off of turnovers at 19.6, and similarly last in defensive rebounding percentage. Transition defense and rebounding (to an extent) is about executing correctly the basic fundamental aspects of the game. Failing at the easiest metrics to correct isn’t fault of the management, but the players on the court first and the coach second.
Mika Honkasalo is an NBA writer, geek, chart maker and most of all fan. He studies computer science and works in software development and business analytics. His writing can be found at Nylon Calculus and Vantage Sports, and you can find him on Twitter @mhonkasalo.
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Watch the Houston Rockets' depressing final play of the season once again
It was a long and sad season for the Houston Rockets, perhaps the most disappointing team in the NBA in 2015-16. Somewhat fittingly, the final play of the year was a pretty awful one in which Dwight Howard, who has made five threes in his 12-year pro career, took a pretty bad shot from beyond the arc.
More than likely, that was also Howard’s last shot as a Houston Rocket. The 6-foot-11 center looked out of sync with his teammates all year long and finished with an average of just 8.5 field goal attempts per game, his lowest mark since his rookie season. Howard made 62 percent of his shots, though, which was a career high.
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Are mice good models for understanding human disease? An evolutionary perspective
Perlman, Robert. (2016). “Mouse Models of Human Disease: An Evolutionary Perspective”. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, DOI: 10.1093/emph/eow014 Abstract: The use of mice as model organisms to study human biology is predicated on the genetic and physiological similarities between the species. Nonetheless, mice and humans have evolved in and become adapted to different environments and so, […]
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Playtype Notebooks and Postcards
You could use another notebook or two to jot down your brilliant ideas, yes? Especially if it/they had a pleasing abstract multi-colored illustration on their covers, right? Playtype has a set of notebooks and postcard books with the minimal designs you see here, so you’ll have no shortage of places to put your thoughts.
Made in Denmark by Copenhagen-based brand Playtype.
Set of three Notebooks, $18.00
A6 size, blank pages.
30 postcards, $16.00
A6 size.
from Better Living Through Design http://ift.tt/1QD1BlW
Warriors eliminate sluggish Rockets
USA TODAY Sports’ Sam Amick breaks down the Warriors series victory over the Rockets following Game 5.
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Penelope Lounge Chair
It seems like outdoor furniture is either really nice and super expensive or pretty cheap and not great quality. The Penelope Lounge Chair seems to fit comfortably in between those two extremes, as it is made from a powder-coated steel frame with handwoven waterproof plastic as its seat and back. Hairpin legs and a wide seat add modern styling to the otherwise minimal design. It’s stackable, too.
Material: Xiloplast weave (handwoven tubular plastic)
Dimensions: 30″w 28″d 27″h
Seat Height: 15″h
from Better Living Through Design http://ift.tt/1rC0fnu
Kobe Bryant and Ellen DeGeneres work together to prank a doctor
Ellen DeGeneres forces Kobe Bryant to pretend he has a huge sweat problem in a prank where he totally looks like a mad man. Strong acting by Kobe and even better direction by Ellen.
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Wednesday, April 27, 2016
What (if anything) does “natural” mean?
“When I use a word,” said Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more, nor less.”
Lewis Carroll, “Through the Looking Glass”
What does the term “natural” mean on a label? Does it mean anything? Should it mean anything? Good questions. And complicated ones, judging from the list of questions the FDA needs your help in answering.
The FDA has resisted defining “natural” in food product labeling, including whether foods that are genetically engineered, or contain genetically engineered ingredients, can use the term. Back in 1991, the agency set out to issue regulations but abandoned the effort and has since held to an informal policy that “natural” means
nothing artificial or synthetic (including color additives regardless of source) has been included in, or has been added to, a food that would not normally be expected to be in the food.
The only official legal requirement for using the description “natural” on a food label is that it not be misleading or false, which is forbidden by the Food, Drug & Cosmetics Act of 1938. In that appetite-suppressing way of statutory language, “food” is defined by the Act as
articles used for food or drink for man or other animals, chewing gum, and articles for used for components of any such article.
For regulatory purposes, dietary supplements are also considered foods in most cases.
The FDA’s informal policy leaves many issues unaddressed, including food production methods (such as the previously mentioned genetic engineering), use of pesticides and specific animal husbandry practices (such as non-medical use of antibiotics or caging young calves to make veal). Nor does the informal policy address food processing methods, like thermal technologies, pasteurization, and irradiation. And the FDA’s policy does not answer the question whether “natural” implies any nutritional or other health benefit.
This left the courts without much guidance when consumers brought lawsuits alleging they were misled by foods labeled “natural,” “all natural” or “100% natural.” Food companies have slapped the word on all manner of products that do not usually come to mind when thinking of nature: pizza, soda, cupcakes, cookies, enchiladas, chips, and bean dip. This alleged confusion elicited little sympathy from some judges, who told the plaintiffs to use a little common sense and read the label if they wanted to know what was rolled up in that enchilada.
In 2013, several courts stayed or dismissed class action lawsuits in cases raising the question whether GMO-containing foods can properly be labeled “natural,” pending an answer from the FDA. In response, the FDA declined, saying that it was too busy implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act and other tasks involving public health and safety and that the issue would be better determined if everyone, including the public and other agencies, had input, and not in the context of private litigation.
FTC and FDA tackle “natural”
The FDA regulates labeling of foods, dietary supplements, drugs and cosmetics, but the FTC regulates advertising of those products. Like the FDA, the FTC hasn’t defined “natural,” but rather takes a case-by-case approach, determining in each particular instance whether the use of “natural” in advertising is false or misleading.
On April 12th, the FTC announced four consent decrees and one administrative complaint against companies that market, not food, but skin care products, shampoos, and sunscreens online with claims that their products were “all natural” or “100% natural” (but not just plain old natural). These claims are false, according to the FTC, because the products contain synthetic ingredients.
The consent decrees prohibit misrepresentations that a product is “all-natural” or “100% natural.” In addition, the companies can’t misstate the extent to which any product contains natural or synthetic components, can’t make misleading claims about ingredients or composition, and can’t make deceptive representations about environmental or health benefits. The companies will need “competent and reliable” scientific evidence to substantiate any ingredient-related, environmental or health claims for their products. The complaint against California Naturel, the company that refused to settle with the FTC, seeks similar relief.
Twenty-five years after it took a stab at defining natural, the task is back on the FDA’s plate, prompted, in part, by four citizen petitions, three from the food industry and one from Consumers Union.
The Grocery Manufacturers Association, a trade association representing the food and consumer packaged goods industry, wants the FDA to issue a regulation saying it’s ok to label foods natural “that are or contain foods derived from biotechnology.” In other words, they don’t want GMO foods barred from using the term.
The consumer goods company Sara Lee Corp. filed a citizen petition asking the FDA to adopt a policy that jibes with that of the USDA, yet a third federal agency having a regulatory say in the use of the word “natural.” The FDA’s and USDA’s jurisdiction over food overlaps in a way that confuses even the experts, so it is small wonder that Sara Lee wants a coordinated policy.
According to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, “natural,” when used on meat and poultry products, means
- No synthetic ingredients, including flavoring, coloring or chemical preservatives.
- Not more than minimally processed, meaning traditional processes like smoking, roasting, freezing, drying, and fermenting are ok, but not solvent extraction, acid hydrolysis, and chemical bleaching.
- Qualified natural claims are ok, such as “all natural ingredients except dextrose and modified food starch.”
- The label must explain just what is meant by “natural”: that the food contains no artificial ingredients and is only minimally processed.
A third food industry petitioner, the Sugar Association, a trade association of sugar manufacturers, also wants consistency among agencies. Not surprisingly, the end result of this would be that sugar could be labeled “natural” because it doesn’t contain any synthetic ingredients and is minimally processed.
Consumers Union, a consumer protection activist organization, on the other hand, wants the FDA to flat out prohibit the term “natural” on food labels altogether. Their petition states that there is a “drastic” difference between the FDA’s position and “what people think the ‘natural’ label should mean.” They want the FDA to promulgate a rule saying
The term “natural,” or any derivation of the term, such as “naturally grown,” naturally sourced” or “from nature,” is vague and misleading and should not be used.
They’ve got stats to back up their position. According to the Consumer Reports National Research Center survey data, most consumers expect it to “mean much more than it does.”
- 66% think natural processed food products mean no toxic pesticides were used
- 65% think no chemicals were used during processing
- 64% think no GMOs were used
Even if that is not the case, consumers think it should be. When asked what they thought the term “natural” should mean,
- 87% believe no artificial materials or chemicals should be used during processing
- 86% believe no artificial ingredients or colors should be used
- 86% believe no toxic pesticides should be used
- 85% believe no GMOS should be used
Thus, in Consumers Union’s view, the food industry wants “natural” to mean something other than what consumers believe it does, or should, mean. Of course, consumers aren’t always well-versed on the actual risks involved when weighing in on matters of food policy. For example, various polls show that 80% or more of consumers support labeling GMOs. But a food preferences survey out of Oklahoma State’s Department of Agricultural Economics asked consumers about a hypothetical policy mandating labels for foods containing DNA. Eighty percent supported that idea too. A follow-up survey asked consumers whether they thought that the statement “all vegetables contain DNA” was true or false. Fifty-two percent said “false.”
FDA needs you
All of this leaves the FDA with a whole bunch of questions and they want the public to help them out. (You can post your comments through May 10th.) Some of the questions have a sort of final-exam-essay-question flavor to them, but bear with me. Here are a few:
- Should we define the term “natural?” Why or why not? [See what I mean?]
- Should we prohibit the term? Why or why not?
- Should only food in its raw or natural state, such as fruits “in their unpeeled natural form” use the term “natural?”
- Should it be allowed on only single ingredient foods, such as bottled water or bagged spinach?
- Should production practices, such as genetic engineering, mutagenesis, hybridization, the use of pesticides, or animal husbandry practices be a factor?
- What data or other information is there on whether consumers associate, confuse, or compare the term “natural” with “healthy”?
- Should manufacturing processes be considered? Should only unprocessed foods be included?
- What can be done to ensure that consumers have a consistent and accurate understanding of the term “natural” in food labeling to ensure that it is not misleading?
Here’s my take: if we expect “natural” to convey that a food is not GMO, was grown without pesticides, how many ingredients it has, what animal husbandry practices were used, whether mutagenesis or hybridization were involved, how it was manufactured or processed and whether it is healthy, we are asking too much of one little seven-letter word.
Synthetic biologist Terry Johnson, who teaches bioengineering at UC Berkeley, seems to agree with Consumers Union that “natural” has become meaningless, and further questions why things made by humans shouldn’t be considered “natural” anyway. In that sensible way of scientists who throw cold water on over-heated hype from people who don’t understand science, he says,
“Natural” is a word that has been used in so many contexts with so many different meanings that it’s become almost impossible to parse. Its most basic usage, to distinguish phenomena that exist only because of humankind from phenomena that don’t, presumes that humans are somehow separate from nature, and our works are un- or non-natural when compared to, say, beavers or honeybees.
When speaking of food, “natural” is even slipperier. It has different meanings in different countries, and in the US, the FDA has given up on a meaningful definition of natural food (largely in favor of “organic”, another nebulous term). In Canada, I could market corn as “natural” if I avoid adding or subtracting various things before selling it, but the corn itself is the result of thousands of years of selection by humans, from a plant that wouldn’t exist without human intervention.
I agree that “natural,” as applied to food and other FDA-regulated products, has become virtually meaningless. If a manufacturer thinks it is important to tell consumers that its product is non-GMO, humanely produced, doesn’t contain artificial ingredients or was grown without pesticides, it is free to put that on the label and in advertisements, as long as its truthful and not misleading.
The food, dietary supplement, and cosmetics industries are in a regulatory mess of their own making. They are the ones who’ve been flogging “natural” to mean “healthy” or “safe,” or, at least, “something good,” and they shouldn’t be heard to complain if they’re prevented from further confusing consumers by preventing use of the word in labeling. “Natural” doesn’t necessarily mean “good” and “synthetic” doesn’t necessarily mean “bad.” Maybe if the FDA banned “natural” it would help dispel that false notion and we could get back to determining a product’s worth on its actual merits: Does it do what it claims? Is it safe?
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