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Op/Ed: Is a 'Dark Knight Return' in Batman's Film Future?
So as The Dark Knight steamrolls to $500 million dollars in domestic box office receipts, breaking all manners of all-time records along the way, the only real remaining "storyline" for the film is how close can it get to all-time box office champ Titanic, currently the only movie in history sailing the $600 million dollar seas.There are the Oscar questions, of course - will Heath Ledger receive a posthumous nomination for his turn as the Joker, and can the film perhaps secure Best Picture and/or Best Director nominations? But we won't have any answers to those until early next year. Comic book message boards abhor a vacuum, however, and these days in absence of anything that compelling to dissect about The Dark Knight, the focus of uber-fan energies is turning to the inevitable (the-sun-rises-in-the-morning sort of inevitable) next film in Warner Bros'. franchise. Rumors and speculation focusing on possible villains and the actors who might play them are the fan forum fodder du jour, with names like Johnny Depp (The Riddler), Angelina Jolie (Catwoman), Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Penguin), and even Aaron Eckhart (as a Two-Face who apparently would enjoy a remarkable recovery) emerging from the pack. And then there was that now infamous little exchange during last month's Comic-Con International: San Diego. Watchmen/300 director Zack Snyder reportedly mentioned that he'd like to see writer Frank Miller's seminal Batman graphic novel "The Dark Knight Returns" adapted into a big screen feature, with Miller later responding to Snyder's comment, "You can do it anytime you want to, Zack." And Internet fandom was off and running…
As any self-respecting comic book reader knows, Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns" – first published in 1986 in a watershed moment for comics publishing – is a work whose influences are already pervasive in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Set in a not-too-distant future, the story – which helped give birth to (or at least popularize) the "grim and gritty" movement in comic books – finds a middle-aged Bruce Wayne emerge from a ten-year retirement as "the Batman" to battle his old nemeses Two-Face, the Joker – and even Superman.So while a big-screen adaptation of one of the industry's holy grails is already near the tops of any fanboy's greatest "Hopes" and "Fears" lists, speculation is now turning towards whether something that few thought would ever happen could actually become reality sooner, rather than later. Today we're going to discuss the merits of the "sooner" camp… The very "sooner" camp, in fact. Now adapting "The Dark Knight Returns" for the screen would be a bold and audacious move for any director and the studio, as well as a road fraught with some treacherous obstacles. For one, the story's entire third act featuring a Superman under the thumb of the Federal government would almost certainly have to be abandoned, if for no other reason (and there are quite a few) that Nolan's vision for the first two films is far too "grounded" to suddenly introduce a super-strong, flying man who can survive a nuclear explosion (as he does in the story). So whether it's an unlikely "faithful" adaptation, or the more-likely "loosely" adapted version, placed together in context, the clues are there that some manner of adaptation of "The Dark Knight Returns" is precisely the direction Nolan is going in for a third film. Let's run through the clues one-by-one. And we'll be talking about The Dark Knight in very story-specific detail, so you three people left on Earth who have yet to see the movie, consider yourself "spoiler" warned. What's In a Name? OK, OK, this is the flimsiest of circumstantial evidence but sometimes the most obvious clues are the most telling. What do you call a sequel to a film (which curiously broke the naming precedent of the five "Batman" films before it) called "The Dark Knight"? A film in which in its closing moments, the protagonist runs off into the night, literally chased by dogs, his future as the protector of Gotham City in doubt? Why, if you want it to actually star the Dark Knight, you call it "The Dark Knight Returns" of course. And if you're going to go through the trouble of calling it "The Dark Knight Returns", well then… In a Word – "Escalation" One doesn't have to speculate whether Nolan and his co-writers David S. Goyer and brother Jonathan Nolan understand the concept of "escalation" – they introduced it into the series themselves in the closing moments of Batman Begins. In fact, they wrapped the entire existence of Heath Ledger's the Joker around it. The Dark Knight was clearly an "escalation" over Batman Begins in both theme and tone. The landscape was broader, the stakes higher, and the tragedies greater. Operatic in tone and grandiose in scale, Nolan has left himself one direction to take this story, and that's to its necessary end. No matter how high-rent the actor (and the franchise can now afford very high rent), no other villain or villains are going to feel appropriately menacing – or satisfying – after the nihilistic embodiment of chaos Ledger and Nolan created. The Joker killed Bruce Wayne's great love and destroyed the one person Batman thought could make him obsolete. He nearly seduced the very soul of Gotham City itself. How in the world do you top that? How do you make the audience feel the stakes raise and not have the next installment feel like a breather? By actually finishing that story, that's how. Which brings us to… The Three Act Structure There is little doubt Christopher Nolan understands what a three-act structure is, and every reason to believe he understands any storyteller is pushing their luck with any more than three (good luck Sam Raimi). Yes, a compelling argument can be made that Warner Bros. isn't going to put this cash cow out to pasture, and will want a new Batman movie every few years, but they can still have that, which we'll address later. We'll also take Nolan at this word that he hasn't signed on for a next installment yet (and God bless him and the upcoming due reward he'll receive if he hasn't), but given his talents as a storyteller, it would be shocking if he a) was telling a story he didn't already know the ending to, breaking the cardinal rule of storytelling; and b) left the franchise without finishing the story by his own hand. Nolan famously completed Batman Begins without "knowing" whether he'd do a second installment. That didn't stop him from laying the seeds for The Dark Knight in that first film's closing moments. By leaving the Joker (literally) hanging at the end of The Dark Knight, Nolan left open-ended a story that begs to be finished. Even Tim Burton knew he had to kill Jack Nicholson at the "end". Nolan himself killed Ra's at the end of Batman Begins and he even tied-up a loose end regarding the Scarecrow in The Dark Knight. These are both clear signals Nolan knows the story has to have an end and has some idea for that end already in mind. Nolan further foreshadows the future in The Dark Knight's climatic moments as well. Remember when the Joker tells Batman the two of them can "do this for years"? Filmmakers of Nolan's talent don't throw away lines like that, especially in a moment like that. That was the director signaling to the audience that he understands one of "The Dark Knight Returns'" main themes - that the Joker's very existence is primarily to be Batman's nemesis and their fates were inevitably intertwined, as well as a signal that their final showdown will in fact come years down the road. Which brings us back to the three-act structure: Act One (Batman Begins) was the first Batman story. Act Two (The Dark Knight) was a classic tragic turning point. So what does this demand Act Three be? Well, not only the final battle of Batman and the Joker, but also the last Batman story, of course. The Joker/Ledger Factor By leaving the fate of the Joker open in The Dark Knight knowing the performance he had gotten from Ledger, Nolan also knew he was casting a shadow over the next film and any future installments until the character's story is finished – whomever happens to be behind the camera when it is. While perhaps a marketing department's worst nightmare and admittedly macabre, Nolan could have made a different pragmatic decision in post-production and made the Joker's fate more "final". By leaving the character alive, Nolan knowingly left the next director the choice of either having to somehow make villains like the Penguin, the Riddler, or Catwoman more of a menace than they've ever been in the comic books, or using the Joker again. And even if the former approach could be achieved, are moviegoers really going to be satisfied with the idea the Joker is simply sitting in prison somewhere, particularly given his jailbreak in The Dark Knight? The next film would be anti-climatic before it ever began. It would make sense, however, that if Batman goes further underground (as suggested in The Dark Knight's ending), that the Joker would simply not even try to escape, his reason for being removed, a major element of "The Dark Knight Returns". So that leaves this pragmatic question – given the circumstances, how do you finish the Batman/Joker story? Well, it would still be difficult, but by telling a story set 10, 15, 20 (?) years in the future, Nolan would buy himself some much-needed leeway to recast the Joker as an older man. It would still be an unenviable task for both the director and whatever actor accepted that challenge, but it just might provide some measure of wiggle room. So here's the recapped case for the next film being an adaptation (on some level) of "The Dark Knight Returns". 1.) The Dark Knight's title and ending makes the next film being called "The Dark Knight Returns" logical.
2.) The next film needs to further "escalate" the series, and be even bigger and bolder than The Dark Knight.
3.) Nolan seems to be crafting a three-act structure, and left the Joker's fate open to be a major element of a final act.
4.) The "Dark Knight Returns" future setting gives Nolan some "room" to help recast the Joker.And the Case Against? As mentioned, in the context of the world Nolan has created in the first two movies, some parts of "The Dark Knight Returns" are un-filmable. Superman's role in the story and the whole third act are impossible to make work. To refine this theory, we're effectively talking about liberally adapting the main elements of the first two acts of Frank Miller's story. A 14 year-old girl running around in a Robin costume doesn't make much sense in the Nolan Bat-verse either, although given the 'Batman imitators' element the director introduced in The Dark Knight, a young disciple who could serve a similar role as Carrie does in TDKR wouldn't be too hard to imagine. Then there is the question of finality. The Dark Knight is on its way to becoming the second-highest grossing film of all time. Why, oh why, would Warner Bros. produce a film that could potentially be perceived by audiences as the last story in the franchise? Well, here's the thing - that's happened once already, unintentionally. Joel Schumacher's Batman & Robin almost killed the big-screen Batman. The success of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight prove moviegoers are a forgiving lot, and (like comic book fans) understand the nature of a self-contained story arc. While in-story internal logic requires "continuity", doesn't Nolan's relaunch of the franchise indicate fans will accept new creative visions that aren't necessarily related to previous ones? That fans want a good story; not necessarily a next one? Perhaps the wisest thing Warner Bros could do is let talented filmmakers like Nolan tell their own stories in the classic, satisfying three-act structure, instead of just trying to keep films rolling out in serial fashion to higher costs, even higher expectations, and eventual lesser returns. To let new filmmakers relaunch and reinvent the adaptable franchise again (and again, and again) on his or her own terms. We just can't shake this feeling that this is exactly what they're going to do. Related Stories:


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Blind Chinese Dissident to Leave NYU
Chen Guangcheng, the Chinese dissident who escaped house arrest in 2012 and fled to the U.S., will leave his post at New York University and is in negotiations to move to Fordham University. Sophia Hollander reports.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the the ... welcome new sub at the beest live I'm Simon Constable ... the Chinese dissident who escaped in full house arrest in twenty twelve and fled to the U S will leave his post ... at NYU ... the new sunspot control is seen as a comes just as NYU is launching a Shanghai based Campus ... with more details will Street gentle Sophia Hollander tons of fun this that if he is high thanks for bring hat ... then some ... is interesting ... and wanted to post something ... so ... basically there are many reports that ... an NYU has ... enforcing this this event I tend to leave his post in my view because of the state-run UN has won ten studies thus ... town ... and white you obviously completely denies that this is what they're doing and says that the plan was away so we have the cure for year ... they can be expected to support and definitely ... and and they note that ... the deal for the Shanghai campus was signed after she arrived ... and so ... he said he has a remarkable coincidence ... write a Dominion you call them ... you know signing up you know to do ... with the campus Atacand list in Shanghai ... he's that this or that the Chinese government worthy doesn't like the citizens of sold ... out until they drop and go when Dr Anshul that it cannot help them set up a campus cap while adding it's probably fair to say that it cannot have helped them ... to set up to campus in and there's no question the Chinese government ... is not a fan of this dying in a fifth term in jail for for five years and I'm under house arrest for another two years ... and and was only released to the U S after some very intense negotiations the monopoly of the then Secretary of state to learn when to ... so ... this is happening ... is but he was very embarrassing to Beijing basically it's a little with doing it ... now has a chance he might go up to Fort them will still write which is just up the street from a set yes he's been a reportedly exploring several options come about working might end up next once he leaves and might you ... that there has not been a time frame that's been given by either the University and and he has not spoken out personally so ... we get here is that the story ... of the very interesting if I'm I'm not sure what you'll notice I thank you Anna Sofia the lid up ... all the Wall Street though mall man on the vs day don't know

subset: commoncrawl


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The Biology Department at The College of New Rochelle encourages students to be active learners, whether in the classroom, the laboratory, or the field.
Students have a direct role in the research conducted by faculty, with many receiving scholarships for collaborating with their professors.
Our Colloquium Series prepares students for the professional world, with three classes dedicated to teaching and learning scientific writing and presentation.
In the lab, we don't just hand you prepared solutions and preformed gels — in Molecular Biology, students perform experiments from start to finish.
Many courses bring students off campus — to public health labs, aquariums, nature preserves, and the Long Island Sound, just to name a few — to observe and participate in the study of science.
When you major in biology at CNR, you'll find that smaller can be better — smaller class sizes, close mentoring, individual attention in the lab and in the field, and personal guidance when applying for internships, jobs, graduate programs, and professional schools.
Individualized attention is not a cliche in the Biology Department — it is truly how we interact with our students.
In addition to the requirements of the School of Arts & Sciences, the general requirements for majors in the Biological Sciences are 38 to 43 credits in Biology, 6-8 credits in Mathematics excluding MTH 103 and MTH 109, 20 credits in Chemistry (CHM 117 - Chemical Principles I, CHM 118 - Chemical Principles II, and CHM 223 - Organic Chemistry I, CHM 224 - Organic Chemistry II), and 8 credits in Physics (PHY 111 - General College Physics, PHY 112 - General College Physics).
Students majoring in Biology may select a B.A. in Biological Sciences as a degree by taking a minimum of 38 credits in Biology courses. Students who wish to obtain a B.S. in Biology must take a minimum of 43 credits in Biology courses. Double majors in Biology and Chemistry are required to earn 43 credits in Biology and receive the B.S. degree. Senior biology majors who have a cumulative index of 3.5 in Biology courses will be awarded departmental honors upon graduation.
Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences
The courses in Biology must include:
- BIO 123 - General Biology I 4 cr. and BIO 123L - General Biology I Lab 0 cr.
- BIO 124 - General Biology II 4 cr. and BIO 124L - General Biology II Lab 0 cr.
- BIO 190 - Biology Colloquium I 1 cr.
- BIO 213 - Environmental Biology 4 cr. and BIO 213L - Environmental Biology Lab 0 cr.
- BIO 290 - Biology Colloquium II 1 cr.
- BIO 352 - Genetics 4 cr. and BIO 352L - Genetics Lab 0 cr.
- BIO 353 - Molecular Biology 4.5 cr. and BIO 353L - Molecular Biology Lab 0 cr.
- BIO 394 - Seminar in Bio-Communication 2 cr.
Bachelor of Science in Biology
The courses in Biology must include:
- BIO 123 - General Biology I 4 cr. and BIO 123L - General Biology I Lab 0 cr.
- BIO 124 - General Biology II 4 cr. and BIO 124L - General Biology II Lab 0 cr.
- BIO 190 - Biology Colloquium I 1 cr.
- BIO 213 - Environmental Biology 4 cr. and BIO 213L - Environmental Biology Lab 0 cr.
- BIO 290 - Biology Colloquium II 1 cr.
- BIO 352 - Genetics 4 cr. and BIO 352L - Genetics Lab 0 cr.
- BIO 353 - Molecular Biology 4.5 cr. and BIO 353L - Molecular Biology Lab 0 cr.
- BIO 394 - Seminar in Bio-Communication 2 cr.
Additional requirements for all Biology majors
Fourteen to nineteen additional credits may be elected from the remaining courses offered for the Biology major. Course selection, including a consideration of suggested prerequisites, is normally discussed with the advisor at registration. A reading knowledge of a modern foreign language, mathematics through calculus, and computer literacy is recommended for those students contemplating graduate studies in the Biological Sciences.
For course descriptions, visit the catalog.
Science and Math Society
Many biology majors join the Science and Math Society, an organization that builds community and raises awareness about all things science and math on campus. In doing this, SAMS brings students together to pursue academic, social, and philanthropic activities.
SAMS members organize study sessions, informative field trips to many New York City venues including "Bodies: The Exhibition" and the MoMath Museum, and film screenings on topics such as genetics and the environment. Annually, the group hosts an Alumnae Panel, which allows for current students to meet and network with successful graduates.
SAMS members serve the community by organizing fundraisers for breast cancer research and to purchase vitamins and school supplies for children locally and in developing countries. They recently met with representatives from Girls, Inc. to plan a mentoring program in which SAMS members will encourage young girls to pursue careers in science and math.
In addition to the occasional potluck dinner, each year, the group creatively celebrates Mole Day and Pi Day.
Field Trips
Students have visited the American Museum of Natural History; the Coney Island Aquarium; Norwalk Aquarium in Connecticut; and other locations throughout the New York metropolitan area.
COSMOS — which stands for Creating Opportunities for Success in Math Or Science — is a living-learning community designed specifically for students majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Math or Environmental Studies.
The community, which was started in Fall 2012, is located on the second floor of Ursula Hall. Students in COSMOS have two common rooms in their wing, one for group study and another for quiet study.
Students also have access to a Resource Room in the lower lounge of Ursula Hall. The Resource Room includes equipment to support academic achievement in each of these disciplines including: microscopes and slides, a molecular model set, calculators, an anatomical model, and a skeleton.
COSMOS programming has included participation in a citizen science effort on International Coastal Cleanup Day, a Food from the Campus Garden cooking program, a presentation on study skills for science and math, and a visit to the Museum of Mathematics.
Biology majors at The College of New Rochelle have completed internships throughout the area, and in a range of fields: camps, parks, industry, government agencies, hospitals, aquariums, research institutions, and more.
Blanca Paccha SAS'08
In the summer of 2005, Blanca interned at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, Conn., working in the Animal Husbandry and Education departments. She helped prepare food for marine animals, conducted water quality testing, and maintained tanks. She also helped translate the tour brochure into Spanish.
"Both departments provided me a wonderful experience! It helped me to learn more about marine life, to become more aware of certain environmental issues, and led me to discover that the strange-looking horseshoe crab is neither scary nor harmful, but rather beneficial to both the pharmaceutical and medical communities.
This internship was unique and interesting. I might pursue a career in education since I enjoyed that part of the experience the most. My internship at the Aquarium helped me figure out what I might want to do for the rest of my life."
Rose Wardell SAS'07
Rose interned with Cattus Island County Park in Toms River, N.J., in the summer of 2006. She led programs for the public, including nature walks in the salt marsh and talks about the snakes and turtles on display at the visitors center.
She also created a brochure on the reptiles and amphibians of Ocean County, N.J.
Lacy Ann Landell SAS'06
Lacy Ann, a double major in Biology and Chemistry, graduated summa cum laude. In the summer of 2004, she interned at the American Museum of Natural History, working on a project titled, "Towards a Phylogeny of the Family Vibrionaceae Based on Non-Horizontally Transferred Genes."
During the eleven-week program, I spent 45-50 hours per week working in the Molecular Systematics Laboratory in Dr. Rob DeSalle's microbiology group. I worked most directly with Dr. Melanie Harasym, who has worked with this group since her sabbatical in January 2003. The project involved building a family tree showing the evolutionary relatedness of bacteria in the family Vibrionaceae, a group of organisms that includes the agent of cholera.
This experience was a new and exciting opportunity in which I was able to learn modern laboratory protocols, work with scientists, graduate and undergraduate students, and experience first-hand what graduate school could be like. The experience was so wonderful that I continued working on the project on Fridays throughout the academic year. The project has been very productive and we hope to publish in the near future.
Giau Nguyen SAS'05
In the summer of 2005, Giau was a REU intern in Dr. C. Kao's lab at Texas A&M University. Her project was titled, "Visualization of Fluorescent Brome Mosaic Virus RNA3 in an In-vivo Environment."
During my stay at Texas, I worked with a plant virus called Brome Mosaic Virus. In recent years, this virus has become a model system for positive strand RNA viruses.
The internship was a rewarding experience because it was my first time being exposed to scientific research on a larger scale. Within one lab there were at least 4-5 large scale projects going on. It was definately an "action-packed" environment for science majors.
Secondly, I was very amazed to see how these scientists were so dedicated to their work. The Post-doc that I worked under spent at least 12 hours a day in the lab during weekdays, and he was always in the lab on the weekends as well. Through this internship I found out that the lab is where I want to be in the future.
Giau graduated magna cum laude with a double major in Biology and Chemistry.
Cindy Bastien SAS'05
In the summer of 2004, Cindy worked as a research assistant at St. Francis College investigating the use of cranberry juice to eliminate a Simian rotavirus. The groundbreaking project was presented at an American Society for Microbiology meeting. In 2005, Cindy was an intern at the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, researching first-time donors.
The double major in Biology and International Studies also minored in Chemistry and graduated summa cum laude.
Recent Internship Sites
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- St. John's Riverside Hospital
- Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center
- Delaware Outdoor Adventure Center, Connecticut
- Moose Hill Wild Sanctuary, Massachusetts
- Cytec Industries, Inc., Stamford, Conn.
- Environmental Protection Agency Region II Laboratory, Edison, N.J.
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, March of Dimes, New York
- Sound Shore Medical Center, New York
- Island Beach State Park, New Jersey
- American Museum of Natural History, New York
- Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education, Maryland
- Baltimore Ecological Studies (BES), Maryland
- Harvard University School of Public Health, Massachusetts
- Institute of Ecosystem Studies, New York
- Texas A&M University


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- Sheldon Neeley
- District 34
- Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
- Phone: (517) 373-8808
- Toll-Free: (844) 463-3539
- N-798 House Office Building
D034 News / Committee / Bio - Sheldon Neeley
State Rep. Sheldon Neeley is serving his third term in the Michigan House of Representatives, representing the 34th District, which includes most of the city of Flint. Rep. Neeley previously served on the Health Policy, Commerce and Trade, Tax Policy, Local Government, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.
Rep. Neeley is a proud, lifelong resident of Flint, Michigan. He is the third of five living generations in Flint, and is a product of a working-class family with a rich history of tradition, honor and integrity. He attended Flint Northern High School before enrolling at Delta College, where he earned an associate's degree. He then received a bachelor's degree in Communications from Saginaw Valley State University.
Prior to being elected as state representative, Rep. Neeley was a Flint City Councilman for nine years, serving the Sixth Ward, the most diverse area — economically and racially — in the city. He was the first African-American councilman to represent that ward.
After 27 years, Rep. Neeley retired as a Broadcast Technician for WJRT – TV 12, although he remains the Union President for the National Broadcast Employee & Technicians, Communications Workers of America (NABET/CWA) Local 46. He has also worked with the Civil Service Commission and is director of Flint City Junior Golf, founded by his father Sam Neeley. Rep. Neeley also worked for 10 years in the Flint Community Schools as a Work Experience Counselor where he specialized in working with at-risk youth.
As state representative, Rep. Neeley is focused on public safety in communities, public education, restorative justice and building the Flint economy. Some of the projects he has spearheaded are the Flint Promise scholarship fund, the Flint Development Center Literacy Lab, and a portrait of Mr. William Webb Ferguson in the Capitol building — the first African-American legislator in the state of Michigan. Throughout the years, he has hosted various Flint events for children as well as hosted many field trips to the Capitol building to develop civic engagement. He has also hosted many Expungement Fairs over the years to inform that demographic of their rights and responsibilities post penal system.
Rep. Neeley currently lives in Flint with his wife of 27 years, Cynthia. He has two daughters, Taylor and Morgan, who are both in college.
- Ways and Means


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Homeless artist's victory: living dream of finishing S.F. Half Marathon
Homeless artist slept under freeway, rose to live dream: finishing his race
Ronnie Goodman closed his eyes and stood stock still in his Nike running shoes, breathing in the moment. It was early morning in Golden Gate Park on Sunday. The San Francisco Half Marathon was set to begin in three minutes, and Goodman was in the front of the pack wearing racing bib No. 25779.
He had no idea where he'd place 13.1 miles down the track at the finish line. But he'd already won. Just by making it to the race.
While most of the other 5,500 runners alongside him had slept in comfortable beds the night before, the 54-year-old Goodman had spent his usual night in a tent under Highway 101. He's been homeless for two years, and his two passions while he looks for a place to live are painting in a rented studio every afternoon - and running every day.
It was the running that led him to Sunday. Goodman's dream was to be officially logged in to the city's premier racing event to see what he could do, and with the help of friends and readers moved by a Chronicle story to get him new shoes and pay the entry fee of $120, he'd made it to the starting line.
Cleaned up his life
It was quite a journey for a man who wasted his youth on drugs and trouble that included a prison stretch for burglary, and came out the other end five years ago clean and sober.
"Hey brother, good luck to you," a man standing alongside him said. Goodman's eyes popped open and his face broke into the easy grin that has charmed everyone from donors to the ESPN crew that trailed him Sunday to film a documentary.
"Thanks, man," Goodman said quietly. Others nearby chimed in - "Hey, I recognize you," "You inspire us," and more. Goodman soaked it all in.
"I didn't think this run was going to happen," he said. "I just didn't think it would be like this. It's really something. Yeah."
The shout to take off came, and Goodman's face snapped into seriousness. He shot off at a quick clip - and that's pretty much the pace he kept all the way through, as the half marathon wove through the park, the Haight-Ashbury and downtown to wind up at the Embarcadero.
"I didn't come to play," he quipped halfway through, legs pumping determinedly. "I'm here to run."
At the finish, Goodman's supporters greeted him with screams of delight and back slaps, as they would a man who'd just climbed a mountain nobody would dare to climb. Which, in a way, is what he'd done.
"Ronnie is a beautiful human being, genuinely," Eric Cohen, who bought one of Goodman's paintings to use as a label for his Solidarity Wines, said as he watched the ESPN crew interviewing the sweaty runner a few feet past the finish line. "Remarkable man, and an unbelievable artist. I love seeing this."
Donated a painting
Goodman, whose art often depicts inspiring street scenes and jazz, offered up a painting before the run to be raffled off to benefit Hospitality House, the homeless resource center that helped him perfect his craft. Ivan Vera, director of Hospitality's art program, said the raffle raised $10,000 from 300 donors. The raffle was won Saturday by a man in West Virginia who makes running shoes for the disadvantaged.
"What Ronnie shows is there is always hope, always possibility once you make up your mind to change," Vera said as he handed out dozens of "Run with Ronnie" bibs at the race. "He is an inspiration to everyone, and his art should be in major shows."
Goodman took the day in his typically serene stride. His running time was one hour and 43 minutes, well short of the 1:07 clocked by the winner. But he finished strong, with a kick, and showed no sign of fatigue. The daily runs of 5 to 10 miles had prepared him well.
"I'm just taking this attention like this: here today, might be gone tomorrow," he said. "I'm just me. I turned 54 on Friday, I have my health, I got to do this great run, and I have my art. It's all good."
His plans for the rest of the day? "I'm going to relax," he said with that grin. "Then tomorrow it's back to the studio. Back to the art."
Online extra
View Ronnie Goodman's art at www.ronniegoodman.com
Kevin Fagan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: email@example.com


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If you haven't yet been the victim of a cybersecurity attack, you might be soon depending on what bank you use.
Computer security firm McAfee issued a report yesterday (Thursday) alleging a "massive cyberattack" was being planned for next spring.
According to CNNMoney, a gang of criminals headed by a Russian cyber mafia chief known as NSD had developed a powerful "Trojan Horse" program designed to take money out of victims' bank accounts and channel it into their own.
The plan, called "Project Blitzkrieg," was aimed at 30 U.S. financial institutions, including online payment company PayPal, and was based on a malware program that would clone an account holder's computer to make it look like the accounts were being accessed from the owner's home computer, avoiding security questions that would deny the criminals access to the accounts. The idea was to then access thousands of accounts simultaneously to take out small amounts of cash from each one that would total millions of dollars.
Project Blitzkrieg first came to light when notices were posted on hacker Websites looking for hackers to join the group planning the attack. They offered a share of the loot for service.
Once the plan was discovered, it seems to have "gone dark."
It is impossible to know if Project Blitzkrieg has been cancelled or whether it is proceeding under much tighter security but security companies, including McAfee, have been working with banks to bolster their security.
This "Massive" Cybersecurity Attack Targets Your Money
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Katie over at Other People's Food shares this recipe for Baked Stuffed Pasta. The secret ingredient is tofu. Shhhhhh....don't tell anyone and even those who usually turn their noses up at the thought of eating tofu will be licking their plates.
My cousin Ar doesn't have a blog, but that hasn't stopped her from making great pasta dishes like this Bruschetta Linguine.
Breadchick at The Sour Dough has no kitchen during the week and still managed to come up with this awesome looking Shrimp, Mushroom & Pea Pasta. Who knew the microwave could produce something so wonderful!
Think On It is back and this time shares a mouth-watering Shrimp & Lemon Pasta dish. Check out all the cute little baby shrimp hiding in the pasta. She also had a post with about a million pasta shapes for us to think about.
And another Judith, this one of the special Aroma Cucina is back too. She shares her favorite Spring Pasta Con Piselli Primavera. Who could help but smile at those gorgeous green peas! Can you tell Spring has finally Sprung?
Abby of Eat the Right Stuff is also using peas in her terrific looking Linguine with Peas and Parma Ham.
S'kat of S'kat and the Food shares her sister-in-law's Spicy Chicken in White Wine Sauce over fresh pasta. We should all go and visit her! The dinner was a huge hit. No surprises there!
Myriam of Once Upon a Tart hasn't missed a Presto Pasta Night yet and I for one am truly grateful. Her dishes are awesome and this Mushroom & Pesto Pasta Salad is no exception. Keep them coming!
Sher of What Did You Eat is back with the prettiest Farfalle with Carrots & Herbs. She was tempted to make the Martha Stewart Living recipe for carrot pasta and came up with this instead.
Ulrike of Kuchenlatein is back (or should I say her first born) with this simple but so tasty looking Tagliatelle with Ramson-Almond Pesto. I love new discoveries and now I have to hunt for Ramson.
Haalo of Cook (Almost) Anything is back too. She always brings something fun to the table. This time it's Baked Succhieto with Peperonata. She's happy for cooler weather to enjoy this hearty dish. I, on the other hand, need it for the prolonged cold spell we're having here.
Kalyn over at Kalyn's Kitchen visits PPN for the first time and shares this festive and very South Beach Diet friendly Sausage, Zucchini &Pasta Salad. Don't you just hear the Mariachi Band in the background? I do!
My dish - Spinach & Quark Cannelloni with Bechamel Sauce is also South Beach Diet friendly even if it looks (and tastes) like it has a million calories per bite!
I will be adding late additions to this week's Presto Pasta Night until Saturday. Any I receive after that will be part of next week's PPN Event. So don't forget to join the fun.
Sra from When My Soup Came Alive is a first time visitor to PPN and I couldn't wait to share this really interesting Pepper Paneer Pasta. It may look bland, but it certainly sounds intriguing.
Remember that ALL noodles dishes count as pasta for this fun event.
Find out how to participate here. In the meantime....Happy Pasta Eating!!!
Related links: Food and Drink easy cooking pasta Food Blogging Event Presto Pasta Night


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Monthly Archives: December 2010
Maternity Leave Guest Post: "My Decision"
FFF Brooke has been a vital part of this community from the beginning, link often contributing no-nonsense, brave commentary when debates arise, and speaking her mind when others (ahem, moi) are afraid to do so. The following guest post is about her decision on how to feed any potential future kids. Enjoy!
FFF Friday: "I will not feel guilty…"
Maternity Leave Guest Post: A Christmas Wish from a Preemie Mom
I wish there was more research into premature birth and lactation. You can't convince me it's there now, when the information conflicts so much. And I wish that the research wasn't just on a large scale, but that individual hospitals researched what they are doing. That LCs would follow up after patients go home and see how many were able to establish nursing and if they are happy with their breastfeeding situation. Maybe they need to introduce the breast earlier, use nipple shields more often, work on different holds and tips for nursing a baby that only weighs 4 lbs (much harder than it sounds!) Maybe if supply problems are common they need to do whatever they can from the very beginning to help — check flange fit, help with insurance and pump rental, maybe even starting with herbs right away.
"Maternity Leave" Guest Post: "Our boobs,Ourselves"
by FFF Alison


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Approaching Retirement (MPP Members)
3700 Willingdon Ave Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2 Canada
You've worked for your pension, and you've earned it! As retirement approaches, it's time to make sure your pension works for you. The decisions you make about your pension as retirement approaches are important so planning for retirement now can make your transition easier.
Attend this 2-hour workshop to learn more about:
Choosing your best pension option Life stages surrounding retirement Retirement checklist Retirement application process Income and expense worksheets Implications of returning to work


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August 22, 2012
CIA spies have smuggled up to 14 Stinger missiles into Syria so rebels can defend themselves from air strikes.
The ground-to-air weapons have been delivered across the Turkish border to the Free Syrian Army and were partly paid for by Saudi Arabia, a security source claimed.
President Bashar al-Assad's MIG-23 warplanes and helicopter gunships have killed more than 1,000 people.
The source said: "The West and the rest of the Middle East is not going to be able to secure a no-fly zone above Syria any time soon so the only way to stop the carnage is to take on Assad's air force from the ground.


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With generous support from individual and corporate donations, the United Spirit Arena opened on November 19, 1999. United Supermarkets, LLC, was a major donor and earned naming rights for the 15,000-seat multipurpose facility. It is referred to as the Entertainment Showcase of West Texas, hosting three sports for Texas Tech and bringing world-class entertainment to the South Plains region.
In 2014, United renewed their naming rights for the facility, at the same time changing the name to United Supermarkets Arena.
The USA has hosted a wide array of events including such headline acts as Elton John, George Strait, Cher, Aerosmith, the Eagles, Carrie Underwood, Pearl Jam, James Taylor, KISS, Shania Twain, Kelly Clarkson, and Rod Stewart. Motivational speakers such as John McCain and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor have been hosted in recent years at the venue.
The facility has earned numerous national honors as a Facilities and Event Management Magazine "Prime Site Award" award winner and has been ranked in the top-10 university venues, nationally, by Amusement Business Magazine.
The USA is home to the Texas Tech Basketball Hall of Fame and houses offices for both basketball staffs and the volleyball staff.
Fully appointed, private Locker rooms, player lounges and film rooms are housed on the event level of the arena for the three teams which compete in the venue.
The Margaret E. Wilson hydrotherapy center and the The Jay Crofoot & Gerald Myers Basketball Performance Center, along with athletic training facilities for basketball and volleyball use, are housed at the USA.
The USA operates 365 days a year.
A control room, located on the event level of the facility, houses total operations of the video boards for Jones AT&T Stadium, Rip Griffin Park (baseball) and the arena.
There is a banquet facility, the City Bank Conference room, and a new Club Red area, with a sports cafe-type atmosphere, available for rental which are used in conjunction with many athletic events held at the USA.


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Consumer Spending Weakens Amid 'Fiscal Cliff'
A range of factors, from weak hiring to the prospect of higher taxes due to the approaching "fiscal cliff," are threatening to sap consumer spending power. WSJ's Tim Aeppel reports on the News Hub.Photo: Bloomberg.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the the ... a bright spot in the chest economy showing signs all flagging ... raising questions over the sustainability of the country cadre ... are a delight reported Bank as the most part about in today's paper Annie's box in the pilot is here ... to discuss this with the boss rather worrisome finding steam out welcome to the show ... um I guess the big question and big surprise people read yet yields more new will be ... one in one why he's napping now after we had ... so much about the resilience of consumers will Italy to parts of this one is of ... there's been some when we look at the summer the third quarter figures which ... appeared to show above really strong consumer sector um there been revisions recently that come out on the third quarter which show that that ... the consumer Ellen wasn't as strong as we thought it was ... the joys is problematic to key in the fourth quarter on a weaker tech tree ... that also we've gotten the October figures for ... home consumer spending and retail sales which ... were ... um ... not terrible but disappointing considering it began with what the conventional wisdom is about the consumer ... and NST because of this and they will say well this ugly sounding effective sms from Sandy ... in the fiscal cliff the mean when when when he gets the blues elements of both of those but that's not enough to explain the whole thing we also got in um on Friday was a was a reading on consumer sentiment which most current figures ... and of course consumers say one thing they don't necessarily act one way or the other with the same way ... but the consumer sentiment figures on Friday ... to be a huge dent in the draw for the ... first time in four months ... to Tesla's point plan was an important indicator so you you are and where expecting them consists ad spending to take a hit because of a ... well it did ... it could be indicative that especially the sharp turn it also coincides with consumer surveys show that ... after serve ... ignoring the Fiscal Cliff to bait ... consumers are starting to in the survey's ... respondents ... yes indeed there are looking at this and aam and some of Ben's reporting found ... interesting enough from actual ... cases of that a car dealer in Texas he said that ... half of the people are coming to buy cars ... bring up fiscal cliff on as a ... question of on certainty I don't know what to do with that issue commit to big purchase like an Caro exactly in ... the auto sector is interesting because it's a ... good sprinkling the area's it's remained really strong ... and up ... if that's the spot where people are pulling back that obese person worse ... still how worried should we be any concerns many accounts for give and take two thirds of American GDP that American consumers have become our economic recovery ... I were to Anita's the recovery starting to stop the little bit well it's it's worth ... keeping an eye on and I think that if especially if the fiscal cliff isn't avoided ... you could see a huge lumps of ... consequence to this shift in mood among consumers ... what about the possibility of replicas if you like a relief rally Dickens that fiscal cliff is avoided and that people will go back to the source of the spending that awesome blog that's possible in the new more and ... more porn part of that for the economy would be on the business side this is been holding back the the big drag on the economy has courses been ... of business resistance to her hesitance to spend and invest ... and hire Franklin so ... if those things are lifted you could see a big ... pop in the new year ... on on on those voters ... and party lines of what is the next data point to more should we be looking out to gauge whether these consist banning that is is for capital flight home will be getting of retail ... sales figures in the next couple weeks in those ... and those coincide with consumer spending and will then also some ... data on individual I'll initial sectors in the Conrad doing ... a video about the cliff or think you so much and a great piece in today's newspaper by your team thanks and thanks for joining us to


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Wednesday, January 26, 2011
He co opted a lot of "conservative" issues, ala Clinton at the midpoint in his first term (like when Obama spoke of lowering the corporate tax rate and paying for that by fixing loopholes and getting corporations that haven't been paying taxes to ante up, easier said than done), which was a smart political move.
And he co opted a lot of criticism from the left by saying the tax cuts for the wealthiest should not be made permanent, that servicemen and women could not be discriminated against not only because of their race or religion but also because of "who they love"—which got a big response from many in the chamber.
But I feel he could have said a few things more clearly and simply, ala the way the right has learned to do with their researched linguistics (like "death panels" and "death tax" etc.). He referred to the accomplishments of his administration in an almost indirect way. He should have listed them simply and clearly.
As in: "We saved the American auto industry" etc. By not listing all the terrific things the stimulus package did, the jobs saved and created, the businesses saved and created, the infrastructure saved and created, etc. he left himself open to the Republican's rebuttal from their supposed economics "expert" (whose figures and historical facts have been proven wrong over and over again) Ryan, that the stimulus was a failure, which isn't true, but as we all know, if you tell the same lie often enough a lot of people will come to believe it.
But in the end, it was another display of Obama's terrific intellect and command of the facts as well as of his mostly solid solutions to the surplus of problems still facing us from the damage done by the previous administration. Slowly but surely, he is addressing them and resolving them, beginning with avoiding another Great Depression, restoring the stock market and the jobs market, even if too slowly for many of us, etc.
I give the speech an A- after the Tucson speech's A+++...
17 comments:
- JIm said...
Here are a few facts that nation hopes Obama can wrap his superior intellect around.
1-The National debt was nearing a scary 11 Trillion when he took office.
2- It is now 14 Trillion+ as result of significant expansion of the federal government and a contraction of the private sector.
3- The CBO, today estimated another 2.5 Trillion will be added to the deficit by 2012.
Obama's grand intellect has fashioned a supposed freeze in spending except for his "Sputnit Moment" of increased spending on some pet projects.
In contrast Republicans have passed a rollback in spending in the house to 2008 levels and repeal of Obamacare with its expansion of spending. Tea Party legislators Bachman and Rand Paul have introduced or are about to introduce legislation to immediatly reduce federal spending $500 billion, largely through the elimination or combination of duplicate tasks in the cabinet level departments of Education, Energy and HUD. That seems like a pretty good start for folks that may not have Obama's soaring intellect.
- January 26, 2011 at 1:08:00 PM EST
his speeches like every other politician's
are written by a committee whose agenda is to use vague catch-phrases that insure the status quo and
increase said politician's chances to get reelected!
there wasn't one single specific in his speech that would
(attempt to) solve any problem.
this isn't about "Obama" or "them Nasty Republicans"
it's a much deeper systemic problem .... most likely
next thing to expect will be riots at the grocery stores!
- January 26, 2011 at 1:27:00 PM EST
- Lally said...
I'm shocked, shocked! that the rightwing didn't agree with Obama's speech, and that the rightwing's patsy ("patsy" because anonymous surrenders any distinction between the parties which is what led to the victories of Nixon, Bush/Cheney et. al. under whom things got much worse for most of us than they would have and did under Dems, no matter how much they too are victims of a system that rewards corporations and their lobbyists etc.) didn't hear one specific, like cutting off all the tax breaks and subsidies etc. for oil companies. Guess people hear what reinforces their prejudices in the first place. My prejudices are for anything that makes life better for all of us, especially those least able to fend for themselves like kids and the elderly etc. and so far the only politicians I've seen do anything that leans more in that direction than just turning our lives over to the rich and the corporations are democratic socialists and most in the Democratic Party.
Again, any more false claims and lies presented as facts I reserve the right to delete. There's enough out there already.
- January 26, 2011 at 2:06:00 PM EST
- JIm said...
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- January 26, 2011 at 4:11:00 PM EST
- JIm said...
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- January 26, 2011 at 4:20:00 PM EST
- Lally said...
False figures do not an argument make. Had to delete it. I'll take Nobel prize winning economists any day over rightwing sources based always on projecting great benefits from lowering taxes on the rich (woops didn't work, not out fault, must be the "liberals") and great deficits from Obama, even though the last two greatest deficits in the history of this country were produced by Reagan and then by Bush/Cheney!
- January 26, 2011 at 4:21:00 PM EST
- Lally said...
PS: see Paul Krugman's last two blog entries (here's the link for the second one)
- January 26, 2011 at 4:23:00 PM EST
- JIm said...
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- January 26, 2011 at 4:45:00 PM EST
- JIm said...
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- January 26, 2011 at 4:50:00 PM EST
- Lally said...
Dick Cheney's famous quote was that "Reagan proved deficits don't matter." Until, of course, a Democrat inherits one, et-endlessly-cetera.
- January 26, 2011 at 4:58:00 PM EST
- JIm said...
Dick Cheney was wrong but at a much lower level. Obama and Democrats are wrong at Greek and bankruptcy levels for the US.
- January 26, 2011 at 7:34:00 PM EST
Jim, keep your word and GO AWAY!
- January 26, 2011 at 10:28:00 PM EST
- Robert G. Zuckerman said...
Jim, you're a double standard bearing hypocrite. And as much as you may deny it, you're behaviour paints you as a flat out racist.
- January 27, 2011 at 12:29:00 AM EST
- JIm said...
It had to be coming. A charge of racism, is what passes as the liberal's intellectual argument. To disagree with Obama is to be a racist. You never surprise or disapoint.
- January 27, 2011 at 5:32:00 AM EST
- Robert G. Zuckerman said...
You saw it coming - hey it's ok for good ole boy Cheney but not for Obama, hmmm why is that? It's hard to own up to the truth for some, especially when prejudice is involved.
- January 27, 2011 at 6:23:00 AM EST
- JIm said...
It was not ok for a good old boy like Cheney, but his mistake was when the debt was under 3 Trillion. Obama's mistake is occuring when the debt is at 14 Trillion up from 10.7 Trillion at the beginning of his term and headed to 16.5 Trillion in 2012, according to the CBO. Even a crazy liberal like yourself should be able to appreciated the magnitude fo the threat to America.
- January 27, 2011 at 10:19:00 AM EST
- JIm said...
Global Warming Flash - Record snows confirm Man Caused Global Warming theory for the Faithful.
"New York City and Philadelphia are just two of the communities across the mid-Atlantic that broke daily snowfall records on Wednesday. For a more elite group that includes New York City, this month is now the snowiest January in history."
- January 27, 2011 at 10:27:00 AM EST


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Chordomas are slow growing, yet aggressive and life-threatening tumors. Outcomes for chordoma patients vary widely and are highly dependent on the course of treatment received and the individual tumor's behavior. Modern treatment approaches can significantly prolong patient survival, and, with appropriate care, many patients can be cured.
Because the course of treatment received is so important for a patient's outcomeThe health condition of a person after being diagnosed and treated for a particular disease. Outcome is usually measured at different time points. For example: one-, five-, or ten-year outcome., we aim to provide the information patients need to make educated treatment decisions and obtain the best care possible. This page summarizes current treatment options available to chordoma patients and lays out points to consider when making treatment decisions.
The information provided herein does not replace advice from your doctor. It is important to remember that each patient's situation is unique and only your doctor can tell you what treatments are right for you.
Key principles | Treatment overview | Surgery | Radiation | Systemic therapy
Key Principles
Find experienced doctors
Chordoma is a challenging disease to manage and treatment often involves highly complex procedures that require extensive sub-specialty training and experience to master. Furthermore, treatment of chordoma requires multiple specialists who must communicate and work closely together to coordinate your care. It is therefore very important to find experienced doctors who routinely treat chordoma as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Our Doctor Directory can help you find specialists who are experienced in treating chordoma.
Get multiple opinions
It's always a good idea to consult with multiple qualified doctors for any major medical procedure. Good doctors are not offended by this reasonable step, as second opinions are standard practice, especially for complex diseases like chordoma.
For each chordoma patient, there may be multiple viable treatment options, each with different risks and benefits. It is possible, even likely, that different doctors will recommend different approaches. Before making a decision, it is important to understand your options and the consequences of each approach. If you get conflicting recommendations from two specialists, then consider getting a third or fourth opinion. Ultimately, you will have to select the doctor and the approach that you are most comfortable with.
Don't rush
The doctor and treatment plan you choose will have a major impact on your outcome. It is therefore important not to rush to a decision without understanding your options. In general, chordomas are slow growing, so, in most cases, patients have time to gather information and seek multiple opinions. Ask your doctors how soon you need to be treated, and do not delay treatment if you are advised it would be unsafe.
Treatment overview
NCCN Guidelines® for Bone Cancer Treatment
We recommend that all patients read the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of chordoma before planning treatment. You will be asked to create a free account to access the latest version.
Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for chordomas. The goal of surgery is to remove as much of the tumor as possible without causing unacceptable harm. For some patients, radiation therapy can reduce the risk of recurrenceTumor that has grown back after initial treatment. Recurrences can be isolated or multifocal, local or regional. after surgery and prolong survival. For patients who are not candidates for surgery, radiation therapy is sometimes used as the primary treatment. Chordomas are resistant to radiation, meaning that very high doses of radiation are required to control these tumors. Because of their proximity to vital anatomy such as the brain and spinal cord, which cannot tolerate high doses of radiation, specialized forms of radiation are used to focus radiation on the tumor while avoiding surrounding tissue.
Even after surgery and/or radiation, chordomas tend to return in the same location or in the areas around the original tumor. Many patients undergo multiple surgeries over several years to treat these local recurrences. For patients with advanced or inoperable disease, chemotherapy may slow or temporarily stop the progression of the tumor. Because chordomas are slow growing, standard cytotoxic chemotherapyA type of systemic therapy that is designed to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells. agents that kill fast-growing cells are generally ineffective, however some chordomas patients have been reported to respond to molecularly targeted cancer drugs. There are currently no drugs approved by the FDA to treat chordoma.
Regardless of the location of one's tumor, surgery is required for virtually all chordoma patients. The extent of surgical resection has a major impact on one's outcome. Complete resectionAll visible tumor has been removed, but not necessarily in one piece. during one's first surgery offers the best chance of long-term remission and survival. However, because chordomas occur near vital structures such as the spinal cord, brainstemThe brainstem is the lower part of the brain connected to the spinal cord. The brainstem relays all signals to and from the brain and the body and is responsible for maintaining consciousness, breathing, and heartbeat., nerves, and arteries, complete resection is not always possible, or may cause significant loss of quality of life that patients find unacceptable.
Having surgery? Learn about our Tumor Donation Program.
Below are points to consider regarding surgery for chordomas of the skull baseThe bones at the bottom part of the skull that separate the brain from other structures. The clivus is one of the bones of the skull base., spine, and sacrumThe five vertebrae at the base of the spine near the pelvis, and between the two hip bones. These bones are commonly referred to as S1-S5..
Sacral and Spinal Chordomas
For chordomas of the sacrum and mobile spine, complete en bloc resection (removing the tumor in one piece) with tumor-free margins is the goal of surgery. Intralesional resection (removing the tumor in pieces) is associated with a high rate of recurrence and diminished survival. 1 2 In a 2009 review article of the treatment of sacral and spinal chordomas in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Scuibba and colleagues at Johns Hopkins University write,
"The importance of obtaining wide tumor-free margins when possible cannot be underestimated. Numerous studies demonstrate a direct correlation between the extent of surgical resection and the length of recurrence-free survival." 3
Surgery for sacral chordomas may involve removal a portion of the sacrum or the entire sacrum depending on the location and size of the tumor. Depending on the extent of the tumor, these procedures may require a combination of surgical approaches to access the tumor from different angles. In order to achieve wide marginsThe healthy tissue surrounding the tumor that is taken out along with the tumor to make sure that no cancer cells are left behind. Negative or wide margins mean no tumor cells can be detected in the healthy tissue, which lowers the chance of recurrence. , these procedures often involve the intentional sacrifice of sacral nerves, which may result in motor, sensory, sphincter, or sexual dysfunction. The extent of dysfunction depends on which sacral nerves must be sacrificed. In general, the higher the tumor extends in the sacrum, the more sacral nerves must be sacrificed, and the more dysfunction will be experienced.
Surgery for spinal chordomas involves removal of one or more vertebral bodies – a procedure called a "spondylectomy." These procedures often require a combination of surgical approaches (from the front and back), and may need to be carried out in multiple stages.
For both spinal and sacral chordomas, mechanical and soft tissue reconstruction are usually required after removal of the tumor and involved vertebral bodies. Due to the complexity of surgery and reconstruction, a multidisciplinary surgical team may be needed, including specialists in surgical oncology, neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery, vascular surgery, and plastic surgery. This operation should be led by a neurosurgeon or orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in complex spine surgery.
Skull Base Chordomas
The goal of surgery for skull base chordomas is gross total resection; in other words, complete removal of all visible tumor.4 5 A meta-analysis of all published studies between 1999 and 2010 concluded that
"complete resection is associated with improved progression free survival and overall survival in patients with skull base chordomas compared with subtotal resection."
Specifically, patients who have a subtotal resection are 3.83 times more likely to experience a recurrence and 5.85 times more likely to die at 5 years versus patients with complete resection.6
Due to the location of skull base tumors within the head, en bloc resection (removing the tumor in one piece) is rarely possible, however gross total resectionAll visible tumor has been removed, usually in more than one piece. can be achieved with an intralesional approach. When en-bloc resectionDuring surgery, removal of the entire tumor in one piece without cutting it into smaller pieces. or gross total resection is not possible, maximum safe resection is advocated.
There are a broad range of surgical approaches available to access skull base chordomas, and staged surgeries combining multiple approaches are often necessary. Selection of the surgical strategy for each patient is highly dependent on the location of the tumor within the skull base, and the surgeon's preference. For each patient different approaches could have different benefits, and could carry different risks. For some approaches, a neurosurgeon may work in tandem with an otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon (ear nose and throat [ENT] surgeon). Regardless of the approach, it is important that the surgeon(s) be experienced in skull base surgery, which is a distinct sub-specialty for neurosurgeons and ENT surgeons.
Once the tumor is removed, if complete resection is not achieved, radiation therapy is usually recommended to reduce the likelihood of re-growth of residual tumor.7 For patients who have a complete resection radiation is often advised, however the benefit of radiation for this group of patients is debated.6 3
Chordomas can only be controlled with very high doses of radiation – doses that would permanently damage normal tissue. Because of their proximity to vital anatomy such as the brain and spinal cord, which cannot tolerate doses of radiation required to kill chordoma, radiotherapy for chordoma must be highly conformalTypes of radiation that can focus the beam of radiation very accurately on the tumor while minimizing the amount of radiation that reaches the surrounding healthy tissue., meaning focused on the tumor while avoiding surrounding tissue. Several different types of conformal radiotherapy are available.
A type of radiation called proton beam therapyA type of particle therapy that uses beams of protons to kill cancer cells. is most often recommended for chordoma patients because it allows delivery of very high doses of radiation to the tumor while minimizing doses to tissues just millimeters away. Another type of particle beam radiation called carbon ion therapyA type of particle therapy that uses beams of charged carbon ions to kill cancer cells. Carbon ion therapy can deliver high doses of radiation to a tumor while sparing surrounding normal tissue. has similar properties to proton beam therapy, but is only available at a small number of centers.
- Useful resource: list of proton beam and carbon ion centers across the world
Certain other types of conformal radiation, such as radiosurgery (including Gamma Knife and CyberKnife) and intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) can also be effective, depending on the size and location of the tumor.6 No direct comparison trials have been performed to establish the optimal form of radiation. However, there is consensus that conventional photon radiation is not beneficial for chordoma patients.7
While radiation is usually well tolerated, side effects are possible. For skull base tumors, pituitary dysfunction is common after radiation. Depending on the area radiated, there may also be a risk of damage to the optic nerveThe nerve responsible for eyesight by sending signals from the eye to the brain., cranial nerves and brain stem, which could cause blindness or paralysis. For tumors of the spine, radiation can also damage to the spinal cord, causing paralysis. Radiation for sacral tumors can cause radiation proctitis, which is damage or inflammation to the colon.
If a tumor returns after initial irradiation, it may or may not be possible to have radiation therapy again. This is because every tissue in the body has a certain lifetime maximum tolerance for radiation, beyond which serious injury will occur. Often, delivering enough radiation to effectively treat chordoma exposes vital surrounding structures to a dose of radiation close to this lifetime maximum. Delivering more radiation to those structures after initial treatment could be very dangerous. The ability to have repeated radiation, therefore, depends on the location of the original tumor, the location of the recurrent tumor, the dose and distribution of radiation that was given initially, and other factors.5
Systemic Therapy
If surgery and/or radiation are not possible, systemic therapyThe use of drugs that spread through the body to kill cancer cells. Also called chemotherapy or drug therapy. can be used to slow progression of the disease. Systemic therapy is the use of treatments that spread throughout the body to kill cancer cells wherever they are located. These treatments are prescribed by a medical oncologist, and sometimes by a neuro-oncologist. Systemic therapy includes different types of drugs and therapies, including cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies.
Because chordomas tend to be slow growing, they are generally resistant to conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs, which target rapidly dividing cells. For this reason, targeted therapies and immunotherapies are most often used for chordoma treatment. Learn more about these options for chordoma in this systemic therapy table.
More information about the genes, proteins, and signaling pathways that are important in chordoma and may be promising targets for systemic therapies can be found in our Therapeutic Target Dashboard.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are important treatment options for any cancer patient to consider. For chordoma patients, some clinical trials may provide an opportunity to receive new, experimental therapies that could be more effective than currently available options. Clinical trials may also provide an opportunity for patients to gain access to clinically available therapies at no cost. In addition, chordoma patients who participate in clinical trials contribute to knowledge that can guide therapy for future patients and potentially help identify new ways of treating this rare cancer.
The Chordoma Foundation's Medical Advisory Board (MAB) recommends that all patients with recurrent or advanced chordoma consult with their medical team—including an experienced chordoma medical oncologist—about participating in a clinical trialResearch studies involving human subjects that are done to test whether a treatment is safe, and how well it will work to treat a specific disease.. This can help you determine which trial might be the best option for you based on your medical history and current situation.
More information about clinical trials and a list of clinical trials open to chordoma patients is available in our Clinical Trials Catalogue.
Personalized Oncology Services
Increasingly, oncologists are attempting to customize therapies to the unique biology of each patient's individual tumor ("personalized medicine") in the hope that the treatments will be more effective and have fewer side effects. Your doctor may perform tests on your tumor to determine which targeted therapies make the most sense for you. In addition, a number of companies offer tumor-profiling services intended to help inform a rational decision about targeted therapies, however, the utility of these services is unproven.
- Useful resource: personalized tumor profiling services
Reviewed 3/1/2012 by:
|The information provided herein is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician with any questions you have regarding your medical care. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.


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Webware 100: they say its sweetest the first time you win one. And it was.
But it's extra gratifying this time around for a wholly different reason, when we were awarded for the the 2008 edition of the prestigious award, making it two years in a row. In fact, it was so gratifying, we made a graphic banner to celebrate!
The first reason being, we did not make a deliberate push to our Ustreamers to vote. That means you all, our beloved Ustreamers, voted for us out of your own free will and discovery! In fact, if you voted for us, don't forget to leave a comment saying so, so that this appreciation is not without a few names. Or at least an online moniker to shower with intentional appreciation.
The second reason being, this year we made Rafe Needleman's "Top 10" list of Webware Award winners. Adding another layer of editorial selectivity to an already selective group of award winner? Well, you can see why it's like winning Webware 100 for the first time, all over again.
And for those that have no idea what Webware 100 is, here is the one sentence description from Webware themselves: The 100 top Web apps, 10 each in 10 categories, according to Webware users and the fans of the products that were finalists in the awards.
Or just head on over here to see all top 100 web apps, including all ten from Google. Yes, you heard correct: The Google literally accounts for 10% of the Webware 100, by my count. No, wait, Picasa makes 11. And some of these companies look ripe for the picking by The Google before Webware 100 comes back around for 2009. Which one, you ask?
Hint: it starts with a Y and ends with an exclamation point. Let the speculation begin!


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A recruitment drive has seen 120 registered nurses appointed by Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust.
Trust bosses, who run Dewsbury, Pinderfields and Pontefract hospitals, said more than 100 healthcare assistants (HCAs) and 60 student nurses had also been appointed since last November.
And the recruitment included 44 jobs at Band One, an entry-level position for people who can go on to train as nurses or HCAs.
New staff were taken on after Mid Yorkshire was criticised for staffing shortages by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) last December.
The trust was rated "inadequate" for whether its services were safe by CQC inspectors who highlighted staffing problems and poor hygiene standards.
Mid Yorkshire said 50 of the new registered nurses would join the organisation between now and August.
Acting chief nurse David Melia said: "As a trust we are delighted to have seen such a great response to these positions and to have met such ambitious and inspiring people who want to become part of the team in providing quality care to our patients.
"I'm sure they will quickly settle on their wards, where we expect them to display the caring and compassionate qualities we rightly require to provide the highest standard of care possible for our patients."
The trust said it would also be offering tailored training and mentorship packages to new employees, known as a preceptorship.
Each will be assigned a preceptor, or mentor.
Mr Melia said: "We will be offering all of our new recruits a great deal of support in their first few months with the trust and we'll also be offering the Preceptorship scheme to all of our newly qualified nurses.
"We look forward to welcoming all of our new starters to the trust over the next few months."
Mid Yorkshire could carry out a centralisation of A&E services six months earlier than planned following the CQC criticism.
Trust bosses believe care will be made safer by plans to downgrade Dewsbury's A&E to an urgent care centre.
Life-threatening emergencies will be taken to an expanded A&E at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.
The A&E move was planned for spring 2017, but has been brought forward to this September this year under new proposals.
Earlier implementation was also expected to save the trust £10m a year.


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It's a big day here in Washington as Barack Obama takes the oath of office, and as reported last week, Washington Nationals racing president Teddy Roosevelt will be on hand to help celebrate at some of today's inaugural festivities.
Intrepid photographer and presidents race fan Phil Yabut captured the moment with his Pentax as his famous Teddy Roosevelt bobblehead doll met up with its Barack Obama bobblehead counterpart to commemorate the moment.
Phil's photoset of Teddy's continued adventures, titled Teddy's Travels and Travails, is up to 79 photos and can be found on Flickr.
Filed under: Presidents Race | Tagged: barack obama, Barack Obama bobblehead, Inauguration, Teddy Roosevelt, Teddy Roosevelt Bobblehead |


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Cruz notches tea party win in Texas
And the tea party bash rages on.
The storm-the-gates conservative movement that keeps finding ways to stick it to the establishment did it again Tuesday night in Texas, this time propelling the insurgent campaign of an Ivy League-educated son of a Cuban immigrant, Ted Cruz, to perhaps its most impressive victory yet.
Story Continued Below
With more than a fifth of precincts reporting, Cruz jumped to a prohibitive lead against establishment-backed Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and The Associated Press declared Cruz the winner.
( Also on POLITICO: Move over Rubio: Cruz's star rises)
The race was the headliner of the night, as voters in Texas and Georgia cast ballot races to determine party nominees.
Once the underdog, Cruz, a constitutional lawyer who had never before run for office, vaulted ahead of Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, in the final days of the race. Dewhurst, who finished 11 percent ahead of Cruz in the May primary, had long been seen as the prohibitive favorite to capture the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.
It marked another triumph for the tea party, which scored upsets in May when little-known Nebraska state Sen. Deb Fisher came out of nowhere to win a three-way primary and Indiana state Treasurer Richard Mourdock ended Dick Lugar's nearly four-decade Senate run. Cruz had won the support of leading conservative figures as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint. Dewhurst, meanwhile, had the backing of much of the state's political class, including Gov. Rick Perry. Many of Perry's aides assisted Dewhurst in his effort, including Dave Carney, the governor's longtime political hand.
Outspent nearly 3-to-1 by Dewhurst, a multimillionaire who spent nearly $19 million of his own funds on the race, Cruz fought back by riding a wave of conservative support. He secured endorsements from tea-party-aligned groups like the Club for Growth and FreedomWorks, both of which invested in his campaign. The conservative elite, including columnist George Will and the National Review, also threw their support to the upstart.
Dewhurst aides argued vigorously during the closing days of the race that a Cruz victory was not certain, saying that polling its campaign had conducted showed the lieutenant governor, a well- known political figure in the state, with a lead.


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Alta Floresta Tours
Brazil Adventure Tours provide you with ideas for tours of Brazil and South America, with all being completely flexible with regards to dates, duration or the tours, activities and classes that we can include. Our website tours are our recommendations based on our experience of how to make the very best of your time in South America. We can adjust these details in any way that you wish, with a little advice from us of course. We can combine any of our destinations that you wish to visit into one tour, and for however long you wish to visit them. Any of our Traditional and Adventure tours can also be combined in whichever way you prefer. We are here to organise a tour that suits you after all, not the other way around!


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Summit County Community Notes: 4-3-2013
The Douglas Mendel Cambodian Relief Fund is having a fundraiser at Ollie's in Breckenridge on Thursday from 7-10 pm to raise $4,000 for an engine rebuild for the fire truck in Cambodia. Please come join for an evening of fun and bidding on 65 silent auction items from local restaurants and businesses.
Advocates for Victims of Assault is hosting a Black Tie Bingo event from 6-10 p.m on Saturday at the Elks Lodge in Silverthorne. Tickets are $50, or you can buy a table of eight for $350.
The Summit County Libraries need volunteers to assist with the upcoming book sale held by the Summit County Friends of the Library. The money generated by the sale will be used for programs that benefit Summit County residents and visitors alike. People are needed to help set up for the sale at 3 p.m. on Thursday in the Buffalo Mountain room at the Main Branch, Frisco. We also need assistance during the sale, which runs from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Also, help is needed during the take-down process, which will begin at 5 p.m. at the completion of the sale. If you are available at any of these times, and would like to help out your local library, please call Joyce Dierauer at (970) 668-5555.
The seventh annual Ladies Night Out fundraiser benefiting Lake Dillon Preschool will be held on Friday at the Silverthorne Pavilion. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and $140 for a reserved table of eight. This year's entertainment will be Improv Colorado, a Colorado Springs-based group that specializes in short-form improvisational comedy. The event also will include a raffle – including a $575 Spring Cleaning Package and $500 Spa Package – pampering and shopping with more than a dozen vendor booths, cocktails, dessert and door prizes. For more info or tickets, call (970) 468-1606 or visit http://www.lakedillonpreschool.com.
Help High Country Conservation Center honor Summit County's deserving individuals, businesses and volunteers at this year's Party for Planet being held on Earth Day, April 22. The Green Scene Awards are a great way to recognize someone you know who has been an environmental inspiration to you and others. Visit http://www.highcountryconservation.org for details and a nomination form. All nominations are due by April 16.
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If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.


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Located in Cookeville, TN Tennessee, our doctors are optometrists who specialize in all aspects of eye care, including glasses, contact lenses, and disease.
Welcome to Huddleston and Shepherd Family Vision Care, PLLC
Located in Cookeville, Tennessee
We would like to thank you for visiting our website.
This office has provided the highest quality eye care to Cookeville and the surrounding Upper Cumberland area for more than forty years. With highly proficient doctors and an experienced and friendly staff, our goal is to exceed your expectations throughout your entire eye care experience. Please feel free to contact the office with any questions or concerns that you may have.Huddleston and Shepherd Family Vision | Promote Your Page Too
Our Eye Doctors: W. Mike Huddleston, O.D. and Garret C. Shepherd, O.D.
Located in Cookeville, Tennessee. Each of our doctors is an optometrist. Each earned their degree at the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee.
If you are in need of an eye doctor, let us help with all your vision needs.
What is an optometrist?
Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures as well as identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye.
Doctors of Optometry prescribe medications, low vision rehabilitation, vision therapy, spectacles lenses(glasses), contact lenses, and perform certain surgical procedures.
Optometrists counsel their patients regarding surgical and non-surgical options that meet their visual needs related to their occupations, avocations, and lifestyle.
An optometrist has completed pre-professional undergraduate education in a college or university and four years of professional education at a college of optometry, leading to the doctor of optometry (O.D.) degree. Some optometrists complete an optional residency in a specific area of practice.
Optometrists are eye health care professionals state-licensed to diagnose and treat diseases and disorders of the eye and visual system.
--Approved by the AOA Board of Trustees, June 21, 2005


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Settlement reached in transgender restroom complaint
Johnson County and its sheriff's department have reached a settlement with a transgender woman over the courthouse's bathroom policy.
The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports the settlement with 56-year-old Jodie Jones, of Iowa City, means deputies will receive new training on civil rights matters and the county will clarify its policy on public restroom use.
Jones filed a complaint after she was denied access by a female deputy in November 2011 to use a women's restroom at the Johnson County Courthouse.
Under Iowa law, it is discriminatory to deny a person such a use based on their gender identity.
An administrative law judge later ruled that there was probable cause supporting Jones' claims of discrimination on the basis of gender identity, sex and sexual orientation in a public accommodation.


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