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Could dirt, cow manure or worms help prevent or treat Crohn's disease? How about bacteria from a cow's intestinal tract?
Join us as leading Crohn's disease researchers explain why a lack of exposure to certain microorganisms early in life may contribute to the development of Crohn's. You'll learn about the immune system's function in the intestinal tract and how it responds to foreign bodies – good or bad. We'll discuss what role this response may play in preventing Crohn's and the kinds of treatments researchers hope to develop from studying it. Plus, we'll discuss possible reasons that developing nations report a lower incidence of Crohn's disease than developed countries.
As always, our expert guests answer questions from the audience.
Welcome to this HealthTalk webcast. Before we begin, we remind you that the opinions expressed on this webcast are solely the views of our guests. They are not necessarily the views of HealthTalk, our sponsors or any outside organization. And, as always, please consult your own physician for the medical advice most appropriate for you.
Now here's your host, Rick Turner.
Rick Turner:
Since the beginning humans have lived close to the soil. We toiled in it, ate from it, slept near it, but at the turn of the 20th century, many industrialized nations moved into cleaner, more sanitized living conditions. The hygiene hypothesis suggests that this change may have caused an increase in autoimmune disease. Has our shift to cleanliness caused our immune systems to turn on us? Welcome to this webcast, Crohn's Disease: Is a Clean Gut Causing Your Symptoms?
And joining us is Dr. Joel V. Weinstock, professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Gastroenterology at Tufts University School of Medicine and co-founder of a new research and treatment approach involving parasitic worms called helminthes and immune modulation. Dr. Weinstock, welcome to HealthTalk.
Dr. Joel Weinstock:
Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here.
Great to have you joining us today. So, what is the hygiene hypothesis, and how long has it been around?
Dr. Weinstock:
The hygiene hypothesis was probably formulated on and off for a good 40 years. It has been embellished and stated and then rediscovered, so we came up with the hygiene hypothesis in the 1990s, but other groups apparently had. If you look hard, you can find there were other people who had thought this idea probably as back as the 1960s.
Now, what is the hygiene hypothesis? Simply stated, the human race evolved to be in a certain type of an environment, and in the 20th century, we moved out of our traditional environment, which was close to the soil and dirt and organisms, into a much more sterile environment. As a result of this transition from traditional to unconventional, it may have affected the development of our immune system.
If I am not being too detailed, we are all born with an immune system, but between the ages of zero and 12, that immune system gets programmed. It's like a computer – you get a computer, and it's worthless without the software, and our exposures to microorganisms and helminthes and other biological agents is the factor that programs our immune system.
So, that's what's in the dirt that this hypothesis suggests we are missing? The exposure to those things?
Dr. Weinstock:
Yes, exposures to natural organisms around us.
Yet the flip side is that everybody thinks a clean environment is more healthful. It's better for people. Can it be both?
Dr. Weinstock:
The answer to your question is yes. Back in the 1800s people used to die from cholera and typhus, certain bacteria that were actually evil to us and killed us from contaminated water, contaminated food. One of President Lincoln's children died in office from an organism from contaminated water. So, when we developed our hygiene standards, we cleaned up the water and we cleaned up the food, and as a result of our sanitary lives, we have eliminated exposures to the organisms that cause illness. On the other hand, the same process of cleaning up also eliminates our exposures to the many, many thousands of organisms that frankly are perfectly safe to us. So it's possible we have eliminated one scourge, but we have created another.
I guess the hygiene hypothesis originated as a theory to explain an increase in allergies. Is that correct?
Dr. Weinstock:
What attracted you and your colleagues to study it for Crohn's disease?
Dr. Weinstock:
We weren't aware of it when we first came up with it. The literature is funny that way, because people would think of something in one place, then it dies away. The reason we came up with it is we looked at the nature of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the two forms of conditions called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and it's very clear that these ailments are very common in industrialized countries and rare in less developed countries. It also tends to be a disease of people who are relatively affluent versus people who live near the soil and aren't as clean.
At the same time, being a gastroenterologist I was aware of this phenomenon, but I also am an immunologist, and I have been studying parasitology immunology for many years. At that time I was writing or editing a book about intestinal parasites, and it occurred to me that the rise of inflammatory bowel disease paralleled the loss of exposure to helminthes. So it occurred to me there could be a link.
Now, we know a lot about helminthes. We know how they affect the human immune system [in a way] that made them a prime candidate as a protective factor against these diseases.
So there is a geographical footprint, if you will, a demographic distribution of Crohn's disease, and that was the connection to this hygiene hypothesis?
Dr. Weinstock:
That was one of the pieces of evidence.
Now, when we spoke earlier, you mentioned that cases of Crohn's and ulcerative colitis are increasing significantly in a couple of places where you might not expect it, India and China, where they were once quite rare. I understand that they are becoming more industrialized, yet the vast majority of the people in those countries still live close to the soil. So what do you think is going on?
Dr. Weinstock:
They now have a middle class. These are countries with more than a billion people. Twenty years ago there were just a few well-off people well and everybody else was poor. Now they have literally millions of people that are living a lifestyle not too different from you and me, and these diseases are emerging in that group of people.
Are there still places in the world, Dr. Weinstock, where Crohn's disease and colitis are very rare? Where would we see that?
Dr. Weinstock:
Yes – the less developed countries. Wherever you have poverty, wherever people are poor, many of the countries in South America, people in rural areas of India, rural areas of South America, immunological diseases of all types seem to be very rare. Even now it's relatively uncommon in India. In the United States it's approaching one in every 250 people. It's a tremendous epidemic, but it's still quite rare in less developed countries. It's just that they never saw it, but now they are seeing it, and they are seeing more of it. So you could predict what's going to happen. All around the world, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis could end up affecting one in every 250 people.
Let's talk some more about the immune system, because you suggest that's where this whole thing gets started, particularly early in life. How does a human immune system develop? Flush that out for us a little bit more.
Dr. Weinstock:
There are two major aspects of our immune system. One is we usually think of our immune system as cells in our body that protect us from bacteria and viruses that can kill us. So, when a virus or bacteria gets into your body, your immune system gears up, and it goes for the throat, kills the organisms, and gets them out. That's the killer aspect of our immune system.
On the other hand, to have such a powerful system in your body, you have to have regulation. You have to have an ability to control that immune system to prevent it from getting out of hand, so we developed two aspects of our immune system – one, the kill side, and the other, the regulation side. What we think is happening between the ages of zero and 12, because of lack of appropriate exposures, people's kill side of their immune system becomes very reactive and they don't develop good regulatory control, leaving them vulnerable to the immunological diseases which are really a result of the immune system going amok where it starts attacking self or causing damage to the body when it's not necessary.
How is it then that the lack of exposure to these things in the soil leads to that lack of development of regulation?
Dr. Weinstock:
That's the magic of co-evolution. Let's just take the worms for example – and I don't want to imply they are the only things that do this. These parasitic worms have evolved to live within our body, and in so doing they have learned how to control our immune system, and they trigger regulation within our bodies so that our attack side doesn't attack them. There is a symbiotic relationship. And that's what we commonly would say, as a parasitologist, a good parasite should depart to the host – that's the person who's carrying the parasite – a survival advantage.
That's not to say that a worm wakes up one morning and says to itself, "Gee, what can I do to help you today? You have been so good to me the last couple of years." What the worm has actually done is, think back a million years – something gets in your body, you react to it, it reacts to you, there is a war going on. You are trying to get rid of it. It's trying to survive. Then after thousands and thousands of years of co-existence and evolution, it changes, you change, until finally you reach a balance. And some of these organisms therefore can live in you, and you keep it well enough controlled that it doesn't hurt you, but it gets comfortable.
Now, what happens if you suddenly rip it out of your body is that your compensatory mechanisms through that factor that has always been there throughout evolution are suddenly gone, and there is no balance. So then you may start hyper-reacting because the worms had essentially become part of your body, just like your liver, your spleen, your kidney. It's part of you.
I am intrigued by the notion of the immune system becoming programmed in those first 12 years. Is it a situation where, if you are exposed to those proper things in the soil at an early age, then that is enough and you don't need to be continuously exposed to those throughout your life?
Dr. Weinstock:
I don't think that's so. It sets you in the right direction, but we know that when people, let's say, move here from India, if they have been here for five, six, seven, eight years, some of them start getting hay fever and get some of the immunological problems that we get. People have studied the immune system of people who moved from less developed countries to more developed countries, and what happens is that their immune systems remain different from ours, but they gradually change to become more like ours. So the protection of living in a natural environment, as I call it, probably does last a long time, but if you move into very, very clean environments, over a decade or so you will lose some of that protection.
Now, turning things around, if you already have a hyper immune system, and you get exposed to things, can you turn back the clock and get a form of protection? The experiments we did using live agents and people with disease suggest that that can happen as well – that's why these things could be useful therapeutically.
That's fascinating. We are going to talk a little bit more about that research in just a minute here. But let's bring this back to the issue specifically of Crohn's disease. What happens in the immune system of someone who does get Crohn's disease and maybe does not have that proper regulation in the immune system?
Dr. Weinstock:
Crohn's disease is probably what we call a syndrome, and that is it may not be one disease. What happens, usually in the teenage years or in the 20s – that's when it usually starts – people start developing inflammation of the gut. We think what's happening is, our stool is composed of bacteria. About half the dry weight of our stool is living organisms. So when you go to the bathroom, and you poop in the can, and you look down at that poop, it's teeming with life. And so in our bodies, literally many, many pounds of bacteria are living. There are more living organisms in your intestines than there are in your whole body.
So, these organisms produce vitamins for us. They help digest our food. They tone our immune systems. They do a lot of things that are good for us. If we sterilized our GI tract, got rid of all the bacteria, we would die because of co-evolution. We have become dependent on them just like they are dependent on us.
On the other hand, the organisms that live in the gut, if they got into the blood stream, they would kill us. So we have developed immune defenses at the interface between our intestine and our bacteria to keep the bacteria in the gut without hurting us.
What we think is happening in Crohn's disease, the policy of "good fences make good neighbors" is breaking down. Basically what happens is the immune system starts saying, "Gee whiz, I don't just want to keep these bacteria in the gut. I want to kill them all. I want to get rid of them." So the immune system, instead of just accepting peaceful co-existence, now starts to go for the throat to try to kill those organisms. In so doing, it starts releasing toxic factors and mediators into the gut that causes damage to the intestine, and that's the inflammation.
So, what we think is happening – Crohn's disease is a disease of what we call immune dysregulation, where the immune system starts attacking things in the gut that normally it would not have to attack and causes injury to itself because of sloppy regulation. The immune system would normally turn it off, but can't.
If that's case, if it's this attacking of the self because of the imbalance of the immune system and the bacteria in the gut, is there still a genetic factor at play here, Dr. Weinstock? How big of a role does that play in this whole process?
Dr. Weinstock:
There are genes that have been discovered that increase your risk for Crohn's disease, but these genes are not the cause of Crohn's disease. When they first started being able to identify genes back at the end of the 1900s, they thought, "We will find the gene, and then we will know the disease, and the disease can be treated." But all they found were risk factors. So, for example, what's the color of your hair?
Well, what I have left is blond.
Dr. Weinstock:
Blond – are blond people more prone to skin cancer?
Dr. Weinstock:
Because our skin is so fair, and I sunburn really easily.
Dr. Weinstock:
Right. But is it the blond hair that causes the skin cancer?
No, I guess not.
Dr. Weinstock:
No. It's a risk factor, but it's not the cause of the disease. The cause of the disease is exposure to the sun.
So, we found several genes that will increase your risk for Crohn's disease, but the reality is that the disease goes from very rare to very common in a generation, that is, increasing 10- to 20-fold in frequency. It's environment, and environment is the main culprit.
Let's talk a little bit more about your research, because that involves the helminthes, the parasitic worms. Tell us more about these worms and why you focus on those in your research.
Dr. Weinstock:
Helminthes – I want to make sure that the audience understands what we are talking about – these aren't earthworms. They are not the things you go fishing with. Though they look like worms in the garden, they are worms that can live in the body. Some of them are thinner than a human hair and very short, that is, a quarter of an inch. Some of them can be very large, can be several feet long. Billions of people have these worms in their GI tracts. They are animals. They are not bacteria or viruses. So that's what we are talking about.
People get them through eating, and different worms get into the body in different ways, through contaminated food, walking through dirt with bare feet and the dirt is contaminated with the living organisms, and they can get into the body.
And for all of millennia, people have had worms. In the 1800s everybody had worms. Even today if you look at public health data from the 1900s in the United States, the Miami school system in the 1930s, more than 30 percent of the children had worms. In the rural South, over 70 percent of them had worms – very common. If you look at immigrants coming in from South America or from Indonesia, usually coming here because of war like Vietnam refugees, over 70 percent of the children had worms. So, we know they are very common.
Worms have been with us forever. And how do we know that? Well, did you ever hear about the ice man, the person they found?
Yes. Frozen in a glacier.
Dr. Weinstock:
The guy that did the autopsy on him gave me a call because in his GI tract they found whip worms. They found evidence of worms in mummies that are 10,000 years old.
So these have been around a long time. And you, in your research, why do you focus on the helminthes? What's unique about them?
Dr. Weinstock:
Helminthes are unique because they trigger certain aspects of our immune system that no other organisms do. They trigger what we call the Th2 response, and it's part of our immune system that evolved strictly for worms – bacteria normally don't use these pathways. These worms are very unique in being able to control our immune system and suppress reactivity, and they do it in very unique ways.
Tell us about the human studies you have conducted with the helminthes. First of all, who is qualified to participate?
Dr. Weinstock:
These studies were completed a couple years ago. We selected patients with ulcerative colitis and patients with Crohn's disease who were refractory to standard treatments. Also the criteria to enter the study included the fact that the disease was stable so that we wouldn't take any chance of hurting anybody.
How big was the study population?
Dr. Weinstock:
Both studies were relatively small. Again, I am only guessing on the number. The ulcerative colitis study had about 60-some patients, and the Crohn's disease maybe about 40 or 50.
So these people were given helminthes. How were they ingested?
Dr. Weinstock:
They took it orally.
Is it a pill?
Dr. Weinstock:
No – well, what we chose, should I mention briefly what the agent was?
Dr. Weinstock:
The agent was what we call pig whip worm, and it was picked because it's a helminth that only goes in the GI tract and can't go anywhere else. It's also a pig worm, but it can't infect people, and there are no diseases associated with exposure to this worm, so the worm was very, very safe.
This is pig whip worm?
Dr. Weinstock:
Pig whip worm versus human whip worm.
And will this live in the gut forever?
Dr. Weinstock:
In humans it lives for about two months and then disappears, whereas the human whip worm could last for a couple years.
So what happens to them once they get into your intestines?
Dr. Weinstock:
So what we do is we gave people eggs. The eggs of the worm are essentially microscopic. Once they are swallowed, they go through the stomach and then in the small intestine the eggs open up, and little larvae come out, microscopic worms, and then over a period of several weeks, they grow into adult worms that are about a half an inch long and as thin as a human hair, and then eventually they disappear. In the process of doing that, they are interacting with the host's immune system, triggering regulatory pathways.
And how often do people need to ingest them, or how often did they in the study?
Dr. Weinstock:
In one study, once every two weeks, in another study once every three weeks.
So what did you find in the study, Doctor?
Dr. Weinstock:
It was a double-blind study – where neither the doctors nor the patients knew what they were taking – and half the patients got the agents, and half didn't – they got a salt placebo.
As a result we saw benefits of giving people helminthes. The people who took the helminthes seemed to do better.
On what sort of percentage? Was it universal?
Dr. Weinstock:
It was, again my recollection, around 60 percent had a major response versus placebo of about 15 percent.
Yet some people did not respond to the treatment?
Dr. Weinstock:
Some people did not respond.
So that raises the question why would it work well for some and not for others?
Dr. Weinstock:
Remember that at the time we only gave one dose, one concentration, to each patient, so one possibility is that some people needed more or they needed to take it more frequently. It's possible because this is the pig whip worm that some people genetically are different, and the worm can't grow. It can't hatch and do its thing. So it could be genetic differences. Or it could be that ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are not the same disease, and some subsets of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis won't respond to this treatment. So there are a lot of potential possibilities, but until much more massive studies are done, we won't be able to answer that at this time.
I understand. Were there any negative side effects to the people who got these worms?
Dr. Weinstock:
In the group of patients that we carefully watched, we didn't see anything that was a side effect of worm therapy.
Really? None?
Dr. Weinstock:
Are there any other types of parasitic worms under study?
Dr. Weinstock:
Yes. Right now there are more than 3,000 people who have been treated with our agent in Europe and in the United States. And there literally are dozens of studies that are underway or about to be started in various immunological diseases. There is another worm in England, a hookworm, that a group has permission to use, and they are using it in Crohn's disease and certain other diseases as well. The outcome of their studies is currently not available.
I guess there are worms out there that people definitely want to avoid, right? Not all worms are a benefit to your digestive tract?
Dr. Weinstock:
I am not recommending that people run out and find worms and get exposed to them. There are bacteria that are good for us, and there are bacteria that can hurt us. There are some worms that it's a matter of risk-benefit ratio. Some worms have almost no pathological potential and can be our friends, and there are other worms that may carry a disease potential. So, not all worms are created equal.
So what do you hope to accomplish with this research, Dr. Weinstock? If you find that yes, people do benefit from these, what sorts of treatments do you hope to develop?
Dr. Weinstock:
First of all, by studying these worms, we also learn a lot about how the human immune system works, and if worms can modulate disease, it also gives us a window into understanding how the diseases developed to begin with.
Number two is, we would like a safe treatment for these diseases. Right now, many diseases – Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis – the treatments are not that good. They are expensive. They carry risks. People have to take medicine all the time. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could develop a treatment that you have to take once every two weeks maybe only for a few months and it would get your immune system into shape, and then your disease would be under control and with very few side effects? That's exactly what we are looking for.
And down the road, what could happen is, if all our theories are correct – and they're still theories – that these could eventually become vaccines where people, children at risk of getting these diseases can be exposed to some of these organisms at a young age and maybe lower the risk of getting Crohn's disease and asthma and some of those other immunological diseases later in life.
So, in a way, we can artificially expose people to what they have been missing?
Dr. Weinstock:
Yes. And you think back, what was the first vaccine? Do you know?
I don't know.
Dr. Weinstock:
Smallpox, and that was Louis Pasteur. He had the idea of taking cowpox and infecting people with it, and that protected them from smallpox. At that time, it was a very radical thing to do.
Now, do you have children? I am sorry for being so personal here.
I do not.
Dr. Weinstock:
Well, let's say you know a few.
I have nieces and nephews.
Dr. Weinstock:
So, I bet you their mom has taken them for vaccines, and some of them were live agents being put in the arms of people to protect them from disease. We have grown to accept the concept that exposures to things can help protect us from illness.
So, if it proves to be correct and if these worms are helpful, then someday we may have a vaccine that we can give people to help their immune systems develop properly and to prevent the risk of Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and all those other diseases like multiple sclerosis, even hay fever. In less developed countries they don't get hay fever. That's a disease of developed countries.
You mentioned earlier that these worms are not bacteria. They are different. How do parasites such as helminthes compare to that healthy bacteria, prebiotics and probiotics? I am sure a lot of people are familiar with those. Do they both do the same thing in the gut, or is one more successful than the other?
Dr. Weinstock:
That's a good question. I can't answer that for sure. The data is not available. I do know that helminthes are extremely powerful inducers of these regulatory pathways. I don't think probiotics can substitute for what the helminthes do.
Because they don't stimulate the immune system in the same way, right?
Dr. Weinstock:
Or they do it much more passively.
I see. It seems like people in highly industrialized and sanitized nations then may want to get a little dirty. So should people start playing in the mud? Should they take their kids out and let them roll around in it and get dirtier than they used to? Is that what this boils down to?
Dr. Weinstock:
Is there something parents can do today to help protect their kids from these diseases? Unfortunately, we don't have scientific data to say this is what you should do. So, when people ask me this question, what do I say? We know that it doesn't hurt kids to play in the dirt, that if they don't wash their hands every time they come in, they are not going to get sick. We know that people who live close to the soil – farmers, farmers' children, who are on farms and exposed to things – are not prone to immunological diseases. So the best advice I can give today is, it's okay for kids to play in the dirt, and they don't have to be immaculately clean, and maybe that will help protect them.
Now, I am sure you are aware, Dr. Weinstock, that some experts feel that the hygiene hypothesis is full of holes when it comes to explaining immune system disorders. They suggest that things like air pollution, obesity, stress, our sedentary lifestyles are just among a myriad of potential explanations that could also trigger the immune system to overreact in something like Crohn's disease. How do you respond to that?
Dr. Weinstock:
Diseases are complicated, and there is not going to be any one factor that explains everything. These are just factors that contribute or protect. But air pollution is much more common in China and in India than it is in the United States. If you just go to India, you would know what I am talking about. And lifestyles, if you don't exercise, perhaps; obesity, maybe, but obesity doesn't correlate with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's. They are thin. They are not fat. And exercise levels don't correlate either. And air pollution doesn't correlate. So these factors are not the primary factors related to Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. That we know for sure.
Dr. Weinstock, we have a lot of questions for you. First one is an e-mail from Bethany, Oklahoma, and we touched on this earlier, "Could exposure to dirt, cattle, worms and so on delay the onset of Crohn's symptoms? I grew up on a farm and ranch but did not suffer with Crohn's until I was 50 years old. Why do you think that is?"
Dr. Weinstock:
I think that's very possible. The protection from exposure to dirt and worms may not last a lifetime. If you move into very clean environments, sanitary environments, particularly the more susceptible people could develop disease later in life. The immune system starts deviating from lack of exposure.
Next question comes from Seminole, Florida, "Is there any correlation between cow's milk and Crohn's disease?"
Dr. Weinstock:
Not that we are aware of.
I am curious about the hygiene hypothesis and how ubiquitous antibacterial soaps are these days. Do those play a role in this whole arena?
Dr. Weinstock:
There is no data suggesting that antibiotic/antibacterial soaps are related to the cause of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. There has been data regarding skin problems, eczema, but not inflammatory bowel disease.
Plus I guess the worms, per se, wouldn't be affected by those, right?
Dr. Weinstock:
Next we have an e-mail from Stillwater, Minnesota, "Do bacteria play a role in Crohn's disease? Is it harmful to take oral antibiotics long-term, in this case for acne, even if Crohn's symptoms are much better while doing so?"
Dr. Weinstock:
Antibiotics affect the composition of our intestinal bacteria. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of different types of bacteria that live in our GI tract. When we have inflammatory bowel disease, we are not necessarily reacting to every single organism that lives there. So when we change the balance, sometimes we may cause the more evil bacteria, the bacteria that we are reacting to, to increase in number. So use of antibiotics in patients with inflammatory bowel disease generally should be restricted unless there are very, very good causes, indications for them.
Does that generally extend to the rest of the population, in your opinion? I know there was a lot of talk recently about how often people will resort to antibiotics to treat the flu or something like a bad cold, and that could be causing an imbalance in the bacteria in your gut as well.
Dr. Weinstock:
Where I want to be careful in instructing people is to make sure they realize that we don't have data that says that using antibiotics caused immunological diseases, and antibiotics save a lot of lives. But I caution people that these are not candy. These are not M&M's. You take an antibiotic for a good reason, not for a trivial reason. Many antibiotics are given for reasons that don't make any sense – an antibiotic isn't going to treat the common cold. [Medical editor's note: The common cold is due to a virus and antibiotics only kill bacteria.] So, when you have a serious [bacterial] infection, you should take an antibiotic, but only when it's very indicated.
E-mail from Worland, Wyoming, "I have also heard much controversy concerning the role of immunizations in the development of Crohn's disease. As of yet I have not had my two sons immunized. If the doctor has any insight on this as to which is the greater risk, I would like to hear his opinions."
Dr. Weinstock:
Standard immunizations against the usual things have not been shown to be dangerous. The danger of getting tetanus or some of these other diseases is much higher. People have tried to determine whether immunizations are related to the high frequency of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, and the data does not show a correlation.
So, at this time it does not seem that immunizations are a cause of these diseases, or if they are contributing, it's a very, very minor cause. On the other hand, these immunizations have saved many, many thousands of lives, and I strongly recommend that all children receive appropriate immunizations. [Medical editor's note: Choosing not to immunize your children does a disservice both to them and to the community at large because the more people that are immunized the lower the overall spread of these illnesses.]
E-mail from Jim in California, "What is the status of porcine whip worm ova therapies, marketed and available from Ovamed in Germany? I used it and had no side effects from it. The whip worms cannot reproduce in the human intestines, cannot infect others or the host, and die and are expelled in about two to three weeks after taking the ova-containing solution. Last I heard, the FDA approval was approximately five years out in the future. Any idea on its current status?"
Dr. Weinstock:
I want to be careful not to promote the use of any commercial agents. This is just a general discussion. That agent in particular is a bona fide drug, and it's working its way through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European [equivalent of the] Food and Drug Administration. Many studies are underway or planned, and these studies are necessary to prove that the agent truly is beneficial to people. So when those studies are completed, we are hoping that we will have brand new drug that will be very effective in a number of diseases.
Is it something that's available in Europe now?
Dr. Weinstock:
It's available in Europe, and I believe also in the United States under compassionate use.
In terms of FDA approval, is there any tentative time line?
Dr. Weinstock:
I wouldn't know.
We have an e-mail from Jocelyn who writes, "Do people with Crohn's have a higher rate of allergies (also thought to be related to overly clean environments)?"
Dr. Weinstock:
People with Crohn's disease are prone to allergies. As far as I know, there is no higher rate of allergies in patients with Crohn's disease versus the general population.
Redmond, Washington is the source of our next e-mail, and this person writes, "I have been on prednisone, five to 10 milligrams daily, with occasional methyl dose packs for severe flares of my rheumatoid arthritis. Is Crohn's disease associated with RA, and can steroid use work against my intestinal tract? I have also started methotrexate injections, 6 cc weekly."
Dr. Weinstock:
Rheumatoid arthritis is not connected to Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. So, if you have rheumatoid arthritis, you are not any more likely to get Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis than the average person in the general population.
What is the impact of steroids like prednisone on the bacteria or whatever is in your gut?
Dr. Weinstock:
That has not been studied.
We have a question from Richardson, Texas about Accutane (isotretinoin). "Any connection between Accutane and Crohn's disease? If so, what is it based upon? How common is it? If there is a connection, why don't GI doctors ask about your history of Accutane usage?"
And I guess we need to define Accutane at this time.
Dr. Weinstock:
I'm not quite sure what Accutane is.
They say it's found in acne medications.
Dr. Weinstock:
Oh, yes. Now I know. No – there is no link between that agent and Crohn's disease. It hasn't been established.
Moving right along to an e-mail from Andrea, and Andrea says, "We grew up in Lima, Peru and then moved to Canada when I was 15. Seven years later my oldest brother developed Crohn's disease. Now 15 years since moving to Canada, my older brother has also developed Crohn's disease. How would my family's example fit with your theory and research?"
Dr. Weinstock:
You have certain people that may be at more risk of developing these diseases, and when they live in the natural environment, they don't get the disease because they're exposed to organisms that protect them. So, here you have a family that moved to the sterile environment of Canada. They are taken out of the natural environment, and after a certain number of years their immune system begins to deviate, and then their disease develops. If they had remained in their natural environment, it's possible the disease would never have developed.
Of course without a control group, we can't say that for sure, right?
Dr. Weinstock:
No, we can't.
E-mail from Wailuku, Hawaii, "I lived in the U.S., Japan and Germany by the time I was five years old. It would seem to me that I was exposed to more stuff than usual. I also started my symptoms at a very early age, though no one at the time knew that that was the problem." I guess they are referring to Crohn's disease. "How does that fit into your thoughts and theories?"
Dr. Weinstock:
I have had a lot of "golly-gee" cases like this presented to me over the years. I call them golly-gee cases – see, here is somebody who lived in Japan. Here is somebody who lived in India. Often what turns out is that they are the ambassador's son, and they lived in a compound, and they didn't eat the standard food. And essentially they lived in an island. They may have been in Japan, they may have been in India, but they didn't live like Indians.
They were on a sterile island in that country.
Dr. Weinstock:
Exactly. And nine times out of 10, that's what you find when you explore the background. But yes, they were exposed to things, but not to the same things others children were exposed to.
Emery in South Carolina writes, "I have had four surgeries and a high output ileostomy. Three fistulas are making sitting a challenge. I started on Humira (adalimumab) April 12. Is there anything I may suggest to my GI to make my life a little more comfortable? I would eat an entire raw cow starting at the south end if it would help."
Dr. Weinstock:
I feel for this person. Although he is being humorous, I can imagine how much he has suffered over the years with his disease, and having fistulas and a sore bottom and everything is pretty bad. Unfortunately without knowing the case in detail, without knowing the nature of his problems, to offer him medical advice would not do him a benefit.
He mentions he is on Humira, which is a biologic treatment for Crohn's disease. How do biologics in general fit into this whole theory?
Dr. Weinstock:
Anti-TNF (tumor necrosis factor) agents they are called. They block TNF. They block an aspect of the immune system to dampen the immune response. Ultimately they work in about 10 to 15 percent of patients with Crohn's disease.
How do they fit in the hygiene [theory]? Well, they are a treatment. You are blocking a major pathway, and it makes the disease better in some of the patients. But that's not a good treatment. It's the best we have.
And would they have any effect on these worms per se?
Dr. Weinstock:
Would the anti-TNF hurt the worms?
Or have any effect on them?
Dr. Weinstock:
No, they don't. The worms don't trigger just one pathway of regulation. When they get into the host, they can sense the immune state of the host. So, for example, picture yourself as a smart worm. You have evolved to be with me. It can colonize me. It can colonize you. It can colonize every one of your listeners. Each of us is different, so when a worm gets into the body, your immune system sniffs it out and says, "Hey, something is here." The worm can tell your immune system is sniffing, and then it does what it needs to do to control and dampen your immune system. It has a whole repertoire of things it can do to control immune responses.
What we think is happening in people with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis is, when the worms get into the GI tract, they can sense this inflammation, and the worms assumes that the inflammation is against itself, against the worm, so it then starts doing what it needs to do to dampen the Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, because that's what it's naturally designed to do.
Drugs are a lot dumber. You can block a single pathway, a single molecule, but the immune system is much more complicated than that. We can't cure these diseases with these drugs; some of them you become resistant to very quickly. After it works, the immune system starts figuring out other ways to attack the body that don't require those pathways. That's why these new biologics, though they have been helpful, are far from the answer. They are interim answers until we can get to the ultimate treatment.
Chester in New Jersey writes, "Are similar exposure issues possible to explain ulcerative colitis as well as Crohn's? What research is being conducted to test this hypothesis?"
Dr. Weinstock:
They are a different type of immune responses, but yes, they can potentially be controlled by worms. Double-blind studies that are going to be starting in Australia, Japan the United States, Europe and elsewhere are going to include patients both with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. I think that will be the ultimate proof. If you can take a natural agent that is in pigs that farmers are exposed to, and give it to other people, and if it controls the disease, I think that pretty well answers the question.
E-mail from New Port Richey, Florida, sort of the flip side of the hygiene hypothesis. This person writes, "I was told in 1963 when I had my first exploratory bowel resection that I probably got the Crohn's from eating unclean lettuce at school. True or not?"
Dr. Weinstock:
Lettuce per se doesn't cause any known diseases, however lettuce can be contaminated with bacteria. They can have other infectious agents. So, like if you travel to Mexico – and I don't mean to imply anything about Mexico – but for the traveler going to Mexico who is not prepared, when you eat lettuce or vegetables, if it's not clean and it contains bacteria, that could make us sick.
So, unclean lettuce can trigger disease. And some people can get certain organisms that can actually trigger inflammatory bowel disease, but most of the time there are no known triggers.
We have a question from Medina, Ohio. "Would this 'dirt theory' only be linked to individuals who have a mutation in the genetic makeup to be susceptible to developing Crohn's disease?
Dr. Weinstock:
We all have genes. We are all made of genes, so everything is genetic. But there are going to be people more susceptible and people less susceptible. Most likely, everybody is susceptible at one level or another. So for example, hay fever, multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, childhood diabetes, asthma – these are all immunological diseases, and there are going to be certain genetic factors that make us more apt to get them.
But even if you look at all the Crohn's disease, of all the genes that have been found, 90 percent of people with Crohn's disease have no known genetic defect to explain this susceptibility. It's only a small subset that has these genes.
Interesting. E-mail from Durham, North Carolina, "Are there any foods that carry good bacteria that would assist with easing the symptoms of Crohn's disease?"
Dr. Weinstock:
There is no good, scientific data suggesting that food is a major factor in the development or treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. What's most important if you have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis is that you have a good, balanced diet, that you get good nutrition, that you don't become malnourished or vitamin deficient. But no particular food has been shown to be important for the treatment of the disease.
So people may say, "Well, what if I eat yogurt? It has a lot of bacteria. Is that good?" Again, there is no scientific data to help us say that that is the right thing to do, so at the current time I just tell my patients to eat a good, healthy diet. Avoid foods that you know make you sick, but try to eat a good, balanced diet.
Let's squeeze in one more question. Erin writes, "I have Crohn's disease, and I am worried that my son could develop it. What in your opinion could I do to help prevent him from getting it? I breastfed him. He eats organic foods, takes vitamins and has a normal, low-stress life."
Dr. Weinstock:
Buy two dogs, and let him play in the dirt.
That sounds like win-win for everybody.
Dr. Weinstock:
And does breastfeeding per se help protect kids against disease, do you think? Is it a factor?
Dr. Weinstock:
There is no data suggesting that breastfeeding protects you against Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. People try to study these things, and the data turns out negative. That's what I meant by there is no data.
Got it. Let's see, "I grew up on a diary farm and dealt with all forms of farm dirt, home garden-grown food and animal waste, and still I developed Crohn's at the age of 16. How could excessive cleanliness have caused my disease?"
I guess here is a golly-gee story, right?
Dr. Weinstock:
Well, the fact is that these diseases have always been with us. Crohn's disease didn't first develop in the 1930s. There have probably been occasional cases of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis forever. The difference is you go from the disease that was one in every 10,000 people to a disease that now is one in every 250 people. So there are going to be people who get these diseases no matter what they are exposed to, but that's bad luck.
With that, I'm afraid we are just about out of time, Dr. Weinstock. But before we go, first of all, where can listeners get more information about your work with helminthes?
Dr. Weinstock:
Well, there is no one particular site that I can recommend. I know that they could probably go to the Web site www.clinicaltrials.gov, and there will probably be information there about the agent and about studies that are underway. Myself, I don't provide references to data.
And if someone wants to participate in a clinical trial involving these substances, how can he or she do that?
Dr. Weinstock:
Depends where they live. If they are in Europe, there are several studies underway. It depends on the disease. In the United States there are multicenter studies that are being planned, and when they are about to start, they will probably hear about it through the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.
You think it would do any good to Google them?
Dr. Weinstock:
Dr. Weinstock:
Dr. Weinstock:
No. They will end up sending me e-mails. What I recommend is when these national studies in the United States are to be started, it's not going to be a secret.
Ccfa.org (Crohn's & Colitis Foundation) is always a good source for that, right?
Dr. Weinstock:
Yes. CCFA is one of the better [sources]. There are a lot of bad things out there, and the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation is one of the better sources of information. And then going to the companies that are developing this agent is another good source, because obviously they are going to tell people what they know.
Sure. Dr. Joel Weinstock, thank you so much for joining us.
Dr. Weinstock:
And thank you for inviting me to participate. I hope I was helpful to your listeners and to you.
It's been our pleasure.
Dr. Weinstock:
I wish all the patients who are listening with the Crohn's disease that they improve, and we are working very hard to develop better treatments. We know how much they are suffering, and we care, and hopefully within the next decade these diseases will be under control.
Okay. And thank you in the audience for being here as well.
From HealthTalk, I am Rick Turner.


text: FIRST MEET UP WITH MY SMART SUPPORTHello friend is my name, Nitya and Technical Baba are very welcome to you once again. As you have seen the heading of this post, you may have come to know that what we have come to meet today, so today I met the DHARMENDRA SIR of MY SMART SUPPORT and got very pleased with it. It is my Guru YouTube's | Let me tell you all, my friends and I agree with the same city and today 150K and I have completed 1,000 Subscriber.And I would like to work with all of you all who have supported me in this way. THANKU SIR

subset: commoncrawl


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It has often been said that our network determines our net worth. Having a strong network or like-minded community is a principle of success.
Throughout history, anyone who has achieved any noteworthy success will almost always attribute some aspect of their success to others, in particular, those in their circle of influence.
Therefore, being aware of why having a strong like-minded community is beneficial can motivate us to get involved with different communities, and also encourage those close to us to do the same.
A like-minded community is known by various names such as a peer support group, meet-up group, accountability partners, inner circle, mastermind group or even a club. We know that the concept of clubs has been around for a long time and is still one most important ways through which humans connect.
In the personal development world, the concept of a like-minded community was popularised by Napoleon Hill in his book, Think and Grow Rich, where he referred to a like-minded community as a mastermind group. He defined a mastermind as, "Coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose."
So why is it important to be connected to a like-minded community? Here are five benefits of being a part of a like-minded community, which can support us in our personal and professional lives.
- They offer us assistance, guidance and advice. We all get discouraged whether it's because things are not going as planned or we've experienced something unexpected.
Being able to reach to someone or a group of people and get a different perspective on a challenge or issue we may be facing is extremely valuable because at times, when we're in the middle of something, it can be challenging to see different alternatives or options.
- They support us unconditionally. There are times in life where we make decisions which others may not agree with, not because they don't want us to succeed, but because they do not want us to get disappointed or hurt. This can be tremendously demotivating especially if those people are loved ones.
When we have a like-minded community, we know that they will support us not matter what but also caution us on things that we may not have considered. Having support without any form of judgement is hugely motivating.
- They hold us accountable. Nothing moves us into action than having some form of accountability or consequence. When we have supportive peers who will listen to our excuses (and we all have them), but not buy into them, and give us the push we need to keep moving forward, that takes us to a whole new level.
This is how we expand our creativity, elevate our performance and go beyond what we think was possible for us. That is the power of having peer accountability because they have our best intentions in mind.
- They speak a common language. Different communities have their own jargon, acronyms and language. I think we've all experienced this. As an example, whenever I've attended seminars or training programs, I always pick up new terminology that others, who weren't there, may not necessarily understand.
Therefore having that community not only supports my learning after the event, it also makes it easier for me to apply new ideas or concepts. This is extremely valuable in the long run because having that like-minded support network is what will help us be the best we can be.
- They cheer us on. This is probably one of the biggest benefits of having a supportive community — they celebrate our successes with us. When we're able to share our victories with others, it gives us such a boost in confidence and self-esteem, which in turn, encourages us to continue with what we're doing. Success breeds success, and the more encouragement we receive, the better we want to perform.
Success really is a team sport. Not having a like-minded community can make things for us difficult, unenjoyable, and it can take longer for us to achieve what we want.
If we do stay connected to a highly supportive community, it will have a huge bearing on our ability to make the difference we want and also support others in reaching their goals.
Question: How has staying connected to a like-minded community benefited you?
You can leave a comment by clicking here.


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Edge Computing
Micro Data Centers
Network Closets
Server Rooms
Small & Medium Data Centers
Industrial Power
Home Office
Connected Home
Sorry, there is no route available between the two points, or because we do not have data for routing in that region.
Could not resolved location
Partner not found
No result for the chosen perimeter. Displaying partners outside the given range..


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Meet Medill
The best way to learn about our undergraduate journalism program is to interact with our students, faculty and staff. Visit us in Evanston to see our students in action. We hope to see you soon.
Visit campus
Visiting Northwestern's campus in Evanston is one of the best ways to learn about the university, Medill and the Evanston and Chicago communities. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of a campus visit to get a distinct feel for what your time at Medill would be like.
We offer a variety of ways for you to learn more about living and learning here.
Information session and campus tour
Many visitors start their visit with this option, which includes an overview of the university by an admissions counselor and a student-led tour of campus.
Medill-specific session
We host weekly information sessions to help you learn about what makes Medill unique and a leader in journalism education.
- Mondays, 3:30 p.m.
- Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m. (spring and summer quarters only)
- Fridays, 3:30 p.m.
Medill information sessions are held in McCormick Foundation Center (MFC), 1870 Campus Drive. MFC is located near the Segal Visitors Center, the starting point for Northwestern information sessions and campus tours.
Shadow a student
Interested in learning first-hand about the Medill student experience? Shadow a current student for half a day to visit a class, learn about student activities and experiences, and ask questions about life at Medill.
To schedule a time to shadow a student, please contact Program Assistant Paul Manyara.
Attending a journalism class, having lunch with students and listening to a Medill information session helped me to be able to picture myself as a Wildcat."
Prospective Medill student
Additional events
Representatives from Medill will host or attend these conferences and other events in the next few months. We hope to see you there.
|Nov. 21-22, 2019
|Washington, D.C.
|JEA/NSPA Fall High School Journalism Convention


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Window Hardware
Choosing window hardware is half the fun of decorating the windows – it's almost like selecting jewellery for them! You've already invested in window curtains, and you want your hardware to be both good looking and functional to keep your draperies looking and working their best. For that, it helps to know the basics about curtain rods, rings and finials and how they help finish a room. Let us at west elm give you important tips to steer you towards the right window hardware.
Curtain Rods
Curtain rods can be bold and beautiful and come in all finishes and styles. Start with thin rods that are over 2.5 cm in diameter so they can easily hold fabrics of different weights.
Single rods hold one layer of window treatments. From straight wood or metal rods to industrial-style pipe rods, the diameter and length matter for achieving the look you love. Rods typically run in three sizes: 71 cm expandable to 122 cm, 112 cm adjustable to 274 cm and 274 cm expandable to 366 cm. Pipe rods can attach to the wall or to the ceiling for a modern urban look. Draperies with oversized grommets look especially handsome on a single pipe rod. The beauty of a pipe rod is that a curtain can wrap around the end of the pipe to keep out more light and offer additional privacy.
Double rods help you easily layer curtains of different weights on the window. Typically, a sheer curtain goes on the slim rod and a heavier drapery fits on the thicker rod. The double rod is designed to give the curtains perfect spacing on the window, making it easier to open and close each layer.
Rod Finishes
What finish should you choose? From dramatic black and gunmetal to coastal whitewash and sleek mid-century wood, they all look beautiful on the window. To hone in on your choices, look at the darkest finishes in your room, from wood to metal, to determine the rod finish. For example if you have a dark wood headboard and a bronze metal bed canopy, consider a similar finish for your curtain rods. Other examples include a brushed stainless-steel rod finish in rooms with grey tones and brass rods for gold-toned furnishings. All-white rooms can look just as beautiful with white rods as they do with silver or gunmetal finishes. If you're looking for rods to span the entire length of your wall, try matching one to the paint colour of the wall.
Curtain Rings
Curtain rings in metal or wood have removable clips you can use to hang curtains panels – whether they come with or without drapery hooks. Rings typically coordinate with window hardware, but they're sold separately. Rings make it easy and quick to open and close curtains.
Rod Finials
Finials are the finishing touches on your rods that add a subtle flash of beauty. Many of today's rods come with simple yet elegant finials to finish off the ends. Or, you can personalise things and choose finials separately to create the look you want. For example, crystal finials add a touch of glamour to any room.
Window Treatment TipsA few other tips to consider when hanging curtains:
Length: Make sure curtains just barely touch the floor if you're hanging them long.
Width: Make certain panels are wide enough so they fully close.
Rod Placement: Make sure the rod extends at least 15 cm from each side of the window frame. This way, when curtains are open, they won't block the window. When closed, they cover the outer edges of the glass.
Weight: Be sure your rod can hold the weight of your drapery. Shorter rods hold less weight and longer rods hold more weight. Use the third support bracket on the rod if it's included.
Now you're ready to transform your windows and your room. With the right size drapery and window hardware, your windows will feel fresh and bright.


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Experience Opportunities Research Symposium
The 23rd Annual Westmont College Spring Student Research Symposium
One of the hallmarks of Westmont College's academic program is the opportunity for undergraduate students to work directly with faculty on research projects. Work presented at the annual Spring Student Research Symposium includes student research conducted during the past year from all three divisions of the college (Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Natural and Behavioral Sciences). The purpose of this symposium is to celebrate the noteworthy accomplishments of Westmont students.
Wednesday, April 17th, 2019 3:30-5:30PM in Winter Hall Atrium
Refreshments will be served.
Who should apply?
Any student in any major who has or is participating in a semester-long or longer research project under the supervision of a faculty member during this academic year can apply. This would include, but is not limited to, major honors students, independent research students, and students in a class with a significant cumulative research project (e.g. some senior capstone classes). Students working in partnership on the same project should apply together.
Symposium format
Each presenter or team prepares an overview of their research project in the form of a poster (max size: 48" x 36"). All posters are displayed throughout the 2-hour event and presenters stand by their poster to discuss the research with visitors and answer questions. Refreshments are available and visitors come and go at their convenience throughout the duration of the symposium.
Poster design and printing
Posters are usually made as one large "slide" in PowerPoint or Keynote, or in another graphics program. Printing can be done either locally and picked up or online and shipped here. Some options are below:
www.makesigns.com (also has templates you can download into PowerPoint; ships from Chicago)
The Print Center in Office Max (can be shipped to you or picked up at the store but maximum width for in store, same or next day pick-up is 24")
Westmont Reprographics (may have limited availability and would need a minimum of 3 days lead time; 24" max width)
How to apply
Email your project title, list of authors (include the year of graduation and email address for each author), name of your faculty mentor (include their department), and a 150-word maximum abstract to Heidi Henes-Van Bergen at firstname.lastname@example.com. Also, since sometimes student authors have graduated, are abroad, or are otherwise unavailable for the symposium, please underline the name(s) of the student(s) who will be presenting the poster. Please have all this either embedded in the email or attached separately as a Word document. Use the sample for guidance of how it should be formatted. Finally, if you have any special needs (e.g. a small table to display something or you need to be near an outlet, etc.) then include this as a note in your email.
Please submit your abstract to Heidi Henes-Van Bergen at email@example.com.
Sample title/author list/abstract
The Role of TDP-43 Oligomerization of ALS Neurodegeneration
Brady Quon ('16) and Megan Korff ('16), Faculty Mentor: Kristi Cantrell, Chemistry
Author Email(s): firstname.lastname@example.com, email@example.com
Abstract : TAR-DNA-binding protein (TDP-43) is an RNA processing protein that is primarily located in the nucleus. Recent research supports that TDP-43 aggregation into fibrils and oligomers, as well as translocation into the cytoplasm, are characteristic of the neurodegenerative disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Several ALS-associated mutations have been found in the carboxyl terminal, glycine rich region of TDP-43. Six, 13 residue peptide fragments are currently being synthesized to elucidate the conformation and aggregation of the TDP-43 glycine-rich region. Fibril assays have been prepared from two of the purified peptides and imaged using electron microscopy. Thioflavin T was applied to any fibrillar aggregates to determine the presence of beta-sheet secondary structure.


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I don't really write here much anymore but I'm bored so why not. The only reason this site exists is so that I can secure the domain name in case I need it in the future. I've been using the handle 'ertertwert' since 2000 and I've become somewhat attached. Most people pick a name they think sounds cool or has some intrinsic meaning – I just wanted efficiency. I can type those letters in less than a second, and that becomes incredibly useful when you are constantly entering email addresses and logins.
Simplicity man.


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Staying at our AA 4 Red Star luxury hotel is a remarkable and hospitality led experience.
Our thirty-two rooms are beautifully appointed and uniquely original, with each individually furnished alongside their en-suite bathrooms, dressing facility and lounges .
There is WiFi available throughout the hotel, book-ended with the service, care and consideration of the Estate hosts.
The perfect group or family retreat to the heart of North Yorkshire.
Sleeping up to eight people, High Swinton Cottage allows guests to experience Swinton Estate in a unique and personal way.
Situated adjacent to Swinton Hotel and Swinton Country Club & Spa, it's a different way to enjoy the Estate's range of pursuits from a homely, private and with a shared affection.
Bursting with charm, our rustic Tree Lodges are nestled in the woods and can accommodate up to seven imaginative guests.
They are equipped with a range and gas hob for cooking, hot water heated by wood burner, bed linen provided, toilet/shower room and no electricity, so bring torches!
Nestled into the side of our small hill, a short stroll from the site shop and cafe, our small community of Yurts reside in a spacious meadow.
On summer days, your veranda retains the stunning view of our surrounding valley, while in less climatic conditions the wood burner will keep you warm and snug.
Our Yurts can accommodate up to 5 guests and come with a log-burning stove, sink with cold running water, wood-shack toilet/shower block and are purposely unelectrified. (Seasonal).


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An interesting question to ponder…are you living day to day just to exist and barely get by, or are you truly living the life you deserve?
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Empower Trust is the admission authority for St Peter's CE Primary & Nursery School, however Shropshire Council co-ordinate applications for reception-aged children and also primary-secondary transfer. Application for Reception places can be made through their website www.shropshire.gov.uk/schooladmissions.
The school governing body has agreed to accept delegated responsibility for in-year admissions, so applications - other than for Reception - should be made to St Peter's School directly. Parents will be asked to complete a mid-term transfer form, which they can obtain from their child's present school or St Peter's. The information, once returned, will be considered in accordance with the school's Admissions Policy.
If unable to offer a place, the school will notify the local authority, who will advise parents of the appeals process and/or alternative schools.
St Peter's 2018/19 policy for in-year admissions will remain at 60.
The local authority can be contacted on 0345 678 9008.
We have now published our Admissions Policy for 2020 and this can be found below:
All website content copyright © St Peter's C of E Primary School
Website design by PrimarySite


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Today, the latest round of UN-brokered Syria peace talks begins in Geneva, with the goal of bringing President Bashar al-Assad and various armed opposition factions to a political settlement that could put an end to half a decade of civil war in the country.
The Geneva talks come one week after another set of Syria talks, this time in Sochi. The November 22 gathering, which included some of the conflict's key remaining players—Iran, Turkey, and Russia—was supposed to be a turning point in the issue of Syria's future. At least that had been Tehran's hope. Instead, the talks highlighted emerging fissures between Assad's two main foreign backers, Iran and Russia, and even divisions within Iran between the civilian government of President Hassan Rouhani and the leadership of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
In short, the IRGC, which over the last seven years has established a strong presence in Syria through its various militias and local proxies, is anxious to preserve its gains against pushback from Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. This stance might soon bring it into open conflict with Russia and other actors, including Rouhani, who might be more open to a multilateral political settlement to end the Syrian war. Specifically, the IRGC wishes not only to secure Iranian influence in postwar Syria, but also to transform its allied Syrian militias into an institutionalized military-political force in its own image, one which could become its local abettor similar to the role Hezbollah plays in Lebanon.
In Sochi, the Iranians, Russians, and Turks ostensibly agreed on one key point: that all parties should respect Syria's territorial integrity. Other issues were discussed, including how to continue to uphold the process of de-confliction in the zones that had been agreed upon at Astana in May. Sochi was above all a summit intended as a demonstration of the ascendancy of the Iranian-Russian-Turkish partnership on Syria.
In Tehran, though, considerable doubt continues to exist about both
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Over the next several days, I will be introducing members of our senior class. This year, we have invited each senior to address their squad mates at the conclusion of our daily team meeting. Two seniors will speak each day about what being a part of HCXC has meant to them. My intention is to use this blog space to capture some of what each individual said when it was their turn to have the stage. I think it important that, as last year, this blog captures not just my voice but the symphony of perspectives and personalities that make up our team. We start today with the two seniors that spoke at yesterday's meeting: Mac O'Donnell and Nick Tandle. The format I will follow over the next several days will be to write a short introduction about each senior, followed by a brief summary of their remarks:
Mac O'Donnell came out for Cross Country his freshman year, and has been with us ever since, even though there were periods when he could not run due to health concerns. So humble and self-effacing is Mac that I was not even aware of the full extent of the challenges he overcame until I heard him address his teammates last evening. Mac is a well-liked member of the team who works hard. I expect him to make huge improvements in his final year.
In his address, Mac spoke to his teammates about how much he missed running when he had to be held out for a season due to a medical condition doctors discovered. He had to have surgery to address this issue, and was finally able to rejoin his teammates as a junior. He reported that he loves being part of the team and urged his teammates to enjoy the experience.
Nick Tandle is also a four year member of our team. Nick started out with modest credentials – he finished 31st at conference his freshman year as the team's fifth man. Last year, he narrowly missed earning all-conference honors at the JV level. His biggest improvement, though, came during the winter between cross country and track. In horrible conditions, Nick thrived. By midway through indoor season, he had his breakthrough race, running 9:53 for 3200 at a meet hosted by Proviso West. This was a significant achievement, and one we hope portends more to come.
Nick spoke to his teammates about how the older members of the team looked out for him when he was a freshman. He recalled a practice at Waterfall Glen where Neil Pedersen, then a senior, approached him, offered him a sincere greeting, and then took him around to meet other members of the team, including Rajan Khanna, Mike Korompilas, and Jack Feldman. This was the beginning of an experience that would allow Nick to create bonds with guys he will never forget. He urged the current group of freshman to 'subscribe to the program' specifically for these bonds. He closed by inviting any of his teammates to eat lunch with him 5th period and by suggesting that the team can "pay tribute to past leaders by creating a climate of inclusivity."


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Humanity Now is a nonprofit that builds bridges between schoolchildren around the world. Our programs help schoolchildren understand global issues on a personal level, by connecting with schoolchildren in other communities. Where these connections uncover needs, Humanity Now builds programs and marshals resources to help communities gain access to clean water (Ecuador), better health (Senegal), and better education (The Gambia).
We are a recognized 501(c)3 organization, based in Stamford, CT
Board of Directors:
Shelley brings her business management experience to Humanity Now. She's volunteered at Humanity Now's Senegal site, where Humanity Now supports a grade school as well as a health clinic. Working together with nonprofit Starfish International, Shelley developed and runs a photo entrepreneurship program at Humanity Now's Gambia education project site, teaching high school girls how to set up and run event and portrait photography businesses. She's been delivering that program for the past 7 years. She holds a BA from Cornell University and an MBA from the University of Chicago, and in 2015 graduated from the inaugural class of the Presidential Leadership Scholars program. Shelley frequently travels with her adult children, who also volunteer.
Mary is a nurse with 38 years experience, much of which has been in Community Health Nursing. Her initial trip to Senegal with her then-8th grade son brought her face-to-face with unmet health care needs in that country. Over the course of four trips to Senegal, Mary has started a health care screening project in Guinaw Rails/Pikine and Toubab Diallow with the Humanity Now affiliates in those communities. She has expanded the screenings and developed a process for follow-up to identified health problems such as diabetes and hypertension. The program supports local health care providers in the Senegalese communities, contributing supplies, support for health care visits, education and medications to the people helped by the project. She holds a BS from Fairfield University (FU), a MSN from Yale University, a post-master's Family Nurse Practitioner certificate from FU and a PhD in Public Health from Walden University focusing on community health and type 2 diabetes in developing countries. She works full-time as a Director of Clinical Services for a visiting nurse agency in CT.
John's travels to do humanitarian work in Ecuador, with his eldest daughter Kelsey, led him to become more actively involved community service and join the board of Humanity Now. John believes that community service should be a part of each student's learning and development. It helps young adults understand who they are, define who they are going to become, and develop a different perspective for them to approach, interact with, and appreciate the world. It provides them the opportunity to give back to humanity. John holds his B.A. in Economics from Boston College and his MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. He has over 20 years experience in financial restructuring and consulting.
Lisa has traveled to Senegal with her son to do humanitarian work, and has worked on many fundraising projects for health and education concerns. Lisa is a florist and is a graduate of SUNY at Geneseo with BAs in Philosophy and Political Science.
Don has been involved with Humanity Now from the early stages. He provided a shipping container to transport donations collected throughout Fairfield, Connecticut to Guinaw Rails/Pikine, a section of Dakar, Senegal. Later, he traveled to Guinaw Rails/Pikine with the oldest of his two daughters where they participated in Humanity Now's health screening initiative and construction of a new school building for Humanity Now's grade school project. He subsequently traveled to Ecuador with his youngest daughter and other volunteers, helping with the flood recovery efforts and HumanityNow's clean water initiative for the Ongota community. Don holds a B.S. in Feed Science and Management from Kansas State University and an MBA from Loyola University in New Orleans. He has over 30 years of experience trading and shipping animal feed ingredients internationally.
Jodi brings over 20 years of human resources and business ownership experience to Humanity Now. She travelled with her then-7th grade daughter to Humanity Now's Senegal site and was a key fundraiser for that trip helping to raise over $20,000. More recently, Jodi established the connection between Humanity Now and our newest community partner in India. She earned a BS from University of Rhode Island and is a the President of an executive search and placement firm headquartered in NYC.
Portia Scott-Thiam
As a middle school science teacher in Bridgeport, CT, Portia brings a deep background in education and child development to Humanity Now's board. Portia has led student groups to The Gambia, where she had lived for many years before returning to Connecticut. Portia was recognized in 2015 by the Bridgeport Education Fund's Inspiration Awards for Outstanding Teaching.
Greg Wykoff, with two of his children, traveled to Ecuador in two consecutive years. He saw first-hand the impact that the group's first visit had on the children within the community living at the edge of the Amazon rain forest. The water filtration devices they provided lead to improved health outcomes for children and their families. Greg joined the board of Humanity Now to help drive similar impact for the communities and students that the Organization supports. Greg is also involved with Sticks for Soldiers which helps to support wounded veterans through fund raising and lacrosse tournaments. He is a big advocate for experiential learning and connecting students with others across the world. Greg is the president and owner of a consulting and staffing firm. He graduated from Lock Haven University with a B.S. in Management Science


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¹Civil Engineering Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, 303-492-6644 and ²Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 505-667-1581
Validation of a 3-D, finite clement, multi-phase code, FEHMN (Finite Element Heat and Mass Nuclear) developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory was performed. Results from an isothermal 2-D tank experiment involving the injection of a dense NAPL into an initially water-saturated, 3-layered heterogeneous porous medium were used for validation of the code. Quantitative data obtained during the experiment include saturation distributions within the 2-D tank at various times using a dual gamma system, injected mass of NAPL over time, and visual propagation of the NAPL front dyed red. Based on the results of the numerical simulations, additional, more focused 2-D tank experiments were proposed for further model validation. This validated model will be used in our future research efforts on up-scaling of multi-phase flow parameters to field problems.
multi-phase flow, NAPLs, numerical modeling
This paper is from the Proceedings of the 10th Annual Conference on Hazardous Waste Research 1995, published in hard copy and on the Web by the Great Plains/Rocky Mountain Hazardous Substance Research Center.


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Christine is the first in a series of summer garden tours here on Sprout Dispatch! Please comment, share, and enjoy!
+Where do you garden and what is your climate like?
I moved to southwestern Pennsylvania about a year ago. Coming from South Florida, the weather here has been a big change! It does get very hot here, but the intensity of the sun and the humidity is nothing like Florida. The evenings cool off, usually getting into the 60's in the summer. The winter…well, lots and lots of snow!
+When did you first start gardening? How long have you been gardening at your current residence?
I've always liked growing things. Growing up, my grandma had a large vegetable garden and I remember picking fresh pole beans and tomatoes. The first vegetable I remember growing on my on is radishes. I never liked to eat them, but they were a perfect thing for a little kid to start from seed as they grew fast and I could easily tell when they were ready to be picked. This Spring marks my first real venture into gardening up here.
+Which plants have been your favorite to grow? Most difficult? Any major plant losses that have bummed you out?
I have an abhorrence for annual plants. I like having things in the yard that will last a long time, if not forever. I love hydrangeas and have planted a couple in the yard. Sadly, the deer like them even more than I do! I love plants that give something back – either flowers or fruit. I planted 2 apple trees and a peach tree. The deer have thanked me for them. Grrrr….I love the deer, but wish they would stop eating my plants! I try to spray Liquid Fence each night, but a lot of times I forget. I highly recommend it, though. It seems to work well…as long as you remember to use it. So, as far as the most difficult things to grow, I'd say so far, it's been anything that doesn't have "hairy" leaves or that the deer have no taste for.
+What plants would you like to have in your garden if you could?
I miss the beautiful variety of tropical plants that I had at my old house in Miami. I see crotons, areca palms and bromeliads for sale here, but have been told that they are "annuals". LOL… I had crotons in my yard that were over 30 years old! But, alas, things are different up here. If I had a huge greenhouse, I would definitely try to have some palms here. And orchids. Lignum Vitae and a rainbow eucalyptus would be nice, too. I tried to keep my Voodoo Lilies alive here by keeping them indoors over the winter, but I think they are goners. Mangoes, avocados, guavas…I could go on and on about what I miss and wish I could have here.
+Anything new and exciting growing this season?
My husband, being a landscape architect, has planted a large variety of pines and firs in the yard. I'm still trying to remember all of their names. My favorite though, is a huge Bald Cypress simply because it reminds me of "home". There are shasta daisies, tall phlox and wild sweetpeas that grow along our driveway…very pretty! And we have a couple big verbena bushes that smell so intoxicating for a couple weeks in the spring.
+Have you grown any edibles and if so what has been your favorite?
So what's doing well in my yard right now? Vegetables. I started everything from seed: Roma green beans, Crookneck Early Golden squash, Summer squash, Golden Russian watermelon, broccoli, different varieties of lettuce, onions, carrots and lots of tomatoes – Tomatilla Verdes, Cherokee Purples, Paul Robesons and Ingegnoli Gigantes. We had an extended winter which made it harder to start all my seeds, but everything is popping now. In fact, I just checked and have a few beans ready to be picked already, as well as the lettuce which we go out and pick before dinner every night.
Trying to understand gardening up north has been challenging for this southern girl, but I'm having fun and enjoying every day of it!
Thanks Christine! You can find more about her garden and other writings at her blog. Also, don't forget to stop by throughout the coming weeks to see the rest of the Summer Garden Tour.


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Drowning dreams: Billions at stake as Govt mulls sea level rules – Newsroom
We know the seas are rising, yet we're still building large developments within a few metres of present-day sea levels. The tough decisions faced by one coastal council illustrate the struggles going on around New Zealand, report Eloise Gibson and Cass Mason.
There's an empty lot at the end of Richmond street, Thames, at the watery junction where the Firth of Thames meets the Kauaeranga River.
By Newsroom


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Monthly Archives: September 2014
Chocolate Box
Hello there everyone, It's Sarah here with you today, I am here to share another project …. I can hardly believe a week has passed already.. time certainly does fly when you are having fun 🙂 I have used the snowflake lace background stamp and the gorgeous new Chocolate Box Megaflakes to create this versatile little christmas "Chocolate Box" … Continue reading
Daisy stencil.
Morning everyone, I hope you've had a good weekend, doesn't Monday come round too quick! If you were at Indigoblu HQ on friday I hope you had a great time at the coffee morning, and enjoyed Kay and Clare's make and takes. And of course, on Saturday, Jenny's amazing book class, and Sunday was Kay's beautiful frame. I'm so annoyed … Continue reading
Hi everyone and welcome to another Saturday post from Jenny here at IndigoBlu. I've been using English Cottage Artist's Acrylic paints to discover which colour combinations work well together to create yummy backgrounds, and this one's a lot softer than the one from last weekend. I had in mind vintage haberdashery as a general theme and choose … Continue reading
Technique Thursday – Recycling.
Good morning everyone, it's my turn for Technique Thursday, and I thought I'd show you how easy it is to recycle a reclaimed frame, from a car boot or junk sale, charity shop or just one you've had hanging around for years that you never liked. I bought this old frame from a car boot, something called me to it, … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Dinkie Baubles ……
Morning folks, Happy Wednesday! A quick post from me today with another simple festive idea for you, using those beautiful baubles from the Dinkie Stamps range ……. Teardrop Bauble (my favourite … oops! did I say that out loud!), the delicate Snowflake Bauble, and the pretty Fancy Bauble. Don't they look fab all together! I've gone for the frosty blue look … Continue reading
Comments Off on Dinkie Baubles ……
The Mini Book of Quotes
Hi there Everyone, A very happy Tuesday to you all! It's Sarah here with you today, with my very first blog post as an Indogoblu Blubelle! I am really thrilled and excited to be part of such a wonderful and talented team, so I thought I would make a special project for my very first post. My project today … Continue reading
In Stitches.
Morning everyone, Today I'm sharing with you my DT piece for the Indigoblu Challenge blog this month. The theme over on the challenge is a sketch, which the lovely Clare Horner designed for us, so it means you can use absolutely any Indigoblu stamps you have, just follow the DT inspiration for your layout. I have never used the In … Continue reading
Tags: Challenge, In Stitches, Nikki K, Sewing Mends The Soul
Hi everyone and welcome to my first Saturday post here at IndigoBlu. So, are you reaching for those crafting supplies this weekend and looking to take some time out for yourselves? As for me, I've been experimenting with those wonderful English Cottage Artist's Acrylic paints again, combining colours and stamping to create an arty little number! … Continue reading
Flakes and Vellum
Hi everyone, Laura here. Wow the weeks are flying by, feels like I have been away from the blog for ages! I hope you are enjoying playing with the new Christmas stamps if you have them already, and if not, check out the website – the new stamps are stunning and we are going to be using two of them … Continue reading
Technique Day ……. grab the cling film!!!
Morning everyone, Happy Thursday! It's me again ….. LindyLou, with a Technique Day post for you. Those of you who read yesterday's post from me, will have already seen a glimpse of what I'm showing you today ….. I used it for one of the backgrounds. I'm going to be using the English Cottage Acrylic Paints, in the brand new … Continue reading
Posted in Technique Day


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Alright, I didn't see any other topics like this, so I decided to start my own.
Basically just write what book(s) you're reading right now.
I'm reading 'What You Don't Know May Be Killing You" by Dr. Don Colbert.
It's quite good, I recommend reading it. (I'm gonna have to stop eating at work...)


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Postbridge Accommodation
A stunning hamlet in the very centre of Dartmoor
Postbridge is most recognisable for its ancient clapper bridge, which was thought to have been built so that horses and carts could carry tin across the East Dart river to Tavistock. This 13th Century granite bridge is still perfectly standing, next to its more modern (18th Century!) counterpart.
Postbridge accommodation has hotels and B&Bs to suit every need!
There are many hotels and B&Bs in the area: all family-run, most are dog friendly, child friendly and all with their own unique charm. All of the hotels and B&Bs have excellent views of the surrounding river and moors, and serve as a perfect starting point for walking, cycling or even horseback riding!
Camping and Caravan sites in Postbridge mean you are right in the heart of Dartmoor!
There are great camping facilities in and around Postbridge – as well as campsites and caravan parks, there are youth hostels, camping barns and bunkhouses – perfect for big families or groups! So whether you want to get back to nature with just your tent for company, or you want to try a weekend in a farmhouse, there is a range of fun options to try out.
Don't delay…book your rural retreat!
When you're surrounded by this much natural beauty, you won't want to wait to get out and explore Dartmoor. So what are you waiting for…check out our accommodation listings, have a look at our special offers, and start planning your visit!
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Number of results: 3
Lydgate House Hotel
Small award winning country house, peacefully situated in 36 acres on the East Dart River in the heart of Dartmoor.
The Two Bridges Hotel
Two Bridges, Princetown
"An oasis at the heart of Dartmoor" (Sunday Times) Looking for that special hotel to escape the everyday rat race? You've have found it. To enter The Hotel is like stepping back in time. Cosy lounges, blazing log fires, award winning food.
Situated in the heart of Dartmoor at Postbridge. This family run character country house is set in 6 acres of Dartmoor National Park.
PricePrice £35.00 to £42.00 Per person (breakfast included)


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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Defensive back Mike Sellers and linebacker Russell Smith have become the latest members of the 2013 Sacramento State football recruiting class, it was announced today. Both players will enroll at the University for the spring semester.
Sellers played two seasons at Hawaii where he tallied 42 tackles, including three for loss, while also forcing a fumble and defending three passes. As a freshman, he played in all 13 games for the Warriors and ended the year with 30 tackles. During the year, he had six tackles against San Jose State and five stops, along with a sack, against Louisiana Tech. In 2012, he had 12 total tackles with three tackles against Lamar, BYU and San Diego State.
A native of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, the 5-11, 185-pounder prepped at James Campbell High School where he was a two-time all-league selection. He also competed in track and field where he finished fourth in the state finals in the high jump and won the league title after clearing 6-feet, 6-inches.
Smith is a 2012 graduate of Del Oro High School in Loomis, Calif., who originally committed to Nevada but did not enroll in the fall. He will have all four years of eligibility remaining along with a redshirt season, if needed. With Del Oro, Smith was a two-time all-Sierra Foothill League honoree and was also named second team all-metro by the Sacramento Bee as a senior. During his senior season, he helped lead the Golden Eagles to a 13-2 overall record, a Sac-Joaquin Section Div. III title and a berth to the state title game against Helix HS. A versatile player for Del Oro, Smith finished the 2011 season with 73 tackles and two interceptions, rushed 24 times for 213 yards and four TDs and also caught 37 passes for 638 yards with eight touchdowns.
June 24, 2013 CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR LLOYD SNELSON SET FOR TUESDAY
April 29, 2013 KNOWLES, McMAHON TO GET NFL OPPORTUNITIES
April 27, 2013 FOOTBALL CLOSES SPRING BALL WITH FINAL SCRIMMAGE
February 6, 2013 Football Closes Signing Day with 26-Man Recruiting Class
January 28, 2013 football to Host Signing Day Party on Feb. 6
January 11, 2013 Sellers, Smith Latest to Join Football Midyear Signing Class
January 2, 2013 T.J. Knowles to Play in NFLPA Collegiate Bowl
December 21, 2012 Hunke, Duckett Add to Football's Early Recruiting Class
December 19, 2012 Aysse, Kendal Become First Signees of 2013 Football Class
November 26, 2012 Ray and Barnes Add Hornet Flavour to Grey Cup Title
November 20, 2012 Eleven Football Players Earn All-Big Sky Honors
November 20, 2012 Bloomfield, Safron, Davis Earn Football MVP Honors
November 17, 2012 Football Can't Overcome Miscues in 34-17 Causeway Classic Loss
November 15, 2012 Scholarshare to Become Title Sponsor of Causeway Cup
November 14, 2012 Football Closes Regular Season with Causeway Classic on Saturday
November 3, 2012 Turnovers Costly in Football's 20-17 Loss to No. 3 Montana State
October 29, 2012 Safron Named Root Sports Big Sky Player of the Week
October 27, 2012 Football Knocks off No. 11 Cal Poly, 35-29
October 26, 2012 Sacramento State and Holy Cross Still Connected After 43 Years
October 25, 2012 Memorial for John Boomfield set for Monday, Oct. 29
October 23, 2012 Football Renews Rivalry with Cal Poly on Saturday
October 21, 2012 Sacramento State Mourns the Passing of John Bloomfield
October 17, 2012 Comcast Hometown Network to Televise Saturday's Football Game
October 16, 2012 Football Travels to Top-Ranked Eastern Washington on Saturday
October 10, 2012 Football Takes on Weber State for Homeconing on Saturday
October 8, 2012 Badger Named Root Sports Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week
October 6, 2012 Football Knocks Off Southern Utah, Wins Third Straight Road Game
October 2, 2012 Football Returns to Southern Utah for Big Sky Matchup
October 1, 2012 Edgar Castaneda Named Root Sports Big Sky Player of the Week
September 29, 2012 Offense Erupts, Defense Responds in 54-31 Win at Idaho State
September 25, 2012 Nash Returns to Cardinals; Fleming to Play for Mountain Lions
September 22, 2012 Football Can't Overcome Mistakes in Big Sky Loss to North Dakota
September 19, 2012 Hornet Football Weekly Returns to Thursday Night
September 18, 2012 Football Begins Big Sky Play Agianst North Dakota on Saturday Night
September 17, 2012 Osagie Odiase Named Big SKy Root Sports Defensive Player of the Week
September 15, 2012 Football Claws Way to 28-17 Vicotry Over Nothern Colorado
September 12, 2012 Football Home Opener Agianst Northern Colorado on Saturday
September 10, 2012 Safron, Castaneda Named Big Sky Players of the Week
September 8, 2012 Castaneda's Game-Winning Field Goal Gives Football 30-28 Win at Colorado
September 4, 2012 Football Heads to Colorado for Second Straight FBS Game
August 30, 2012 Several Ways to Follow Football Opener on Thursday
August 30, 2012 Football Falls at New Mexico State in 2012 Season Opener
August 27, 2012 Football Opens Season on Thursday at New Mexico State
August 21, 2012 Football Media Guide Now Online; Final Scrimmage on Wednesday
August 15, 2012 Football Holds Frist Scrimmage & Bee a Hornet on Saturday
August 10, 2012 First Practice in Pads Ends with a Boot
July 31, 2012 Football Begins Training Camp on Sunday
July 26, 2012 Dinner Under the Lights to Take Place on August 25
July 19, 2012 Travel with Hornet Footabll in 2012
July 15, 2012 Todd Davis Named Preseason All-Big SKy


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Leah got tickets to General Conference through her work. (Utah Valley Magazine) The tickets were awesome because they came with a parking pass that let us park right across from the Conference center for free!
The morning session was great and it is always special being inside the Conference center with so many different people from all over the world gathered together to listen to the prophets and apostles.
I didn't get a lot out of the morning session. I know, I know – shame on me. The session was great, but nothing really stood out and really caught me. I know why, but first let me tell you about our trip to the Burger Bar. Burger Bar was featured on the Food Network's show; Diner's, Drive-in's and Dives. We decided since we were in SLC already, it wouldn't be too bad to drive up to Roy, Utah to try out this little shack.
It was good. I got an Elk burger (it was good, but not great). However, the shake and fries were great. We both really enjoyed them. Would I drive back up to Roy just to partake? Nah. I'll stick to Smashburger (my current favorite burger place).
Ok – so back to my inability to take anything away from Conference this morning. My problem was that I didn't go with questions in mind. Tonight I went to priesthood with 3 very specific questions that I have been struggling with for the past few months. As I sat down in the stake center by myself in the very back I begged Heavenly Father to help me receive the guidance I needed.
This is only the second time (that I can remember) where I have entered a meeting just begging to receive something. Both times I have received more than I ever imagined I would. There were VERY specific things said tonight that I literally felt I was in a room one on one with the speaker having my question answered and my heart filled with peace and comfort.
I know that when we are earnest in our desire to improve and receive inspiration on how to do that, that Heavenly Father will open the windows of Heaven and we will be receive exactly what He knows we need. I needed specific counsel tonight and I am amazed and grateful that I received what I needed.
"Whatsoever thing ye shall ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive in the name of Christ, ye shall receive it." (Enos 1:15)
? What has been your favorite Conference talk so far?