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common name: blacklegged tick or deer tick
scientific name: Ixodes scapularis Say (Arachnida: Acari: Ixodidae)
Introduction - Synonomy - Distribution - Description - Life Cycle - Medical Significance - Surveillance - Management - Selected References
Introduction (Back to Top)
Lyme disease was first recognized in 1975 as a distinct clinical disorder (Steere et al. 1977) and is currently the most frequently reported vector-borne disease in the United States (CDC 1995). Transmission of the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease (Burgdorfer et al. 1982), occurs by the bite of Ixodes ticks. In the United States, the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say affects the greatest number of people for three principal reasons: their geographic distribution coincides in the northeastern United States with the greatest concentration of humans (Miller et al. 1990); spirochete infection rates are high, often exceeding 25% (Burgdorfer et al. 1982, Anderson et al. 1983, Magnarelli et al. 1986); and the geographical range of the tick is spreading (Lastavica et al. 1989, Anderson et al. 1990, Godsey et al. 1987, Davis et al. 1984).
Figure 1. Female blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, questing on a stick. Photograph by Michael Patnaude, University of Florida.
Synonomy (Back to Top)
In 1993 Ixodes dammini was shown the same species as Ixodes scapularis and as a result has retained the older name (Oliver et al. 1993). Those who read papers with references to Ixodes dammini should make note of this change.
Distribution (Back to Top)
Ixodes scapularis is found along the east coast of the United States. Florida westward into central Texas forms the lower boundary, although there are reports from Mexico. The upper boundary is located in Maine westward to Minnesota and Iowa. The distribution of Ixodes scapularis is linked to the distribution and abundance of its primary reproductive host, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) (Wilson et al. 1985, 1988). Only deer or some other large mammal appears capable of supporting high populations of ticks (Duffy et al. 1994). In the northeastern United States, much of the landscape has been altered. Forests were cleared for farming, but were abandoned in the late 1800s and 1900s causing succession of the fields to second-growth forests. These second-growth forests created "edge" habitats which provided appropriate habitat for deer resulting in increased populations (Severinghaus and Brown 1956) and thus, may have increased populations of the blacklegged tick.
Description (Back to Top)
Adult deer ticks have no white markings on the dorsal area nor do they have eyes or festoons. They are about 3 mm and dark brown to black in color. Adults exhibit sexual dimorphism. Females typically are an orange to red color behind the scutum.
Figure 2. Male blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say. Photograph by Michael Patnaude, University of Florida.
Figure 3. Two male and one female blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, questing on vegetation. Only the legs are visible from the second male tick, which is on the opposite side of the vegetation. Photograph by Michael Patnaude, University of Florida.
Life Cycle (Back to Top)
Ixodes scapularis is a three-host tick; each mobile stage feeds on a different host animal. In June and July, eggs deposited earlier in the spring hatch into tiny six-legged larvae. Peak larval activity occurs in August, when larvae attach and feed on a wide range of mammals and birds, primarily on white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) (Anderson and Magnarelli 1980). After feeding for three to five days, engorged larvae drop from the host to the ground where they overwinter. In May, larvae molt into nymphs, which feed on a number of hosts for three to four days. In a similar manner, engorged nymphs detach and drop to the forest floor where they molt into the adult stage, which becomes active in October. Adult ticks remain active through the winter on days when the ground and ambient temperatures are above freezing. Adult female ticks feed for five to seven days while the male tick feeds only sparingly, if at all.
Figure 4. Nymph-stage blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say. Photograph by Scott Bauer, USDA.
Adult ticks feed on large mammals, primarily upon white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) (Piesman et al. 1979, Carey et al. 1980, Wilson et al. 1990). Beginning in May, engorged adult females typically lay between 1000 to 3000 eggs on the forest floor at the site where they detached from their hosts.
Figure 5. Adult female blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, engorged after a blood meal. Photograph by Scott Bauer, USDA.
Figure 6. The life cycle and approximate sizes of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, compared with the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis Say. Photograph by Michael Patnaude, University of Florida.
Mortality rates for ticks are high. Tick death is caused by density-dependent factors such as parasites, pathogens, and predators, all of which appear to have little impact on tick populations (Roberts et al. 1983, Matthewson 1984, Mather et al. 1987a). Density-independent factors causing tick mortality include a range of adverse climatic and microclimate conditions, which can influence temperature and humidity and have the greatest impact on tick survival (Bertrand and Wilson 1996). Due to their low probability of finding a host, starvation is a major mortality factor of ticks. Host immunity and grooming activity may affect mortality (Randolph 1979, Brown 1988).
Medical Significance (Back to Top)
The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, is an important vector of the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, as well as the agents of human babesiosis, Babesia microti, and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) (Des Vignes and Fish 1997). A significant feature in the transmission dynamics of Borrelia burgdorferi is the importance of the nymphal stage's activity preceding that of the larvae which allows for an efficient transmission cycle (Spielman et al. 1985, Wilson and Spielman 1985). Before and during larval tick feeding, the naturally infected nymphs transmit Borrelia burgdorferi to reservoir hosts. The newly hatched spirochete-free larvae (Piesman et al. 1986a) acquire the bacteria from the reservoir host and retain infection through the molting process. In the springtime, nymphs derived from infected larvae transmit infection to susceptible animals, which will serve as hosts for larvae later in the summer (Fish 1993).
Human exposure to blacklegged ticks is greatest during the summer months when high nymphal Ixodes scapularis activity and human outdoor activity coincide. Their small size, their vastly greater abundance over the adult stages and the difficulty in recognizing their bites (Berger 1989) tends to make nymphs the most important stage to consider for reducing disease risk.
Lyme disease occurs only sporadically in the southern states. Three hundred sixty-six cases were confirmed in Florida from 1999-2005 and most people with Lyme disease acquired their infection in the northeast. In the seven-year period 1999-2005, an annual average of 18 cases without a travel history outside the state were reported to the Florida State Health Office (Division of Environmental Health 2006).
Surveillance (Back to Top)
Researchers currently use seven techniques to sample for ticks:
- dragging cloth flags over vegetation,
- carbon dioxide-baited traps,
- collecting from host animals,
- collecting from the investigator's clothing (Ginsberg and Ewing 1989a),
- using live, caged sentinel hosts,
- aspiration of nests
- and by using artificial nest-box traps (Wilson 1994).
Flagging for ticks involves using a cotton flannel or other fabric attached to a wooden pole. The cloth is either hung at one end in a flag configuration and dragged, or is attached to the middle and dragged by rope tied to each end of the wooden pole (Ginsberg and Ewing 1989a). The use of flags is the preferred method when collecting larval and nymphal Ixodes ticks as it samples host- seeking ticks in the leaf litter over a quantifiable distance or exposure. Traps baited with carbon dioxide are typically made out of a covered plastic tub mounted to a wooden base. Evenly spaced holes are made on the sides of the tub at the bottom, and dry ice is placed into the container daily during the trap's operation (Ginsberg and Ewing 1989a). As a surveillance tool, CO2 traps are generally unsuccessful for collecting Ixodes scapularis as these ticks exhibit limited horizontal movement (Falco and Fish 1991).
To sample host-attached ticks, hosts typically are captured in live-capture traps after which animals are anesthetized and attached ticks are counted (Ginsberg and Ewing 1989b). A variation of this method involves holding the captured animals in wire mesh cages over pans of water until ticks detach (Mather and Mather 1990). Collecting ticks from the investigator while walking involves wearing cotton pants tucked into socks, and the collector removes attached ticks periodically while walking through the sampling area (Ginsberg and Ewing 1989a). This latter method is particularly effective for sampling adult ticks. Caged hosts can be used to attract questing ticks in a manner similar to CO2 trapping with the same effectiveness. Ticks can also be collected by aspirating excavated burrows and nests of hosts (Logan et al. 1993). This aspiration method is best used for collecting ticks associated with birds. Ticks can be retrieved from artificial nest-box traps when hosts inhabit the nest-box and ticks and other ectoparasites drop onto a sticky substrate which can be removed at a later time (Wilson 1994).
Management (Back to Top)
Management of ticks usually involves several strategies including surveillance, personal protection and vector reduction. Surveillance is needed to identify areas for control and to prioritize management efforts. Ticks are surveyed by capturing mammals and birds and by sampling vegetation as described above. Pathogen infection rates of ticks or animals can be determined using various methods such as a direct fluorescent antibody procedure (Burgdorfer et al. 1982, Piesman et al. 1986b) and an indirect fluorescent antibody technique (Burgess et al. 1986, Godsey et al. 1987). Pathogen distribution can be evaluated using serological surveys (Daniels et al. 1993). Disease incidence can be tracked by monitoring cases from hospitals and other health agencies (White 1993).
In any event the public is always informed through the media with the most recent information so that they can implement personal protection methods. These methods include avoidance of tick habitat and taking precautions when entering high risk areas. Socks pulled over the cuffs of pants, wearing light-colored clothing, walking in the center of trails, frequently checking clothes, application of repellents and examination of body at the end of the day are the precautions that should be taken when you visit a tick habitat (Stafford 1989).
There are three basic methods for vector management: reduce immigration, increase mortality, and reduce reproduction. Restricting the movement of infested hosts into an area reduces the immigration of ticks since they cannot move far on their own. Birds are difficult to restrict but by reducing food supplies and preferred vegetation their migration through an area can be decreased. The density and movement of rodents, which do not travel large distances, may be influenced by altering habitat to reduce brush, stacked wood and food sources. Large mammals such as deer can be discouraged by landscaping with plants that do not attract them, fencing (Olkowski et al. 1990) and deer repellents (Daniels et al. 1989, Wilson et al. 1990). Increasing the mortality of the tick is an effective strategy. Targeting areas of high tick densities with pesticides is effective if it can reach the ticks (Schulze et al. 1987, Stafford 1991). Unfortunately, leaf litter provides a barrier to application. Pheromones combined with acaricides seem to have potential by targeting the tick with little effect to other arthropods, but this method has not been tested on Ixodes scapularis (Wilson and Deblinger 1993).
The destruction of vegetation by burning is another procedure that can reduce tick numbers (Wilson 1986), but this may not kill the greatest population of spirochete-infected ticks which are protected in the dens of rodents underground (Mather et al. 1993). Altering the habitat around a home lawn can have a positive effect (Wilson 1986). Mowing, raking leaves, trimming back shrubs, and/or using pesticide treated wood chips can reduce favorable habitat for ticks by exposing these areas to lower humidity or pesticides (Mather in press). Eliminating the hosts of ticks reduces tick populations as well. Deer populations may be easier to reduce than those of rodents or birds. Experiments where deer were eliminated resulted in a decrease in the populations of larvae and nymphs (Wilson et al. 1988). Efforts have been made to target the immature ticks on the host with success using nesting material laced with pesticides (Mather et al. 1987b, 1988) or boxes containing pesticides with a food lure (Sonenshine and Haines 1985). The feeding success of ticks can also be reduced by host immunity (Brown 1988). Tick repellents and acaricides used to repel or kill ticks as a control procedure pose difficulty because it requires handling large animal hosts (deer). Bait stations, where deer are lured to food to inoculate themselves with an acaricide or ingested treatment such as ivermectin show promise. Biological control using predators, parasites or pathogens have not been demonstrated under natural conditions to reduce populations significantly (Mather et al. 1987a, Wilson and Deblinger 1993).
Insect Management Guide for ticks
Lyme Disease
Selected References (Back to Top)
- Anderson JF, Duray PH, Magnarelli LA. 1990. Borrelia burdorferi and Ixodes dammini prevalent in the greater Philidelphia area. Journal of Infectious Disease 161: 811-812.
- Anderson JF, Magnarelli LA. 1980. Vertebrate host relationships and distribution of ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Connecticut, USA. Journal of Medical Entomology 17: 314-323.
- Anderson JF, Magnarelli LA, Burgdorfer W, Barbour AG. 1983. Spirochetes in Ixodes dammini and mammals in Connecticut. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 32: 818-824.
- Berger B. 1989. Dermatologic manisfestations of Lyme disease. Review Infectious Disease 11: S1475-S1481.
- Bertrand MR, Wilson ML. 1996. Microclimate-dependent survival of unfed adult Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in nature: life cycle and study design implications. Journal of Medical Entomology 33: 619-627.
- Brown B. 1988. Highlights of contemporary research on host immune responses to ticks. Veterinary Parasitology 28: 321-334.
- Burgdorfer W, Barbour AG, Hayes SF, Benach JL, Grunwaldt E, Davis JP. 1982. Lyme disease - a tick-borne spirochetosis? Science 216: 1317-1319.
- Burgess EC, Amundson TE, Davis JP, Kaslow RA, Edelman R. 1986. Experimental inoculation of Peromyscus spp. with Borrelia burgdorferi: Evidence of contact transmission. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 35: 355-359.
- Carey AB, Krinsky WL, Main AJ. 1980. Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae) and associated ixodid ticks in south-central Connecticut, USA. Journal of Medical Entomology 17: 89-99.
- Center for Disease Control. 1995. Lyme disease-United States, 1994. Morbidity Mortality Weekly Report 44: 459-462.
- Daniels TJ, Fish D, Falco RC. 1989. Seasonal activity and survival of adult Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae) in southern New York State. Journal of Medical Entomology 26. 610-614.
- Daniels TJ, Fish D, Levine JF, Greco MA, Eaton AT, Padgett PJ, LaPointe DA. 1993. Canine exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi and prevalence of Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae) on deer as a measure of Lyme disease risk in the northeastern United States. Journal of Medical Entomology 30: 171-178.
- Davis JP, Schell WL, Amundson TE, Godsey MS, Spielman A, Burgdorfer W, Babour AG, LaVenture M, Kaslow RA. 1984. Lyme disease in Wisconsin: Epidemiologic, clinical, serologic, entomologic findings. Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine 57: 685-696.
- Des Vignes F, Fish D. 1997. Transmission of the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis by host-seeking Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in southern New York State. Journal of Medical Entomology 34: 379-382.
- Division of Environmental Health. 2006. Surveillance and Control of Selected Arthropod-borne Diseases in Florida - 2006 Guidebook. Tallahasse, Florida.
- Duffy DC, Campbell SR, Clark D, DiMotta C, Gurney S. 1994. Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) deer tick mesoscale populations in natural areas: Effects of deer, area and location. Journal of Medical Entomology 31: 152-158.
- Falco RC, Fish D. 1991. Horizontal movement of adult Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae) attracted to CO2-baited traps. Journal of Medical Entomology 28: 726-729.
- Fish D. 1993. Population ecology of Ixodes dammini, pp. 25-42. In Ginsberg H [ed.], Ecology and environmental management of Lyme disease. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, NJ.
- Ginsberg HS, Ewing CP. 1989a. Comparison of flagging, walking, trapping, and collecting from hosts as sampling methods for northern deer ticks, Ixodes dammini, and lone-star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae). Experimental Applied Acarology 7: 313-332.
- Ginsberg HS, Ewing CP. 1989b. Habitat distribution of Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae) and Lyme disease spirochetes on Fire Island, New York. Journal of Medical Entomology 26: 183-189.
- Godsey MS Jr., Amundson TE, Burgess EC, Schell W, Davis JP, Kaslow R, Edlemann R. 1987. Lyme disease ecology in Wisconsin: Distribution and host preferences of Ixodes dammini, and prevalence of antibody to Borrelia burgdorferi in small mammals. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 37: 180-187.
- Logan TM, Wilson ML, Cornet JP 1993. Association of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) with rodent burrows in northern Senegal. Journal of Medical Entomology 30: 799-801.
- Lastavica CC, Wilson ML, Berardi VP, Spielman A, Deblinger RD. 1989. Rapid emergence of a focal epidemic of Lyme disease in coastal Massachusetts. New England Journal of Medicine 320: 133-137.
- Magnarelli LA, Anderson JF, Apperson CS, Fish D, Johnson RC, Chappell WA. 1986. Spirochetes in ticks and antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in white-tailed deer from Connecticut, New York State, and North Carolina. Journal of Wildlife Disease 22: 178-188.
- Mather TN, Mather ME. 1990. Intrinsic competence of three ixodid ticks (Acari) as vectors of the Lyme disease spirochete. Journal of Medical Entomology. 27: 646-650.
- Mather TN, Duffy DC, Campbell SR. 1993. An unexpected result from burning vegetation to reduce lyme disease transmission risks. Journal of Medical Entomology 30: 642-645.
- Mather TN, Piesman J, Spielman A. 1987a. Absence of spirochetes (Borrelia burgdorferi) and piroplasm (Babesia microti) in deer ticks (Ixodes dammini) parasitized by chalcid wasps (Hunterellus hookeri). Medical and Veterinary Entomology 1: 3-8.
- Mather TN, Ribeiro JMC, Moore SI, Spielman A. 1988. Reducing transmission of Lyme disease spirochetes in a suburban setting. Annuals of the New York Academy of Science 539: 402-403.
- Mather TN, Ribeiro JMC, Spielman A. 1987b. Lyme disease and babesiosis: Acaricide focused on potentially infected ticks. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 36: 609-614.
- Matthewson M. 1984. The future of tick control: A review of the chemical and non-chemical options. Previews of Veterinary Medicine 2: 559-568.
- Miller GL, Craven RB, Bailey RE, Tsai TF. 1990. The epidemiology of Lyme disease in the United States, 1987-1988. Laboratory Medicine 21: 285-289.
- Oliver JH, Owsley MR, Hutcheson HJ, James AM, Chen CS, Irby WS, Dotson EM, MClain DK 1993. Conspecificity of the ticks Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes dammini (Acari, Ixodidae) Journal of Medical Entomology 30: 54-63
- Olkowski W, Olkowski H, Daar S. 1990. Managing ticks the least toxic way. Common Sense Pest Control 6: 4-29.
- Piesman J, Donahue JG, Mather TN, Spielman A. 1986a. Transovarially acquired Lyme disease spirochetes (Borrelia burgdorferi) in field-collected larval Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae). Journal of Medical Entomology. 23: 219.
- Piesman J, Spielman A, Etkind P, Ruebush TK, Juranek DD. 1979. Role of deer in the epizootiology of Babesia microti in Massachusetts, USA. Journal of Medical Entomology 15: 537-540.
- Piesman J, Mather TN, Levine JG, Campbell JD, Karakashian SJ, Spielman A. 1986b. Comparative prevalence of Babesia microti and Borrelia burgdorferi in four populations of Ixodes dammini in eastern Massachusetts. Acta Tropica 43: 263-270.
- Randolph SE. 1979. Population regulation in ticks: the role of acquired resistance in natural and unnatural hosts. Parasitology 79: 141-156.
- Roberts D, Daoust R, Wraight S. 1983. Bibliography on pathogens of medically important arthropods. World Health Organization.
- Severinghaus CW, Brown CP. 1956. History of the white-tailed deer in New York. New York Fish & Game Journal 3: 129-167.
- Shulze TL, McDevitt WM, Parkin WE, Shisler JK. 1987. Effectiveness of two insecticides in controlling Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae) following an outbreak of Lyme disease in New Jersey. Journal of Medical Entomology 24: 420-424.
- Sonenshine DE, Haines G. 1985. A convenient method for controlling populations of the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae), in the natural environment. Journal of Medical Entomology 22: 577-583.
- Spielman A, Wilson ML, Levine JE, Piesman J. 1985. Ecology of Ixodes dammini-borne human babesiosis and Lyme disease. Annual Review of Entomology 30: 439-460.
- Stafford KC III. 1989. Lyme disease prevention: personal protection and prospects for tick control. Connecticut Medicine 53: 347-351.
- Stafford KC III. 1991. Effectiveness of carbarl applications for the control of Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae). Journal of Medical Entomology 28: 611-617.
- Steere AC, Taylor E, Malawista SE, Snydman DR, Shope RE, Andiman WA, Ross MR, Steele FM. 1977. Lyme arthritis: an epidemic of oligoarticular arthritis in children and adults in three Connecticut communities. Arthritis Rheumatism. 20: 7-17.
- White DJ. 1993. Lyme disease surveillance and personal protection against ticks pp. 99-177. In Ginsberg H [ed.], Ecology and environmental management of Lyme disease. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, NJ.
- Wilson ML. 1986. Reduced abundance of adult Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae) following the destruction of vegetation. Journal of Economic Entomology 79: 693-696.
- Wilson ML. 1994. Population ecology of tick vectors: interaction, measurement, and analysis. pp. 20-44. In Sonenshine DE, Mather TN [eds.], Ecological dynamics of tick-borne zoonoses. Oxford University Press, New York, NY.
- Wilson ML, Adler GH, Spielman A. 1985. Correlation between abundance of deer and that of the deer tick, Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae). Annuals of the Entomology Society of America 78: 172-176.
- Wilson ML, Deblinger RD. 1993. Vector management to reduce the risk of Lyme disease pp. 126-156. In Ginsberg H [ed.], Ecology and environmental management of Lyme disease. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, NJ.
- Wilson ML, Litwin TS, Gavin TA, Capkanis MC, Maclean DC, Spielman A. 1990. Host-dependent differences differences in feeding and reproduction of Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae). Journal of Medical Entomology 27: 945-954.
- Wilson ML, Spielman A. 1985. Seasonal activity of immature Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae). Journal of Medical Entomology 22:408-414.
- Wilson ML, Telford SR III, Piesman J, Spielman A. 1988. Reduced abundance of immature Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae) following elimination of deer. Journal of Medical Entomology 25: 224-228.


text: Apple says options probe clears JobsThe iPod maker restates earnings and says CEO Steve Jobs was aware of some options backdating, but he was not involved with any other wrongdoing; stock surges on the news.NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Apple Computer disclosed in a regulatory filing Friday that Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs was aware that some stock options granted to him and other executives at Apple between 1997 and 2002 were backdated and that the company was restating financial results for the past few years as a result of the backdating. But the maker of the popular iPod also said that Jobs did not financially benefit from the options and added that a special committee that investigated the options-granting practices at Apple found no wrongdoing by Jobs or other current managers. Shares of Apple (Charts) surged nearly 4 percent in early morning trading on the Nasdaq as investors appeared to bet that Jobs would not be forced to step down from Apple as a result of the options problems. In the filing, Apple also conceded that a board meeting in 2001 in which a grant of 7.5 million shares for Jobs was said to be approved never actually took place, which was first reported by the Financial Times. But Apple also cleared Jobs and other current managers of any wrongdoing regarding this matter. Jobs did not financially benefit from the options in question since he never exercised them, the company said. Apple said in its filing that it would restate earnings by a total of $84 million after tax, including $4 million and $7 million in fiscal years 2006 and 2005, to reflect stock-based compensation expenses for the backdated options. The company added that it has informed the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Attorney's Office of the results. "The special committee, its independent counsel and forensic accountants have performed an exhaustive investigation of Apple's stock option-granting practices," said former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, chair of the special committee, and Jerome York, chair of Apple's Audit and Finance Committee in a joint statement. "The board of directors is confident that the company has corrected the problems that led to the restatement, and it has complete confidence in Steve Jobs and the senior management team." Apple is one of many companies that have come under fire this year for so-called options backdating - manipulating the dates of options grants to boost their value. Other well-known tech firms, including Broadcom (Charts), Novell (Charts), McAfee (Charts) and CNET (Charts), have been caught up in options backdating woes as well as non-tech companies such, as insurer UnitedHealth Group (Charts). The filing caps a tumultuous week for Apple. Shares dipped sharply Wednesday morning after an online legal publication, The Recorder, reported that Jobs has already hired a lawyer to represent him in the event of any federal probe against him or Apple. The stock later rallied and finished a penny higher on Wednesday. The stock dipped nearly 1 percent Thursday due to the report from the Financial Times. Executives from several other companies that were found to have backdated options, including CNET, UnitedHealth, KB Home and Monster Worldwide, have stepped down as a result of the options mess. That led to fears that Jobs could also become a casualty of the backdating scandal. And Apple, more so than many other companies, is a firm that is widely associated in investors' minds with its CEO. Jobs, who co-founded Apple, left the company in the mid-1980s and Apple hit a rough patch shortly thereafter. Jobs returned in 1996 and took over as interim CEO a year later. Since then, he has been widely credited with making the company relevant again with products such as its iMac computer and the ubiquitous iPod media player and iTunes online store. But despite the fact that Jobs' name had surfaced more prominently in the most recent accounts of Apple's options problems, several Wall Street analysts said before the filing Friday that they thought Jobs would be exonerated. "Any time a CEO is at risk of being, for lack of a better word, forcibly removed, then investors should be concerned. But do I believe that Steve Jobs' job is at risk? That's an unequivocal no," said Jonathan Hoopes, an analyst with ThinkEquity Partners. Hoopes added that he did not think that there was much in the way of significant new disclosures about Apple in the past few days and blamed the sell-off on the inexperienced traders working the holiday week. SEC crackdown? Another analyst wrote in a report Thursday that since the options backdating problems have affected so many companies, it's unlikely that Jobs will get singled out by the SEC for any wrongdoing. "Our sources estimate that options backdating is a widespread and commonplace problem in the Fortune 500, affecting potentially as many as 30-35 percent of companies. Given the widespread nature, we doubt the SEC and Department of Justice will pursue a broad 'witch hunt' forcing key executives to step down that would undermine the recovery of the U.S. economy," wrote American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu. The SEC has not commented as to whether or not it is looking into Apple's options practices. "Not to sound like conspiracy theorists, but we do not believe it makes sense for the U.S. government to nail AAPL and Steve Jobs, one of the most respected American companies and businessmen of the past 100 years," Wu added. Shebly Seyrafi, an analyst with Caris & Co., agreed that unless Jobs was found to be directly responsible for approving any misrepresentation of company records, then it's unlikely that he will need to resign. "The possible falsification of documents for Steve's compensation package is disturbing, but we'll see how out of hand this gets. I think the allegations would have to get out of proportion for Jobs to step down," he said. Analysts quoted in this story do not own shares of Apple and their firms have no investment banking relationships with the company. |

subset: commoncrawl


text:
ZTE gets into the 'phablet' game (hands-on)
Boasting an eyebrow raising 5.7-inch display, the ZTE Grand Memo is a beefed up phone with Android Jelly Bean, a 13-megapixel camera, and a quad-core CPU.
BARCELONA, Spain--Tossing its name into the supersize phone ring, ZTE demoed its Grand Memo at this year's MWC. Strutting a massive 5.7-inch screen, the handset belongs to the company's family of 4G LTE-enabled devices, which includes the hyped-up flagship, the Grand S, launched at CES in January. The Grand Memo will be available in China starting in March, with a later European launch in Q2.
If you're like me and you think LG's "phablet," the Optimus G Pro, looks a lot like the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, wait until you get a load of the Memo. Its back plate, with its brushed metallic-blue design, is nearly identical to that of the Galaxy. Both the front and the back are fingerprint magnets, though, so keep that in mind.
With a 0.33-inch profile, the phone is incredibly thin. It measures 6.3 inches tall and 3.25 inches wide, and feels relatively lightweight in the hand -- for a phablet, anyway.
Sporting a whopping 5.7-inch HD display, it easily surpasses the Note 2 and the Optimus G in screen real estate. (Or, if you want to think about it the other way, it just needs a bit more than an inch to become a full-fledged tablet like the Nexus 7.) The screen has a 1,280x720-pixel resolution, and unfortunately, it doesn't come with a stylus. Not everyone needs to use one, but with a phone like this, it should at least be an option.
Powering the Grand Memo is a 3,200mAh battery and a 1.5GHz Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor. During my brief time with it, I didn't experience any particular lag, and it handled simple tasks like opening up Chrome and launching the camera easily.
It features Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, but beware -- ZTE has slathered its own interface on top of it. Personally, I was always fond of how ZTE left its Android OS untouched for the most part. But from the notification bar to the odd Rubik's cube animation for the app drawer, you won't get away from the ZTE's UI in this handset.
Other features include 16GB of memory, Dolby Digital technology, 1GB of RAM, and a 1-megapixel front-facing camera. On the rear is a 13-megapixel camera that's capable of recording 1080p video and has photo features like geotagging and time lapse.
To make one-handed usage easier, the Memo can situate its keyboard and number pad slightly more to the left or right (depending on what your dominant hand is), so you can type with one hand.
With its quad-core CPU and 13-megapixel camera, it flaunts respectable specs. Currently, there are no plans yet to bring the Grand Memo to the U.S. Given ZTE's history of manufacturing competitively priced phones here, it'd be interesting to see if the Memo were to launch on our shore as the phablet for those on a budget. But until it debuts overseas, however, we'll just have to wait and see how well it's received.


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When giving to panhandlers, there is no guarantee where that money will go.
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Panhandling is prohibited at "high-risk" intersections within the City of DeLand. The nine locations were designated as high-risk following a study conducted by the DeLand Police Department. In 2022, city commissioners amended the panhandling ordinance to include the (9) intersections after police found excessive accidents with many involving pedestrians.
Aggressive panhandling is prohibited within the City of DeLand. Click here to learn more about the city's ordinance.
Per DeLand ORD. 21-29(a)(3) - Panhandle means to ask for, demand or solicit money, gifts or donations, either by words, bodily gestures, signs or other means. The terms panhandle, solicit and beg are synonymous in meaning. Panhandling is any solicitation made in person, requesting an immediate donation of money or other thing of value. Purchase of an item for an amount far exceeding its normal market value, under circumstances where a reasonable person would understand that the purchase is, in substance, a donation, is a donation for the purpose of this section. Panhandling does not include passively standing or sitting with a sign or other indication that one is seeking donations at a location not prohibited by this section and not in a manner prohibited by this section.
Per DeLand ORD. 21-29(a)(1) - Aggressive means and includes, but is not limited to, approaching or following pedestrians, repetitive soliciting of a person despite refusals by the person, the use of abusive or profane language to cause fear and intimidation to a person, unwanted physical contact to a person, the intentional blocking of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, the touching or causing physical contact with a solicited person without that person's consent or threatening to make such contact, the intentional blocking of the entrance to any building or vehicle, the following behind, ahead or alongside a person who walks away from a solicitor after being solicited with the intent to intimidate or continue solicitation, the approaching of a solicited person in a manner that is intended to or is likely to cause a reasonable person to fear imminent bodily harm or the commission of a criminal act upon property in the person's possession or is intended to or is likely to intimidate a reasonable person into responding affirmatively to the solicitation; or the soliciting of a person while the solicitor is under the influence of alcohol or drugs in a manner which disrupts the peace. Aggressive also includes, but is not limited to, solicitation of a person while the solicitor is acting in a manner while committing an assault, by committing a battery, or in a manner which violates the provisions of this section.
Panhandling of any kind is now prohibited within 50 feet of the following intersections: - Woodland Boulevard/United States Highway 17 and Violet wood Road - Woodland Boulevard/United States Highway 17 and Old Daytona Street - Woodland Boulevard/United States Highway 17 and United States Highway 92 - United States Highway 92 and Amelia Avenue - Woodland Boulevard/United States Highway 17 and Plymouth Avenue - Woodland Boulevard/United States Highway 17 and Beresford Avenue - Woodland Boulevard/United States Highway 17 and Orange Camp Road - New York Avenue and State Road 15A - Woodland Boulevard/United States Highway 17 and State Road 15A
Signage will be placed at each intersection. It will read as follows: PANHANDLING PROHIBITED WITHIN 50 FEET OF THIS INTERSECTION – DeLand ORD. 21-29(b)(7)
We ask all motorists to refrain from giving any money to persons who may approach them at these intersections.


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Last June, over beer (generally a good place to start), I had a great conversation with entrepreneur Hugh McGuire about how startups are funded in publishing. There was a lot to discuss, a little to celebrate, a bit to complain about, and one fact that we arrived at beyond everything else. It's a challenge to raise money for publishing ventures.
Sure, raising funding is always difficult, but publishing presents a particular challenge. Publishing is "old media," and it's new to the technology game (especially in terms of startups focused on the consumer web). There isn't a real precedent of cooperation between technology and publishing. And that makes it a challenge to find money to build new things.
Some of the issues come straight out of the investor community:
- Most investors are unfamiliar with publishing. Books seem traditional. I can't tell you how many investors put their personal feelings into the equation and say things like, "Well, my spouse is in a book club, but I don't read much so I'm probably not a good fit." Ouch. Although personal experience figures in somewhat, their total unfamiliarity with the market stops them cold before we've even started.
- Concerns about returns on investment. It's true, we haven't seen the huge acquisitions like Instagram. Or Yammer. Yet. Publishing is worth billions – it has what everyone wants: content. So maybe the book industry doesn't seem like a high growth market. One thing is certain, though, as the industry goes digital, those publishing billions are going to be spent on something. Clear exits will materialize.
- There's always the What-If-Google-Does-It argument. To be fair, every startup gets the Google, Amazon, Apple question, which goes something like "What will you do if (all together now), Amazon, Apple, or Google does it?" A few weeks ago I heard Henrik Werdelin of Prehype give a presentation at a TOC event about innovation and he chuckled about this specific question. He pointed out that at this point Google can pretty much build anything anyone can invent. That shouldn't be your yardstick. The better question is, are the founders smart enough to offer good strategy, a unique experience, or a new market? If so, Google is much more likely to buy the company once the idea proves out, rather than build every single idea in the world. In short, that question is not a question.
True, there are some people who get investment while working on publishing startups. The list above can be overcome if you've worked with those investors before. Or if you're an Ivy-League ex-Googler that has had a successful exit, you have qualifications that will work in your favor. But that is a frightfully small portion of the people with boots on the ground, developing cool ideas. What about the technically savvy people who don't meet those criteria (most of the people I know innovating in publishing today)? If they're starting up in Amercia, those people go out and crash head-first into the arguments listed above, then spend a few years toiling in bootstrapped obscurity.
People have been thinking about this for awhile
Last October Brian O'Leary gave a stirring talk, "The Opportunity in Abundance," at the Internet Archive's Books in Browsers conference (transcribed here). He put forth a bold vision of collaboration among publishers, each contributing to support innovation and enjoy in its technical fruits. He talked about goals – that survival for publishing is not a "goal" in itself, for example – and that innovation is one of the important pillars of publishing health. He used an example from the gas industry to illustrate how it pooled resources to innovate. He said:
I called the prospect of people not engaging with our content the publishing manifestation of a super-threat. I'd argue (pretty strongly) that it represents a super-threat not just to publishing, but to the way we function as a country, an economy and as a part of a world order. We have a responsibility to address this threat, not just so that we can make money, but because we're the ones with the ability to solve it.
Other industries facing an uncertain future have banded together to form and fund superstructures. The Gas Research Institute, for example, was authorized in 1976, at a time when the natural gas industry was highly fragmented among producers, wholesalers and distributors. The latter often held a local monopoly.
By 1981, GRI was spending $68.5 million on research and a total of $80.5 million on oversight and R&D. This represented about 0.2% of the wellhead price of gas that year, valued at the time at a bit more than $38 billion.
GRI undertook research and development in four areas…Funding, drawn from a surcharge on sales as well as some government grants, accelerated to something north of $100 million in the mid-1980s.
If you look across all of publishing in the United States, it's about a $40 billion business. Imagine what we could do if we could create and sustain an organization with $80 million a year in funding. It's also likely that an industry-wide commitment to addressing engagement would garner the external funding that most parties have been understandably reluctant to spend on narrower causes.
A good point. A great plan. If CourseSmart and Bookish show us that publishers can partner, then why not partner in innovation? Brian gives a number of concrete suggestions for areas to focus on. I've been mulling this over ever since he gave this presentation. Despite his guidelines and recommendations, it hasn't happened yet. But there's a way this idea fits neatly into startupland.
The publishing incubator
A similar solution already exists in the tech world: the incubator. If you're not familiar with it, technology incubators accept applications from startups in small batches. If accepted, the startup gets between $20,000 – $100,000 (in exchange for around 5% equity), along with three months of office space, mentors, a chance to demo for investors, and a lot of help. Investors get early access to cutting-edge technology. Corporations are encouraged to come in and meet the startups at any point along the way.
Many incubators are industry-specific. For example, there are four healthcare incubators in NYC alone, churning out fresh startups and new technology multiple times a year. Imagine the amount of healthcare innovation going on right now. Education does this too. Incubator ImagineK12 is one of many education-focused incubators from across the country – with a group of startups that has raised $10M post-graduation. And Turner Broadcasting just launched an incubator in NYC called Media Camp. Since the products integrate with broadcast media, there is a major focus on mentorship from executives in the field, and a lot of discussion about how to work with big media conglomerates. Sounds a lot like what we need in publishing. Even publishing expert Craig Mod recently wrote about how he is struggling with how to distribute his TechFellow money to startups.
Granted, there is some remarkable internal R&D: NYTimes Labs and The Washington Post Labs are doing good things. Those are commendable efforts. But those teams are usually small, and since they're internal they don't have the massive variation we see in incubators. One company isn't going to move the needle for an entire industry in that way.
We need an incubator for publishing technology. We need a group of investors and publishers that want to benefit from a pool of innovation, and encourage it grow. With this, publishers would contribute to and sponsor events, perhaps even influence the direction of future partners. Investors would raise the fund, and choose the most viable startups. Innovation and disruption might actually find a common ground, as new technologies could drive reading adoption which drive sales (an argument technology writer Paul Carr has made before). We need to bridge publishing and technology, and this gets us there.
This should exist now. I've been working on publishing startups for five years and I have yet to see it. Moreover, with so many publishers on the East Coast, New York City is the place to do it. New York has a healthy startup industry, access to publishers and publishing conferences, mentors and experts. My question is, who's going to do something about it? Who's with me?


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Monday, May 03, 2010
When Drugs Become Extinct
In a short answer: no one.
For those of us dealing in cardiac arrhythmia management, this presents difficult challenges to patient care if people are unable to take the newer drugs due to side effects. These patients no longer have a fall-back option to turn to for medical therapy when the older drugs have become extinct on the marketplace.
Examples of antiarrhythmics that have reached extinction status in the US include many of our older antiarrhythmic drugs such as procainamide, mexilentine or quinaglute.
Take for instance a recent case: A older person with recurrent ventricular tachycardia and congestive heart failure and ICD implantation who has experienced several appropriate shocks for hemodynamically-significant ventricular tachycardia from their ICD. They were not in heart failure and had a consistent ideal body weight. Beta blocker medications have been maximized. This same person is pacemaker dependent and allergic to Amiodarone and iodine. Sotalol was not tolerated and dronedarone is contraindicated because of heart failure. Their creatinine clearance is 40. The patient was placed on mexilentine in the hospital and did well, only to find after discharge that no pharmacies could obtain the drug any longer. Oral procainamide, I have found, has suffered the same fate long ago. Few options remain: dofetilide as an inpatient?
Still, the issue of drug extinction is a challenging one: not enough market to justify the drug's manufacture, yet still a rare patient out there who might need an older medication. Even generic drug manufacturers won't manufacture these niche drugs - there's just not enough of a market to justify their manufacture and the regulatory environment precludes a small start-up company from even trying to meet the very small demand.
I wish I had an answer to this conundrum. How do others handle this situation?
4 comments:
- Marco said...
Custom synthesis and formulation? Although that's got to be pricey...
Marco - Mon May 03, 06:52:00 PM CDT
lobbying teva to continue to make mexilitene. local pharmacies cannot get enough. we begged the hospital to buy whatever it could acquire for now.
- Tue May 04, 05:39:00 AM CDT
- DrJohnM said...
Mexiletine is a problem for us too. Gosh, it is still pretty useful. We just keep calling pharmacies until we find one that has it, but I suspect this tactic will eventually fail.
JMM - Tue May 04, 06:00:00 AM CDT
- Jay said...
I'm still mourning the loss of procainamide. Many of my amio refractory VT patients would do well when this was added.
Mexitil has been less of a problem, but will be missed if it really goes away forever (maybe I'm in denial, but I'm still hopeful). I've also thought of this drug as "chicken soup" for arrhythmias. Doesn't really help or hurt, but it makes us all feel better.
I guess we'll all have to get better at VT ablation.
Jay - Tue May 04, 11:08:00 AM CDT


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Harold L. Ickes
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Harold LeClair Ickes (March 15, 1874 – February 3, 1952) was an American politician. He served as Secretary of the Interior for thirteen years, from 1933 to 1946, and was known as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's point man for the New Deal.
- Sorted chronologically
- This is what the "New Deal" means to me, an era of acute social consciousness and realization of mutual responsibility, a time of reciprocal helpfulness, of greater understanding and willingness to work together for the good of all.
- Speech to the Associated General Contractors of America (Jan. 31, 1936) as quoted by Jason Scott, Building New Deal Liberalism: The Political Economy of Public Works, 1933-1956 (2006)
- Relations between the United States and the Third Reich opened in 1939 on a distinctly sour and strident note. It began when Harold L. Ickes, the Secretary of the Interior, speaking to a Zionist Society dinner in Cleveland at the end of 1938, declared Hitler had taken Germany back to "a period when man was unlettered, benighted, and brutal." The November pogrom demonstrated Hitler counted "the day lost when he can commit no crime against humanity." Ickes attacked Ford and Lindbergh for accepting decorations from the "same hand" that was "robbing and torturing thousands of fellow human beiongs."
- Zionist Society Dinner Speech, Cleveland, OH (Dec. 1938) as quoted by Michael Zalampas, Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich in American Magazines, 1923-1939 (1989) p.171
- What constitutes an American? Not color nor race nor religion. Not the pedigree of his family nor the place of his birth. Not the coincidence of his citizenship. Not his social status nor his bank account. Not his trade nor his profession. An American is one who loves justice and believes in the dignity of man. An American is one who will fight for his freedom and that of his neighbor. An American is one who will sacrifice... An American is one in whose heart is engraved the immortal second sentence of the Declaration of Independence. Americans have always known how to fight for their rights and their way of life. Americans are not afraid to fight. They fight joyously in a just cause.
- "What Is An American?" (18 May 1941)
- It is impossible to carry the American people along with you on a program of caution to forestall a threatening position.
- The Prize (1993 Edition) by Daniel Yergin. Original source was Roosevelt's papers, as listed in The Prize's Bibliography.
- In the early days our forefathers could cut down a forest or exhaust the fertility of a farm and then blithely move to a new forest or a new farm... The highest concept of statesmanship was to make it possible for the eager, aggressive pioneer to possess, to despoil and then repeat the process indefinitely. ...[Shortsided and unchecked greed resulted in] denuded forests, floods, droughts, a disappearing water table, erosion, a less stable and equable climate, a vanishing wildlife.
- as quoted by Douglas H. Strong, Dreamers & Defenders: American Conservationists (1988) Ch. 7 "Harold Ickes," p.157
- What we were striving for was a kind of modified form of communism.
- Reported in Paul F. Boller, Jr., and John George, They Never Said It: A Book of Fake Quotes, Misquotes, & Misleading Attributions (1989), p. 52, indicating that President Ronald Reagan had attributed this quote to Ickes in December 1981.
Quotes about Ickes[edit]
- Ickes symbolized for black (and many white) Americans the engaged, moral reformer, committed to the cause of assuring the underdog an elevated status in the American system. In 1936 he told a gathering of black Americans that he had "always felt it to be my privilege, no less than my duty, to do everything in my power to see that the Negro was given that degree of justice and fair play to which he is entitled." It was his sense of "fair play" which led him to support Marian Anderson in her celebrated conflict with the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1939 and to introduce her to a huge throng massed before the statue of Abraham Lincoln. The Journal of Negro Education remarked that the "brevity and force" of Ickes' speech that day was destined to rival Lincoln's Gettysburg address. Due largely to Ickes' efforts, a number of prominent blacks were brought into the administration during the thirties and forties to serve as race relations advisers in the New Deal departments and agencies.
- John B. Kirby, Black Americans in the Roosevelt Era: Liberalism and Race (1982) p.21, citing "Address of Secretary Harold L. Ickes Introducing Marian Anderson," Journal of Negro Education 8 (April, 1939), 260
- One man alone was clearly inadequate to keep the government honest when it came to race. [Clark] Foreman, in consultation with Ickes, sought to deal with these obstacles in two ways. The answer to inhospitality to outsiders was to press for the appointment of a racial adviser within each agency and department. The solution to the problem of multiple jurisdictions was to bring these advisers, or other representatives of the various federal offices, together on a regular basis to examine the way in which the New Deal policies were affecting blacks.
- Clark Foreman to Harold L. Ickes (Dec. 13, 1933) Department of the Interior Papers, Record Group 48, Office Files of Harold L. Ickes, Box 9, National Archives, as quoted by Nancy Joan Weiss, Farewell to the Party of Lincoln: Black Politics in the Age of FDR (1983)


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Quick Facts
- Weight: 7 – 10 pounds
- Height:
The Look of a American Curl
American Curls have distinct, curled back ears that give them their signature look. Kittens of this breed are born with straight ears that begin to curl back within one to seven days after birth. As they get older, the curl can change, and is not permanent until the kittens reach about 5 months of age.
The body of the American Curl can vary in size and shape since outcrossing to Domestic Shorthairs and Longhairs still occurs in order to increase the gene pool. The breed is seen in almost every color and pattern.
- Curled back ears
- Playful and affectionate
- Active
- Loves children
- Gets along well with other pets
Ideal Human Companion
- First-time cat owners
- Families with children
- Singles with other pets
- Retired seniors
What They Are Like to Live With
American Curls can vary a lot in personality, but are basically easygoing, fun loving pets. They are playful and affectionate, and enjoy children. They also tend to get along well with dogs and other cats.
American Curls thrive on attention, but are not excessively vocal cats.
Things You Should Know
The look of the American Curl can vary significantly from one cat to another because of continued outcrossing to non-pedigreed cats. All American Curls should have the signature curled ear.
American Curls need regular ear checks to make sure their ears are healthy. Owners can check the ears for accumulated ear wax or other problems during weekly grooming sessions.
American Curl History
The American Curl was developed in California in the early 1980s, and was the result of a naturally occurring mutation in Domestic Shorthairs and Longhairs. Two fanciers obtained kittens with curled ears from a stray litter and began to research Scottish Folds. They discovered the curled ears on these kittens were different from those of the Fold, and began working toward having them recognized as a new breed.
In 1986, The International Cat Association (TICA) accepted the American Curl into the registry with Champion status. Five years later, the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) also recognized the breed. The American Cat Fanciers Association (AFCA) also registers American Curls.


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7 Reasons why you should chose a lawyer instead of a regular debt settlement company to settle your debts.
By Shah Peerally, Attorney at Law
With the downturn in the economy, many people are unable to pay their debts. One good option is to look into a bankruptcy. However, for many reasons some people will not be ready to pick the option of a bankruptcy for personal reasons. The other reason many will not opt for bankruptcy is that they clearly do not qualify for it. This does not mean that these people do not want to get rid of their unsecured debts. Financial companies are usually keen to settle the debts provided you can effectively negotiate the settlement especially in times of hardship. To this end, many companies are offering the option of a debt management or debt settlement. While there are many genuine companies dealing in debt management , debt consolidation or debt settlements, others are simply taking advantage of already hurt consumers. Our law firm has made it a duty to help the people who are hurt with debts but who are not willing or are not able to file bankruptcy. We have tried to compile in this guide at least 7 (seven)reasons why an attorney negotiation is better than just using a regular debt relief company:


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Taste America: New York City
The Artful Chef, part of the James Beard Foundation's Taste America®, a cross-country food festival
Fri, October 11, 2013
Member Price: $500
Public Price: $500
Phone: 914.231.6180
This very special evening, themed the Artful Chef, will link the worlds of fine art and food, as we invite luminaries from the art world to dine with our culinary community's brightest stars whose artistic talents are expressed through the medium of food.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Riverpark, a Tom Colicchio Restaurant
450 East 29th Street
The Artful Chef is an exclusive dining event benefiting the James Beard Foundation and part of James Beard Foundation's Taste America®.
Click here to reserve tickets, or for more information on the events or local sponsorship in New York City, please contact Lauren Ferrara at firstname.lastname@example.com or 914.231.6180.
The James Beard Foundation is proud to donate a portion of the evening's proceeds to Wellness in the Schools.
Related Info
James Beard Foundation events permit guests age 21 and older.


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The Three-Ring Bond Circus: How bond deals work
The process of putting together a bond deal is complicated and delicate. Investors choose from thousands of options when buying municipal bonds and most seek deals that involve something between little risk and no risk at all. Yet the projects financed by bonds are often massive, involving dozens of risk factors. The task of investment bankers and others who put together bond deals is to put together a package that not only eliminates or minimizes risk factors, but also minimizes the appearance of risk.
An overview of the bonding process authored by Justice Strategies analyst Kevin Pranis can be found at www.publicbonds.org, a website launched by the nonprofit group Good Jobs First to help ordinary people understand the mechanics and implications of municipal bond deals. Click here to read The Three-Ring Bond Circus: How bond deals work.


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The Signs That She's Really Into You
10 Signs She's Totally Falling For You
Making an excellent first impression is a critical step towards getting close with her. But reading all the signals she may or may not be sending your way is not always easy. So we've taken the liberty of making your life a whole lot easier and identified the most common and proven signs she may be sending your way that she is interested in you.
She's Constantly Touching Her Hair
An easy to spot sign of a woman's interest in you is the constant flicking or tossing of hair. It's a sign that she enjoys her time with you.
She Keeps Licking Her Lips
Another great gesture she might engage in to show her interest is licking her lips. She's drawing attention to her lips and who knows, it might lead to a kiss next.
She's Teasing You
If she goes as far as teasing you, whether about something trivial or a lighthearted jab, it's a very good sign.
She Makes The First Move
If she decides to inch in closer to get a closer look, or turns her body in your direction, it could mean that she is interested. Beware: if you decide to get too close too soon, you might ruin your chance at taking things to the next level.
She Opens Up To You
If you are talking your head off to her and she's not reciprocating, it could mean she'd rather not spend time with you. If conversation slows down and she hasn't said much, consider asking her to tell you about herself.
She Likes Your Pick-Up Moves
If you happen to try a pickup line on her (it's far from a guaranteed way to win her heart), and she doesn't shut you down immediately or doesn't seem enthused, it could lead somewhere.
An Open Body Language
If she's turned away from you, or simply not paying attention when you are talking to her, you should best move on. If she has her body turned towards you and is listening intently, you might have a chance.
She Mimics Your Moves
If she is following your lead on certain subtle movements such as touching your face, it may be a sign she's interested. She is giving the impression that you are similar in certain ways and it might mean that she's open to pursuing things with you.
She's Smiling
If she is truly interested in you, there's a very good chance she's showing it with a smile on her face. If she tilts her head slightly to the side while smiling, it means that you've got her undivided attention.
She Throws Glances
If she's constantly throwing glances in your general direction or catching your eyes, it's a sign she might be interested. It's a good time to start a conversation and turn those signals into a connection.
Dating Rules


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(NATIONALJOURNAL) — Michael Morell, the former acting director of the CIA and a member of President Obama's task force on surveillance, said in an interview on Sunday that a controversial telephone data-collection program conducted by the National Security Agency should be expanded to include emails. He also said the program, far from being unnecessary, could prevent the next 9/11.
Morell, seeking to correct any misperception that the presidential panel had called for a radical curtailment of NSA programs, said he is in favor of restarting a program that the NSA discontinued in 2011 that involved the collection of "meta-data" for internet communications. That program only gets a brief mention in a footnote on page 97 of the task-force report, "Liberty and Security in A Changing World." "I would argue actually that the email data is probably more valuable than the telephony data," Morell told National Journal in a telephone interview. "You can bet that the last thing a smart terrorist is going to do right now is call someone in the United States."
Morell also said that while he agreed with the report's conclusion that the telephone data program, conducted under Section 215 of the Patriot Act, made "only a modest contribution to the nation's security" so far, it should be continued under the new safeguards recommended by the panel. "I would argue that what effectiveness we have seen to date is totally irrelevant to how effective it might be in the future," he said. "This program, 215, has the ability to stop the next 9/11 and if you added emails in there it would make it even more effective. Had it been in place in 2000 and 2001, I think that probably 9/11 would not have happened."


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AES New York 2013
Student / Career Event
Thursday, October 17, 9:00 am — 5:00 pm (Room 2D04)
Bose Hiring Event
Bose is a research company dedicated to developing breakthrough technologies and quality products that enrich people's lives. Reaching our goals requires uniquely talented individuals with a strong desire to grow and achieve; individuals who share the values of passion, innovation, excellence, respect and integrity that are embedded throughout our organization. The results of their work are all around you—in homes, automobiles, supersonic jets, retail stores, restaurants, and stadiums.
Our openings are located in the greater Boston area, and include:
• Loudspeaker Design Engineers
• DSP/Embedded Engineers
• Electrical Engineers
• Mechanical Engineers
• Acoustics Engineers.
If you can imagine the sound of your career at Bose, join us in the Bose Lounge at AES. We are located on the 2nd Level, in Room 2D04 on the South Concourse, one floor below the Exhibition Center. To learn more about our career opportunities, or pre-register for a private 1:1 meeting, visit http://www.acousticcareersatbose.com
Return to Student and Career Development Events
For further information on these events please check the AES Students website.


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This trip was some very much needed de-stressing time for me. I didn't want to have anything to stress over or worry about while I was there. I didn't want to *have to* do anything--I didn't blog, I didn't run, I didn't count Points--and it was wonderful. (Spoiler: I also didn't gain any weight while I was there, which I'm thrilled about. I ate intuitively, and it worked out perfectly.)
I didn't want to have to think about anything or make decisions on this trip--so Thomas had everything planned out, and I didn't know anything that we were doing until we got there. That way, everything was a surprise, which made it that much more fun.
Here is the general rundown of my trip :)
Jerry drove me to the airport and dropped me off. When I was in line to check my bag, I realized that I didn't have my driver's license--total panic. I called Jerry and told him to go get my passport, and bring it to the airport ASAP. Long story short, after about 40 minutes, I asked an employee if anyone had turned in my license, and someone HAD. I was so relieved. It must have fallen out of my bag when I was digging out my confirmation number.
I flew from Detroit to Minneapolis, and then from Minneapolis to Portland. From the airport in Portland, Thomas had given me very good directions (knowing that I'm TERRIBLE at finding my way around) to take the MAX (a train) to his office building. He was waiting outside when I got there, and I actually had no trouble finding it! It had been nearly a year since I saw Thomas, who has become one of my closest friends, so it was a fun reunion (complete with a Jerry face! I can't wait until Jerry and Thomas get to meet next month in Indy, because several people have said they look alike).
He showed me his office, and then we headed out to get some food and beer at Shanghai Tunnel, where we ordered noodle bowls. (The whole time in Portland, I just ordered exactly what Thomas did, because I wanted to try his favorite stuff--and again, no decision-making. I'm not picky, and it seems we have the same sort of tastes for food, so it worked out great. I tried lots of new things, and there wasn't anything I didn't like!)
Thomas's friend, Laurel, was going to meet us there, and I was actually really nervous to meet her. She was a reader of my blog before Thomas was, but I'd never met her in person and I don't know her very well. I always get nervous about meeting new people, but she ended up being super nice and easy to chat with! So the three of us went to Voodoo Doughnut afterward, where I told the guy working there to just give me his personal favorite doughnut.
When we left there, we went to another bar to chat for a little bit before Laurel had to leave. Thomas and I chatted until about 1:00 AM (which is 4:00 Eastern time for me!), but I was so wound up and excited to be there that I wasn't really all that tired.
Early Saturday morning, I had plans to meet up with some blog readers! I had gotten emails from a few people who were interested in meeting up, so I chose Starbucks at 7:00 on Saturday. I wasn't sure who would show up (if anyone), and I was really nervous to go, but I was looking forward to it as well. Laurel picked me up from Thomas's at 6:40, and we went to Starbucks.
Three more readers ended up meeting us there, and even though I was really nervous, everyone was SO nice and I felt comfortable almost instantly. We chatted for about an hour and a half, and then took a group photo before leaving.
Katie, Emma, me, Mary, and Laurel |
So, we went to the mall, where I bought Brandon some Legos and a video game, and then we ate at the food court. Brandon said his very favorite food is Panda Express Orange Chicken, so I told him that he could order for me--I'd get whatever he chose. He chose Orange Chicken and chow mein. I had never actually eaten at Panda Express before, and it was really good! Brandon chose well ;)
After lunch, we went to play laser tag. I was really nervous about it, because I'd never played before and wasn't sure what to expect. Long story short, I wasn't crazy about laser tag. I felt incredibly awkward and unsure of myself, so after that first game, I sat out while Thomas and Brandon played a few more. Brandon LOVES laser tag, and he and Thomas were quite competitive ;)
After laser tag, we went to dinner at Killer Burger. I tried Thomas's favorite, the Peanut Butter Pickle Bacon Burger. I never, in a thousand years, would have tried it if Thomas hadn't raved about it; but I'm always excited to try new things, so that's what I ordered. It was a burger patty with peanut butter sauce, bacon, mayo, onions, and pickles. I wish I'd have taken a picture! It was SOOO amazing. I couldn't stop talking about it for a full 48 hours after that.
After dinner, we all met up with a couple of Thomas's friends, Lucian and Timeea (and Timeea's service-dog-in-training, Bengee) for bowling at SuperPlay. Timeea has a spinal cord injury, and she's been training Bengee as a service dog to help her get around (she described it as using him as a "cane"). It was interesting to watch Bengee try bowling! ;)
I was throwing gutter ball after gutter ball at first, and Brandon was very excited that he was going to beat me. And then after about the fourth or fifth frame, I started doing much better. Toward the end of the game, I actually threw three strikes in a row! That was my first-ever turkey.
We bowled two games, and then let Brandon play some video games before we had to take him back to his foster home. It was such a fun day! I adore Brandon, and I'm hoping that maybe next year Thomas can bring him to Michigan and we can go to Cedar Point.
We made it an early night, since the Shamrock race was in the morning. It had been raining all day, and it wasn't looking like good weather for the race, either.
Sunday was race day. We had to get up fairly early and head out to the start of the race. It was pouring rain, which was a bummer for spectating. I left Thomas at the starting line; he'd given me very easy, very specific instructions to get to where I wanted to spectate at mile 2.75-ish. I just had to walk straight ahead until I got to Taylor Street, and then turn right and I'd hit the spot. Being horrible with directions, I ended up getting lost! I walked about a mile too far past Taylor, and by that time, it was too late to get there before Thomas ran by.
I texted his friend, Libbie, who we were planning to meet up with (and I'm bummed that I realized I never got a picture with Libbie--she was so nice!), and she eventually found me (I had walked back to the finish line). We stood at the finish line, making noise for the runners as they came through:
There weren't very many spectators, probably due to the rain. Thomas finished right when he predicted he would, and shortly after that, the rain stopped. I was completely soaked, and so was he, so we went back to his place to dry off before meeting Libbie for lunch and post-race celebration. Thomas had been insistent that I wear green, so I made sure to really play up the green for the day:
Thomas knows that I like boneless wings, so we went to a place called Fire On The Mountain Buffalo Wings. We were starving, so we got a bunch of wings and fried pickles to share. The wings were good, and I wanted to keep eating beyond being full, but I also knew we'd be having some beer throughout the afternoon, so I didn't want to be stuffed.
When we left there, we went to a bar called Yard House that had a crazy-huge beer list. I tasted two that Thomas thought I may like (I'm not a big beer person, but there are some that I do like), and settled on a blueberry one. And by "settled", I mean I totally committed to it:
Why, yes, it was windy outside... why do you ask? |
After hanging out there for a while, we headed to the MAX. I started to notice that so many people were wearing green; and about 80% of them (including Thomas) were wearing a similar-looking green scarf. After questioning Thomas and Libbie for a minute, I learned we were going to a Timbers game! Thomas made me think all the green was for St. Patrick's Day, but it was for the Timber's game--very clever.
I'm not a sports fan, but soccer is one sport that interests me, and I'd never been to a professional soccer game before. Thomas and Libbie explained that we were going to be sitting in the Timbers' "Army" section--which apparently meant some really hardcore fans. The atmosphere on the MAX, and when we got to the stadium, was almost electric--you could feel the buzz of people's excitement (or maybe that was the half-yard of beer I drank, haha!).
The game was indescribable. The fans were SO much fun to watch! They do these cheers and chants throughout the entire game, and it was awesome to be a part of it. My only regret is not taking pictures there!
After the game, we said good-bye to Libbie, and then we had a pretty mellow night. We had a couple more drinks while we watched the rough cut of the From Fat to Finish Line documentary, and then some old episodes of Roseanne (love that show!).
On Monday, we did another first for me: a hike! I'd actually never been hiking before, but it's something I've been very interested in doing. We went to Eagle Creek, with a packed lunch for midway through the hike. I didn't know how far we'd be going, but I guessed probably six miles or so.
Hahaha, nearly halfway through, Thomas told me it was actually about 14 miles round-trip! But it was SO GORGEOUS and so much fun. I took some photos, but they don't do it justice at all. The scenery was breathtaking.
Despite how it looks, I was not chillaxing on this rock; I had just fallen hard on my ass and nearly slid into the waterfall! I misjudged how slippery it was. |
I love all the different shades of green! |
Here is a video of a stream we had to cross. Crossing was much harder than it looks! Although, Thomas didn't do a great job crossing here--luckily, I was videoing him ;)
It took us nearly 5 1/2 hours to walk 13.9 miles. I felt surprisingly really good afterward! My feet were achey, but other than that, I felt okay. (That never would have happened six years ago! I never would have even agreed to go for a hike then.)
It was dinnertime, so we quickly went back to Thomas's to change our socks and shoes, which were wet. Then we went to dinner at McMenamins. Dinner was a chicken caesar wrap (SO good), cajun tater tots, and a raspberry beer called Ruby. I can't even describe how wonderful these tots were!
I was starving, and ate a ton of them, but considering I walked 14 miles, I didn't feel the slightest bit guilty. I was pretty full after dinner, because the food was so good that it was hard to stop eating.
We went back to Thomas's, and had another drink (okay, a couple... but hey, it was vacation!), and chatted. Then the craziest thing happened. We were watching a few comedian clips on YouTube, and one of the recommended videos that popped up was called "Portland Oregon: Things to do and see". It was really cheesy, but a couple of minutes in, the host woman interviewed a woman in line for Voodoo Doughnut. I nearly screamed, because IT WAS PAIGE! Paige is our "Sole Mate"--a member of our Ragnar team--so she's a mutual friend of ours, but she lives in Idaho! How crazy is that? I showed the screen shot to Paige, and she had never seen that video before--it was pretty funny.
Thomas took me to the airport early Tuesday morning, which was a bummer. I wanted to stay longer! I flew from Portland to Minneapolis, and then from Minneapolis to Detroit. As I was getting off the plane in Detroit (after a LONG travel day), I saw Becky, my brother Brian's wife! I was shocked. Neither of us knew we were on the same flight.
So, now I'm home again. I had a fantastic time in Portland, and I can't wait to go there again someday. I met some really amazing people, had so much fun, and now I'm feeling recharged for getting back to "real life" ;)


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The full story of green buildings is still being discovered. Up to now, the story of green buildings has been described as a costly luxury. The emphasis to date has been on costs – the costs of green materials, costs of innovative design, costs of meeting LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, and so forth. All of these costs do add up, but these real costs are concretely offset by direct economic benefits.
The Economic Value of Green Buildings
Green buildings have a higher market value because they are in demand, thus commanding higher rents, and operate more cost-effectively.
Lower Costs: Savings from lower operating and maintenance costs will repay the investment in making the building "green" after a relatively short period of time, according to Gregory Kats.
Higher Income: Green buildings bring in greater revenues too. They have 3.5% lower vacancy rates and 13% higher rents than non-green buildings.
The Economic Value for Companies Working in Green Buildings
A recent development is that companies are catching on that working in sustainable buildings is good for their employees and good for their bottom-line. Deloitte Consulting conducted a survey of with companies that had implemented green retrofits. Here are the results:
- 100% reported increased employee goodwill;
- 93% reported a greater ability to attract talent;
- 87% saw improved workforce productivity;
- 81% saw greater employee retention; and,
- 75% saw improved employee health (thus fewer sick days).
The Value of Higher Productivity: To be more concrete, every 1% increase in productivity (about 5 minutes per working day) translates to about $650 per employee per year, according to Kats. Thus, a medium-sized business with 1,000 employees could gain $600k-700k per year, while a large business with 5,000 employees could gain $3-3.5 million.
How Higher Productivity is Achieved: Green buildings provide higher air quality, light quality, and greater thermal comfort. This improves people's physiology as well as cognitive and social functioning. Thus, green buildings not only cuts the costs related to "sick" buildings (e.g. illness, discomfort, stress, absenteeism, etc.), but they also grow the top line by increasing productivity. Lighting improvements alone can increase productivity by 3.2%, according to Carnegie Mellon University.
Just Beginning to Measure the Full Value of Green Buildings
The new focus on measuring the economic benefits of green buildings to companies and employees augments the existing business case of operational cost savings. Even as we strive to more accurately quantify increased worker productivity, there is enough evidence to suggest that green buildings add value for workers, companies, and the environment.


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Before: Detail of Maya's front paws. Back paws were also affected.
After: Maya showing off her paws now!
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Dottie -
is a rescue that now lives in Santa Monica, CA. She is also a patient at the Marina del Rey clinic.
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As specialists, we stay current on new research and treatments and are actively involved with the research. Our dermatology practice is not limited to small animals and we often have equine and occasionally exotic patients. Learn More >


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25% Off Sitewide With Code: MARCH25CT
Your Item Color and Text Color are the Same. Please Select Another Color.
Honor the love & joy that your pet has brought to your family with beautifully Engraved Pet Memorial Personalized Wood Picture Frames. With this classic frame your whole family will be able to enjoy the love you have towards your pet's that will be treasured forever. Our Pet Memorial Personalized Wooden Picture Frames are available in three different sizes. Please choose from 4"x6", 5"x7" and 8"x10". Easel back allows for desk display. Engraved personalization features the natural wood grain color. Pet memorial frame includes FREE Personalization! Personalize your Pet Remembrance Picture Frame with any pet's name.
Dog Memorial Frame reads:They say memories are golden, well, maybe that is true. You never wanted memories, you only wanted me. You're the best family a dog ever had. If love alone could have saved me, I never would have died. In life you loved me dearly, In death you love me still. In your heart I hold a place no one else could fill. If tears could build a stairway & heartache a lane you'd walk the path to Heaven and bring me back again. Although it hurts to lose a friend, know I will be with you til the end.
GiftsForYouNow.com specializes in loving Personalized Memorial & Sympathy Gifts. When words just won't do; send a Personalized Memorial or Bereavement Gift to a close, personal friend or family member to express your loving concern and heartfelt best wishes for the entire family.


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Find out why a Claflin education is more than a means to a degree.
Office of the Registrar
The best way to get a feel for Claflin is to visit us.
Claflin students work with the best leaders in their fields.
You'll find endless opportunities here to get involved.
There is always something happening at Claflin!
Claflin is #1 in alumni giving among all HBCUs, thanks to you.
What happens if you leave Claflin? How do you obtain financial aid funds? Get answers to your questions here.
Claflin University recognizes that ensuring the integrity of the student financial aid process is critical to providing fair and affordable access to higher education. Therefore, the University has formalized the following guiding principles that shall be effective immediately. These guidelines are designed to avoid any potential for a conflict of interest between the University and its students or their parents in the student financial aid process. For purposes of this Code of Conduct, a "Lending Institution" is any entity (other than an institution of higher education or a governmental entity such as the U.S. or S.C. Department of Education) involved in the making, holding, consolidating or processing of any student loans.
No employee or officer of the University shall accept or solicit anything of more than nominal value on his or her behalf or on behalf of another person or entity from any Lending Institution. Specifically, no employee or officer of Claflin University shall accept or solicit, from any Lending Institution: (i) payment for entertainment expenses or any lodging, rental, transportation or other gratuities related to lender-sponsored activities; (ii) payments for registration, transportation or lodging at lender-sponsored conferences and trainings; and (iii) solicitations or invitations to serve on lender advisory boards and/or payments related to such service. Additionally, Claflin University employees and officers shall not accept or solicit, from any student loan guarantee agency: (i) payments for entertainment expenses or any lodging, rental transportation or other gratuities related to activities sponsored by the guarantee agency.
No officer or employee of the University who makes financial aid decisions for the University or who is employed in, supervises or otherwise has responsibility or authority over the University's financial aid office shall receive any remuneration for consulting services and/or serving as a member or participant of a student loan advisory board of a Lending Institution or any reimbursement of expenses for such service. Any officer or employee of the University who serves as a member or participant of a Lending Institutions board shall recuse himself or herself from any board discussions regarding the University's financial aid operations.
The University shall not accept anything of value from any Lending Institution in exchange for any advantage or consideration provided to the Lending Institution related to its student loan activities, including but not limited to revenue-sharing, printing costs or below-cost computer hardware or software.1 Likewise, the University shall not allow any Lending Institution to: (a) staff the University's financial aid office at any time; or (b) communicate with the University's students or their parents in such a manner as to create the impression that the Lending Institution is an employee or agent of the University in connection with the University's student financial aid operations, including through the use of mascots, logos, and other marks. Finally, the University shall not enter into any agreement with a Lending Institution to provide alternative (i.e., private, non-federal or "opportunity") student loan programs if the provision of such alternative loan programs prejudices other students or parents, or if the acceptance of such funds by the University is conditioned on the University providing concessions to the Lending Institution.
If the University decides to promulgate a list or lists of preferred or recommended lenders for student loans or similar ranking or designation ("Preferred Lender List"), the selection of Lending Institutions for inclusion on the Preferred Lender List shall be based on the best interests of the University's students and their parents without regard to the financial interests of the University. In addition, any Preferred Lender List shall clearly indicate:
The University shall review any Preferred Lender List on an annual basis to determine that the information appearing on the list is accurate and that any website links are still available.
FSA Ombudsman 830 First Street N.E. Washington D.C. 20202-514 Telephone: 202.377.3800 Toll free: 877.557.2575 Fax: 202.275.0549
The Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended (HEA) suspends aid eligibility for students who have been convicted under federal or state law of the sale or possession of drugs if the offense occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, and/or work-study). The student self-certifies in applying for aid that he is eligible.
Convictions only count if they were for an offense that occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving Title IV aid—they do not count if the offense was not during such a period. Also, a conviction that was reversed, set aside, or removed from the student's record does not count, nor does one received when she was a juvenile, unless she was tried as an adult.
The chart below illustrates the period of ineligibility for FSA funds, depending on whether the conviction was for sale or possession and whether the student had previous offenses. (A conviction for sale of drugs includes convictions for conspiring to sell drugs.)
1st offense - 1 year from date of conviction 2 years from date of conviction 2nd offense - 2 years from date of conviction Indefinite period 3+ offenses - Indefinite period
If the student was convicted of both possessing and selling illegal drugs, and the periods of ineligibility are different, the student will be ineligible for the longer period.
The Higher Education Opportunity Act established the requirement for schools to provide each student who becomes ineligible for Title IV aid due to a drug conviction a clear and conspicuous written notice of his loss of eligibility and the methods whereby he can become eligible again. A student regains eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility ends or when he successfully completes a qualified drug rehabilitation program or passes two unannounced drug tests given by such a program. Further drug convictions will make him ineligible again.
Students denied eligibility for an indefinite period can regain it only after successfully completing a rehabilitation program as described below, passing two unannounced drug tests from such a program, or if a conviction is reversed, set aside, or removed from the student's record so that fewer than two convictions for sale or three convictions for possession remain on the record. In such cases, the nature and dates of the remaining convictions will determine when the student regains eligibility. It is the student's responsibility to notify the Office of Financial Aid that she has successfully completed the rehabilitation program.
When a student regains eligibility during the award year, students may be awarded Pell, TEACH, and Campus-based aid for the current payment period and Direct loans for the period of enrollment.
A qualified drug rehabilitation program must include at least two unannounced drug tests and must satisfy at least one of the following requirements:


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Ochsner Health is a system that delivers health to the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and the Gulf South with a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate.
Come join us at the Crescent City Farmers Market as we shop for fresh, locally produced foods. The Crescent City Farmers Market is the public face of Market Umbrella, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nongovernmental organization. Founded in 1995 as a part of the Twomey Center for Peace Through Justice at Loyola University New Orleans, the Market is an outgrowth and reflection of Market Umbrella's core mission to cultivate the field of public markets for public good. Learning, sharing and growing, Market Umbrella cultivates community markets that utilize local resources to bolster authentic local traditions.
Check out our other events here on the Crescent City Farmers Market website!
Contact: Amanda Trotenberg


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United States Patent and Trademark Office OG Notices: 01 July 2003
Status of Office of Public Records Services The Office of Public Records (OPR) processes and fills orders for both certified and uncertified copies of Patent and Trademark Office documents and records assignments and other documents related to title. This is an update of actual processing times during the month of May 2003: Document Services Goal Actual Processing Time Certified Documents Patent Applications-As-Filed 7 days 4 days Patent Related File Wrappers 25 days 30 days* Patent Copies 10 days 3 days Patent Assignments 10 days 4 days Trademark Applications-As-Filed 7 days 3 days Trademark Related File Wrappers 25 days 10 days* Trademark Assignments 10 days 4 days Trademark Registrations, Expedited 5 days 2 days Trademark Registrations, Regular 14 days 3 days Uncertified Documents Patent Copies 5 days 1 day Plant Patents 5 days 5 days Patent Assignments 10 days 2 days Patent Related File Wrappers 25 days 27 days* Trademark Copies 5 days 3 days Trademark Assignments 10 days 1 day Trademark Related File Wrappers 25 days 12 days* *Includes turnaround times for files on Official Search and File Reconstruction. **Three of the nine Plant Patent orders required reprinting. During the month of May 2003, a total of 14,576 public orders (21,643 copies) were filled and closed, or 3,379 orders more (2,060 copies less) than the FY-03 planning number of 11,197 orders (23,703 copies) to be closed for this month. Please do not submit "follow-up" or duplicate copies of orders. Customers should use the above actual processing time for each product as a guide as to when they can expect their orders to be completed. In cases where an urgent deadline is approaching, contact OPR Customer Service at (703) 308-9726 or 1 (800) 972-6382 for assistance with a particular order. Customers are encouraged to fax orders for copies directly to the Document Services Division at (703) 308-9759 and to pay by PTO Deposit Account, MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Discover. Copy orders also may be placed through the Internet by accessing the PTO home page at www.uspto.gov and selecting the "Order Copies" option. Information on the status of pending orders may be obtained by calling (703) 308-9726 or 1 (800) 972-6382 (outside the Washington, DC Metro area), or via E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com. ASSIGNMENT SERVICES The Assignment Services Division is currently mailing recordation notices for paper documents received in the Office of Public Records on January 28, 2003. The cycle time to process, record, and mail notices for paper documents is 121 calendar days. Recordation notices for assignment documents transmitted electronically to the Assignment Services Division are current through receipts for May 30, 2003. The cycle time to process, record, and return notices for electronic documents is 1 calendar day. June 4, 2003 KAY H. MELVIN Executive for Customer Information Services


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On the season the Phoenix Suns (13-27) have done a good job at home in the second match-up against a team that beat them on the road. The record is not flashy, but 3-5 is a much better mark than what they have done on the season as a whole.
Why does this matter?
With the Milwaukee Bucks (19-18) coming to town they have another opportunity to get some semblance of redemption on the season. Look for a close affair like the other eight games this season that have been in the same category as this one, which are on average tight, defensive struggles, where they hold opponents to 94 points per game.
Part of that is the theme of the team playing very good defense at home, or at the very least a slower team, but in the end they play better at home.
History Lesson
In the first match-up of the season the Bucks showed a gear that the Suns didn't have in the second half cruising to a win. Thanks to an array of Brandon Jennings three-point bombs the Bucks created separation in the third and pulled away in the fourth. The teams are very even across the board and typically play closely contested games.
Head-to-Head (past four seasons)
Suns: 104.5 PPG (seven wins)
Bucks: 98.3 PPG (two wins)
Ellis vs. Suns: 19.2 PPG 4.2 APG 43.3 FG% 32.2 3PT% (26 games)
Jennings vs. Suns: 30.4 PPG 5.0 APG 36.0 FG% 32.4 3PT% (7 games)
Dragic vs. Milwaukee: 8.2 PPG 2.8 APG 43.2 FG% 23.1 3PT% (6 games)
With that there are three things that are very evident. One, because of the familiarity of being a former divisional rival the Suns can hold Ellis in check to his career averages. Two, Jennings absolutely murders the Suns individually, but has only two wins to show for it in seven games.
Three, Dragic does not perform well against the up-tempo and explosive Bucks guards. Granted there is only one start in there, this season, but he generally does not fair well against Milwaukee's Best.
Starting Line-Ups
PG - Goran Dragic v. Brandon Jennings
SG - Jared Dudley v. Monta Ellis
SF - P.J. Tucker v. Luc Mbah a Moute
PF - Luis Scola v. Ersan Ilyasova
C - Marcin Gortat v. Larry Sanders
Potential Suns Inactives: NA
Potential Bucks Inactives: NA
Key Match-Up
With all the attention on the guard play the battle in the paint could very well define this game. Over the past 13 games Sanders has been a machine averaging nearly a double-double (8.4 PPG and 9.8 RPG) while amassing 3.5 blocks per game. Gortat is capable of the same type of performances, but has been inconsistent all season. Both centers can control the paint with their shot-blocking and rebounding abilities, who will win the battle?
Interesting Stat: No. 1
The Bucks are the top shot-blocking team in the NBA led by Sanders and will make it even harder for the Suns to get points in the paint, where they only get 33% of at anyway.
Meaningless Stat: 2-2
Kendall Marshall is right now 2-2 against his former North Carolina Tar Heel teammates. He logged 2:33 combined in all four of those games. There is that.