text:
LOF indicates loss of function; NF1, neurofibromatosis type 1; SPRED1, sprouty-related EVH1 domain–containing protein 1.
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Messiaen L, Yao S, Brems H, et al. Clinical and Mutational Spectrum of Neurofibromatosis Type 1–like Syndrome. JAMA. 2009;302(19):2111–2118. doi:10.1001/jama.2009.1663
© 2019
Author Affiliations: Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham (Drs Messiaen, Yao, Sathienkijkanchai, and Korf, Mr Callens, and Ms Spencer); Department of Human Genetics, Catholic University Leuven, Leuven, Belgium (Ms Brems and Drs Denayer and Legius); Nemours Children's Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida (Dr Arn and Ms Eunpu); Medical Genetics, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota (Dr Babovic-Vuksanovic); Division of Clinical/Biochemical Genetics and Dysmorphology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Kentucky, Lexington (Dr Bay); Driscoll Children's Hospital, Corpus Christi, Texas (Dr Bobele); Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio (Dr Cohen); Medical Genetics and Neurodevelopment Center, St Vincent Children's Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana (Dr Escobar); Phoenix Genetics Program and Child Neurology, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona (Drs Grebe and Narayanan and Ms Lim); Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Division of Human Genetics, University of Connecticut Health Center, West Hartford (Dr Greenstein); Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia (Drs Hachen and Zackai); Division of Genetics, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Irons); Division of Medical Genetics and Inherited Metabolic Disease, Department of Pediatrics, New York Medical College and Maria Fareri Children's Hospital of Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York (Drs Kronn and Shapiro); Department of Pediatrics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (Dr Lemire and Ms Pearn); Genetic Services, Group Health Cooperative, and Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle (Dr Leppig and Ms Thiese); Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina (Dr McDonald); Tripler AMC, Honolulu, Hawaii (Dr Pedersen); Children's Hospital Central California, Madera (Dr Powell); Maritime Medical Genetics Service, Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (Dr Skidmore); New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York (Dr Tegay); MRC-Holland, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (Mr Vijzelaar); Division of Molecular and Cellular Immunology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan (Drs Taniguchi, Ayada, and Yoshimura and Mr Okamoto); Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan (Drs Taniguchi and Yoshimura); Japan Science and Technology Agency, CREST, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan (Drs Taniguchi and Yoshimura); Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany (Dr Parret).
Context Autosomal dominant inactivating sprouty-related EVH1 domain–containing protein 1 (SPRED1) mutations have recently been described in individuals presenting mainly with café au lait macules (CALMs), axillary freckling, and macrocephaly. The extent of the clinical spectrum of this new disorder needs further delineation.
Objective To determine the frequency, mutational spectrum, and phenotype of neurofibromatosis type 1–like syndrome (NFLS) in a large cohort of patients.
Design, Setting, and Participants In a cross-sectional study, 22 unrelated probands carrying a SPRED1 loss-of-function (LOF) mutation identified through clinical testing participated with their families in a genotype-phenotype study (2007-2008). In a second cross-sectional study, 1318 unrelated anonymous samples collected in 2003-2007 from patients with a broad range of signs typically found in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) but no detectable NF1 germline mutation underwent SPRED1 mutation analysis.
Main Outcome Measures Comparison of aggregated clinical features in patients with or without a SPRED1 or NF1 mutation. Functional assays were used to evaluate the pathogenicity of missense mutations.
Results Among 40 SPRED1 LOF-positive individuals from the clinical cohort, 20 (50%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 34%-66%) fulfilled National Institutes of Health (NIH) NF1 diagnostic criteria based on the presence of more than 5 CALMs with or without freckling or an NF1-compatible family history. None of the 40 SPRED1 LOF-positive individuals (0%; 95% CI, 0%-7%) had discrete cutaneous or plexiform neurofibromas, typical NF1 osseous lesions, or symptomatic optic pathway gliomas. In the anonymous cohort of 1318 individuals, 34 different SPRED1 mutations in 43 probands were identified: 26 pathogenic mutations in 33 probands and 8 probable nonpathogenic missense or silent mutations in 10 probands. Of 94 probands with familial CALMs with or without freckling and no other NF1 features, 69 (73%; 95% CI, 63%-80%) had an NF1 mutation and 18 (19%; 95% CI, 12%-29%) had a pathogenic SPRED1 mutation. In the anonymous cohort, 1.9% (95% CI, 1.2%-2.9%) of individuals with the clinical diagnosis of NF1 according to the NIH criteria had NFLS.
Conclusions A high SPRED1 mutation detection rate was found in NF1 mutation–negative families with an autosomal dominant phenotype of CALMs with or without freckling and no other NF1 features. Among individuals in this study, NFLS was not associated with the peripheral and central nervous system tumors seen in NF1.
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man [OMIM] 162200), an autosomal dominant disorder affecting approximately 1 in 3000 individuals worldwide,1,2 results from inactivating mutations in the NF1 tumor suppressor encoding neurofibromin. Neurofibromatosis type 1 is characterized by multiple café au lait macules (CALMs), skin-fold freckling, iris Lisch nodules, and tumors of the nervous system such as optic pathway gliomas, astrocytomas, neurofibromas, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Other frequently observed features are specific bone abnormalities, short stature, macrocephaly, and learning problems.
The NF1 diagnostic criteria were established at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) NF consensus conference in 1988,3 were updated in 1997,4 and are widely used to make the diagnosis using information obtained from physical examination, family history, and radiologic studies.
Neurofibromin is a negative regulator of RAS and pathogenic NF1 (NM_000267.2) mutations result in increased active RAS (guanosine triphosphate–bound RAS) and increased signaling through the downstream effectors such as the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway.5 Recently, a genetically distinct but phenotypically similar disorder caused by heterozygous SPRED1 (NM_152594.2) mutations was identified (OMIM 611431).6-8 Sprouty-related EVH1 domain–containing protein 1 (SPRED1), a member of the SPROUTY/SPRED family, negatively regulates MAPK signaling by inhibition of RAS-RAF interaction.9-11 Inactivating SPRED1 mutations, resulting in increased MAPK signaling, were found in individuals from 5 families with multiple CALMs, freckling, and macrocephaly, with many fulfilling the NIH criteria for NF1 based on the presence of CALMs, freckling, or presence of a positive family history.6
In the original study,6 families suitably sized for linkage analysis had specifically been collected based on individuals with multiple CALMs with or without freckling and absence of a detectable NF1 mutation, which may imply that the observed phenotype and possible complications associated with the disorder might have been biased or underestimated. Similarly, the study by Spurlock et al8 and Pasmant et al7 primarily focused on SPRED1 analysis in patients with the mild pigmentary phenotype. Given the absence of neurofibromas in any patient described so far,6-8 it has been proposed to refer to this new syndrome as Legius syndrome (as named in OMIM 611431)7,8 and discontinue referring to it as neurofibromatosis type 1–like syndrome (NFLS).
In this study, we determined the phenotype in 22 unrelated probands and 18 relatives carrying a SPRED1 loss-of-function (LOF) mutation identified through clinical genetic testing. In addition, we carried out a cross-sectional study in an anonymous cohort of 1318 unrelated patients referred for NF1 genetic testing, in whom no NF1 mutation was found, allowing delineation of the SPRED1 mutational spectrum and estimation of the frequency of NFLS.
The flow of participants included in the studies is shown in Figure 1.
In a cross-sectional study, a SPRED1 LOF mutation was identified in 26 NF1-negative probands (with clinical NF1 testing before July 2007) for whom a blood sample was received (August 2007–September 2008) for clinical SPRED1 mutation testing (this test became available by August 2007 and is described at http://www.genetics.uab.edu/medgenomics). Probands were referred from 19 different centers in the United States and Canada. Written informed consent to collect phenotypic and genotypic data was obtained from study participants and parents or guardians of children. Clinical notes and phenotypic information as available through the referring physician were reviewed.
Height and head circumference at a given age were converted to percentiles using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention US growth charts (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad314.pdf). An individual was recorded as macrocephalic when head circumference was above the 97th percentile. An individual was recorded to have relative macrocephaly when head circumference was above the 97th percentile at the age when height would have been at the 50th percentile. Information on race/ethnicity was recorded by the referring health care clinician as African American, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, Caucasian, other (eg, Pacific Islander) or "not provided." Additional detail on ethnic background was requested if essential for interpretation of the genetic results. The study was approved by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Institutional Review Board.
Samples received at the UAB Medical Genomics Laboratory for NF1 genetic testing (August 2003–July 2007) were included in an anonymous study if a phenotypic checklist (http://www.genetics.uab.edu/medgenomics) summarizing the NF1-related clinical signs at the time of blood sampling had been completed by the referring physician. This is a cross-sectional, referral-based study with samples received from more than 250 different referral centers in the United States (85%), Canada (8%), Latin America (2%), Australia and New Zealand (2%), Asia (1.5%), and Europe (1.5%). This inevitably implies heterogeneity in the quality of the data set, which is based on these phenotypic data forms. In total, 2432 unrelated samples with phenotypic data were available by July 2007, which equals approximately 85% of samples received.
Search for genotype-phenotype correlations using a Microsoft Access (Microsoft, Redmond, Washington) database containing phenotypic and mutation data was approved by the UAB Institutional Review Board. The following data were entered through the password-protected Access database: year of birth, age of the individual at time of completion of the phenotypic checklist, country of origin, sex, race/ethnicity, sporadic or familial, standardized information pertaining to the NF1-related signs, and a unique identifier not linked to date of birth, name, or other database connected to such information. The same unique identifier was labeled on an aliquot of the leftover sample from the patients referred for NF1 clinical testing. Entries were exported to an Microsoft Excel table format to facilitate the subsequent statistical analyses.
In 1114 of 2432 individuals, an NF1 mutation had been identified. Anonymous DNA samples from 1318 NF1-negative probands underwent further research-based SPRED1 mutation analysis, resulting in 3 groups of phenotypic data: NF1 mutation–positive, SPRED1 LOF mutation–positive, and NF1 and SPRED1 LOF mutation–negative cohorts. This NF1-negative cohort is not biased toward the initially reported phenotype in patients with a SPRED1 mutation.6 Genetic research on the anonymous samples was approved by the UAB Institutional Review Board. The 26 probands in the clinical cohort are most likely also part of the anonymous cohort because these patients previously had an NF1-negative test result during the study period.
Comprehensive NF1 and SPRED1 mutational testing was performed as described in the eAppendix and eTable 1. The pathogenicity of identified missense mutations was analyzed using 2 different functional assays: (1) neurite outgrowth of pheochromocytoma 12 (PC12) cells in vitro after stimulation with nerve growth factor and (2) Elk-1 activation and phosphorylation. Both functional assays are described in detail in the eAppendix. Secondary structure prediction of mutant p.Thr102Arg and p.Cys74Phe SPRED1 was carried out as described in the eAppendix.
Ninety-five percent confidence intervals (CIs) of proportions were calculated with the exact binomial method using Statcalc version 1.1 (http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~kxk4695/StatCalc.htm). We also calculated sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for detection of a SPRED1 mutation in the NF1-negative cohort, also using Statcalc.
In the clinical cohort, a SPRED1 mutation was identified in 27 NF1-negative probands (eTable 2); 22 had a SPRED1 LOF mutation (including 2 LOF missense mutations: p.Thr102Arg and p.Pro415Ala); 4 of 6 missense mutations and 1 silent mutation were classified as rare, probably benign variants: p.Cys74Arg, p.Ser149Asn, p.Asp398Asn, p.Cys433Tyr, and c.42T>C (eTable 3). Forty-three relatives of the 22 probands with a SPRED1 LOF mutation participated in the study and 18 of 43 carried the family-specific SPRED1 mutation. Six of 22 were de novo cases (27%; 95% CI, 11%-50%). Phenotypic details of 40 individuals with a SPRED1 LOF mutation are provided in Table 1 (aggregated data) and eTable 2 (individual data); 14 of 40 had more than 5 CALMs and axillary/inguinal freckling. An additional 6 individuals fulfill NF1 criteria if family history is taken into account. The majority of individuals (35/40) had more than 5 CALMs even at a young age. Axillary/inguinal freckling was mild or faint in 7 of 14 patients with freckling (Figure 2A).
Noonan syndrome (OMIM 163950; an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by a variable combination of facial dysmorphism, short stature, pectus deformity, and congenital heart defects12) was suspected in 1 child (individual S10-III1; individual/family numbering is shown in eTable 2), a mild pulmonic valve stenosis was present in individual S11-I2, and mild to severe pectus excavatum was seen in 3 individuals (Figure 2B and eTable 2). Five children had abnormal language and speech development and 5 were reported to have attention deficit, hyperactivity, or both. None of the individuals carrying a SPRED1 mutation showed neurofibromas, typical osseous lesions, or a symptomatic optic pathway glioma.
We observed 1 occurrence each of tenosynovial giant cell tumor, angiolipoma, breast cancer, and dermoid tumor of the ovary and 2 lipomas in 1 individual (eTable 2). No tumor material was available to study the causal involvement of SPRED1.
In family S23, the NF1 mutation c.2755delG had previously been identified in a classically affected patient, S23-III1 (eTable 2), but no NF1 mutation was found in several of his relatives with NF1 signs (individuals S23-II2, S23-II3, S23-I2, and S23-III3). A truncating SPRED1 mutation was found in individual S23-II3 (the younger brother of individual S23-II2), in individual S23-I2 (the mother of individual S23-II2 and S23-II3), and in individual S23-III3 (the child of individual S23-II3) but was absent in individuals S23-II2 and S23-III1.
Spectrum of SPRED1 Mutations. We identified 34 different SPRED1 mutations in 43 probands in the anonymous cohort of 1318 unrelated NF1-negative patients (eFigure 1). The majority of mutations (23/34) are predicted to result in a premature stop codon. Furthermore, 1 in-frame deletion (c.242_256del15bp; p.Ile81_Val85del), 9 different missense mutations, and 1 silent mutation were found. Mutations were spread over the entire gene; 23 are novel. Eight different mutations (p.Arg16X; p.Arg18X, p.Arg24X, p.Arg64X, p.Arg117X, p.Thr313Met, p.Arg325X, and p.Asp398Asn), accounting for 12 of the 43 mutations, can be attributed to deamination at methylated CpG dinucleotides. No SPRED1 copy number changes were detected.
SPRED1 Missense Mutation. The phenotype of individuals carrying a (probably) benign missense mutation is described in eTable 3.
Functional and In Silico Analysis of Missense Mutations.SPRED1 missense mutations p.Thr102Arg and p.Pro415Ala are pathogenic and mutants p.Cys74Phe, p.Ser149Asn, p.Met188Ile, p.Thr196Ile, p.Thr313Met, p.Asp398Asn, and p.Cys433Tyr are probably benign variants. Data supporting classification of missense mutations, including the functional effect on the RAS-MAPK pathway using the PC12 differentiation assay and Elk-1 reporter assay and secondary structure prediction by in silico homology modeling, are summarized in the eAppendix, eTable 4, and eFigure 2, eFigure 3, and eFigure 4.
Phenotypic Characteristics. We identified 33 LOF SPRED1 mutations (eFigure 1) in an anonymous NF1-negative cohort of 1318 unrelated probands presenting with a broad range of NF1-related signs, not biased toward the phenotype initially described in patients with a SPRED1 mutation.6 Demographic and phenotypic features of a cohort with and without SPRED1 mutations were compared with a cohort of 1114 patients with a definitive NF1 mutation (Table 2 and Table 3). Mean age was 14.9 years in the NF1-positive cohort, 9.5 years in the SPRED1-positive cohort, and 12.4 years in the NF1/SPRED1-negative cohort. The average number of NIH criteria fulfilled was 2.39 in the NF1-positive cohort, 1.84 in the SPRED1-positive cohort, and 0.89 in the NF1/SPRED1-negative cohort.
The high proportion of sporadic patients likely reflects the greater uptake of genetic testing among patients with diagnostic uncertainties in the absence of a family history. Thirty-one of 33 SPRED1 LOF–positive individuals had more than 5 CALMs with or without freckling and no other NF1 criteria, 13 (39%; 95% CI, 23%-58%) of which were sporadic cases.
The ratio of SPRED1/NF1 mutations detected in the total group of 2432 patients was 33/1114 (3.0%; 95% CI, 2.0%-4.1%): 20/251 (8.0%; 95% CI, 4.9%-12.0%) in the familial group vs 13/863 (1.5%; 95% CI, 0.8%-2.6%) in the sporadic group.
Of 1086 patients fulfilling NIH criteria for clinical diagnosis of NF1, an NF1 mutation was found in 823 (76%; 95% CI, 73%-78%), a SPRED1 mutation in 21 (1.9%; 95% CI, 1.2%-2.9%), and no NF1/SPRED1 mutation in 243 (22%; 95% CI, 20%-25%), with 211 of 243 being sporadic cases.
No SPRED1 mutations were found in any NF1-negative patients with neurofibromas, optic pathway glioma, Lisch nodules, or typical osseous lesions. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values to detect a SPRED1 mutation in the analyzed NF1-negative cohort are reported in eTable 5. The highest positive predictive value was observed in familial patients with more than 5 CALMs with or without freckling and no other criteria (0.720; 95% CI, 0.506-0.879), with a sensitivity of 0.545 (95% CI, 0.364-0.719) and a specificity of 0.995 (95% CI, 0.988-0.998).
We investigated the clinical spectrum of a neurofibromatosis type 1–like syndrome, recently named Legius syndrome (OMIM 611431), and estimated its frequency relative to NF1 in an anonymous cohort of patients with a broad range of signs typically found in NF1. Individuals with SPRED1 mutations presented with multiple CALMs with or without freckling. The dermatologic phenotype in young children with a SPRED1 mutation could not be differentiated from NF1 and half of individuals (20/40) with a SPRED1 mutation fulfilled the NF1 diagnostic criteria based on presence of more than 5 CALMs with or without skinfold freckling and with or without familial history.
Most patients presented with a mild phenotype compared with NF1, although in family S24, severe progressive dystonia, a large temporal venous anomaly, and a vascular anomaly were present. In the report by Spurlock et al,8 1 patient had an inguinal hemangioma, which is of interest given the recently identified association of RASA1 with abnormal angiogenesis. RASA1 (p120-RASGAP; OMIM 139150), another guanosine triphosphate–ase–activating protein, down-regulates the RAS-MAPK pathway similarly to neurofibromin.13-15 The potential association of NFLS with vascular malformations warrants further investigation. The RAS-MAPK pathway syndromes show a large variability in tumor predisposition, congenital malformations, and intellectual disabilities.15
Because SPRED1 is involved in regulation of the MAPK pathway, patients with SPRED1 mutations may be at increased risk of developing specific tumors or learning problems. In our study, 5 children had abnormal language and speech development and 5 were reported to have attention deficit/hyperactivity. The importance of SPRED1 for hippocampal-dependent learning was recently documented in mice.16 Future studies need to systematically investigate potential problems with speech, learning, and behavior in children with SPRED1 mutations.
None of the individuals in our study had neurofibromas, typical osseous lesions, or symptomatic optic pathway gliomas. In this and previous studies, no systematic occurrence of any tumor type was observed, except possibly subcutaneous lipomas in adults, also frequently observed in the general population. Tenosynovial giant cell tumor, dermoid tumor of the ovary, Wilms tumor, tubular colon adenoma, acute leukemia, and non–small cell lung cancer were each observed in only 1 individual once.
Combining data on 53 adults with NFLS from this study and in previous reports6-8 results in a post hoc power estimate of 80% to detect complications occurring in at least 5% of affected adults. Using the binomial distribution, the chance of detecting 2 cases with a specific complication with a prevalence of 5% in a group of 53 individuals is 76%. Combining data from this and previous reports6-8 on individuals aged 5 years or older with a SPRED1 mutation (n = 79), we estimated, in post hoc power calculation, that this sample size would allow detecting complications with a prevalence of at least 3% with a power estimate of 80%. None of these 79 individuals had evidence of plexiform neurofibroma, discrete neurofibroma, or symptomatic optic pathway glioma, suggesting that the frequency of these complications is lower than in NF1 (plexiform neurofibromas, 24%; discrete neurofibromas, 53%; symptomatic optic pathway gliomas, 4.3%17).
However, even these pooled data are underpowered to detect rare complications associated with a prevalence of only 1%; a study of 250 well-characterized, preferably adult patients would be needed. Other limitations of the present study are the referral bias (mainly diagnostic uncertainty) and heterogeneity of clinical data (many clinical NF experts involved).
As of July 2007, no NF1 mutation had been identified through clinical testing in 1318 of 2432 unrelated patients who fulfilled inclusion criteria for further anonymous studies at the UAB Medical Genomics Laboratory. Many samples were submitted because of a diagnostic uncertainty: 55% fulfilled fewer than 2 NIH criteria and 87% were sporadic. SPRED1 analysis of this anonymous NF1-negative cohort revealed a SPRED1 LOF mutation in 33 of 1318. No SPRED1 copy number changes were found in this or previous studies6-8 but we recently identified 3 different multiexon deletions, indicating the need for dosage analysis in the clinical setting (L.M., unpublished data).
Clinical features of the cohort with a SPRED1 LOF mutation (n = 33) were compared with the cohort without mutations in NF1 and SPRED1 (n = 1285) and with the cohort with an NF1 mutation (n = 1114). Twenty-one of 1087 individuals (approximately 2%) fulfilling NIH diagnostic criteria in the entire anonymous cohort carried a SPRED1 mutation. All individuals carrying a pathogenic SPRED1 mutation were found in the subgroup of patients with multiple CALMs with or without freckling but fulfilling no other NIH criterion. No SPRED1 mutations were found if patients had neurofibromas, optic pathway glioma, ophthalmologically proven Lisch nodules, or a typical NF1-associated osseous lesion. The data from this anonymous cohort further underscore that association of these features with NFLS must be rare.
In this study of 957 sporadic patients with CALMs with or without freckling and no other criterion, 414 (43%) had a NF1 mutation in the blood and 13 (1.3%) had a SPRED1 mutation. An NF1 mutation was found in 150 of 159 familial patients (94%) with more than 5 CALMs with or without freckling and an additional criterion, usually the presence of neurofibromas, but in 69 of 94 familial patients (73%) with CALMs with or without freckling only. In this last group, 18 of 94 families (19%) showed a SPRED1 mutation, and in 7 of 94 (7%), no mutation could be identified in NF1 or SPRED1.
The NIH NF1 criteria, originally designed to help identify families suitable for linkage studies that led to the positional cloning of the NF1 gene, are widely used and allow establishment of a clinical diagnosis of NF1 in most cases. In individuals with CALMs with or without freckling and no other specific distinguishing features, presenting sporadically or with a family history of CALMs with or without freckling only, the NIH criteria cannot reliably distinguish NF1 from NFLS. In such patients, a correct diagnosis has important implications for prognosis, counseling, and potential prenatal genetic diagnosis. Although an NF1 diagnosis may become apparent with the passage of time, the diagnosis will remain uncertain for individuals who do not develop other signs of NF1.
Molecular genetic testing can resolve the diagnosis in most such cases. In case of diagnostic uncertainty, we recommend that NF1 should be analyzed first and, if negative, SPRED1 testing should be considered in patients with CALMs with or without freckling and no other NF1 diagnostic features. Identification of a SPRED1 mutation may relieve a psychological burden from families who otherwise would be in a waiting mode for potential serious NF1-associated manifestations.
We currently are conservative regarding the clinical surveillance of SPRED1-positive patients and recommend the same medical follow-up as that for patients with NF1. Less stringent surveillance may possibly be recommended for these patients if clinical data from several hundreds of patients confirm the low frequency of benign and malignant tumors.
For all of these reasons, it is important that clinicians, including general practitioners, clinical geneticists, pediatricians, ophthalmologists, dermatologists, neurologists, and oncologists, who are involved in the care, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals with NF1, should be aware that Legius syndrome can resemble NF1.
Corresponding Author: Ludwine Messiaen, PhD, Medical Genomics Laboratory, Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 720 20th St S, Birmingham, AL 35294 (firstname.lastname@example.com).
Author Contributions: Drs Messiaen and Legius had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.
Study concept and design: Messiaen, Brems, Zackai, Vijzelaar, Ayada, Yoshimura, Legius.
Acquisition of data: Messiaen, Yao, Brems, Callens, Spencer, Arn, Babovic-Vuksanovic, Bay, Bobele, Cohen, Escobar, Eunpu, Grebe, Greenstein, Hachen, Irons, Kronn, Lemire, Lim, McDonald, Narayanan, Pearn, Pedersen, Powell, Shapiro, Skidmore, Tegay, Thiese, Zackai, Taniguchi, Okamoto, Korf.
Analysis and interpretation of data: Messiaen, Yao, Brems, Callens, Sathienkjkanchai, Denayer, Babovic-Vuksanovic, Leppig, Narayanan, Zackai, Okamoto, Yoshimura, Parret, Korf, Legius.
Drafting of the manuscript: Messiaen, Yao, Brems, Callens, Denayer, Greenstein, Pearn, Shapiro, Tegay, Thiese, Ayada, Okamoto, Yoshimura, Parret, Legius.
Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Messiaen, Brems, Sathienkjkanchai, Denayer, Spencer, Arn, Babovic-Vuksanovic, Bay, Bobele, Cohen, Escobar, Eunpu, Grebe, Hachen, Irons, Kronn, Lemire, Leppig, Lim, McDonald, Narayanan, Pedersen, Powell, Shapiro, Skidmore, Zackai, Vijzelaar, Taniguchi, Korf, Legius.
Statistical analysis: Taniguchi, Okamoto, Legius.
Obtained funding: Messiaen, Yoshimura, Legius.
Administrative, technical, or material support: Messiaen, Yao, Brems, Callens, Sathienkjkanchai, Spencer, Arn, Bay, Escobar, Grebe, Hachen, Irons, Kronn, Lemire, Pearn, Vijzelaar, Okamoto, Parret, Korf, Legius.
Study supervision: Messiaen, Yoshimura, Legius.
Financial Disclosures: Mr Vijzelaar is a scientist employed by MRC-Holland, provider of commercially available multiplex ligation–dependent probe amplification assays. No other disclosures were reported.
Funding/Support: This work was supported by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development UAB Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center grant P30-HD038985(to Drs Messiaen and Korf); the Institute for Promotion of Innovation Through Science and Technology, Flanders, Belgium (to Ms Brems); research grants from the Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen (G.0096.02; to Dr Legius); the Interuniversity Attraction Poles, granted by the Federal Office for Scientific, Technical and Cultural Affairs of Belgium (2007-2011; P5/25; to Dr Legius); a Concerted Action Grant from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven; special Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (to Dr Yoshimura); and the Program for Promotion of Fundamental Studies in Health Sciences of the National Institute of Biomedical Innovation in Japan (to Dr Yoshimura); and a Children's Tumor Foundation Young Investigator Award (to Dr Parret). The Wilderman family provided a donation (to Dr Messiaen) to help support NF1 research for children with café au lait spots only.
Role of the Sponsor: The sponsors of the study had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; or preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.
Additional Contributions: We thank the patients and their families for their support. We also thank the Wilderman family for their donation.
This article was corrected online for error in data on 6/22/2010, prior to publication of the correction in print.
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I love the first paragraph of this editorial from the Salt Lake Tribune about a bill in the Utah state legislature that purports to protect the religious liberty of public school students from imaginary threats. This seems surprising to me, but maybe if I read that paper regularly it wouldn't:
Convincing people that you have come to rescue them from threats that do not exist is a good way to raise campaign funds or win votes in a neighborhood caucus. But it is a lousy way to govern.
That could apply to about 70% of the conservative agenda right now.
Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, isn't claiming that the religious rights of Utah public school students are really under threat. But he still wants to waste the Legislature's time and taxpayers' money by pursuing a bill that would purport to give public school students several rights that nobody questions and one that could create some unnecessary woes.
The lawmaker says his as-yet undrafted bill, soon to appear in the file titled "Religious Freedom for Students," is patterned after Mississippi's Student Religious Liberties Act. Which is, in turn, if by happenstance, mostly patterned after a set of guidelines the federal government has been promoting as far back as 1998.Despite what some religious leaders may want you to believe, the religious rights of public school students have never been excluded from our educational institutions, except by the occasional fearful teacher or clueless bureaucrat who didn't get the memo.
Exactly right. And those fearful teachers and clueless bureaucrats are likely getting it wrong precisely because the same people who complain about their actions keep mindlessly repeating that all religion has been banned, or as they like to say "God has been expelled," from public schools.

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Quick Search: Choose Model and Year, then enter search topic.
Page: 211
Lifting the vehicle with a lifting platform, trolley jack or standard jack
The car must be raised only at the illustrated jacking points.
Risk of damage to the engine or vehicle if you lift the vehicle improperly.
Platform lift
Before the car is driven on to a lifting platform, it must be ensured that there is enough space between the lifting platform and the vehicle.
Garage lift
A garage lift must be used only at the illustrated jacking points.
Mounting an emergency spare wheel
If 5 mm spacers are mounted, these must not be removed to mount an emergency spare wheel.
Fitting snow chains
The use of snow chains is not permitted when 5 mm spacers are mounted.
Risk of damage to the wheel housings if the 5 mm spacers are not removed before fitting snow chains.


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Confirmed: no iPad iBooks for Blighty
Bad news for e-book buffs
Apple UK's iPad web pages are now online and they confirm fears that the tablet's iBooks application and associated content store will not be available to British buyers at launch.
The UK page www.apple.com/uk/ipad/features/ matches its US equivalent, www.apple.com/ipad/features/, in all respects but one: it lacks the US' iBooks entry.
Originally, there was no indication that iBooks might not be available outside the States, but as local websites have come on-stream, Apple has also added a tiny "iBooks available in the US only" footnote.
It's disappointing, but perhaps no great surprise. Like music and movies, books are subject to different rights regimes in different parts of the world, and while some of the publishing deals Apple has struck in the States may apply elsewhere, many won't.
Apple will surely want to strike similar deals overseas, and may have already begun this process. What's worrying is that rather than acknowledge iBooks and state that the service may not be available immediately on launch, Apple is hiding it away. The implication: it may be some time before either application or store debut over here.
Worse, it clearly suggests iBooks is for material acquired through Apple and not e-books you may already possess. ®


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If there's any one thing that could improve a Botticelli painting, what would it be? Well, a big furry cat, of course! Okay, so obviously we're not serious, but that doesn't make this series of cat-augemnted artworks, which we first heard about over at It's Nice That, any less hilarious. Over at Great Artists' Mews, Zarathustra the cat wants to get the record straight — Mona Lisa was only smiling like that because she had a fat tabby squirming in her arms. The site comes with this very cat-like disclaimer: "We are real. All the artworks at this site are real. Nobody's opinion about Us, Our art or this site will ever disturb Our suprematism." Fair enough. Click through to see some of our favorites, and if you're not all kittied out, head over to Great Artists' Mews for even more cat-infiltrated art.
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Kensei Media API
Kensei Media is a video hosting service. Clients upload and arrange their videos in the Kensei video dashboard. From there they may redistribute any videos to websites or mobile devices. Kensei allows clients to distribute their videos in different sizes and formats, such as HTML5, Flash, and Quicktime. It will also return analytical data. Kensei's API exposes the dashboard and user information functionality. It is a RESTful API that returns data formatted in JSON and XML.


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Yesterday, President Barack Obama crossed the Potomac River to hold a press conference at the Pentagon, the first time a president has addressed reporters from the military's headquarters. Flanked by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Joint Chiefs Chairman General Martin Dempsey, and other senior military leaders, the president introduced the findings of a nine-month review of U.S. military strategy that will guide how the Pentagon allocates defense dollars as military spending slows following a decade of war.
The review, which calls for a leaner, more agile military and a shift in focus from the wars in the Middle East to the Asia-Pacific region, carries great strategic and political import. Any defense analyst worth his or her bullets will tell you that budget decisions should follow strategic priorities, never the other way around. Choices arrived at in the opposite direction are tarred as "math, not strategy."
The problem is that since the end of the Cold War, U.S. military strategy has tended to be all math, in the sense that missions and priorities just keep getting added without subtracting others. As former Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen put it, the post-9/11 money spigot for defense "hasn't forced us to prioritize. … It hasn't forced us to do the analysis. And it hasn't forced us to limit ourselves and get to a point of deciding, in a very turbulent world, what we're going to do and what we're not going to do." Yesterday's strategy document was a first attempt to do just that.
Before exploring the specifics of the new strategy, defense "cuts" must be put into context. Despite the protestations of some members of Congress—complaints echoed by all the presidential candidates polling above single digits—the "cuts" are really just reductions in the rate of growth. The Budget Control Act mandates $489 billion less in spending over the next ten years than Pentagon projections anticipated. That's roughly an 8 percent reduction from projected spending.
If the so-called sequester—automatically triggered cuts agreed to late last year as part of the debt-ceiling deal between Republicans and Democrats in Congress—takes effect, an additional $500 billion may be required, although that scenario is unlikely. Administration officials, Panetta foremost among them, have howled that such cuts would amount to doomsday for U.S. national security, even though they would only bring the Pentagon budget back to where it was in 2007. As Gordon Adams of the Stimson Center has written, a $1 trillion reduction would still be smaller than any of the last three postwar "build downs."
Right now the White House and Pentagon are planning only for the former scenario. Yesterday's announcement gave the strategic outlines for how the Pentagon would implement those reductions without jeopardizing national security, while specifics on the numbers and affected programs won't be released until the official budget drops next month.
So what does the strategy say?
The document flows from this question, posed by President Obama in his speech: "What kind of military will we need after the long wars of the last decade are over?" The answer, according to Panetta, is a force that's "smaller and leaner, but will be agile, flexible, ready, and technologically advanced." That means reductions in the size of the Army and Marines, reportedly almost back down to pre-9/11 levels.
It also signals that the U.S. is in no hurry to engage in another extended occupation like the ones in Iraq and Afghanistan. In other words, this marks a move away from the counterinsurgency operations of the last decade. Instead, America will build a military poised to respond quickly to events around the world. The operation in Libya and even the raid that killed Osama bin Laden serve as models for this strategy. To be sure, we will retain the capability to project force for long-term operations if our vital interest are at stake, but such operations will be the exception, not the rule.
The strategy does not call for less everywhere. In fact, it explicitly calls for a "pivot" that would increase resources in Asia while still retaining a large presence in the Middle East. That shift would highlight naval and airpower over ground forces. Given the scarcity of resources, changes will likely include a redeployment of about a third of U.S. forces currently stationed in Europe. Broadly, the shift toward Asia shows an understanding that the center of gravity in global politics has shifted toward the Western Pacific.
Critics of this broader rebalancing will read it as an abandonment of the "two-war strategy," or the doctrine that the American military needs to be large enough to fight two big regional wars at once. But as Mark Thompson at Time has noted, that strategy has been untenable since World War II and was disproved as recently as the last decade, when deciding to invade Iraq doomed the Afghan War to failure.
On the weapons-buying front, Obama characterized the approach as getting rid of "outdated Cold War-era systems so that we can invest in the capabilities we need for the future." The strategy adds that "deterrence goals can be achieved with a smaller nuclear force." Which part of the nuclear complex would come under the scalpel remains unclear, though. In explaining the strategy, Pentagon officials demurred on the question of whether any leg of the nuclear triad—submarines, land-based missiles and bombers—would come under serious consideration for cuts. Early reports also float delaying the production of the troubled F-35 fighter-jet program.
Opponents of the new strategy will surely call this winnowing of priorities a "hollowing" of the military, a term that originally referred to forces that are numerous but lack training or proper equipment. The term has recently been appropriated as general pushback against any cuts to the military budget and in the process, lost much of its meaning. Countering that charge, the strategy explicitly commits to "resist the temptation to sacrifice readiness in order to maintain force structure." In other words, the U.S. will maintain a smaller, well-trained, well-equipped force instead of building a bigger but less effective one.
Finally, and probably most important, the strategy recognizes the need to look beyond traditional military solutions in order to manage the complex threats of the future. This includes strengthening diplomacy, development, intelligence, and homeland security—as well as recognizing that American strength flows from our economic prowess. Broadening the scope of what's considered defense makes sense, both because the world has changed and because conflict prevention and diplomatic solutions are cost-effective.
There's no doubt this blueprint for military spending reform will upset various interest groups with a stake in maintaining the status quo. But as Joint Chiefs Chairman Dempsey put it yesterday, America has no choice, as "we could face even greater risks if we didn't change our approach."


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Summer Preview: Syfy's Dominion Unleashes Holy War
Jun 19, 2014 7:01 AM EDT
When God takes a holiday, how do his abandoned heavenly children react? They rain hell down on earth. The new Syfy series Dominion — a sequel to the 2010 movie Legion — is set in a world deserted by the Almighty and still ravaged from ang… Read more


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Hi All,
Some of you have had trouble registering on our forums. We want to help all of you and the forums are a great place to do it. We've had to use a harder "captcha" question to keep bots from spamming our forums. Here's a hint if you're having trouble with the "captcha" question:
The name of our company is: endersfund. You have to remove the vowels (a,e,i,o,u).
<3 Ender's Fund Team


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Over the Christmas holiday, I went with my sister and dad on a cruise to Mexico. For anyone who has been on a cruise, you will know that there is a lot of downtime. Because I spent about 5 minutes packing, I forgot to bring a book. As a result, I spent my downtime on the cruise reading the Bible since there was one in each cruise cabin. (My goal for 2011 and 2012 was to finish reading the Old and New Testament. I'm still working on it.) On the second day, I noticed that my dad had a book sitting on his bed. Elated, I asked him where he got the book. He told me his boss, Tim, gave him the book as a Christmas gift.
Tim asked my dad what kind of book my dad likes. My dad responded, "Books about life. Books for middle-aged people." I chuckled when my dad told me his response. I told my dad that I've actually heard of God Never Blinks. To confirm my suspicion, the book cover states that it is a New York Times Bestseller. I started reading the book at about 4pm. I spent the next 4 straight hours reading the entire book, cover to cover.
The book is a collection of 50 lessons that the author, Regina Brett, shares from her experiences in life. Each chapter is a life lesson. These lessons include "When in doubt, just take the next right step" (Lesson 2/Chapter 2), "Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple" (Lesson 23), and "If you don't ask, you don't get" (Lesson 48).
Regina wrote many of these lessons as part of a newspaper column. She then saw how popular they became for the readers to share with friends. So, she decided to compile all of them, add a few new lessons in, and create the lessons into a book.
God Never Blinks is a book I'd recommend to anyone, young or old. It's an easy read-you'll be flipping through the pages quickly. The title is slightly misleading-it's not a religious book although the author does include many words about faith in the book. It's simply a book of little lessons of life that the author had learned in her 50+ years.
What I love about Regina is that she's not someone with a PhD in psychology from Harvard telling us how best to approach life in order to be happy because she's done 10 years of research on the topic. She's not someone who became a millionaire at 23 and is telling us how to lead a successful life. She is a woman who was 1 of 11 kids in her family, who became pregnant at 21, who got married at 40, who got cancer at 41, and who survived to be 50+ years old to publish her first book.
Her stories talk about how she struggled to be a single mother at 21 and making only $7,500 per year. She's honest with the reader and exposes us to the wounds she has from broken relationships, deaths, and failures. Regina shares the intimate details of her life from celebrating her mothers' 75th birthday to her first dates with her husband, Bruce.
Several of the chapters are repetitive in what they are trying to teach us, but the anecdotes are unique and keep us interested. The resounding theme of the book is to appreciate what life gives you, even if it is very little. It made me reflect on many of my attitudes towards certain aspects of life including friendships and work. There is one chapter where the author asks us to write out the 20 things in life that we're most appreciative of. I actually stopped reading, got out my laptop, and jotted down things I am thankful for. Maybe I'll share them in a future blogpost.
My dad told me that he actually read the book out of order. He browsed through the Table of Contents and picked out the chapters/lessons he wanted to read about. I thought that was really cool since I have a very "must get things done" mentality. If I start something, I have to finish it. There are many pros and cons to that habit.
The book was a great way for me to pause and reflect. That sounds cheesy, but now that I am at the wrinkly old age of 22, it's time for me to add some wisdom. So, here are some things I am going to change/add in my life because of the book:
- Meditate. In Lesson 47, the author talks about a group of women in a Harvard Medical School professor's research group who thought they were infertile. After several months of meditating daily, these women were able to get pregnant. I'm not planning to have any kids anytime soon, but I realize that the author is telling us that the mind and our mental state have a large impact on our physical wellbeing.
- Spend more time with friends. I'll be sending out Skype invites!
- Do the best-today. One of the lessons in the book talks about how writers sometimes save their "good stuff" for another article or work. Instead, the author asks us to use our best material today because it will force you to come up with even better stuff tomorrow. I love that!


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Historian and Author David McCullough to Deliver the 2003 Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities
Historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough has been named the 2003 Jefferson Lecturer in the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) announced today. The annual NEH-sponsored Jefferson Lecture is the highest honor the federal government bestows for distinguished intellectual achievement in the humanities.
"In many ways, David McCullough is the ideal historian," said NEH Chairman Bruce Cole. "He brings absolutely first-rate scholarship and remarkable skills as a storyteller to a wide audience of Americans."
McCullough earned the Pulitzer Prize twice for his biographies of former presidents, first in 1993 for Truman and again in 2002 for John Adams. He has twice won the National Book Award and Francis Parkman Prize. In 1995 McCullough was awarded the Charles Frankel Prize, now known as the National Humanities Medal, which was established by NEH to recognize persons for their outstanding contributions to the public's understanding of the humanities.
In September 2002, when President George W. Bush announced his history and civic education initiative in a Rose Garden ceremony, he said that David McCullough has "made history come alive for millions of Americans. He has encouraged the teaching of history in our classrooms. He has made a lasting contribution to our nation. And we're grateful for that contribution."
"To me, history ought to be a source of pleasure," McCullough said in a recent interview. "It isn't just part of our civic responsibility. To me it's an enlargement of the experience of being alive, just the way literature or art or music is."
McCullough's other books include The Johnstown Flood, The Great Bridge, The Path Between the Seas, Mornings on Horseback, and Brave Companions. His books have never been out of print. In his productive career, McCullough has been an editor, essayist, teacher, lecturer, and familiar presence on public television as host of Smithsonian World, The American Experience, and narrator of numerous documentaries, including Ken Burns's The Civil War. He is a past president of the Society of American Historians and has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has received 31 honorary degrees.
A gifted speaker, McCullough has lectured in all parts of the United States and abroad, as well as at the White House, as part of a White House presidential lecture series. He is also one of the few private citizens to be asked to speak before a joint session of Congress.
McCullough will present his lecture on Thursday, May 15, 2003, at 7:30 p.m. in Washington, D.C. Attendance at the lecture is by invitation and free. Those interested in receiving an invitation should call (202) 606-8400 or send an e-mail message to @email.
McCullough will be the 32nd Jefferson Lecturer. The lectureship carries a $10,000 honorarium.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1933, McCullough was educated there and at Yale, where he was graduated with honors in English literature in 1955. An avid reader, traveler, and landscape painter, he lives in West Tisbury, Mass., with his wife, Rosalee Barnes McCullough. They have five children and sixteen grandchildren.
The event is made possible by Sara Lee Corporation, which has been the principal sponsor of the Jefferson Lecture from 1999 through 2003.
Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and a list of previous Jefferson Lecturers is available on NEH's website.


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I was meeting with a group of families today who had come to check out UW-Green Bay. For our campus visits, families typically meet with an admissions representative for about an hour prior to going on tour. One of the topics we cover is admission guidelines, and the admission decision-making process. I commented to the group that it's a very comprehensive process, and "less of a formula than you might imagine."
One very perceptive mom, who was viewing our "admissions grid," raised her hand and challenged me on that statement. She said it seemed that students within certain parameters were virtually automatic admits. (Indeed, students with a combination of high ACT plus high GPA are admitted at a very high rate.) That's not the whole story, though.
As I explain this farther, let me first list some of the different things we take into consideration when making an admission decision:
- Grade Point Average: At UW-Green Bay, we use cumulative GPA (rather than rank) during our admission evaluations. (See my previous post regarding rank.)
- Grade Trends: Has the applicant's GPA gone up or down over the high school years? Or has it been consistent? (Consistent or up is what we're looking for.)
- Grade Distribution: In what subject areas does the student have the strongest grades? Are they in core college-prep areas? Elective areas? Is the distribution even throughout? If a student has all A's in physical education and D's in English, the GPA might not be bad, but the GPA doesn't reflect academic performance in that case. That's why the distribution is important.
- Rigor (especially senior year): See the blog post from October 13 for extensive coverage of the rigor issue.
- Applicant Statement(s): Can we tell from the statement(s) if the student will be a good "fit" at our campus? Is the statement about choosing UW-Green Bay because if its outstanding Environmental Science major (which is true), or is it about choosing UW-Green Bay for its outstanding Interior Design major (which we don't have at all)? In other words, has the student done some homework to learn about us, and has the student chosen to apply here based on accurate information? (For more about the applicant statement(s), see the blog entry from September 22.)
- Letters of Recommendation: These are not required, but they can be helpful for students who are "on the bubble." We prefer letters from people who can address the applicant's potential to do college-level academic work, but sometimes letters are helpful that tell us things about the student that may be relevant to the decision but that the student may not wish to write about.
- "Engagement": Because we know that students who are engaged in activities outside of the classroom tend to be most successful here at UW-Green Bay, we systematically evaluate the student's level of engagement in high school. If a student was active in high school, s/he is likely to be active in college. We gather this information from both the application, and from information that comes in the ACT data file that contains student test scores. (Which is one of the reasons that we require test scores directly from ACT or SAT.)
So, the factors involved in the decision are many and varied.
Back to the mom's question.
It is true that some combinations of credentials make admission seem virtually certain. Think about this though: Isn't it true that the students with the highest GPA's are often the ones who have chosen the most rigorous courses? That the students with the most rigorous courses are often the ones with the highest ACT scores? That the students with the best overall records are the ones most likely to have letters of recommendation to submit? And, that those same students are also often the ones who are very engaged outside of the classroom?
I use words like "often" and "most likely" because these statements are generalizations that are not always true. But frequently they are. So while it may appear that decisions are formulaic, it's likely that they simply reflect the reality of student characteristics and choices.
In another recent interaction with a parent, that person shared the perception that an applicant with an ACT of 28 (or other high score) would be virtually assured of admission. That is not an accurate perception. We do turn away students with high ACT scores if there are other elements (such as a low GPA) that cause us to think the student might not be successful in our environment. In addition, although the number is too small to be reflected in the percentages, there are occasional applicants who have strong GPAs and/or ACTs, but do not meet minimal expectations regarding rigor – perhaps they took no math past geometry, for instance. Those students may be turned away as well.
Finally, don't underestimate the power of a phone call. If you have a student for whom you wish to advocate, give us a call so we can talk. It's possible that you, as a school counselor, may be able to provide information that we might not otherwise be able to consider.
I hope you agree that "it's less of a formula than you might imagine."


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Below are the items Jessica registered for at The Bee's Knees to welcome a new baby GIRL into their family.
Upon request we can gift wrap your purchase, at no extra charge, and will be collecting gifts to be delivered to the shower.
You may either call 518-697-0888, email firstname.lastname@example.com, or stop in the store at 725 Warren Street to purchase items.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need more information on the products below.


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|View Poll Results: Hayate no Gotoku - Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Episode 1 Rating
|Perfect 10
|9 out of 10 : Excellent
|8 out of 10 : Very Good
|7 out of 10 : Good
|6 out of 10 : Average
|5 out of 10 : Below Average
|4 out of 10 : Poor
|3 out of 10 : Bad
|2 out of 10 : Very Bad
|1 out of 10 : Painful
|Voters: 48. You may not vote on this poll
|Thread Tools
|2012-10-04, 04:57
|Link #21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
I like the cameos by Yukiji, the 3 idiots, Isumi and Hatsuho, it's nice having these little segments included for the long-time fans, but I hope this doesn't mean they won't get any real screentime this season. I can definitely see Kenjiro's style as well. Ruca's segments were just weird, I get the feeling she's just here for the for fanservice and occasional cryptic narratives, and won't enter the story. Might be totally wrong though.
This episode does raise a few questions for me though. Firstly, didn't Nagi already meet an alien in season 2? It was even in that flashback where she was in the ufo. Kinda makes Nagi's fascination with aliens this episode weird since she should've already met one, unless there was a memory wipe somewhere which I forgot about.
Secondly, about the building featured in the first flashback, trying to keep this as spoiler free as possible, is it the building I think it is? Anyone who's read the manga should know the building I mean.
And lastly, anyone know long many eps this is running for?
|2012-10-04, 17:38
|Link #25
Join Date: May 2012
Welcome back Hayate No Gotoku series.
The first episode was quite good especially with the new art. Like you all, I missed the Narrator. Also, where is Tama? He usually pops out of nowhere. The new character to the series will definitely make things interesting.
Hayate seems more demonic than usual but easily reverts back to his old self. He also seems to have stopped that ridiculous cross dressing thing. Maria is the same as before but somehow different. I don't know why but i feel that way.
I hope to see more Hinagiku and the other characters from the school as well as their maids/ butlers.
|2012-10-04, 18:51
|Link #26
likes cute things
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Searching for more imoutos
Age: 38
I like the art change, it has a soft elegant feel to it. Unfortunately no Hinagiku... Kinda seems like they're re-introducing the story by having Nagi get kidnapped in pretty much the same way as S1 Ep1. I'll give it a 7/10 for the art. Too soon to tell if the humor will be making a good return or an improvement.
|2012-10-05, 02:23
|Link #27
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
hmm a bit confused, had to remind myself i was watching hayate no gotoku... just felt different
I guess its because there's - no narrator, seems a bit subdued comedy, and the inexplicable jump in story from the previews series. and no hina-chan but the visuals was nice, background was really detailed even the water fountains around the house, really catches your attention ( which of course only reminded one of how different/far the setting is from the previous stories - and i do like my continuity XD ) and who are those girls?
guess this will take some time to get used to.
|2012-10-05, 09:08
|Link #28
Horrible helmet-like hair (especially Hayate), loss of narrator, new character(s) stealing my favorite ones screen-time... all a big failure, but...
the interior design of the Sanzen'in estate challenges the Araragi house,
Isumi appeared for 60 seconds,
and Chiharu for 30.
Oh! and it's better when half the "cameramen" are midgets
|2012-10-05, 17:41
|Link #30
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Age: 28
Gah, I'm sorry guys, I didn't mean to vote 4/10. I really bit the big one and voted on impulse this time without thinking. This is me apologizing now since I can't really rectify this.
To be more honest, I'd give it about a 6/10. Not bad, not great. Everything felt really grim compared to the original series, but since it's supposed to be a standalone aside, I'm scoring based on how everything flowed together.
First, the positives. Really liked the little nod to the first season with Hayate flying in on the bicycle. Liked how much more detailed the backgrounds and such looked. Really, really liked the detail that went into the ending sequence.
Now the negatives. I can sum it all up under one statement: this series feels like it's confused. The plot and atmosphere wishes to separate entirely from its original counterpart, but with scenes like the snowball scene at the beginning and the car chase, it can't seem to let go. As such, it really diminishes itself as a standalone title, and it subsequently makes me wish I was just watching the original scenes again, where the comedic nature fit the concept so much better for those certain moments.
Not a fan of how the characters look compared to the original series, but as mentioned this is a standalone so I won't factor that into anything.
So as I said, my actual score's 6/10. Confused at the moment, but has potential. I don't have enough to go on at the moment to give it a fair rating, after all.
|2012-10-06, 13:40
|Link #36
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
I think the new art really pales as compared to S1, S2 and also the movie. Hayate's hair also feels really out of place as compared to the previous art.
Although I'm still disappointed due to the high expectations. I would have prefered a continuation of the manga material left to animate
Lets hope that the original story will be interesting.
|2012-10-06, 20:35
|Link #37
Part-time misanthrope
Join Date: Mar 2007
Let's be honest here, the s1 designs (aside of many more things) were terrible compared to s2 yet people still defend them for some unknown reason. The s3 designs are closer to s2 but something just feels off. Too much body deformation and the humour is clearly a level below the previous seasons.
Yet I'm still interested in Ruka.
|2012-10-06, 20:43
|Link #38
Idol Power!
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Middle of nowhere, center of everywhere...
Hmm... definitely a different feel from the previous seasons. I dunno about the comedy... it feels a bit off for me. Was a meh episode for me, but let's see how this show turns out after a few more episodes.
|2012-10-06, 21:26
|Link #39
Paper-Fan of DOOM!!
Join Date: Jul 2010
I noticed a trend
Season 1 Nagi is a bad tempered little kid who is still ultimately adorably innocent and endearing.
Season 2 Nagi is a smug brat with a sad core of smoldering with cynicism and resentment towards life.
Season 3 Nagi.... Are they progressively making her meaner and bitchier every season?
By the way, the razor wire nude song number in the end credits.... Sexy!!
|2012-10-06, 23:55
|Link #40
Critical fanboy
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere with anime and anime discussion is fine
|Thread Tools


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Bristol reaches planning milestone
A milestone in the Bristol town planning process occurred recently when the Bristol Planning Commission signed off on its third draft of the revised town plan and sent it to the Bristol Selectboard for review. It's a milestone because the planning commission has spent four and a half years crafting a 100-plus-page document that significantly rewrites the town plan. While the part of the plan dealing with resource extraction has become a lightning rod for criticism, fueled by opposition to the proposed Lathrop gravel pit, the rest of the rewrite has been thorough and generally well accepted by residents as well as outside groups that deal with community planning issues. To that extent, the planning commission deserves kudos for its substantial efforts.It is also significant that the proposed town plan deals with the issues of resource extraction in a more specific way than the previous town plan. While the commission had been reluctant to be specific in earlier drafts and had considered putting most of the language about resource extraction within a related zoning ordinance, the final draft of the Town Plan, according to a letter by Chairman Tom Wells, includes language that specifically says that resource extraction "not be permitted in eight zones: HDR, LDR, BC, NC, ROC, REC, MUN and MIX, and that extraction be permitted (but only under proper regulatory circumstances) in the remaining six zones: RC-1, C-1, RA-1, RA-2, RA-5 and Conservation."The second Lathrop gravel pit proposal pulled out of the MIX zone and limited its extraction to the RA-2 zone. Thus, the proposed town plan as approved by the Planning Commission would allow, under proper regulatory circumstances, the proposed pit if the plan passes and if the Lathrop family files anew. (The current proposal is still under appeal under the existing town plan.)We applaud the commission for including specific language in the town plan on resource extraction and attempting to draft language that clears up any confusion about where resource extraction is allowed and where it is not. Whether town residents agree that the proposed zones should be allowed for resource extraction is another matter, but at least ambiguity in the town plan will not be a reason that prompts future battles.If residents oppose the inclusion of any of the six zoning districts that would permit gravel extraction, that is an issue to take up with the selectboard to try to get it modified; and later at the ballot box if no changes are made.A solid case can be made for caution as the town proceeds with the town plan revision as is articulated in a letter published in this issue by Bristol resident and attorney James Dumont. He cites several reasons and concerns that the proposed process could be flawed and warns against specific measures. Residents should consider that perspective as from the loyal opposition (that is, concerned residents who are speaking out with Bristol's best interests at heart but who are in opposition to those officials on the board) and consider the wisdom of both perspectives.**********For the immediate future, Bristol residents need to focus on two agendas: First, as required by law, the town selectboard will be holding two public hearings on the proposed town plan. Those meetings should solicit specific public feedback and concern about sections of the plan that may need redrafting, or simply general comments in favor or in opposition. (If opposed, however, specific reasons why and suggested language to replace those sections would be helpful.) Second, the planning commission will turn its attention to writing the specific regulations that define the gravel extraction ordinance. That will include provisions that set the decibel levels of noise created by any proposed gravel pit, the amount of dust that's allowed; the allowable levels of truck traffic; set back requirements; visibility and aesthetic concerns; reclamation after the pit is finished; as well as countless other matters germane to resource extraction and that the public wants to consider.Key to drafting that ordinance will be public participation. If residents don't come forward with specific suggestions and input, they forfeit their voice in the matter. To that end, it is incumbent on residents to attend the upcoming planning commission meetings at which they will be working on this draft language, and make suggestions in writing, as the commission members have asked. (We agree that written suggestions are much preferable to verbal comments when trying to assess public comment and preferences.)The hope, as this process moves into its final stages and faces a vote at the March Town Meeting, is that the Bristol select board and planning commission will make ample time available at its public meetings for extensive public participation and accept that as part of the due process. In recent weeks, to its credit, the commission has been much more open to allowing extended comment and has been more responsive to public suggestions.In the end, what everyone wants is a town plan that meets the desire of the vast majority of town residents. That's no easy task when conflicting views surround controversial issues, but it can be achieved through extensive dialogue and compromise. Continuing on that path is the one common thread in this process that ties the community together.


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text: Finding the Right Seller Posted on August 19, 2019 - 02:10 PM by Jason Baker The best seller is one who is highly motivated. A highly motivated seller is more likely to sell at a price that is less than his or her house is actually worth. And it matters that you find out why. Learning the reason why can help you get the price you ... Read more


text: January 14, 2013 Caroline Crew theparisreview: "Centralia, Pennsylvania, is a town that barely exists. It is a blip of a place, almost indistinguishable from the endless forest flanking state road 61 in the rambling northeast quarter of the state. There are no hulking ruins—not even a sign that alerts you when the town begins or ends. Though the population of Centralia peaked in the 1960s at more than two thousand people, now fewer than ten live here. After the nineties, road maps and atlases began leaving it off their indexes; the post office revoked its zip code in 2002. The reason is simple: Centralia has been on fire for almost fifty years." American Inferno. Photograph by Eric Hart. It is possible to burn for always?


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Please consider this snippet:
X=$(grep -m1 'some-pattern' some-file | sed -n 's/.* //p')
I want to put last word in a variable if some pattern condition is matched for lines in arbitrary text file
My problem is that variable
X has CR or LF or CRLF at the end, depending on source file, which I want to get rid of, as it interferes with later operation I intend to do.
I even tried something like:
X=$(grep -m1 'some-pattern' some-file | sed -n 's/.* \([A-Za-z]\+\)/\1/p')
thus expecting
sed output to be limited on
[A-Za-z]+ but there are still this nuisance bytes inside X variable.
How can I get rid of it, without using too much code like see what bytes are at the end with
xxd then
cut it and similar complications?


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Bayboro Development Center works with the USDA Rural Development grant program to help people like Hosea Davis achieve home ownership.
BAYBORO � Christmas morning dawned well for Hosea Davis, who didn�t have to look under his tree for a present.
He awoke in his new house as a bona fide homeowner after a lifetime of being a renter.
The 47-year-old is a Pamlico County native who was able to finally achieve home ownership through the decade-old Bayboro Development Center and a low-interest loan through a U.S. Department of Agriculture program based in Kinston.
Three years ago, Davis sat down with Bayboro Development Center visionary founder Joseph Himbry Jr. telling him he wanted to finally own a home.
Unfortunately, Himbry died and was not able to help Davis fulfill his dream. But, Vennie Himbry, Joe�s wife, took over the lead of the nonprofit and the Davis house is the first product since Joe Himbry�s passing.
During Joe Himbry�s life, 10 new homes came to the Bayboro effort and his widow said it was a tribute to her late husband to cut the ribbon on an 11th home.
Seven of the homes are on Cowell Loop Road and Davis� new house joins three others on Rowe Road.
Bayboro Development has had been a HUD-certified organization since 2009. It builds homes for people whose applications meet the criteria for mortgage from the USDA Rural Development�s 502 home loan program, based on income and clean credit.
Dan Belrose of the Kinston USDA office, which serves 13 counties, said the home loan program provides assistance to 20 to 25 home owners each year for new and existing structures.
Davis graduated from New Bern High in 1983, where he played football. He joined the Army and served from 1986 to 1994 as a cryptograph technician. Later, he settled in Maryland and was married for awhile before returning to North Carolina in 1994.
These days, he works as a fabricator at Hurricane Boats.
�This is a total blessing,� he said of the new home, which he began moving into shortly before Christmas. �I am truly grateful to Vennie and all her help.�
The home has 1,362-square feet, three bedrooms and two baths.
The home builder was Rick Scheper and Associates.
Among those on hand for the recent ribbon-cutting was Dottie Wright of Twin Rivers Opportunities, which assists would-be new home owners such as Davis with housing counseling and a down payment assistance program.
The Bayboro Development Center is located at 204 Neals Creek Road. Call 252-745-4868.
Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or email@example.com.


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Home >> Course Descriptions >> College of Arts and Sciences
Ethnic Politics
Three semester hours.
A study of ethic interest groups and the varieties of American ethnic politics. Emphasis on ethnic groups in Texas. This course is held in conjunction with PSCI 4350 but requires additional graduate-level work assigned to students taking the course for graduate credit. Prerequisite: Admission to a graduate degree program, including the BA/MA. (Cross-listed with PSCI 4350)
Home - General Information - Student Services -
Academic Undergraduate Regulations -
Undergraduate Degrees - Academic Graduate Regulations -
Graduate Degrees - Course Descriptions - Faculty -
Appendix A - Appendix B - Appendix C - Appendix D


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — Billionaire Warren Buffett believes the federal deficit should be stabilized in relation to U.S. economic growth, but that the nation's $16.4 trillion in red ink is not trouble in and of itself.
"It is not a good thing to have it going up in relation to GDP, that should be stabilized, but the debt itself is not a problem," the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway BRK.A, +0.01% said in an interview broadcast Sunday on the CBS "Sunday Morning" news show.
"What is right about America just totally dwarfs what's wrong with Washington. 535 people are not going to mess up 315 million over time. I know it."
The nation's debt is "a lower percent of GDP [gross domestic product] than it was when we came out of World War II. You've got to think about it in relation to GDP," added Buffett, a vocal advocate for increased taxes on the nation's wealthiest, a stance he alluded to in the broadcast.
"I would say in a country with $50,000 of GDP per person, that nobody should be hungry, nobody should lack a good education, nobody should be worried about medical care, you know, nobody should be worried about their old age."
But the 82-year-old Buffett hastened to add that he wasn't advocating shared wealth to the point of erasing a motivating force for innovation, with Buffett saying his stance does not mean "looking for equality results."
Listing the co-founders of Apple Inc. AAPL, +0.16%, Hewlett-Packard Co. HPQ, +0.05% and Microsoft Corp. MSFT, +0.41%, Buffett said, "You want great inequality results; you want the Steve Jobs to be working in those garages, or the Dave Packards or Bill Gates, or you name it. But you do not want anybody going to bed hungry or having medical care denied to them or just the basics of life."
As for the discouragement Americans might feel in looking at the political bickering and persistent stalemates on Capitol Hill, Buffett sounded an optimistic tone, saying "what is right about America just totally dwarfs what's wrong with Washington. 535 people are not going to mess up 315 million over time. I know it."


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Money Quick Tips: How to ace the job interview
USA TODAY contributor Regina Lewis explains ways to better prepare yourself for a job interview. Kaveh Rezaei, USA TODAY
You've landed that interview for your dream job. Now it's up to you to ace the interview and get that plum position. Here are some important steps to give you an edge over your competition.
If your initial interview is a phone call with Human Resources, take the opportunity to confidently make the case as to why you're the best candidate for the job. If your interview is taking place virtually — via Skype, for example — remember to dress appropriately and make sure there is nothing distracting or unprofessional in the background, such as barking dogs or a roomful of kids' toys.
When prepping for a face-to-face interview, select professional attire. Dress at least one level above what the company's employees typically wear. Even if you're interviewing with an ad agency, for example, skip the jeans on interview day.
Here are some important things you should do for the face-to-face interview:
• Research the company.Check out the company's website for important information that you can interject during the interview. That can go a long way toward setting yourself apart.
• Come prepared. Laura DeCarlo, executive director of Career Directors International, advises bringing four copies of your resume, a copy of your cover letter, a pen, a pad and some type of carrying case. You'll also want to have a ready response to the almost-always asked question: "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" An interviewer will also likely ask if you have any questions. By being prepared with several questions, you'll be demonstrating that you've done your homework.
• Conduct a dry run. There's nothing worse than being late to the interview. To avoid that, do a dry run at least a day before so you know exactly how to get to the location and approximately how long it should take to get there. On interview day, plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early.
• Make a great first impression.When you meet the interviewer, few things project confidence like a smile, good posture, a firm handshake, and steady eye contact. During the course of the interview, avoid fidgeting and punctuating your responses with crutch words such as "like," "um," and "uh." Also avoid asking questions about the salary or benefits. You only want to discuss those once you have an offer.
After the interview, thank the person for his or her time. Always send a handwritten thank-you note. That will leave a lasting impression and could make you stand apart from competitors.
Regina Lewis is a national television contributor and host of USA TODAY's "Money Quick Tips" videos. Follow her on Twitter: @ReginaLewis.
Previous Money Quick Tips:
Secrets behind the best hidden online prices
Save on food costs even after grocery shopping
Use your 401(k) to maximize retirement savings
How to spot potentially fake online reviews
Now may be the best time to refinance
Make telecommuting work for you
Job loss, finances and marriage
Is online shopping about to get more expensive?
Five trends affecting your 2013 buying power
Financial pros and cons of getting remarried
Be aware of pricing psychology
Should you stay put or sell the house when retiring?
Six job tips in ninety seconds
When is the best time to start a small business
Can you afford to live to 100?
Exploring work at home opportunities
Saving enough for retirement so you don't run short
Best days of the week to shop and score deals
Housing trend favors adding more bedrooms
Cutting your auto repair costs
Five steps to becoming a saver


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Don't spin out of control! Felicia Lo, founder of SweetGeorgia Yarns, shows you how to spin yarn confidently in the colors you've always wanted.
Have you ever wanted to create custom, hand-dyed yarn but were afraid of spinning your colors into mud? Felicia shares the trade secrets you'll need to confidently command your colors and create brilliantly-hued skeins. In addition to teaching you different ways to prepare your fiber and preserve your color, Felicia demonstrates useful techniques such as Andean and Navajo plying, spinning from the fold and the on-trend method of fractal spinning. Learn to use color theory to harmoniously match and blend fiber into hues so vibrant and beautiful, the yarn will never see your stash.
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* Spinning and plying techniques, including fractal spinning and Navajo plying
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* Hand-spun skeins in colors you've always wanted
* A prismatic Bayside beanie!
If you're not delighted with your Bluprint experience, we'll make it right or give you a full refund.


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Today, we watched a bit of the Mets-Dodgers game on WPIX, listened to a few innings of Jerry and Alan doing the Jays-Rays, and heard our first JaysTalk of the year. (Wilner's in mid-season form, too.)
Now, we're waiting for 5:30 pm to watch Game 6 of the 1992 World Series on ESPN Classic Canada. Fucking A.
It doesn't get much better than this.
Liveblogging the Breakfast TV crew
We had thoughts of liveblogging tomorrow's City TV broadcast of the Jays game, but seeing as how the Drunk Jays Fans called it yesterday, we'll defer to them. They promise to be more drunk, more cruel and more smarter than us anyhow. Tune in at 12:30ish to see the boys skewer Kathryn "Wouldja rather have toes or teeth" Humphries.
The Boys on the Beat - A Comedy of Errors starring Cathal Kelly and Robert McLeod
The image of the junior beat writers for the Globe and Star lost in Florida, having already misplaced the Gulf of Mexico in their efforts to find the ballpark this morning has got to be fodder for sitcom. We're sure we could get Canadian Television Fund funding for it...supposing there is still a CTF.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
The most beautiful Saturday of the year so far
2 comments:
- Chris said...
Thanks for the heads up on the ESPN Classic re-cast of the game, I got all kinds of giddy watching that again! Although my friends that have never seen it got thoroughly annoyed at me telling them every single move of the last 3 innings.
- March 1, 2008 at 7:54 PM
- Jonathan said...
Ok, I was with Wilner until the "There's no question the guy can hit." Obviously a use of the word "question" of which I was previously unaware...
- March 2, 2008 at 12:44 AM
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Decision : CONF 202 21B.30
Kakadu National Park (Australia)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Expresses its concern to the State Party about new leaks of contaminated water at the Ranger uranium mine and the Jabiluka mineral lease adjacent to Kakadu National Park. The Committee is also concerned about reported shortcomings in the regulatory reporting procedures at both mine sites and deficiencies in the management of ore stockpiles at the Ranger mine which reduce public confidence, in the management and monitoring of the two sites. Finally, the Committee stresses the need to adopt a strict environmental regime appropriate to a World Heritage property;
2. Notes the report of the Supervising Scientist which concluded that the environment and people downstream of the mine were not at risk at any time during or after the incident. Nevertheless, the State Party recognizes the need to follow international best practice. To this end the Minister for Environment and Heritage has discussed these issues with the Traditional Owners of Kakadu, Energy Resources of Australia Ltd. (ERA) and the Supervising Scientist;
3. Notes that the State Party has reported that the mining company has made a commitment to meet ISO14001 standards of environmental management at both Jabiluka and Ranger by July 2003;
4. Requests the State Party to provide details of how these new, more stringent conditions will be fully met by ERA;
5. Notes that the State Party will co-operate with the Australian Senate Inquiry which will examine the regulatory, monitoring and reporting regimes at Ranger, Jabiluka and uranium operations elsewhere in Australia. The State Party will also co-operate with the Northern Territory technical review into the regulation of the Ranger and Jabiluka operations;
6. Welcomes the fact that the Minister has decided to appoint a suitably qualified conservation NGO representative to the Alligator Rivers Region Technical Committee (ARRTC), and will consult with NGOs on this appointment. ARRTC, at the request of the World Heritage Committee, continues to monitor and review the water management and other environmental issues at Jabiluka and Ranger, including those referred to in document WHC-02/CONF.202/17;
7. Is pleased to note with satisfaction that a cultural heritage management workshop was recently organized by Australia ICOMOS and the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation with the support of Environment Australia. The Committee requests ICOMOS to keep the World Heritage Centre informed of continuing co-operative efforts with Traditional Owners in this regard;8. Requests that the State Party report on progress on all the issues raised above by 1 February 2003 for review by its 27th session in June/July 2003.
DocumentsDecisions Report
Context of DecisionWHC-02/CONF.202/17
2002 Kakadu National Park


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From MeritBadgeDotOrg
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*BSA Scuba
*BSA Scuba
*BSA Snorkeling
*BSA Snorkeling
*Brownsea NYLT
*Brownsea NYLT
*Junior Leader Training
*Junior Leader Training
*World Conservation Award
*World Conservation Award
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Revision as of 23:27, November 2, 2007
Hello! My name is Dylan and I am a 15 year old Eagle Scout from Florida. I earned my Eagle Scout rank when I was 14 years old on April 25th, 2007. I also earned the Arrow of Light award when I was a Cub Scout. I have earned a total of 31 merit badges and have achieved many special awards including:
- BSA Lifeguard
- BSA Mile Swim (x2)
- BSA Scuba
- BSA Snorkeling
- Brownsea NYLT + ticket item
- Junior Leader Training
- World Conservation Award
- International Activity Badge
- Den Chief Service Award
- 5k Run, Duty to God, Activites, and Outdoors rockers from the 2005 National Jamboree
- Two religious awards
- 2007 World Jamboree Friendship Award
The merit badges I have earned include:
- Camping
- Citizenship in the Community
- Citizenship in the Nation
- Citizenship in the World
- Communications
- Environmental Science
- Family Life
- First Aid
- Personal Fitness
- Personal Management
- Emergency Preparedness
- Lifesaving
- Swimming
- Archery
- Basketry
- Collections
- Electronics
- Fingerprinting
- Fire Safety
- Fish and Wildlife Management
- Forestry
- Leatherwork
- Mammal Study
- Plant Science
- Pottery
- Reptile and Amphibian Study
- Rifle Shooting
- Sculpture
- Shotgun Shooting
- Small-Boat Sailing
- Soil and Water Conservation
- Weather
- Wood Carving
I have served in several leadership positions, including:
- Senior Patrol Leader
- Patrol Leader
- Den Chief
- Chaplain's Aid
- OA Troop Representative
- Chaplain's Aid (2007 World Jamboree)
I am working on:
- Spanish Interpreter Strip
- Braille Interpreter Strip
- Leave No Trace Award
- Donor Awareness Award
- Emergency Preparedness Award
- Physical Fitness Award
- Several merit badges
I am in the Order of the Arrow as a Brotherhood member of the Echockotee Lodge (200). I am currently the Vice President of Membership and served as the President of Membership when my Lodge hosted the 2007 Section Conference.
I have attended the 2005 National Jamboree and the 2007 World Jamboree at Hylands Park, England. It was awesome; I highly encourage Scouts to visit the next World Jamboree in Sweden (2011).
I have three more years left in Scouting and I can't wait to see what's in store for me. Next year I will attend Florida's High Adventure Sea Base with my friend's troop and when I graduate high school am going to join Venturing.
My ultimate goals in Scouting are six Eagle palms, every special award, and 50 merit badges.
My name is Swim4lyfe because I absolutely love swimming. I am on the road to have earned every aquatics award in Scouting and all aquatics merit badges.
Well, that's pretty much me and Scouting. Thanks for reading! Take care.