text:
Difference between revisions of "Tiger Leaping Gorge"
Revision as of 01:10, 29 October 2012
The Tiger Leaping Gorge trek (虎跳峡; Pinyin: Hu Tiao Xia), near Lijiang in Yunnan, is one of the finest treks through some of the most naturally beautiful and diverse landscapes China has to offer. The trail runs high on the northern side of the gorge passing through quiet villages, shady forest, blustery precipice and verdant terraced farmland. The snow covered peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (玉龙雪山; YuLong XueShan; 5596m) and Haba Snow Mountain (哈巴雪山; Haba Xueshan, 5396m) shadow either side of the gorge.
An open ended ticket to the trail is ¥65 (as of April 2012) (¥25 for students under 25) purchased from the ticket booths at either end of the trail. Some trekkers have avoided the entry fee by setting off early before the ticket booth opens or sneaking past when the guard is out.
Typically the hike is spread over two days (one and half - three day) but a slower pace will afford you to time contemplate the natural surrounds and unwind in the villages quietude.
The trail stretches between Qiaotou and Walnut Grove, the more adventuresome types can continue to Daju or Baishuitai. Maps showing distances and guesthouse locations are available from the ticket office.
A little used side-trail to a remote waterfall just outside Walnut Garden is not shown on most maps but is marked with yellow arrows. The path is a challenging but worthwhile detour, passing through shady stands of bamboo to the base of the waterfall where the crashing water flows into a series of tranquil water pools.
If you prefer to visit without any (strenuous) hiking, a road along the south side of the gorge enters from the west and goes for a couple kilometers before stopping at a parking lot. After that there is a fairly level paved trail to Upper Tiger Leaping stone. Tours can be arranged in Lijiang or you can try to hire a driver to take you as a day trip from Lijiang, though drivers from Lijiang are not allowed to cross the river as that's outside their allowed territory.
If you want to avoid any hassles of figuring out your own transportation and directions you can go with a guide and a group from Lijiang for about ¥500 (covers transport, one night lodging, and any fees; no food).
There are a few ATMs in Qiaotou; however, they are only likely to take Chinese bank cards. The best idea would be to take the money you require for your time at Tiger Leaping Gorge from an ATM in Lijiang, to be on the safe side. There are no ATMs at any point along the trail.
From Qiaotou: From the ticket office, walk along the road till you reach the school gate on your left. It's less than 1K from the bus station. There are blue and yellow signs that mark the start and most of the trail. Stay on the road, following the school's grey-white wall till its end where painted arrows point up an embankment at the beginning of the trek. From here keep to the well worn path and follow the plentiful painted red/yellow arrows.
A misleading fake path before the school forks off at a brick wall painted with fading arrows. People may tell you it is the right way, but stay on the road to the school. (If the road to the school is under construction you may have to take this one. Don't worry, you'll get to the right place eventually.)
About 20km, and 7 hours, later at Tina's there is a trail down to the river. You can come back up to Tina's two ways - Tianti (the heavenly ladder), or Teacher Zhang's trail - or take a trail that goes a little way down the river before coming back up a little farther down the road.
From Tina's GH / Zhang GH, you can go down the middle gorge but each path costs 10¥ to use it. No combined ticket if you want to use both. Viewpoint from Zhang's GH has entrance fee of 2¥ / 5¥, which seems to be enforced only reluctantly. Once down in the gorge, turning left at the last hut before the Tiger Leaping Rock, you can continue downstream to Walnut Grove, along the river through an impressive cut along the sheer cliff.
Bus from Lijiang or Shangrila should be about ¥30. They start from north gate Lijiang and drop you off at Qiaotou.
Buses to Lijiang or Shangrila should be around ¥50. They depart from Tina's at 8AM, 1PM and 4PM. You will see signs along the hike advertising a ride from Sean's GH in Walnut Grove to Lijiang at 330PM. However, this bus does not run everyday and should not be relied upon if planning to hike from middle gorge to Walnut Grove.
Get down to previous intersection if you want to check town and local market Get up to next crossing and turn right to reach entrance of the park (and the counter)
Some locals in Lijiang will insist that this hike is dangerous, especially in rainy season. You probably will not want to go when it is pouring, or if there has been a huge amount of recent rain due to the threat of landslides, but if it hasn't been that wet lately, and you find a couple of dry days and are reasonably experienced at hiking, the worst that will happen is that you will get muddy and have to ford a couple of swollen cascades.
The instant you step off the bus in Qiaotou touts will insist you take their mini-van to the 'start of the trail' (for ¥120+ one way) but they should be politely ignored. The real start of the trail is a 2 minute walk over the bridge and down the first road on the right.
On the trail there are endless efforts of varying legitimacy to help you part with your cash. At regular intervals old women, young girls and sundry others will demand small fees for using optional parts of the path. Some, such as the descent to the river below Tina's guest house, are particularly annoying, as you'll be asked for money at what seems like every step of the way, with an elaborate story to explain the cost. There is a 10 Yuan fee to hike down to the Tiger Leaping Stone, and another 10 Yuan fee if you choose to take the ladder trail back up. Locals will attempt to charge you fees to use the rocks as photo ops, but ignore them and take the trail to the building downstream, visible from the stream. The views are much better from there.
Nearing the most difficult part of the trail (the twenty-eight steep switchbacks), local men with horses or donkeys who will offer to take you part way for a fee. They will charge anywhere from ¥150-300, regardless of where on the trail you decide you want to use their services. If you feel the need to have the accomplishment of doing the hike on your own two feet, they can help you by taking your bag for about ¥50.
Some guesthouses may try to mislead you about your hiking options. Tina's guesthouse has been known to insist that while you may descend to the river below, you must hike back up, and may not continue along the river to Walnut Grove - one of the most spectacular sections of the trail. While this part of the gorge has its charm, some feel it is not an essential part of the trek and could be skipped, though some emphatically disagree.
However if you go out of season (Late March for example) many of the money collecting posts will be unattended and you'll be free to take advantage of the vistas without being harassed.
Sleep and Eat
Numerous family run guesthouses are conveniently dotted along the trail. Prices rise during the peak periods but outside of these times guesthouses are cheap and blissfully quiet. Qiaotou has a handful of comfortable hotels but there is little reason to stay. Starting the walk at midday leaves ample time to reach Naxi Guesthouse or push on to 5-Fingers Guesthouse.
Qiaotou town has also some hotel but with very limited english speaking staff, no trek informations and not so competitive price against guesthouses on the trek.
In (average) time and distance order from Qiaotou along the high trail.
Before leaving Lijiang/Qiaotou/Daju, be sure you have enough water for the first part of the hike. On the way, there are no shops, but on the trek there are occasional vendors selling fruits, water and beer. Prices vary, but fruit will be ¥2-3 per piece. Guesthouses charge ¥5 per 1.5-litre bottle of water. Between Naxi's GH and highest peak is a shop (artistic use of Red Bull cans) where you can buy a variety of things. Don't count on open shops and present vendors in low season, make sure you bring sufficient supplies from Qiaotou or Nuòyú.
Get in, Get out
From Lijiang: Morning buses to Qiaotou (桥头), ¥30, 2hrs, leave from the bus station, stopping to pick up passengers at the new Southern Bus station down the road. Get to Bus station from city centre by bus no.13. As of April 2012, the roads are under heavy construction, and the drive will take closer to 3-4 hours to reach Qiaotou. Make sure you only pay for going to Qiaotou if you plan to hike the upper gorge. They might sell you a more expensive ticket to "Tiger Leaping Gorge" but that would take you past the start of the trail.
To/from Qiaotou/Walnut Garden: Minivans do the 30min trip between either end of the trek. The cost should be ¥80 for the entire van. Drivers will ask for more. As of Summer 2010 this entire road is under construction; you will have to walk it and risk the blasting if you don't want to go the high road.
From Shangrila: You can pick any bus to Kunming, Lijiang and Dali, there is a bus at least every hour. About 30y.
If you are heading north to Zhongdian (Shangrila) or coming from there, there is an alternative road via Haba. It is a longer but quieter with fantastic mountain landscapes. The tarmac is very good for bikes. You can think about doing some camping along this road:
To Haba from Walnut Garden: Tina's or Sean's guesthouse can organise a minibus (¥180-200) to Haba along a scenic road (1.5hrs). From Haba, there is a daily bus to Shangrila, then.
Walnut Garden to Daju If you are in Guesthouse as Tina's or Sean's, that means you are in the middle of the trek. Walk down the low road 3 hours past a small town (三坝乡; Sanba village) near the Yangtze river. Near the river you will see paths across the Yangtze river leading down to the river itself, with a shed and real staircase heading down to the river. Roads are constantly changing here and being constructed, there is currently a gentle car dirt trail down to the river, opt for this option rather then the goat trail. Better is to ask locals, even if you don't know chinese, just ask for "Daju" and point opposite bank of the river. They will show you how get down to ferry pier.
First ferry departure at 10AM, than every few minutes. The price depends on how many people is on the board and if you know some chinese. The most locals is on the first ferry - cheaper!!! (5Y per person), later could be 20Y!
Daju to Lijiang If you are coming from Qiaotou over whole gorge or from Tina's of Walnut garden, you got to the river bank with ferry. After you cross the ferry, there might be two buses a day departuring to Lijiang, first at 1PM, 30Y(?) per person. If you arrive soon, you can walk a bit to forward Daju because bus will stop by every guesthouse or shop on the way through village. The village is really long! (not sure where it starts and finish. there is just a lot of houses by the road) When you get on the bus, it will stop a lot and soon will be full of locals going just a few kilometers with goods, vegetable or whatever from place to place.
Along with a bus there should be a private minivan bus hustler. From here they take you on a road back to Lijiang, about 3 hours.
Lijiang to Daju For some reason there is no regular bus departuring from Lijiang bus station to Daju. You can find minivan who will take you there and you can do trek from opposite side and finish in Qiaotou.
Daju is a sleepy concrete town which you can use as one end of the Tiger Leaping Gorge walk. It seems like Daju is slowly becoming a ghost town as tourists numbers are declining, but despite the fact Daju isn't picturesque, it is a peaceful place to relax and the people are very friendly (the Tiger Leaping Gorge Inn, at one end of the concrete road and overlooking the town square, is run by a very helpful and friendly woman who speaks enough English to get by - her food is simple but delicious).
From a Qiaotou start, just keep walking down the road from Walnut Grove and past the ticket office. There are two options for crossing the river to the Daju side. Either keep walking down to the permanent ferry, or not too far out of Walnut Grove you'll see a coloured sign on a pole to the winter ferry. It will tell you the ferry doesn't operate in July, August, and September because the water is too high (hence you continue to the permanent ferry). At this sign (there is also a faded red arrow painted on the road) you turn directly right off the road and start descending down a dirt trail to the river. This trail is quite steep. As you're descending you'll see the ferry and a hut on the far side of the river.
When you get to the bottom hopefully the ferryman has seen you from the top of the cliff on the far side (always a good idea to yell out "ni hao" - great echo here), and he'll make his way down, calling out as he does, to bring the ferry across. The crossing costs ¥30 per person. The only reason he might not see you is he's just taken other tourists to Daju in his minivan, in which case you'll be waiting at least an hour for his return. He can be reached by phone at +86 13987049952.
It's a steep but short climb to the carpark at the top of the cliff and if you've nodded when the ferryman said something about "Daju" and "minivan" he'll be right behind you and will drive you to Daju for ¥20 per person. Alternatively you can walk the about 8km into town.


text:
With the Arkansas Razorbacks out of the bowl picture again, I've turned to the Arkansas State Red Wolves for my home state bowl fix the past two years. They did not disappoint with a thrilling win Sunday night over Ball State in the GoDaddy Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
With the Arkansas Razorbacks out of the bowl picture again, I've turned to the Arkansas State Red Wolves for my home state bowl fix the past two years. They did not disappoint with a thrilling win Sunday night over Ball State in the GoDaddy Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
As I watched, two things occurred to me: First, the Natural State needs to host a bowl game like the GoDaddy Bowl, and second, the Mike Ross Campaign for governor appears to be in trouble with independent voters. Yes, there's a correlation.
Since 1999, the City of Mobile has done a fine job putting on a bowl game even as the number of bowl games grew to 35.
Before my interest in the GoDaddy Bowl intensified with ASU in it the past three years, I thought of Mobile mainly as the city with the big tunnel on the way to the beach. But the city's promotional campaign has me wanting to go try its fresh seafood and enjoy the blend of Southern and Coastal culture.
Timing may be right for Arkansas to begin hosting a bowl game with the end of the Bowl Championship Series and the beginning of a four-team playoff.
War Memorial Stadium is in the process of slowly losing the Arkansas Razorbacks, which, honestly, have sustained it over the years. With the announcement of one Arkansas game per year over the next five years, it is time for the War Memorial Stadium Commission to step up pursuit of a bowl game.
Brett McMurphy with ESPN reported last summer that talks had begun regarding a bowl game in Little Rock that would pit a Conference USA team against a Sun Belt team. That could be a boost for Little Rock and War Memorial Stadium.
In addition to the City of Mobile ads during the GoDaddy Bowl, the spot that caught my attention was an ad for Mike Ross, the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor. The ad featured perhaps the most prominent ASU alumnus — Gov. Mike Beebe — who was at the game.
"We need a governor and proven leader middle-class families can count on — that's Mike Ross," Beebe says in the ad. "I've had the privilege of knowing Mike for 25 years, and I've watched him work. Mike Ross has the common sense leadership style that will make our economy work for everyone. His commitment to our children and schools is unwavering."
But the key hook in the ad was Beebe emphasizing that "no one is more independent than Mike." The ad is an obvious attempt to appeal to a demographic where Ross is lagging — winning independent voters.
A Democratic-leaning group, Americans United for Change, recently paid for Public Policy Polling on the race and found it in a virtual tie, with Republican Asa Hutchinson slightly ahead but within the margin of error. Digging deeper into the numbers, the poll showed Hutchinson leading Ross by 15 points with self-identified independent voters. That spells trouble for Ross.
Sitting on a sizable cash lead over Hutchinson after a healthy year of fund-raising, Ross has begun his effort to win over those who don't identify themselves as Democrats or Republicans. But choosing to begin spending his war chest 10 months out is a gamble.
Maybe commercials during the game distracted my thinking a bit, but the most enjoyable part of the evening was the Red Wolves' victory. Howl!
Jason Tolbert is an accountant and conservative political blogger. His blog — The Tolbert Report — is linked at ArkansasNews.com. His e-mail is email@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Friday, October 8, 2010
Halloween Poem for Visiting and Home Teachers!
Here's a
SpOoKy FuN TaG
for YOU to use with your
Visiting or Home Teaching Messages this month.
. . . Here's the Poem . . .
Since this is the time for goblins and bats,
Halloween spirits and ghosts and cats.
Weird happenings and witches brew,
These are the thing I wish for you . . .
May the only ghost that comes your way,
Be the Holy Ghost to guide your way.
May the only spirits you chance to meet,
Be the spirits of love and kindness sweet.
These are my Halloween wishes for you,
May God bless you in everything you do.
It's no TRICK, I just want to say,
{It's a TREAT TO KNOW YOU IN EVERY WAY!}
Just attach the tag to some Ghost Peeps
(I found mine at Smith's)
and some Hot Chocolate Mix.
The Hot Chocolate Mix from the Dry Pack Cannery
is the BEST!
I'm not just saying that because I would love for you
to SIGN UP for the next cannery assignment
or anything like that.
OK . . . I do want you to go, but the Hot Chocolate is
Here's the PDF:
(Pictures coming soon!)
It's just for YOU . . . en-JOY!
11 comments:
- Renee said...
So cute...thanks for sharing!
- October 9, 2010 at 6:57 AM
- Angie Spiker said...
I just love all your good stuff! Thanks for sharing it with people like me!
- October 11, 2010 at 1:40 PM
- Tricia Smith said...
Anytime Girls!
Have a great day!
- October 11, 2010 at 4:21 PM
- Heather said...
I love this!!! Thanks for sharing!! :)
- October 6, 2011 at 11:19 AM
- Tricia said...
So cute! I tried to download this, but the file won't open. Can you email it to me?
- October 8, 2011 at 8:43 PM
- RaYnA said...
I also tried to download and it would not allow me to. Very cute though.
- October 12, 2011 at 11:53 PM
Here's that link:
Let me know if you have any trouble downloading the file from here.
- October 13, 2011 at 6:38 AM
- Jen said...
thanks for sharing. Darling!
- October 15, 2011 at 10:11 AM
- Misty said...
Just found this on Pinterest and I love it! Thanks for sharing.
- October 18, 2011 at 3:26 PM
- Mike and Kristie said...
No longer able to print???
- August 30, 2012 at 12:31 PM
- Prepared Not Scared said...
You can find it in Group 4 in Mediafire.
Here's the link:
Hope that helps!
- August 30, 2012 at 2:04 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury selectboard last Tuesday unanimously OK'd a $9,720 contract with Bread Loaf Corp. to help the fire department size up its space needs and determine whether its best option is to plan for on-site expansion or a new headquarters.
The Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department maintains two stations — a primary facility on Seymour Street and a branch station in East Middlebury. The Seymour Street station can barely contain current fire apparatus and will be unable to accommodate the next generation of vehicles.


text:
Moderators: Zahru II, Natalya, RedRover
Empire of Luchardsko WIP wiki pageBrikWars 2010 Rules wrote:BrikWars ... stands in pretty direct opposition to many fundamental elements of the LEGO® philosophy, such as "Not Teaching Kids How Funny It Is to Set People on Fire."
Ben-Jammin wrote:Please excuse my improper use of the smiley, but this deserves it.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests


text:
25 After-Christmas Sales: 1/2-1/8
The best after-Christmas sales at local retailers.
January 2018
From boutiques to salons to your own closet, TC Style will bring you expertly curated tips and tricks from the local shopping, fashion, beauty, wellness, and design scene. Odds are if you put it on, take it off, hang it up, or cut it out, we'll tell you how to get it. Most importantly, we know that when you look good and feel good, you do good—the beautiful life is about much more than the material world. (But that won't stop us from loving it.)
Learn about the contributing writers.
Have a style-related question?
Email email@example.com


text:
Prostate Adenocarcinoma TransCutaneous Hormones (PATCH)
|The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Know the risks and potential benefits of clinical studies and talk to your health care provider before participating. Read our disclaimer for details.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00303784
Recruitment Status : Recruiting
First Posted : March 17, 2006
Last Update Posted : October 27, 2016
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
RATIONALE: The increasingly prolonged and extended use of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in the treatment of prostate cancer, usually achieved through the administration of LHRH agonists, has raised concerns about long-term toxicities, in particular osteoporosis and adverse metabolic changes which may be associated with type II diabetes and increased cardiovascular risk. An alternative approach is to investigate other methods of ADT. Oral oestrogen has been shown to be as effective as LHRH and surgical orchidectomy in achieving castrate levels of testosterone and has equivalent or improved prostate cancer outcomes but is not used routinely as first-line therapy because of the risk of cardiovascular system (CVS) complications. The CVS complications have been attributed to first-pass hepatic metabolism. Administering oestrogen parenterally avoids the entero-hepatic circulation and so is expected to mitigate the risk of CVS toxicity whilst still effectively suppressing testosterone to castrate levels. This hypothesis has been supported by results from the early stages of this trial which have provided sufficient indication of the safety and efficacy of the patches to warrant further investigation of the treatment in this setting, as recommended by the IDMC..
PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying how well the estrogen skin patch works compared with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist injections in treating patients with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer.
|Condition or disease
|Anemia Cardiovascular Complications Hot Flashes Osteoporosis Prostate Cancer
|Drug: Goserelin Drug: Estradiol
|Phase 3
- Compare the progression-free survival and overall survival of patients with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer treated with transcutaneous estrogen patches vs luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogues.
- Compare the cardiovascular system-related morbidity and mortality in patients treated with these regimens
- Compare the activity of these treatments, in terms of castrate level of hormones, failure-free survival, and biochemical failure, in these patients.
- Compare other toxicities, including osteoporosis, hot flushes, gynecomastia, and anemia, in patients treated with these regimens.
- Compare the quality of life of patients treated with these regimens.
OUTLINE: This is a randomized, controlled, multicenter study. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms at 1(control):1 (patch) ratio.
- Arm I (control): Patients receive luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists as per local practice in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.
- Arm II (patch): Patients receive 4 transcutaneous estrogen patches, changing twice weekly for 4 weeks. Patients' testosterone levels are measured at week 4. Patients whose testosterone level is > 1.7 nmol/L continue to receive patch as before and have their testosterone level measured every 2 weeks. Patients whose testosterone level is < 1.7 nmol/L at week 4 or any other point receive 3 transcutaneous estrogen patches changed twice weekly in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.
Quality of life is assessed at baseline; at weeks 4, 8, and 12; every 3 months for 24 months.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed periodically.
Peer Reviewed and Funded or Endorsed by Cancer Research UK
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 2200 patients will be accrued for this study.
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Estimated Enrollment :
|2200 participants
|Intervention Model:
|Parallel Assignment
|None (Open Label)
|Primary Purpose:
|Official Title:
|A Randomized-Controlled Trial of Transcutaneous Oestrogen Patches Versus LHRH Agonists in Prostate Cancer
|Study Start Date :
|March 2006
|Estimated Primary Completion Date :
|August 2021
|Estimated Study Completion Date :
|August 2021
Active Comparator: LHRH agonists
Patients randomised to the control arm will receive continuous treatment with LHRH agonists as per local practice. Treatment should continue for at least 3 years. LHRH antagonists, such as degarelix, are not allowed on the trial. The recommended "anti-flare" medication is bicalutamide and should be prescribed according to local practice. Control arm medication should be obtained from the hospital pharmacy or GP as per local practice.
Drug: Goserelin
3.6mg implant, in pre-filled syringe
Other Name: Zoladex
Experimental: Oestrogen Patches
Patients randomised to the investigational arm will receive transcutaneous oestrogen patches (100 micrograms/24 hours). Treatment should be planned to continue for at least 3 years. For patients prescribed bicalutamide or flutamide prior to randomisation, this treatment should be discontinued before treatment with the patches can commence (no washout period is needed).
Drug: Estradiol
Each patch contains 3 mg of estradiol hemihydrate in a patch size of 30 cm2, releasing 100 micrograms of estradiol per 24 hours.
Other Name: FemSeven
- Progression-Free Survival [ Time Frame: Up to 180 months ]
- Overall Survival [ Time Frame: Up to 180 months ]
- Hormone activity by castrate levels of hormones [ Time Frame: Up to 180 months ]
- Other toxicity [ Time Frame: Up to 180 months ]
- Cardiovascular morbidity [ Time Frame: Up to 180 months ]
- Cardiovascular mortality [ Time Frame: Up to 180 months ]
- Quality of Life [ Time Frame: Up to 24 months ]
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|up to 120 Years (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Must meet 1 of the following criteria:
Newly diagnosed patients with any of the following:
- Stage T3 or T4, NX, M0 histologically confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≥ 20 ng/mL or Gleason score ≥ 6
- Any T, N+, M0, or any T, any N, M+ histologically confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma
- Multiple sclerotic bone metastases with a PSA ≥ 50 ng/mL without histological confirmation
Patients with histologically confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma previously treated with radical surgery or radiotherapy who are currently in relapse with on of the following:
- PSA ≥ 4 ng/mL and rising with doubling time less than 6 months
- PSA ≥ 20 ng/mL
- Must have written informed consent
- Intention to treat with long-term androgen-deprivation therapy
- Normal testosterone level prior to hormonal treatment
- WHO performance status 0-2
- No other prior or current malignant disease or cardiovascular system disease that is likely to interfere with study treatment or assessment
No cardiovascular disease, including any of the following:
- History of cerebral ischemia (e.g., stroke or transient ischemic attack) within the past 2 years
- History of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism confirmed radiologically
History of myocardial infarction (MI) within the past 6 months OR MI more than 6 months ago with evidence of q-wave anterior infarct on ECG
- ECHO or MUGA required for patients with history of ischemic heart disease
- Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction ≤ 40%
- No condition or situation that could preclude protocol treatment or compliance with follow-up schedule
- See Disease Characteristics
- At least 12 months since prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant hormonal therapy for localized prostate cancer AND therapy lasted ≤ 12 months in duration
- No prior systemic therapy for locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer
- No concurrent participation in another clinical trial of prostate cancer treatment that would preclude study therapy or outcome measures
- Concurrent prophylactic radiotherapy to prevent gynecomastia allowed
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00303784
|United Kingdom
|Queen's Hospital
|Burton-upon-Trent, England, United Kingdom, DE13 0RB
|Contact: Contact Person 44-1283-566-333
|Addenbrooke's Hospital
|Cambridge, England, United Kingdom, CB2 2QQ
|Contact: Helen Patterson, MD 44-122324-5151 ext. 2523 and 2
|Walsgrave Hospital
|Coventry, England, United Kingdom, CV2 2DX
|Contact: Contact Person 44-24-7660-2020
|Mid Cheshire Hospitals Trust- Leighton Hopsital
|Crewe, England, United Kingdom, CW1 4QJ
|Contact: J. P. Logue, MD 44-1270-255-141
|Mayday University Hospital
|Croydon, England, United Kingdom
|Contact: Robert A. Huddart, MD 44-20-8401-3000
|Derbyshire Royal Infirmary
|Derby, England, United Kingdom, DE1 2QY
|Contact: Contact Person 44-1332-347-141 ext. 2407
|Castle Hill Hospital
|East Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom, HU16 5JQ
|Contact: Contact Person 44-1482-875-875
|Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
|Exeter, England, United Kingdom, EX2 5DW
|Contact: Denise J. Sheehan, MD 44-1392-411-611
|Grantham and District Hospital
|Grantham, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom, NG31 8DG
|Contact: P. Daruwala 44-1476-565-232
|Ipswich Hospital
|Ipswich, England, United Kingdom, IP4 5PD
|Contact: Christopher Scrase, MD 44-147-370-4177
|Kidderminster Hospital
|Kidderminster Worcestershire, England, United Kingdom, DY11 6RJ
|Contact: Contact Person 44-190-576-0635
|Leeds Cancer Centre at St. James's University Hospital
|Leeds, England, United Kingdom, LS9 7TF
|Contact: Contact Person 44-113-206-6400
|St. Mary's Hospital
|London, England, United Kingdom, W2 1NY
|Contact: Simon Stewart, MD 44-207-886-1132 email@example.com
|Charing Cross Hospital
|London, England, United Kingdom, W6 8RF
|Contact: Paul D. Abel 44-20-8383-2268
|Maidstone Hospital
|Maidstone, England, United Kingdom, ME16 9QQ
|Contact: Sharon Beesley 44-1622-729-000
|James Cook University Hospital
|Middlesbrough, England, United Kingdom, TS4 3BW
|Contact: Contact Person 44-1642-850-850
|Kings Mill Hospital
|Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom, NG17 4JL
|Contact: Contact Person 44-162-362-2515
|Nottingham City Hospital
|Nottingham, England, United Kingdom, NG5 1PB
|Contact: Santhanam Sundar 44-115-969-1169 firstname.lastname@example.com
|George Eliot Hospital
|Nuneaton, England, United Kingdom, CV10 7DJ
|Contact: Contact Person 44-024-7635-1351
|Alexandra Healthcare NHS
|Redditch, Worcestershire, England, United Kingdom, B98 7UB
|Contact: Contact Person 44-015-2750-3030
|Hope Hospital
|Salford, England, United Kingdom, M6 8HD
|Contact: Noel Clarke 44-161-206-5568
|Scarborough General Hospital
|Scarborough, England, United Kingdom, YO12 6QL
|Contact: Andrew Robertson 44-1723-368-111
|Stepping Hill Hospital
|Stockport, England, United Kingdom, SK2 7JE
|Contact: Contact Person 44-161-483-1010
|Hillingdon Hospital
|Uxbridge, England, United Kingdom, UB8 3NN
|Contact: Alvan J. Pope 44-1895-238-282
|Walsall Manor Hospital
|Walsall, England, United Kingdom, WS2 9PS
|Contact: Contact Person 44-1922-721-172
|Warwick Hospital
|Warwick, England, United Kingdom, CV34 5BW
|Contact: Contact Person 44-1926 495-321
|Worthing Hospital
|Worthing, England, United Kingdom, BN11 2DH
|Contact: Ralph Beard 44-1903-205-111 ext. 5559
|Yeovil District Hospital
|Yeovil, England, United Kingdom, BA21 4AT
|Contact: Chris Parker 44-1935-475-122
|Ayr Hospital
|Ayr, Scotland, United Kingdom, KA6 6DX
|Contact: Contact Person 44-1292-610-555
|Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre
|Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, G12 0YN
|Contact: Contact Person 44-141-211-2123
|Velindre Cancer Center at Velindre Hospital
|Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, CF14 2TL
|Contact: J. Lester, MD 44-29-2031-6292
|University Hospital of Wales
|Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, CF14 4XW
|Contact: Howard Kynaston 44-2920-745-094
|Study Chair:
|Paul D. Abel
|Charing Cross Hospital
Additional Information:
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
|Responsible Party:
|Imperial College London
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00303784 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|First Posted:
|March 17, 2006 Key Record Dates
|Last Update Posted:
|October 27, 2016
|Last Verified:
|October 2016
Keywords provided by Imperial College London:
hot flashes
cardiovascular complications
recurrent prostate cancer
stage III prostate cancer
stage IV prostate cancer
adenocarcinoma of the prostate
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Hot Flashes
Prostatic Neoplasms
Genital Neoplasms, Male
Urogenital Neoplasms
Neoplasms by Site
Genital Diseases, Male
Prostatic Diseases
Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial
Neoplasms by Histologic Type
Bone Diseases, Metabolic
Bone Diseases
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Metabolic Diseases
Signs and Symptoms
Polyestradiol phosphate
Estradiol 3-benzoate
Estradiol 17 beta-cypionate
Estradiol valerate
Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Contraceptive Agents
Reproductive Control Agents


text:
Healthy living begins with commitments made today
As we are well into January, many people who have set new goals and resolutions for the New Year have already broken one or many of them. If you have put off making health and exercise changes to your lifestyle for 2013, it is never too late to recommit."Each year, three of the top five resolutions made by American adults consist of health- and exercise-related goals," said Wes Stafford, director of the cardiac rehabilitation program at Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital (RPMH). "People understand the need, but often fall short of motivation."Whether your goals for the New Year include better nutrition, more exercise, weight-loss or smoking cessation, there are many benefits to sticking with your commitments. According to Stafford, people of all ages and physical conditions can benefit from regular physical activity. Children, teenagers, seniors, even people with disabilities will find they feel, think and look better with just a little physical activity.Lack of exercise can have many negative health consequences, including heart disease, high blood pressure, colon cancer, osteoporosis, obesity, diabetes, depression and moodiness."With all these bad side effects caused by a sedentary lifestyle, we cannot understand why people do not take some simple measures to get active," said Stafford. "More than 60 percent of all adults are not active and half of teenagers in the U.S. lead a totally sedentary lifestyle, opting for video games and computer time."Stafford added that today's technology brings a wealth of tools and information that can aid in healthy lifestyles. Products such as the Fitbit One and the Nike+ FuelBand can help users track physical activity such as footsetps and distance, calories burned, track weight and diet habits and even measure sleep quality."These tools give users a wealth of information to help them track and measure their progress," Stafford explained. "With social media tie-ins, it's easier to hold yourself accountable and compete with relatives and loved ones for meeting goals."For those looking to quit smoking, mobile phone and tablet apps can also assist in tracking days since your last cigarette, money saved from not purchasing tobacco products and motivational reminders to consume healthy snacks to curb cravings."People choose diet and exercise for a variety of health benefits. Those who recently stopped smoking will especially benefit from physical activity and eating healthy snacks to suppress their tobacco craving," Stafford said. "In addition, just walking the dog, taking out the trash, or digging in the garden are physical activities that can benefit the normal adult. Brisk walking or yard work for 30 minutes can have the same health benefits as running or playing a sport."Other recommendations that Stafford suggested include:• Taking the stairs instead of elevators;• Shopping and "mall walking;"• Dancing;• Cleaning around the house;• Hand washing/drying dishes;• Parking further away from the entrance to extend your walk;• Substituting sugary snacks with vegetable sticks or fruit;• Choosing water instead of sodas;• Reducing serving sizes in meals;• Joining fitness programs with family and friends.As with any change in diet or exercise, Stafford advised that you consult with your local physician prior to starting a rigorous exercise program, especially those with pre-existing medical conditions."The littlest changes can make a big difference," Stafford explained. "Once you get started, you'll be surprised how much you'll enjoy a healthier lifestyle with results you will see and feel."Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital provides healthcare for those in the communities they serve. Founded in 1976, Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital offers a wealth of medical services including: 24 hour emergency care, advanced radiology services including CT scanning and MRIs, outpatient lab, physical therapy, surgical services, swing bed services, patient education, home health and assistive services, and more. For additional information, please visit www.rpmh.net.


text:
Commercial and black hat keyloggers can infect any device, from your PC at home to the phone in your hand. What exactly are these programs trying to steal? How can this data be used harmfully against you? And what can you do to protect all your data and devices from this malicious data gathering? In this episode of Webroot ThreatVlog, Grayson Milbourne talks about security, your data, and protecting yourself.
Did you miss the first episode? Be sure to check it out here: http://blog.webroot.com/2013/08/20/tor-and-apple-exploits-revealed/


text:
I'm seeing more and more Warhammer posts and less Warcraft posts. realise it's a new game, but is this trend going to continue? I used to read your blog as a great source of paladin information, but lately... Might be time to unsubscribe.
I want to say something about "unsubscribe" but everything I try to write is coming out too snarky. So I'll just leave it alone.
The reason I'm not posting a lot about WoW and paladins is that nothing much is happening with them. Ret and Prot are pretty fun to play in Beta. Blizzard just needs to fix a couple of bugs (Art of War, mainly), and tune the numbers slightly, and those two trees are good to go.
About the only major change I'd want Blizzard to consider is to stop proccing Seals off special attacks, and then adjust the numbers. This might also allow Blizzard to dial Seal damage up a bit (revert the 20% nerf?) and that would make soloing as Holy easier. Seriously, soloing as Holy is something like three times slower than Ret. It's not so bad for the other healing classes, as healing gear now doubles as dps gear for them and they have the necessary tools to solo effectively. A resto shaman can still pump out Lightning Bolts and Shocks. A druid still has Moonfire and Starfire. But Holy lacks the tools that the other specs have.
Healing as Holy is still boring. But it's too late to significantly change Holy, and Blizzard seems happy with with the tree. Further proof that none of the designers play a Holy paladin.
Besides which, it's not going to matter. Blizzard is still intent on balancing raids around large numbers of healers. Most raiding paladins are going to be forced to heal, just because there won't be enough healers. Our Blessings are still in non-optimal state, meaning that PallyPower is going to be a required raid mod. All in all, I don't think I'm really looking forward to raiding in Wrath of the Lich King, at least not as a Paladin.
For now, at least WAR offers something new and different.


text:
Log Out
Our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy have changed. We think you'll like them better this way.
Based on the wildly popular true crime forum Websleuths.com (www.websleuths.com/forums) and Forums for Justice.org (www.forumsforjustice.org/forums) this radio show is unlike any other show you have heard before. Each week Tricia's True Crime Radio features several intriguing true crime cases. Host Tricia Griffith is a veteran radio disc jockey and co-owner of Websleuths.com and owner of Forums for Justice.org. She brings her unique brand of broadcasting, knowledge and (at times) humor her True Crime Radio. Tricia's True Crime Radio. True Crime, Current Events, Always Discussed with Common Sense!!! The opinions expressed on Tricia's True Crime Radio are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Websleuths.com, the website, which is a totally separate corporate entity or the opinions of Forums for Justice.org
Sorry we couldn't complete your registration. Please try again.
You must accept the Terms and conditions to register


text:
Notice to Members 98-90
New Arbitrator List Selection Rules and Monetary Thresholds for Simplified and Single Arbitration Cases Take Effect
On October 14, 1998, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved rule changes proposed by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD®) relating to the selection of arbitrators. The arbitrator list selection rules and related amendments to the Code of Arbitration Procedure will be effective on November 17, 1998. The list selection rules will allow the parties to an arbitration to have a significant role in selecting the arbitrators that will hear their dispute.
The NASD is also declaring effective previously approved increases in the ceilings for simplified arbitration cases and for cases eligible for resolution by a single arbitrator from $10,000 to $25,000, and from $30,000 to $50,000, respectively.


text: Saint Michael's founding priests expand their retreat on Lake Champlain News Home 06.07.13 By: Buff Lindau A peaceful, prayerful retreat on Isle LaMotte in Lake Champlain with views across to the Adirondacks makes St. Anne's Shrine one of the most extraordinary properties in the state of Vermont. It is owned and conducted by the Society of St. Edmund, the order of Catholic priests and brothers who founded Saint Michael's College. Challenged with maintenance of the property, members of the Society and the Shrine's Board of Advisors began a fund drive to support expanding the facility to accommodate religious retreats and meetings by adding cabins and additional meetings spaces. With deliberations starting in 2004, ground was broken on the $3.5 million project on April 15, 2013, with completion expected on August 15, 2013, ready to accommodate Saint Michael's students and others in the retreat facilities. The Rev. Brian Cummings will bless the project on Sunday, June 16, at about 11:30 a.m., just after the 10:30 a.m. Mass at the construction site on the hill behind the historic Chapel on the lake front of St. Anne's Shrine. The new facilities The Rev. Brian Cummings, Saint Michael's Director of Campus Ministry also serves as Spiritual Director of St. Anne Shrine. He said that "For over a hundred years, members of the Society of St. Edmund have educated young people at Saint Michael's College and have invited students to explore their faith with greater understanding." He said these new buildings are central to helping young people deepen their faith through "a personal encounter with the risen Christ in prayer." Father Cummings said numerous visitors have also stated that they would very much like to stay on these Holy Grounds while making pilgrimages to the Shrine. They will now have facilities enabling prayer and quiet time in these facilities on the beautiful shores of Lake Champlain. Each of the five new cabins will be suitable for adults of all ages and will include a living/dining room, a full kitchen and four bedrooms accommodating up to sixteen people. Expanding the Boucher Building Father Cummings described the meeting facility project this way: The Boucher Building is the gathering place for hospitality and meals and also includes our administrative offices. The planned expansion of this facility will include additional meeting space for retreat conferences and also have private rooms for individual prayer. The main room will include a beautiful stone fireplace and will have scenic views of Lake Champlain. These new facilities will allow the Shrine to serve as a place of prayer and retreat all year round. In the summer months, faithful people from parishes throughout the Northeast will have the opportunity to make pilgrimages for a weekend or a week's time. During the academic year, young adults from Saint Michael's College and other schools will have an attractive site for retreats. Drawing people to the Shrine in the off-season months will allow the Shrine to break even in future years while providing a year-round facility for faith-based organizations in a beautiful setting. See more at saintannesshrine.org and photos at http://www.saintannesshrine.org/#!photo-gallery/c1jdu. To support the project Those wishing to support this transformative project may send contributions to the Capital Campaign entitled Strengthening Discipleship at St. Anne's Shrine, P.O. Box 280, Isle La Motte, VT 05463. For further information, contact The Rev. Brian Cummings, SSE, at 802-654-2476.


text:
The world is incredible
There are girls in this world, and there are also dogs. You can put melted cheese on any type of potato. Sometimes flowers grow even when nobody is there to water them. Right now on this same planet where we live there are people who are in love with each other kissing each other on the nose. Emotions and colors are both things that exist.


text:
Discover the wide and deep knowledge at Michigan Ross through our areas of study.
A partnership with the School for Environment and Sustainability, the Erb Institute fosters sustainability in business through research, teaching and engagement.
Your Michigan Ross education is amplified by the thought leadership and innovations from our institutes, centers, and initiatives. These centers play a critical role in fostering collaboration and exposing you to the latest ideas in entrepreneurship, sustainability, operations, positive business, emerging markets, and more.
Faculty, students, and industry experts work together on projects such as consulting, business plan competitions, research initiatives, and conferences. Many Michigan Ross institutes and centers reach across the campus, partnering with leading schools and programs at the University of Michigan. You'll discover ways to get involved beyond the classroom in just about any field.
A partnership with the School for Environment and Sustainability, the Erb Institute fosters sustainability in business through research, teaching and engagement.
The Center for Positive Organizations is a world-class research center that brings transformational ideas to students and leaders.
Center for Nonprofit and Public Management
Center for Value Chain Innovation
Center for Venture Capital and Private Equity Finance
East Asia Management Development Center
Institute of Labor & Industrial Relations
Mitsui Life Financial Research Center
Paton Center for Research in Accounting
Technology and Business Innovation Forum
John R. and Georgene M. Tozzi Electronic Business and Finance Center
Zell Lurie offers a potent mix of knowledge, experience, and opportunities from the front lines of entrepreneurship and alternative investments.
The William Davidson Institute develops and disseminates research and expertise on issues affecting firms in emerging-market economies.
The Tauber Institute partnership between Ross and the College of Engineering provides tools for success in operations, supply chain, or manufacturing.
Business+Impact at the Ross School of Business provides leaders with practical skills and insight to tackle complex social challenges, and plays a critical role in furthering the Ross mission to develop leaders who make a positive difference in the world.
The Sanger Leadership Center organizes learning communities, challenges, and workshops to develop leaders who make a positive difference.
Discover the wide and deep knowledge at Michigan Ross through our areas of study.


text:
Guatemalan Woman Discovers 40-Foot Sinkhole Under Her Bed
A small sinkhole opened up overnight in the bedroom of a home in Guatemala City. Measuring 32 inches wide and 40 feet deep, neighbors heard a sound reminiscent of a gas explosion or a car crash when the hole opened up under 65 year-old Inocenta Hernandez' bed. Fortunately no one was injured.
A gentleman told me that the noise came from my house, and we searched until we found it under my bed," said Hernandez. "Thank God there are only material damages, because my grandchildren were running around the house, into that room and out to the patio."
Though sinkholes are common in areas built on rocks such as limestone and gypsum that can be dissolved by water, Guatemala City is prone to sinkholes for a different reason: The city is built on volcanic deposits which form steep canyons below the surface layer. In fact, it was just over a year ago when a 60 foot wide sinkhole swallowed up an entire building in another part of the city. See a clip of that hole below:
[via Washington Post]


text:
Sandy Dalli needed a new t-shirt design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 59 designs submitted by 23 freelance designers.
Fencing Star
We are an online business that sells fencing equipment for saber, foil and epee fencers. We will use this design on merchandise (t-shirts, hats, etc.) to attract people to the sport of fencing. Want the design to be bold yet simple, fun, look good on a white or black t-shirt, catchy to the eye
The target audience is male and female from youth to adult. Fencers are notoriously brainy and nerdy (?) They usually are quick thinkers, strategic and academically above average.
* simple design
* like a more modern look
* want a saber included in the design with fencers
* want something that immediately catches the eye and stands out so they look for our company name in there as well
* design will go on the front of a t-shirt
* don't want anything too abstract, childish
* colors I like: yellow, blue, black, gold, silver, red (don't need to use all at once)
* would like to see picture of fencers in action
* can't wait to see the designs!!


text:
These speakers are simply amazing, i am a PSB customer for life. Optical from my computer to a cxa60 amp along with a powered sub. This is the sweetest sounding desktop setup i have ever heard. If you are looking for a killer desktop setup, this will not disappoint.
Pros: fantastic clarity.
Cons: none


text:
Katherine Vaughan
I'm a lifelong knitter, from a family of knitters, gardeners, seamstresses, and sailors (yes, even the men!) - who also happen to be doctors, scientists, priests, and businesspeople (yes, even the women!). I like to design baby blankets, accessories for children, adults, and the home, and garments for children and adults. You can find my patterns through my indie line here on Ravelry or in a variety of print and online magazines and books.
LYSes interested in my patterns - nearly all of them are available from Stitch Sprouts. I also participate in the Ravelry In-Store Sales Program. If you are a LYSO interested in previewing a copy of one of my patterns please contact me with your business address and I'll be happy to arrange for you to receive a digital sample.
Yarnies interested in partnering for pattern support: I happily work with yarn companies big and small. Recently I've done patterns with Stitch Sprouts, Baah, Oink Pigments, KnitCircus, and Anzula, and have designs in the works for these as well as The Fiber Seed, Claudia Hand Painted Yarns, and Willow Yarns, among others. Please feel free to contact me with your ideas or to ask about mine!
I'm a certified knitting teacher, accomplished technical editor for knitting patterns, and in my daily life am an academic science librarian.
original designs
original designs
|1 2 3 ...5 of 5
|next page →
|1 2 3 ...5 of 5
|next page →


text:
We are a non-profit organization serving the needs of individuals and companies who own, manage, or provide services and products to more than 30,000 rental housing units in the Central Valley.
Contact Information
2375 W. March Lane
Stockton, CA 95207
Tel: 209-476-0320
Fax: 209-476-9717
E: firstname.lastname@example.com
Hours of Operation
- M-F: 8:30am-4:30pm
- Closed Daily: 12pm-1pm
- Closed for Furlough: Monthly 3rd Wed.
Contact Information
2375 W. March Lane
Stockton, CA 95207
Founded in 1908, chartered in 1935, for exceptional quality products and services, turn to us with confidence for all your Rental Property needs. Visit us at www.norcalrpa.org.
Under Construction
This page is under construction


text:
Guidewire API - Developers
Guidewire Software exclusively serves the P&C insurance industry. They build and implement the core systems on which insurance carriers run their businesses. Guidewire provides a variety of integration mechanisms, including a web services API. Data can be exchanged in any format, including ACORD XML or IAA. These flexible options have enabled over one hundred live production integrations at our current customer sites, including integrations to dozens of legacy mainframe systems. Public documentation is not available for the API.


text:
On the third day of silence and meditation, I said just 14 words, all of them in the course of chopping vegetables for dinner.
Days two, four and five were not much different.
I'm not the quiet type. But this was my idea. So earlier this year, I drove most of a day to reach Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Marin County to immerse myself in the practice of mindful meditation. To be still, clear of worry over career, my teenage sons' futures, the renovations of our old house. To see whether I could stop -- just stop -- for five days and perhaps for a little bit each day afterward.
Not talking turned out to be easy.
Meditation, however, is hard work.
Defining 'mindfulness'
In the last decade or so, meditation has gone mainstream -- practiced by buttoned-down professionals, prison inmates, public school students, Hollywood celebrities, even the military and, reportedly, Bill Clinton. It's being studied by scientists for its effects on blood pressure, depression, pain and attention problems. In our racing-forward lives, we are reaching back thousands of years for wisdom about living.
There are hundreds of forms of meditation, but among the best known in the U.S. is mindfulness meditation, and that's what I embraced at Spirit Rock.


text:
About This Blog
This blog is about many things but always with one point in mind - giving everything a unique perspective.
I like to solve problems and have a knack for improving things, (un)fortunately the world has plenty wrong to offer. But in order to make things better one needs to remember to keep an open-mind, and that's where this blog comes in.
Read more about me here.
Recent Posts
- New Site May 20, 2015
- Long Story Short: Book Published! March 5, 2015
- Creative Quotes May 9, 2014
- Random Ramblings – The Sequel April 25, 2014
- To Your Ideals, Stay True. Be Enslaved by Them, Do Not. March 29, 2014
- Random Ramblings March 19, 2014
- My Cat is My Child March 12, 2014
- The Higgs Boson, or More Infamously Known as the 'God Particle' March 4, 2014
- 'The Lego Movie' Review February 20, 2014
- The Solution to Gay Marriage, Abortion and Other Similar Debates February 16, 2014
Recent Comments
Audrey on 'Moonshiners' Show… Edward Curtis on 'Moonshiners' Show… Anonymous on 'Moonshiners' Show… Anonymous on 'Moonshiners' Show… Troy on 'Moonshiners' Show…
Blogs I'm Following
Check Out These Other Fun Blogs!
Recent Posts: Don't Believe the Hype: Don't Believe the Hype
RUSH: New York City (City Lights #3) by Emma Scott [Book Review]
If you're on the East Coast and are currently being bombarded with bucket loads of rain, this is the perfect time to curl with a mug of your favorite hot concoction and an amazing book. With that being said, please continue reading this post! I've been on a literary high. Going from one amazing story […]
Before We Were Strangers: A Love Story by Renée Carlino (Book Review) #WCW
I am officially in a relationship with Renée Carlino's writing. Thanks to a recommendation from a fellow book buddy, I requested a copy of Before We Were Strangers: A Love Story from NetGalley and Atria was gracious enough to grant me an ARC. 3% into the book and I am quickly falling in love with […]
Useful Links for Bloggers
- Background Labs Background Labs shares a wide variety of free patterns, website backgrounds, vector graphics, textures and design resources for everyone.
- Background Patterns BgPatterns is a tiny web app for making background patterns in a few clicks. It was created mostly for fun and experimentation.
- Free Stock Photos Stockvault.net is a stock photo sharing website where photographers, designers and students can share their photographs, graphics and image files with each other for free.
- Pattern Cooler Add your own colors to 100s of cool FREE pattern designs, or browse from 10,000s of pre-colored patterns using the seamless pattern background editor.
- Unsplash Free (do whatever you want) hi-resolution photos.


text:
DFX Gamer Gyroscopic Powerball
Work out like a gamer
- Smooth, non-impact workout for gamers
- Improves flexibility, speed, finger strength, more
- Helps prevent overuse injuries by making you stronger
We love our video games and our computer games. The problem is, they don't love our bodies back. Show us a gamer with an insane amount of cheevos and we'll show you someone who probably has achy hands, wrists, and arms. (And if they don't have Gunnars, they probably have an achy head and eyes, too.) What if there was a way for us to be better gamers and prevent the repetitive stress injuries that come with hours of gaming practice?
The DFZ Gamer Gyroscopic Powerball provides a smooth, non-impact workout that will help increase flexibility, quickness, range of motion, finger and grip strength. Not only will this improve your game, but it will help prevent the repetitive stress injuries that would mean Game Over. Simply start the Powerball using the included docking station, pick it up, and start spinning your way to stronger arms and hands. Dynamic resistance means that you can progress at your own pace, working up to the maximum of 40 lbs of torque!
Did we mention the Gyroscopic Powerball is also a great tool for musicians, athletes, and anyone who wants to prevent overuse injuries like carpal tunnel or tennis elbow? Keep one on your desk at work to spin while you're on hold and you'll be amazed at how just a few minutes of Powerball per day makes a difference in the quality of life for your typical typetypetyping office monkey.
Product Specifications
- Exercise device for gamers, musicians, and typetypetyping monkeys
- Aircraft quality gyroscope inside a high impact polycarbonite sphere
- Start it spinning using the included docking station or give the sphere a karate chop
- Dynamic resistance is controlled by you, so set your own pace
- Get up to 14,500 RPM and up to 40 lbs or torque
- Non-impact workout for strengthening and conditioning your arms, wrists, and hands
- Can help alleviate pain from carpal tunnel, arthritis, tendonitis, tennis elbow
- Blue LEDs light up when you're spinning the sphere
- NASA astronauts have used these on shuttle missions
- Includes: Powerball with speed meter, docking station starter, training CD
- Docking station requires two AA batteries (not included)


text:
When: Friday, March 8, 2019
Where: Renaissance Denver Hotel, 3801 Quebec St, Denver, CO 80207
Parking is free in the hotel garage.
Please join us to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our 2018 Denver Area Council Eagle Scouts. Awards to follow dinner: individual recognition of each 2018 Eagle Scout who attends, the Outstanding and Distinguished Eagle Scout Awards and Outstanding Eagle Scout Service Projects awards.
Register for the banquet
Celebrate the successes of these fine young people by becoming an Eagle Banquet Sponsor. Sponsorships at all levels are available.
2019 Eagle Scout Recognition Banquet Sponsorship Opportunities and Pledge Form
As a member of the Eagle Scout Class of 2018, you are eligible to submit your Eagle Scout Project Workbook for consideration to receive one of these special awards: The Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award or recognition from the Monaco South Denver Optimist Club. All Eagle Scouts that completed their Eagle Scout Board of Review in 2018 are eligible to submit an entry for one or both awards.
In cooperation with the National Eagle Scout Association, the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award will be presented for the fourth time to an Eagle Scout Class of 2018. This award is intended to recognize valuable service of an exceptional nature by a Scout to a religious institution, a school, community or other entity. Each local council will choose a council-level winner; from that pool each region will pick a region level winner. From the four regional finalists, an overall winner will be selected. Please make copies of your workbook as entries will not be returned. All entries must be in the council office by December 30, 2018.
Now in its 19th year, the Monaco South Denver Optimist Club reviews outstanding projects and selects one recipient from each district in the Denver Area Council to receive an award. From those seven districts, an overall council winner is also selected. To be eligible for this award, Eagle Scouts must submit a copy of their project notebook to the Denver Area Council. Project Workbooks should be delivered to the Hamilton Scout Headquarters by December 30, 2018, 5:00 pm. Please make copies of your workbook as entries will not be returned. All entries need to include the following information on the cover to be considered: Eagle Scout's Name, Troop number, and District.
If you wish to submit your project for the Optimist and Adams Awards, please provide two (2) copies of your project workbook. Selections for both awards are done by volunteer committees and recipients will be notified in advance to attend the Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner. For questions regarding these awards, please email Kathy Craig. All entries must include the following information on the cover to be considered: Eagle Scout's Name, Troop number, and District.


text:
Not surprisingly, music composed during the baroque period — 1600 to approximately 1750 — comprised Tempesta's program Sunday afternoon in the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, since that's the group's specialty. But a baroque work also opened Saturday night's concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra in the Kimmel Center's Verizon Hall. The work was the Chaconne from Bach's "Partita No. 2 in D minor for solo violin." Conductor Nicola Luisotti, however, led the Philadelphians in Leopold Stokowski's arrangement for full symphony orchestra, which, in truth, doesn't bear a whole lot of resemblance to the original. It actually sounds a lot more like Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade," the score that closed the concert. Along the way, Curtis Institute of Music alumna Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg played Shostakovich's "Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor" to make for an overly long evening.
TEMPESTA di MARE
The star of Tempesta di Mare's Sunday afternoon concert was guest vocalist Michael Maniaci. He was heard in Antonio Vivaldi's "Perche son molli," Giuseppe Porsile's "Le sofferte" and Carlo Agostino Badia's "La Fenice." Without their soloist, Tempesta's instrumentalists performed Vivaldi's "Concerto for Two Flutes in C major," and Antonio Caldara's "Concerto for Cello in D minor," among others.
The terminology for Maniaci's vocal range was mildly confusing in the concert's program. At the bottom of the roster of pieces, he's listed as a "soprano." On the special insert, however, he's listed as a "countertenor." Both terms can be appropriate, but it's rare to see them used for the same singer in the same concert. The term "soprano" merely refers to one who sings above (that is, higher in pitch) all the others, including either altos (male or female) or trebles (pre-pubescent boys). For the most part in contemporary parlance, that means a female vocalist, but not always. "Countertenor" refers to a male vocalist who sings above (higher in pitch) the tenor part, usually in the range of an alto but sometimes reaching up to that of a female mezzo. Countertenors usually, but not always, sing in a falsetto.
Whether you call him a "soprano" or a "countertenor," Michael Maniaci can sing high up in the vocal range in a full, natural tone that sounds as secure as a rock. In all three of the secular cantatas Sunday afternoon for an audience that nearly filled Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, he sang with consummate artistry, both technically and interpretively. In sounding something like an old-fashioned alto, he conjured up thoughts of how the baroque castrati sounded.
Co-director Gwyn Roberts was joined by Eve Friedman for Vivaldi's "Concerto for Two Flutes." They delineated the first movement's quick changes of mood, caught the elegant delicacy of the second movement, and the high spirits of the third through expertly balanced dynamics and rhythmic accents. The afternoon's only disappointment was Eve Miller's rendition of the solo part in Caldara's "Concerto for Cello." Throughout most of the first movement and occasionally in the later three, Miller's storm-lashed bowing offered many a rough tone and questionable pitch.
It was 100 years ago this year that Leopold Stokowski was appointed music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra. London-born and trained as an organist, "Stoki" transformed what was then a third-rate regional band into what was then considered one of the greatest, if not THE greatest, symphony orchestra in the world. By the time he was succeeded by Eugene Ormandy as sole music director at the conclusion of the 1937-38 season, Stokowski had assembled an impressive roster of local, national and world premiers of many of the great scores composed in the early 20th century.
This season and next, the Philadelphia Orchestra is celebrating Stokowski's achievement by programming many of the works that formed the core of his repertoire as well as some of those transcriptions of Bach's music he scored for full orchestra. Hence, his full-blown version of the Chaconne from the "Partita No. 2 in D minor for solo violin," which opened Saturday night's concert.
Unfortunately, guest conductor Nicola Luisotti was not able to elicit from the Philadelphians the glistening sound Stokowski intended for the piece. Instead of the shimmering clarity from top to bottom of the timbral texture, the audience heard a thickness masquerading as lushness, negating the sonic impact Stokowski's peerless scoring offered. Much the same must be written regarding Luisotti's conducting of "Scheherazade." A beloved specialty of both Ormandy and Riccardo Muti as well as Stokowski, Saturday's rendition offered only fleeting glimpses of the brilliance the score promises.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, located at 22 East Chestnut Hill Ave., will offer local music lovers two opportunities to enjoy music in one of the region's most beautiful works of architecture. On Friday, Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m., the church will host soprano Jolle Greenleaf and pianist Christian Lane in a recital that spans the gamut from the medieval Hildegard von Bingen to the modern Nicolas White, with works by Purcell, Monteverdi, Gabrieli, Bach and others. Tickets are $25 and $15 for students and seniors. All proceeds benefit Face to Face Germantown, the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Northwest Philadelphia and St. Paul's chorister program. Call 215-242-2055 or visit www.fivefridays.org. And to round out the weekend, St. Paul's organist and choir director Zachary Hemenway will lead a Choral Evensong 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12.


text:
Welcome to Boardmans Office Solutions!! If youre looking for a custom made rubber or self-inking stamp fast, that you can order online direct from a UK manufacturer, giving you the best price then look no further. Order prior to 11.00am any custom product and we will post it out the same day, first class with no delivery charge. We supply Rubber Stamps, Perma Stamps, Self-Inking Stamps, Stock Stamps and Flash Stamps as well as Stamp Pads and accessories to consider the alternatives please click on our online catalogue.
Design your stamp to your specification with our new, easy to use, stamp designer and create your very own customised print. Use our easy image upload to insert your logo or simply choose an image from one of our hundreds of clip art ideas, for example we have a variety of car logos within our transport section.
Dont forget to check out our online catalogue and choose your ideal stamp now. If you order before the afternoon you could even have it by this time tomorrow so dont delay!
Online catalogue


text:
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman announced the launch of the West Africa Cotton Improvement Program, an initiative aimed at shoring up U.S. relations with the cotton sectors of Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Senegal.
They made the announcement during a stop in Burkina Faso where Johanns and Portman met with agriculture ministers from the C4 countries — Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali — plus Senegal to discuss the new program and other ways to help cotton producers there.
Johanns said the program is based on an assessment conducted earlier this year by U.S. Agency for International Development and USDA specialists with experts from those countries on ways to improve cotton production, transformation, and marketing in the region.
National Cotton Council leaders issued a press release commending Johanns and Portman for their efforts in developing a program to improve the conditions confronting West African cotton producers. African producers have criticized the U.S. cotton program, blaming it for contributing to poverty in those countries.
"We are pleased to announce the allocation of $7 million — $5 million in fresh funding — to begin the work of this program," said Johanns. "Because this program is a partnership between our countries, we have asked US-AID to hold a conference in this region soon after the Hong Kong Ministerial to get countries' input on the final touches of the program's design," said Johanns.
"The West Africa Cotton Improvement Program is one more way the United States is specifically addressing the needs of cotton-dependent countries in Africa," said Portman. "When combined with other measures like debt relief, eligibility for Millennium Challenge Account assistance, (Bush) administration efforts to end the Step 2 cotton program, and a bold proposal on agriculture in the World Trade Organization negotiations, the United States has taken real steps that can help West Africa, including its cotton farmers."
To complement this program, Johanns and Portman announced that the National Cotton Council, which will be a key partner in the WACIP, intends to provide assistance in West Africa during the cotton harvest on recommended measures to control insects and the application of biotechnology.
The program results from more than a year of preparatory work involving the NCC, USDA, US-AID, several U.S. land grant universities and U.S. non-profit organizations, said Council Chairman Woods Eastland.
"The West Africa Cotton Improvement Program is a practical, pragmatic plan that can make a real difference in these citizens' lives," he said. "It has the potential to improve the infrastructure that supports cotton production, ultimately returning a higher portion of sales proceeds to individual African cotton producers."
Since early 2004, the Council has been involved in a number of outreach activities with the West African countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali. Last summer, cotton classers from the C4 countries spent two weeks at the Cotton Engineered Fiber Conference and at the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Classing Office in Memphis, Tenn., learning about U.S. cotton classing.
Since then, specialists from the region have received training on cotton insect problems in Africa and shorter-term chemical and integrated pest management measures at a program conducted by the Council with the assistance of USDA and US-AID on soil fertility at Tuskegee University in Alabama.
"All of the U.S. cotton industry's work has been in close cooperation with USDA and US-AID," Eastland said. "The United States' efforts will provide real and meaningful benefits for West African cotton producers.
"However, I want to remind cotton producers around the world that the real challenge we face is to increase demand for our product. Aggressive advertising and promotion is needed to convince consumers of cotton's benefits over synthetic fibers. The producer-funded campaign operated in the U.S. has helped increase demand in our retail market, but more promotion worldwide is needed."
Johanns said the West Africa Cotton Improvement Program represents only one part of the overall U.S. response that will help these countries address the development obstacles in their cotton sectors. Other measures include:
Assistance through the new Millennium Challenge Corporation. The development agency offers an opportunity for many key countries to address long-term development obstacles in cotton.
"It will result in hundreds of millions of dollars flowing into the region in grant form in a way set by recipient countries," he said. "Currently, Benin's proposal stands at $300 million; Mali's proposal at $212 million; and Senegal's proposal at $255 million. The MCC board of directors has also selected Burkina Faso as eligible to negotiate a compact with the MCC for a development program.
The G-8 debt relief package will result in hundreds of millions of dollars in relief for Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal. This should free up resources for cotton.
The U.S. will be doubling aid to Africa by 2010 under our G-8 commitment. These countries will benefit from this pledge.
The new African Global Competitiveness Initiative, a $200 million, 5-year program, is being designed and will also help improve competitiveness and stimulate regional and international trade.
"This new Initiative will be developed with our African counterparts," said Johanns. "The program will help selected countries to diversify their trade and remove key barriers to expanding growth."
US-AID will program $200 million a year over the next five years to support the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program, in which African Heads of State agreed to achieve and sustain a 6 percent annual agricultural growth rate.
Eastland said the NCC is also working with USDA and US-AID to offer a cotton ginning "school" in West Africa. This facility would be fashioned after the ginning schools held annually at the three U.S. cotton ginning laboratories cooperatively with USDA and the National Cotton Ginners Association. Plans are under development for follow-up trips to West Africa by U.S. teams to continue training programs.
During their stop in Burkina Faso, Portman and Johanns met with trade and agriculture ministers from the five countries, listened to their concerns, discussed the U.S. agriculture proposal, and explored ways trade capacity building can be helpful. The WACIP is a direct response to requests made in meetings of the "development track" to cotton at the WTO.
Based on their assessment of the situations in the five countries, Johanns said the WACIP will focus on seven actions:
- Reduce soil degradation and expand the use of good agricultural practices.
- Strengthen private agricultural organizations.
- Establish a West African regional training program for ginners.
- Improve the quality of C-4 cotton through better classification of seed cotton and lint.
- Improve linkages between U.S. and West African agricultural research organizations involved with cotton.
- Improve the enabling environment for agricultural biotechnology.
- Policy/Institutional Reform.


text:
A helpful accessory for parents made its debut at CES 2013 called the VivoPlay by Evado Filip. In addition to GPS and Wi-Fi location-tracking, the VivoPlay has a built-in SIM card and service which allows parents to call their kids directly or vice versa right from the device. The companion iPhone app includes live tracking information, proximity alerts so you know when the little rascal is getting too far, and a secure management system so parents can dictate who exactly can make calls to and from the VivoPlay unit. The watch will require some kind of subscription to pay for voice and data service, and of course an initial cost for the device itself, though hard numbers have yet to be nailed down. Since kids will be wearing these things, they've been built especially rugged and water resistant, so the VivoPlay can survive inevitable mishaps.
For more information, be sure to hit up Evado Filip. VivoPlay should be available by the middle of the year with pilot programs launching at the end of the quarter. Personally, I think this system looks fantastic - even the best parents can always use a bit of back-up, if only for peace of mind. Any parents tempted to get something like this? How do you keep track of your kids?


text:
We've updated our reliability stats for the M to include owner experiences through December 31, 2013.
Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2008 M: 33, low, small sample size
2007 M: 59, moderate, small sample size
2006 M: 48, low
We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:
We'll have further updates in May and in August. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.
To see the repairs behind these stats, and to sign up to help improve this information:
Infiniti M reliability ratings and comparisons