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Jeraun Richards aka J Rich has released his course "The 30 Day Ecom Challenge" free for everyone. Jeraun initially had the course for $497 but he did something that no other Ecommerce entrepreneur has ever done. He surprised refunded ALL of the students that paid for the course and made …Read More »
Home / Tag Archives: Jeraun Richards Scam


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- Ancestry.com
- FamilySearch
- DeathIndexes.com
- Linkpendium
- USGenWeb
Remember the situation just 10 years ago? If you could not locate the record on LDS microfilm, getting a vital record out of many counties and states was either impossible or constrained by long waiting periods. That's still true in some cases. Fortunately, however, many counties and states are now making documnent images available instantly for free or nominal costs. Examples? Check out:
- Ohio Death Certificates, 1908-1953 at FamilySearch (be certain to register and login each time you use FamilySearch)
- Historical Cook County, Illinois Vital Records

subset: commoncrawl


text: Cool! When do we all get boards for our PCR-100's? Chris - AE6VK -----Original Message----- From: Robert McGwier [mailto:rwmcgwier at gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 2:36 PM To: High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List Cc: amsat bb Subject: [hpsdr-dev] Odyssey Siren A success We had a complete breakthrough on the Odyssey Siren in the past two weeks. It will be used in Suitsat 2, in a terrestrial linear repeater experiment by Viktor Kudielka OE1VKW and friends, who supported its development, and we are already leaping all over the place to applications. Frank Brickle and I will be doing our SDR code on it over the next several days. The board as shown in the schematic needs some modifications to fix the 3 - ish volt power supply for the Codec and a modified oscillator circuit but we are certain it will all work now. On the 10.7 MHz IF, I measured 0 dBm max into a 50 ohm load and less than -120 dBm MDS and > 80 dB dynamic range. This is with a BOM of < $50 in parts and about a $20 dsp pic chip! Yesterday in Rick's lab, with W2GPS, K3IO, we made the above measurements, hacked on code and turn the thing into a bent pipe transponder. I also did the hilbert transform to make it an inverting transponder. It all worked perfectly. http://www.cnssys.com/~w2gps/amsat_files/suitsat/ has detected audio in an SDR-IQ SDR as well as captured IF from the SDR-IQ of the transponder. We have to balanced for image and do DC offset correction but the thing works and sounds great as you can hear for yourself! 73's Bob N4HY -- AMSAT Director and VP Engineering. Member: ARRL, AMSAT-DL, TAPR, Packrats, NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. ARRL SDR WG Chair "Taking fun as simply fun and earnestness in earnest shows how thoroughly thou none of the two discernest." - Piet Hine _______________________________________________ hpsdr-dev mailing list hpsdr-dev at lists.tapr.org https://lists.tapr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/hpsdr-dev


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From cramped basements to spacious centers, the modern fitness facility has experienced quite a revolution during the past century.
Health clubs are an established part of American culture. Even those who don't own a club membership are at least familiar with names like Gold's Gym and Bally Total Fitness. However, the pervasiveness of health clubs is a recent phenomenon.
The rise of the modern American health clubs began in California in the 1940s, but their predecessors came from 19th century Europe. The mid-19th century witnessed the rise of Industrialism and an explosion of immigration into the cities. To combat the effects of sedentary deskwork, men began pursuing health and exercise.
Hippolyte Triat, a former vaudevillian strongman, opened a gymnasium in Paris in 1847, apparently responding to this rising interest in exercise. The Gymnase Triat is significant because it was among the first clubs to charge for membership; the gym had different rates for men, women and children - ranging from 31 francs per month to 400 francs per year.
While Triat was popularizing exercise in Paris, physical activity gained supporters in England. Sir George Williams created the YMCA in London in 1841 as an attempt to substitute life on the streets with "Bible study and prayer." When Muscular Christianity began in England in the 1850s, YMCAs became a leading champion of the movement. According to Muscular Christianity, good Christians exercised to keep the body healthy, for the body housed the Holy Spirit. By the 1860s, physical recreation was included in the curriculum of all YMCAs.
When Muscular Christianity crossed the ocean and came to America, its mission changed slightly and helped foster the collegiate sport teams, which people believed would help develop physical fitness, team spirit and certain militaristic tendencies thought essential for success in the business community. The appearance of the YMCAs in America also emphasized the importance of exercise; however, financial difficulty and the Civil War prevented the expansion of gymnasiums. Nonetheless, the YMCAs of America sealed their commitent to physical fitness with this statement made at their annual convention in 1864: "Any machinery will be incomplete which has not taken into account the whole man. We must add physical recreation to all YMCAs."
Before the proliferation of YMCAs, George Barker Windship preached throughout the United States on the virtues of weight lifting. In 1850, when he entered Harvard at age 16, Windship was the next-to-smallest student in his class. In an attempt to defend himself from bullies, Windship turned to gymnastics and weight training. Within a few years, he had developed his body enough to intimidate his intimidators. After graduating from Harvard Medical School, Windship began touring, lecturing on the rules of health and the special benefits of systematic weight training.
Sport historians consider Windship the impetus for the boom in American weight training, which is said to have begun on June 9, 1859, with Windship's first successful lecture. However, when Windship died suddenly from a stroke at age 42, opponents of weight lifting blamed exercise. Americans lost interest in weight lifting - but for only a short time.
The strongmen performing in vaudeville rekindled American interest in strength, and performers like Eugen Sandow opened clubs devoted to physical culture after retiring from the stage. Professor Louis Attila was also a famous performer turned entrepreneur. His gym in New York City was a Mecca for weight lifters, and many influential people exercised there.
In the 1920s, vaudevillian strongmen's performances had changed; they included acrobatics and hand balancing in their acts. Many acrobats and gymnasts practiced their moves in Santa Monica, Calif., and by the late 1930s, the capital of muscledom moved to a small strip of shoreline known as Muscle Beach.
From that immortal beach came many immortal individuals. Perhaps the most important person to emerge was Victor Tanny. Vic and his brother Armand opened a gym on Second Street in Santa Monica in 1940. The gym was in a small, second-story loft that the brothers rented for $35 a month; membership was $5 a month. They opened another gym in 1941 in Long Beach. Pearl Harbor's destruction brought America into World War II and coastal blackouts forced the Tannys' gyms to close.
Casualties of War
The war caused many other gyms to close as well. However, it also increased interest in weight training and exercise. In an effort to encourage patriotism and to reassure the American public, magazines like Look published photographs of healthy, robust athletes.
The military began employing former Muscle Beach regulars to train new recruits. Throughout the war, soldiers trained with weights for recreation and exercise. These men saw the benefits of regular exercise, and when they left the service, they needed places to work out. While gyms may have temporarily closed, they were in demand again after the war.
By 1947, Vic Tanny again had several gyms around Los Angeles, and by 1960, the Tanny empire totaled 84 gyms throughout the country. In 1963, Vic sold his clubs in an effort to retire. His retirement may have been hastened by financial and managerial troubles throughout his corporation. Regardless of his reasons for retiring, Vic left a legacy to modern clubs.
The most significant effect Tanny had on modern clubs was a physical one. Joe Gold describes gyms before Tanny revolutionized their image as "the worst pieces of junk in the world ... everything was falling apart and [they] stunk. They were like dungeons!" This description is a far cry from today's clubs, and the reason is Tanny's entrepreneurial acumen. Armand explains that he and his brother "took the gyms out of the cellar" and created facilities so lavish that once prospective members entered the building, "they couldn't resist joining."
Tanny was a visionary. At a time when clubs specialized in particular sports, Vic offered many options: weight lifting, swimming, bowling, ice skating and even watching movies in theaters. His facilities were among the first multi-purpose gyms; these newer, more attractive clubs offered a venue to socialize and make friends.
As creative as Tanny was, some of his ideas were more extravagant than others. Among his more opulent endeavors was a gilded gym. This club was completely finished in gold plating, down to the barbells and dumbbells. Although modern clubs aren't quite this lavish, most have a lot of chrome, carpeting and walls painted in aesthetically pleasing colors. This was not common before Tanny, and it is thanks to him that gyms are so attractive today.
Vic Tanny not only helped create the modern health club, he also inspired many others to build gyms. Joe Gold, a close friend of the Tannys, worked for a time in Vic's gym. In the 1950s, when the Vic Tanny revolutionized the industry with his health clubs. He created multipurpose facilities that were local government closed the Muscle Beach Weightlifting Club (a 20-by-25-foot L-shaped platform with weights), Joe tried, unsuccessfully, to convince friends to invest in a new club. He was finally able to open the first Gold's Gym in 1964 about two blocks from Muscle Beach for $30,000.
Joe may have learned from Vic, but Gold's Gym was different from Tanny's gyms. Once the Muscle Beach Weightlifting Club closed, Joe saw a need for gyms that were devoted to body building. He sold the original Gold's Gym in 1970; nevertheless, in the six years that he ran that small storefront gym, Gold offered several innovations that are now standard. For example, Joe explains that his gym was originally dark and cramped. To amend this problem, he installed skylights that brightened the room and made it seem more spacious. He also laid a concrete floor to withstand the heavy poundage dropped by his clientele. Joe's gym was rugged, solid and sturdy in comparison to Vic's sleeker, sportier and flashier gyms.
The Birth of American Health
Tanny and Gold were not the only revolutionaries in the industry. Modeling their clubs after German rehabilitation centers and European spas, Ray Wilson and Bob Delmontique began the American Health clubs in the 1950s, and by decade's end, owned 300 clubs throughout the United States. Delmontique explains that "Ray wanted to save the world" with his gyms, and they were among the first to offer therapeutic facilities. Their clubs began with weights only, but soon added whirlpools, saunas and steam baths.
Delmontique says that, like Tannys' gyms, American Health clubs "flavored exercise and made it taste good." They included full-length mirrors, carpeted floors, air conditioning and chrome weights instead of the standard black. Although they folded due to financial troubles in 1959, American Health clubs (like Tanny's gyms) were among the first gyms to have sizzle to them.
Financial troubles were not uncommon among gyms, and this lead to the consolidation and creation of new club chains. In 1962, Dave Wildman of the Health and Tennis Corp., began buying struggling gyms - some bearing famous names such as Vic Tanny, Chicago Health, Jack LaLanne and Holiday Health.
Bally Manufacturing, a company specializing in gaming equipment, decided to broaden its endeavors and, in the early 1990s, bought Wildman's operation and became Bally Entertainment. After divvying its stock among shareholders in January 1996, Lee Hillman took the reins of the newest addition to the Bally stable: Bally Total Fitness.Because Bally is the amalgam of many other gyms, it benefits from its once-famous ancestors. However, in a tongue-in-cheek observation, Dave Southern, Bally's vice president of investor and public relations, points out one disadvantage: "Even though the sign says Bally Total Fitness, many people in Chicago still call our gyms Vic Tanny's."
As the look, equipment and, in some cases, the names of health clubs changed as the century progressed, so did the clientele. Beginning with only die-hard lifters and serious body builders, amateur exercisers - encouraged by club owners like Tanny and Wilson - began working out as well. The erroneously nicknamed "Pudgy" Stockton and Jack LaLanne, each, in their own way, helped integrate women into the health clubs.
Pudgy owned several women's-only gyms. Early in her business career, she had to disguise the weights women used because it was improper for women to work out. Slowly, women's interest in, and acceptance of, exercise grew, and many gyms began offering separate days for men and women. Today, women have become the best customers for clubs - making up more than half of all memberships.
Perhaps the greatest modern proponent of women's health was Jack LaLanne. Jack opened his first gym in 1936 in Oakland, Calif., and by 1982, had 200 around the country. He also hosted American television's longest-running exercise program (The Jack LaLanne Show, 1956-1970).
Muscle Beach was able to educate thousands of passersby and spectators on health and exercise; Jack LaLanne reached millions - particularly women - through the power of television. His show taught his viewers, predominantly homemakers, how to exercise using household equipment: chairs, towels and broomsticks. There is little doubt that LaLanne's program caused more American women than ever to become interested in physical fitness.
Nowadays, the consumer appears to dictate the changes in health clubs, and as the baby boomers move from their desire for buffness to holistic and long-term health concerns, the gym is adapting to satisfy their needs. While today's gyms and health clubs are more advanced than ever, they are continuously evolving. There is little doubt that many exciting innovations and evolutionary changes await the health club in the new century.


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My question might seem obvious but still I want to sure if the result I shall state below is true:
if the neighborhood base in each point of a space say X is finite. Then we have a discrete topology.
Many thanks and apologies in case I just stated some insanity above :)


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Professor Dallas Blaney a VIP Media Guest at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
As a winner of the blogging contest "Engage: The Water-Energy Nexus" held by UAE's Masdar organization, Political Science professor Blaney was invited to participate in the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in January 2013. Selection committee noted that prof. Blaney's "post demonstrated a thoughtful, well-researched response to the prompt, and stood out among the more than 70 submissions we received." As a part of the recongnition, the organizers took care of all travel and accommodations expenses. Congratulations from all of us!
Professor Blaney will be giving a luncheon speech soon. Please be on a look-out for the email invitation to that event.


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Everyone Graduates
College Completion
Teacher Fellowships
Child Nutrition Legislation
Odds and Ends
Quote to Note
Upcoming Events
Editor's Note
This is the last issue of ED Review for 2010. Publication will resume January 7, 2011. I wish you a safe and happy holiday season.
Everyone Graduates
According to a new report released by America's Promise Alliance, Civic Enterprises, and John Hopkins University's Every Graduates Center, which frequently references Institute of Education Sciences (IES)-funded work, the United States is making progress in reducing the number of students who drop out of high school. Nationwide, the graduation rate increased from 72% in 2002 to 75% in 2008. Furthermore, the number of "dropout factory" high schools (where less than 60% of students who start out as freshmen make it to their senior year) decreased by 13%, from 2,007 in 2002 to 1,746 in 2008.
"Building a Grad Nation: Progress and Challenge in Ending the High School Dropout Epidemic" shows progress is possible, even in low-performing schools in lower-income, urban, and rural school districts. The report highlights four cases studies of success: Alabama; Richmond, Indiana; New York City; and Tennessee. Among the common elements of success: strong leadership with clear graduation rate goals; multi-sector collaboration guided by data; commitment to innovation and continuous improvement; technical assistance for evidence-based solutions; and raising expectations, improving policies, and increasing student supports.
Other findings of the report include:
- More than half the states (29) increased statewide graduation rates substantially from 2002 to 2008. Just three states lost ground. The graduation rate held steady in the remaining 18 states.
- Tennessee and New York led the nation by boosting graduation rates 15 and 10 percentage points, respectively, and 10 additional states had gains larger than the national average.
- 22 states had a decline of dropout factory high schools in urban areas, and most of the decline in dropout factory schools (216 of the 261) occurred in the South.
Secretary Duncan, speaking at the release event, called the report "required reading for those who believe that the high school dropout problem is too intractable to successfully take on.... The conclusion of this study is that schools, districts, and states have demonstrated high school graduation rates can increase significantly in the very communities where the dropout problem has been most severe." (Note: Secretary Duncan's full remarks are available online.)
Also: This year, 730 schools are receiving a federal School Improvement Grant to implement one of four turnaround models. Among the schools, 48% are high schools, 24% are elementary schools, 21% are middle schools, and 7% are some combination of the three.
College Completion
While the Secretary addressed high school completion, Deputy Secretary Tony Miller was addressing college completion. "I want to provide two takeaway messages to act on when you leave this conference," he told approximately 6,000 attendees at the Federal Student Aid Conference in Orlando. "First, we need to embrace a modified mindset about the purpose of student aid. Student aid can no longer just be about providing college access. Instead, it also has to be about encouraging college completion and earning a degree.... My second, related message is that strengthening financial aid entails more than providing new federal dollars as vital as they are. The truth is that all levels of government and all institutions of higher education must advance reform and college completion, by making postsecondary education far more productive and efficient than it is today."
Presentations and session videos from the Federal Student Aid Conference are posted online.
Meanwhile, a new First Look report by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) finds 49% of students who began postsecondary education in 2003-04 earned some credential by June 2009, ranging from an educational certificate to a bachelor's degree.
The performance of U.S. 15-year-old students improved in science, regained lost ground in math, and held steady in reading on the 2009 test of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). PISA is designed to assess what students have learned as they near the end of compulsory schooling and how well they apply that knowledge in real world contexts. Roughly 69% of the U.S. students sampled for PISA are tenth-graders. PISA is coordinated through the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a group of 34 mostly industrialized member nations. Some non-OECD member nations, as well as several non-national education systems (like Shanghai, China), also participated in the 2009 test.
Each three-year PISA cycle assesses one of the three subjects in depth. This time, that subject was reading. The 2009 results include a combined reading literacy scale, as well as three subscales that attempt to gauge students' ability to access and retrieve information, integrate and interpret it, and reflect and evaluate it.
Key findings from PISA 2009 include:
- In reading literacy, the U.S. average score (500) was not measurably different from the OECD average (493) or scores from previous PISA assessments. Among the other OECD countries, six had higher average scores than the U.S., 13 had lower average scores, and 14 had scores not measurably different from the U.S. average. U.S. students performed above the OECD average on reading items that required them to reflect and evaluate, but not measurably different on items requiring they access and retrieve information or integrate and interpret what they had read. Moreover, across all countries, female students scored higher than male students. The gender difference in the U.S. was smaller than that for OECD countries on average.
- In mathematics literacy, the U.S. average score (487) was lower than the OECD average score (496). Among the other OECD countries, 17 had higher average scores than the U.S., five had lower average scores, and 11 had scores not measurably different from the U.S. average. Math scores improved from 2006 but were not measurably different from 2003.
- In science literacy, the U.S. average score (502) was not measurably different from the OECD average (501). Among the other OECD countries, 12 had higher average scores than the U.S., 9 had lower average scores, and 12 had scores that were not measurably different. Science scores improved from the only comparable time point: 2006.
"I would caution you against making too much of small gradations in rankings," Secretary Duncan said at the release event. "But the gap between top-performing countries and the U.S. is meaningfuland large. To take one example, analysis suggests 15-year-olds in Korea and Finland are, on average, one to two years ahead of their American peers in math and science.... So, the big picture from PISA is one of education stagnation at a time of fast-rising demand for highly-educated workers. The mediocre performance of America's students is a problem we cannot afford to accept and cannot afford to ignore." (Note: Secretary Duncan's full remarks are available online.)
Also: A separate OECD study of the characteristics of the world's top-performing education systems and a McKinsey and Company study of American and international practices suggests the U.S. can improve its standing by continuing to pursue reforms that have taken root in states and districts within the last two years: setting rigorous standards for students, using data to improve instruction, concentrating resources on the most challenged students, and investing heavily in the teaching profession.
Teacher Fellowships
Applications are now available for the Department's 2011-12 Teaching Ambassador Fellowship, offering highly motivated and innovative school teachers the opportunity to contribute their knowledge and experience to the national dialogue on education, and, in turn, facilitate discussions with educators across the country. Once again, the fellowship includes two tracks. Up to five Washington Fellows will become full-time federal employees in Washington, D.C., participating in policy discussions and working on education programs. Up to 10 Classroom Fellows will remain at their local schools under their regular teaching contracts and be paid for various assignments and projects throughout the school year on a part-time basis. All fellows will be selected on their record of leadership, impact on student achievement, communication skills, and insight from classroom experiences. Applications are due by January 17, 2011. Fellows will be named by early summer.
Child Nutrition Legislation
Congress has approved new legislation that will make historic and urgent improvements to the nation's federal child nutrition programs. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which President Obama has indicated he will sign in the coming days, dramatically improves the quality of meals children eat in school and in child care, increases the number of healthy meals available to children in need, and provides the first real increase in the federal reimbursement rate for school lunches in more than 30 years. It also eliminates junk food from schools by requiring schools to applyfor the first timenutritional standards to food served outside the cafeteria. The legislation answers the President's and First Lady Michelle Obama's call to reduce childhood hunger and support school-based and community efforts to reduce childhood obesity. Improvements to child nutrition programs are a key pillar of the First Lady's "Let's Move" campaign to end childhood obesity within a generation. (Note: Secretary Duncan's statement on passage of the legislation is available online.)
Odds and Ends
Since the summer launch of ED Data Express, a tool for sharing state-level K-12 data, the Department has added new data to the site through monthly uploads. In early October, the agency added disaggregated graduation rates, science assessment data, and high school assessment data. In early November, the agency added data on the Title III (English Learners) program. The next data update (migrant student data) is scheduled for this month. Updates will continue throughout the next year to provide further access to different types of state-level K-12 data.
Video from the November 17 "Math, Science, and the Future of Our Nation" global online town hall, sponsored by Time Warner Cable and hosted by former Vice President Al Gore, is now posted online. Secretary Duncan participated in this unique event with inventor Dean Kamen, Discovery Channel's "MythBusters" Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, astronaut Sally Ride, and Microsoft Xbox visionary Kudo Tsunoda. Guests were joined by young people from around the world, parents, educators, and other concerned citizens for an interactive discussion on youth attitudes around math and science and what these core subjects mean for future success.
Secretary Duncan joined National Education Association (NEA) President Dennis Van Roekel, Superintendent William Hite, and other guests at G. James Gholson Middle School in Landover, Maryland, to visit a classroom and join a roundtable discussion on turning around low-performing schools. Gholson is implementing a turnaround model supported by a federal School Improvement Grant.
Later that same day, the Secretary addressed the National Summit on Education Reform, sponsored by the Foundation for Excellence in Education. At the summit, the Digital Learning Council issued 10 policy suggestions for states to use digital learning as a catalyst for education reform. In general, the suggestions are aligned with the Department's National Education Technology Plan.
In a recent article in The Hill, Secretary Duncan explains that passing the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act will "unleash the full potential of young people who live out values that all Americans cherish: a strong work ethic, service to others, and a deep loyalty to country."
Quote to Note
"In 1957, the Soviet Union beat us into space by launching a satellite known as Sputnik. That was a wake-up call that caused the United States to boost our investment in innovation and educationparticularly in math and science. And, as a result, once we put our minds to it, once we got focused, once we got unified, not only did we surpass the Soviets, we developed new American technologies, industries, and jobs. So 50 years later, our generation's Sputnik moment is back. This is our moment.... We've got to rebuild on a new and stronger foundation for economic growth. We need to do what America has always been known for: building, innovating, educating, and making things."
|President Barack Obama (12/6/10), in remarks at Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Upcoming Events
Due to overwhelming demand, Project Tomorrow's annual Speak Up survey on education and technology, open to K-12 students, parents, teachers, administrators, and pre-service teachers, has been extended through January 21, 2011.
In March, the Department, OECD, and Education International will convene an International Summit on the Teaching Profession in New York City. Attendees will include ministers of education from the leading nations in education, as measured by the PISA 2009. Representatives from U.S. education associations, teachers, and union leaders will also be invited to attend.
The National Endowment for the Humanities supports tuition-free summer programs in the U.S. and abroad for American school teachers; community college, college, and university faculty; and a number of graduate students. Participants receive stipends to help cover travel and living expenses. The deadline for all applications for 2011 Summer Seminars and Institutes and 2011 Landmarks of American History and Culture Workshops is March 1, 2011.
Credits, Subscribe & Unsubscribe
Please feel free to contact the Office of Communications and Outreach with any questions:
Director, Intergovernmental AffairsStacey Jordan, (202) 401-0026, firstname.lastname@example.com
Program AnalystAdam Honeysett, (202) 401-3003, firstname.lastname@example.com
To be added or removed from distribution, or submit comments (we welcome your feedback!), please contact Adam Honeysett. Or, visit http://www2.ed.gov/news/newsletters/edreview/index.html.
This newsletter contains hypertext links to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user's convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Furthermore, the inclusion of links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.


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Licensing | About CDE | State Board | Offices | Staff Directory | Careers at CDE
You are here
Developing talented educators
Colorado is committed to attracting the best and brightest to teach our students and to lead our schools.
Jobs for Teachers
The state's Jobs for Teachers site connects educators with school districts seeking qualified candidates. Educators can search school districts across Colorado for job openings. Districts can post their job openings to expand their candidate pool.
Assistance for future teachers
The federal TEACH Grant Program provides up to $4,000 per year to undergraduate, post-baccalaureate or graduate students who intend to teach in public or private elementary or secondary schools that serve students from low-income families.
The Quality Teacher Recruitment Grant Program funds activites designed to recruit, slect, place, train and retain highly qualified teachers to teach in Colorado public schools and districts.
Assistance for school districts
The Colorado Department of Education provides funds to districts to attract, recruit and retain effective educators through Title IIA of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act.


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A cross-eyed cat who loves dressing up in fancy dress has become an overnight internet sensation, winning an army of online fans in the process.
Spangles, whose eyes both look inwards, shot to fame after his proud owner Mary Buchanan posted various pictures of him in an array of costumes on Facebook.
The cute feline regularly dresses in a number of different wacky outfits including as a dinosaur, tiger and unicorn.
His Facebook fan page has attracted thousands of hits; with over 4,000 followers eagerly waiting to see what Spangles' next costume will be.
'Spangles was born on July 4, so with the Star-Spangled Banner that's how I got his name,' explained his owner Ms Buchanan, a student in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
'He was born with one cross eye, but he's never had problems walking or anything. He's never run into things, or wobbled. He can see perfectly fine.
'He has been checked out by a vet, and no surgery is needed to correct his sight.'
She added: 'Spangles is a very sweet kitty, a real mama's boy. He loves to snuggle and lay in bed with me.'
The 25-year-old admits she is surprised by the huge interest in her glamorous pet moggy who' loves to have his picture taken'.
'I have been inundated with questions,' she said. 'I think it's very unusual to see a cross eyed cat. People just love him. '


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Higher levels of ambient lighting = better study results
It's a well-known fact of life that light makes us feel good. Light affects us not just in a visual sense, but biologically and emotionally as well. New research has shown that good lighting actually increases job satisfaction in learning environments.
The results of a study by Lund University and the London City University shows that the human body's own days clock, the production of melatonin and cortisol are affected in environments where light levels are high enough and there is a balance between direct and indirect light.
This is a breakthrough. For the first time, we can clearly see how light can affect students' performance, alertness and well-being," said Tommy Govén Head of Lighting Technology and Research at Fagerhult, who participated in the study with the university departments in Lund and London.
Increased ambient light
The study took place at a primary school in south-west London and was carried out in four different classrooms with pupils in the 8-9 age group. All classrooms were equipped with new lighting and the two experimental classrooms with more ambient light in relation to the two control classrooms. Instead of the usual illuminance of around 100 lux in light on the walls and ceiling, about 300 lux was used.
Improved student performance
When the scientists compared the how the children had performed in maths, reading and writing, the results showed that the students sat in the 'ambient' light classrooms performed much better. Especially during October and January: the darker period of the year. In addition to the results they also had more energy in the morning, especially during the dark periods, and a tendency towards being generally healthier throughout the entire school year.
A concrete conclusion is that the illuminance in the ambient area of most classrooms in our schools is too low when looked at in relation to what is actually required for the pupils to feel and perform better. Ceiling and wall lighting around 100 lux is common in many schools today, says Tommy Govén.
Lighting control
Enhancing the ambient lighting in the classroom produces an increase in well-being and better study results – without increasing energy consumption. New solutions with daylight and presence control optimise energy usage and compensate for increased levels of ambient light.
The study also shows that artificial light with appropriate light distribution can compensate for a reduced addition of daylight within the ambient area. Another positive aspect is that these lighting levels can actually be achieved without a significant increase in energy consumption, provided that the installation is planned with daylight and presence control. In all respects, from the point of view of energy efficiency, it is important to take daylight into account.


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Just a quick reminder: Actor Edward Norton, who grew up in Columbia, will host "Saturday Night Live" tonight at 11:30 on NBC. Janelle Monae is the musical guest. He's had "SNL" cameos before, but this is Norton's first time hosting the long-running sketch show.
Watch the online promos featuring Norton and "SNL" cast member Bobby Moynihan above.


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Looking for tiny proximity sensors? The BittyBot Proxdots are very small, and complete with IR modulated transmitter /receivers!
Sometimes, you just need a tiny ...something... to detect an obstacle in close proximity. And smaller, the better. Well, here's your solution! To assist their MEGABitty robot controller, BittyBot put together ProxDots.
These 0.4" x 0.35" square sensors use the popular IS471 sensor to give you a simple digital "yes/no" signal when they detect an obstacle within range (usually with a maximum range of ~6"). You might not think having an LED indicator on the sensor as handy, but trust us - it's a dynamite little feature to have on any sensor!
Note: This is a kit that requires some manual dexterity to assemble correctly!
Note: This is the last production run of this kit. When sold out, they are being retired


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text:
Jaakko Lisalo has a lot to answer for. A Finnish cyber designer, it was he who conceived a game featuring grumpy-looking birds with no visible legs or wings.
Developed by Rovio, Angry Birds has now spread with the ferocity of bubonic plague through mobile devices.
My seven-year-old son is totally enslaved by the pastime. Any attempt to converse intelligently on anything else is futile. His teachers have forbidden him from even mentioning the subject because he's corrupting fellow pupils with the fanaticism of a prophet, persuading them that obliterating small pigs is more rewarding than following a tedious educational curriculum.
At every opportunity, he "borrows" the caregiver's mobile phone to play until he has exhausted the battery.
Changing mobile codes or erasing the program is futile because he cracks codes and reloads the stuff with the speed and efficiency of some sort of android supercomputer.
Even my breakfast table is laid out with cereal packets and condiments to represent Angry Birds settings. Any attempt to break the composition by reaching for the marmalade is perceived as an act bordering on psychological child abuse.
My home is full of paper-mache reproductions of birds, pigs and other characters from the game. They peep over cupboard doors or from behind the cornflake container.
Recently, I foolishly committed myself to helping him build some sort of space version of the game involving robots and other interplanetary paraphernalia.
Having no idea what this involved, I researched the subject on the internet and, to my surprise, discovered that even Nasa has collaborated with the game's creators, seizing an opportunity to present educational space programmes by devising interactive experiences for the cast of bad-tempered birds.
Usually, when banal electronic games come along, I pompously scorn such time-wasting pursuits - a puritanical stance I have held since early Pac-Man days. I just never felt any drive or enthusiasm to play games on mobiles or computer screens.
However, after watching an interview with a nerdy computer controller in the US military casually discussing his warrior status as an armchair pilot guiding armed predator drone aircraft on surgical assassination missions, I'm suddenly treating gamesters with new respect. After all, it's now only a short hop from cyber-blasting imaginary piglets to experiencing the wrath of real-life angry birds.
The question is, will tomorrow's game-playing geeks know the difference, or care?


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text:
Last week Egypt banned the use of so-called "virginity tests" in military prisons, but it isn't exactly cracking down on those who are accused of performing them. In fact, the charges against Dr. Ahmed Adil al-Mogy, a military doctor accused of performing the tests on female detainees, have been reduced from serious sexual assault to public indecency and not following orders. Since forcing women to submit to a vaginal exam only constitutes "indecency," not "assault" the doctor may only be fined $50 or sentenced to less than a year in prison.
Earlier: Egyptian Court Wisely Bans Military's Use Of Virginity Tests


text:
NEWS!! I Have An Agent! No Kidding. Part 2
Yeah, it's fun to daydream sometimes. And it's fun to think you'll be as cool as a cucumber when your inbox shows you've got mail. Especially when the email starts with: "I am pleased to tell you..." You're not going to
No, you'll be an uber cool dude, and no one--I say, NO ONE--is going to find you doing a cross between the chicken dance and Elaine's dance because you are such a professional.
What? You want stats? I don't do stats, but I'll try my best.
I started querying around the end of March--which was very poor timing on my part. People were just coming back from the Bologna Book Fair. I sent out a few queries (like 3) and waited, and waited, and waited. It was also the earliest version of my query. Fast forward to a couple of weeks later, I decided to send out a few more with a newly revamped query. And the waiting continued.
Lesson #1: Be patient.
Rejections finally came in. *sting* But as they were based on my query, it didn't hurt too much. I knew I needed to work on it. Enter Agent Query Connect and its awesome band of writers. I had all my query versions numbered in a file. My first full request came, and I thought I was going to faint. I was so nervous I messed up the page numbers in my file submission and had to re-send a new email with the corrections. *facepalm*
Lesson #2: Learn to calm down. Double check everything. Don't be hasty.
For most of April, I sent out intermittent queries. At the same time, I worked on my query, even asking BBC's Query Cat to do a Saturday Slash on my query. I stayed up late writing query drafts. I dreamed about writing queries. Also zombies. And a handful of vampires (no, they weren't sparkly). I also had to deal with a lot of medical stuff and lab tests. It wasn't the best of time for me. Did I feel slightly down while the crickets in my inbox created an orchestra to rival the New York Philharmonic?
Yes, yes I did. But I kept on going.
Lesson #3: Don't give up easily. Hope is a beautiful thing.
I've been following numerous literary agents on Twitter, even those I had no plan of querying (just because I already knew they weren't a good fit for me, personality-wise, or that they did not represent my genre). I followed them anyway because it's always good to get oneself educated about the publishing biz.
Ms. Fabulous Agent was on Twitter giving out #querytips, #writingtips, and #pubtips. They were helpful tips, and sometimes downright hilarious (the most recent one is from a sample where the author likened a pancake to a coffin. :D). I
Lesson #4: Trust your writerly instincts.
May 3rd.
I sent off my latest query to Miss Fabulous Agent, and one other (also a lovely agent). Then with fingers and toes crossed, I set off for my 7-month prenatal appointment. While waiting in the lobby, I checked my email (confession: Having an iPhone is both a curse and a blessing. I will not tell you how many times I check my email every day, but you can probably guess it's a good substantial number.)
She said my query intrigued her.
She said she wanted to see the first 50 pages.
I wanted to go home and send it off right away, but I needed to see my doctor first. And take a nasty glucose drink to test for gestational diabetes. Which meant more waiting at the clinic. My palms began itching.
The minute I got home, I sent off my partial with a little prayer. (Apparently, I forgot lesson #2. I was THAT excited.)
May 4th.
I woke up extra early, and nearly fell off the bed when I checked my email on my phone and found out Ms. Fabulous Agent read my partial first thing in the morning. And she wanted to see the rest of the manuscript. Holy moly. She was lightning fast. The crickets in my inbox must have developed laryngitis or something. I couldn't believe it.
I sent her my full, and prepped myself for a long wait. In the meantime, I got another full request from a different agent. I decided to send out a few more queries.
Lesson #5: Query widely. Just do. If I had stuck to my list, I would never have found and queried Ms. Fabulous Agent.
May 8th.
She. Loved. It. All of it. My book Hidden. Loved.
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Maybe I did both.
May 9th.
I sent out notices to the other agents I have queried or had my full submissions that I had an offer of representation. I could have signed with Ms. Fabulous Agent right then and there (I liked her THAT much), but I had to be courteous. Six other full requests invaded my inbox. I was stupefied. I gave them 10 days to get back to me.
May 19th.
Possibly the longest ten days of my life. Some of them came back with high compliments and very positive feedback, some missed the deadline. I then informed Ms. Fabulous Agent I wanted to sign with her. I don't think I slept very well that night--I was too hyper. :)
May 20th.
She emailed me the Agency Agreement for my preview. I was in a complete daze. And I truly adore her.
Now excuse me while I go
Monday, May 21, 2012
Agent Query,
Julia A. Weber,
45 comments:
- Leslie Pugh said...
That is a fantastic story! I'm so glad you didn't give up!
- May 21, 2012 at 10:29 PM
- Kela McClelland said...
I'm so so so happy for you Cherie. You're awesome and I'm glad you found an agent. Congratulations! (((HUGS)))
- May 21, 2012 at 10:39 PM
- Stephanie said...
Yay yay yay! So happy for you!! :D
- May 22, 2012 at 1:12 AM
- Suzanne Payne said...
That is coolness x10! I must go stalk her myself! lol I haven't been on twitter a whole lot lately, but I need to make it a point to make an appearance and pay attention to what the fab agents are saying. You're a smart girl! :D Whoo HOO!Big HUGS!!!
- May 22, 2012 at 3:48 AM
- Sarah said...
OH!!! Congratulations! I'm in such a haze these days that I somehow missed your first announcement, but this is a great story--it's such an amazing feeling to find a good agent who loves your work. May HIDDEN sell quickly and well!
- May 22, 2012 at 4:46 AM
- Kate Evangelista said...
Congratulations, Cherie! Best of luck on your impending submissions to publishers. :-)
- May 22, 2012 at 5:10 AM
- Tara Tyler said...
how awesome for you!
every time a writer gets an agent, it gives us hope iy's possible for the rest of us!
- May 22, 2012 at 5:51 AM
- Angela V. Cook said...
YAY! Isn't it a great feeling to have someone in your corner? ;o) Congrats to you!! Wishing you the best on the next leg of your journey :o)
- May 22, 2012 at 6:39 AM
- Marewolf said...
Awesome Cherie! Much deserved, you are a beautiful writer and Julia is very smart to have snatched you up :)
Good luck in the future with submissions, I'll be rooting for you!! :)
- May 22, 2012 at 7:09 AM
- M.J. Fifield said...
Congratulations, Cherie! That's so great. And this post is epic. If I should ever have the need to write one, it won't be anywhere near as good.
- May 22, 2012 at 8:51 AM
- Mindy McGinnis said...
YES CHERIE!!! Good work!
- May 22, 2012 at 9:04 AM
- E. M. LaBonte said...
Whoot, dance party time!!! I'll get the drinks! I'm so happy you found your match agent. I hope I'm as calm when I eventually get mine. ;) lol
- May 22, 2012 at 9:05 AM
- Cheryl said...
Squeee!!! So happy for you!
- May 22, 2012 at 9:31 AM
- deathwriter said...
Congratulations! Love to read about other people's success!
- May 22, 2012 at 9:36 AM
- Angie Sandro said...
I'm so happy for you. Congrats, congrats, congrats:)
- May 22, 2012 at 9:41 AM
- Cherie Larkins said...
Thank you so much!!
<3 ya guys!
- May 22, 2012 at 9:45 AM
- Rachna Chhabria said...
Wow! That was quick. I am thrilled that you got an agent super fast. I am dancing with you, Cherie :)
- May 22, 2012 at 10:06 AM
- J. A. Bennett said...
That is beyond awesome. I am so so so happy for you! I'm going to need your advice as I plan to start querying next month. Cheers! BTW, would you take a look at my query letter if I sent it to you? (my e-mail is author.jabennett (at) gmail.com) Hugs and kisses and chicken dances all around :)
- May 22, 2012 at 10:16 AM
- Susan Roebuck said...
Very good advice. *sigh* submitting is such a nerve-wracking time. Unfortunately for me I don't do patience :-)
- May 22, 2012 at 10:59 AM
- Bethany Crandell said...
*swaying like a white girl*
HOORAY, HOORAY, HOORAY!! So proud of you and I'm already in love with Julia!!(her polish matches her drink--hello!!)
Good on ya, tootsie!
- May 22, 2012 at 11:10 AM
- Cherie Reich said...
Aww! Congratulations!
- May 22, 2012 at 12:01 PM
- M Pax said...
Fantastic! Congratulations. Are you still dancing? :)
- May 22, 2012 at 3:36 PM
- Anita Grace Howard said...
Super sonic loud squeeeeeeee! Yes, your agent sounds lovely and professional, but I'm so proud of how YOU handled this. Lovely tips for those still searching a home. Words to query by, indeed. :) LOVE YOU AND SOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!
- May 22, 2012 at 3:57 PM
- Jessie Humphries said...
I can finally let go of that breath now! So happy for u!
- May 22, 2012 at 5:46 PM
- D.N Robicheaux said...
Yay Cherie!! Woo-Hoo!! I'm happy chicken dancing with you. You so deserve it=)
- May 22, 2012 at 6:19 PM
- Anonymous said...
YAYYYYYYYYY!!!! I'm so happy for you, Cherie!!!!! Keep dancing :)
- May 22, 2012 at 7:46 PM
- Ruth Josse said...
Congratulations! Loved hearing your story!
- May 22, 2012 at 8:09 PM
- Caitlin Vincent said...
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I'm so excited for you! And I can't wait to read Hidden.
Also, your blog looks beyond amazing :)
- May 23, 2012 at 12:11 PM
- Michelle 4 Laughs said...
I really love this story. Aren't happy endings the best?
- May 23, 2012 at 4:39 PM
- Anonymous said...
Awesome news! Congrats!!!
- May 23, 2012 at 7:11 PM
- Simon Kewin said...
w00t! A thousand congratulations.
- May 24, 2012 at 5:19 AM
- Justin Holley said...
An agent with obvious good taste! Good work.
- May 25, 2012 at 7:17 AM
- Jenny Phresh said...
Couldn't have happened to a nicer person. I am so happy and proud!
- May 25, 2012 at 10:54 AM
- Marybk said...
Of course you got a fab agent! :)
Congrats! xoxo
- May 25, 2012 at 9:48 PM
- Lydia Kang said...
Congratulations! Wonderful news, and thank you for sharing the journey. :)
- May 26, 2012 at 3:59 PM
- Connie Keller said...
Wow! That's wonderful, wonderful news. Congratulations!!!
- May 26, 2012 at 4:44 PM
- Daisy Carter said...
CONGRATULATIONS!!! Dance, dance, dance!
- May 26, 2012 at 7:18 PM
- Tasha Seegmiller said...
I need to reference this post again when I start the querying process. Great post and I'm so happy for you. Congrats!
- May 28, 2012 at 12:57 PM
- Tyrean Martinson said...
Awesome!!!! Congratulations! I love the story and the lessons you learned!
- May 28, 2012 at 5:02 PM
- Lynda R Young said...
I'm sure queries and zombies are related...
A HUGE congrats!!!!!! I loved reading about the lead up. So many ups and downs, isn't it? :)
- May 28, 2012 at 6:26 PM
- LisaAnn said...
Wooohooooo! I enjoyed this post so much... Felt like I was living through it! Congratulations!!! :)
- May 28, 2012 at 6:53 PM
- Gina Gao said...
- May 29, 2012 at 12:34 PM
- Jean said...
Congratulations! Very excited for you :)
- June 1, 2012 at 12:23 PM
- The Redhead Riter said...
"Victory is always possible for the person who refuses to stop fighting." ~ Napoleon Hill ~
- June 2, 2012 at 4:37 PM
- Jennifer Lane said...
Congratulations, Precy! So happy for you that the patience paid off. :)
- June 4, 2012 at 9:00 PM
- Precy Larkins
- I'm a YA writer who loves to read. Also a mom of 3. My life is crazy but always fun. :) I'm a member of The YA Club, a group blog about YA books. You can also find me blogging at: http://precylarkins.wordpress.com Represented by the lovely Julia A. Weber of J. A. Weber Literaturagentur GmbH. Thanks for stopping by! Email me: firstname.lastname@example.com
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UPDATE: The Golden Globe 2014 winners
It's that time of year again -- when people who work in the entertainment industry feel like they have enough knowledge to predict the winners of awards. I am one such person.
The 71st Golden Globe Awards air on Sunday, January 12, starting at 6 p.m. EST with red-carpet coverage. 2013 was a year of great movies and even better television, so it's definitely tough to whittle down the nominees in each of the major categories.
For nearly a decade, I've scrutinized these award shows until I can barely enjoy them anymore. This year may be different, depending on who/what the Hollywood Foreign Press Association decides to bestow the Golden honours on. In order to choose the correct winner, you have to get into the mindset of someone else, and not always go with your favourite -- which is, in a word, difficult. Here are my picks for winners in the major categories, each with a short explanation below the choice.
** DISCLAIMER: Don't email me with your rage if you lose your office pool because of me. Feel free, however, to disparage me on Twitter if you must.**
Best Motion Picture - Drama
"12 Years A Slave"
"Captain Phillips"
Why: Heart-wrenching, stark, raw and important, "12 Years" is the hands-down winner here. Any other victor would be a shock. If you asked me a few months ago, I would have said "Gravity," but I think "12 Years" has more gravitas, and there are Best Director, Special Effects and Cinematography categories to honour "Gravity," which is really where the movie shines.
Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
"American Hustle"
"Inside Llewyn Davis"
"The Wolf Of Wall Street"
Why: I've written about how empty I felt "American Hustle" is, but at this point, critics are falling all over themselves to praise this movie. It's approachable, fun, and lightweight, and features several hot A-listers. It has Hollywood Foreign Press written all over it. "Her" is spectacular, but too "out there," "Nebraska" and "Inside Llewyn Davis" are too outside the mainstream, and "Wolf Of Wall Street" is like one long drug trip, and I'm afraid its subject matter cripples its chances.
Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama
Chiwetel Ejiofor, "12 Years A Slave"
Idris Elba, "Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom"
Tom Hanks, "Captain Phillips"
Matthew McConaughey, "Dallas Buyers Club"
Robert Redford, "All Is Lost"
Why: This is a contest between Ejiofor and Redford, with McConaughey holding a slim chance at victory (I don't think he'll win because Leto is a shoo-in for Best Supporting Actor). If the judges are feeling nostalgic and want to honour a veteran, it'll be Redford. If "12 Years" takes over the night (as it deserves), then Ejiofor's breathtaking performance will take the prize.
Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Christian Bale, "American Hustle"
Bruce Dern, "Nebraska"
Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Wolf of Wall Street"
Oscar Isaac, "Inside Llewyn Davis"
Joaquin Phoenix, "Her"
Why: Phoenix should win this, but he won't. DiCaprio's performance is amazing, but again, it's too wild and vice-laden -- plus he has a weird relationship with these award shows. Isaac is too "new" to the scene, so he'll have more chances in the future, which leaves us with Bale and Dern; as with the Best Actor in a Drama category, it's between honouring an acting legend and rewarding a strong young actor. Since Bale won so recently (in 2011 for "The Fighter"), I'm leaning towards Dern, who brings it home in "Nebraska."
Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama
Cate Blanchett, "Blue Jasmine"
Sandra Bullock, "Gravity"
Judi Dench, "Philomena"
Emma Thompson, "Saving Mr. Banks"
Kate Winslet, "Labor Day"
Why: Blanchett's only competition is Bullock, who might steal the win out from under her. Like Bale, Bullock won for "The Blind Side" in 2009, but she was stellar in "Gravity," so we'll see. It's pretty doubtful that Blanchett's haunting, sad-yet-humourous showing in "Blue Jasmine" will lose, but you never know with these things.
Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Amy Adams, "American Hustle"
Julie Delpy, "Before Midnight"
Greta Gerwig, "Frances Ha"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Enough Said"
Meryl Streep, "August: Osage County"
Why: Guess who's never won a Golden Globe? Amy Adams. Guess who's in every movie? Amy Adams. Her time is now. Her closest competition is Streep, but with the bizarre sweeping under the rug of "August: Osage County," it's looking like her chances are growing slimmer by the day. Adams delivers the most genuine performance in "American Hustle," and really, how often do celebs win the award for their best role? Adams has been better elsewhere, but her chances of winning are pretty good. Louis-Dreyfus has an outside chance, but it's probably going to happen for her in the TV category.
Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture Drama
Barkhad Abdi, "Captain Phillips"
Daniel Bruhl, "Rush"
Bradley Cooper, "American Hustle"
Michael Fassbender, "12 Years A Slave"
Jared Leto, "Dallas Buyers Club"
Why: I just can't see anyone else winning this. I am so not a Leto fan, but I have to admit his performance was outstanding. Fassbender is a close second, but this is Leto's to lose.
Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture Drama
Sally Hawkins, "Blue Jasmine"
Jennifer Lawrence, "American Hustle"
Lupita Nyong'o, "12 Years A Slave"
Julia Roberts, "August: Osage County"
June Squibb, "Nebraska"
Why: Because. C'mon. Even though she won last year for "Silver Linings Playbook," I think she's riding this insane wave of popularity at the moment and can't lose. However, Nyong'o may take it if "12 Years" dominates the night. Also, here's a shout-out to Squibb: there's a microscopic chance she could take it. That would be one hell of an acceptance speech, that's for sure.
Best Director
Alfonso Cuaron, "Gravity"
Paul Greengrass, "Captain Phillips"
Steve McQueen, "12 Years A Slave"
Alexander Payne, "Nebraska"
David O. Russell, "American Hustle"
Why: The man deserves it. "Gravity" is a new chapter in filmmaking, and a beautiful one at that. We'll be looking back on "Gravity" decades from now as a landmark, so it would be short-sighted to not honour it. We'll all look stupid if we don't. A close second is McQueen for "12 Years," who could very well take the award if the movie dominates the evening.
Best Drama Series
"Breaking Bad"
"Downton Abbey"
"The Good Wife"
"House of Cards"
"Masters of Sex"
Why: After "Breaking Bad" was essentially snubbed at the Emmys, which still makes me shake my head, it had better win the Globe. Honestly, it's been a very long time since I've seen a show this fantastic, from head to tail. And now it's over, so this its last chance to be honoured.
Best Actor in a Television Drama Series
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Liev Schreiber, "Ray Donovan"
Michael Sheen, "Masters of Sex"
Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"
James Spader, "The Black List"
Why: Cranston has been snubbed and snubbed and snubbed, yet he's undoubtedly one of the best TV actors currently working. The logic of his non-win escapes me every single year. As far as I'm concerned, there isn't even a competition in this category.
Best Actress in a Television Drama Series
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
Tatiana Maslany, "Orphan Black"
Taylor Schilling, "Orange is the New Black"
Kerry Washington, "Scandal"
Robin Wright, "House of Cards"
Why: As much as I want Tatiana Maslany to win this, she probably won't. We know how awards shows treat sci-fi: like an embarrassing distant relative. Margulies and Wright stand the same chance of winning -- they both delivered strong, compelling performances last year, but with them it's almost status quo. That's why I selected Washington, whose star is on a meteoric rise. Just ask any "Scandal" fan.
Best Comedy Series
"The Big Bang Theory"
"Brooklyn 99"
"Modern Family"
"Parks and Recreation"
Why: Its ratings are consistently high from week to week, and its fan base is massive. Rookie show "Brooklyn 99" has been getting some critical praise, but I don't think it has enough juice to take home the big prize. "Girls" would be a surprise, since its second season didn't have quite the oomph of Season 1, and just no to "Modern Family" and "Parks And Rec."
Best Actor in a Television Comedy Series
Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development"
Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"
Michael J. Fox, "The Michael J. Fox Show"
Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"
Andy Samberg, "Brooklyn 99"
Why: He almost always wins (deservedly). If the Hollywood Foreign Press decides to break tradition, then it's going to be Samberg for "Brooklyn 99." No chance for Fox, since his show isn't even funny, and Bateman could win. It depends on the nostalgia factor, since the brand-new "Arrested Development" didn't quite measure up to its pre-Netflix incarnation. Cheadle won last year, so probably not a repeat this time around.
Best Actress in a Television Comedy Series
Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl"
Lena Dunham, "Girls"
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"
Why: Wouldn't it be something if Poehler, as co-host, won? Unfortuntely, I don't think it'll happen. Louis-Dreyfus stands the best chance, with Deschanel as runner-up. Dunham won it last year, but it's not too far-fetched to consider it a possibility again this year. And as fantastic an actress as Falco is, I just feel like not enough people watch "Nurse Jackie" for her to win.
Tune into the Golden Globes on January 12, starting at 6 p.m. EST. I hope I wasn't too wrong.


text:
My name is Seska. I live in Montreal, Canada. Since 1998 I have been sharing with the world something most people keep secret. Yes, that would be my sex life. ;-)
Check out my photos, videos and all the other goodies my site has to offer. You'll find me in sexy stockings, wearing my naughty secretary glasses, getting intimate and passionate with my lovers and having a whole lot of XXX fun!
18 U.S.C. Section 2257 Compliance Notice


text:
Headlines archive
Chief Justice Abrahamson statement on passing of Judge John L. Coffey
Madison, Wisconsin - November 12, 2012
Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson issued the following statement regarding the death of Judge John L. Coffey:
"I was fortunate to have served with Justice Coffey during his years on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, before his appointment to the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. His long and dedicated service on both the state and federal bench will long be appreciated by the people he served. His experience earlier in his career as an assistant city attorney, municipal court judge and county court judge gave him a well-rounded perspective on the law. Our sympathies go out to his family."
Biographical information about Justice John L. Coffey can be found on the court system website.
An obituary is posted at: http://www.feerickfuneralhome.com/notices.php?id=821.


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Some search engines get their results by turning to third-party "search providers" to "power" their listings. To make matters more confusing, these search providers may run their own search engine sites, as well.
The chart below explains who the major providers are. Knowing who powers whom is helpful for those who are wondering which companies are "winning" in the competitive market of powering search. Information is for users visiting the US/global version of the search engines listed, unless otherwise noted.
This information is also helpful to webmasters and search engine marketers trying to understand where to get listed. If this is your goal, also read the Search Engine Results Chart. That table is more oriented for those looking to get listed with different search engines. It shows all the major search engines and how they get their listings, with links leading to submission help from Search Engine Watch's Essentials Of Search Engine Submission guide.
The key for the chart is shown first, then the chart itself comes further below, so there's enough width to display it properly. To learn more about a particular search engine or search provider, just click on its name. You'll be taken to the appropriate section of Search Engine Watch's Major Search Engines page. To jump straight to the chart, click here.
Search Engine Watch members can see partnership charts
Chart Key
Search Providers: These are listed at the top of each column. Read down to see what they power at major search engines. Click on their names to learn more about them.
Search Engines: These are listed at the beginning of each row, in order of share of searches shown on the comScore Media Metrix Search Engine Ratings page. Here's a guide to the color coding:
- Dark Orange: search engines with 30 percent or greater share.
- Light Orange: search engines with 15 percent or greater share.
- Light Blue: search engines with 0.5 percent share or greater share.
- Gray: search engines with less than 0.5 percent share. They are shown only because of the name recognition they may have among serious searchers.
Main: Indicates that a search provider provides the "main" editorial results to a particular search engine, the most dominant listings that will be seen.
Paid: Indicates that a search provider provides paid placement listings to a particular search engine. Also see the Buying Your Way In page for detailed information about paid listing partnerships.
Backup: Indicates that a search provider provides the "backup" results that appear in cases where a search engine's main results fail to find good matches. See the Search Engine Results Page for more about "backup" or "fallthrough" results.
Option: If shown in the notes section, Indicates that information from this source is made available either on results pages or in other ways, though the prominence of the information may not be high.
Dates: Where shown, dates indicate when a particular partnership is due for renewal. Dates are shown in MM/DD/YY or similar format.
Who Powers Whom? Chart
|Search Engine
(Read Down)
|Main & Paid
| Open Directory
an option
|Main & Paid
|Main & Paid
(12/05 & 6/05)
an option
on home page
|Main & Paid
(est. 10/05+)
Open Directory
an option
|Ask Jeeves
|Main from Ask-owned Teoma.
Paid can end as early as 9/04
|Runs several meta search engines. Dogpile is most popular, representative of others. Google (2006), Yahoo (3/06), many small providers have distribution deals.
(see note)
(see note)
|Main from LookSmart;
Open Directory
an option
|Main & Paid
| Open Directory
an option;
owned by Yahoo
|Main & Paid
|Owned by Yahoo
(see note)
|Backup from
Google & Ask;
Owned by Lycos
|Main & Paid
(est. 10/05+)
|Owned by AOL;
Open Directory
an option
(Sept 05)
|Main from Teoma; owned by Ask;
Paid can end as early as 9/04
|LookSmart provides its own Main & Paid
AOL renewed its deal with Google in October 2003 but did not specify exactly how long the partnership would last. Date shown is the minimum length estimated by Search Engine Watch, based on past deals between the two companies.
Lycos has an existing contract with Yahoo-owned Overture for paid results running through May 2006. However, the company switched to Google in November 2003 due to a contract dispute. Google paid results also appear on Lycos-owned HotBot.com. For more, see coverage on the dispute from InternetNews.com, News.com and CBS MarketWatch. Lycos also runs its own paid listings in addition to those from Google on Lycos and HotBot. See Terra Lycos To Launch Paid Placement Network for more about this. A deal struck for backup results from the now Yahoo-owned AllTheWeb site was to expire on December 31, 2003. There's been no news of any renewal. The AllTheWeb search engine no longer uses its own technology. Instead, Lycos uses Yahoo main results (and flags these as being from Inktomi).
Yahoo main results come from its own crawler-technology. These results often look different on sites that Yahoo powers, such as MSN and Lycos, when compared to the same search at Yahoo itself. This is because Yahoo operates its own unique ranking algorithm on its own site. Yahoo paid results come from the Overture paid placement listings service that it owns. The Yahoo-owned Inktomi search engine no longer operates, though Yahoo-partner Lycos may still say that results are coming from Inktomi.
Related reading
Search engine results: The ten year evolution
Look around at a macro-level to see the trends vs. always focusing on detailed keyword level optimizations. Trends to help put your strategy in context.
Five ways PPC customer support can help SMBs
The whole point of customer support is to understand your industry and business goals. Coaches meet you at your level of expertise and build up from there.
#GoogleDoBetter: The latest on internal issues at Google and Alphabet
June 19 sees protests from employees and activists at annual shareholder meeting, but outright rejection of progressive change from the board.
Google Sandbox: Is it still affecting new sites in 2019?
Google never confirmed its existence, but many SEOs believe that Google Sandbox exists. So, does it exist in 2019? If yes, how to avoid getting affected?


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Three words: Fun, fun, fun! The latest Saturday Night Genealogy Fun proposed by Randy Seaver of Genea-Musings involves a little bit of stock-taking and a little bit of daydreaming.
1) Tell us your three responses to the questions:
2) Post your responses as comments to this blog post, in your own blog, or in a Facebook comment.
* Three genealogical libraries I frequent:
1. McLean Family History Center, McLean, Virginia
2. Fairfax County Library Main Branch in Fairfax City, Virginia (excellent genealogy resources, both local and regional, long history of working with Fairfax Genealogical Society, of which some employees are members)
3. Library of Congress (OK, so I've only been there a couple of times)
* Three places I've visited on genealogy trips:
None. I have visited several local repositories with my genealogical society, but have not yet made any road trips to do research, although I desperately want to (South Carolina, Texas, and Illinois probably being my first three choices for road trips). These trips will take time and money and my kids are still at a stage where I don't have enough of either, yet.
* Three genealogy societies I belong to (or want to):
1. Fairfax Genealogical Society
2. National Genealogical Society (want to)
3. Collin County Texas Genealogical Society (want to - hard to choose among the local ones, but this one has fabulous resources, works closely with the local library, and has helped me with research in return for modest contributions to the library)
* Three websites that help my research
(Another difficult one to narrow down to three):
1. Ancestry.com
2. Family Search Record Search
3. Greenville County SC Historical Records Search (so close on this one with Greenville County Library System and South Carolina Department of Archives and History)
* Three ancestral graves that I've visited:
None. See excuse for "genealogy trips."
* Three ancestral places I want to visit:
1. The Upcountry of South Carolina
2. Four corners area of Texas (Collin, Fannin, Grayson, and Hunt counties, and oh, Dallas is right next to them)
3. Greene and Jersey counties in Illinois (I'm counting this as one because my ancestors were actually in the Jersey County part but it was Greene County when they lived there)
* Three brickwall ancestors I want to research more:
1. Susan Elizabeth Smith Bonner Brinlee
2. Samuel Moore of Greenville County, South Carolina, d. 1828
3. John T. Brindley of Kentucky, d. 1823 in Caldwell County – probably the father of Hiram and George Brinlee, the brothers from whom all known Brinlees are descended.
Thanks, Randy!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
SNGF: Genealogical Threes
1 comment:
I wish I had participated in this SNGF. My husband and I drove to Tiffin, Ohio to spend time with his Mom and we got back too late. Speaking of going to a cemetery, I always try to work it into almost every trip I make...even if the markers don't belong to me. I just love walking through cemeteries!ReplyDelete
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August 18, 1940 February 25, 2013
Blooming Grove, NY
Barbara A. Cuomo, a homemaker of Blooming Grove, passed away Monday, February 25, 2013 at ORMC. She was 72 years old.
She was born August 18, 1940 in Hackensack, NJ to Fredrick and Florence DeFreese.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Richard Cuomo, at home; daughter, Dotti Troast of Rock Tavern; son, Whitney Burris of Blooming Grove; six grandchildren: Alan Troast of Rock Tavern, Sean Cuomo-Castelonia of Rock Tavern, Whitney Burris of Blooming Grove, Shane Burris of Vails Gate, Brianna Burris of Poughkeepsie, and Kyle Burris of Blooming Grove; five great-grandchildren: Jaxon, Savanna, Irelynn, and Dutch Troast of Rock Tavern, and Jordan Serrano of Vails Gate; siblings: Marilyn DeFreese of Monroe, Arletha Chalas of Monroe, Arlene Walker of Mahwah, NJ, Fredrick DeFreese of Virginia, Richard DeFreese of Mahwah, NJ, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by sisters: Florence Castelonia, Brenda Michaelson, Delores Mosely and Nancy Doherty.
Visitation will be held Friday, March 1st, at Scarr Funeral Home, 160 Orange Avenue, Suffern, NY 10901 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. A service will follow. Interment will be at Airmont Cemetery.


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Neil_Boekend wrote:I think there is another solution to the "sand is permeable to water and therefore the dike should not hold back the water so effectively" problem.
The dike may simply be built out of wet sand, but the sea may be made from oil. Since that would prevent seeping through it would work.
Or the dike may be sand wetted with a semencancerbaby repellent stuff. Then the semencancerbabies will not seep through. Might I suggest it's something filled with an antioxidants? Since they repel cancer.
Maybe it's a sea of quicksilver. Which would raise the issue on "Swimming". People like (maybe!) you and me with a mass density of roughly 1 g/cm³ would most probably having fun trying to stand (half the calves under the surface, but very small friction to keep the balance against). But I've not enough knowledge about both the mass density of stick figures and their center of mass. They don't tend to have much muscles on the bones and may sink in up to the
You won't get cancer from quicksilver, too. You'd die too early*.
* Yes yes, I know. But try to swim in a sea of quicksilver cold enough not to produce any vapours.


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WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 25, 2013) – America's biopharmaceutical research companies are developing 241 medicines for blood cancers – leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, according to a new report and overview released today by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).
Hematologic (blood) cancers, which include leukemia and lymphoma, can affect everyone, including children. Every year, more than 100,000 cases of blood, bone marrow, and lymph node cancers are diagnosed in the United States, and more than 50,000 people die from these cancers. Among children and teens, leukemia is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death.
Over the last few decades, significant progress in biopharmaceutical research and development has led to steady improvements in cancer survivorship rates in the U.S.
In 1960-1963, five-year survival for non-Hodgkin lymphoma was 40 percent, and for leukemia, just 14 percent. In 2001-2007, they had climbed to 86 percent and 57 percent respectively, according to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). Nearly all of these gains were due to improvements in treatment.
"Complex diseases like blood cancer provide a daunting health care challenge for patients, their doctors and the biopharmaceutical research ecosystem," said PhRMA President and CEO John J. Castellani. "The more than 240 medicines in development for leukemia, lymphoma and other forms of blood cancer reflect biopharmaceutical research companies' commitment to build on progress to date and help bring new treatment options to patients."
The 241 medicines in the pipeline represent new approaches to treating blood cancers, with many using new mechanisms to attack the disease. These medicines – all in clinical trials or under review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – include:
- 98 for lymphoma – including Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma – which impacts nearly 80,000 Americans each year.
- 97 for leukemia, including the four major types, which affect nearly 50,000 people in the United States each year.
- 52 for multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells, which affects more than 22,000 people each year in the United States.
- 24 medicines targeting hematological malignancies, which affect bone marrow, blood and lymph nodes.
"We are advancing breakthrough therapies, particularly in areas of unmet need, by forging partnerships with academic researchers and biopharmaceutical companies, helping to bridge the gap from discovery to drug development," Richard Winneker, PhD, LLS senior vice president of research. "We have seen many promising advances – LLS-funded therapies that are helping not just blood cancer patients, but patients with other types of cancers and other serious diseases. And we have seen survival rates for many blood cancer patients doubled, tripled, and even quadrupled since the 1960s. But half of blood cancer patients still do not survive, so more research is needed to discover better therapies and help save more lives."
Hear more from Dr. Winneker on Monday, April 29th at 1:00 p.m. EDT during a panel discussion at PhRMA on the exciting research underway in leukemia and lymphoma, challenges to future progress, the importance of partnerships in medical innovation, and the difference this work is having in extending and improving patients' lives. The conversation will be streamed live on our web site so interested stakeholders can tune in and engage.
Several key scientific and research trends are having a significant impact on cancer research. With the understanding that cancer is actually more than 200 separate diseases, targeted therapies and combination treatments are growing in importance. Also, our evolving understanding of the genetic and molecular make-up of cells has helped researchers develop better treatments for blood cancers, including therapies that allow blood cancer patients to recover more quickly after treatment.
Among the potential medicines listed in the report are:
- A medicine for leukemia that may block the activation of a cell receptor that is mutated in about one-third of all patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
- A medicine consisting of two components, a toxic portion and an attached trigger molecule, that prevents general toxicity in leukemia and myeloma.
- A potential first-in class medicine designed to focus the body's cell-destroying T-cells against cells expressing CD19, a protein found on the surface of B-cell-derived leukemia and lymphoma.
- An oral version of an approved injectable medicine that regulates the expression of certain genes such as tumor suppressor genes, to stop the uncontrolled proliferation of malignant cells.
"Research has brought new and improved treatment options to cancer patients, creating hope that didn't exist before," said Castellani. "Emerging scientific advances and knowledge are creating unprecedented opportunities for new therapeutic options."
Demonstrating the clinical benefit of a treatment is an ongoing process in which researchers and clinicians evaluate all aspects of how the medicine is used and how it affects the disease to improve the outcomes of patients. The full impact of a therapy is often recognized only after years of additional post-approval research.
The Medicines in Development for Leukemia, Lymphoma and Other Blood Cancers report, as well as an overview and other supplementary materials, are available on PhRMA's website at http://phrma.org/meds-in-development.
Additional information on blood cancer, including recent statistics on incidence, mortality and survival, as well as current information on symptoms, risk factors and treatment options, is available in LLS' Facts Spring 2013 report.
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country's leading innovative biopharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to discovering and developing medicines that enable patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. Since 2000, PhRMA member companies have invested approximately $550 billion in the search for new treatments and cures, including an estimated $48.5 billion in 2012 alone.
Find PhRMA Online:
- Website – http://www.phrma.org
- Facebook – www.facebook.com/PhRMA
- Blog – www.phrma.org/catalyst
- Twitter – www.Twitter.com/PhRMA and www.Twitter.com/PhRMApress
- YouTube – www.youtube.com/PhRMApress
For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit: http://www.innovation.org
For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit: http://www.pparx.org
For information on ensuring the flow of medicines during public health emergencies, visit http://www.rxresponse.org


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Dogs, cats, llamas, wallabies and tigers need not fret about receiving expert medical care, particularly if they live in Texas. Veterinarians at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences have treated them all, and then some.
Established in 1916, Texas's only vet school is recognized as one of the world's leading institutions in veterinary education, animal health care and research. People bring their pets from across the United States—and around the world—to the rolling hills of College Station to receive advanced treatment.
As an integral educational component of the college, the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) cared for 19,468 patients in fiscal year 2005. This number represents the number of animals seen and treated in the small animal hospital, large animal hospital, and zoological and wildlife medicine facility. The small animal hospital alone accounted for 12,197 of those cases; many of the patients were dogs.
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Noted for its compassionate approach to veterinary medicine, VMTH employs over 200 faculty members specializing in a myriad of fields. Surgical heart treatment, nephrology research, small animal rehabilitation and the unique testing available at the gastrointestinal lab are just a few ways the vet school is helping beloved pets everywhere. The progressive health care options available at TX A&M offer hope to people who cherish their animals.
Surgical Heart Treatment
Until recently, veterinary open heart surgery for the treatment of congenital heart defects and acquired heart disease was largely unheard of, due to limited expertise and the costs associated with equipment. Fortunately, this is changing, albeit slowly.
In 2001, with the use of a heart/lung machine, the first successful open heart surgery at A&M's vet school was performed in 92 minutes on a two-and-a-half-year-old Golden Retriever named Luke, who is feeling much better these days. Luke suffered from a congenital heart defect known as subaortic stenosis, which can lead to sudden death early in life.
According to Dr. Theresa Fossum, professor of surgery at the school's small animal hospital and a pioneer in veterinary surgical heart treatment, the condition is a common one, although to date, only two other dogs have been treated surgically for the defect at A&M. This is primarily due to the cost, which ranges from $8,000 to $12,000, and the high mortality risk associated with operating on a diseased heart.
Because the school provides the tools required for the use of invasive surgical techniques (such as the heart/lung machine) as well as for non-invasive coil or catheter-based techniques, the treatment mode can be matched to the patient's needs. Insertion of intravascular coils or balloons is appropriate treatment for some heart defects, and substantially decreases the expense as well as lowers the surgical risk. Intravascular coils for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a common congenital defect in dogs, generally run between $2,500 and $3,000, approximately the same cost as a surgical correction, which, with this particular defect, does not require use of the heart/lung machine.
Robin Presnall, executive director of Small Paws Rescue, Inc., a Bichon Frise rescue and adoption organization in Tulsa, Okla., has traveled to the vet school 28 times in the past five years. "Small Paws just finished its 31st heart repair at A&M," she said, pointing out that many were PDAs. "On the last trip, I took four puppies. One of them died on the way there, but the other three are feeling much better since the repairs."
In addition, Dr. Fossum and another A&M heart surgeon, Dr. David Nelson, are interested in mitral valve degeneration, an acquired, difficult-to-treat cardiac disease that eventually leads to heart failure. "Our theory is that if we went into it early and did a simple procedure using a ring around the valve, it would prevent the valve from stretching out," she explained, adding that treatment of the disease at end-stage is a much tougher proposition, since over time, the valves become increasingly deformed and the heart muscle itself becomes impaired. Because drugs are ineffective, Dr. Fossum is currently seeking funding to support the cost of surgery, which would encourage earlier intervention and thus prevent progression of the disease.*
"Open heart surgery is in its infancy," she said. "Because we see so much cardiovascular disease, the field needs to continue to grow. There are a great many lives that could be saved." As with all surgeries, there are risks. "With the heart/lung machine, we're taking all of the blood out of the body, putting it into a pump, reoxygenating and putting it back in [the body]. There is a risk for bleeding and arrhythmia," Dr. Fossum explained. Surgical candidates are considered by veterinary referral.
Nephrology Research
Kidney disease is a common condition in dogs, and kidney-related disorders have been identified in 25 to 30 breeds. Dr. George E. Lees, professor of small animal internal medicine, has been studying hereditary nephritis (HN) in dogs (in humans, this is known as Alport Syndrome) since 1992, when he evaluated an English Cocker Spaniel with the disease. In 1993, Dr. Lees and his colleagues diagnosed another genetic form of the same disease, known as "x-linked HN." As a consequence, in 1997, Dr. Lees began studying a group of dogs at A&M with x-linked HN; the study is known as the Canine Hereditary Nephritis Project. HN, Dr. Lees explained, is a term used "to designate a general category of inherited kidney diseases, [which] include Alport Syndrome as well as some other disorders that seem to have similar features."
The aim of the project is to benefit both humans and canines, and the studies have been supported by a series of grants from the National Institutes of Health. "We hope to contribute to the growing understanding of why people who have Alport Syndrome develop chronic renal failure (CRF)," he explained. He added that CRF occurs when the kidneys fail to function sufficiently well to maintain overall bodily health, and the patient becomes ill with a condition known as uremia, which can cause vomiting, weakness and other symptoms.
Additionally, Dr. Lees is hopeful that he and his colleagues, Dr. Anne Bahr and Dr. Keith Murphy, professors in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, will make strides within the international nephrology research community toward slowing or halting the advance of chronic progressive renal disease in dogs. Such an achievement could one day result in a delay of the onset of CRF or, possibly, prevent it in its entirety. Dr. Lees believes that methods can be devised to test urine and/or renal biopsy specimens for "molecular markers" that may help indicate the presence of a specific type of chronic progressive injury common in all renal diseases that lead to CRF.
"The techniques that we have truly 'mastered' so far are more along the lines of advancing the diagnosis of the disease than its treatment," he said. "Being able to do this is essential if we are to study treatment of the disease at all."
Small Animal Rehabilitation Program
The Small Animal Rehabilitation Program was established at A&M three years ago, and has seen a steady rise in interest by those who want to do everything possible in assisting their pets to heal more quickly and regain strength following surgery or injury. "Our goal is to get the animal back to its pre-injury status as quickly and safely as possible, with an emphasis on patient comfort and good quality of life," said Dr. Sharon Kerwin, the school's associate professor of small animal surgery.
The program is similar to physical therapy for humans. Services offered include therapeutic exercises, individualized home exercise programs, neuromuscular stimulation, therapeutic ultrasound, aquatic treadmill and thermal agents. Among the common conditions that benefit from these services are osteoarthritis/degenerative joint disease, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and neurological conditions. Patients also include animals recovering from orthopedic surgery and sports-related injuries.
Not surprisingly, animal rehabilitation has gained popularity among pet guardians who have themselves benefited from participation in physical therapy programs. As a result, animal rehabilitation clinics are popping up across the United States.
When choosing a clinic for a pet, said Dr. Kerwin, it is crucial that owners inquire about the credentials of the person performing the rehabilitation, even if that person is a "human" physical therapist. "Dog and cat anatomy and diseases are very different from humans," she explained. Animal rehab technicians should have participated in an animal rehabilitation training program and have solid experience with a range of modalities, such as ultrasound and electrical stimulation.
Gastrointestinal Lab
The Gastrointestinal Lab provides specialized testing services, which allows veterinarians to submit samples that help them diagnose and treat GI diseases in dogs, cats and, in some cases, other species. The testing frequently benefits pets suffering from diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, poor body condition and appetite problems. It is the only GI lab of its type in the world, and the tests that are performed here are considered the international gold standard by the veterinary profession.
"What makes us different from a service lab is our research. We have the largest research group in veterinary gastroenterology in the world. There are 10 vets in our lab conducting research on diagnostic tests, drugs—virtually everything," said Dr. Jörg Steiner, associate professor of small animal internal medicine and director of the GI Lab.
Dr. Steiner pointed out that GI disease is one of the most common problems in pets. As a result, the GI Lab receives approximately 900 samples per week, including serum, fecal, urine and breath, from veterinarians in the United States, Germany, Switzerland and Great Britain.
The lab offers exocrine pancreatic function testing to diagnose exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) and pancreatitis. Animals with EPI cannot digest their food because the pancreas does not function properly; the disease is treated with pancreatic enzymes. Pancreatitis is an often deadly disease, especially in pets who remain undiagnosed.
A test for protein-losing enteropathy is also utilized to detect loss of protein in the GI tract. The disease is common in many breeds, especially the Yorkshire Terrier, Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier and Norwegian Lundehund.
Another frequently requested test determines serum cobalamin deficiency, also known as vitamin B-12 deficiency. The disease is common and, Dr. Steiner explained, easily treated. "It is very important to have this test if a dog or cat suffers from chronic diarrhea," he noted.
Lab testing is also available for bacterial overgrowth, hepatic function, systemic inflammation, and GI permeability and mucosal function. Samples must be sent to the lab by a licensed veterinarian—Texas licensure law prevents the GI Lab veterinarians from speaking directly with individuals unless their pets are patients at the small animal hospital.
Using the school's one-of-a-kind diagnostic procedures and cutting-edge treatment methods, veterinarians at the Texas A&M University College of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences give pet owners everywhere one of the greatest gifts of all—healthier and happier friends.