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Standalone Video Capture and Streaming - HDMI or Component, 1080p - USB 2.0
Capture high-definition video to a PC, or to an SD card without a computer, and stream live video over the Internet in real time
Product ID: USB2HDCAPS
- Standalone video capture using SD storage
- Standalone video streaming using the built-in LAN port
- Capture video to your computer through USB
- Hassle-free operation
- Easy-to-use software included
- H.264 encoding
- HDMI video passthrough
- NTSC and PAL systems supported
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This high-definition capture device lets you record an HDMI or component video source, with audio, through a USB port on your computer.
With two standalone modes for recording or streaming, the capture device lets you record directly to an SD card for standalone capture, or use the built-in LAN port to stream video over the Internet.
Capture or stream 1080p video
This versatile capture device features an SD card slot, which lets you record video directly to a card without having to connect the capture device to your computer. It's the perfect way to save time, while adding support for non-Windows® based platforms such as Mac computers or Android™ tablets. Software is also included enabling you to stream or record content with your Windows based computer.
For hassle-free video streaming, the capture box also has a built-in RJ45 network port that enables you to connect the capture device directly to your router or switch. With this standalone network connectivity you can instantly stream your video source over the Internet using streaming services such as Twitch®.
Easy-to-use software
The device encodes in H.264, the most widely adopted video codec in the world, so you can rest assured that your video captures will be compatible with almost any device platform with no editing or converting required. H.264 is also widely supported by most software titles including Adobe® Premiere® and Windows Media® Encoder.
Plus, the included software lets you take screenshots, schedule recordings and instantly stream your video source over the Internet. The software is compatible with NTSC and PAL systems, which is perfect for professional video archiving applications where source media can change from project to project.
Hassle-free operation
This device features one-key capture for simple push-button video recording using the included software, or push-button capture and streaming while in standalone mode.The built-in video pass-through ports enable real-time video review while you capture or stream content.
To maximize portability, the capture device is USB powered, so you don't have to use an additional power adapter or find an available wall outlet.
- This USB video capture device will not record digitally encrypted content.
- When streaming standalone video without the PC software, the maximum supported resolution is 720p.
- Standalone streaming supports SD cards up to 64G (FAT32 File system), HiSpeed (Class 10) SD Card is recommended.
The USB2HDCAPS is backed by a 2-year StarTech.com warranty and free lifetime technical support.
- Archive videos in a digital library
- Create walkthroughs and how-to tutorial videos
- Capture video for screencasts, product demonstrations, online tutorials, classroom lectures, presentations, or conferences
Product Numbers
Ingram Micro Belgium
Ingram Micro España
Ingram Micro Italy
Ingram Micro Netherlands
Ingram Micro Sweden
ALSO Denmark
Exertis IE
Ingram DK
Ingram Finland
Ingram Micro France
Tech Data - Belgium
Tech Data - France
Tech Data - Italy
Tech Data - Netherlands
UPC Code
Technical Specifications
|Warranty Information
|2 Years
|AV Input
|AV Output
|Chipset ID
|Analog Devices - ADV7513
|Industry Standards
|Video Encoding: MPEG4/H.264
|Important standalone operation notes
Maximum resolution for standalone video streaming is 720p.
Your SD card must be formatted in FAT32.
Maximum supported SD card size is 64 GB
Class 10 or above SD card is recommended
|Audio Specifications
|HDMI or Component RCA Stereo
|Maximum Data Transfer Rate
|100 Mbps
|Maximum Digital Resolutions
|Video input: 1080p/30/50/60
Video capturing: 1080p/30
Software Video streaming: 1080p
Standalone Video streaming: 720p/30
|Supported Resolutions
|1080i/p, 720p, 576i/p, 480i/p
|Connector A
|1 - Component Video (3 x RCA) Female Input
|1 - HDMI (19 pin) Female Input
|1 - Stereo Audio (2 x RCA) Female Input
|1 - USB B (4 pin) Female Output
|Connector B
|1 - HDMI (19 pin) Female Output
|1 - SD / MMC Slot Receptacle
|1 - RJ-45 Female
|OS Compatibility
|Windows® 10 (32/64bit), 8 / 8.1 (32/64bit), 7 (32/64bit), Vista (32/64bit), XP (32/64bit)
|LED Indicators
|1 - Video Source
|1 - USB (Power)
|Power Source
|Operating Temperature
|0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F)
|Storage Temperature
|-5°C to 60°C (23°F to 140°F)
|Physical Characteristics
|Product Height
|2.7 cm [1.1 in]
|Product Length
|13.8 cm [5.4 in]
|Product Width
|86 mm [3.4 in]
|Weight of Product
|160 g [5.6 oz]
|Packaging Information
|Package Height
|71 mm [2.8 in]
|Package Length
|29.3 cm [11.5 in]
|Package Width
|19.2 cm [7.6 in]
|Shipping (Package) Weight
|0.5 kg [1.2 lb]
|What's in the Box
|Included in Package
|1 - Capture Device
|1 - USB 2.0 Cable
|1 - HDMI Cable
|1 - Instruction Manual
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Product Support
- [USB2HDCAPS] Standalone Capture and Streaming Adapter.zip Version: 1.0.15.0612
- USB2HDCAPS_Firmware.zip Version: 1.5.38
- VivaStation.zip Version: 1.02.51.0383
- ShareView.zip
Data Sheets
Frequently Asked Questions
Before You Buy
You can use a video capture device to capture or record an audio and video output signal to a connected computer. You can use USB, ExpressCard, or PCI Express technology to connect a video capture device to a computer system. StarTech.com has video capture devices that can capture audio and video from sources such as HDMI, DVI, VGA, S-Video, component, or composite. The captured signals are usually recorded with software that is included with the video capture device. Some software will also stream the captured signals online.
Select a capture device that features the audio and video connections you want to use. These can be identified on the product page, under the Technical Specifications tab. Whenever possible, you should avoid using adapters or converters with video capture devices as they can cause issues or negatively impact the quality of the audio or video signals being captured.
When looking at a video capture device that requires software to use, it is important to consider the operating system you want to use it on. You can find this on the product page under the Technical Specifications tab, which only lists supported operating systems.
Consider what resolution and refresh rate you require. You can find the supported resolutions and refresh rates on the product page, under the Technical Specifications tab in the Performance section.
Video capture device usually use drivers and software to record audio and video. Both the drivers and the software can be found on the product page under the Support tab. Different software will have different features so it's a good idea to review the software to make sure it is a good fit for your intended usage. You can do so by looking at the manual for the device, also located on the Support tab. StarTech.com only supports the software included with the video capture device.
HDCP stands for High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection. This system protects high definition video from being intercepted, modified, or recorded between the source and the display. All StarTech.com devices adhere to the HDCP standard, so they do not record HDCP-protected content. HDCP content that is being blocked often appears as a blank screen or a screen with an HDCP error shown on it.
Certain video capture devices allow you to stream video feeds online with streaming platform such as YouTube. For more information, review the product manual or watch our video on this subject. You can find a link to the video in the description. If at this point you have further questions about a Startech.com video capture device contact our technical support team for further assistance.
Although you may be able to plug in all of the connectors used for video standards associated with video capture cards/cables, you may still encounter issues that may prevent the video from being captured correctly.
About copyright protection
Some video sources implement copyright protection when you are plugging into a non-display device. Examples of copyright protection include the following:
High Definition Content Protection (HDCP). This type of copyright protection is included with DVI and HDMI® and can appear as a video error or blank screen. HDCP may also appear on the screen.
Analogue Content Protection (ACP). This type of copyright protection is included with analogue video (for example, composite, s-video, or component). ACP can appear as a brightness pulsing up and down.
Copyright protection cannot legally be bypassed, and StarTech.com does not offer any products that do so.
Using video adapters
It is possible to passively convert video signals to different connector types, but the video standards will not always match between the video source and video destination. You may need to actively convert from one video type to another to ensure that the correct conversion is being made. When a passive converter is not available, most video standards can be converted with active converters.
Examples of incompatible passive conversions include the following:
- VGA source to composite or component (RCA) video, or composite or component (RCA) video to VGA.
- Composite (RCA) source to s-video.
- VGA to DVI-D and DVI-D to VGA.
Note: S-video to composite can be passively converted. DVI-I/DVI-A and VGA can be used bidirectionally.
About output resolution
If your video source has the ability to change resolutions (for example, a computer), it may be possible to send an incompatible resolution. To verify that the correct resolution is being used, navigate to www.StarTech.com and click the Technical Specifications tab for your product. Make note of the Industry Standards and Maximum Resolution specifications.
In the operating system's display management, you can adjust your video source to match or go below the maximum resolution and if possible, the refresh rate of your capture card.
Due to High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP), it is not possible to record from certain gaming consoles. HDCP content (for example, movies) are protected, but the console itself may or may not have permanent HDCP enabled on the HDMI output.
For more information about consoles and their permanent HDCP enforcement, consult the following table:
|Permanent HDCP
PlayStation 3
|PlayStation 4
Optional. You can change the settings in the menu.
Wii U
XBox 360
|XBox One
You can use a video capture card with consoles that do not have permanent HDCP enabled.
Certain StarTech.com video capture cards are compatible with DirectShow and will work with many third-party video capture applications that are compatible with DirectShow. For more information on DirectShow compatible video capture cards, refer to the following FAQ: https://www.startech.com/faq/video-capture-cards-directshow.
Although third-party software might work with this video capture card, StarTech.com does not officially support or endorse the use of third-party applications.
No, you cannot use this capture card to turn your video camcorder into a webcam. This capture card does not use a DirectShow compatible driver, which is a requirement for many of the software applications that enable you to use your video camcorder as a webcam.
For a list of video capture cards that you can use to turn a video camcorder into a webcam, refer to the following FAQ: https://www.startech.com/faq/video-capture-cards-webcam-capable.
In order for network streaming to work with ShareView, your network infrastructure must have a DHCP server included on the network. The DHCP server issues an IP address to the USB2HDCAPS and allows any computer on the same network running ShareView to discover the USB2HDCAPS.
When you use network streaming with the USB2HDCAPS, consider the following:
A static IP address cannot be set.
Only a 10/100 connection is required.
StarTech.com only supports the use of ShareView software for network streaming and does not support the use of third-party streaming software.
This video capture card cannot record from more than one input at the same time.
Note: Although the USB2HDCAPS can be connected to multiple computers on the same network, only one device can capture video at a time.
Before you install the USB2HDCAPS, do the following:
Make sure that your operating system is current (for example, the most recent service pack is installed).
Make sure that Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 is installed.
To verify if .NET Framework 3.5 is installed and install it if it is not installed, complete the following steps:
- Press the Windows key + X, and then click Programs and Features.
- Click Turn Windows features on or off.
- Find .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0) at the top of the list, and do one of the following.
- If there is a small box inside of the .NET Framework 3.5 check box, .NET Framework is installed on your system and no further action is required.
- If there is not a small box inside of the .NET Framework 3.5 check box, click inside of the check box and then click OK. Windows will start installing .NET Framework 3.5 on your system.
Before you complete the following, make sure that .NET Framework is installed on your system.
- Navigate to http://www.startech.com/Support and download the latest software. The part number is USB2HDCAPS.
Note: Windows usually saves the files to the Downloads folder that is associated with your user account (for example, C:\Users\your_name\Downloads).
- When the download is complete, right-click the zip folder that you downloaded, select Extract All, and follow the on-screen instructions.
- In the list of extracted files, right-click the setup.exe file and select Run as Administrator.
Note: If the Run as Administrator option is not available, you might be attempting to run the installer from within the zipped file. Extract the files using the instructions in step 2.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software.
When the software finishes downloading, it will be ready to use.
Before you install the device, make sure that your operating system is current (for example, the most recent service pack is installed).
- Navigate to http://www.startech.com/Support and download the latest software. The part number is USB2HDCAPS.
Note: Windows usually saves the files to the Downloads folder that is associated with your user account (for example, C:\Users\your_name\Downloads).
- When the download is complete, right-click the zip folder that you downloaded, select Extract All, and follow the on-screen instructions.
- In the list of extracted files, right-click the setup.exe file and select Run as Administrator.
Note: If the Run as Administrator option is not available, you might be attempting to run the installer from within the zipped file. Extract the files using the instructions in step 2.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software.
When the software finishes downloading, it will be ready to use.
How to
To confirm that Windows detects your USB device, complete the following:
- Press the Windows key+R, type devmgmt.msc, and press Enter.
- In Device Manager, under the appropriate heading, confirm that your expansion card is listed and that there isn't an exclamation mark next to it. For example, a USB controller card would be under Universal Serial Bus controllers.
Your USB device is listed according to the name of the chipset. To determine the name of the chipset of your USB device, navigate to www.StarTech.com and look on the Technical Specifications tab for your product.
A single USB2HDCAPS can stream over the network to multiple systems simultaneously. This allows multiple systems running ShareView to view or record the input to the USB2HDCAPS.
Multiple USB2HDCAPS can also exist on the network and can be selected in the ShareView Settings menu.
Only the first system that is connected to the USB2HDCAPS can change the settings; other systems that are connected to the unit can only view and record the video data.
Note: While third-party software may work with the USB2HDCAPS, StarTech.com only supports the use of ShareView software for network streaming.
- Open a web browser and navigate to https://www.youtube.com/live_dashboard.
- Under Encoder setup, copy and save the Server URL from the bottom of the page (you need the link to complete step 7).
- Click Reveal and copy and save the Stream name/key from the same area (you need this to complete step 8).
- Open ShareView.
- Click Settings > Live Stream Settings.
- In the Website drop-down menu, click Custom RTMP.
- In the URL field, paste the link that you recorded in step 2.
- In the StreamKey field, paste the text that you recorded in step 3.
Note: There needs to be a "/" between the name and key.
- On the ShareView page, click the blue live button.
A Windows 10 update may prevent a Capture Device from being detected by your Computer. Enabling access to your Camera and Microphone will resolve this issue.
To enable access to your Camera:
- Click the Start icon.
- Click the Settings icon.
- Click the Privacy tile.
- Click Camera.
- Locate the slider that says Let apps use my camera. Toggle this slider to the On position.
To enable access to your Microphone:
- Click the Start icon.
- Click Settings icon.
- Click Privacy tile.
- Click Microphone.
- Locate the slider that says Let apps use my microphone. Toggle this slider to the On position.
When you troubleshoot issues with a video capture device, there are some quick tests that you can complete to rule out potential problems. You can test to make sure that the following components are working correctly and are not the source of the issue:
Video cables
Video source
Video capture device
To test your setup components, try the following:
Use the video cables, source, and capture device in another setup to see if the problem is with the components or the setup.
Use a different video cable, source, and capture device in your setup to see if the problem persists. Ideally, you should test a component that you know works in another setup.
When you test your cables, it is recommended that you do the following:
Test each cable individually.
Use short cables when you are testing.
When you test the video cables and source with the video capture device, make sure that the following is true:
Other video destinations work with the same video source. For more information, visit http://www.startech.com/faq/video_capture_cards_source_compatibility.
Adapters and extenders are kept to a minimum.
The video source is not copyright protected (for example, HDCP).
The video standard (for example, NTSC, PAL, HDMI, and so on) of the video source matches the Technical Specifications of the video capture device.
To check if the video capture device is detected in Windows®, complete the following:
Press the Windows key + R, type devmgmt.msc, and press Enter to open Device Manager. Check to see if your device is listed under Sound, video and game controllers.
Do one of the following:
If you do not see the video capture device in Device Manager, for more information, visit https://www.startech.com/support/faqs/technical-support?topic=expansion-cards#pci-pcie-cannot-boot-os-or-detect-windows
or https://www.startech.com/support/faqs/technical-support?topic=expansion-cards#usb-cannot-detect-windows.
If the device is listed with an error, follow the instructions on the Support tab on the StarTech.com product page to reinstall the drivers.
When you test the video capture device on your computer, make sure that the driver and capture software is installed on your system for your adapter. Some cards may be able to support third party software, however, support is limited. For more information, visit https://www.startech.com/faq/video-capture-cards-third-party-software.
Note: The USB3HDCAP requires a compatible USB 3.0 card.
You should not upgrade your device's firmware if you do not have any issues with the functionality of your device. The only time you should consider an upgrade is if you are experiencing a problem with the device, and you have confirmed that the firmware addresses this problem. You can confirm this is the case by reviewing the documentation included with the firmware or by consulting with our Technical Support team. Incorrectly upgrading firmware can result in diminished performance so it is best to contact StarTech.com if you would like to perform this operation.
Compliance and Safety
Compliance Letters
Safety Measures
- If product has an exposed circuit board, do not touch the product under power.
- If Class 1 Laser Product. Laser radiation is present when the system is open.
- Wiring terminations should not be made with the product and/or electric lines under power.
- Product installation and/or mounting should be completed by a certified professional as per the local safety and building code guidelines.
- Cables (including power and charging cables) should be placed and routed to avoid creating electric, tripping or safety hazards.
* Product appearance and specifications are subject to change without notice.


text: THE HIGHLY anticipated Philippine Duathlon series has bared its calendar for the coming season starting with the first leg on March 30, 2014 (Sunday) at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in General Trias, Cavite. The coming year is definitely loaded as organizer Adrenaline Multisport of Thumbie and Popo Remigio has lined up other events to keep athletes busy. READ MORE

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The front office of the minor league St. Paul Saints definitely has a sense of humor and I like that in a baseball organization. Too often baseball brass comes off as overly conservative and deftly bland in their everyday business of running a ballclub, getting fans to the park and making a playoff push. But we are US Americans, and there really should be no limit to our creativity, especially when it comes to special promotions.
And that is where the Saints have definitely gone well beyond Bill Veeck's "Disco Demoliton Night" when they gave away Larry Craig Bobblefeet to the first 2500 fans who came for the May 25 game against the Fort Worth Cats. According to The Smoking Gun:
"…the polyresin giveaway depicts an occupied bathroom stall (the
inhabitant's pants and shoes can be seen below the stall's panels).
When the St. Paul Saints's "bobblefoot" is shaken, one of the
spring-loaded feet taps."
Ah, the infamous foot tapping for sex in an airport men's room of Republican Larry Craig. These classic reports of prominent US American leaders finding themselves in a world of scandal never get old do they? And heck, if it will get people to the ballpark, why not promote the hell out of it!
In the wake of this paradigm shift for baseball front offices I have proposed three other promotional bobble packages for MLB:
Senator John L. Burton BobbleHand Night at San Francisco's AT&T Park:
In lieu of allegations that former Sen. Burton made sexually charged comments while miming a lewd masturbatory act with his hand at a female aid, the Giants will be giving out these BobbleHands to celebrate the pride of California politics.
Governor Elliot Spitzer BobbleCallgirl Night at Washington D.C.'s Nationals Park:
After admitting to having a problem with paying for sexual services, Gov. Spitzer and his wild times will be celebrated in the district where he got caught, much to the chagrin of Washington Nationals fans who, let's face it, really have nothing else to be excited about. *Note: This BobbleCallgirl does more than just bobble.
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick BobbleText Night at Detroit's Comerica Park:
As if Mayor Kilpatrick couldn't get himself in any more trouble, this whole extramarital affair with a female aid came into focus once the Detroit Free Press reported more than 14,000 lewd text messages between the two using city funded cell phones. Nevermind the lewdness. Who in their right mind would ever write 14,000 text messages!?! Call her next time, Kwame! In any case, to celebrate this timely scandal and to get fans' minds off the fact that their underachieving Tigers are really bad this year, the Tigers will be offering these BobbleText replicas of cell phones that bobble back and forth. Special attention was made so that each fans' BobbleText is unique and extremely offensive no matter what it might say.
These are just a few ideas, folks. You'll probably notice that the special promotions above are all for terrible teams that really need a reason for their fans to be excited. Of course, I'd be happy to offer more ideas, but I don't work for free…
…so until I see the dollar $ign$, enjoy the Memorial Day holiday (with a special shout-out to my late grandfather Larry Hocker who served bravely in the Korean War) and don't hate me 'cuz I'm right.


text:
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I, Zobeide DeWolf of the Town of Stafford County of Genesee and State of New York, do make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following, that is to say :
First.-- I direct the payment of my just debts, if any.
Second.--I give and bequeath my real estate consisting of my house and two acres of land be the same more or less and the other buildings thereon to my daughter Emily J. Mann.
Third.--I give and bequeath to each of my children an equal part of my personal property.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal, the twentieth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-three.
Zobeide DeWolf
The above partly written and partly printed instrument was subscribed by the said Zobeide in our presence and acknowledged by her to each of us ; and she at the same time declared the above instrument so subscribed by her to be her last Will and Testament ; and we, at her request, sign our names as attesting witnesses hereto, in her presence, and in the presence of each other, and write opposite our names our respective places of residence.
Rose E. Vallett residing at Stafford New York
Henry Vallett residing at Stafford New York
The People of the State of New York, by the Grace of God Free and Independent :
To Lydia A. Kellogg, Mary C. Tuttle, John H. DeWolf, Sprague P. DeWolf, Emily J. Mann, Albert DeWolf, Sanford E. DeWolf, Helen I. Sanford, Henry C. DeWolf, Nancy A. Ball and Zeboida Gray, heirs at law and next of kin of Zobeida [sic] DeWolf late of the town of Bethany in the County of Genesee, deceased, GREETING :
You and each of you are cited to appear before the Surrogate of the County of Genesee, at his office in the town of Batavia, in said County, on the 23rd day of May 1898, at ten o'clock, in the forenoon of that day, to attend the proof and probate of the last Will and Testament of said deceased, which related to real and personal estate, and is presented for proof and probate by Orin J. DeWolf Executor therein named.
And those of you who are under the age of twenty-one years are required to appear by your guardian, if you have one ; if you have none, that you appear and apply for one to be appointed. In the event of your neglect or failure to do, a guardian will be appointed by the Surrogate to represent and act for you in this proceeding.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, we have caused the seal of office of our said
Surrogate to be hereunto affixed.
Witness, SAFFORD E. NORTH, Surrogate of our said County, at the
Village of Batavia, the 2nd day of April A.D., 1898
F. A. Lewis
Clerk Surrogate's Court.
Copy of this will obtained by my cousin, Claire.


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UH Manoa botany professor awarded prestigious grant to study hydraulic design of leaves
Study to focus on native Hawaiian plant lineages; mentorship program to be developed for Hawaiian students interested in plant researchUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Botany Department
HONOLUU — One of the largest biology awards given to support the early career development activities of teachers and scholars has been awarded to Lawren Sack, assistant professor of Botany at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Sack received an $887,989 grant from the National Science Foundation's Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program for a five-year study of the coordination of leaf hydraulics, structure and gas exchange.
The study of leaf hydraulics involves the use of new techniques to measure the movement of water through a leaf's vein network and membranes. Sack and his colleagues have recently found that the leaf is a major bottleneck in the movement of water through the whole plant, and that leaf hydraulic properties would be a strong factor in determining growth rates and responses to the environment.
The grant will support Sack's work in explaining how strong a limit the leaf hydraulic system imposes on whole-plant performance, and how and why leaves differ across species and environments in vein architecture and in other aspects of leaf anatomy and function.
"We are after general principles of leaf design that have developed as optimality solutions during evolution," said Sack.
Sack's study will focus on native Hawaiian plant lineages that have diversified in leaf structure and function, including ferns and flowering plants. Native Hawaiian species and invasive species will be studied in common gardens and across the dramatic natural moisture and soil age gradients of Hawaiʻi. "This work has the potential to contribute toward prediction of the impacts of climate change on plant function, and in particular, their responses to drought," said Sack.
Sack also plans to collaborate with other experts inside and outside of the university to develop a database on the structure, physiology and ecology of the entire Hawaiian flora, including native and alien plants, to understand their biology and to predict the impacts on plants of environmental change. In this work, Sack hopes to create new resources that will be made available to researchers worldwide.
The research will be integrated with undergraduate and graduate courses, and will involve the creation of a new mentorship program to provide increased access for native Hawaiians to scientific training and careers, based on the study of unique Hawaiian flora.
Sack joined the Botany Department in the College of Natural Sciences at UH Mānoa as an assistant professor in August 2003. Previously, he was a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University from 2001 to 2003. Sack received his Ph.D. degree in plant physiology and ecology from Cambridge University in 2001.
For more information about Sack and his work, visit http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/sack/.
About CAREER
The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of the early career-development activities of those teacher-scholars who most effectively integrate research and education within the context of the mission of their organization. Such activities should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of integrated contributions to research and education.


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In the Learn-n-Serve Environmental Anthropology Field School (LEAF), at Edmonds Community College, Washington, we study a little-known society: our own. We combine participant observation, the primary method of investigation for cultural anthropologists, with service-learning to engage the students in the community while working with tribes, governments, community organizations, cooperatives, and farms to improve sustainability. Every Friday, or every day of the week in summer, I meet my students for a full day outdoors. Most field schools study a foreign culture, but LEAF reconnects its students with nature and the complex systems of our own society.
We ask basic questions: Where does our water or food come from? Who are our neighbors—especially plants and animals? Outdoor service is a rich learning environment for finding the complex answers. As we help the Stillaguamish Tribe document Coho salmon escapement, my students learn about tribal fishing rights and the Puget Sound ecosystem. They practice scientific methodology and marine zoology, surveying juvenile Dungeness crab habitat for the local Marine Resources Committee. When we take water samples from an urban stream, they learn about the effect of their own pet wastes and lawn maintenance. While helping a landowner restore the riparian zone near a water source, students learn to identify native species while planting them and invasive species while removing them.
It can be challenging to teach young people about the huge problems facing our ecosystems and societies. In one exercise, my students research the effect that one piece of their stuff has on the environment—and some feel overwhelmed. However, I see joy on their faces as we help restore habitat or meet the leaders of a self-supporting food bank that dignifies it clients. My students learn that we have lots of problems—but at the same time, every project in which they participate is part of a solution. Service-learning is the key to giving our students hope. Meeting the people who have chosen this work as a career inspires them, and expands their ideas of what's possible in their future careers.
We spend several classes in the forest, identifying plants with field guides, following animal tracks, and listening to bird songs while collecting data for land managers. Why do I teach this small, specific information? Because it creates relationships. When you learn the name of a plant, it's like learning the name of a person. After you protect or plant a certain species, you harbor good memories towards it and recognize it as a friend. You begin to care about it, and wonder if the other, unknown plants have names, too.
Is this anthropomorphizing? Perhaps, but it's also how humans have always learned: by forming relationships and telling stories about the world. Coyotes, for instance, are wise trickster characters in many Native American stories. Most of us today don't realize that coyotes live all around us, even in cities. Once you hear the Coyote stories, recognize their tracks and see their pictures on our wildlife cameras; you start to care about what's going on with coyotes. You must begin by learning the names, because without that, you can't have a relationship.
A former student wrote about how learning the names of native trees changed her attitude towards her new home:
"Until this quarter, I had felt like I lived in a confined, wet blur of green and grey. Now, I am familiar with what is around me, and I want to take care of all of it. The plants around me have names and I know how to use them. They have become important enough to me, through this class, that I care about what happens to them and whether or not they continue to exist."—Victoria Quezada
Another student wrote about the community awareness she found from local relationships, built through the service learning experiences:
"To physically go out and restore the riparian zone along rivers with a group of great people is a feeling of fulfillment that is difficult to describe. To experience a town meeting and hear the real passion and concerns voiced by the community living there drew me closer to Edmonds. To join a group of people that care and are involved in a bettering the world we live in with action and physical labor was more than a wonderful experience; it is something I will never forget."—Jacklyn Wardlow
In the words of another anthropologist, Margaret Mead, "never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world." Service learning at the LEAF School introduces my students to other committed citizens, and gives them reasons to care. They give each other hope and begin to believe that we can change the world.
5 LEAF Tips to Nibble On—Tom Murphy's Advice on Service-Learning
- Become Involved
The most important thing teachers can do is volunteer themselves in the community. Use the connections to create service learning for your students. Pay attention to your community, and read the local newspaper.
- Go to the Source
We all drink water, and we all eat food, so visiting the sources of these resources is guaranteed to be a relevant experience. After touring a Cedar River dam, which supplies all of the Seattle area's drinking water, one of my students wrote, "I never honestly looked at water use as problem before. It all hits home when you are standing there and you see firsthand, the history and the people that work so hard to keep our water clean and safe." Most of my students have never seen a farm, so we volunteer at organic farms. Just realizing that someone grows your food is so important.
- Learn Specifics
Having a relationship with a species or an ecosystem increases your will to care for it. You can't have a relationship without knowing someone's name – so learn the names, stories, and uses of the plants, birds, mammals, insects and fish living around you.
- Introduce NGO Heroes
Non-governmental organizations bring together the people who are committed to a cause and making real contributions to our community. Don't miss the chance to work with them. Meeting these people gives students realistic hope, and ideas of what's possible in their future career.
- Reflect
Reflections helps students connect the dots between their experience and larger issues in ecology. Group conversations are helpful, but individual reflection, especially in writing, is most important for turning service into learning.
Tom Murphy, PhD, is a professor of anthropology at Edmonds Community College, in Edmonds, Washington. He taught Anthropology and American Indian Studies, including projects in ethnobiology, at the University of Washington before founding the LEAF School in the spring of 2006. After years of exploring waste water impacts, he can honestly say that class visits to a sewage treatment plant can be a moving experience.
Learn more about the LEAF School and training opportunities for K-12 teachers at .
This article was edited by Kristen Ballinger from an interview with Tom Murphy.


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Outreach Workshop: Crime Lab
We'll use science to brush up on our logical thinking and problem solving skills as students are immersed in the intriguing world of forensics. They'll need to work together to solve our mock crime.
Fees are determined by distance from the Museum:
- Within 25 miles: $500
- 26-50 miles: $530
- 51+ miles: $530 + $.58 per mile
- Each additional hour: $125
Michigan K-12 Science Standards
Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
Pre-visit Vocabulary
Accomplice: Second person associated with committing a crime.
Alibi: Statement of where a suspect was at the time of a crime.
Antibody: Substance produced by the immune system to help destroy foreign substances in the body.
Antigen: Protein marker on the outside of cells.
Charity: Giving of gifts or money.
Chromatography: Process used to separate the parts of a mixture.
Dactylography: Study of fingerprints.
Estate: A large piece of land with a large house on it.
Forensic science: Field of science involved in analyzing evidence.
Fraud: Attempting to trick or deceive.
Jury: People selected to hear a trial and determine guilt or innocence.
Solute: Substance being dissolved.
Solvent: Substance that dissolves another substance.
Suspect: Person thought to be capable of committing a crime.
Post-visit Activity
Post-visit activities provide your students with an opportunity to review workshop-presented concepts and introduce related subjects. Below you will find a classroom extension activity and a list of suggested resources for further exploration. We hope that you enjoyed our Outreach Hands-On Workshop and we look forward to visiting your students again!
Extend your experience with the Crime Lab into other areas of your curriculum by trying one or more of the following ideas!
- Using the Crime Lab Data Sheets completed during the workshop, have small groups of students work together to make graphs and/or charts to represent the data they collected.
- Have students make up their own mysteries alone or in small groups. Mysteries might be written as short stories or as plays to perform for the class.
- Take your class on a field trip to a local crime lab, or invite a police detective, forensic scientist, or person in a related occupation to come to class, make a brief presentation and answer student questions about their work. Ask the presenter to explain the scientific basis for what they do.
- Encourage students to read mysteries — literature that stimulates logical thinking processes and problem solving skills can extend the learning done in the Crime Lab class to mathematics, language arts, social studies and other areas.
Suggested Resources
- Butler, William Vivian. The Kid Detective Handbook. Little, Brown & Company, Boston, MA. 1995.
- Jones, Charlotte Foltz. Fingerprints and Talking Bones: How Real Life Crimes Are Solved. Yearling Books. 1999.
- Rainis, Kenneth G. Crime-Solving Science Projects: Forensic Science Experiments. Enslow Publishers, Inc. 2000.
- Silverstein, Herman. Threads of Evidence: Using Forensic Science to Solve Crimes. Twenty First Century Books. 1997.
- Walker, Pam and Elaine Wood. Crime Scene Investigations: Real-Life Science Activities for the Elementary Grades. The Center for Applied Research in Education. West Nyack, NY. 1999.
- Walker, Pam and Elaine Wood. Crime Scene Investigations: Real-Life Science Activities for Grades 6–12. The Center for Applied Research in Education. West Nyack, NY. 1999.
- CIA's Homepage for Kids
- Secrets of the Dead From Krakatoa to Hindenburg, scientific sleuths attempt to solve the greatest mysteries of the past.
- The Science of Crime: The Why Files' forensic science pages


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If recent polls may be believed, most Americans now see their country as seriously troubled. For conservatives the times are especially disturbing. We are deeply opposed to the political philosophy now in power but are also alarmed at the resulting economic policies. We believe the solutions now in progress will be more damaging than the problems they are supposed to solve.
Among principled conservatives feelings about the situation range from intense frustration to utter futility. To many, the segment of Bible-believing Christendom that eschews politics is looking more and more like home. They are eying the creed that participation in politics has little or nothing to do with our responsibilities as followers of Jesus Christ and finding it increasingly attractive.
Over the last few months, I have also felt the appeal of tuning out. But certain realities have doggedly called me back to the belief that in a nation such as ours Christians can and must be involved in politics. And we have this responsibility even if—perhaps especially if—it appears we will accomplish nothing.
God cares what nations do
A principle feeding my conviction that believers should be involved in politics is the fact that God has expectations of nations. He is not "judge of all the earth" in a solely individualistic sense, nor is He concerned only with the salvation (and transformation) of individuals. Consider, for example, God's rebuke of the nations in Amos 1:3-15. Here He finds fault not so much with how individual citizens have behaved but with how they have acted collectively as a nation. And they are judged accordingly.
Thus says the Lord: "For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have threshed Gilead with implements of iron." (Amos 1:3 NKJV)
What's more, at least once in Amos the judgment of a nation has nothing to do with its treatment of Israel or Judah.
Thus says the Lord: "For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime. But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth; Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting and trumpet sound. 3And I will cut off the judge from its midst, and slay all its princes with him," says the Lord. (Amos 2:1-3 NKJV)
Here God holds the national entity called Moab to an ethical standard which it had violated by its handling of the remains of the king of Edom (a nation condemned for sins of its own in 1:11). Apparently, God has ethical expectations for what nations do when acting as nations. In other words He cares about national policy.
Given the fact that policy in America is shaped by the involvement of the electorate, we cannot separate policy from politics. If God cares about what nations do as nations, He cares about what the United Sates does as a nation, and He cares about the politics that shape what we do.
We are the government
Amos and other prophets show that God expects nations to treat other nations properly. Similarly, Romans 13 reveals that God expects nations to govern their own citizens properly, and He assigns specific responsibilities to government. Verse 4 indicates that the governing authorities "bear the sword" and serve as diakonoi (servants) and ekdikoi (justice givers or punishers) for God. The words good and evil appear repeatedly in the passage, emphasizing that government's duties are ethical and moral.
It's impossible to take these verses seriously and conclude that God does not care what happens in Congress or in my state assembly. But the implications of the passage for a society such as ours extend much further.
By design, the United States is a nation of laws shaped by the influences of representative democracy. The founders did not aim to give every man an equal voice in state or national policy, but they did aim to give every man an equal voice in whom he would send to act on his behalf (not necessarily to vote as he would vote but to build policy that protects the best interests of his family and his nation). Regular elections—coupled with the right of public protest—were built in to ensure that policy making is never wholly separated from the citizenry.
To say it another way, in America the difference between government and the governed is intentionally blurred by law so that citizens have governing responsibilities (policy-shaping responsibilities), whether they want them or not. To be a citizen is to be an indirect policy maker. In that sense, we are all "the government."
The fact that we are all legally entangled in the policy-making process means that the question is not "Will I be involved in politics and try to shape policy?" but rather "Will I shape policy well or will I, by passivity and silence, shape it poorly?" What we commonly refer to as "not involved in politics" is just a way of saying "not putting any effort into policy-making responsibilities."
Because our government is structured the way it is, the moral and ethical responsibilities of government in Romans 13 are our moral and ethical responsibilities as citizens. The only difference is that, for most of us, our involvement is that of indirect influence rather than direct execution.
The place of prayer
I have often heard that the role of the Christian in earthly politics is simply to pray. Isn't this what we are commanded to do?
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (1 Tim 2:1-2 NKJV)
What the Scriptures require here is clear. Believers must pray for and about those in power and do so with the goal that they will essentially leave us alone.
The passage might seem to imply that we should also leave them alone, but that view extends the passage beyond what it actually says. Rather, prayer is never a substitute for action in Scripture, just as action is never a substitute for prayer. For example, Jesus commanded us to pray that the "Lord of the harvest" would "send out laborers" (Luke 10:2), yet He still commanded us to "go into all the world and preach" (Mark 16:15). The apostle Paul said it was "his prayer to God for Israel that they may be saved" (Rom. 10:1), yet he included outreach to Jews throughout his ministry. Likewise the call to pray for "all who are in authority" does not preclude acting deliberately to influence them.
Taking action when we have neglected prayer is foolish and irreverent, but praying when we ought to be acting is foolish and irresponsible. Imagine that fire fighters have been summoned to the site of a burning apartment complex. They arrive, take positions, unpack the hoses, and connect them to hydrants. But rather than douse the flames, they pull out their cell phones and repeatedly dial 911 as the building burns.
The analogy is imperfect. God possesses the power to intervene directly in the affairs of men and "put out fires" in response to prayer alone. But should we assume that direct intervention alone is His intention when He has not said so and has given us the means to attack the flames ourselves?
Morality shapes everything
A final reality that keeps me from adopting the "politics is none of our business" stance is the fact that the moral condition of a community impacts everything else in it. I cannot fulfill my responsibilities as husband and father as effectively in Sodom as I can in better surroundings. And if Lot chose poorly in going to "the cities of the plain" (Gen. 13:12), am I not choosing poorly if I allow "the cities" to come to me? What's certain is that we and our families cannot be unaffected if moral decadence descends all around us (2 Pet. 2:7-8).
Proverbs underscores this principle.
A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back to pervert the ways of justice. (Prov. 17:23 NKJV)
The proverb describes a perilous situation. A morally corrupt man influences or makes policy but does not do so according to principle or law. He perverts "the ways of justice" by seeing that someone is punished arbitrarily rather than for wrong doing. As this blight spreads in a community, people see less and less relationship between their behavior and what government does to them. Lawlessness increases, and eventually no one anywhere is safe.
If I live in such a place, I can only successfully protect my family and my property (God-given responsibilities) as God intervenes to prevent what is naturally inevitable. But will He intervene in that situation if I could have stemmed the tide of lawlessness years earlier but chose not to?
As declining morality ruins the relationship between law-abiding behavior and personal well being, it also ruins the relationship between labor and personal prosperity.
Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, and for lack of justice there is waste. (Prov 13:23 NKJV)
This proverb can be taken to mean that lack of justice has allowed the poor to be robbed. But the view that answers best to the evidence is that injustice has somehow led the poor to let their land lie idle. This view is more clear in the ESV.
The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice. (Prov 13:23 ESV)
The proverb describes a situation in which the land of the poor could have been producing abundance, but bad policy (or poor execution of good policy) made waste more appealing. The poor here probably feel that growing the crops will do them little good because the fruit of their labor will be taken away, either by robbers or by oppressive taxation. Either way, immoral policy has guaranteed that citizens and their families see little relationship between hard work and food on the table. As that relationship deteriorates in a community, production falls off. Soon there isn't enough of anything.
We're foolish if we believe that bad policy and moral confusion can spread indefinitely without eventually hindering our own ability to live and serve God. Yes, God can intervene to spare His children from the worst that lawlessness and want bring on a society, but should we assume that He will do so if we have the means to influence policy and morality for good but choose instead to "avoid politics"?
Some may object here that we "cannot legislate morality." But in reality government exists for no other reason than to punish "evil" (what is morally wrong) and reward "good" (what is morally right). To the degree Christians can influence policy toward effectiveness in that purpose, we are wise to do so. To do less is to welcome a future of violence, chaos, and poverty, from which God will have no obligation to deliver us.
|Aaron Blumer, SI's site publisher, is a native of lower Michigan and a graduate of Bob Jones University (Greenville, SC) and Central Baptist Theological Seminary (Plymouth, MN). He, his wife, and their two children live in a small town in western Wisconsin, where he has pastored Grace Baptist Church (Boyceville, WI) since 2000. Prior to serving as a pastor, Aaron taught school in Stone Mountain, Georgia, and served in customer service and technical support for Unisys Corporation (Eagan, MN). He enjoys science fiction, music, and dabbling in software engineering.


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Thursday, January 19, 2012
A second night of frustration and sadness
Margaret arrived yesterday morning with the antibiotics, calcium supplement, and thermometer. By that time, I had already figured out that Viola was definitely suffering from hypocalcemia, which is often called "milk fever." About eleven o'clock, I started injecting 50 cc of calcium into Viola. One of the things I had read said that she should receive more injections an hour later, but by then, the goat would be feeling so much better, she would be a challenge to inject. Another thing I read simply said to do three separate series of injections the first day, so I decided to sort of split the difference and do the second series of injections after a few hours.
A few hours later, Viola was not fighting me. In fact, I really did not see any improvement in her at all. Everything I'd read made it sound like treating milk fever was quite simple. Although some sources mentioned that death was possible, it was usually mentioned in the same sentence as, "if left untreated," which was not the case. I also didn't read anything that said to call the vet immediately if the doe doesn't respond within an hour to the calcium injections. It was close to three o'clock, and I started to think that I should call the U of I vet clinic, but it was very clear that Lizzie was going to kid soon, and I couldn't leave her. The vet clinic would probably tell me to bring her in, but I couldn't leave Lizzie alone.
It also occurred to me that I had no idea how I could take her in. I didn't know how I would get her into a crate to put her on the back of the pick-up, which wouldn't be appropriate anyway because it would be freezing back there -- the temperature was in the 20s. The trailer had issues, which left me with the option of using my car, and I'd have to somehow lift her into the car because she certainly couldn't jump. As my brain tried to work this out, I was reminded that Lizzie was going to kid soon, making the whole conversation in my head pointless. I decided to do another series of calcium injections. When doing calcium injections sub-q, you are supposed to split them up into 10 cc injections in various parts of the body. I had just done the second injection when laboring Lizzie screamed and pushed so hard, she almost flipped herself onto her back. I decided that the rest of the injections could wait, so I moved to Lizzie's pen.
An hour later, Lizzie finally kidded -- which I'll tell you about tomorrow -- and of course, it took time to get the kids cleaned up. The colder it is, the longer it takes to get kids dry, even with a blow dryer. It amazes me how you can think a kid is dry, but when you pet them ten minutes later, they feel wet again.
It was almost six o'clock by the time I could think about Viola again. I injected the rest of the calcium and went into the house for dinner. I also pulled out my goat books and read everything I could find in them and online about hypocalcemia. The advice was almost identical from one source to another -- calcium injections. A friend posted my dilemma on a natural care goat group, and suggestions from a variety of people started to come in. I decided to give Viola an oral calcium drench in addition to the injectable, and I made an infusion of a variety of herbs that someone recommended. Although we'd had a heat lamp on her, I decided to cut the arms off of an old sweatshirt and put it on her to help keep her warm. Her body temperature was dropping, which usually means an animal's body is shutting down and they are about to die. However, I continued to hold out hope because everything written on hypocalcemia says that lowered body temperature is a typical symptom.
In the midst of all my reading, I realized that Viola had a symptom of hypocalcemia when she was in labor -- she was shivering, and it was only 45 degrees that day. I knew she shouldn't be shivering on such a warm day, but I didn't realize it was the first symptom of milk fever. The only goats I had ever seen shiver in the past were goats that were giving birth when the temperature was below zero. I began to worry that we had started treatment too late.
After heading back out to the barn, I gave Viola the oral calcium drench and the warm infusion of herbs that I had made. She seemed to enjoy the herbs. Maybe it was just the warmth of the infusion that she liked, but she didn't try to move her head away as I used a drench syringe to squirt it into her mouth. I sat with her and hugged her as her babies jumped all over both of us. I wish she could have told me if she wanted the kids around or not. I thought about moving them to another pen, but I was afraid that would upset her. It wasn't very long before she started to moan. It sounded so terribly human, like a person in pain. I thought about calling the vet clinic's emergency number. Mike would be home any minute and could help me put her into my car, but another part of my brain said it was too late.
A half hour later, she was dead. Her babies were curled up next to her. I didn't have the heart to disturb them. A dozen questions went through my head -- questions about Viola and milk fever and my own thought process -- and I felt horribly guilty. We took Viola's body to the university vet clinic today for a necropsy. It felt so backwards. She should have been there yesterday when she was still alive, when they could have still helped her. It felt so ridiculous giving her history to a vet when she was already dead. But I have to know what went wrong. If we learn nothing from this, then Viola's death would be completely in vain. And that would be even more tragic.
16 comments:
- Mrs Pretzel said...
I'm so so sorry, Deborah!! I hope you get good answers.
- January 19, 2012 at 9:00:00 PM CST
- MichelleH said...
Awwww...I'm so sorry! I can't even imagine...thinking of you!
- January 19, 2012 at 9:00:00 PM CST
- Nancy K. said...
I'm so sorry for your loss. What a horrible experience. And now you have three bottle babies! Oh my...
- January 19, 2012 at 10:34:00 PM CST
- MarmePurl said...
I so enjoyed reading about Viola's big surprise. So this post has me disheartened. I will look forward to reading about the vet's report so that we may all learn from this sad experience.
- January 20, 2012 at 6:33:00 AM CST
- SkippyMom said...
So, so sorry Deborah. Take solace in the fact you did everything you could. I don't know what else could've been done.
Take care.
- January 20, 2012 at 12:34:00 PM CST
- Unknown said...
Gosh, Deborah! I'm so sorry...you are a far braver woman than I, I think I would be a disaster having gone through this sort of tragedy for several days.
Farmers are tough folks. I highly respect you and send hugs and warm thoughts to you!
- January 20, 2012 at 4:34:00 PM CST
- Patty said...
:( As always, I've learned a lot, but I'm terribly sorry that you had to go through all that. What an awesome responsibility it is to care for these lovely creatures, and what a huge learning curve! Peace to you, Deborah.
- January 20, 2012 at 4:48:00 PM CST
- LindaG said...
Really sorry to hear that, Deborah. *hugs*
Don't be too hard on yourself. I don't think I would have been as prepared as you are.
Will any of the other goats that kidded be able to help you feed the kids?
- January 20, 2012 at 5:24:00 PM CST
- Deborah Niemann said...
Thank you all for your condolences. Results from the gross necropsy say that Viola also had pneumonia, which is frustrating because she didn't have any obvious symptoms like a cough, but the vet said that a lack of obvious pneumonia symptoms is typical in adults, so it can be tough to diagnose.
LindaG - I never would have thought that Jo's situation could be a blessing, but she's a very heavy milker and now only has the one doe to feed, so she is helping to feed the triplets. We also have some milk in the freezer, which was going to be used for soap, but will now be used to feed the babies.
- January 20, 2012 at 6:02:00 PM CST
I'm so sorry to hear about your loss.
- January 20, 2012 at 6:16:00 PM CST
- Unknown said...
Take heart. You did the very best you could do. We have had sheep die even when we had the vet come out and administer meds. Sometimes there is really nothing that can be done.
- January 21, 2012 at 12:11:00 PM CST
- Mary Ann said...
I'm glad you posted the conclusion of the necropsy, so that we can all learn from this. I am still trying to learn all I can before I buy... and this, while very sad, has also been helpful.
- January 21, 2012 at 2:45:00 PM CST
- Jenny Holden said...
So sorry to hear this. Keeping livestock is hard sometimes. At least you know that it wasn't mismanagement of Milk-Fever. Pneumonia is a dreaded word to all who keep animals xx
- January 21, 2012 at 2:56:00 PM CST
- dannie said...
I am so sorry that you went thru this experience but I hope there is some comfort in knowing that your efforts to learn what happened has been a good learning resource for others. We lost some beloved pets to rhododendron posioning and my daughter was hysterical saying "how can you keep doing this?" I had to ask that myself after feeling shell shocked from that experience but somehow we persevere. I hoe your new babies thrive and the next births go better.
- January 22, 2012 at 7:32:00 AM CST
- country life said...
Sorry to hear about your loss.
- January 25, 2012 at 6:58:00 PM CST
- labbie1 said...
So sorry to read about your Viola. Hope you find out the problem so that you feel better prepared next time...I know you are sad...
- January 31, 2012 at 2:42:00 PM CST


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Semifinal play in the state tennis tournament begins Thursday (May 17) in Lexington and St. Xavier is again a heavy favorite to claim the team crown.
The Tigers are 18-0 in dual matches this season and cruised to their 30th regional title in 31 years. After downing South Oldham and Trinity in sectional play, the three-time defending champs advanced along with Lone Oak, Henry Clay and Russell.
Perhaps the most impressive player for the Tigers this postseason has been Sean Donohue.
The junior won the Sixth Region singles title in a hard-fought 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 marathon match against teammate and defending champion Alex Gornet and then crushed both of his sectional opponents in straight sets.
The regional title was Donohue's third. He won the singles crown as a freshman and was a regional and state doubles champion last season with partner Joe Siami.
This season Donohue is 16-2 with both losses coming to out-of-state opponents. St. X coach Kerry Lancaster thinks Donohue may turn some heads this weekend.
"Sean can do a little bit of everything. He's got a big solid serve and a good second serve,†said Lancaster. "(The odds of him winning) are better than most people think.â€
Before last week's sectional final, Donohue sat down to answer questions about the evolution of his game and his approach to the state tournament.
Chris Cahill: Was it difficult to square off against Alex Gornet, your friend and teammate, in the Sixth Region singles final?
Sean Donohue: It was really hard, especially because Alex is one of my best friends and we know our games really well. You've got to put that aside and play with a lot of intensity and you can't back down. He might be your best friend off the court but on the court he's a straight enemy. I was kind of worried at first, but after the match and after the pictures we just hung out and talked about the match. We're fine.
You won the regional singles title as a freshman too. How has your game evolved since then?
As a freshman I was a runner and played a lot of defense. I'm much more of an attacker now. I try to put my opponent more on the defense versus when I was a freshman and I would just try to grind my way out of matches.
Do you make any changes in your approach to matches at the state tournament?
What's unfortunate about playing for St. X at state is that everyone is against you. You don't know any of the players that are watching you or any of the parents watching you, but they all want you to lose. As a freshman and sophomore I struggled with the fact that I didn't know these people and they hated me, but I've come to the conclusion that I just need to stay mentally strong and not worry about anyone else besides myself and my game and my opponent.
Do you have any rivals out in the state?
Yes. Beck Pennington, (the defending singles state champ out of Greenwood). I want to play him so badly. He's one of the most talented players in the state …big serve, excellent volleys. I want to beat him so badly.
What areas of your game are you sharpening up?
My mental game is something that I always need to work on. If you look at the pros, physically they are a lot better, but mentally they're all insanely strong. That's something that I always try to work on, especially on these hot summer days when I just want to throw my racket or curse or something.
What is something most people don't know about you?
I've played nine years of piano. I'm a musical kind of guy and I really appreciate all different types of music. I like rap but at the same time I like classical, Bach, Mozart and jazz. When I get mad and need a stress releaser I go to the piano. Sometimes I find myself kind of losing my sense of who I am as player or person and I really like to just leave it out on the piano and re-collect myself there.
Along with sectional team winners, singles and doubles semifinalists from each region advanced to the state tournament. Semifinals are slated for Thursday and Friday with finals to be played at the following times on Saturday at the University of Kentucky's Boone/Downing Tennis Complex:
11 a.m. Boys' Team Finals
Noon Girls' Singles and Doubles Finals
2 p.m. Boys' Singles and Doubles Finals
4 p.m. Girls' Team Finals
Contact columnist Chris Cahill at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Photos By CHRIS CAHILL | Contributing Photographer


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ISB plans to set up second campus; to go global
Source: Business Line
The Indian School of Business (ISB) will be setting up another campus in India besides actively exploring the feasibility of going to foreign shores.
"There has been a consensus in our board that an additional campus in India is highly required keeping in view the growing image of the school," Prof. M. Rammohan Rao, Dean, ISB, told Business Line here.
The school, however, has not zeroed in on any location for the proposed campus and was currently weighing various options.
Further, the school is also mulling launching a campus abroad as well. "All these goals and strategies to be adopted are being hammered as part of Vision 2030 on which we are working for the last six months," the Dean said.
To cater to the growing demand from the corporate world, the school will also ramp up its class strength from the current 425 to 560 from 2009-10. "We are constructing another student's village to support the increased numbers," Mr Rao said.
Consequently, the permanent faculty would also be doubled to 45. "In addition to doubling, we will be introducing special incentives/programmes to attract talented faculty and retain them," he said. As of now, ISB has seen only two faculty quitting from a team of 22 in the last three years.
To increase its focus on research, the six-year-old school would introduce pre-doctoral course from the next academic year.
"It would be a two-year foundation course in methodology and one's basic area of interest/research. After completion the students would be sent to the New York University and other universities with which we have tie-ups for doctoral programmes," the ISB Chief said.
A dedicated centre of leadership innovation would be launched next month.
"This will also take up extensive research on best management practices and on what takes to be a successful global leader.
"We are trying to synthesise some of the management/leadership principles enunciated in Indian economy, philosophy and culture with the current corporate needs," he added.
On the funding requirements for the expansion, the board members are ready to extend significant funding. "There are many options and the exercise is on," he said.


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Superior Vena Cava Syndrome
Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) was traditionally considered an oncologic emergency, but only rarely does it present as a truly life-threatening emergency. This condition typically develops over days to weeks, with subtle symptoms at an early stage. Nurses can play a critical role in picking up these symptoms if they know who is at risk and how it presents.
Incidence and Etiology
SVCS was first described in 1757 by Dr. William Hunter in a patient with syphilitic aortic aneurysm. Since the mid-20 th century, malignancies have accounted for the large majority (at least 85%) of SVCS cases. Lung cancers are the most frequent cause, accounting for 85% of cases, with specifically small cell lung cancers implicated in 65% of cases (despite only representing 15-20% of all new lung cancers). This is most likely because small cell lung cancer has a tendency to form in the central part of the lungs, as well as a high rate of mediastinal node involvement, all with close proximity to the superior vena cava. Despite this being the leading cause, only 10% of small cell and 2% of non-small cell lung cancer patients will develop SVCS. Another malignant cause is lymphoma (7% of diffuse large cell lymphoma cases and 20% of lymphoblastic lymphomas). Metastatic cancers, including mesothelioma, breast, germ cell and thyroid cancers, account for about 5-10% of SVCS. Non-malignant causes comprise about 5% of cases, and include catheter-related thrombosis, tuberculosis, goiter, aortic aneurysm, histoplasmosis.
The superior vena cava (SVC) is formed by a merging of the brachiocephalic veins, which are in turn formed by the internal jugular and subclavian veins. Thus the SVC is the major venous drainage system for the head, neck, arms and upper thorax. In addition, the azygous vein empties into the SVC below the brachiocephalic veins. The actual location of the obstruction plays a role in the signs and symptoms, as an obstruction above the azygous vein allows for collateral circulation to develop more easily, possibly making symptoms less severe.
Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis
Symptoms may vary depending on the degree of obstruction, the development of collateral circulation (which, as mentioned before, depends on the location of the obstruction), and the underlying etiology. Typical symptoms include a feeling of fullness in the head, nasal stuffiness, headache, shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, hoarseness and difficulty swallowing. Physical signs may include dilated neck and/or chest veins, facial and/or periorbital edema, cyanosis and arm, breast, or upper chest swelling. Patients will usually report that symptoms are worse with certain positions, such as lying flat and bending over, or that they are worse upon waking in the morning (after lying down all night). Late signs and symptoms can include respiratory distress, headaches, syncope, visual changes, and mental status changes.
A chest x-ray is typically the first diagnostic study performed, which may detect a mass, pleural effusion, or mediastinal widening. A CT scan or MRI can determine the extent of a tumor or detect a thrombus in the superior vena cava. In some cases, sputum cytology may be beneficial in making a diagnosis. If at all possible, a biopsy should be obtained to determine the histology of the mass causing the SVCS. This diagnosis is necessary to plan treatment and treating the area with radiation before a diagnosis can make future histologic diagnosis difficult, if not impossible. In rare cases, a patient may present with significant respiratory compromise, requiring immediate treatment prior to determining the tumor type.
Treatments for SVCS include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, other pharmacologic therapy, and surgery. The treatment selection is dictated by the cause of the obstruction (type of tumor, presence of thrombus, etc.). Radiation therapy is the most commonly used treatment for SVCS, with 50-70% of patients having improvement in symptoms within two weeks. Interestingly, this is most likely not a result of the radiation, but rather the development of collateral circulation. Numerous radiologic (typically utilizing venogram) and post-mortem studies found that SVC patency was rarely achieved with radiation, despite improvement of symptoms. Studies in dogs have shown that relief of symptoms coincided with rapid development of collateral circulation (within 7 days), and that acute occlusion of the SVC was rarely fatal. Therefore, these findings do not support a need for emergent radiation therapy in patients with SVCS. Side effects of radiation will vary depending on the areas included in the treatment field, and can include: skin irritation, dyspnea, cough, pneumonitis, mucositis, decrease in blood counts, appetite / taste changes, and fatigue.
Chemotherapy alone can be an effective treatment of SVCS caused by chemotherapy-sensitive tumors, such as lymphomas or small cell lung cancers, and may be used in combination with radiotherapy in other types of cancer. In addition, chemotherapy may be used alone if the patient has previously received radiation to the mediastinal field. Chemotherapy regimens are based on the tumor type, and side effects will depend on the medications used.
Other medications used in the treatment of SVCS include corticosteroids, diuretics, and thrombolytic therapy. The use of corticosteroids is thought to decrease tumor swelling and, in turn, decrease pressure on the SVC. Although they are commonly used, their efficacy has not yet been proven in studies. If utilized, high doses of corticosteroids should be limited to short periods of time. Diuretics are thought to decrease venous blood flow, therefore decreasing pressure in the SVC. These should be used with caution, as they may lead to hypovolemic shock due to low venous return to the heart. Thrombolytic therapy should be used when the SVCS is a result of a catheter-induced thrombus. This therapy may include heparin, warfarin, and/or tissue plasminogen activators. Due to the risk of bleeding, particularly in patients receiving other cancer therapy, the risks and benefits of this therapy make it a patient specific decision. Depending on the extent of the clot, removal of the catheter may be necessary.
In certain cases, stent placement may be an option for treatment. Stents can be placed percutaneously, do not typically require general anesthesia, and result in symptom relief in 75-90% of patients within 48 hours. This therapy clearly provides the quickest relief of symptoms, but is not available in all institutions. Obviously, the stented patient will still require therapy to treat the underlying malignancy. These patients will also require some type of anti-coagulant or anti-platelet therapy for life in order to maintain patency of the stent, which may or may not be problematic for future therapy. In addition, the available stents are metallic, so these patients will not be able to have MRI scans as follow up for future therapy. Other surgery is typically reserved for non-malignant causes of SVCS.
Treatment for non-malignant causes of SVCS will be directed toward the cause of the obstruction, but will not be discussed in this article. Treatment selection for SVCS caused by malignancy is patient specific, determined by tumor type, symptoms, future therapy needs, and the patient's baseline health.
Nursing Interventions
Nurses are in a key position to recognize SVCS early, allowing time for a clear histologic diagnosis prior to starting therapy. Nurses should be able to recognize those patients at high risk and be aware of the signs and symptoms of SVCS. Nursing care encompasses a variety of tasks: facilitation and coordination of diagnostic procedures, assessment of respiratory, cardiac and neurologic systems, administration of ordered therapies, emotional and psychosocial support for the patient and family, and education regarding treatment. Nurses can institute measures to help relieve dyspnea, including elevating the head of the bed, administering oxygen, and teaching energy conservation. Intravenous fluids should not be given through the upper extremities, necessitating central venous access. Additional nursing interventions should focus on the side effects caused by the treatment used (chemotherapy, radiation therapy). Through astute observation and an understanding of this complication, nurses can be instrumental in the diagnosis and treatment of SVCS.
Abeloff, M., Armitage, J., Niederhuber, J., Kastan, M. & McKenna, G. (Eds.): Clinical Oncology (2004). Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA.
Flounders, J (2003). "Oncology emergency modules: SVC syndrome." Oncology Nursing Forum 30 (4): 513.
Krimsky, W. S., R. J. Behrens, et al. (2002). "Oncologic emergencies for the internist." Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine 69 (3): 209-10, 213-4, 216-7 passim.
Rowell, NP and FV Gleeson (2002). "Steroids, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and stents for superior vena caval obstruction in carcinoma of the bronchus: a systemic review." Clinical Oncology 14 : 338-351.
Stewart, IE (1996). "Superior vena cava syndrome: an oncologic complication." Seminars in Oncology Nursing 12 ( 4):312-7.


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Redefining Retirement Planning
You may not have guessed it, but Millennials are cracking the code on how to become world-class savers. They're setting aside a higher percentage of their income than previous generations and their goals are wide-ranging.1
For starters, young adults are contributing to 401(k) retirement savings plans in greater numbers (82 percent) than either Gen Xers or Baby Boomers.2 They're also the first generation to save consistently for lifestyle goals — to gain the financial freedom to enjoy their "best lives" at any age. Many see themselves working longer than their parents, but with the flexibility to pursue their passions along the way.3
For many Millennials, the idea of a retirement "nest egg" that hatches at age 65 is obsolete. Instead, they're focused on continuous saving (and spending) to create a lifetime of enjoyable experiences. Their philosophy is supported by a growing range of "set it and forget it" digital financial tools, like robo-saving apps and automated deposits. But it shouldn't stop there. So, what other strategies can help Millennials achieve their goal of work-life harmony and optimize their financial confidence along the way?
In terms of flexibility, whole life insurance is worth considering. You might know about the financial protection it offers through a death benefit to the people you leave behind. That's only half the story. A whole life policy also provides access to cash throughout your lifetime, with guaranteed cash value growth.
The guaranteed cash value accumulates over time and isn't impacted by fluctuations in the market, so you can count on it to support your priorities: Furthering your education, buying a house, opening a business. Or you can use it to supplement your income later in life, during retirement, or otherwise. Plus, there's the potential to receive dividends — money that's yours to spend, save or invest.4 The younger you are, the less a policy costs — making it a more affordable financial strategy for Millennials.
A whole life policy is a source of guaranteed income. So are annuities. Both can be good complements and counter-balances to savings invested in IRAs and 401k plans, which are exposed to inflation and market fluctuations.
Developing a financial plan and portfolio that includes a steady source of monthly guaranteed income can help Millennials from running out of money later in life. By prioritizing a healthy work-life balance and putting together a financial plan, Millennials are well on their way to achieving and maintaining financial and emotional confidence throughout their lives.
2018-58188 Exp. 09/19
[1] Millennials Are Saving, But Not For Retirement. Forbes, Sep 1, 2017.
[2] Millennials may be far from retirement, but think ahead with 401(k). USA Today, July 26, 2017.
[3] Millennials Are Saving, But Not For Retirement. Forbes, Sep 1, 2017.
[4] All whole life insurance policy guarantees are subject to the timely payment of all required premiums and the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Policy loans and withdrawals affect the guarantees by reducing the policy's death benefit and cash values.
Policy benefits are reduced by any outstanding loan or loan interest and/or withdrawals. Dividends, if any, are affected by policy loans and loan interest. Withdrawals above the cost basis may result in taxable ordinary income. If the policy lapses, or is surrendered, any outstanding loans considered gain in the policy may be subject to ordinary income taxes. If the policy is a Modified Endowment Contract (MEC), loans are treated like withdrawals, but as gain first, subject to ordinary income taxes. If the policy owner is under age 59½, any taxable withdrawal may also be subject to a 10% federal tax penalty.
Dividends are not guaranteed. They are declared annually by Guardian's Board of Directors. The total dividend calculation includes mortality experience and expense management as well as investment results.


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Big Trouble In Little Bridgeport
Without question, the blockbuster Prince Fielder-Detroit Tigers signing shock-and-awed the baseball universe. But for those who huddle en masse around 35th and Shields, still hanging on to what little hope may have remained for the critically criticized 2012 White Sox club, such news only served as confirmation for a long, slow, painful baseball season death.
Will this Irish keening ever stop?!?! A man needs his sleep!!!
Unfortunately, with the likes of Jake Peavy ($17 million), Alex Rios ($12+ million/year through 2014) and Adam Dunn ($14+ million/year through 2014) holding the team hostage with their collective astronomically unbalanced compensation-to-performance ratios, it appears the situation in Bridgeport is only going to get worse before it gets better.
Which forces the question: what is the shelf life on a Gordon Beckham? Once the "untouchable dealbreaker" in any high profile trade, it seems like the former first round draft pick is doing his very best Brandon Wood impression. In fact, there were times last season where Beckham looked as clueless on the diamond as Rick Santorum would at a gay foam party on the beach.
Sox fans can only take so much of "I'm going to work on some things and get better" before they realize YOU'RE LYING. YOU'RE NOT VERY GOOD. STOP TALKING.
In fact, the dour mood of the White Sox organization might benefit from a colossal dose of shut-the-hell-up. People are tired of hearing Jake Peavy say… anything. People are tired of the excuses for why Gordon Beckham just isn't that good. People are tired. Period.
Unfortunately, it looks like that "tired" is going to morph into a bonafide coma, at least through 2014.
Hate me. Go ahead. Just don't hate me 'cuz I'm right.