text:
Life just feels really hard right now. So, I am extra, uber-grateful for moments like this one. On Sunday, Don, Theo and I went to a local pumpkin farm and spied this big orange beauty. It weighed in at 121 pounds — and that was WITHOUT Theo inside! 🙂
Trying to Focus on Bright Rather Than Bleak3 11 2011
Usually, these prize-winning sized pumpkins go for in the neighborhood of $80. That's why we've always stuck with the, er, well, more "traditional" size.
Not this year. The farmer told us he was offering deals that day. It was, after all, the day before Halloween and the demand for his crop would be plummeting in a matter of hours. He knew it and I knew it. Supply and demand basics from Econ 101 back in my freshmen year of college…
"$34," he said.
I shook my head.
"I'll give you $20," I said, waving a crisp bill in front of his face.
"Sold!" he said, taking the twenty dollar bill, loading our big prize onto a dolly and heaving it over and into the back of our SUV.
It was a thing of beauty — the reflection of all of that orange in the back of our car. We drove to my bff Tabitha Green's house, where it took six of us — Tabitha, Rodney, their daughter Lauren, me, Don, and Theo — about 2 1/2 hours to carve it. Talk about entertainment. We had a blast. Right up there with the best $20 I've ever spent.
We all stood back to admire our work when Tabitha said, "Hey, I bet Theo would fit inside!"
Theo's eyes got wide and he looked like he wanted to simply disappear. He finally agreed — as long as he could keep his socks on. He's got a thing about goop.
So, in he went, and indeed, he fit quite perfectly!
What fun we had with that pumpkin! I brought it along as a "prop" to Theo's school for Trunk or Treat Monday morning. We lit it with an uber-large candle Halloween night and the kids who came to the door wanted to know if that great big pumpkin outside was real. Indeed it is, I assured them with a wink and a grin.
These are the moments of my life that I cling to when the going gets rough. And it's been rough.
I consulted with the dietician who works with Dr. Waldo (the specialist from Indianapolis) last Friday morning. With the help of my bff Jennifer Amprim Wolf, I cleared the cupboards, fridge and freezer of all the things on the "cannot eat list," of which there are many. No dairy, with the exception of butter and Almond milk. No sugar. No coffee. No beans (allergy tests showed I'm allergic). No gluten. No yeast. (We found one loaf of bread at Whole Foods that contains neither.) It's a challenge, to say the least.
I'm allowed meat, like steak, chicken and turkey (I also have seafood allergies). And potatoes are fine. Lots of veggies and some fruit. Lots of nuts. Still, the choices feel so limiting to me and the change so dramatic. "You might feel a bit of depression as your body adjusts to the chemical changes of this new diet," the dietician said to me. I've been feeling more than a bit of depression.
Yet, I've not cheated since I began the diet last Friday. I'm committed. Dr. Waldo told me that if I cheat, I have to start all over again. This current diet plan is quite strict, will go on for about 8 weeks, then hopefully, if my body has made progress, the dietician will slowly begin to add in more foods. I'm hoping for coffee, bananas and strawberries — all on the "no go" list right now. But we'll see.
I've also had severe pain in my right rib cage. So Tuesday, when I went for chemo, the doctor checked me and is quite sure I have a broken rib. He sent me for multiple Xrays and an MRI. There's concern over the CT Scan from two weeks ago — some possible areas of question along my spine. So, they're taking a closer look there. I should have results today. Don is taking me to chemo so he can be with me for those results.
I'm really scared. If there's progression, not only is that terrible news, but I would have to go off of the PARP Inhibitor — per protocol of the trial. I'm also down in the dumps because the oncology staff indicated Tuesday that my chemo regimen is a lifestyle — not likely to come to an end. I will have breaks — like the "chemo vacation" I'll have in December — a whole month off. But as of now, they don't see anything changing. Keeping my cancer stable and in check may mean indefinite, ongoing rounds of chemo. It's hard to imagine living like this, permanently, three trips to the hospital two weeks in a row, one week off, repeat.
Each round of chemo is cumulative, and my body is getting really beat up. I liken it to a Rocky movie, where each time the opponent goes down, the referree begins the count and it takes longer and longer for the boxer to get up. This past week, that was especially noticeable to Don, who says I used to lie down for an hour long nap, then pop back up. Now, he finds it harder and harder to wake me. And, usually, I rebound well during my week off. Last week, not so much.
We're looking into other options as well. The name Dr. Burzynski has come across my radar several times in the past few months, and more prominently so recently. He is a doctor based in Houston, Texas, who has patented a number of cancer-fighting drugs that are successful in patients with certain genetic fingerprints. Blood tests determine whether or not you are a candidate. The treatments are less toxic than chemo, and studies show, more effective. Don is knee-deep in research on Dr. Burzynski, as are many of our family and friends, and I've been asking my doctors for their opinions as well. I may be heading to Houston in the near future.
In the meantime, I'm trying to keep my head up and continue to do what I need to do to give myself the best chance of staying on the planet. Please pray for good test results today. I will keep you updated, and I will continue to post pictures of the bright moments in my life, of which I am blessed to have many.
Copyright 2011, Amy Rauch Neilson
Comments : 21 Comments »
Tags: alternative treatments, amy rauch neilson, biochemistry, BRCA 1 gene, brca 1 recurrence, BSI-201, chemo vacation, ct scan, diet and nutrition, dr burzynski, genetic breast cancer, Great Pumpkin, houston, large pumpkins, long-term chemo, metastatic breast cancer, MRI, PARP Inhibitor, pumpkin carving, Stage 4 cancer, texas
Categories : Uncategorized
Status Update: Results Today31 03 2011
I'll go into HOW I finally got an appointment to get my results in a future blog.
Just know that after hours of trying, I finally found a way to get through. It emotionally and physically wiped me out, but I will not have to wait until Monday. No patient should have to go through that, least of all a Stage 4 cancer patient waiting for pivotal results.
I have an appointment at 3 p.m. today. So much hinges on the results of this first CT Scan since I began chemo on Feb. 1.
I'll let you know as soon as I know.
Please pray for miraculous results.
Copyright 2011, Amy Rauch Neilson
Comments : 24 Comments »
Tags: breast cancer, breast cancer battle, Breast Reconstruction, cat scan, ct scan, emotional affect of chemotherapy
Categories : Uncategorized


text:
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Like their students, teachers across the country look forward to their summer vacation. But this summer, many teachers will be taking some of their time to continue learning or to provide enrichment opportunities for students. As it does each summer, the Lehigh Valley Writing Project (LVWP), a National Writing Project (NWP) site, is connecting local teachers with a variety of learning and professional development opportunities.
Among them is a 15-credit post-baccalaureate Specialist Certificate: Teaching Writing and Literacy. Similar in design to the Pennsylvania Department of Education's range of educational endorsements, the certificate is designed to afford educators deep study in all aspects of literacy instruction. Participants can also pursue their National Writing Project Fellowship with the optional three-credit capstone course.
LVWP is also helping educators across all grade levels and content areas understand and implement the new Common Core State Standards in Literacy, specifically writing, with a three-day academy offered July 15-17 or July 29-31. "Three Days/Three Modes" will explore, among other things, how to integrate the new standards through classroom writing, how to develop writing-to-learn techniques and understanding the curricular possibilities of the three modes (argument, informative and narrative).
Additionally, the campus' popular Summer Youth Camps return July 8-19 offering fun academic camps suitable for kids entering grades one through 12. Many of the camps, which include topics like "Detective Diaries," "Clay and Sculptural Creations" and "Rocketry," are designed and taught by LVWP fellows, with the remainder taught by Penn State Lehigh Valley faculty.
Serving all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and co-directed by local university faculty and classroom teachers, the NWP network offers teachers the opportunity to study the latest research on teaching writing and share knowledge, expertise, and effective classroom practices with one another.
For more information about any of these LVWP opportunities, visit www.lvwp.org.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Lake Maggiore, located in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, boasts a southern panorama and atmosphere. The northern part of the lake with the city of Locarno belongs to Switzerland while the eastern shores belong to the larger Italian part.
The Swiss part in the north is surrounded by mountains covered with woods and provides gorgeous panoramic views. Ascona or Locarno offer genuine Mediterranean flair and are popular tourist destinations, so are the Isole di Brisago.


text:
Luol Deng scored 18 points while Nazr Mohammed added 13 points and 12 rebounds to help the Chicago Bulls beat the Memphis Grizzlies 92-88 in a preseason game on Tuesday night.
Trailing 52-49 at half, the Bulls scored the first 14 points in the third quarter to pull away. Richard Hamilton made a jumper to give the Bulls a 63-52 lead and Nate Robinson made a 3 in the corner to extend the Chicago lead to 81-65 late in the third quarter. Hamilton scored eight points in the third quarter and finished with 13.
The Bulls played without Derrick Rose, who is still recovering from knee surgery, stemming from his torn ACL during the 2012 playoffs.
Jerome Jordan led the Grizzlies (1-1) with 13 points and Ronald Murray added 11 points.
Copyright AP - Associated Press


text:
Ghaub Guest Farm
Situated in the heart of the Otavi Mountains, the 11,800 hectare Ghaub Guest Farm was a mission station from 1895 to 1968. It was then renovated and turned into a guest farm which opened in 1999. The ten spacious rooms and main buildings have retained much of their historical character. The farm changed hands in 2007, but the new owners have kept the style of the rooms and buildings the same, simply sprucing them up with a lick of paint and a few new pieces of furniture.
Continue reading our full report on Ghaub Guest Farm
Our view of Ghaub Guest Farm
Ghaub Guest farm is a delightful spot with fresh home cooking. It is conveniently situated between Otavi and Tsumeb, and makes a good stopover if you are on your way from somewhere like Okonjima to Etosha.
Read the Owner's description of Ghaub Guest Farm
Ghaub Guest Farm: Traveller ratings
Ghaub Guest Farm is a friendly place to relax for a night or two in the Otavi Triangle


text:
NLU now offering electronic transcripts
NLU now offers electronic transcripts. If you have access to the NLU Portal, you may log in and order electronic transcripts to be sent directly to your recipients with no need to worry about sealed envelopes or whether the order was lost in the mail.
Before ordering, please confirm that the recipient accepts electronic transcripts as "official transcripts." For detailed instructions, visit our Requesting Your Transcript Web page.


text:
Tuesday, January 07, 2014
Sports News
weekend delivers last-gasp wins and huge comeback
Send a link to a friend
[January 07, 2014]
(Reuters) — The divisional round of
the NFL playoffs has a tough act to follow after a thrilling wild-card
weekend that featured an epic comeback, two upsets and extremely cold
Three of four games were decided by three points or less,
including two by field goals on the final play over a weekend that
saw the Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints
and San Francisco 49ers advance.
But bigger hurdles await this weekend as each conference's top seed
enters the mix with the NFC's Seattle Seahawks hosting the Saints on
Saturday while Peyton Manning and the AFC's Denver Broncos welcome
red-hot San Diego on Sunday.
In the two other divisional round playoff games, Tom Brady and the
New England Patriots host the Colts on Saturday while the 49ers
visit the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Wild card weekend lived up to its name with a gridiron feast packed
with drama, breathtaking comebacks and meltdowns that will be hard
to top.
But with future Hall of Fame quarterbacks Manning, Brady and Brees
in action alongside their counterparts in Seattle (Russell Wilson),
San Francisco (Colin Kaepernick), Carolina (Cam Newton) and
Indianapolis (Andrew Luck), the stage is set for even bigger
fireworks with a berth in the conference championships at stake.
Wild card weekend began with a comeback for the ages as the Colts
became just the second playoff team to rally from a 28-point deficit
for a 45-44 victory that ended a Cinderella season for a Chiefs team
that went 2-14 last year.
"Obviously an incredible victory, a great team victory, one for the
ages I've never seen anything quite like it," Colts coach Chuck
Pagano told reporters.
The Chargers, whose playoff hopes seemed all but dead a month ago,
took full advantage of a second-half meltdown by the favored Bengals
to claim a 27-10 win.
[to top of second column]
Trailing 10-7 at halftime, the Chargers took advantage of
three second-half turnovers by Cincinnati quarterback Andy
Dalton for a 27-10 victory that put their win streak at five
games and marked the Bengals' first home loss of the season.
"We know what's ahead of us, Denver is an awesome team," said
rejuvenated Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. "We'll be
confident. It's going to be a tough task but we're excited about
the opportunity."
Both NFC wild-card matchups came down to the final play.
In frigid Green Bay, where the temperature at kickoff was 5
degrees Fahrenheit (-15 Celsius), Phil Dawson booted a 33-yard
field goal to give the 49ers a last-gasp win over the Packers.
In Philadelphia, Shayne Graham kicked a 32-yard field goal as
time expired to give the Saints a 26-24 upset win over the
Eagles and their first road playoff victory
The Saints, humiliated 34-7 by the Seahawks during the regular
season, return to Seattle looking for revenge and a second
straight road win while 49ers head to Charlotte also looking to
avenge a regular season defeat to the Panthers.
"We know what type of team we are," said Brees. "We know how
good we can be. It was just a matter of putting it all together.
"This was great, coming on the road, in a hostile environment
against one of the hottest teams in football."
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto;
editing by Frank Pingue)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
< Sports index
Back to top


text:
Car insurance in NY...??
Car insurance in NY...??
If you have to ask, you can't afford it.
StanleyErnst: I'd just contact a NY insurance agent in the area where you're thinking of moving. There are a lot of other variables besides your location that impact the cost of liability insurance. I found my Roadster insurance to be surprisingly low, others have not.
It's really hard to say since insurance is calculated taking into account your age, driving and credit history, car make and model, neighborhood, etc. But you could start looking at insurance now and move there if you find a good provider. You could probably get an online auto insurance quote from the company I'm insured with: The Hartford-AARP.
Costco offers auto insurance. Better rate than GEICO.
Pays for membership with the better rate you get on insurance.


text:
Thank you to all our customers who have shown such care for our community and team as we have rolled out new measures to comply with physical distancing guidelines. We are doing everything we can to protect the safety of our customers and our team.
How to build a stud wall
Tips for building a stud wall inside an existing house frame
How to create a feature wall
A feature wall will add interest and create a focal point for your room. Here are some tips to help you create a feature wall in your home.
How to drill into bricks
We show you how to safely drill into a brick wall.
How to install villaboard in bathrooms
Villaboard is a great wall lining for bathrooms as it's moisture resistant. See how to install it on the walls of your bathroom.
How to hard plaster a brick wall
With the right tools, hard plastering a brick wall is a relatively simple D.I.Y. job. This easy to follow guide will show you how to do it.
How to install wall hooks
When hanging something on your wall, it's important to choose the right hook. We'll show you how to screw different kinds of hooks into a wall.
How to patch plaster
Find out how easy it is to patch a hole in a hard plaster wall. Just follow our step-by-step guide.
How to render
Find out how easy it is to freshen up an old brick wall with render. Just follow our step-by-step guide.


text:
When it comes to proposals, it's all in the effort. Whether the end result was a bust or a huge success, the effort behind the gesture should be the most important thing. Fortunately for artist Robert Fink, his plans came to fruition and he came up with an awesome proposal for his girlfriend (now fiance): a video game.
Robert enlisted the help of his friends Ryan Lepinski and Jack Watson, who was a programmer and musician respectively, to create the game. Called Knight Man, the game is all about a quest for love which culminated in the proposal. Now who wouldn't say yes to this?
You can play Knight Man here.
VIA [ Laughing Squid ]


text:
Quick update: Last week I designed a graphic for this post that underscores the relative insignificance of the legal considerations of COPPA and FERPA when compared to the lifelong learning impact that we've designed Open Badges to accommodate. I forgot to put it into the original post but now here it is!
The Open Badge Infrastructure (OBI) is based on a simple concept: make it easy for people to issue, earn and display digital badges across the open web. Sometimes the things that sound simple prove to be fairly complicated in implementation. Open Badges is no exception.
Consider that personal privacy stands as one of the primary tenets of the OBI: the individual earner resides at the center of the Open Badge ecosystem. Earners consciously choose which badges they want to earn from a variety of issuers, and they can also choose which badges they'd like to share whether through their own website or through a variety of displayers. Earners are the central axis point of the system; they are the essential social hub. We think that that delicate social hub—the badge earner—needs someone to watch out for their privacy. Consequently, we're working to ensure that a minimum standard of identity protection is built into the Open Badge Infrastructure.
We've spent about the last 1.5 years working on the Open Badge Infrastructure and the last 6 months focusing on the legal and privacy questions this new project has surfaced. We've had some great advisors helping us to get this right: many thanks to Mozilla's Data and Product Counsel, Jishnu Menon, as well as Karen Neuman and Ari Moskowitz of St. Ledger-Roty Neuman & Olson, LLP. You can read some of their fine work addressing legal and privacy questions on our Legal FAQs page. You can find other aspects illustrated in the Mozilla Badge Backpack's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. They're all worth a read. We're proud that they're written in Plain English and not legalese. We want earners, issuers and displayers to understand their rights and understand how Mozilla approaches those rights.
Because our goals for Open Badges include global deployment, the future will find the Open Badges team considering EU legal and privacy laws as well as UK concerns. And as the OBI ecosystem begins to populate across the world, individual earner's privacy considerations will continue to motivate our work.
For those of you who are not entirely familiar with some of the major issues we've been wrangling, read on below to learn a bit more about two of the heavy hitters, COPPA and FERPA.
What is COPPA? COPPA is the acronym for the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act and it's a US federal law designed to govern and protect children's online privacy and safety. The Federal Trade Commission administers this regulation addressing data collection and marketing to children under the age of 13. You can read more about it directly from the source: http://www.coppa.org/coppa.htm. COPPA complicates most efforts aimed at children under 13, but there are COPPA-compliant organizations whose primary communications successfully address that audience.
Current predictions seem to point toward COPPA becoming even more restrictive rather than less. Depending on an earner's personal sharing decisions, the Mozilla Badge Backpack can be a potentially broadly public space. Consequently, at this time, the Mozilla OBI does not permit children under 13 to push their badges into the Mozilla-hosted Badge Backpack. However, it is possible to create and host a siloed Badge Backpack.
Worth noting: we have significant hopes for some external Mozilla efforts along the lines of streamlined identity protection and will keep you abreast of any new developments.
FERPA, also an acronym and also a US federal law, stands for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. It's aimed at providing parents with the right to protect the privacy of children's education records. Those rights transfer to the student at the age of 18 or whenever they attend a school beyond the high school level. You can read more about it at the government's website: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html. FERPA can introduce a level of complexity for badges emanating from academic institutions. You'll find some potential best practices about FERPA on our site in the legal FAQs.
– – –
Now you know a bit more about how we designed the Mozilla Open Badge Infrastructure with built in identity and privacy considerations. As always, we welcome your thoughts, suggestions, and assistance in our ongoing endeavor.
More soon.


text:
A merger between two Gastonia-based plastic surgery practices will result in five offices for Piedmont Plastic Surgery and Dermatology, the companies said Monday.
A merger between two Gastonia-based plastic surgery practices will result in five offices for Piedmont Plastic Surgery and Dermatology, the companies said Monday.
Locations will now include two in Gastonia, one in Charlotte, one in Shelby and one in Hickory.
Southeastern Plastic Surgery and Laser Center�s North New Hope Road office will take on the Piedmont name.
Two other Southeastern offices, one in Shelby and one in Lake Wylie, will close existing locations and see patients in Piedmont offices, according to a Piedmont spokeswoman.
Southeastern surgeons Benson Timmons and Eric Emerson will continue to practice at the New Hope Road office.
The combined office will have 16 physicians and two physicians� assistants in its offices.
New services added to the North New Hope location will include plastic surgery, general and cosmetic skin care, laser services, skin cancer screening and treatment and �CoolSculpting,� a treatment that purports to freeze fat cells for natural elimination.
�Piedmont Plastic Surgery and Dermatology has always stood out in our area by offering quality care in plastic surgery and dermatology,� said Dr. Timmons in a statement from the practices on Monday. �Through the merger of our two practices, our patients will now benefit from more extensive treatment options and have access to the top skin cancer specialists in our area.�
Piedmont Plastic Surgery & Dermatology originally opened in Gastonia in 1994.
Southeastern, which last year announced doctors there had performed more than 1,000 breast enhancements, also opened in 1994 in Gastonia.


text: Obviously, a lot of people were disappointed with ROTF-- myself included. I loved the first movie, but I thought the sequel was just way too bloated, immature, and at times downright nonsensical to be a worthy sequel to the 2007 film. Well, the good news is that Bay's cut is not the only option. Editing-savvy fans have been having at the film since the day it came out on DVD and Blu-Ray, cutting this beast of a film down to their liking. Due to SHH's TOS I cannot specify how you can obtain these fan cuts, but if you do some research they aren't too hard to track down. There are many fan cuts currently "in progress," but as of now 3 have been documented as released. The first two are related cuts by an editor named Kevinicus, called "Kitten Calendar Edition" and "The Real Effin' Deal". Both of these cuts leave much of the film's sophomoric sense of humor untouched, but they do make the film about 20 minutes shorter, more tightly paced, and cut down on some of the less-than-stellar plot points. The difference between the two is that Kitten Calendar Edition leaves the Twins unchanged (Kevinicus is a fairly vocal supporter of the characters), and Real Effin' Deal cuts them down significantly. I have not watched either, but they are supposedly well executed and are a decent option if your primary beef with the film is the pacing and plot. Also, Kitten Calendar Edition is availible in HD, with an HD Real Effin' Deal apparently in the works. Here's a list or changes common between both the Kitten Calendar and Real Effin' Deal cuts: Spoiler * *The entire introduction with The Fallen and prehistoric man. * *All of Optimus' voice over during the Shanghai scene. * *Moved the title sequence to the end of the Shanghai scene. * *Trimmed Sam & Parents at the beginning somewhat (and dogs humping). * *Trimmed Bumblebee in the garage (crying). * *Trimmed the last line from the Nest hanger. * *Trimmed Leo's roommates some as well as some of Sam's parents. * *Trimmed Sam/Alice at party and part of the car scene. * *Trimmed Megatron/Starscream on Nemesis and trimmed middle and end of scene. * *Trimmed classroom flirtation bit. * *Trimmed Sam in his room and w/Alice. * *Trimmed talk in the library. * *Cut repeated footage of Soundwave. * *Cut Sam's parents with the mime. * *Trim news bits after Decepticons arrival. * *Cut Galloway shutting down NEST. * *Trimmed meat shop (no more talk about teeth). * *Cut Simmon's ass. * *Cut Leo shocking himself. * *Trim Jetfire talking about his family being there for "centuries". * *Leo/Mikeala land in desert * *Image of Autobots being loaded onto plane and Lennox comments about it being a mistake * *Removal of Lennox and Epps discussing the phone call and location of coordinates * *Removal of Checkpoint scene * *Remove Galloway parachute scene * *Change footage and trim end of Petra scene to remove Simmons viewing troops parachuting from so far away, and to add time lapse. * *Remove Simmons pointing at flare right after Sam does. * *Heavily trim parts of military scenes (mostly parts without robots). * *Remove Galloway in desert scene * *Remove repeat shot from first movie of Drone * *Trim Simmons conversation with Captain of Aircraft Carrier * *Crop shot of Simmons on walkie talkie to remove wrong pyramid from the background * * Remove Devastator's balls (the flagrant scene anyway). * *Trimmed Sam's meeting with the Primes (I refuse to call this robot heaven since that's not what it is). I don't care a lot for this scene, but I feel it is necessary. I removed the part about Sam's destiny though, that isn't necessary. * *Removed a couple of repeated shots during The Fallen's retrieving of the Matrix. * *Removed the audio for "Give me your face!" * *And I went back and cut out the 6 bogeys coming up from the water for those that feel it's a continuity error. * *various other small edits The other cut, which I've actually seen is from an editor named Gieferg, aptly called "Gieferg's Cut." I was very pleased with this cut in spite of a few minor technical quirks and glitches (mostly audio jumps and clipping). This edit cuts 23 minutes and adds 90 seconds. Overall, this edit speeds up the pace of the film, has far less dumb humor (the parents have a greatly reduced presence in the film), it adds a few nice touches for G1 fans (Soundwave's voice, and there's some Stan Bush music in there), and THE TWINS BARELY SHOW UP! It's amazing how un-missed they are in the movie's narrative, proving just how little they contributed to the story (as in, almost nothing). Now, they're bit players no more prominent than any of the other Autobots, save for the fact that they still act like ******s for what little of the movie they're in. Remarkably, even the annoying stuff that is still there seemed less annoying, just because it's not sitting on top of a massive pile of other annoying stuff. Here's a full list of changes in Gieferg's Cut: Spoiler * - Twins completely removed from Shanghai* * - dialogue between Sam and his parents at the beginning trimmed * - kitchen-bots trimmed * - dogs removed * - some of Sam's mom scenes deleted * - garage scene replaced with alternate version * - crying Bumblebee deleted * - trimmed some shots during arriving to Diego Garcia* * - one shot of Optimus in truck form added* * - Twins upgrading removed* * - Epps alternate line after Optimus transforms added * - Leo's pals trimmed * - cut all Sam's parents scenes at the college * - added Sam, Leo & Alice scene at the dorm* * - cut Sam, Leo & friends going to the party (not the party itself) * - cut entire scene with Sam & Alice in Bumblebee * - trimmed Wheelie trying to get the shard (no mouse trap, less talking) * - Sam is freaking out in his room a little less * - cut Leo's reaction on Sam in his room * - most of the dialogue between Sam and Mikaela during escape deleted * - cut Leo's "So hot" line * - Sam's parents & the mime deleted * - twins removed from Sam & Leo discussion scene * - cut part of Decepticons arrival * - part of Simmons dialogue in meat shop removed * - "don' tell my mother" removed * - some of Wheelie's lines removed * - Simmons ass and dialogue before going to museum deleted * - cut entire Leo's toilet scene * - removed Leo line "I'm not going anywhere" when Simmons paralyzing the guard * - humping wheelie removed * - cut part of Jetfire dialogue and parachute scene * - cut the scene in which Mikaela lies on Leo * - added "Leo refuses…" deleted scene* * - deleted police chase* * - deleted hiding from the police* * - trimmed phone call scene* * - deleted checkpoint scene (now Soundwave locates Sam after Simmons phone call)* * - trimmed Epps, Lennox, headquarters talking* * - Leo & Simmons sleeping removed * - Galloway plane and Egypt scenes removed * - Leo's panic in the car removed * - paralyzing Leo removed * - cut part of dialogue between Leo and Simmons where paralyzing was mentioned * - part of Headquarters talking deleted * - deleted some military equipment footage during battle * - removed "enemy scrotum" * - removed "Transformers heaven" * - and some minor cuts here and there and especially for G1 fans: * - added Stan Bush – The Touch as soundtrack in final battle * - Linkin Park end title song replaced with Stan Bush – Till all are one * - added G1 transformation sounds here and there (find them by yourself ) * * - changed Soundwave voice in G1 fashion * * only in version 1.3 (DVD release) It's not perfect, but IMO it's still vastly preferable over the official release, and overall I felt it was a worthy followup to the first movie even though it's a work in progress.


text:
Flimston Bay is quite a suntrap, facing due south under the Castlemartin Cliffs which shelter it from all but the warm southerly winds. It is accessible by passing through Bosherston, parking at St Govans and taking a walk along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
The area is so full of geological phenomena that the name Flimston features prominently in every geographer's textbooks and study files and is a 'must do' among the student tickboxes.
The stretch of coast between the Green bridge and Mewsford Point is packed with fascinating features. Relatively recent rock falls have left vivid evidence of the past. In fissures running deep down from the clifftop, brick-red and brown stains on the grey limestone emanate from the Triassic marls which have long since been scoured away by erosion and wave action. The wave action occurred particularly when the sea-level was up, aeons ago, on the 200-foot platform which is so clearly visible to the trained eye in the view inland from the cliff edge. More recent erosion is still producing caves, blow-holes, stacks and arches which attract the attention of serious students of geology by the hundred, and they don't have to look far for the obvious evidence of underlying weaknesses caused by faults and folding.
The Green Bridge of Wales is a well-known tourist atraction - a spectacular 80-feet high natural arch jutting out from the cliffs and topped by green vegetation.
The nearby Elegug Stack is another popular attraction, a great pillar of rock which accommodates the largest seabird nesting site in the County to be seen from the cliff path. The visitor usually has to cross to one of the offshore islands to get such a wonderful close-up of nesting guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes. Ellegug, or Elligug, is the Pembrokeshire name for the guillemot and the razorbill, and when the National Park was established half a century ago, the chairman of the new committee plumped for The Ellegug in the choice of an emblem. It was a photograph of a razorbill, in fact, that the committee members were shown and Alderman Tom Scourfield, who possessed a wonderful South Pembrokeshire accent, picked out the Ellegug which remains as the Park Authority's logo to this day. These attractive auks nest proilifically along the ledges and among the tree mallow and sea-beet on the top of the stacks. Fulmar petrels occupy the wider ledges while shags nest in holes on the cliff face which is bright with orange-hued lichen called Xanthoria.
At this point the National Park Coastal Footpath takes a right-angled diversion to the north to avoid the danger area of the Castlemartin Tank Range on which solders have been training since just before World War Two. It takes the coast walker round past Flimston Farm and chapel, which were swallowed up the the MoD, although at certain times the path round the cliffs is open when there is no firing going on. For 30 years German Panzer troops trained here and integrated with the community, many of them marrying local girls and settling in Pembrokeshire.


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- Introduction
- Oral Health and People With HIV
- Common Oral Conditions
- Conditions Found More Often in People With HIV
- Conditions Found Primarily in People With HIV
- Conclusion
- Selected Sources
Most oral health problems can be found in people who are either HIV positive or negative. Yet there are some important differences. A few conditions are seen almost exclusively in people with HIV, while some that are found in both populations are more problematic for people with HIV, especially those with advanced disease. A diminished immune system can alter the course of oral disease and require more aggressive treatment to prevent minor troubles from escalating into major health problems.
Over 30 different oral manifestations of HIV disease have been reported since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. This article will address several of the most common of these oral health issues. As with any health condition faced by HIV-positive people, early identification and treatment should be emphasized. In many cases, referral to a dentist should be made as soon as possible.
Oral Health and People With HIV
The teeth are fully formed by the teenage years, and are not affected directly by HIV or anti-HIV medications. Reduced bone mineral density seen in people with HIV does not affect tooth enamel (the hard surface of exposed teeth), and it is unknown what affect, if any, it may have on the underlying bone that supports the teeth.
No treatment of any oral health problem should be avoided simply because a person is HIV positive. Reports early in the AIDS epidemic suggested that procedures such as root canals should not be performed in people with HIV. There were also suggestions that dental treatment should be postponed for anyone with a CD4 cell count below 200 cells/mm3. Though these reports were inaccurate, their impact continues to be felt; some textbooks with recent publication dates still contain these misstatements. Dentists who follow these erroneous recommendations do so in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and in violation of accepted community standards.
All procedures and devices -- including periodontal surgery, endodontics (root canals), orthodontics (braces and retainers), implants, bleaching, and bridges -- can be safely and effectively provided regardless of immune status. Decisions about such procedures should be made by the HIV-positive individual in consultation with his or her dentist. As always, one should weigh the cost and time of the service against the expected benefits.
Common Oral Conditions
While dentists recommend that all people seek routine care to prevent oral health problems from developing, this is particularly important for those living with HIV. One rationale for this preventive measure is that individuals with a compromised immune system need to avoid bacterial infections. The two major oral health conditions, dental caries and periodontal disease, are both caused by bacteria and may be exacerbated by other factors.
Caries and Dry Mouth
Dental decay, or caries, is a common problem in the general population, and having a few carious lesions (cavities) is not unusual. These are typically prevented by the use of fluoride and good oral hygiene, including regular brushing and flossing of the teeth and gums.
Some medications used by people with HIV -- and even HIV itself -- may cause decreased salivary flow, or dry mouth, which is known to contribute to rampant caries. These lesions frequently develop at the cervical region of the tooth, where the crown meets the root. The tooth surface in this area consists of a bony substance called cementum, not enamel, and is more likely to decay at a faster rate. This can lead to infection of the soft tissue inside the tooth (the pulp) and the formation of an abscess (collection of pus).
It is important to receive care at an early stage of this disease in order to avoid abscesses. Treatment includes the use of techniques such as "scoop and fill," in which the bulk of the decayed material is scooped out -- usually without anesthesia, using hand instruments -- and replaced with a temporary filling that contains fluoride to inhibit further decay. The filling material of choice is glass ionomer. This treatment requires a dentist, who can restore each tooth in a traditional manner after the scoop and fill process. Infections of the pulp of the tooth should be treated with an antibiotic, preferably penicillin.
Anti-HIV drugs such as indinavir (Crixivan) and ddI (didanosine, Videx) may cause dry mouth. Other medications associated with the condition include interferon alpha (used to treat chronic hepatitis B and C) as well as some antidepressants, antihypertensives, antihistamines, antipsychotics, and diuretics. This does not mean that any person taking one or more of these drugs will have dry mouth followed by rampant caries, although people taking these medications should be aware that this could occur. (Dry mouth may also predispose individuals to oral candidiasis; see below.)
Fortunately, symptoms of dry mouth can be treated using simple measures. Artificial saliva products can be effective in people who have active tooth decay resulting in part from drug-related dry mouth. The frequency with which these products must be used may be unrealistic, however; it may be preferable to use sugar-free citrus candies such as lemon drops, which also stimulate saliva production.
It should be noted that small cavities can quickly become large cavities and abscesses, so early intervention and treatment is advisable.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory process involving specific bacteria and affecting the tissue and bone supporting the teeth. While periodontal disease can occur in anyone regardless of HIV status, one particularly severe form (necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis) and a related condition (linear gingival erythema) appear to be unique to those with compromised immune systems.
The gingival (gum) condition originally known as HIV-gingivitis, and now called linear gingival erythema (LGE), consists of a red band-like lesion along the gumline. LGE may be painful and bleed, and may progress to periodontal disease (see NUP, below). LGE is sometimes mistaken for ordinary gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), which usually is not painful and does not lead to periodontal disease. People diagnosed with LGE should be given an antimicrobial mouth rinse such as chlorhexidine (Peridex) until a visit to a dentist or periodontist (a specialist in gum disease and related conditions) can be arranged. In severe cases, a systemic antibiotic may be used, though only for one week at most.
Necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis (NUP), which previously was called HIV-periodontitis, is a condition associated with rapid soft tissue and bone loss, including exposure of the bone; rapid deterioration of tooth attachment; and the premature loss of teeth. Bleeding and severe pain may be present. Palliative treatment (i.e., to mitigate symptoms) includes antimicrobial mouth rinses, systemic antibiotic medication, and pain medication when necessary.
Periodontal disease may go unnoticed until the tissues supporting the teeth are so damaged as to cause the loss of a tooth. Treatments include local debridement (excision of dead tissue) as well as surgical procedures and/or antibiotic medication.
Periodontal conditions should be treated without regard to HIV status. Treatment success may not be dependant upon whether or not a person is HIV positive, although some clinicians report that response to conventional therapy may be poorer in those with HIV. Preventing the premature loss of teeth due to periodontal disease is important for everyone. Like dental caries, periodontal disease is best treated at an early stage, again supporting the recommendation for routine dental examinations every six months. Notably, some research has shown smoking to be a risk factor in the development of periodontal disease.
Human Papillomavirus
Human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus associated with genital and other warts, is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. HPV-associated lesions frequently occur in the oral cavity, including the lip and sides of the tongue. They are usually raised, dull white and fleshy, smooth or rough, and may have a cauliflower-like appearance. HPV lesions tend to be more serious and more difficult to treat in HIV-positive people. A few reports also suggest that these oral lesions may be more prevalent, or the number of lesions greater, in people with HIV.
HPV lesions can be removed by surgery or other methods, such as electrocautery (burning with an electric current). The lesions usually recur, so removal should be limited to lesions that either are large enough to interfere with function, or are aesthetically displeasing.
Prevention of HPV lesions includes safe oral sexual practices. Because HPV can be transmitted through receptive oral intercourse, unprotected oral sex should be avoided if one partner has HPV. Infection with HPV, including HPV type 16 (HPV-16), leads to an increased risk of cervical and anal cancer. HPV-16 has also been associated with oral cancers (e.g., of the mouth and throat), particularly in combination with tobacco or alcohol use. (For more information on HPV, see "Anal Neoplasia," BETA, Winter 2001.)
Conditions Found More Often in People With HIV
The following conditions are more prevalent and can have serious consequences in HIV-positive individuals, particularly those with CD4 cell counts of 500 cells/mm3 or below. In general, the risk increases as the CD4 cell count falls.
Oral Candidiasis
Oral candidiasis (broadly known as thrush) is a relatively frequent problem for people who are HIV positive. This condition is usually associated with the Candida albicans fungus, and may take several different forms. Because Candida infection is a sign of immune dysfunction, it should be reported immediately to a medical provider.
Pseudomembranous candidiasis is by far the most common form of oral candidiasis. This condition is characterized by small, generally white patches in any part in the mouth. These patches can be easily wiped off and may be mistaken for materia alba (food particles). Sometimes there is bleeding or an erythematous (reddish) area under the white patch, and the lesion may be associated with a burning sensation or pain. People with candidiasis often notice changes in taste perception, which may make food undesirable. Oral cultures can be taken for diagnosis; however, if an HIV-positive individual has had a previous Candida infection, it is prudent to start treatment without waiting for a culture.
There are several other less common varieties of candidiasis. One form is called angular cheilitis when it occurs at the corners of the mouth. This condition is easily mistaken for chapped lips. Topical antifungal treatment should be started without waiting for an appointment with a dentist or physician since angular cheilitis, like other forms of oral thrush, often recurs.
Erythematous candidiasis usually appears on the tongue or hard palate (the bony portion of the roof of the mouth). Lesions have a red appearance and cannot be wiped off. Atrophic candidiasis usually appears on the tongue. Both of these conditions can cause changes in taste perception and/or pain and a burning sensation.
All forms of candidiasis should be treated promptly. Treatment includes antifungal medications such as topical clotrimazole (Lotrimin) or systemic fluconazole (Diflucan). Resistant oral thrush may indicate a concurrent infection in the air sinuses alongside the nose, which may require further treatment.
Again, candidiasis is more likely to occur in individuals who have low CD4 cell counts. Dry mouth is another contributing factor. Individuals with a history of candidiasis should have antifungal medication available in the likely event that the infection recurs, particularly if immune suppression does not improve.
Aphthous Stomatitis
Aphthous stomatitis (canker sores) is a common condition regardless of HIV status. In HIV-positive individuals the ulcers, or sores, may be slow to heal, and aphthous ulcers minor are more likely to become aphthous ulcers major. The difference between the two relates to ulcer size (major ulcers are over 1 cm, or 0.4 inches, in diameter) and the severity of the condition. The cause of these noncontagious lesions is not known.
Aphthous ulcers are generally shallow, crater-like lesions with a raised, red border surrounding a gray, central pseudomembrane. In HIV-positive individuals these lesions may be found on keratinized (hardened) tissue such as the hard palate.
Aphthous ulcers are left to heal on their own in people with competent immune systems. However, untreated lesions may become painful, quite large, and prone to secondary infection in those with immune dysfunction. People with wasting syndrome or general debilitation may have great difficulty as these lesions may cause severe pain and decrease their ability to consume food comfortably. Accordingly, people with HIV require care for any aphthous lesions, regardless of size, to prevent them from expanding and causing potentially serious problems.
Treatment consists of a steroid medication, most frequently a topical ointment such as triamcinolone (Kenalog) or fluocinonide (Lidex) mixed with Orabase ointment. A dexamethasone liquid rinse may also be used. Some cases may require a systemic steroid such as prednisone, although the risks of systemic steroid use should be considered. Thalidomide has recently been approved in the U.S. for the treatment of aphthous ulcers, but is not commonly used because of its sedative effect.
Recurrent aphthous lesions may be mistaken for herpes simplex (see below), especially if they occur on keratinized tissue. A reliable medical history is a good method for determining the condition, since individuals with either lesion typically will have had previous episodes and often do not have both diseases.
Herpes Simplex
Oral herpes simplex is a viral condition associated with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). It is characterized by the eruption of serum-filled vesicles, or blisters (sometimes referred to as "cold sores" or "fever blisters") on the face, lips, or mouth. (Herpes simplex virus type 2 [HSV-2] causes similar blisters in the genital or anal region.) These lesions often start with prodromal (early) symptoms of malaise, fever, and a general feeling of illness, which can be masked in people who are already ill. There also may be itching or tingling sensations. Vesicles usually form within 24 hours and rupture shortly thereafter, forming a scab. Herpes outbreaks typically resolve without treatment within two weeks in individuals with competent immune systems.
As with aphthous ulcers, herpes simplex lesions may be larger, more painful, and more prone to secondary infection in HIV-positive individuals. Again, these lesions can exacerbate problems in people with wasting syndrome by causing pain and decreasing their ability to eat comfortably.
Palliative treatment should be provided to those with compromised immune systems. This normally involves using a systemic antiviral medication such as acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), or valacyclovir (Valtrex). In some cases, a systemic drug also may be used to suppress the recurrence of herpes lesions. Topical medications usually do not work as well as systemic medications for this condition.
Conditions Found Primarily in People With HIV
The following conditions are seen most often in people with advanced HIV disease. As with other conditions, the risk increases as CD4 cell counts decrease.
Oral Hairy Leukoplakia
Hairy leukoplakia appears as white patches, nearly always on the lateral border (outside edges) of the tongue. These lesions usually have an irregular surface and may have hair-like projections. While this condition may resemble thrush, hairy leukoplakia lesions cannot be wiped off, unlike the lesions of thrush.
Hairy leukoplakia is thought to be caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (also associated with infectious mononucleosis). Since this condition is rarely seen unless the CD4 cell count is low, it is less common in areas where combination anti-HIV therapy is readily available.
Hairy leukoplakia is a benign condition that resolves on its own. Inasmuch as it causes no symptoms, including discomfort or changes in taste perception, there is no need for treatment. For aesthetic purposes it may be treated off-label with agents Individuals with HIV can protect themselves not only with routine examinations, but also by brushing and flossing regularly. such as tretinoin (Retin-A) or podophyllin.
Opportunistic Tumors
Several opportunistic tumors (cancers or neoplasms) are associated with HIV infection. Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) occur most frequently and may manifest in the oral cavity. Both of these conditions are seen when immune suppression is severe and an individual has an AIDS diagnosis (a CD4 cell count below 200 cells/mm3).
KS is the most common neoplasm in people with HIV. It is a malignancy of the endothelial lining of blood vessels and is associated with a herpesvirus known as HHV-8. KS appears clinically as flat or raised, usually reddish or purplish lesions that do not blanch (whiten) with pressure. Lesions often enlarge rapidly and may become exophytic (grow outward).
Palliative treatment for oral KS is rarely required unless the lesion enlarges and interferes with chewing or talking. In such cases, interventions include systemic doxorubicin (Doxil) or paclitaxel (Taxol), localized chemotherapy, and surgery; injections of vinblastine (Velban) appear effective in some studies. Large, multiple lesions may be treated with radiation therapy. People with KS who start antiretroviral therapy for the first time may see their lesions resolve without further treatment.
NHL in the oral cavity is most often a soft, tumor-like mass that may enlarge rapidly. Biopsy is required for diagnosis, and treatment consists of radiation and/or chemotherapy. Until treatment can be implemented, palliative care is usually not required. (For more NHL information, see "Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma," BETA, Summer 2003.)
HIV-positive people should be encouraged to receive dental examinations every six months, preferably by a provider who is familiar with conditions associated with decreased immune function. Some conditions, such as thrush, may be mistaken for materia alba, which is the result of poor oral hygiene. Other conditions that might be allowed to run their course without medication in individuals with competent immune systems -- such as aphthous ulcers -- should be treated in people with HIV. Again, most oral problems, such as dental caries and periodontal disease, are the result of bacterial infections.
Individuals with HIV can protect themselves not only with routine examinations, but also by brushing and flossing regularly, as well as by not smoking and limiting alcohol intake. Smoking and alcohol use are strongly associated with oral cancers, which are relatively common and have a poor prognosis compared with other types of cancer. As always, lifestyle changes may reduce the need to fight off or treat preventable diseases.
|Oral HIV Treatments
|Caries (cavities)
|Techniques such as "scoop and fill" and temporary filling; tooth restoration
|Dry mouth (xerostomia)
|Sugar-free citrus candies; artificial saliva products
|Abscess/infection of the tooth pulp
|Antibiotic, preferably penicillin
|Periodontal disease
|Linear gingival erythema (LGE)
|Antimicrobial mouth rinse such as chlorhexidine (Peridex); in severe cases, a systemic antibiotic
|Necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis (NUP)
|Palliative therapy: antimicrobial mouth rinse, systemic antibiotic medication, pain medication
Treatment: debridement (professional cleaning), surgical procedures, antibiotic medication
|Human papillomavirus (HPV) lesions
|Surgery; electrocautery; others
|Oral candidiasis (thrush)
|Pseudomembranous candidiasis, angular cheilitis, erythematous candidiasis, atrophic candidiasis
|Topical clotrimazole (Lotrimin); systemic fluconazole (Diflucan)
|Aphthous stomatitis (canker sores)
|Triamcinolone (Kenalog) ointment or fluocinonide (Lidex) mixed with Orabase; dexamethasone rinse; systemic prednisone; thalidomide
|Oral herpes simplex
|Systemic acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), or valacyclovir (Valtrex)
|Oral hairy leukoplakia
|None -- will resolve on its own
|Opportunistic tumors
|Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)
|Systemic doxorubicin (Doxil) or paclitaxel (Taxol); vinblastine (Velban); localized chemotherapy; surgery; radiation therapy
|Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)
|Radiation and/or chemotherapy
David I. Rosenstein, D.M.D., M.P.H., is chair of the Department of Community Dentistry at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland.
Selected Sources
Abel, S.N. and others. Principles of Oral Health Management for the HIV/AIDS Patient. U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bureau of HIV/AIDS. 2000.
Mork, J. and others. Human papillomavirus infection as a risk factor for squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck. New England Journal of Medicine 344(15): 1125-1131. April 12, 2001.
New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute. Oral Health Care for People with HIV Infection: Clinical Guidelines for the Primary Care Practitioner. December 2001.
O'Neill, J.F. and others. A Clinical Guide to Supportive and Palliative Care for HIV/AIDS. HRSA Bureau of HIV/AIDS. 2003.
Pascoe, G.P. and others. HIV/AIDS in Dental Care. Mountain Plains AIDS Education and Training Center. 2002.
Back to the SFAF BETA Winter 2003/2004 contents page.


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Kentucky Cleans Up To Open Spring Signing PeriodPosted by jstevrtc on April 14th, 2010
It's the first day of the spring signing period, and we saw a few of the top remaining undecided high school seniors choose a cap (or jersey) and commit to a college today. Two of them were surprises only insofar as they're big-time recruits who decided to attend mid-major schools, but it was Kentucky that made the most noise today. This info came mostly from the ESPN-U broadcast, so we're showing each player's overall rating in the ESPNU-100 Class of 2010 in parentheses:
The biggest verbal of the day was no surprise, since the buzz about it had long preceded the actual announcement. Point guard Brandon Knight (4), a 6'5 lightning bolt who can score as well as he leads, pulled out a blue cap and committed to play for John Calipari at Kentucky. He joins Enes Kanter (25) and Stacey Poole (51) in a Wildcat class for next year that might not yet be complete. The bill of Knight's UK baseball cap already had a major curve to it, confirming what everyone already knew — this decision was made a long time ago. Later in the day, the top prospect in the class of 2011, 6'7 small forward Michael Gilchrist also verballed to Kentucky, further ensuring that there will be virtually no hangover after the honeymoon season of Wall/Cousins/Patterson/Bledsoe.
In a class top-heavy with excellent point guards, two mid-majors scored fine floor-leaders this afternoon. 6'1 PG Ray McCallum (17) decided to stay home and play for his father at Detroit, and 6'5 SG Trey Zeigler (33) — sporting the greatest full windsor knot we've ever seen, with apologies to ESPN-U workhorse Lowell Galindo — continued the father-son trend in the state of Michigan by donning a Central Michigan cap. Zeigler's father Ernie is the coach for the Chippewas. Zeigler specifically cited Butler's run to the championship game this past season as one of the reasons he was comfortable in playing for a mid-major program. There's no question that the chance to play for their respective fathers was an incentive for these gentlemen to commit where they did, but it will be an interesting thing to watch over the next couple of years as to whether or not other top-flight recruits pull the trigger on staying close to home at other mid-major schools, especially if another small program can equal or even surpass Butler's achievements from 2009-2010.
Speaking of the Bulldogs, we should note here that Gordon Hayward has decided to submit his name for consideration in this year's NBA Draft, but he won't be hiring an agent anytime soon. Butler supporters — and there are definitely legions more, after this past season — will be sweating out Hayward's decision-making process this summer; the Bulldogs will lose Willie Veasley and Avery Jukes to graduation, which is substantial. Hayward's departure would make a trip to Houston next April all but impossible. If he comes back, though, that means the Hayward/Shelvin Mack/Matt Howard/Ronald Nored nucleus would all be returning, and we're confident that coach Brad Stevens can groom players to fill the spaces left by Veasley and Jukes. Butler has no commitments within the top 100, but we doubt Stevens is sweating.
Marquette took a step in replacing the graduated Lazar Hayward today by signing 6'6 SF/PF Jae Crowder, the junior college player of the year. Crowder averaged almost 19 PPG and led Howard College (TX) to the juco title this year. This one had been known for some time, but Marquette coach Buzz Williams made the official announcement today.
Despite Kentucky's recruiting haul today, as it pertains to the class of 2010, the top rating still belongs to Ohio State. They're extremely excited about getting 6'8 PF Jared Sullinger (2) on campus (as well they should be), in addition to 6'8 SF Deshaun Thomas (12), 6'4 SG Lenzelle Smith, Jr. (80), and 6'4 SG Jordan Sibert (82). North Carolina isn't far behind, with Roy Williams bringing in the top-ranked player in the class in 6'8 SF Harrison Barnes (1), 6'6 SG Reggie Bullock (18), and 6'4 PG Kendall Marshall (22). With Kentucky rumored to be leading for at least two other players within the top 30, and eight players in the top 100 still undecided, the matter of who has the best recruiting class could be altered as soon as this Saturday at the Jordan Brand Classic in New York City, where more players are expected to announce their college intentions.


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It's been a while since one of these. This update's a bit haphazard, but it's pretty huge. Lots of new toys in lots of ways.
Here's what's been addeD:
Overall, the new pose count is somewhere around 530. So lots of new stuff to play with. Things of actual note here, new male poses, after all that time. New object poses are attached to actual bones, and not the root, so they should work better for more customised body scales now. I've also updated some (not all yet) of the older object poses in the same way. On top of that, we've got some poses for crossbows, and some poses for magic.
Lastly, this will likely be the last poser update for a bit, because I want to see how things go with regards to SSE and modding it before choosing how to proceed with the future of Halo's Poser. Or maybe that's a lie and I'll just keep updating as usual. Who knows? We'll see what happens. With any luck, FNIS and Poser Hotkeys will get updated for SSE and it won't matter which game I make the poses for as to if they'll work. No promises in any directions though, things will be uncertain I'm sure, so please refrain from making "release it for SSE!" demands.
Here's the download: Download
Have fun!


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Tuesday 10th July
10 Gorffennaf 2007,
Contributed by CAROLINE
Today we were blessed with yet more sunshine- perhaps summer is here afterall!
Here's an update from the trenches…
Trench 1: The largest trench
The Eastern half of trench one has been behaving itself quite well and a series of features have been revealed and their function is often evident. The majority of the features are postholes, some are shallow, while others are quite deep and have in some instances post packing intact. Some of these postholes and pits have had prehistoric pottery within them and are therefore prehistoric in date. However, not all contained dating evidence (pottery or coins etc) and so their date is unknown. It is difficult at present to determine what postholes are likely to be contemporary to each other, but hopefully when we have drawn a full plan of the trench we will see if the postholes form a pattern- rectangular, circular or otherwise. However, there are so many postholes that the pattern is so far highly confused as they seem to be from a series of structures dating from very different periods. As one person has commented, its like trying to do a puzzle without a picture. There is also quite a large curvilinear gulley which seems to have both been cut by a ditch on the one side, while the other appears to have cut an earlier ditch. While in the Western half of the trench the features are slightly more complicated. Again we seem to have two, maybe three gullies, one of which is very shallow. Two of these gullies may be at right angles to each other and one of which is cut by a later post hole. There is also a large rubble-filled ditch and another potential rubble-filled ditch about 2m away.
Trench 2: the L shaped trench
This trench is quite confusing. An extremely deep feature appears to be a natural geological hollow filled in with dumps of occupation debris from the settlement. A slot was dug down through the feature to the natural base and there appears to be a very substantial glacial fill at the base of this hollow. In one area this pit/natural hollow appears to have been cut by a later shallow pit, which was filled with a high concentration of ash and iron objects. There are also a series of postholes, but these do not seem to make up any discernable structures.
Trench 3
This trench was intended for exposing and excavating a sample of the enclosure ditch which appears to have been cut during the middle-late Iron Age. The ditch is approximately 1.3m deep and encloses a sizeable area – creating such a feature would have taken a lot of effort, manpower and time. The ditch appears to have then become naturally filled in with soil, washed or blown in from elsewhere. Then in the 2nd or 3rd century AD, it was recut, this time much shallower than before and therefore less substantial and not so impressive but again this may have formed a defensive function or possibly demonstrating the resources of the inhabitants. Alongside there was a large area of rubble which was initially believed to be the remnants of a bank( banks quite often accompany ditches), but has since proved to be otherwise. This rubble is instead derived from a series of rubble-filled features, a number of which have now been exposed. There are also 2 pit like features which are similar in character to each other. The southern most of these ditches has clearly been cut by the ditch, we can therefore say that the pit is earlier than the ditch.


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I attended the Aging in America conference in Washington DC last week, as part of my fellowship with the Center for Health, Media and Policy. This was my first time attending this particular conference, and I was so pleased to see that the senior population still represents an important constituency to so many.
Hundreds of attendees, speakers, and exhibitors dedicated nearly an entire week to learn more about this population and how they can improve their lives – whether through technology or social services, or innovative caregiving. There were folks from local, state, and federal agencies, senior organizations, social service agencies, academia, consumer and professional product and service companies, non-profits, and people from all walks of life that just care about our older population.
Many of the attendees and speakers have dedicated their careers and their lives to our seniors. "It takes a village" is more than just a trite slogan. This is an entire community that cares — and works hard to make sure that our older generation is not forgotten.


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Plum Island is a small barrier island off the coast of Northern Massachusetts, part of Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley and Ipswich. The island is named for the hundreds of beach-plum bushes growing everywhere, and is home mostly to Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. This is where we shot our booklets Seedling and High Seas.
Seedling features six designs in our new yarn, Seedling, the little sister to Sprout, our wildly popular Verde yarn from 2010. Seedling is knit at a much smaller gauge, yielding a pleasantly textured fabric that is much lighter than Sprout. High Seas is a booklet featuring nine accessory designs in seven beautiful yarns: Cotton Bam Boo, Firefly, Pebbles, Premiere, Provence, Silky Alpaca Lace and Summer Set. Parkhurst and Treasure, two shawls in Silky Alpaca Lace, were shot in Monhegan Island, which you can learn a bit about in our blog post earlier this week. If you have trouble loading the flipbook below, click here to open it in a new window
Plum Island Flipbook


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embroil in
embroil (one) in (something)
To trap oneself or someone in an issue, problem, or scandal. A noun or pronoun can be used between "embroil" and "in." The best politicians choose their battles wisely. If one becomes too embroiled in petty debates, one never gets anything done. Our father's lack of a will has embroiled my brothers and me in many lawsuits over his estate.
See also: embroil
embroil someone in something
Fig. to entangle someone in something; to get someone involved in something. Please do not embroil me in your squabbles. I wish I could keep from embroiling myself in this kind of mess.
See also: embroil


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Eva Longoria
I don't love the dress, but I don't hate it either.
I think the black pumps ruin it for me.
Malin Akerman
The bust, slit and length are all weird.
Again with the shoes... No.
Zooey Deschanel
The top of the dress doesn't fit.
It's also too long.
I adore Zooey though.
Kate Upton
This looks like a fancy bathrobe.
Rachel Zoe
Rachel dresses other people so well.
Why does she always look like a grandmother?
Sofia Vergara
The dress is cute, but not my favorite on Sofia.
Reese Witherspoon
I like the cut of the dress.
The look comes together nicely with the hair and earrings.
Charlize Theron
I don't love the dress, but she looks stunning nonetheless.
Maybe if her hair were down...
Lindsay Lohan
I didn't love the amount of cleavage she showed, but overall Lindsay looks great.
I love her hair this color.
Elizabeth Banks
This color looks great on Elizabeth.
Kerry Washington
I dig the color, but the dress is a tad boring.
Rosario Dawson
The dress is ill-fitting.
I also think she should put the girls away when hanging with POTUS.
Kris Jenner & Kim Kardashian
They look like they're dressed for a holiday party.
Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz
Alicia looks extremely under dressed.
Anna Paquin & Stephen Moyer
They look lovely.
I didn't realize these two were dating until today. Love.
The dress isn't my style, but they certainly look smashing.
I also love that Ginnifer can rock the hell out of short hair.
*I'd like to give a shout out to Gin because she's from my hometown.
Memphis in the hizzy!*
First Lady Michelle Obama
I love that we have a fierce First Lady.
Love this print and color combo on Michelle.
Josh Hutcherson
My my my, Peeta cleans up nicely.
Barack always looks dapper in a tux.
Claire Danes
Claire usually looks great.
This dress is not cute at all.
Dakota Fanning
The dress is pretty, but it ages her tremendously.
And what I can see of the shoes, I do not like.
Kate Hudson
I don't really love sequins, but the fit is great.
Leslie Mann
I don't typically like floral prints, but this really works.
I love it!
all images via Zimbio and Red Carpet Fashion Awards


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One of Joyce Lam's proudest accomplishments in her quest to make Vancouver theatres more welcoming to Asian-Canadian performers, and audiences, was the night her mom showed up to watch her company's production of The Odd Couple. And laughed.
For the Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre (VACT) production of The Odd Couple in 2008, Lam was inspired by the opera and projected surtitles above the stage, which allowed Cantonese and Mandarin speakers to understand the same script English speakers were hearing. "Everyone laughed at the same time," recalls Lam proudly.
The founder and artistic director of VACT recently received the city of Vancouver's 2012 Cultural Harmony Award, but it takes some coaxing to get her to talk about the honour. "It's really hard to accept praise," Lam told The Sun. "In Chinese culture you're not supposed to be recognized so much as an individual; rather than me, me, me, me, it's we, we, we, we. It's not just me, it's everyone who helped get this up and running." She pauses, laughs. "Now I'm stuttering because I find this uncomfortable."
Lam does admit that due to a serious autoimmune disease, a variant of lupus, she has faced serious challenges in pursuing her passion for theatre. In her 20s she was a candidate for a double lung and heart transplant, until an experimental drug made the operation unnecessary. "They actually have a medical journal article written on me," says Lam.
The Cultural Harmony Award has been presented annually since 1996 to recognize individuals and organizations that contribute to nurturing the city's diversity. Lam's translation: "It's an award given to people who have actually tried to make the city a little more colourful." Perhaps the most unique aspect of the award — a tree is planted in the name of each winner at the Vancouver park board's Cultural Harmony Grove, east of the Burrard Marina.
Lam's much more comfortable talking about VACT's upcoming Master Class production (their first ever) of the acclaimed new comedy The Theory of Everything by the Thai-American writer Prince Gomolvilas. The play is about a diverse group of Asian-Americans who spend their spare time searching for UFOs from the roof of a Las Vegas wedding chapel. "It's an award-winning show from the States with seven strong characters where they all get a monologue," says Lam. The instructor in charge of the Master Class program, Leo Award winner Rick Tae, is mentoring the show's director, Alfred Lui.
Lam says she was inspired to try to make a difference while attending theatrical productions in Vancouver in the 1980s: "I didn't see people of colour on stage, or in the audience, and I thought people would come to the shows if they saw people they could identify on stage." Lam and about 10 other volunteers decided to change things up by staging a comedy night featuring Asian-Canadian performers.
Their goal was to "break stereotypes," says Lam. "That was so successful that we thought, 'Let's do another one.' " Since then, VACT has mounted more than 40 shows — including the first full production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song since 1958, the original hit musical Red Letters and the comedy soap, Sex in Vancouver — a spinoff of the successful stage show Sex in Seattle, which was a spinoff of ... well, you know.
"There wasn't nudity, but there was perceived nudity," says Lam. It was very sexy and a lot of fun and it was very fast-moving. We did that for five years as one of our productions. It was the first time they (Vancouver audiences) probably saw a good-looking Asian man get some on stage."
Lam is also delighted to talk about the success of VACT alumni such as Ash Lee, who quit his job as an engineer, enrolled in Langara's Studio 58 and now has his Equity status. And Josette Jorge (recently seen in Play With Monsters). "She's our poster child. She went from high school to SFU's theatre program. ... She acts and writes and participates in our sketch comedy events. And we have a lot of people who've gone on to film."
The one aspect of VACT that isn't quite successful is the company's structure, or lack thereof. Because VACT was started by theatre lovers, not theatre pros, they didn't build a traditional infrastructure, which means their primary source of funding is ticket sales. "I'm doing it as a volunteer. I'm not paid as artistic director," says Lam before adding a reminder that all ticket sales from the new Master Class show will go directly to funding next year's Master Class program.
The Theory of Everything
Preview Jan. 9; show runs Jan. 10-12 | Roundhouse Performance Centre
Tickets: Preview is pay what you can; From Jan. 10, $15 adult/$10 student & senior in advance from www.vact.ca or at door for $20


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Laptop Repair in Mahim, Mumbai
We provide Laptop Repair Services to the customers located in Mahim and other areas near Mumbai with On site & Pick n Drop Service at an affordable rate Call: 9004029090.
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Wendy's Prices and Locations in Milwaukie, OR
Wendy's - 17217 S.E. MCLOUGHLIN
Milwaukie, Oregon (503) 653-2472
Looking for a Wendy's near you?
Founded by Dave Thomas on November 15, 1969, Wendy's is a chain of American international fast food restaurants with most of which being located in North America. Hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, French fries and beverages, including the Frosty consist most of Wendy's menu.
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A different dietary habit, a different physical quality? Do you know the effects of nutrients? This article may be helpful.
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After months of construction, Elfant Wissahickon Realty marked the opening of its new office space last night at 8039 Germantown Ave. with a community celebration that included an official ribbon cutting with Mayor Michael Nutter (that's him with the big pair of scissors).
Elfant purchased the former Reese Pharmacy last year and just finished extensive renovations of the property. The company made the move from its old, long-time headquarters in Mt. Airy.


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- Income Investing
Corporate Bonds Unfazed By Fed Flareup
- Order Reprints
- Print Article
If the Fed's latest policy statement and economic projections gave many markets a start on Wednesday, corporate bonds were generally unfazed. Barclays credit strategists Jeffrey Meli and Bradley Rogoff say U.S. credit markets this week retraced most of their weakness from earlier this month, and the main catalyst for the credit rally was reduced concerns about the conflict in Ukraine instead.
Barclays notes that the quickening in the pace of the expected Fed rate-hike cycle, as seen in the forecast for the Fed funds rate rising by 25 basis points to 1.0% at the end of 2015 and by 50bp to 2.25% at the end of 2016, appeared to catch market participants by surprise, with 10-year Treasury yields rising by more than 10bp while stocks dropped. Credit spreads also widened initially, by about 2bp in investment grade and around 10bp in high yield, but Barclays says the reaction was comparatively muted:
The latest FOMC meeting does not meaningfully change our rates strategists' outlook for interest rates or our outlook for credit. In fact, the muted reaction in spreads to Wednesday's announcement despite a large move in Treasury yields seems to confirm this view. Our recently published Global Macro Survey revealed that China/EM growth and geopolitics remain the main perceived risks for investors. However, as the recent blips of volatility showed, credit markets appear to be poised to weather such macro flare-ups. We continue to expect aggregate spreads to be mostly range-bound, with certain sectors and single names bearing the brunt of EM growth-related concerns.
Barclays says technical factors have also been supportive for credit markets:
In investment grade, although gross supply is up y/y, redemptions are up even more (27%). Furthermore, flows into investment grade funds this year have topped $19bn – half of the flows for all of 2013 – and we expect the pace of supply to slow significantly for the rest of the year. On the high yield side, fund flows have been positive and redemptions are up 10% y/y; however, year-to-date issuance is down 30% versus last year. Although spreads are likely to benefit from these favorable supply/demand technicals, weaker primary market activity is correlated with lower trading volumes, further supporting our view that the liquidity environment will remain challenging in 2014.


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(Read the 2009 Heavy Metal Halloween Top 10 and the 2010 Heavy Metal Halloween Top 10)
My favorite time of year is here……HALLOWEEN!
In conjunction with other Hard Rock/Heavy Metal blogs (see links below) I have compiled my personal Top 10 Heavy Metal songs for Halloween 2007. It took me a few days to search through my collection and see which songs fit, I had so many off the top of my head I could have easily done a Top 20.
Here's the list in no particular order except #1:
- Black Sabbath – 'Black Sabbath'
- Alice Cooper – 'The Ballad Of Dwight Fry'
- Alice Cooper – 'Dead Babies'
- Alice Cooper – 'I Love The Dead'
- Halloween – 'Halloween Night'
- Fastway – 'Trick Or Treat'
- Iron Maiden – 'Fear Of The Dark'
- Diamond Head – 'Am I Evil?'
- Helloween – 'Mr. Torture'
- Ozzy Osbourne – 'Bark At The Moon'
Bonus Track: Alice Cooper – 'He's Back (The Man Behind The Mask)'
You can check out some other Halloween Top 10 lists at the following blogs, enter if you dare!


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From 1939 to 1968 the Judicial Council of the former Methodist Church rendered Decision Numbers 1-255. This and other volumes of decisions are listed below. These are generally published in book format each quadrennium following The General Conference. In the interim between the quadrennial editions the most recent decisions are included in The General Minutes each year. All Judicial Council Decisions can be found on the Internet at www.umc.org.
Read More


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42 year old male self rated 3.0 just finished my first mens league. Looking to improve to 3.5, so would love to find someone nearby to play on a consistent basis. I work from home most days, so can usually be flexible on meeting times. Prefer late mornings or afternoons, just not too late in the day.
Added by Scott Magness on July 9, 2012 at 1:13pm — No Comments
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text: "Die Young" (Ke$ha). The world's #1 dance game brand is back with Just Dance®4! The latest edition of the record-breaking franchise takes the party to a whole new level of fun with new game modes, coaches and stylish environments. Written by N. J. Ruess, B. Levin, H. Walter, K. Sebert and L. Gottwald. Published by Prescription Songs, LLC, Lotzah Matzah Songs LLC, Dream Machine Corporation, and Kasz Money Publishing. Administered by Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc. / WB Music Corp. (ASCAP), FBR Music (ASCAP), Bearvon Music (ASCAP). All rights on behalf of itself, FBR Music and Bearvon Music. Administered by WB Music Corp. All Rights Reserved. Used courtesy of Kemosabe Records/RCA Records. By arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment. Music Downloads Not Rated by the ESRB


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Find the car that is right for you with Richmond Mitsubishi. Search through our latest used car stock and begin your ultimate journey.
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