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I've been wondering!!!!
7 • Created by Terry Carey • 6 August 2012 13:19 • 703641 views • Link •
John Daly • 2 December 2018 08:50Thank you for your good wishes unfortunately i think it it is something in my head as they just keep increasing my dosage of tablets. Anyway i have an appointment for another scan next week and also one for my water problem and so i am spending plenty of time in medical hands, (Finger)
(Terry, I had had to surrender my licence since last Feb. but do hope to get it back next February )
Pamela Forbes • 2 December 2018 16:27Hi JD. So sorry to hear that you have been in the wars again. I hope that the problem is soon sorted and that you are back on your feet again as quickly as possible. Take care. I'm sending you a get well hug and Daisy sends you a lick.
Terry Carey • 2 December 2018 21:50Hi JD - I knew you'd lost your licence but thought it was earlier than February and going back to last year. Hope all is well and you get it back on schedule.
Syd Jones • 3 December 2018 13:00Hi JD. Just caught up with the thread and very sorry to learn that you're in the wars yet again. Are you quite sure it was a nurse and not a plumber trying to fit a new tap? Thought your licence had actually been returned some while ago, obviously another senior moment (so many moments they're starting to look like hours!) Anyway, if we're ever to get around to that pie & a pint we've been on about for the last twelve months, I'd better refresh my memory of routes north of W-S-M, though perhaps, not before Christmas. All the best, Syd.
Cheers, Syd.
John Daly • 3 December 2018 17:43Hello Syd,
Thanks for your good wishes I have been putting in as many hours as the Staff lately and the Missus has almost got shares in the Car Park ,the amount of cash she as spent the non of which goes to the Hospital. Most of the Carers and Nurses are from Taiwan they were all the same height, all wore glasses and all spoke just basic English, They were very attentive but the Male Nurse (Malaysian i think ) was quite rough pulling out the pipe from my willy. The food was amazing , three full meals a day and as many drinks,( teas, coffee hot chocolate, ) Still i was glad to get out and home
Think we'll leave that Pie and Pint until the New Year, All the Best for Christmas and the New Year.
Regards J.D.
Terry Carey • 3 December 2018 20:25Our local hospital is like most for the hefty car park charges although they do have a concession if someone is in for a few days. We can buy a ticket for seven days for a tenner - unlimited parking but the drawback is that it only covers one car. When Patricia was in a few months back I sometimes drove relatives in for the evening visiting and I did the afternoon ones. I dropped them off and then picked them up later because we mostly live fairly close to each other. For those who live a bit of a distance they came to our house and left their cars. Our daughter has our car registered in her name to cut down the insurance charge so she can drive it so that was fine when she went. It cut down the amount going into the meters a hell of a lot. £3 minimum normally times twice a day times seven days equals £42. A tenner is far better and a drop of petrol is a lot cheaper.
John Richards • 18 December 2018 18:41I've been wondering.............If Lawyers are disbarred,
and Clergymen defrocked,
Does it not follow that
Electricians are delighted,
Musicians denoted,
Models deposed,
and Dry Cleaners depressed ?
Terry Carey • 19 December 2018 16:57Soldiers are debriefed- sorry - that's all I can think of right now.
Rosemary (Kim) Dimond • 19 December 2018 21:52Train drivers are derailed and
Florists are deflowered (whoops!)
John Richards • 19 December 2018 22:37Dead songwriters decompose.
English teachers are dispelled.
Homeless horses destabilized.
Rosemary (Kim) Dimond • 20 December 2018 15:34Homeless cats decategorised
Terry Carey • 20 December 2018 22:04I've been wondering how anyone gets 'bauched' because I've often read about people being 'debauched'
John Richards • 20 December 2018 22:30I've been wondering what Quasimodo got the hump about.
John Richards • 20 December 2018 22:35Are straight skirts depleted ?
Why is it that with stockings, the longer they are, the closer the top is to the bottom ?
Terry Carey • 2 March 2019 19:14I've been wondering if this thread has finally run out of steam? Any reply would be thanked by my genuflecting repeatedly while reciting the poem by Omar Khayam about 'The moving finger' and wondering where the finger has got to these days.
However, I thought I'd like to see who facebook would match me up with in the realms of Movie Stars. This is what it came up with:-
Terry Carey • 2 March 2019 19:15There is a resemblance to a photo of me - with my wife Patricia - many years ago sitting on a step at the Palace of Versailles.:-
Rosemary (Kim) Dimond • 2 March 2019 21:59
Originally Posted by Terry CareyThanks for the photo Terry, great pic !!
John Richards • 9 March 2019 17:22I saw all your films several times, Terry, and had your photos all over my bedroom wall.
I could never understand why you used so many stage names, Cary Grant, Tyrone Power and John Wayne being some.
You were always good though, even in your Shirley Temple pictures.
Terry Carey • 9 March 2019 20:43The hardest part as Shirley was getting the kiss curl the same every day
John Richards • 10 March 2019 12:39Brings back thoughts of the "old-time" film stars, Terry. I often wonder why Mickey Rooney grew old, but never got bigger.
And why Boris Karloff was better looking as Frankenstein's Monster than he was in real life.
I also wonder if they did a remake of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" they would have to call it
"Snow White and the Seven People of Restricted Growth"?
Terry Carey • 10 March 2019 20:44There you have it in a nutshell JR - it's all make believe even now and was worse way back. So many of the old stars were quite tiny. Mickey Rooney, Jimmy Cagney, George Raft, Edward G Robinson, Alan Ladd, Humphrey Bogart to name but a few. Exceptions were John Wayne and Rock Hudson so how they managed to co star them I don't know.
For my money though Mickey Rooney was a fantastic actor.
John Richards • 15 March 2019 12:46In my opinion, Terry, Mickey Rooney was a good actor and a talented singer and dancer.
Sadly he was not gifted with a personality.
When I used to go to Saturday Morning Childrens' Cinema, I always used to boo him, probably because I loved Judy Garland.
John Richards • 15 March 2019 13:02A great film star needs several qualities.
Good looks.
Sparkling personality.
Warm, gentle manners.
A clear, soft voice.
The sort of person whose company you would enjoy.
One actor summed up all of these qualities..........
Terry Carey • 15 March 2019 17:24Ah yes - good old jack Elam. My daughter and her husband saw one of the Cannonball Run films with Jack in the role of a drunk ex surgeon given to injecting himself. They were screaming almost with laughter at his facial expressions.
Syd Jones • 15 March 2019 17:53'Ah. Hah, JR! But you can tell he was a baddy at heart, he wears a black 'at! Cheers, Syd.
John Richards • 15 March 2019 18:04He couldn't have been all bad, Syd. He served in the Navy during the war !
David Clements • 15 March 2019 18:52Showing my age now. I can remember jack elam as toothy thompson in the Sugarfoot series of the late 50s.
Syd Jones • 16 March 2019 12:59In which case JR. At risk a'bein' sunk at me moorings, I'll say no more...but he'd never get into a turret with that 'at! Cheers, Syd.
Photo: Sweetwater canal '53
Terry Carey • 16 March 2019 17:17If ever a waterway was misnamed it was that one!
John Richards • 17 March 2019 12:06The same applies to the River Oder in Poland, Terry.
Terry Carey • 10 April 2019 17:52Too right JD - it goes way over the top now. I believe the Game of Thrones has a lot of the nudge-nudge goings on at times. I've had a quick shufti from time to time but all I've ever seen is people having bits chopped off or eyes gouged out. Not for me!
John Richards • 26 April 2019 16:33I'm not gruesome but think of this, Terry.
I'm always willing to give you a hand..............
and keep an eye out for you !
Rosemary (Kim) Dimond • 26 April 2019 18:10And then getting stabbed in the back !!!!!!!
Terry Carey • 26 April 2019 23:58Okay - I get the picture. Bloody smart arses!
John Richards • 11 May 2019 18:07Don't worry, Terry old pal, there's a cure for 'smart arses'!
Preparation H.
Terry Carey • 11 May 2019 18:42I am well acquainted with said product - not that I need it of course but my Dad had piles - I'm posh - I have heamero - erm - hemmeraido - erm - haemarrhid - erm - okay I've got a pile! There you go JR - it's out in the open now - well of course not really out in the open - even I can't see it.
Steve • 11 May 2019 19:21
Originally Posted by Terry CareyHi Terry, my cousin had hemer, hemea, PILES, she swore Witch Hazel helped, worth a try mate
Terry Carey • 11 May 2019 22:58Hi Steve - to be honest it never bothers me because I eat Fibre Flakes from Sainsbury's every morning. They solved all my problems and even got rid of colitis. They are called FREEE and it's not a misprint. Many thanks though.
John Richards • 15 June 2019 13:20As an ex-Navy medic, I would like to make something clear.
Only Officers have haemorrhoids.
Ratings and other ranks have piles.
This is written in the BR888.
Terry Carey • 15 June 2019 17:08I genuflect in your general direction for the elucidation in your explanation giving us the definition and wish I had your erudition.
John Richards • 28 July 2019 17:01I opened my mail yesterday, and had a bit of a shock.
It was the renewal of my Car Insurance, and it stated thereon that I have held a driving licence since July 1949.
That's 70 years, even older than my car !
I've just DOUBLED the value of my car by buying two new front tyres.
Terry Carey • 29 July 2019 21:04That's even longer than me! By the way - how old is your car? Must be an old Ford Pop.
Syd Jones • 30 July 2019 14:05John, my renewal was back in May and, as in every other year, had gone up yet again. So, as in every other year, I phoned them and complained that I was still a citizen going about my lawful business, not indulged in any nefarious activities during the past twelve months, a pillar of the community, drive less than seven k miles per annum these days and, all-in-all, a kindly, elderly, old goat... errr. gent. A reduced premium therefore being surely in order.
Happily, it worked and so I remain with the same insurer I have been with for years. Worth a try? Cheers, Syd.
Rosemary (Kim) Dimond • 30 July 2019 15:44
Originally Posted by Syd JonesHad my renewal a couple of weeks ago Syd and, like you, tried the same tactic - worked a treat, usually does!!
John Richards • 3 August 2019 13:59My Insurance company is first class.
I have a four horse-power car, one of the horses died this year, and they replaced it with a healthy young stallion.
My fuel consumption is now 30 miles to the bale !
Reme • 13 October 2019 22:09I have been wondering how closing your local office down. Take your pick on service and telling you to go to the next closest office 100 miles away. With the happy notation that they are doing this to make it easier for you. Since when has a hundred miles become easier than two.
Terry Carey • 28 October 2019 18:29Ah Dave - the ways in which the English language can be distorted are endless. These utterances are done by the kind of people who can look you in the eyes while they are standing behind you.
Rosemary (Kim) Dimond • 28 October 2019 20:15Service is a lost word, it just doesn't mean anything now !!


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About this blog
FLEFF Intern Voices
The Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival from the interns' point of view
Monday, March 26, 2012
The Bernie Upson Quartet is an Ithaca staple, consisting of: Bernie Upson on bass, Dino Losito on piano, Chuck Leo on sax, and Al Harland on drums.
I went to Maxie's Supper Club for one of Bernie's gigs (he plays there the third Sunday of every month.) Bernie's passion and aptitude for his trade were evident with the first pluck of his bass string. His soulful style brought the audience back to the height of the jazz age. Check out this awesome video of Bernie playing alongside Buddy Tate in 1982 at a concert Berlin to get an idea what i'm talking about.
During a break I got a chance to sit down with Bernie and his wife Deb Clover, to learn about his long and distinguished jazz career and what advice he has for music students and aspiring musicians.
Q: What is your background?
A. I grew up in Harlem surrounded by music. I worked at the Apollo for a few years. I played with Diana Ross & the Supremes when they first came in from Detroit. I played bass for the shows at the Apollo, including Patty Labelle.
Deb on Bernie- He's been doing this since he was 18. Ithaca's lucky he decided to settle here.
He lived around the corner from Count Basie when he was a kid. Growing up in Harlem he was around a lot of great musicians. When he was an older teenager, he moved to Queens where he was also surrounded by a lot of jazz musicians. If you wanted to be a jazz musician it was the right time and the right place.
When he was playing in the Catskills at the Concord, he was playing in a lounge and Frank Sinatra was performing on the other stage. Then Frank came and sat down with them.
He made friends with Joe Henderson in service and they formed an army jazz band. They traveled all over the South where they were stationed. It was still so segregated. They would play in a club where they couldn't walk in the front door.
Q: What was it that got him to where he is?
Deb on Bernie- Talent and passion for it. You can tell just by listening or looking at him. There are a lot of good players around, but there are few players who have the soul that Bernie has. I mean you can see it and hear it.
He was also in the right place at the right time. He was studying bass with Wendell Marshall (bass player for Duke Ellington). Someone offered Wendell to go on tour, but he couldn't go, so he said, "I have a student who can go." He sent Bernie instead. The other musicians really looked out for him. They would take his money on payday and hold on to it for him. You know as a musician there are a lot of temptations; it's a hard life.
Q: What are you looking most forward to at FLEFF?
A. I look forward to playing for you folks.
Q: What advice would you give to music students or aspiring musicians about the music world?
A. If you're serious about it, put your whole self into it. Never quit. Never give up. Always have something in the background in case you're starving. Make sure it's something you really want to do- it's a hard life. If you chose to be an artist, make sure you want to be an artist. I would tell all young students to be an artist. Love music and if that's your goal, pursue it. There's definitely a chance to make it.
Check out the Bernie Upson Quartet at FLEFF's 15th anniversary party on Friday, March 30 at the Finger Lakes Wine Center.

subset: commoncrawl


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College of Science, Engineering, & Mathematics
Focused Quality Education
A Welcome Message from the Dean of the College of SEM:
Hi there! This is your starting point for information about Vincennes University's College of Science, Engineering, & Mathematics. If you are interested in hands-on learning, small classes, and excellent instruction, then you have found the right place! VU has exactly what you need for the first 2 years of your college career. Want to be a Doctor? Engineer? Pharmacist? Zoologist? Soil Scientist? Run your own landscape company? We got it! Do you like going outdoors, studying the ocean, old growth forests, or bats? We got it! Credits that transfer? We got it! Least expensive residential university in Indiana? We got it! We also have Bachelor Degrees in Secondary Math & Science Education, in case you want to follow in the footsteps of your favorite teachers. We offer free tutoring for all subjects and have a lot of clubs that you can be active in, including our "Women of STEM Learning Community". I hope you'll apply and visit our campus. Come see the brand new, $25 million Updike Hall Center for Science, Engineering & Mathematics. I think you'll be impressed. Check out the different program web pages, videos, and pictures.
Curt Coffman
Dean, College of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics
College of Science, Engineering, & Mathematics Degrees
We value quality education and are committed to academic success. We hope you will explore our site to find the area of study that will lead you to a lifetime of personal and professional fulfillment


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Take 5 for Heart Health: Learn CPR
This video from the American Heart Association demonstrates what you need to know to perform hands-only CPR. While the style of the spot is entertaining, it's a very serious and important topic. Do you know CPR? It can save a life. We hope you watch the video and work to the beat of "Stayin' Alive."
Join us March 2 for Lexington Medical Center's "Heart Fair" at the Doubletree by Hilton on Bush River Road in Columbia from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. We're offering Citizen CPR training.


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Creating a Kid-Friendly Space
Effective classrooms should contain spaces that facilitate students' independence, constructive play, thinking, and learning. And they should be orderly, inviting, and safe.
Although the physical space may need to be modified to suit the age of the students, all elementary classrooms should have these six basic work areas:
- Large group
- Small group
- Technology
- Independent work
- Reading
- Art and music
Large Group Work Areas
To designate a space for large group meetings, you might use an area rug or other kind of floor covering. It not only adds definition but also provides a homey touch. Ideally, this area will provide ample space for each student to sit without being crowded. This area can be used for morning and afternoon meetings, whole group read alouds, and all focus lessons.
Small Group Work Areas
Every classroom should have spaces for small groups of children to work with the teacher for guided instruction or with one another on projects. You can establish a small group area simply by using a table with the appropriate number of chairs. Make sure to create a system of storing supplies that are ready and easily accessible during this group work.
Technology Stations
Students today are savvy technology users and they want and need access to technology tools for their learning. Computers, iPads, iPods, and other sources of technology should be set up in ways that enable students to collaborate with peers as well as to use independently.
Independent Learning Areas
Small group and one-on-one instruction are very effective means of teaching, but they require that other students work independently. To facilitate this, you will need to create areas where students can access station or center materials whenever needed. Store materials in separate containers so they can be retrieved by students and taken to designated areas of the room.
Reading Areas
A well-stocked, well-organized classroom library can be the heartbeat of any classroom. For younger students, organize books by titles and topics. Include books appropriate for a wide range of reading levels and interests. Arrange books in front-facing displays to maximize student interest. Large comfortable pillows, child-sized chairs, and small, plastic baby pools make great areas for students to read independently or with a friend. Audio books also can be stored in the classroom library for students to listen to independently or with a buddy.
Art and Music Areas
A portable easel makes an easy and efficient way to add an art area to the classroom. Art materials and supplies can be stored in small containers around this area. Add a basket of art books to help spark students' creativity. A music area can be added in a similar way. Store portable keyboards and hand-held instruments made specifically for children where students' can explore and enjoy them. Download music apps to iPods and iPads to help foster a love of music.
Once you've arranged the room, walk through it and sit at various places to determine if there are any areas with obstructed views. You should be able to see all students in the room from all points. The goal is to create a classroom that is nurturing, appealing, and safe.
About the Author
Gay F. Barnes, a first grade teacher at Horizon Elementary School in Madison, Alabama, earned her national board certification as an Early Childhood Generalist in 2001 and renewed the certification in 2011. She was selected Alabama's Teacher of the Year for 2011-2012 and was a 2012 National Teacher of the Year finalist.
advice & support
Best of Works4Me: Back to School
21 of the best back-to-school-themed teaching tips we've gathered over the years, each one authored the a real expert, an educator like you.
- Classroom Setup: Assessing your space
Working with what you have
- Classroom Beautiful: Do it yourself
Transform four bare walls into a powerful educational tool
- Classroom Setup by Function or Activity


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How can I say this sentence more properly? Suppose I am with my girlfriend, and I say
"I want my whole life to be submerged in this particular moment".
I don't think that submerged is the right word. What I want to say is that I want my whole life to be in this particular moment that I am with my girlfriend. Can any one construct this sentence so that it sounds pleasant and correct?


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With DDO's first expansion - Menace of the Underdark - on the horizon, we met up with Executive Producer Fernando Paiz at PAX East to talk about what's coming this Summer.
ZAM is also having a small twitter contest to give away Winter Wolf Pup Pet Codes! Just tweet / follow @ZAMOfficial or @Pwyff with why you should have a Winter Wolf Pup, and we'll select some lucky winners throughout today! You may enter once per twitter account for a total of two entries! Be sure to follow us, or we can't directly message you with your winning code!
If you win a Winter Wolf Pup code, just go to myaccount.turbine.com, and enter the code we give you. Then, log into the DDO game client and receive an item in your character inventory. You can then redeem this in-game item to Caypenn Drop-Axe near the Leaky Dinghy in the Stormreach Harbor to receive your swag bag and Winter Wolf Pup!
While the Turbine booth - a subset of the WB Games booth - at PAX East 2012 was a little understated in comparison to the huge, sprawling behemoths of other developer booths (I'm looking at you, 2K Games), the content they were showcasing was anything but. In focus this time around was, of course, the Dungeons & Dragons Online team with their Menace of the Underdark expansion set to launch June 25th, 2012. While my interview with Fernando Paiz covers most of the big features coming in Menace of the Underdark, I can't stress enough how great these graphical additions are looking in the game. After my interview with Fernando, I sat down for a brief guided tour through Eveningstar and the King's Forest, and I can easily say this is an expansion done right. Not only is the DDO team pursuing new concepts and themes with Forgotten Realms, but the whole thing just looks sharp. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what the DDO team can do with Forgotten Realms. Now on with the interview!
ZAM: We're here with Fernando Paiz, Executive Producer for Turbine's Dungeons & Dragons Online at PAX East 2012! How are things going today?
Fernando Paiz: We love this show because it's all about D&D! There are so many D&D players here; there's a huge Lolth statue over at the Wizards of the Coast booth that we both worked on together. The big Dungeons & Dragons expansion this year is all about the Rise of the Underdark and the threat of Lolth trying to take over as Queen of Magic of the forgotten realms, which we're doing as well, but with our own take on it. Of course, we're pulling in the heroes of Eberron who have become entangled in Lolth's web that will become a part of this storyline.
It's a really fun and epic story that will take you all the way from the Update 13 prequel through to the end of the expansion and your face-off with the Deity Lolth in the raid at the end of the expansion.
ZAM: What really big things are you hoping to do with an expansion like this for DDO players?
Fernando: The expansion, of course, is huge in a lot of ways. I'd say the first biggest thing is going to Forgotten Realms. I think most players know this, but our game has been set in Eberron, which is a specific D&D setting, which has an industrial magic feel to - more of a city environment - which is a very different flavor from the D&D you may have been used to playing in your pen and paper days if you played ten or twenty years ago. So here we're going to Forgotten Realms for the first time, which is a really big deal; it's very important to us. It feels special; it feels true to what the setting should be. So we're trying to do all kinds of upgrades to the game. Technology, systems, new art, new monsters and all kinds of new things are coming in so that we can create Forgotten Realms in the way we've always hoped to see it.
The first part of the overworld we have is Eveningstar. When we arrive from Eberron we're going to land near this village called Eveningstar. It's normally a peaceful village in the past, a hunting village, but of late it's come under attack by Drow raiding parties. In our story, they're coming out from the Underdark to attack the villagers of Eveningstar looking for something.
Today we're showing off one of the early quests of the expansion pack in the town of Eveningstar, where the players go into a den belonging to some forest hags. Forest hags are mystical creatures that speak in riddles, and they sense the subconscious thoughts of people, which is why they're here. The forest hags are in league with the Drow, which is unusual in itself, because the Drow have asked the hags to figure out the answer to an important question that Lolth wants answered: "Where is the thread of the weave?" The thread of the weave is something that the Drow have figured out exists in the world and they believe is in Eveningstar or very close by. The thread of the weave is a vessel of Mystra's Power. Mystra is another iconic character in the Forgotten Realms - the queen of Magic of the Forgotten Realms - who has been missing now for several years. Lolth sees an opportunity here to rise up to assume the throne of magic to become the queen of magic herself on top of being the badass deity that she is. So our players have to stop Lolth because she's threatening Eberron and Eveningstar and a whole lot of other things.
So players are going to get familiar with this back story of the thread of the weave. The only thing the hags say - in their riddles - is that the thread of the weave is, "Something that everybody knows but nobody knows." So nobody knows what it is, but the power of Mystra does live in this vessel, the thread, and that's a mystery that starts off this storyline. Of course, we get to follow this storyline through three full adventure packs, where normally releasing adventure packs might have four or five quests in them. In this case, we get start with the King's Forest and Eveningstar, and then we'll go fight the Drow themselves in one of their home cities of Sschindylryn - the city of portals - where, like Eveningstar, there is a lot of lore and back story to it, but it hasn't been overdone in Forgotten Realms tales, so we get to create some of our own stories here. Sschindylryn is built on top of an ancient ziggurat, where players will eventually have a cool fight on top of that ziggurat. As the finale of the expansion storyline, we're going to keep following this epic story to fight Lolth in her home plane of the demon web. So this expansion will bring three sets of environments there, with the overworld of Faerûn (Eveningstar, King's Forest), the Underdark (the dungeons there and the city of Sschindylryn) and eventually the Demon Web (Lolth's home base).
So there's this whole family of environments, and they all have new art, new monsters and cool new stories. There are also a lot of tech upgrades to support this and to make this a place unlike any you've seen in DDO before.
ZAM: In terms of working with Forgotten Realms and creating content for such an iconic setting, are there plans to explore more here?
Fernando: Absolutely. Menace of the Underdark, as huge a release as it is, is just the beginning for us of a whole new campaign. So we see all that promise out there. Right now we're in the forest, but one day we'll get to go to the mountains or the swamps that are nearby, or some of the other far-off locations that you might be hoping we'll go visit in the Forgotten Realms. This is by no means the end of the Forgotten Realms.
We're also building the world in a more open world feel, where you will be able to walk through different locations to see the spaces that connect them. The game still maintains its instanced rules, but we're building the world as if it were an open world. So you will be able to walk through the forest to get to the western edge, and eventually - in one of our future updates - you'll unlock something that's just beyond there. So you'll have a sense of the connectedness of the world that's a lot clearer than what you currently have in Eberron, where we're flying all over the place and it's all teleports and instances.
ZAM: So I guess one of your big focuses is that you want to expand the world of DDO. As you've said, Eberron is very heavily instance-based, so it feels very disconnected in that sense. This expansion and new setting is your chance to try something new, thematically, with your world building?
Fernando: That's basically right. I'd also note that DDO is not leaving Eberron; our heroes come from Eberron and our back stories are from Eberron. We'll be creating a lot of great new adventures for Forgotten Realms, but we'll also continue developing stories for Eberron and tying them in together. For us, we feel like we have a double-sized universe to work with to draw ideas, stories and new adventures from.
ZAM: With such a huge expansion pack coming in June, are you still hoping to stick with your development cycle of a new adventure pack every two months thereafter?
Fernando: I'm hoping we're going to be able to roll out some other great updates once every two months after the expansion so that we can get three more in the back half of the year as well. So we have an update now with Update 13, we're taking a tiny break to do this huge release with the expansion, and then we'll follow it up in short order with a series of really great updates in the remaining months of the year.
ZAM: Any free adventure packs planned in expanding the Forgotten Realms or getting players into there?
Fernando: We're not commenting yet on how future updates will work. We still have a lot of stuff to nail down in the expansion, and then the details of that will come next. But we just did a free update, and most of our content tends to be premium. But of course we have the VIP program as well, and the VIP program will be that much better with the release of Menace of the Underdark. We have new content that we're adding all the time, and we also have the Druid class, which is a premium class we're releasing with Menace of the Underdark. We did something cool with the Druid where you don't have to buy the expansion to get the Druid class. Our VIPs will also be able to play the Druid from level 1, starting in Eberron, right with the release of Menace of the Underdark. So for those players that don't choose to buy the expansion right away, they can become a VIP to get access to the Druid, in addition to our other premium content and cool perks that we're going to put into the VIP program that I can't talk about yet. But our VIP program does keep getting stronger, and we'll have some cool new systems and new content that VIPs will get access to exclusively as well.
ZAM: Sounds fantastic, we're looking forward to hearing more in the future! Thank you!
Fernando: Thank you!
Chris "Pwyff" Tom, Editor-in-Chief


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An Alberta school funded fully by taxpayers and answerable to a public board requires teachers to abstain from "homosexual relations" and warns students that the unjust risk everlasting torment in the "lake of fire."
An opposition critic expressed shock Sunday that the Conservative government recently committed to spending $7 million to modernize and expand Prairie Christian Academy (PCA), despite the fact the Three Hills facility displays policies on its website that "fly in the face" of both the province's human rights legislation and the country's Constitution.
"Fifteen years after the Supreme Court outlawed discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, it is unbelievable this is still happening," Liberal MLA Kent Hehr said.
"I am starting to question what oversight Minister Jeff Johnson and his education department are providing to the system."
A private religious school founded more than seven decades ago, Prairie Christian Academy joined the Golden Hills School Division in 2003, a decision the school's website says allowed it to get increased public funding.
While parents still pay nominal fees for religious education, the regular program of study, busing and even lease and utility costs are fully covered by the local board.
The K-12 school, located about 130 kilometres northeast of Calgary, is one of several dozen faith-based facilities that have become part of the public system since the province amended the School Act in 1988 to make the moves possible.
A concluding paragraph in PCA's statement of faith, which all students in Grades 7 through 12 are required to sign, says the unjust will go to Hell and be subject to "everlasting punishment of conscious torment in the lake of fire."
The reference from the Book of Revelation entered popular political parlance in Alberta during the 2012 provincial election.
Wildrose leader Danielle Smith faced heavy criticism at the time when she refused to dump candidate Allen Hunsperger for his use of the term in a blog post critical of new policies at some school boards aimed at protecting gay and lesbian students from bullying.
The handbook children at PCA receive threatens suspension or expulsion for serious violations of school rules or a display of attitudes which hinder the growth of other students.
"Actions such as social dancing, the use of tobacco, alcohol and non-prescribed drugs are not acceptable," the discipline section states.
"The same could be said about the use of pornography and participation in elicit (sic) sexual conduct."
PCA Professional and Ethical Standards
The school's professional and ethical standards require all teachers to "uphold the sanctity of marriage, defined as that between a man and a woman, and abstain from homosexual relations and sexual relations outside the bonds of marriage."
Golden Hills' superintendent Bevan Daverne said he was not aware of any student or staff member at PCA who has been disciplined for sexual misconduct in his three years at the helm.
But Daverne said some special requirements were appropriate for staff in alternative programs.
"If we were offering a language school with French or Spanish immersion, we wouldn't be hiring teachers who weren't fluent," he said.
"The same is true with our religious-based programming where we're looking for staff who have a fluency within that faith."
While Daverne said the board still wants to continue its arrangement with PCA, he said some of the language in the school's documents needs to be updated and modernized.
"Some of the items you've mentioned that are in there, even so far as the smoking and the alcohol, we need to look at those items and see if that's a fit with the current culture," he said.
"At the same time, we want to be supportive of our community and what they are looking for."
Jason Ewert, PCA's society chair, did not reply Sunday to an email request for comment.
This is the second public board where the Herald has found a school with rules censuring gays and lesbians.
A recent agreement between Palliser Regional Schools and Heritage Christian Academy in Calgary threatens students with expulsion and staff with dismissal if they engage in a "lifestyle of sexual immorality."
A prior version of the deal defined that to include premarital relations, viewing pornography and homosexual behaviour.
Johnson was not available to be interviewed for this story, but his press secretary said last week that Alberta Education is reviewing conduct policies at faith-based schools around the province to ensure they comply with the Charter and human rights law.
Daverne said the province committed a year ago to spending approximately $7 million to build a larger facility that will hold up to 400 children.
The project got the government go-ahead despite a recent Golden Hills study that found PCA's current enrolment of 255 students was stable and unlikely to change in the coming years.
Hehr said the Tories need to act swiftly now or risk being seen as supporting intolerance with taxpayer dollars.
"Either these schools stop this ludicrous behaviour or their funding should cease immediately," Hehr said.
"I couldn't care less what these parents believe, but what I want is leadership from our government about what our society believes."
Delwin Vriend, a lab instructor at a private religious college in Edmonton who was fired from his job over two decades ago because he was gay, said he's disappointed.
While Vriend's successful fight all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada may have changed human rights law in Alberta in 1998 to forbid discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, he said it apparently hasn't changed practices in the province.
"These policies send a horrible message to students and staff who may already be struggling with the fact they are gay or lesbian," Vriend said in a phone interview from his current home in France.
"It's disconcerting that a public school board is allowing a school to tell the wider society in Alberta that this sort of discrimination is still OK."


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– Powerful Math preparation tool.- 1500+ questions (incl. 6 practice quiz) with step-by-step solution for each.- Topic Flashcards incl. formula listing, quick tips, fundamental approach and moreThis application is NOT just a question bank. It take your preparation to next level by providing effective tools to monitor performance, review questions you answered wrong or group question to revisit later.Visit www.honehead.com for more screen-shots and Video DemoFeatures:- 1500+ quality questions covering all facets.- Practice questions and examples by topics with step-by-step solution.- 6 practice quizzes (30 questions each) with various difficulty levels.- Ability to save quiz for later review.- Facility to group questions. Question groups can be 'Tricky questions', 'Tough questions' etc.- Easy to use and effective user Interface.- No Wi-Fi or Data Connection requiredQuiz Feature :- Timer helps simulate realistic exam.- Ability to pause/save quiz to resume at a later time.- Ability to save completed quiz and scorecard for later review.- Quizes with various difficulty levels- Summary gives you a birds-eye view of all questions. Jump to any question from question picker.- Step by Step solution of all question.- Ability to restart completed quiz.Score Card features :- Provide time spent on each question.- Score card, along with its graphical view, helps review your performance.- Provides all other obvious score data.Topic feature :- Formula listing and fundamental approach provided for each topic- Short-cut, Quick-tips and operations- Examples are provided for each topic and short-cuts.- Instant validation of Practice questions and examples.TOPICS——-1) Numbers & Operations: Numbers, even-odd, substitution, operation, factors, fractions, sequence/patterns, counting, absolute, complex numbers2) Algebra: Roots, Exponents, roots, linear and quadratic equations, inequalities, percent, functions3) Word Problems: Ratio, Variation/Proportion, motion, work, age, mixture, cost4) Data & Statistics: Probability, average, statistics, set theory, data analysis (bar, line, pie charts), interest5) Geometry: parallel lines, angles, triangle (properties, congruency, similarity) , pythagorus, circle, area & perimeter, solids, co-ordinate geometry, trigonometryDisclaimer:There may be a possibility of some bugs, inaccuracies or typographical errors for which the owner cannot be held liable.The owner can make changes or modifications including deletions to the contents, the product and software given here at any time without notice.


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- Australian Grand Prix
Di Resta 'robbed' of seventh place
- Race:
- Australian Grand Prix
- Drivers:
- Paul di Resta
- Teams:
- Racing Point
Paul di Resta believes he was "slightly robbed" of seventh place in the Australian Grand Prix.
Having started ninth, di Resta went for a two stop strategy but said he got stuck behind Jenson Button for too long to make the plan work effectively. Having also closed on team-mate Adrian Sutil late in the race di Resta alluded to the team requesting its drivers to hold position in the final few laps.
"I suppose we achieved the objective of getting in to Q3 and that was the target all through the winter and that's essentially what you work for," di Resta said. "Slightly robbed probably of seventh place at the end there; we definitely had the speed but the strategy obviously didn't play out with the three-stoppers just getting in my way.
"I got stuck behind Jenson, which is a bit of a good thing to say you got stuck behind a McLaren at some points in the grand prix but we essentially lost 13, 14 laps, grained the front tyre and that affected the middle stint. Obviously came on very strong at the end but we took the points for the team; the overall picture I suppose is very important for us over the year."
Looking ahead to next weekend's race in Malaysia, di Resta believes Force India is well placed to exceed today's performance.
"It was a good performance from the team, don't get me wrong, but the nice thing is we're coming away and there's definitely things we can fix to improve the car. We highlighted a few things but already it looks like we've seemed to carry over from last year that our performance on tyre life seems good. When you're going to a high-deg track like Malaysia and China coming up next we've just got a little thing to click and hopefully we can go aggressive on the next couple because this is the point of the year where we lost it on previous years. But if we can just get that uplift now, what we have done, we can go forward with it."


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IntegrationBeyond traditional storage
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Man convicted of killing Winston-Salem landlady
A man has been convicted of killing a Winston-Salem woman from whom he was renting a room seven years ago.
The Winston-Salem Journal reported that a Forsyth County jury deliberated 90 minutes Monday before returning a guilty verdict against 33-year-old Scott Robert Speakman.
Prosecutors say Speakman strangled 63-year-old Loyola Strader in 2006 and put her body in a car he set on fire.
Speakman was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
He denied killing the woman, saying he found her dead in her home and set fire to the car in a panic.
Speakman also said that a sheriff's detective falsified notes to make it appear the suspect confessed.
Assistant District Attorney Matt Breeding said Speakman beat Strader and strangled her with the cord of a kitchen fan.


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From the DVD case:
The sins of the fathers rest heavily on the heads of the sons – literally – in this fun-filled frightfest that'll keep you awake and screaming through many a traumatic night. Faced with an age-old family curse that beheaded their forefathers, two brothers attempt to unravel the family plot, even as sinister forces attempt to put them into it! (1959, b&w)
Mark says:
The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake was an unknown film to me until a DVD (paired with Voodoo Island) from MGM's Midnite Movies was released. When I noticed what amateur reviewers were writing at IMDb and Amazon, I started to take an interest. Apparently Four Skulls traumatized many a youthful audience member when it was first released. When a reader wrote me with a similar story concerning his history with the film, I knew I had to give it a view.
The DVD description is not quite accurate, and deserves some clarification. Jonathan Drake is the descendant of a man responsible for a massacre of an Amazonian tribe known as the Jivaro Indians, approximately 180 years ago. Drake's ancestor (Wilfred Drake) slaughtered every man and male child of the tribe except for the tribal witch doctor, who escaped. The witch doctor placed a curse on the Drake family. Ever since, every male member of the Drake family, at the age of 60, succumbs to death and, more mysteriously, their heads are always removed before entombment. The skulls are eventually returned to the family tomb after each death. It is important to note that the Jivaro Indians are famous for their practice of shrinking heads.
Jonathan Drake, portrayed by Eduard Franz (The Thing from Another World), is a man who has dedicated his life to the occult in an attempt to understand the curse and hopefully avoid its consequences. Jonathan's 60 year old brother, Kenneth (Paul Cavanagh, She Devil, 1953's House of Wax), has recently succumbed to the curse, and as tradition dictates, his corpse was entombed without its head. Unfortunately, throughout most of the picture, Jonathan is either in a trance or going into shock every ten minutes. It's not until the final reel that he pulls himself together enough to be effective in any real way. Apparently, Jonathan and his brother were very close in age, as Jonathan is also 60 years old at the outset of the story.
Valerie French plays Jonathan's daughter, Alison Drake. Valerie is sort of an Allison Hayes-type character, but without the edge. She is pretty, but not much more than window dressing. She plays a semi-love interest to the story's hero, but I'll discuss that later.
Before I bore you with any more character analysis, let me tell you why I place this movie a notch above some of the other films of its time and genre. What struck me immediately was the explicit process in which the head shrinking was demonstrated. Though this portion may have slowed the picture down, I have to admit that I found it fascinating. The skull is removed from the head and the fleshy part (face, scalp, etc) is processed in a vat of boiling liquid. Then the eyes, nose, and mouth are sewn shut. The head is then filled with hot sand and the shrinking process is commenced. Though we don't get a lot of blood, the process itself is unsettling. The detached head props are realistically portrayed and the final results of the shrunken heads are appropriately freakish.
Another disturbing aspect of the film is the character, Zutai, played by Paul Wexler. Zutai is an immortal creature created through an ancient Jivaro process. To prove that he is one of the immortals, his mouth is sewn shut to demonstrate that he does not have to eat to survive. Of course, this renders his character mute, too. Zutai, we discover, is the witch doctor's assistant, who does most of the dirty work. First he renders his victims helpless by poisoning them, and then he removes their heads. He never seems able to complete his task on the first try, but the sight of his lips sewn shut is enough to give his character an adequately creepy demeanor.
The true villain of our story is Dr. Emil Zurich, played by Henry Daniell (The Body Snatcher, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea). Dr. Zurich is thoroughly sinister. We are right to suspect him right from the beginning when he refuses to shake hands with the inspector. Dr. Zurich has a macabre secret which I won't reveal out of respect for the uninitiated.
Our story's hero is the ultra-serious Lt. Jeff Rowan (Grant Richards). Though none of the performances in Four Skulls are extraordinary, I find Richards portrayal of Lt. Rowan particularly below par. His role requires him to be a "nothing but the facts" kind of guy, but he comes off as stiff and seems out of place among the cast. A sort of romance develops between Rowan and Drake's daughter, but the chemistry is awkward at best. Fortunately, the film does not linger on this angle long and we are spared the embrace and kiss at the film's conclusion.
The plot is littered with flaws, some more noticeable than others. Genre enthusiast, Paul Bollenbacher, sent me a list of goofs he noted. One flaw he noted concerns a discrepancy in dates:
If every male member of the Drake family dies of decapitation at age 60, it's impossible for the curse to be almost 200 years old. After Drake and his daughter enter the family crypt, we see plaques on the wall for each of the Drake men. Wilfred Drake's, the captain who headed the rescue team to save the Swiss doctor which lead to the curse, is dated 1813-1873. Gilbert Drake, Jonathan's grandfather, is dated 1843-1903. Jonathan's father, David W. Drake, is dated 1873-1933. Finally his brother, Kenneth, is dated 1898-1958. Yet later, when they talk about the failed rescue, they say it happened 180 years ago. Since this movie takes place in 1958, confirmed by Kenneth's grave plaque, that would mean the fateful mission happened around 1778, or 35 years before Capt. Wilfred Drake was even born!
Even with the numerous plot holes, it's easy to see why this movie had such an impact on the people who remember it. The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake was an unusual film for its time, with imagery that was sure to leave an indelible impression on the young audience that viewed it. Is it a "forgotten classic?" Hardly. But it's certainly good entertainment for genre fans who crave something a little different.
Directed by Edward L. Cahn (Invisible Invaders, Zombies of Mora Tau) and written by Orville H. Hampton (The Alligator People, The Atomic Submarine).
Scene to watch for: Jonathan Drake opens his brother's casket only to find his headless corpse.
Line to listen for: "Your brother's face, sir, we thought it better to keep the coffin closed."
Mark's Rating: ! ! ! out of 5.


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We would be delighted for our friends abroad to join in with the British Quiz Circuit. It is important for you and your fellow players to remember that you are being invited to join in with our existing league and that there will be questions that are very British in nature. That said though, there will also be a lot of international material in the individual quiz and the Hot 100 is entirely international.
You are very welcome to play along and you will be able to see how you perform against each other and against everyone else, but you will not gain British Rankings Points. This is because we want to maintain the integrity of the system that we have built up over many years in Great Britain.
We are now calling for venues. Applications to run venues need to be with us by 7pm UK time on 22 July. Venues will be announced on 23 July along with detailed instructions about how to take part.
The following information explains what's required of host and also invites you to let potential hosts know that you might be interested in taking part in their area, so please do read on…
How to apply to host a site
We welcome applicants who would like to host an event. Applicants should be individuals applying as part of or on behalf of the IQA in your country. You will need to consider the following:
• Is there good WiFi at your venue? This is essential to submit scores and resolve any queries.
• Do you have a good working laptop? You will need this in order to access our results uploading page. You are probably better using a laptop than a tablet as it will be easier to enter the scores if you have a bigger screen and a proper keyboard.
• Is the venue quiet and does it have plenty of seating for the number of participants you hope will come along?
• Is the venue accessible? People will be travelling by car and by public transport, so it's good to have parking on site and a train station nearby. We also have a number of players who have disabilities, so good disabled access is very helpful.
• Do you have someone who is not participating who can receive and print out the questions and provide them to you in a sealed envelope to be opened in front of the room?
• Will you be able to attract at least six players (including the proctor if he/she is playing)?
• Is there already an event in your area/country? We will refer all requests from individuals to the IQA representative body in your country.
What are the duties of the host?
• To send Jane the details of your venue at least two weeks before the event, so she can put them up on the web. (This will change with further releases of the software, where you will be able to post details of your event yourself.) You can promote your event via Meetup and whichever resources are available to you in your area.
• To enter the names of the quizzers coming to your venue into the system two days BEFORE the event.
• To follow existing rules of the quizzes as run in the UK.
• You will have from 1pm UK time on Saturday until 3pm UK time on Sunday to play the quiz and to get the answers into the system. Full rules will be sent to all hosts.
• To input the results into our system in timely fashion – by 3.00pm UK time on the Sunday immediately after the event. (This will change later as people will be able to enter their own results. When this happens, the host will need to check the results that have been entered and assist anyone who is having problems uploading theirs).
• To ensure there is no cheating.
• To collect players' monies and pass on to Quizzing after deducting any share you are due.
• To liaise with Jane who will inform you of all decisions rejected or upheld via a special group.
What's in it for the host?
• The event host gets to play for free. If the host isn't playing, he or she can pass their free place on to an individual (perhaps as a prize or a gift) or to the group, reducing the price for all players. Or you can sell your free place. It's entirely up to you.
• In addition to this, once you have 10 or more paying players, the host will receive £1 for each of these paying players. We hope this will either make a bit of money for an individual, or raise money for a quiz league or charity. Again, this is up to you.
• The host will also be able to keep £1 of every player's entry fee to cover printing costs.
• So, for the first 1-10 paying players, the host will keep £1/player and will get to play for free. For all additional players, the host will keep £2/player.
Can we do more than the BQA's individual quiz and the Hot 100?
Yes. We are very happy for you to run team quizzes or whatever you like as part of your event, just so long as this does not prevent you from posting Grand Prix scores etc. by the due time and as long as players can just play the Grand Prix and Hot 100 if they wish.
Initiatives to prevent cheating and maintain the integrity of the events and British rankings points
The integrity of our event is very important to us and to quizzers around the world, and we take a very dim view of people who seek to enhance their own scores to the detriment of everyone else. It really is a pointless and damaging thing to do. In order to protect our events, it is essential that:
- Venues are run by or on behalf of the IQA representative in your country
- All venues must have at least six participants. This is because the more people in attendance, the harder it is to cheat, and the harder to keep cheating a secret afterwards.
- If you suspect foul play, you can always go and quiz at the suspected venue to monitor it for yourself. Indeed, we welcome players visiting each other's sites.
- Venues outside of the UK can only play the quizzes after those in the UK have concluded.
- Only UK sites will be able to have BQA Rankings Points. This is because it is simply too difficult to police players abroad. Two scoreboards will be published – a UK one with rankings points and a global one (including UK players) without rankings points.
- UK players, playing abroad will not be able to get rankings points for an event.
How to take part as a player
• You will need to register with your venue at least two days BEFORE the event. You will not be able to just turn up. This is because all names need to be entered into the system BEFORE the event and because it makes things very difficult for the host if they have no idea how many people want to play.
• Once you have registered, you can just turn up and play.
When will the quiz be played?
• Overseas venues will have from 1.00pm UK time on Saturday until 3.00pm UK time on Sunday to join in. This is to allow you a full 24-hour period (plus a couple of hours to get the scores to us) in which to conduct your quiz after the UK quizzes have finished.
• As venues around the globe will be in different time zones, we will expect all participants, in the UK and elsewhere, to maintain e-mail and social media silence on the questions/answers until 3pm UK time on the Sunday. Local proctors will remind players that breach of this protocol may lead to players being barred from future events.
What is the cost?
• The cost is £12.50 for the BQA individual paper, with the Hot 100 also being included free of charge. £1.00 of this is for the host (after a 10 paying players) and £1.00 to cover printing.
• Full-time students who can provide evidence of their current enrolment will be charged £6.25. £1.00 of this is for the host (after 10 paying players) and £1.00 to cover printing.
• The host may choose to charge more in order to cover the cost of the venue, food or if they are running a quiz afterwards that they wish to make chargeable. This is fine and we do not expect to receive any of this additional money. We are very happy for you to use these events as part of fundraisers for not-for-profit quiz leagues. It is our hope that these events can be used to help support the leagues and university quiz societies in particular. However, we do ask that players just be allowed to take part in the BQA element of the day if that is their wish.
What if I just want to play the Hot 100?
• It will still be possible to play just the Hot 100 under the existing rules that are laid out on the www.worldquizrankings.com website.
Any questions?
Please direct all requests to apply to run a QUEST centre and any queries to firstname.lastname@example.com – all successful applicants will be sent full instructions.
QUEST - Part 1 Launch (Outside of the UK)
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By Kathleen Doheny
HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Obese children need special attention when they undergo anesthesia, two new studies suggest.
In one study, researchers found that obese children with asthma suffer more complications from anesthesia than normal weight children with asthma. In the other study, researchers found that obese children require less of one type of anesthesia than normal weight kids.
If a child is obese, has asthma or both, parents should expect close monitoring, said researcher Dr. Olubukola Nafiu, an assistant professor of pediatric anesthesiology at the University of Michigan.
"Children who are obese and asthmatic have a twofold increased risk of developing respiratory problems when they are given anesthesia," Nafiu said.
Both studies are scheduled for presentation Monday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists in Chicago.
To determine if complications were more frequent among obese kids with asthma, Nafiu looked at 1,102 children and teens, aged 6 to 18, after anesthesia and divided them into four groups. One group was obese and had asthma, one group was normal weight with asthma, another was obese without asthma, and the last group was normal weight without asthma.
Those in the obese-asthmatic and obese non-asthmatic groups were more likely to have critical airway problems, such as spasms, than their thinner peers, the study found, but there were no fatal complications among the study patients.
Both obesity and asthma are known to be independent risk factors for respiratory problems during anesthesia, Nafiu said. Both conditions are increasing in U.S. children at an alarming rate, and the researchers wanted to find out if complications are more frequent in pediatric patients who have the two disorders.
Respiratory problems are a leading cause of complications, including death, during pediatric surgery, the authors said.
In a second study, Dr. Olutoyin Olutoye, of Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, found that obese children require smaller doses of the anesthetic propofol than their slimmer peers.
According to Olutoye, doctors have known that obese adults need less propofol than normal weight adults, but whether that applied to obese children was unclear. Since propofol can cause low blood pressure and reduced breathing, it's important not to administer too much, the researchers noted in a news release from the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
The study included 40 obese and 40 normal weight children. The investigators measured each child's response 20 seconds after getting propofol. The normal weight kids needed 50 to 60 percent more of the anesthetic than the obese children.
In obese children, 75 percent of excess body weight is fat tissue, which can alter the distribution of propofol in the body, the researchers explained.
Additional studies involving children are needed to determine how obesity affects other anesthetic medications, Olutoye said.
"These studies confirm the general impression that anesthesiologists already have about obese children," said Dr. Mark Singleton, chair of the American Society of Anesthesiologists' committee on pediatric anesthesia, who was not involved with the study.
The message from the asthma and obesity study is, "Kids with asthma and obesity are at double jeopardy," Singleton said.
However, he pointed out that the anesthesia-dose research only involved the drug propofol, which is injected, and would not apply to other drugs. Most children's anesthesia is induced by inhalation, Singleton noted.
Doctors should obtain children's height and weight to see if they fall within the obese range, Nafiu added. A body mass index (BMI) in the 95th percentile or above is considered obese.
Parents of obese and/or asthmatic children should expect numerous questions from the doctor before their child undergoes surgery that requires anesthesia, and they should expect especially close monitoring, he added.
Because the research was presented at a medical meeting, it should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.
More information
To help prepare your child for anesthesia, visit the Nemours Foundation.
SOURCES: Olubukola Nafiu, M.D., assistant professor of pediatric anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Mark Singleton, M.D., chair, committee on pediatric anesthesiology, American Society of Anesthesiologists, and adjunct clinical professor, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, Calif.; American Society of Anesthesiologists, news release, Oct. 17, 2011
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Alameda News
Last month we met Charles Minturn and A. A. Cohen and leaned the roles their ferry boats played in our history. In this month's story, we'll ride the South Pacific Coast Railroad's ferry boats — Newark, Garden City, Bay City and Encinal. We'll also learn the interesting fates of two of these ferries.
Alameda's City Council returns from a one-month break next Tuesday to consider a trio of development issues.
The council will consider appeals of the Planning Board's approval of a 100-room hotel on Harbor Bay Parkway and also, final approvals for a 52-unit residential complex that will replace abandoned World War II-era warehouses at 2100 Clement Avenue. City staff will also give council members a report detailing the pros and cons of creating a wetlands mitigation bank at Alameda Point.
When Police Chief Paul Rolleri was hired as an officer for the Alameda Police Department, in 1992, he competed with nearly 500 other test takers for the same job.
"It was almost like winning the lottery if you got in," Rolleri said.
Today, though, he might only see 100 to 125 applications come across his desk – and not all of those are from qualified people, he said.
The department has advertised open police officer positions for months, and Rolleri said the department hasn't been fully staffed for five years.
With classic charm and skill, the talented members of Period Events & Entertainment Re-creation Society (PEERS) have been spreading their special kind of magic throughout the Bay Area for decades. Dedicated to education through historical re-creation, PEERS is a nonprofit organization that firmly believes art is something you do, not just watch.
From their headquarters right here in Alameda, PEERS organizes and hosts balls (Age of Innocence, Victorian 12th Night), local picnics (Alice In Wonderland) and weekly dance lessons where they artfully weave the culture, romance, and grandeur of 18th and 19th century arts in to the fabric of our modern-day lives.
Bubble Farm Soap Co. is all about the bees. As the name implies, the company's line of soaps –made by hand with beeswax and an assortment of essential oils – is the heart of the business.
Schools leaders seeking state seismic repair funds for fixing Historic Alameda High are in a race against time.
Of the original, $10.4 billion in school construction and modernization bonds California voters authorized when they approved Proposition 1D in 2006, only $96 million remains for projects like the repairs contemplated for the historic high school, much of which was fenced off due to longstanding seismic safety issues. So school district staffers and the district's architect, Quattrochi Kwok Architects, are working quickly in an attempt to secure funding that will supplement the Measure I bond.
Alameda's administrative services director is heading to Tracy.
Stephanie Garrabrant-Sierra is leaving the Island for an assistant city manager's post in Tracy. She starts work in that city on September 1.
The city brought Garrabrant-Sierra on as an assistant city attorney in June 2012. In November 2013 it elevated her to the position of administrative services director, putting her in charge of contracting, purchasing, human resources and information technology. She has also advised the city on collective bargaining issues with its labor unions.
The job was created by former City Manager John Russo as part of a restructuring effort at City Hall.
Photo by Eric Braun.
A cast of nearly 70 local youths will offer a production of Seussical The Musical this weekend.
The show, based on the books and characters of children's author Theodor Geisel - a.k.a. Dr. Seuss - is presented by the popular local children's theater group Tomorrow Youth Repertory and directed by Amy Marie Haven.
Residents at the Atlantic Apartments were among the celebrants of National Night Out. Photo by Cassie Paton.
Residents who gathered at 20 locations throughout the City of Alameda on Tuesday were among the nearly 38 million people celebrating National Night Out.
Now in its 31st year, National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that takes place across the country, in U.S. territories, some Canadian cities, and military bases around the world. Its purpose is to unite communities and promote stronger relationships between residents and police.
Local author Denby Montana – a.k.a. Owen Mould – is a man of adventure. Having "hitchhiked north to south in this country," gathered experiences in a slew of different odd jobs and earned a masters degree in creative writing, he seeks to "restore a sense of humanity" in his work. In his new novel, Mule Sonata, Montana writes about the history of Alta California, intertwining the stories of three families from the beginning of time. He recently answered questions from The Alamedan about what prompted him to write the book; an edited Q&A is below. Meanwhile, Montana's new book is available online.


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2008 PPG / Street Rodder Road Tour- Leg VI: The Edelbrock Tour
Leg VI: The Edelbrock Tour
Without question the first five legs of the 2008 PPG/STREET RODDER Road Tour were successful, and with everything planned for number six, we were confident the Edelbrock Tour would be a hit as well. After all, what could be better than starting out at the Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise and ending up at Bonneville's Speed Week? And you just knew there were going to be some great stops in between.
For many of those on this leg of the tour, the good times started early. As the hotel where we would stay in Detroit was just around the corner from the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, a number of those on the tour arrived a day or two early to take them in.
Henry Ford began collecting things for the museum that would carry his name as far back as 1906. He was quoted as saying, "I am collecting the history of our people as written into things their hands made and used...when we are through, we shall have reproduced American life as lived, and that, I think, is the best way of preserving at least a part of our history and tradition..."
Along with an array of automobiles, the museum houses the rocking chair President Abraham Lincoln was sitting in when he was shot, Buckminster Fuller's prototype Dymaxion house, and the Fokker Trimotor airplane that made the first flight over the North Pole.
Adjacent to the Henry Ford Museum is Greenfield Village, where over 90 buildings were moved from their original locations to represent an American community of the past. Those buildings include Ford's Michigan homestead, Edison's New Jersey laboratories, and the Wright brothers' home and bicycle shop. Transportation around Greenfield is by horse-drawn bus, a 1931 Model AA bus, and a fleet of Model Ts and steam locomotives. (For train buffs, an 1873 0-6-4 Mason Bogie which is one of the oldest operating steam locomotives in the U.S., and a Baldwin 4-4-0.)
The official start of the Edelbrock Tour was at the Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise on Saturday, August 16. Originally a benefit to raise money for a soccer field, it is now claimed to be the world's largest one-day automotive event. Stretching along 16 miles of Woodward Ave. through nine communities, it's said to draw 1.5 million people and 40,000 classic cars. When we decided to take a lap around the cruise route it took over 2 1/2 hours.
With an event this size there's not a parking spot to be found, but thanks to Mike and Sandy Eaton of Eaton Detroit Spring, the Road Tour participants had their own reserved parking lot and they barbequed hot dogs and hamburgers for us, too.
Sunday morning we had a little over 400 miles to go to our night stop in Clinton, Iowa. As luck would have it, as we pulled into town we stumbled onto an outdoor show put on by the local car club. There were some great cars on display, and the Road Tour Speed33 was recognized by quite a few of the rodders in attendance. After checking out the happenings, Jerry Dixey and I found our way to the Riverboat Casino to check out the buffet and contribute to the local economy.
Monday morning it was off to visit one of the supporters and the official retail store of the Road Tour, Yogi's Street Rod Accessories in nearby Calamus, Iowa. Yogi's may be in a little community, but they have a huge inventory of street rod parts and there's a steady stream of delivery trucks hauling off parts to places near and far. Although he and his daughter Ann were in the middle of loading up for the trek to the West Coast, Yogi stopped what they were doing and gave us all a tour of the place. Everyone left with a catalog, and a few Road Tourians were seen packing parts out to their cars, including Jerry.
After leaving Yogi's we continued west to Lincoln, Nebraska, for a private viewing of Bill Smith's Museum of American Speed at Speedway Motors. As the story goes, the collection started with engines, then the speed equipment that made the engines faster, then the fast cars, and so on. Pedal cars, toy cars, tether cars, automobilia, and air pumps to monkey wrenches are now all part of the collection. And we haven't event touched on the Soap Box Derby cars or the Buck Rogers memorabilia.
Tuesday morning it was off to Denver, 490 miles away. That afternoon we were to be the guests of Todd Gold and the staff at Streamline Hot Rod Parts. Todd starting building hot rods in what was once the city's largest gas station. When it became obvious that a larger facility was necessary, he couldn't bring himself to knock the old building down, so he built a new one over it. Now the complete original station is inside the new structure.
Today Todd not only presides over Streamline Hot Rod Parts, but he has acquired several other companies, including Vintage Auto Parts and Rod Bods, which has a new name, Denver Deuce.
On Wednesday we crossed the Rockies on the trek west. Up to this point the '34 tub I'd been driving had performed flawlessly, but bending it around corners something didn't feel right; the rear end felt loose. A roadside inspection revealed that the bolts securing the Panhard bar to the center section had come loose and at least one was missing. Fortunately, Glenwood Springs was not far away, and as I came into town I caught a glimpse of a Cobra on the rack at a repair shop. Those were some guys I needed to meet. After a quick explanation of the problem the '34 was up on jack stands, and new bolts with threadlocker were in place. I was back on the road in 15 minutes thanks to the guys at Trophy Auto Sales.
The next stop was at the shop of East Carbon, Utah's coolest cat, Bo Huff. He's been a hot rodder and customizer since all his life, but maybe that has something to do with growing up in a town named Dragerton. Bo's career has taken him to Salt Lake City, SoCal, and points East, but today he builds cars from his shop well off the beaten path. He also hangs out in his very own museum dedicated to rods and customs that he invited us to visit. Bo treated us to some great food and brought in a rockabilly band called Mad Max and the Wildcats. While they looked like they were from the '50s, if you added up all their ages they'd still be younger than me.
The next morning it was off to the Salt. I was anxious to get there so I pulled out of East Carbon at 4:00 a.m. While it seemed like a good idea at the time, I had forgotten how cold it gets in the wee hours in that part of the country. Thankfully the tub had been equipped with a Vintage Air heater, but with no side curtains I found it's hard to drive with your hands over your ears.
For anyone who's into the traditions of our hobby, there is nothing that compares to Bonneville, and those of us who are regulars still get a thrill out of it. But it turned out that one of the most interesting parts of the Edelbrock Tour was watching the reactions of the first-timers on the Salt. For most of them it was a lifelong dream fulfilled and they were like kids in a candy store. It's a good bet that some of them will be back.
For me, the Road Tour came to an end on Friday, as Pleasanton was to be my next stop. I pointed the tub toward the Pacific, picked up another traveling companion by the name of Tex Smith, and away we went.
As Tex and I were going west, the Edelbrock Tour was going east. Sunday, the gang was off to Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah, just outside of Salt Lake. The Miller folks sent their Mustang pace car to lead the pack from the salt to the track. After a tour of the facility the Road Tourians were able to take a lap in their cars around the 3.5-mile, 24-turn road course. That evening the tour went to the Totem Club in Salt Lake City, where they met some of the local street rodders and had a great meal.
As Jerry reported on Sunday morning it was time for everyone to head home. But the Road Tour isn't over yet. Still to come is the Sacramento Vintage Ford Tour from Pomona to the NSRA Golden State Nationals and the NHRA Museum Tour to the California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield. Watch for more in the pages of STREET RODDER, then start making plans to join in the fun next year.


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Obama's second term begins… After private ceremony yesterday, the president delivers his second inaugural address at a swearing-in event on Capitol Hill beginning at 11:30 am ET… Expect Obama to talk about rebuilding the middle class… Another big moment, another big speech… Friday's big fiscal-fight development… NBC/WSJ poll numbers on abortion are released at 6:30 pm ET… And Biden and 2016.
Jacquelyn Martin / AP
President Barack Obama smiles as he arrives at St. John's Church in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, for a church service during the 57th Presidential Inauguration.
*** Obama's second term begins: Technically, President Obama's second term already started yesterday, after he took his oath of office in a private ceremony at the White House (given that Jan. 20 fell on a Sunday). But ceremoniously, it begins today at the swearing-in event on Capitol Hill at 11:30 am ET. Obama's second inaugural address is expected to echo the themes from his first, including trying to quell the divisive politics of Washington. (Even if not accomplishing that was one of his first term's biggest shortcomings, it's something that the American public still wants.) Yet the president's advisers say he's also prepared to take a more realistic approach. "We're going to do a better job in the second term of, while we're going to do all we can to work with Congress and negotiate, to also make sure the American people are more connected to what's going on here," David Plouffe said on CBS yesterday. But don't expect today's speech to be a laundry list of proposals and programs. Remember, he has his State of the Union -- on Feb. 12 -- to do that.
*** Expect Obama to talk about rebuilding the middle class: Looking back at some of the most recent second inaugural addresses, they've typically been a continuation of that president's first-term message (and re-election theme). For Bill Clinton, it was preparing the country for the 21st Century. For George W. Bush, it was security and freedom. And if that continuation theme is any guide, expect Obama to talk A LOT about rebuilding the middle class. After all, it was the central theme of his re-election campaign. On "Meet the Press" yesterday, Obama adviser David Axelrod stressed that point. "How do you create an economy, rebuild an economy, in which the American dream, the American compact, is fresh, where people who work hard feel like they can get ahead?" he asked. "And that's not just about dealing with the fiscal crisis, it's about education, it's about research and development, it's about controlling our energy future. All of these are part of the equation."
*** Another big moment, another big speech: Four years ago, right before Obama's first inaugural address, we made this point: He was going to use speeches to help him govern more than any other modern American president, creating many of the defining moments of his presidency. And that proved to be true over the past four years. When the going got tough on passing health care, he gave a speech. When he laid out his goals on the Middle East, he spoke in Cairo. When he talked about the necessity of war to defeat evil, he used his Nobel Prize speech. When he unveiled his re-election message on the economy -- with the idea that Mitt Romney would be his likely opponent -- he did so with remarks in Osawatomie, KS. And when he needed to console the nation after the Gabby Giffords and Newtown shootings, he did so with a moving address. And expect that to continue -- today and over the next four years.
*** Today's tick tock: Around publication time, the First Family attends a service at St. John's Church… The swearing-in ceremony is at 11:30 am ET… The inaugural parade begins at 2:35 pm ET… And the two official inaugural balls take place tonight at the Washington Convention Center… Tomorrow, Obama attends a national prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral at 10:30 am ET.
*** Friday's big fiscal-fight development: Turning to other news, we can't emphasize enough how big Friday's news was that House Republicans would raise the debt ceiling for three months and instead use the budget process to demand spending cuts. It was another fiscal victory for the Obama White House, which vowed that it wouldn't negotiate over the debt ceiling. But it also might have been the smartest political move the House Republicans have made since the 2012 election. By demanding that the Senate pass their first budget since 2009, they put the burden on Senate Democrats. And Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said on "Meet the Press" that Senate Democrats would produce a budget with tax reform in it. "We're going to do a budget this year, and it's going to have revenues in it. And our Republican colleagues better get used to that fact." Bottom line: We're going to have another fiscal showdown, but it will be over the budget and government operations – not over the debt ceiling, which has to please Wall Street and those worried about a potential default.
*** Another NBC/WSJ poll release: Tomorrow is the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. And pegged to that, we'll release some very NEWSWORTHY abortion-related numbers from our most recent NBC/WSJ poll beginning at 6:30 pm ET.
*** Biden and 2016: Finally, don't miss one of Washington's most overlooked political stories: how Vice President Joe Biden is methodically laying the groundwork for 2016. The New York Times: "Gov. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, the first presidential primary state, was among the people to join Mr. Biden, his family and close political associates at the vice president's residence [for his swearing-in ceremony yesterday]. The night before, Mr. Biden attended a pre-inaugural party of Democrats from Iowa, the first caucus state." The governor of New Hampshire? Partying with Iowa Democrats? Hmmmmmm…. In all seriousness, he's been carefully laying the groundwork with Iowa and New Hampshire Democrats for months. Throughout the re-election, he was keeping tabs on those key early states, congratulating winners there, etc. Sitting VPs may be Jay Leno punching bags, but they are familiar to activists.
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