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Journal of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology
Print version ISSN 1676-2649
J. epilepsy clin. neurophysiol. vol.17 no.3 Porto Alegre 2011
The usefulness of neuronavigation in functional hemispherectomy
Aplicabilidade da neuronavegação em hemisferectomia funcional
Murilo Sousa de MenesesI; Charles KondageskiI, Heraldo Ney Larocca dos SantosIV; Pedro André KowacsIV; Giselle Caselatto CoelhoII; Giovana GadensIII; Samanta Blattes da RochaIII; Cristiane SimãoIII
INeurosurgical Department, Neurological Institute of Curitiba
IINeurosurgical Department, Residency Program, Neurological Institute of Curitiba
IIIPsychology Department, Neurological Institute of Curitiba
IVNeurology and Child Neurology Department, Neurological Institute of Curitiba
Catastrophic epileptic encephalopathies in children comprise devastating conditions that features cerebral dysfunction in association with refractory epileptic seizures. The diagnosis is based on the clinical findings, on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and on electroencephalographic findings. For these conditions, surgery remains essential for attaining seizure control. We report two cases of 5-year-old girls. The first one had a diagnosis of Rasmussens syndrome. The second one had a large porencephalic cyst secondary to perinatal cerebral ischemia. Despite trials of anticonvulsants, both patients deteriorated, and a functional hemispherectomy guided by neuronavigation was indicated and performed, with low morbidity and excellent seizure control. The neuronavigation proved to be a valuable guidance tool in performing the functional hemispherectomy, making the disconnections more accurate, and thus decreasing the surgical time and blood loss.
Keywords: Rasmussens syndrome; hemispherectomy; hemispherotomy; neuronavigation; epilepsy surgery.
As encefalopatias epilépticas catastróficas da infância compreendem condições graves que associam disfunção cerebral e crises epilépticas refratárias. Seu diagnóstico é firmado com base nos dados clínicos e nos achados de ressonância magnética e eletrencefalográficos. Para algumas destas condições o tratamento cirúrgico continua sendo essencial para o controle das crises. Relatamos dois casos de pacientes de 5 anos. A primeira teve diagnóstico de síndrome de Rasmussen. A segunda tinha antecedentes de encefalopatia hipóxico-isquêmica perinatal. Ambas apresentaram epilepsia parcial refratária em associação com rápida deterioração neurológica, e foram submetidas à hemisferectomia funcional com auxílio da neuronavegação, com baixa morbidade e excelente controle das crises. A neuronavegação se mostrou como uma valiosa ferramenta na realização da hemisferectomia funcional, possibilitando desconexões mais precisas, menor tempo de cirurgia e menor perda sanguínea.
Palavras-chave: síndrome de Rasmussen; hemisferotomia; hemisferectomia; neuronavegação; cirurgia de epilepsia.
Rasmussens syndrome is a well-known cause of refractory epilepsy in the young patient. Its early recognition and treatment are crucial for a better prognosis in terms of seizure control and neurological performance.1-8 Anatomical hemispherectomy and functional hemispherotomy and its variants have been employed on the management of this condition with good results.9-17 Other refractory epileptic diseases may also be treated by these procedures.22-25 Nonetheless, these surgeries are challenging in terms of their anatomical complexities and associated intra operative and post-operative risks. The introduction of modern neuronavigation guidance in neurosurgery has improved surgical results by increasing accuracy, safety and decreasing surgical time.26-31 The aim of this article is to discuss the usefulness of the neuronavigation in the functional hemispherectomy for refractory epilepsy.
Case One
A 5-year-old girl presented to our Epilepsy Unit with a history of seizures since the age of 3 years and 8 months. The first tonic-clonic seizure occurred during sleep, followed by left sided clonic seizures that progressively increased in frequency (1 to 2 events daily). At the age of 4 years and 6 months, she went on to develop complex partial seizures, preceded by an epigastric discomfort and autonomic symptoms. Initial EEG study was normal, and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disclosed mild hippocampal asymmetry, left hippocampus being smaller than the right hippocampus. Her fits were partially controlled with lamotrigine. Nonetheless, at the age of 4 years, the seizures became refractory. Further investigation with video-EEG telemetry showed a highly active epileptic zone on the anterior temporal projection of the right hemisphere (Fig. 1A and 1B). New MRI displayed atrophic changes in the right insular cortex, as well as enlargement of the Sylvian fissure and cortical sulcii in the same side (Fig. 1C). Neuropsycological evaluation revealed visual memory and executive planning impairment, in association with left sided fine motor dysfunction.
After the diagnosis of Rasmussen encephalitis was made, the treatment options were discussed with the parents, and surgery (Image-guided Right Functional Hemispherectomy) was offered, accepted and consented by the patients parents.
Case Two
A 5-year-old girl presented to our unit with a history of perinatal cerebral ischemia with a severe disruption of gray and white matter architecture with a cystic lesion in the left hemisphere. She had seizures since her birth. Disturbances on cognition, behavior and motor development were present. She had a right hemiparesis, but was able to walk independently. She was presenting an increasing number of partial epileptic seizures, becoming refractory to different antiepileptic drugs. MRI revealed severe atrophy with infarction and cyst lesion in the left cerebral hemisphere. Prolonged video-EEG recording disclosed continuous epileptogenic activity originated from the whole left hemisphere. Neuropsychological evaluation demonstrated severe cognitive impairment.
After having the diagnosis of a refractory epilepsy cause by a perinatal cerebral ischemia, the treatment options were discussed with the parents, and surgery (Image-guided Right Functional Hemispherectomy) was offered, accepted and consented by the patients parents.
Surgical procedure
Along with routine pre-operative work up, MRI-3D reconstructed images were obtained for neuronavigation pre-operative planning and calibration. The neuronavigation system used was the Vector Vision, Brain Lab.
At the time of anesthesia induction, IV antibiotics were given, the reconstructed images were loaded into the navigation machine and the 3-pin head fixation was put in place. The navigation 3-spheres reference device was attached to the head clamp, after which the system was calibrated for use through the z-touch® technique. The accuracy given by the system was appropriate for the procedure proposed. With the help of the navigation wand, the appropriate skin incision was marked (Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B).
After prepping and marking of the skin, the surgical field was draped and the incision performed. The next step consisted of a tailored fronto-temporal-parietal cranial flap followed by dural opening performed under microscopic view. With the help of the neuronavigation, a 4cm x 3cm corticotomy window was made on the supra insular region to gain access to the ipsilateral body of the lateral ventricle (Fig. 2C and Fig. 2D). In the second case there was a cystic brain lesion communicating with the lateral ventricle. After that, a right temporal lobectomy was performed, followed by resection of the mesial temporal lobe structures (amigdalo-hipocampectomy). Through the previously made ventricular window, and with the navigation guidance, the corpus callosum was clearly identified, in the first case, and sectioned widthwise from its right lateral extension (as also confirmed by the position of the pericallosal arteries) and lengthwise from the rostrum through the splenium (Fig 2E and 2F). In the second case, callosotomy was only completed, because there was already an extended lesion of this structure. After this step, the remaining occipital and frontal intra-hemispheric white matter fibers were sectioned, completing the disconnection. Careful haemostasis was performed and no intra-dural drains were used. The bone flap was repositioned; muscles reinserted and a subcutaneous suction drainage system was left in place. The skin was closed with unabsorbable sutures. Total surgical time was about 6 hours in the first case and 4 hours in the second case and the estimated blood loss was 600ml for both.
Post operatory period
The first patient remained in the intensive care unit for 36 hours, and was extubated on the fifth post-operative hour after regaining full consciousness. The second patient remained in the intensive care unit for 24 hours. Neurological examination depicted left hand side hemiplegia with no other deficits in the first case. The second patient remained clinically unchanged with a right hemiparesis. The subcutaneous drain was removed on the first post-operative day. During their hospital stay they did not present any seizures. Postoperative CT scans were performed for each patient in the post-operative period, and no evidence of hemorrhagic or hydrocephalic complications were found. The usual anticonvulsant regimen was maintained at the time of discharge. Post operative MRI obtained 3 months after surgery revealed total disconnection of the hemisphere in both cases
(Fig. 3).
At last follow ups (12 months and 2 months, respectively, after surgery) they were seizure free.
Medically intractable epilepsy in children (MIE) is defined by the persistence of seizures despite the use of 2 or more anticonvulsants at optimal doses, though this diagnosis is very often established early after the onset of seizures, especially when the epilepsy is disabling or infantile spasms occur.19 Up to 30% of children bearing epilepsy will develop refractory fits.19 Rasmussens syndrome is currently understood as a chronic and progressive disease, which presents with neurological deterioration (speech, cognition and motor impairment) and continuous partial seizures. Auto immune response appears to play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease.1-8 In Rasmussens syndrome, MRI of the brain generally depicts unilateral hemispheric atrophy of different degrees and electroencephalographic analysis demonstrates virtually whole hemispheric spikes and abnormal waves.5,8,19 The epileptic seizures are seldom responsive to anticonvulsants and some patients may respond to a course of steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin or plasmapheresis.5,20 Surgery remains the main treatment option, and should be considered in the early stages of the disease, when the best outcomes can be achieved.12 Surgical options include anatomical hemispherectomies and the various techniques of functional hemispherotomies. These techniques are also currently employed on the management of refractory epilepsy caused by other conditions, like hemimegaencephaly, ischemia related seizures and Sturge-Weber syndrome.9-12,14
McKenzie performed anatomical hemispherectomy in the 30s and Krynauw in the 50s, and it still is the technique of choice in some epilepsy surgery centers.21,24 It involves the removal of brain tissue in one hemisphere after ligation of major supratentorial main arteries, but sparing the basal ganglia. Despite the good seizure control rates, the anatomical techniques carry a higher morbidity and mortality risks, mainly related to the prolonged operative time, induced coagulation disorders, hemosiderosis, hydrocephalus and infection.9,10,14,15,20,22 Nonetheless, more recent hemispherectomy series achieve a lesser degree of complications and mortality rates in comparison with earlier reports.10,12,15,20,21,24
Other approaches developed in the 70s and 80s included functional hemispherectomy and functional hemidecortication, which aimed at decreasing the amount of brain tissue removal. Both techniques achieve good seizure control rates with decreased morbidity and mortality in comparison with anatomical resections.11,21
In the 90s, new techniques, namely functional hemispherotomies, emerged with the purpose of disconnecting the brain hemisphere from the contra-lateral side and intra-hemispheric white matter fibers while preserving the vessels and removing the minimal amount of brain tissue.9,23 Various modified techniques have arisen, but the vertical and peri-insular hemispherotomies introduced by Delalande and Villemure are the most popular. The first consists of disconnecting the targeted hemisphere from a parasagital corticectomy, accessing the ipsilateral lateral ventricle, performing a callosotomy and then contouring the basal ganglia down and anteriorly to the hippocampus. Then the remaining occipital and frontal white matter is divided to complete the disconnection. The second implies on the creation of a supra and infra-insular window, access to the lateral ventricle, callosotomy and frontal and occipital disconnections.14-17,20,21 The lower rate of complications described following a functional hemispherotomy appears to result from the lesser degree of tissue resection. Also, the surgical time is reduced in comparison to anatomical techniques.25
In the cases presented in this article, we chose to perform a modified functional hemispherectomy, under neuronavigation guidance, aiming at a least necessary brain tissue removal.
Neuronavigation has been employed in neurosurgical procedures since the mid eighties, when Roberts put forward the concept of the frameless stereotactic system and Watanabe and Reinhardt developed arm-assisted systems.30 Ever since, several technologies have emerged, making it possible for the surgeon to be guided intra-operatively.27-31 All major steps of a given neurosurgical procedure potentially benefit from navigation techniques: pre operative planning, skin incision marking and selection of the approach, localization of the lesion, definition of its boundaries and relevant regional anatomy. Currently, the most widespread navigation devices rely on optical systems, where reflective spheres attached to the patients head clamp are identified by infra-red cameras. The position of the patients head is worked out through the three dimensional situation of the spheres after calibration of the system. A new set of spheres attached to a mobile surgical tool or a pointer, is brought in proximity to the head, which in turn gets automatically perceived by the cameras. The three dimensional location of the mobile spheres is determined with reference to the fixed spheres through complex mathematical algorithms, and displayed in dedicated screen in a chosen sequence of MRI.29 The pointer is then used at any desired time to pinpoint the region of interest. Nonetheless, it´s main limitation and other navigation technologies is brain shift. As the system is based solely on pre-operative images, whenever a considerable amount of brain tissue or fluid is removed, the computer cannot accurately compensate the brain shift, and the surgeon can be mislead. To update the system, another set of images needs to be obtained (intra-operative MRI, CT-scan or ultrasound).
The functional hemispherotomy is a complex neurosurgical procedure that demands profound knowledge of the anatomy and good three-dimensional orientation. Considering that in many cases the anatomy is distorted, several epilepsy surgery centers currently use neuronavigation as an important aid on performing hemispherectomies/hemispherotomies.17,23,25,27,28 The reported advantages in employing the navigation techniques include better orientation during the craniotomy and gaining access to the ventricles, on performing the tractotomies and callosotomy. Surgical time is reduced, and as a consequence blood loss is decreased. However, as already mentioned, brain shift is a common situation on hemispherotomies/hemispherectomies, since a considerable amount of CSF or brain tissue is expected to be removed.
In our experience, the neuronavigation guidance was helpful during the several steps of the procedure: pre-operative surgical planning, definition of the skin incision, craniotomy location and its size. But at the time of gaining access to the lateral ventricle, performing the callosotomy and the frontal and occipital white matter sectioning the navigation was essential. One of the main aspects of the procedure, in our opinion, is to initially gain access to the ipsilateral lateral ventricle, through a supra-insular window. The navigation guidance was very useful on determining the extension of the parietal cortex resection and direction of the white matter dissection, so that the approach for the callosotomy and later frontal/occipital disconnections could be established accurately. Moreover, to minimize CSF loss after the ventricular opening, and to secure its access, cotton patties are always placed at the aperture. With regards to the callosotomy, since it is performed from a lateral intraventricular approach, one needs to have complete control of its anterior-posterior extension. Again, using the neuronavigator, we were able to disconnect the crossing fibers of the corpus callosum from the rostrum through the splenium, as shown in the post-operative MRI of the first patient. Furthermore, another particular challenging step of the procedure is to complete the disconnection within the frontal lobe medial white matter fibers. Neuronavigation provided us with useful guidance to accomplish it.
When an image-guided neurosurgical procedure is performed, as in the cases of stereotaxis or neuronavigation, brain-shift may occur. This is due to the fact that the prior determined coordinates may lose accuracy during surgery. This phenomenon is related to the displacement of brain structures due to surgical manipulation, tissue resection and the aspiration of cerebrospinal fluid.
The possibility of brain-shift increases when the surgery is more aggressive. The only way to avoid this problem is the use of intraoperative neuroimaging. We have employed intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in cases of brain tumors microsurgical resections. However, this procedure increases morbidity, particularly the postoperative infections.
MRI has excellent image resolution and is the best option to demonstrate details of brain structures. Image-guided MRI, as with the stereotaxis and neuronavigation, has great accuracy. However, it is accepted that a possibility of distortion in the proportion of few millimeters may exist.
It is important to understand that functional hemispherectomy is already a well established surgery and it has been performed routinely in many centers with microsurgical methods but without image-guided techniques. The use of this new method enables the functional hemispherectomy to be performed with the same safety of microsurgical conventional operation plus all the advantages of neuronavigation.
The vision of the brain anatomy with the operative microscope is allied to the sophisticated location by an image-guided technique allowing, for example, the penetration of the brain tissue from the superficial cortex into the lateral ventricle faster and safer than with only the conventional way. The same advantages are used in the resection of the corpus callosum from the lateral ventricle up until the visualization of the anterior cerebral arteries, as well as through the brain fascicles of white matter for a complete disconnection.
Neuronavigation proved to be an effective tool in guiding the surgeon through the major steps of the functional hemispherectomy performed in the present cases, with emphasis in the more demanding phases of the procedure, like the callosotomy and frontal/occipital disconnection. Considering the growing experience with navigation techniques and the emergence of new technologies that could overcome brain shift, it is our belief that these technologies should be employed routinely in all complex neurosurgical procedures such as hemispherectomies.
We acknowledge Dr. Ronaldo Vosgerau M.D. for providing us with the MRI images.
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Corresponding author:
Murilo Sousa de Meneses
Street Jeremias Maciel Perretto, 300
81210-310, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
Phone: (55-41)3028-8534
E-mail: <email@example.com>
Received July 08, 2011; accepted Aug. 26, 2011.


text:
R.L. Stine, famed for his enormously popular "Goosebumps" series, is the undisputed master of children's horror. Stine, an avowed Upper West Sider, just released his first-ever horror novel for adults, "Red Rain." Stine's "Goosebumps" series has sold more than 300 million copies worldwide, but the author began his career on a lighter note. "I started out writing joke books for kids," he says. "I was known as Jovial Bob Stine. When I turned scary, I decided it was not an appropriate name. So I used my initials." With his jovial days behind him, Stine regaled The Post with his Creepy New York.
1. American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, at 79th Street
The life-size dioramas at the Museum of Natural History, especially the ones with the cave people. It's all stuffed animals, like a big walrus on an iceberg. Then they have ones with the cave people. When my son was little, he thought they were stuffed, too. He thought they were stuffed humans. I told him no . . . or maybe I said, "yes."
2. The Ramble in Central Park
It's fun to walk through, but it's like a maze, and you can make a turn and find you don't know where you are. You really can get lost in it. Suddenly you're at the edge of a cliff, or you're looking at water, and you didn't expect that. You're all turned around, and you can't see buildings or anything. I think that's the closest thing to wilderness in Manhattan.
3. Bloomingdale's Ground Floor, 1000 Third Ave., at 59th Street
What are these women trying to spray on you? They're all spraying stuff. What is it? I think it's very scary. You don't know what it is. They don't tell you. They just spray you as you walk by. You have to remember, I once wrote a book about a scary sponge. So I can pretty much find anything scary, even all those beautiful women at Bloomingdale's.
4. Trinity Church, 74 Trinity Place
There's a little graveyard behind the church, and it's very old. I had to pose there once for a newspaper, and it was a creepy, foggy, misty morning. You know there have to be ghosts there — it's maybe one of the oldest graveyards in New York, with all these ancient gravestones, all tilted and rubbed smooth.
5. The Lincoln Tunnel
I go though that tunnel, and my imagination starts going. I see cracks in the wall, and I think of those movies where the tunnels blow up and the river comes in. It's hard not to imagine these things. I think the Lincoln Tunnel is scary to a lot of people, especially people who have to drive through it every day.
6. My office, in my apartment, West End Avenue, in the 70s
I have a life-size skeleton in my office that wears a hideous haunted mask from one of my books. I have eyeballs, skulls and dummies, including a ventriloquist dummy that looks just like me. And, I have a 3-foot long cockroach. I tell everyone I trapped it under the sink. It actually was a stage prop for a play. But it looks like a cockroach, and it's 3 feet long. Gigantic.
7. My polling place, 72nd Street and Broadway
When you go to vote in any of the polling places, [you see] those people with the book, who are sitting at the tables when you have to sign in. They're like ghosts. They all look like ghosts, and you never see any of them in your neighborhood. They just appear at polling places. They are ancient, weird people. They have to be ghosts.
8. Bronx Zoo, 2300 South Blvd., The Bronx
World of Darkness exhibit [now closed] — it was for nocturnal animals — mainly bats flying around. Even the name of the place was scary. It was very dark, all infrared. The bats would only come out at night, so that was the only way you could see them.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
DIY: The Coolest Statement Necklace
Admirers of Tom Binns' punk-inspired Safety Pin Necklace ($1140) rejoice, we're showing you how to recreate the statement piece for a fraction of the cost! Dually ladylike and edgy, the necklace makes for a stylish accompaniment to everything from a LBD to a casual t-shirt and jeans combo. With some guidance from DIY expert Erica Domesek of P.S. I Made This, learn how to make your own version in two easy steps!
What You Need:
-Amazon Curated Collection Sterling Silver White Freshwater Cultured Pearl Necklace ($22)
-Safety Pins ($12)
1. Starting at one end of the necklace, attach a safety pin between two pearl beads.
2. Continue to work your way around the whole necklace, layering safety pinks.
P.S.- For dramatic effect, use a variety of small and large safety pins.


text:
The process of exchanging data between ECAD systems driven by electrical engineers and MCAD systems driven by mechanical engineers or designers can prove challenging
ECAD & Mechatronics
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- Leverage and reuse existing 3D component models from a PLM database
- Enable fast downstream packaging and simulation studies, such as interference checking, board level thermal analyses, system-level cooling analyses, and drop test and vibration simulations


text:
Randy Vosburg and Nick Santamaria just wanted to provide a permanent home for Francisco, an 11-year-old boy who has spent nearly his entire life in foster care.
LAKELAND | Randy Vosburg and Nick Santamaria just wanted to provide a permanent home for Francisco, an 11-year-old boy who has spent nearly his entire life in foster care. In the process, the Lakeland men were happy to set a precedent that could lead to more local adoptions by same-sex couples.
Judge Charles B. Curry of the 10th Judicial Circuit Court gave final approval during a hearing Tuesday afternoon in Bartow for Vosburg and Santamaria to adopt Frankie. That marked the first time a same-sex couple has been granted a two-parent adoption in Polk County, said Kim Daugherty, a spokeswoman for Heartland for Children, the agency that manages foster care and adoptions in Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties.
Vosburg, 34, said Curry's ruling, one of 18 adoptions approved Tuesday in Bartow, came as a relief.
"We were very pleasantly surprised," said Vosburg, assistant county administrator for Highlands County. "Frankie pulled me aside and said, 'Did the judge say yes?' I said, 'Yes, it's all done,' and he got all excited. Then he got in the car and made the comment to Nick, 'Well, dreams really do come true.' "
Adoptions by same-sex couples were prohibited in Florida until 2010, when an appeals court ruled that policy unconstitutional. The state has not passed a new law addressing the matter, leaving it to judges' discretion to decide on two-parent adoptions by same-sex couples.
Heading into Tuesday's hearing in juvenile dependency court, Vosburg and Santamaria said their lawyer, Rachel Medlin of Tampa, warned them that a judge in conservative Polk County might deny their request for a two-parent adoption. When they insisted on pursuing that course, Santamaria said, the lawyer made them sign a form acknowledging she had advised them instead to petition for single-parent adoption.
Santamaria, 29, said he had not slept for several nights out of worry that the judge might deny their request. He said he and Vosburg had heard about a lesbian couple whose application for a two-parent adoption in Polk County had been rejected.
It is the second adoption for Vosburg and Santamaria, who were legally married Nov. 12, 2010, in Washington, D.C. They adopted a boy named David, now 9, in November 2011. That two-parent adoption took place in Manatee County.
Francisco, now legally known as Francisco Santamaria Vosburg and called Frankie by his parents and friends, has been living with Vosburg and Santamaria at their spacious South Lakeland home since March. Asked what it has been like living with his two dads, Frankie said, "It's been good. Great. Excellent. Amazing. Perfect."
Santamaria said if only he or Vosburg had adopted Francisco, the other would have lacked authority in dealing with teachers, law enforcement and medical authorities.
"It removes the rights from one parent, and you never know what's going to happen," Santamaria said. "Maybe one day, say Randy's the one who did the adoption, I take them to Sea World and Frankie falls and breaks his leg, I'm stuck. I can't do anything."
Seventeen states have laws allowing joint adoptions by same-sex couples, said Emily Hecht-McGowan, director of public policy for the Family Equality Council, a nonprofit that promotes the rights of parents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered.
Vosburg said about 30 supporters, including members of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, packed the courtroom for Tuesday's hearing. He said their petition received a letter of support from Jean Cooley, the recently retired pastor at Lakeland's Westminster Presbyterian Church, which the family attends and where David and Frankie were baptized in May.
Vosburg said perhaps the most influential testimony came from Deb Eulo, who has served as Frankie's Guardian ad Litem since 2005. Vosburg said Eulo cried while recommending that the judge approve the adoption.
Eulo has made monthly visits to the Vosburg-Santamaria home since Francisco was placed there in March.
"The child is doing well in their care, and I'm happy he is getting a permanent placement with parents that will love him," Eulo said Wednesday. "Frankie was content in the home. He attached to them, and that's a success for a child."
Vosburg said employees with Heartland for Children told him they had expected Francisco to age out of the foster-care system without being adopted.
Vosburg and Santamaria met Francisco last November at a matching event organized by Heartland for Children. Relaxing at home Wednesday afternoon, Francisco said he knew from that first meeting that he wanted the couple to adopt him.
Francisco lounged in his living room Wednesday afternoon, wearing a necklace with a charm bearing his full name on the back. The front of the charm was blank because of uncertainty about the hearing's outcome. The next day, his parents had the date his adoption became final inscribed on the charm. His new brother, David, has an identical necklace with his name and adoption date.
Asked what he likes about being in his new home, Francisco said, "Having two dads, having a pool, having three dogs, having a cat."
Vosburg said that after Tuesday's hearing, Francisco walked around reciting his new full name — something David also had done after he was adopted.
Vosburg said he hopes Tuesday's ruling encourages other local same-sex couples to adopt children.
"I think this sends a message to Heartland," he said. "I think they see the green light for same-sex couples in Polk County. Hopefully a lot more matches will occur because of this."
[ Gary White can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or 863-802-7518. Join his discussion of books at http://ledgerlit.blogs.theledger.com or facebook.com/ledgerlit. ]


text:
Social & Emotional Activity Finder
PBS KIDS' beloved characters model behavior and provide strategies that help kids manage their emotions, build friendships and develop good character. Use this activity finder to further foster your child's growth.
Results 1 – 15 of 563
A Mousy Predicament
Your child can see Martha model good neighbor behavior as she offers to help Mr. Hangburn with his mouse "PREDICAMENT.
A Parent's Guide to NonFiction
Parents can use this guide to understand ways to introduce non-fiction into your child's reading and help them understand and learn from it.
A Show for Puppies
Your child can learn about "BRAINSTORMING" as the kids explore ideas for awesome puppy TV shows.
A Snack for Santa
Your child can practice printing letters and sounding out words with Princess Presto in this clip where she spells the word "SNACK" to entice Santa to visit!
A Spring Is Not the Thing
Pig and Duck learn that a spring is not the thing to make a frosting machine stop bouncing! Your child will learn about phoneme sounds and spelling the word "spring.
A Super Race
In this fast-paced letter learning activity, your child can practice rhyming, letter recognition and sounds, alphabetizing, and more by completing segments in a word race.
A Surprise Party
Your child can use her creativity and letter writing skills to decorate for a surprise party for a friend or family member. Try these decorating ideas.
A Tale of Two Soup Cans
Your child can follow along as Martha reads this story about reusing and recycling items and learn new words, such as landfill, consequences, and environment.
A Vocabulary Match Made in Heaven
Ham Johnson and Kit Luntanne are going to make a vocabulary calendar together! Your child will learn that preferably, positively, and definitely, all mean yes!
A Winter Day in Wagstaff City
Your child will learn about how news reports provide information, and the meaning of "blackout".
A' Astronaut Adventure
In this A-dventure, your child will learn about the letter 'A' and all the words that start with the first letter of the alphabet.
Abby's Adventure
Abby is waving her magic wand in different habitats! Your child can help her find all of the things in a specific habitat that begin with the letter she says.
Abby's Sandbox Search
Abby is digging in her magical sandbox. Using a magic shovel, your child can help Abby uncover items that start with the letter shown on the sand bucket.


text:
pro-democracy activist seeks asylum in Sweden
Monday, July 02, 2012 | Ryan Jones
More Sharing ServicesShare|Share on facebookShare on printShare on
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As an indication of just how dangerous and how off-track the "Arab
Spring" pro-democracy movements throughout the region have become, a
prominent Lebanese activist is urgently seeking asylum in Sweden
following an attempt on his life.
Mostafa Geha was an outspoken Lebanese author who boldly opposed Syrian
and Iranian intervention in his country and the machinations of violent
Islamist groups during the 1970s and 1980s. He was mercilessly gunned
down by pro-Syrian terrorists in 1992.
Mostafa Geha, Jr. has continued his father's work through the Lebanese
Sovereignty Movement, and, if he is not granted protection in the West,
may face a similar fate.
Geha sent a press release to journalists in Israel and elsewhere
recounting a recent attempt on his life after an April political meeting
in Beirut to discuss the revolution in Syria and Hizballah's activity in
According to Geha, while driving home from that meeting, a black car
blocked his way and a gunman fired four shots at his vehicle. Three
bullets entered the front windshield, but failed to hit Geha.
Geha is seeking asylum in Sweden, as the attacks on both his father and
himself demonstrate that he cannot safely pursue his work in Lebanon.
But Geha remains dedicated to freedom for Lebanon, which he hopes will
include future warm ties with Israel.
"We must build good relations with Israel," Geha told Israel Today.
Geha believes it will be the job of Lebanese and Israeli intellectuals
to lay the groundwork for those future relations.
"Fundamentalists from Iran to Hamas to Hizballah to Al Qaeda, as well as
dictators in countries like Syria, have implanted dark ideas in the
minds of the people," explained Geha. "They use the Palestinians and
Islam itself to create hostility toward Israel."
Geha hopes and believes that those intellectuals who can be truthful
with themselves and with the facts can begin to turn the tide, and cause
the people to no longer see Israel as a monster.
"I want to see our children playing and studying together in friendship,"
said Geha. "We don't need a green light from anyone else to make peace
with Israel. Lebanon and Israel are neighbors."
The articles published on this
site represent the opinion of their writers and not the opinion of the


text:
"You are all sons of the devil," stenographer shouts as she is dragged away
Paul Joseph Watson
October 17, 2013
A stenographer staged a bizarre performance on the House floor near the end of the debt ceiling vote last night, ranting about Freemasons before she was quickly dragged away by security guards.
Moments before House members passed a bill to raise the debt ceiling, a woman later identified as stenographer Diane Reidy approached the microphone at the Speaker's Lobby in a trance-like state and began to shout.
"He will not be mocked, don't touch me, he will not be mocked," Reidy ranted, adding, "The greatest deception here is this is not one nation under God, it never was."
Officials begin to remove Reidy as she screamed, "It never was, had it been, it would not have been….the Constitution would not have been written by Freemasons, they go against God, you cannot serve two masters."
"Praise be God, Lord Jesus Christ," she added.
Reidy also reportedly said "A House divided cannot stand — you are all sons of the devil!"
According to Rep. Joaquin Castro, the woman "had a crazed look" on her face. "It was very disturbing for the members of Congress," he said.
"I had passed her obviously all the time on the House floor, and she smiled a few times, she seemed nice, and according to other members who have been around longer, she seemed nice," Castro told reporters.
According to the Washington Post, House floor staff were "visibly shaken" by the incident and police are currently investigating the matter.
"I think there's a lot of sympathy, because something clearly happened there," said Rep. Gerry Connolly.
What makes the incident even more strange is that Reidy is not someone who showed up on the job recently, she has been working as an official stenographer with the Office of the Clerk for over 20 years.
According to presiding officer Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Reidy approached the platform and asked if the microphone was turned on.
"I hammered to get control and hush her up. She said something about the devil. It was sudden, confusing and heartbreaking. She is normally a gentle soul," said Ros-Lehtinen.
Reidy was taken to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation. It is not known whether criminal charges will be filed.
"For that one short tiny moment we actually had some sanity and bravery on the House Floor!" joked Daniel McAdams, labeling Reidy "the last sane person on Capitol Hill."
Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/paul.j.watson.71
FOLLOW Paul Joseph Watson @ https://twitter.com/PrisonPlanet
Paul Joseph Watson is the editor and writer for Infowars.com and Prison Planet.com. He is the author of Order Out Of Chaos. Watson is also a host for Infowars Nightly News.


text:
Subscribe To Honesty And Negative Influence: Talking With The Spectacular Now's Miles Teller & Shailene Woodley Updates
I've already subscribed
It began at Sundance in January. It was one of the first films that Katey got to see at the film festival and lauded the performances of stars Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller, saying that the former's turn "proves that [her] vulnerable performance in The Descendants was no fluke," and that the latter is "easily one of the best actors of his age."
A few months later at SXSW I found my own words echoing Katey's. I was truly blown away by the film when I saw it in Austin and couldn't believe how much incredible, authentic emotion the two young stars brought to their roles. And with the film now in theaters, you can experience it yourself.
Based on the novel by Tim Tharp and adapted by (500) Days of Summer writers Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber, The Spectacular Now follows the story of Sutter (Teller), a fun-loving, alcoholic high school senior whose personal philosophy drives him to always live in the moment and forgo any thoughts about the future. Dumped by his long-time girlfriend (Brie Larson), he rebounds with the innocent and more sheltered Aimee (Shailene Woodley). The two grow close and fall for one another, but how can a couple look towards the future when one only believes in the now?
Late last month I had the awesome opportunity to speak with the film's two main stars, and with the movie expanding into more markets this past weekend the time is right to share. Watch our interview below in which Teller and Woodley discuss the honesty in the screenplay that attracted them to the script, what it was like working with director James Ponsoldt, and whether Sutter should be seen as a positive or a negative influence on Aimee's life. Check it out!
SPOILER WARNING: In the final question regarding Sutter's influence we do get into a bit of spoiler territory, so if you wish to stay away from all plot details you may want to pause the video before that segment begins.
Miles Teller & Shailene Woodley
The Spectacular Now is currently in limited release and will be getting another expansion before its wide release on August 23rd. For more about the film, head over HERE.


text:
Buckingham Fountain, Grant Park in Chicago
Ausable River, Upstate New York
Sunset, Chicago River
Rump Tower
Re-charging the Bean
Cloud Gate Sculpture, Chicago aka - "The Bean"
Pink Sunset over Chicago skyline
Fullerton Ave Beach, Chicago
Walkway Spine
Lake Shore Drive walkway underbelly at Grand Avenue
Millennium Park, Chicago
View from the outdoor deck of the Cliffdwellers Club on Michigan Avenue
Bright City, Big Lights
First fireworks show off Navy Pier 2017 summer season
Vernal Dawn
Sunrise silhouette of the Pritzker Pavillion in Millennium Park, Chicago
The Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier lit up the night the Cubs win the World Series
Find the light
A new tree reaches for the light downtown Chicago
Super Moon 2016
Super Moon rising 2016
Light and Shadow
Chicago Skyline from the Adler Planetarium over a perfectly calm Burnham Harbor.
The Trump monolith looms over the iconic Wrigley Building on Michigan Ave in Chicago
Shark bite
The underside of the Clark Street bridge over the Chicago River
Waves of glass and light
The new business center on the Northwestern Campus in Evanston, IL
Summer sunrise over Millenium Park
From the Prudential Plaza deck overlooking the park.
Waiting for ...
A couple find a peaceful spot on a pier in San Diego Harbor.
Follow the light...
A sunlit trail through the Adirondack woods.
A mercurial start to the day
The Cloudgate sculpture in Millennium Park during spring equinox. The sun is perfectly aligned East to West.
Fall colors
My favorite barn
I drive by this barn every time I go home to visit family.
Double Rainbow
Fall colors in the Adirondack foothills
Color walk
What a night for a show
It was only 38 degrees out, no one to be seen.
Spinning falls
Giant's Bathtub in Matthiessen State Park
Cascade Falls as seen from a pocket cave adjacent to the landing.
Walk with a view
The very scenic Jacques Cartier bridge lights up across the frozen St. Lawrence river.
La Grande Kaleidoscope
The grand Ferris Wheel still running on a chilly winter night in Montreal.
Supermoon rising
The fall 2017 Supermoon rising over Lake Michigan.
Corncob Towers
The iconic Marina City Towers decorated with holiday lights.
The 2017 fall Supermoon lighting up DuSable Harbor over Lake Michigan in Chicago.
A snowy drive home
Staring Bear Falls
One of the many falls in the AuSable River Gorge in Upstate NY. The outline of a Bear's face can be seen in the rocks at the base.
AdlerBurnham HarborChicagoShedd Aquariumarchitecturebuildingsdawnfine artmorningskylinesunrise
From Chicago


text:
Tight - Starz [ATM Records Label Submitted]
Addicted To Money (ATM) records presents "TIGHT" da
mainattraction hit single "STARZ" dir. by @Rahcorp
New Mixtape Money Power & Pleasure ( #MPP) Coming
Soon on livemixtapes,www.tightdamainattraction.com,
Twitter @tightzone6 bookings contact @cire_ent
-- Follow me on twitter @cire_ent Check out my website www.cireent.com
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text: Hi all, I am curious on how people solve these problems within their organizations: we have a number of independent machines serving as bioinformatics software servers and development boxes. They are multi-cpu machines running Tru64 and Linux and I have been more or less ;) successful in making them transparent to the user in terms of unified environment (executables are on shared nfs mounted media, the login scripts set-up paths correctly to include the architecture dependent binaries etc.). Recently we got a cluster to play with and I am thinking of using something like the Sun Grid Engine to tie everything together. The question I have is on whether I should leave the cluster to be a separate pool of boxes and or can it somehow be tied in with the rest of the existing machines under one SGE solution? I would like not to allow outgoing connections from the compute nodes (nor incoming into the nodes, unless initiated from the master) - how would this play with SGE, since the nodes will not have globally recognized IP addresses within the intranet? Would a use of a stateful ip filter do any good? Or am I way off? How do people usually solve these problems? Do they completely separate the cluster from the rest of the production machines? I do not forasee a lot of power users doing PVM or MPI programming or in-house parallelization, mostly, for now, I see the cluster as a process farm... Thank you, Ognen


text:
James H. Dieterich
Distinguished Professor of Geophysics
Ph.D. Geology/Geophysics, Yale University , New Haven , CT
M.Phil. Geology, Yale University
B.S. University of Washington , Seattle , WA
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: (951) 827-2976
Fax: (951) 827-4324
Office: Geology 414
My interests are broadly concerned with deformation processes in the Earth's crust, particularly as they relate to earthquake physics, earthquake hazard estimation, and volcanic phenomena . Although this research often has a theoretical or modeling component, I prefer a multi-disciplinary approach that relies heavily on laboratory experiments, field observations, and monitoring data to define research problems, to guide model development, and to test model predictions.
Recent Projects:
Previous work on the rate- and state-dependent representation of fault constitutive properties is now being applied in modeling of seismicity, including aftershocks and triggering of earthquakes; and in inverse models that use earthquake rates to map stress changes in space and time. A new effort has been launched to investigate fault slip and earthquake processes in geometrically complex fault systems. This includes development of large-scale quasi-dynamic simulations of seismicity in fault systems, and investigation of the physical interactions and stressing conditions that control system-level phenomena. Volcano research currently focuses on the coupled interactions among magmatic, faulting and earthquake processes at Kilauaea volcano in Hawaii.
Dieterich, J.H. , 1992, Earthquake nucleation on faults with rate- and state-dependent friction, Tectonophysics, 211 , 115-134.
Linker, M.F., and Dieterich, J.H. , 1992, Effects of variable normal stress on rock friction: Observations and constitutive relations, J. Geophys. Res. , 4923-4940.
Dieterich, J.H. , and Linker, M.F., 1992, Stability of fault slip under condition of variable normal stress, Geophys. Res. Lett., 19 , 1691--1694.
Cornell , C.A. , Wu, S.-C., Winterstein, S.R., Dieterich, J.H. , and Simpson, R.W., 1993, Seismic hazard induced by mechanically interactive fault segments, Bull. Seismol. Soci. Am., 83 , 436-449.
Dieterich, J.H. , 1994, A constitutive law for rate of earthquake production and its application to earthquake clustering, J. Geophys. Res. , 99 , 2601-2618.
Dieterich, J.H. , and Kilgore, B.D., 1994, Direct observation of frictional contacts: New insights for sliding memory effects, Pure Appl. Geophys. , 143 , 283-302.
Chadwick, W.W., and Dieterich, J.H. , 1995, Mechanical modeling of circumferential and radial dike intrusion on Galapagos volcanoes, J. Volc. Geoth. Res . 66, 37-52.
Dieterich, J.H. , 1995, Earthquake Simulations with Time-Dependent Nucleation and Long-Range Interactions, Journal of Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics , 2, 109-120.
Dieterich J. H. and Kilgore B.D., 1996, Imaging surface contacts: Power law contact distributions and contact stresses in quartz, calcite, glass and acrylic plastic, Tectonophysics , 256, 219-239.
Dieterich, J. H ., and Kilgore,B.D., 1996, Implications of fault constitutive properties for earthquake prediction, Symposium Volume: Earthquake Prediction: The Scientific Challenge, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 93 , 3787-3794.
Stein, R. S., Barka, A. A., and Dieterich, J. H ., 1997, Progressive failure on the North Anatolian fault since 1939 by earthquake stress triggering, Geophysical Journal International, 128 , 594-604.
Toda, S., R.S. Stein, P.A. Reasenberg, J.H. Dieterich , and A. Yoshida, 1998, Stress transferred by the 1995 Mw=6.9 Kobe, Japan, shock, J. Geophys. Res., 103 , 24,543-24,565.
Parsons, T., Toda, S., Stein, R.S., Barka, A., Dieterich, J.H ., 2000, Heightened odds of large earthquakes near Istanbul : An interaction based probability calculation , Science, 28, 661-665.
Cayol, V., Dieterich, J.H., Okamura, A.T., Miklius, A ., 2000, High magma storage rates before the 1983 eruption of Kilauea, Hawaii, Science , 288 , 2343-2346.
Dieterich, J.H. , Cayol, V., Okubo, P., 2000, The use of earthquake rate changes as a stress meter at Kilauea volcano, Nature , 408 , 457-460.
Abe, S., J.H. Dieterich , P. Mora, D. Place, 2002, Simulation of the Influence of Rate- and State-dependent Friction on the Macroscopic Behavior of Complex Fault Zones with the Lattice Solid Model, Pure and Appl. Geophys ., 159 , 1967-1983.
Committee on the Science of Earthquakes, 2003, Living on an Active Earth: Perspectives on Earthquake Science, National Research Council , 432p. [Member of committee and contributor to this book.]
Dieterich, J. H. , V. Cayol, and P. Okubo, 2003, Stress Changes Before and During the Puu Oo-Kupianaha Eruption. in: The Puu Oo-Kupaianaha Eruption of Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii : The First 20 Years , U. S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1676 , 187-202.


text:
Penn ALLBW50100C56 Ally Boat Rod - Conventional
by Penn
Price: $119.95
Our Best Offers
Free Economy Shipping On Orders $139 or More with Code SEAWITCH139
Limited Time Deals
Current Active Promotions
TD Code
|Length & Type
Weight (lb)
|Guides + Tip
|Type of Guides
|Handle Material
|5'6'', 1 pc.
|Fuji LR
|EVA/Slick Butt
Penn Ally Boat Rods are constructed with a one-piece tubular glass blank and a solid tip to help prevent breakage. For line management Penn has added Fuji stainless steel guides with aluminum oxide inserts. Standup models feature both Fuji guides and Pac Bay rollers. For added comfort, Ally rods feature PENN?s Triangular-shaped EVA Torque foregrip to reduce rod rotation while under pressure. Heavy duty graphite and machined aluminum reel seats keep a secure grip on the reel, while an aluminum gimbal provides added strength and a secure connection during the fight.
An $8.00 oversize packaging charge applies to this item as it ships in a long heavy duty tube to protect your items. This fee will still apply when discount shipping coupons are used.
An $8.00 oversize packaging charge applies to this item as it ships in a long heavy duty tube to protect your items. This fee will still apply when discount shipping coupons are used.
4.5 Stars based on 13 reviews
By Ashley
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
November 17, 2016
Good trolling rod
Great quality for a reasonable price, I bought 2 of these use them for Sailfish
By David
New Bern, NC
October 25, 2018
My third Ally purchase
I purchased this rod to pair with a Penn International 80W. The rod is a great match for the offshore setup I needed. This is my third Ally rod. I love the look and performance of the rods.
By Luis escalante
La Paz baja sur mexico
June 23, 2018
Excellent rods and caught dolphins and stripe MARLIN I hope to try it soon with a BLUE or BLACK
By Tony
Houston, Texas
September 7, 2017
Penn Ally Review
I purchased two of the Penn Ally rods recently for a Long Range Tuna Trip out of San Diego CA. It was a good move having these rods ready for the Big Bluefin Tuna action. These rods worded perfect for landing these large Tuna in the 100-200 pound range, with plenty of action and enough stamina to get them boat side quickly while coupled to a quality reel. The grips and butt length are perfect for belt or rail fishing, comfortable for the long fight. The grip and rod combination support larger reel well, for this outing I fitted one of my 25 size reels when attached to these rods had good balance.
ProsGood, quality and finish. Grips are perfect. The rollers seem durable and are smooth, the clearance is tight so braid is not a problem. The guides are perfectly aligned. The weight of these rods is excellent, light yet powerful.
ConsI would like to see this Ally rod in a 6'6" length.
By Joe
Pennsburg, PA
June 7, 2016
For that white marlin bite
A good rod for the white marlin battle. Pairs nicely with the Penn FTH40NLDHS Lever Drag Reel
By Matt
May 8, 2016
Great rod for the money
Just got it feels great, built solid and I can't wait to use it
By Tyler
Beaufort, South Carolina
May 1, 2016
Used on a 50w and the tip is still sensative enough to feel anything on the other end of the line
ProsSensativity and feel in hand
ConsFor being a 50-100 i would think its to flexible for anything bigger than a 50w
By corey
seaford, NY
June 15, 2015
Nice affordable rod
I bought this rod over the winter and finally had a chance to use it this weekend. Fought a 300lb Thresher shark for over 50 minutes. This rod has great action, the guides are smooth and the my forearms never tired with the grip.
By Tony
Pasadena, MD
December 26, 2014
Great For Trolling
These rods are great for trolling. Strong tips for heavy lures. The roller guides protect and extend the life of the line. The rod handles are easy on the hands while reeling in. The rod butts fit in rod holders perfectly.
By Tony
Pasadena, MD
October 17, 2014
Great Trolling Rod
I love this rod for trolling. It not to heavy to handle but great for fighting large fish. I have this as many other Penn trolling rods but I really like this one. Looking to get a few more.
By Jason
Morganton, NC
May 3, 2014
Penn is the greatest for the money hands down!!
This rod is built like a tank with excellent quality. Penn has always come through for me and has done it again with this rod.
Nice oversize guides that are double footed that won't give up easily during a hard fight. Love the torque grip feels more natural
in my hands than a normal round grip. Buy one you won't regret it.
Nice oversize guides that are double footed that won't give up easily during a hard fight. Love the torque grip feels more natural
in my hands than a normal round grip. Buy one you won't regret it.
ProsTorque grip is nice. Heavy duty rod.
There are no questions or answers for this item.
Show off your fishing gear investment. Please post images and videos of your fishing gear, apparel, catches and lifestyle shots on and off the water. Let's see what you've got for a chance to win FREE gear! You can use #HookedOnTD or UPLOAD YOUR IMAGE HERE to make it onto our product pages or gallery. See something you like? You can shop directly from the images we post when gear we sell is featured!


text:
Saving Your Grass From Dog Urine – Lawn Tips [Sponsored Post]
Here are a few quick tips from Springhill Sod Farm to help avoid dead spots in your lawn caused by your pets bathroom breaks.
Try altering the dogs diet. Parsely works to help neutralize the urine to some degree. Also walk the dog to get them to do their business somewhere else. If dead areas appear, cut them out and replace them with sod, seeding these areas will not work.


text:
Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
Former Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon is at it again with another succinct, yet thought-provoking video presentation regarding the absurd and grossly exaggerated worldwide criticism of Israel.
His target this time is the United Nations.
In the presentation, Ayalon wondered if aliens were to take over the UN, what conclusions would they reach about our world? First and foremost, they would be left with the unescapable impression that Israel is the most vile and oppressive nation on earth.
But, as we all know, that is a farce, and Ayalon goes on to effectively explain why.
Watch the video below:
Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates
For Information & Reservations:
E-Mail: email@example.com
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text:
Dana's Low-Carb for Life (Podcast)
Low Carb Cheesy Southwestern Ham Skillet Recipe
I told my Facebook fans how I baked a 20 pound ham last weekend -- with only the two of us to eat it. I've been coming up with leftover ham recipes ever since. Since lots of people have ham as well as turkey for Thanksgiving, some of you may find this recipe comes in handy a week from now.
Cheesy Southwestern Ham Skillet
Looking for new things to do with leftover ham, I found a recipe that combine cubed ham with pasta and two kinds of jarred cheese sauce. That wasn't happening, but the basic flavor combination sounded good. This is what came of it. The best part was that it used only stuff I already had in the house. Oh, and that That Nice Boy I Married loved it!
1/2 cauliflower, head
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, diced
1 tablespoon coconut oil (or olive oil, or butter, or ham grease)
2 cups diced ham -- 1/2" cubes
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded jalapeno jack cheese
1 clove garlic, crushed
3 tablespoons minced jalapeno -- I used jarred -- or to taste
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 ounces cream cheese
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon paprika
tabasco sauce -- to taste
Trim the bottom of the stem and the leaves off your half-cauliflower. Whack the remainder into 1/2" chunks, including the stem. Throw 'em in a microwaveable casserole with a lid or a microwave steamer, add a couple of tablespoons water, cover, and nuke on high for 8 minutes.
In the meanwhile, chop your half onion and your green pepper, and in your big, heavy skillet start them sauteing in the coconut oil.
Dice up your ham. When the onion is translucent, add the ham cubes to the skillet and stir them in.
Now shred your cheese, and have it standing by.
Okay, the microwave has beeped. Drain your cauliflower and add it to the skillet, which will be getting pretty full.
Add the shredded cheese, the garlic, the minced jalapeno, heavy cream and cream cheese -- cut it in chunks -- to the skillet. Turn the burner to low, cover the skillet, and let it all cook for five minutes. Uncover and stir. Recover, and give it another five. Stir again. Repeat until you have a smooth, creamy sauce.
Stir in the cumin and paprika, let the whole thing cook another few minutes, then serve.
5 servings, each with: 348 Calories; 30g Fat (75.8% calories from fat); 14g Protein; 7g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 5 g usable carb.
- Dana's blog
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Cheesy Southwestern Ham Skillet YUM!!
I have been a follower of yours since, oh the late 90s early 2000. Over and over, I have dragged my 500 Low Carb Recipes book out and made something that family has drooled over. We have been off our low carb program/on our low carb program over and over, but not because it doesn't work -- IT DOES!
Anyway, I digress. I ran across this recipe 2 days ago (1/9/14), because we are ON again (this time, for GOOD!). I took one look at the ingredients and said, "Yep, that's for us." Dragged out my big skillet and fortunately had ALL the ingredients, and I whipped this up. OMG! You should have seen my husband and my son's faces!! They said, "is this all you made??" DOWN BOYS! 2 nights later, I fixed it again. And they rejoiced!
Thank you, girlfriend - for always coming through! I am home to stay and look forward to more yummy dishes, the Dana C. way!
Hugs...bunches of them...
Lora H. in Medford, OR
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Fantastic recipe
My husband and I fixed this recipe tonight because we had a lot of leftover ham. It's easy to put together, and the flavors are nothing short of AMAZING. Think, "Lick the bowl clean" to get the idea. It was one of those dishes where you hate to get to the last bite. Very rich and creamy sauce. Thank you!
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Dana's main recipe tester agrees!
It really is incredible, isn't it! :-)
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Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
The Obama White House and the Palestinian Authority this week expressed dissatisfaction, frustration and anger over Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney's very public recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
In an address to Israeli leaders and international donors in Jerusalem on Sunday, Romney clearly identified the city as "the capital of Israel."
It was a stark break from US presidential policy dating back over 15 years, and an indication that should he win the White House in November, Romney will finally approve a 1995 congressional decision to move America's embassy to Jerusalem.
The current American administration was not amused.
"Some people are scratching their heads a bit" over Romney's remarks, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters, noting that the Republican candidate is defying a position "that's been held by previous administrations, both Democratic and Republican. So if Mr. Romney disagrees with that position, he's also disagreeing with the position that was taken by Presidents like Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan."
The Palestinians were far more vehement in their rejection of Romney's remarks.
"Even if this statement is within the US election campaign, it is unacceptable and we completely reject it. The US election campaign should never be at the expense of the Palestinians," chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told the BBC. "Romney is rewarding occupation, settlement and extremism in the region with such declarations."
In another interview, Erekat warned that if this truly is Romney's intended policy as president, it would be "harmful to American interests in our region."
Hamas also had some choice words for Romney over what it saw as his "racist and extremist" positions.
"Romney's statements on Jerusalem distort the truth, falsify history and misguide public opinion," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum told Palestinian media. "They provoke the emotions of Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims and encourage Judaization [of Jerusalem] and settlement building."
Despite the archaeologically-backed Jewish historical connection to Jerusalem, and the extensively documented fact that Jerusalem was Israel's ancient capital, the Palestinian Arabs now claim the city as their own, and insist that its eastern half be made devoid of Jews.
In 1995, the US Congress officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and legislated that the American embassy be moved there. But every six months since, a succession of American presidents have invoked a national security clause to postpone implementation of that legislation, fearing an Arab and Muslim backlash.
Both Israel and the Palestinians believe Romney may reverse that policy.
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|View Poll Results: Do you want a custom SP1 double trigger and guard?
|$40 is my limit on the shipped set
|$50 is my limit on the shipped set
|$60 is my limit on the shipped set
|I don't CARE what it costs, I just want to lose the single trigger!!
|I want Dust Black powder coat
|I want Dust Olive Drab Powder Coat
|I want dust black anodizing
|I want a polished raw aluminum finish
|Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 4. You may not vote on this poll
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SP1 Owners - A MUST look/possible custom gear
Sp1 Owners who need double triggers
Sp1 owners with the dissolution of Smart Parts and the inability to acquire certain upgrades, I have spoken to a customizer who might be willing to make some parts for us.
This customizer is a moderator on one of the forums Im a member to. He has posted quite a few mods for a variety of paintball and home furnishings. His work appears to be top notch.
In talking with this person, he might be willing to make double triggers and matching guards for our SP1s. Im willing to ship him my own SP1 grip/board/guard so that he has the proper measurements for what we want now we have to tell him what we want and that we want it.
My initial prospect was this:
1. A blade [straight] or sling [concave curve] style double trigger in aluminum. The finger pad of the trigger would be wider than stock, somewhat like a trigger shoe in width. Its more comfy than what we have.
2. Trigger guard to match the current scheme [single trigger] mounting system. That means, we wouldnt have to buy/replace our current grip covers but it would be wide enough to fit the trigger and our gloved fingers.
3. Rare Earth/Halo-type magnets installed [or at least milled for the purchaser to purchase and install on their own] at the back of the trigger. The idea was that it repels against a mated magnet the user installs on the front strap of their current grip. This forces the trigger forward, making the trigger snappier. It will also keep the added weight of the aluminum from creeping the trigger backward and mistakenly firing the marker.
4. Shims to take up the side-to-side slack on the trigger at the pivot/axle. We all have it with our single triggers we all know it and we all hate it. Tolerance issues make the need for shims an almost must. They would probably be made from brass or aluminum for durability and long life.
5. Finishes we are discussing but the idea is to keep cost as low as possible. They could include any [or none at all] of the following:
* Black or OD powder coating
* Rattle-can paint
* Polished, raw aluminum
* Anodizing is being considered and may be an option if we get numbers. It could as plainly not be done depending on how low numbers might be. Remember that anodizing is an expensive process and is easiest to do in large numbers. Small runs just arent cost effective and that would affect the cost to the consumer.
****NOTE: To save time and money, the triggers and guards will be the same, matching colors. It makes the most sense to bulk coat or bulk-anodize a lot of _____ pieces at once, than by piece meal/per order. Its this reason alone that we might only have one, possibly 2 color schemes at most.
Price .
As with any custom project, the more made and sold, the cheaper it can be. What we are looking for is a bulk order so that;
A. It keeps the cost down for us
B. Guarantees work and full payment to the customizer.
Im trying to keep our cost as low as possible and if enough interest is generated, [say more than 50 units] Im HOPING that I might be able to talk him into a $40 OR SO range for the set up. In all likelihood, it may be higher but I can dream, cant I? LOL!
Pre-Order down payments
We had talked about the possibility of a pre-order/down payment system and he is not in favor of that. That means he will not require you to send a partial/full payment until the units are done and ready to be shipped. That being said, lets not try and screw him over by causing overruns that he cant sell either. Hes doing us a great service, lets not try to sink his business before it gets off the ground.
Thats an unknown. He has yet to even view a SP1s trigger group, so everything has to be plotted and doped out. The R&D has to be done and a prototype will have to be built, tested, tweaked and ultimately finalized.
Id like to know how many people would be interested in this. Im setting up an interest poll and ask that PLEASE ONLY SP1 OWNERS RESPOND TO THE POLL. If you want to comment in the thread, thats absolutely fine for all forum users but I need the poll statistics to garner the level of interest. I am creating this on the many different forums Im on [about 12-15 of them] so I also ask that if youve voted in one poll on any forum, please do NOT vote again on any other site hosting it.
Poll questions and choices:
Do you want a custom made SP1 double trigger and guard?
What would you be willing to pay for these items shipped in the Continental U.S.?
I dont care; Id pay ANYTHING to lose the stupid single trigger.
What type of finish do you want on both pieces [trigger AND guard]?
Black powder coat
Olive Drab powder coat
Raw but polished finish [no colored coating]
Dust black Anodizing [a possibility depending on numbers]
Re: SP1 Owners - A MUST look/possible custom gear
i voted
Re: SP1 Owners - A MUST look/possible custom gear
Remember...you can select more than one box. If choosing "yes," select a price and color scheme. THANKS!
Last edited by druid : 07-20-2010 at 11:47 PM.
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European Commission - Press release
€ 17 million additional EU support for the promotion of fresh fruit and vegetables following the E-coli crisis
Brussels, 18 November 2011 - Today, the European Commission has approved 14 programmes in 11 Member States to promote fresh fruit and vegetables both on the internal market and in third countries. The total budget for the programmes, running for a period of three years, is € 34.1 million of which the EU contributes € 17.0 million (50%). This was one of a set of measures proposed by the Commission this summer to address the difficult market situation faced by this sector as a consequence of the E-coli crisis (see IP/11/829 ).
In light of the E-coli crisis that hit the fruit and vegetables sector, Dacian Cioloş, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development pledged support to the sector by accelerating the approval procedures for promotion programmes. "This additional envelope comes in addition to the emergency measures put in place during the summer to help the fruit and vegetables sector come to terms with the e-coli crisis. In this period, the Commission has shown its capacity to react quickly and proportionately to support those producers most hit by the crisis. In the medium term, we can also provide measures to help producers climb back up the slope to where they were before the crisis" he stated today.
A Regulation was adopted in July which cut by more than half the length of the usual adoption procedure associated with co-financed programmes of this sort. Under this schedule, the Commission services received 17 programmes (worth a total budget of €40.1 million). 14 programmes were selected for co-financing out of which 11 target the internal market and 3 target third countries. Among Member States, Germany is the main target country, while third country programmes aim at the Chinese, Russian and Ukrainian markets.
The full list of programmes and budgets adopted today is available in the annex.
In 2000 the Council decided that the EU could assist in financing measures that provide information on or promote agricultural products and food on the EU single market and in third countries. The total budget available for these promotion programmes is €55 million a year. The EU finances up to 50% of the cost of these measures (up to 60% in programmes promoting the consumption of fruit and vegetables by children or concerning information on responsible drinking and the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption). The remaining 50% are met by the professional/inter-branch organisations which proposed the measures and/or by the Member States concerned.
For promotion on the single market and in third countries, interested professional organisations can submit their proposals to the Member States twice a year. The Member States then send the list of programmes they have selected to the Commission along with a copy of each programme. Subsequently the Commission evaluates the programmes and decides whether they are eligible.
In addition, a decision concerning promotion programmes in third countries is expected to follow by the end of November 2011.
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No. 18 UCLA beats UC Santa Barbara 89-76
No. 18 UCLA beats UC Santa Barbara 89-76UC Santa Barbara's Michael Bryson, right, makes a three pointer over UCLA's Zach LaVine, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- No. 18 UCLA used its depth to pull away from a halftime tie with UC Santa Barbara.
Jordan Adams scored 22 points and Kyle Anderson added 21 to lead UCLA to an 89-76 victory Tuesday night.
''We're driving the ball very hard, and think we're hard to guard in transition,' ' UCLA coach Steve Alford said. ''We've got so many weapons. There are so many guys who can make shots. It's not just one guy getting to the line, or one guy making shots.''
One player who did make a big shot for the Bruins is very familiar to Alford.
Bryce Alford, the son of the UCLA coach, hit a 3-pointer with 8:04 remaining in the second half, snapping a 65-all tie and sparking a 7-0 run.
With chants of ''over-rated'' emanating from the Santa Barbara fans sitting on the east end of Pauley Pavilion, Alford's 3 was followed by a dunk by Tony Parker and two free throws by Norman Powell. The Bruins (8-0) held the Gauchos (3-3) to nine points the rest of the way.
Alan Williams, who scored a school-record 39 points in the Gauchos' last game against South Dakota State, had 23 points, just six in the first half, which finished tied at 42.
Tony Parker was given the task of guarding Williams but he was on the bench with two fouls after playing for 1:53. Parker, though, was instrumental in holding the Gauchos to 46 percent shooting in the second half after they shot 60 percent in the first.
''I think Tony did a very good job in the second half of discouraging the ball in the post instead of reaching in and picking up that foul,'' Anderson said. ''It's rough. We don't want any of our teammates to go to the bench early because of foul trouble. We needed Tony. He did a much better job in the second half.''
With UCLA intent on double-teaming Williams in the first half, Santa Barbara turned to its outside shooting to keep pace.
''They made some shots,'' Steve Alford said of the Gauchos' first half. ''They made some NBA 3s. Bryson had a very special first half.''
Michael Bryson, who entered the game averaging 12.2 points, had all of his season-high 15 by halftime, thanks to 3-for-3 shooting from 3-point range. He finished 6 of 10 from the field, 3 of 5 on 3s, and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Kyle Bosworth had nine points in each half and was 5 of 9 from 3-point range.
With Parker handling Williams and the long-range shooters under control, the Gauchos saw their turnovers (17) increase. Missed free throws (7 of 12) also hurt the Gauchos.
''Shooting was not the issue of this game,'' UC Santa Barbara coach Bob Williams said. ''The free throw line and turnovers were the real difference in this game.
''UCLA did a nice job on Bryson and Kyle. The only way we could play with them was by shooting the 3 or giving the ball to Alan inside. We had to do both.''
Williams had some close looks inside but couldn't convert.
''Even though we led during certain points of the game, there are no moral victories for this team,'' Williams said. ''I know that in the second half, I have to deliver, and I missed a few cheapies, however I was able to knock down a couple of shots to help.''
Alford finished with nine points and the big 3 was his only one of the game.
The Bruins trailed by as many as six points in the first half but relied on the outside shooting of Zach LaVine, who scored five consecutive points to cut Santa Barbara's lead to one point with 3:11 in the first half.
The Bruins finished 27 of 36 from the free throw line, with most of them coming in the closing minutes.


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Confession Tuesday: What I Learned As An Editor
Dear Reader,
I am stepping down as the editor of the 30-year-old print literary journal Crab Creek Review to focus my time on Two Sylvias Press, a small indie press I began with Annette Spaulding-Convy (the other editor at Crab Creek Review).
|the last issue I'm editing...
I confess I am both sad and yet, I have this feeling of freedom, as for the last few years, I've had one hand in the cookie jar of Crab Creek Review, and the other hand mixing the batter of Two Sylvias Press. It feels good to know that after AWP, I will be focused on one press.
I confess being an editor taught me a lot about being a writer and poet in the world. It taught me a lot of what not to do, how not be a jerk in the publishing world. It taught me how to be strong and still be kind.
So here are a few things I learned as an editor
that taught me how to better myself as a writer--
1) As a Writer, You Teach Editors Whether or Not To Work With You Again --
I have learned this lesson a few times both while editing the eBook anthology Fire On Her Tongue: An Anthology of Contemporary Women Poetry as well as through the many issues of Crab Creek Review.
There are poets who I admire and like as people who I will not work with again because they are pain in the butt.
There are ways to ask for what you want without being a jerk or rude.
There is a way to be a gracious writer in the world-- learn to be that person, or realize, your chances of publication decrease with every obnoxious email you write, despite your talent.
Yes, your poem was marvelous, but you give me a headache. You teach me not to publish you again by your actions. I'm sorry, but there are just as many talented, fantastic, and overlooked writers who do not make my head hurt that we can publish. We only have limited space and limited time, so we're choosing them.
Please realize that along with talent, you need to have kindness too. If you never learned that as a kid, I guess I'm going to have toughlove you into learning that with a rejection. I hope you figure it out.
2) Sometimes Your Poem is Amazing and You're Still Rejected --
We are a print journal, so our space is limited. We loved your poem (and hopefully, we let you know this on your rejection slip), but we had to say no. Why? We ran out of room for the issue.
How can you raise your chances of being accepted? Submit at the BEGINNING to midpoint of a reading period, not at the end.
I wish it was different. I wish we had bigger envelopes and a larger budget, but space and money always play into publishing.
3) Submit Like a Man (for the women)--
This has become a mantra I've shared with my women friends because here's a trend we've noticed as editors.
When we tell a writer we like their work and ask them to submit again, the male poets will submit work within a month (two at the very latest) of our asking. The women writers? We usually never hear from them again or until a year or more later.
When an editor asks you to submit again, she isn't kidding.
The male writers do what we ask-- they resubmit and usually accepted.
The women, I imagine them sitting at home wondering, "Is it too soon to resubmit? Did she really mean it or was just being nice? What should I send, and when?"
And when in doubt of when to resubmit, feel free to ask with a note like that-- "I am so glad you enjoyed my poems. Would you like me to resubmit in this reading period or the next one?"
And when you resubmit, remind the editor that s/he liked your poems-- we forget like that. Say something like, "Thank you for your kind note about my poems about death and thank you for asking me to resubmit. Here are four new poems I'd like you to consider..."
4) Watch Out For the Three Fs (for the men)--
We noticed a trend in poems by male poets, which we labeled "The Three F's." In every batch of poems, we received a poem by a male with one of these topics:
1) Frogs: The poem is how they injured or killed a frog as a boy and now feel bad about it.
2) Farting: Either a poem about a bathroom, toilet, or fart joke about midway through.
3) F*%#ing: Yeah, you probably expected this one. This isn't to say we don't like these poems or references, but realize, trying to write a good sex poem is hard. Many times I felt as if I was reading a first draft of porn script (if they have script) and well, "pubic hair" is just clunky and reads as ugly as it sounds.
5) Remember Most Editorial Teams are Volunteer--
Before you write the angry email about why no one has responded to the poem you submitted 6 weeks ago, remember, along with editing a literary journal, many of us have full-time jobs, children, families, ill parents, and are writers ourselves. We try to give our best to the journal, but we are pulled in many different directions.
When you don't hear from us as soon as you like, it's most likely because we're behind and has nothing to do with you. We love you poets and writers! Journals exists because of you! This is why we would never charge you to submit your work to us. But sometimes we get behind, especially as all the submissions start to slide in.
Annette and I had a short sentence we'd always remember when doing something for Crab Creek Review-- Writers first.
Writers are the reason we have a journal to publish. Writers thrill us with their words and images. We dedicated six years of our life to get your poems out into the world, to nominate them for Pushcart Prizes, and celebrate them as much as we can.
Sometimes we all get behind. But we still love you.
I've learned a lot more as an editor, which I'll share at a later date, but right now, Annette and I have a day of The Poet Tarot planned (a new project soon to be released from Two Sylvias Press). Here's a sneak peek at a new card--
|He's missing his crown... but a general idea of where we're going.
~ Kells
~ Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by Email


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Sioux Falls Promotes Annual Smoke Alarm Giveaway
SIOUX FALLS - Sioux Falls Fire Rescue is giving away smoke alarms to people who cannot afford them.
A city ordinance requires smoke alarms in each sleeping room, the area in the immediate vicinity outside sleeping rooms, and at least one on each floor.
The department will also provide assistance to those people who need help installing the alarms.
More information can be found at www.siouxfalls.org/fire.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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WED, MAR 4, 2009 at 7:34 AM
Sub Pop Showcase at SXSW 2009
Hey, Hey! My coworkers and I are heading to Austin, TX in two short weeks so that we can wine and dine our contacts and show off the talents of our lovable and extremely talented bands. On Thursday March 19th, we'll be at the Radio Room (508 E. 6th St – formerly Bourbon Rocks, formerly Fat Tuesdays, formerly some place with novelty shots and lots of tits). Most of these bands will be playing additional parties and what-not—we'll post those soon!
For Your Scheduling Pleasure:
8:00 No Age (outside)
8:30 The Baptist Generals (inside)
9:00 Red Red Meat (outside)
9:30 Mark Sultan (inside)
10:00 Obits (outside)
10:30 Daniel Martin Moore (inside)
11:00 Vetiver (outside)
11:30 Tiny Vipers (inside)
12:00 Blitzen Trapper (outside)
12:30 Pretty & Nice (inside)
1:00 Handsome Furs (outside)
All photos courtesy Jay Cox


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My response after reading letters to the Local
A restrictive covenant was made March 30, 1990, "by and among the Chestnut Hill Community Association and five residential neighbors and the two owners of Yu Shiang and Alliance Properties, Inc."
There are no commercial signatures, and at the time numerous businesses were within 750 ft – Mermaid Inn, Roxy Auto, Lehman Auto, Fillippi Bros., Kurtz Construction and others.
The stated concern was "grease, cooking and other odors." The covenant – poorly written – was intended to protect five residential neighbors who unanimously support our business. The CHCA, the landlord or my partner did not believe a commercial entity had standing. The Trolley Car Diner/Ken Weinstein interpret a loophole to their benefit – the only benefit being restriction of competition.
We asked the CHCA – an original party to the covenant – to consider that Rita's is frozen dessert and not fast food that would produce – "grease, cooking and other odors," as outlined in the covenant.
We further investigated definition of various agencies that classify businesses.
Fast-food restaurants are completely different enterprises from a business such as Rita's and classified as such by the North American Industrial Classification System. Similarly, insurance companies rate fast food differently than frozen dessert.
The CHCA reviewed presentations, conferred with the Chestnut Hill Business Association and the Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee, the original signers and the community, and made a determination in our favor. It is logical that the CHCA – the entity that assisted in drafting the covenant, would have the right to interpret it. The Trolley Car Diner/Ken Weinstein disagrees.
There was an agreement to arbitrate. However, the scope and format for arbitration were not agreed. The Trolley Car Diner only wanted written briefs – no testimony from the originators that would clarify intent and parties with standing. Additionally, I was required to guarantee the landlord (a third party) to be bound by our arbitration. Any reasonable person would not accept these terms. In fact, an advisor referred to these terms as a "ruse" to delay process.
The issue is not Mt. Airy or Chestnut Hill – it is about the self-serving actions of the Trolley Car Diner and its owner.
The only issue is the Trolley Car Diner, never an intended party to the restrictive covenant, attempts to use it to restrain competition.
John Thain
Chestnut Hill
Empty is better?
Does the Trolley Car Diner feel it is better to have many empty commercial properties along Germantown Avenue than to allow Rita's to open?
Being an East Falls resident, I find it laughable that Mr. Weinstein, a very wealthy developer, would accept great sums of money from public agencies through the assistance of the East Falls Development Corporation to open the Trolley Car Diner in East Falls, while trying to prevent a Bucks County-based franchise from opening in Chestnut Hill.
How come, as someone who lives in East Falls and reads the Chestnut Hill Local, I knew of the Rita's plan back in December? Now suddenly, there is shock and awe from the Weinstein camp over Rita's. Can there really be any question as to their motivation?
Mary Wilkinson
East Falls
Rita's Water Ice: bad soap opera
So many ruffled feathers! So many sermons! Anguished cries of "another chain sucking up Chestnut Hill's dollars!" The Rita's Water Ice controversy heats up to epic proportions like a bad soap opera. You'd think someone was trying to open an X-rated book store!
Does Rita's really pose a threat to other businesses? Will mountains of empty Rita's Water Ice cups actually turn our quaint little village into an urban landfill? Does water ice really have an odor?
Once again, some local (and not so local) natives declare war on a new business. Once again, another reason to bring more shoppers to the Hill is shot down. Once again, the message is clear to potential new businesses (unless you're a cleaner or a nail salon) – it's more trouble than it's worth!
For the record, the only thing that I have against Rita's Water Ice is the occasional bout of brain freeze.
Brian Reisman
West Mt. Airy
Contraception is not a right
It is obvious, from her article in the Feb. 23, edition of the Local, that 8th District Councilwoman Cindy Bass needs a lesson in constitutional law. I challenge her to cite the provision that guarantees free contraception to any woman.
I have no quarrel with anyone who makes a personal decision, or "choice," to use contraception. But to suggest that contraception is a constitutionally-guaranteed right to be provided at no cost (other than to those who actually pay federal taxes) is intellectually dishonest, disingenuous and makes a mockery of our Constitution.
Ms. Bass apparently does not understand the difference between a personal and protected "choice" regarding one's own lifestyle and a government-guaranteed "right."
This issue has absolutely nothing to do with "equality" or health care. Using her own words, Ms. Bass' position is "ignorant and ridiculous."
Sharon Reiss, Esq.
West Mt. Airy
Politicians on the job? I don't think so
Thank you for Jeanne Andrews' article on the traffic debacle around Allen's Lane. Her frustration with different city agencies reminded all of us, I'm sure, of a thousand other conversations that are part of modern life.
Sometimes when you're on the phone with a utility, or a bank, or any giant faceless outfit with an 800 number, you just want somebody to be a human being, and stop following the buck-passing script. Jeanne's chronicle of her frustration documents a real problem.
Fortunately, our local politicians are on the job, cutting through red tape, creating more responsive government. But…but…but… wait! There's Cindy Bass, our City Councilwoman, in the same issue, boosting President Obama and critiquing the Republican candidates bout contraception and health insurance. Really? I have to rub my eyes and make sure I'm reading right. It's especially puzzling – it takes the prize – to hear Bass declare "war" on people who disagree with her. What does "war" mean? Is that appropriate rhetoric from a local leader, in a neighborhood newspaper?
There are complicated issues in the contraception and religious liberty debate, issues that need empathy and a sense for competing goods if we are going to discuss them wisely. The rhetoric of violence does not help. Think about how this rhetoric would sound if this were a different issue touching on a different religion; it would be ominous and chilling.
But putting her rhetoric to the side for the moment, why is our city representative even publishing about this topic? Her own vocation, her duty to our neighborhood, is honorable and sufficient. I would love to read about her phone calls to the various city agencies and her attempts to get them to talk to one another. What can she do about buck-passing bureaucracy and the traffic around Allen's Lane?
Christopher C. Roberts
Chestnut Hill


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Exquisite gift baskets and international hampers delivered worldwide to USA, Canada, European Union, UK, Russia and other destinations abroad (select a country). Our Gift Baskets
include only the highest quality ingredients to create an upscale presents such as champagne or imported wine gift baskets, delicious
cheese baskets, fruit baskets, sweet hampers, corporate gourmet gift baskets and various corporate gifts & presents for serious gift aristocrats.
Last modified on 2019-04-08 17:58