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Running pioneer Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to complete a marathon, despite being told women weren't capable of competing. Fifty years later she is still a force of empowerment.
When Kathrine Switzer set out to run her first marathon she didn't mean to start a running revolution, she simply wanted to prove the boys wrong.
Switzer was a 20-year-old journalism student in 1967 and the first woman to join her university track and field running team. During training, her coach would entertain her with tales of running the Boston Marathon – one of the world's most famous and prestigious long distance races in the world. Back then, women were considered physically incapable of running 42 kilometres and were therefore not eligible to enter the marathon. Switzer was determined to change that.
It was snowing in April 1967 when Switzer lined up with her coach and then-boyfriend to start the Boston Marathon. While women were technically not allowed to enter, she had entered under her initials K V Switzer, but did not try to hide the fact she was a woman: she wore lipstick and earrings. The marathon began well, but about five kilometres in, race manager Jock Semple famously leapt off a media bus monitoring the runners and lunged at Switzer, trying to rip the bib – number 261 – off her chest and push her off the course. The images of Semple attacking the lone woman on the course went global, exposing the ugly sexism in sport and turning Switzer into an equality icon for female athletes.
Switzer later recalled the incident in her memoir, Marathon Woman:"A big man, a huge man with bared teeth, was set to pounce, and before I could react he grabbed my shoulder and flung me back, screaming:'Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers!'"
Switzer still vividly remembers that moment five decades ago."I remember it very clearly," she tells Vogue. "I remember how scared and terrified I was. I remember because he came out of the blue it was a combination of feeling scared but also feeling deeply embarrassed. It was in front of so many people … you feel like an idiot. You're both burning-hot mad and humiliated, and you are disappointed and don't quite know what to do. So all of those things hit me at once. But also I was very scared because he was out of control and cursing at me and pushing me.
"I was also worried that I had stepped into a really important sports event and done something wrong. It's like being in a bad dream, that you've done something wrong. But then, of course, my boyfriend hit [Semple] and that's when I got really scared, because I thought he had seriously hurt him. Then my coach said: 'Run like hell', so down the street we went."
Despite the emotion and adrenaline of the situation, Switzer channelled her anger into her legs and made it to the finish line an impressive four hours and 20 minutes later, by which time she had not only changed her life but also changed the course of history for women running long distance. Semple later publicly reconciled with Switzer.
Switzer says standing up for her rights as a woman was primarily what kept her going: "When you have an adrenaline rush like that you lose your energy and we went into a deep trough for about six miles, but then we climbed out of it. That's one of the things that really impresses me about human physiology – that you can do that.
"I mean, honestly, I wanted to step off the course and go home to my mum and go to sleep. I wanted it all to go away. But I couldn't, I had to finish the race. Because I knew if I didn't then nobody would believe women could do it, and it would really set us back."
The race made her an instant celebrity, something Switzer harnessed to benefit female sportswomen worldwide: she campaigned for women to be allowed to officially enter the Boston Marathon (which was approved in 1972), created the Avon International Running Circuit women-only events in the late 70s, and thanks largely to her influence, in 1984 women were finally allowed to run the marathon in the Olympics for the first time.
Personally she has since run scores of marathons, including the New York Marathon in 1974, which she won, and last April, to celebrate 50 years of the iconic moment in these images, Switzer returned to Boston to run the marathon again – at the age of 70 – and followed that up by running the New York Marathon six months later, also run by model Karlie Kloss.
During both marathons last year Switzer was surrounded by groups of women who have joined her not-for-profit charity 261 Fearless (named after her original Boston bib number). The organisation, says Switzer, is a global running community encouraging women to be empowered and support each other through running. She describes it as a "social revolution" that has scores of members and clubs worldwide and the support of an international sponsorship with Adidas, and continues to grow. Prior to Christmas she hosted a training camp in New Zealand (where she lives half the year when not in her native New York) and there are plans to expand 261 Fearless to Australia this year.
"We're creating a community of women that are nonjudgmental and doing it safely, so they will run all their lives and so that they know that they can communicate with their sisters all around the world," she says. "So it's really not just about running on a Saturday morning and grabbing coffee, although sometimes that's what we do. The nice thing about marathons for those who can run them is they are a really great, awesome, community builder. We are finding that there's a great passion in us getting together and having fun in a big city and running a big race and not being competitive necessarily, but willing to put ourselves on the line in terms of physical fitness – it's an effort; marathons are hard!
"It's also fearless for women helping a woman who is fearful about taking the next step. You can tell a person to get their sneakers and go for a run and they won't do it by themselves, but if they have a buddy with them for a while then they will," she says. "It's so hard in so many countries to convince women that it's okay to go out and do this. They are still under the impression it's not the right thing to do, that it's not appropriate, that it's conspicuous, that it's not what a woman does. But once they get with a group they are having fun and that's one reason why 261 Fearless is really terrific, because it's actually a lot of fun."
Switzer says despite her age she still enjoys running marathons and has many more on her bucket list, starting with London."There are more on my bucket list, but I've been too busy. So I got thinking: 'Well, if are you going to do them, you'd better get going.'"
Vogue's Sophie Tedmanson will run the 2018 Boston Marathon in April with 261 Fearless. For more information, go to www.261fearless.
This story originally appeared in the February 2018 issue of Vogue Australia


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Lung Cancer
Lung Cancer: The First Dayton Difference
If you've been told the only way to treat lung cancer is with surgery – surgery that involves cracking your chest and painful incisions – call First Dayton CyberKnife to see what Dr. Hughes and his team can do for you. Or, perhaps surgery isn't even an option for your lung cancer, because it would do more harm than good. With more powerful treatment options than any other center in the region, First Dayton will find the best way to beat your lung cancer, without surgery. And, all of First Dayton's radiation treatments are outpatient, so you don't have to stay in the hospital, where other complications can occur.
First Dayton CyberKnife® Radiosurgery
CyberKnife radiosurgery is Dr. Hughes' breakthrough technology in the battle against lung cancer. And it's radiation therapy, not surgery. No incision. No pain. The numbers speak for themselves:
- Radiation target accuracy of 0.77 mm
- Lung cancer control rates of 85-95 percent
- Lung cancer survival rates are 45 percent better with CyberKnife than with conventional radiation
- You don't have to hold your breath during treatment, like you do with other radiation systems; you relax and breathe normally
- Ultimate precision – no damage to your heart or other critical organs
- You simply lie comfortably on a table listening to music of your choice
- You do not feel a thing
As the most advanced radiation technology available today, CyberKnife is the only system that uses real-time imaging to track and adjust for tumor movement during treatment. Essentially, the CyberKnife "breathes" with you. What does this mean to you?
CyberKnife can treat early-stage cancer, before your lung cancer has spread. It's also an effective option for recurrent or metastatic cancer – or for patients who want a noninvasive option that doesn't involve cutting, stiches or long recovery times.
Additional Benefits of CyberKnife
- Delivers over 250 beams of radiation to "paint" your tumor
- High dose destroys your tumor quickly so you feel better sooner
- Only system that can move around you 320 degrees, to come at your tumor from every possible angle
- Treats Stage 1, Stage 2 and inoperable tumors
- 5 visits or less
- No blood
- No breath-holding
- No cutting
- No pain
- Few, if any, side effects
- No hospital stay
- Pinpoint accuracy
- Spares more healthy tissue
First Dayton Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is often an effective treatment option for more advanced lung cancer because of its precision and ease of delivery. Most IRMT treatments are combined with chemotherapy.
Benefits of IMRT
- No cutting
- No pain
- Spares healthy tissue
- Few lasting side effects
- Visits last only 5 minutes
Diagnostic CT
First Dayton also offers $99 diagnostic CT scans to qualified patients. If you are high risk for lung cancer, a diagnostic CT can help you find out and start fighting it, fast. Read more about diagnostic CTs at First Dayton here.
Call 855-DAYTON1 for a consultation today, and get your life back faster.
Cancers We Treat
What People Say
Everyone has been totally fantastic. The first week was very hard for me, but all 3 technicians I worked with made me feel great even though I know that first week is difficult for them (not on purpose). They always made me feel comfortable with my treatment and hugs when they knew I was having a tough day. I could not have been happier with any aspect of my care.Read more...
First, I have never been treated so well by all medical professionals. I was scared from the beginning. I was given info in a positive, accurate and direct manner. Because of this I was able to face the fears I had. Each visit strengthened me. I feel that if I had not come to First Dayton Cyberknife I would not have felt the hope I feel now. Is that not part of good treatment?Read more...
My experience at First Dayton Cancer Care was exceptional from start to finish. Beginning with the initial consultation with Dr Hughes. I always knew what to expect throughout the treatment process. The entire staff is to be commended for their professionalism both in their job knowledge and cheerful, upbeat personalities.Read more...
Everyone from the front desk was great! Jo was excellent in explaining what each visit required verbally and on paper. Annette was great, polite and very informative. Annette made the treatments easy and comfortable in a scary time. I loved the music she played during my treatment. Dr Hughes was wonderful, he explained all the treatments. I knew when we first talked that this place was where I wanted to be.
FRONT DESK ALWAYS COURTEOUS. NURSES ARE ALWAYS HELPFUL. AND OF COURSE THE THERAPISTS WERE TERRIFIC. DOCTORS ALWAYS KEPT ME UP ON EVERYTHING. EVERYBODY IS JUST GREAT TO BE WITH. FIRST DAYTON CYBERKNIFE IS VERY CLEAN AND PERSONABLE.Read more...
Everybody was really nice. Jennifer, Mike, Kristie who did my treatments made me feel very comfortable. They were like friends to me. The staff at the front desk were very nice to me. The doctors were great too. Dr Hughes was my doctor.Read more...
Cyberknife treatment with Annette was great. Radiation treatments with Mike, Jennifer and Kristi was also great. I would definitely recommend this facility to anyone needing cancer treatment. I have driven over 100 miles round trip each day for six weeks. It was well worth the drive. Believe it or not I actually looked forward to coming each day. All staff was great!Read more...
I am totally happy with the care I got from everyone. Jo told me how it would work. Dr Hughes was very good and took a lot of time with me. Annette was outstanding, she was kind and told me to do so it would so it would work the best. I thank everyone for the experience.Read more...
The staff was so courteous. They answered all of my questions I had. I was seen on time with minimal wait time.Doctor was informative and helpful with medications, ordered as needed. Dietitian was good at sharing information about good nutrition.Read more...
I had breast radiation and my treatments went very fast. The staff was very pleasant. I enjoyed talking with the radiation therapist each morning. I have a lot of great memories. I would recommend this place to anyone facing cancer treatment.Read more...
Everyone was very nice, friendly, very caring and professional. No complaints. I couldn't ask for a better experience of this kind. I felt like I was in good hands.Read more...
I recieved care at First Dayton Cancer Care with Dr Hughes.The staff was very caring and dedicated to my care. dr Hughes and Dr Burger were very concerned and caring. The nurse's were very informative about the process as were the techs.Read more...
I really kind of enjoyed visits due to Kristi, Jennifer and Mike were just excellent with care. Very happy and encouraging. Vice nice receptionist! Everyone is always helpful and they always have a smile.Read more...
My care by staff was superb. They all have wonderful personalities and keep the treatments light making me at ease. They made me really enjoy coming. The prompt calls when the machine was not working and follow up were much appreciated. I will give all a five star rating and recommendation.Read more...
It was a very good experience all the people treated you with respect. When you come here you will tell your friends about First Dayton Cancer Care. Thanks to each and everyone of you.Read more...
My treatment schedule was always on time and when I had to reschedule they always accommodated me. The staff here are excellent, from the receptionist to the nurses to therapists. They all made me feel at ease and had a cheerful experience. I would like to especially thank Jennifer, Kristi and Mike for their professional care.Read more...
Amazing care from everyone that took care of me. Sweetness must be a requirement to work here because you all are the sweetest. Your tones in treatment was very comforting and appreciated. Fear of the unknown but you all give much needed respect and care. In spite of the tasks of healing, you all have made it (keep it up, we benefit from your care) all worth it.Read more...
Cancer in it self is scary. My experience here at Cyberknife is one that I will always cherish for taking away the fear of lung cancer. The staff, all the wonderful people I encountered made me feel alive and gave me the hope and strength to know how I will win. God truly gave this wonderful Dr Hughes the best staff ever & I thank him for his skills, his machine & his time in my recovery.Read more...
THE CYBERKNIFE TREATMENT WAS PAINLESS, OTHER THAN THE MARKER IMPLANT. THE TREATMENT HAS BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE BASED ON REDUCED LEVELS FROM LAB RESULTS. THE STAFF HAS BEEN FRIENDLY,SYMPATHETIC & PROFESSIONAL. THE DOCTOR AND NURSES ARE KNOWLEDGABLE AND PROFESSIONAL.Read more...
ALL ASPECTS OF TREATMENT WERE HANDLED VERY PROFESSIONALLY. EVERYTHING WAS EXPLAINED CLEARLY AND IN GREAT DETAIL. EVERYONE I HAD CONTACT WITH WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO MAKE MY TREATMENTS COMFORTABLE. NOT A SINGLE COMPLAINT ABOUT CYBERKNIFE!!!Read more...
FROM BEGINNING TO END OF 5 DAY TREATMENTS EVERYONE IS VERY POSTIVE AND PROFESSIONAL TO ME & MY WIFE DENNY. EVERY TEST & PROCEDURE WAS EXPLAINED IN DETAIL & EASY TO UNDERSTAND. THANKS TO ALL WHO WERE INVOLVED IN MY CARE.Read more...
EXCELLENT EXPERIENCE, EVERYONE WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND GENUINELY CARING. THE PROCEDURE AND TREATMENT WAS FULLY EXPLAINED AND WENT AS DESCRIBED. POST TREATMENT AND CARE WAS EXCELLENT AS WELL.Read more...
Followed suggestions from staff about skin care, etc and had great results. Staff has always been professional and courteous. Will continue to recommend center to others.Read more...
The facility and staff are tops. Always a smile and a very pleasant attitude. Although this has been a trying experience for me; It was nice to have someone listen carefully to my concerns. Always the professional, with words of encouragement and making me feel important. I appreciate the doctor, staff and the facility. Treatment went well. Thanks C. MOrganRead more...


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Juicy Grilled Pork in Batak Style
The front view seems small, but don't worry, plenty of spacious room inside, even a rather large, semi open-air hall. Rather lousy service, so if nobody take your order, simply go to the cashier and place your order. No menu, if you don't know what to order, call the waiter (forcefully if need be, just don't forget to smile and say thanks, it's okay :)), and ask what's available. The standard menu of a lapo is grilled pork, saksang (spicy pork cooked in blood), and arsik (fish cooked in yellow sauce, rather tangy). The grilled pork was the juiciest I ever taste (compared to other lapo/Batak restaurant), and not too oily either. The taste was great. The sambal was good too, and if you like, extra chili is free. IDR 30K was the price for a small plate of grilled pork, sambal, a small bowl of clear broth, and a glass of plain tea, minus rice. I went there for lunch on Tuesday, and not so many people there, albeit there was a gathering in the separate hall. It might be very full on weekend. Open from 7am. Parking car would be tricky, since the restaurant is on a second street, and doesn't provide parking place. Go there by foot is good, near enough to walk from public transportation stop. The polite way to call them in Batak style is 'abang' (older brother) or 'kakak' (older sister), so don't hesitate to be friendly :)
27 Feb 2018
Pinukka Resto
Jl. Naripan No. 131, Bandung, Indonesia


text:
Vanessa at One Thousand Single Days wrote this thoughtful essay on pain. I think it is a must read for all of us, for anyone who has experienced loss and tragedy and is still alive to tell the tale. In short, this essay is for everyone.
Songs To Get Divorced To
"This is Not A Song" — Islands
If Penny rolls away
I will have lost everything
In many subtle ways
I already don't have anything
I hate to watch you go
Nick if you ever learn it never shows
And this is not a song
So why do I find it so hard to move on
Feels a crime to be cryin' for this long
In upper atmosphere my head comes loose
And in the free fall I can feel the blues
I hate to watch you go
Nick if you ever learn it never shows
If this is just a song
Then why do I find it so hard to move on
Feels a crime to be cryin' for this long
And The Oscar Goes To….
….Yours truly.
I'll be the first to admit that I came off like a petulant child in my last post. I was pouting like a kid whose friends took all their toys away and went home. The truth is that I know you guys are out there. I know that you all still support and care about me.
I've been cycling through emotions like they're going out of style. I've taken pretty much every emotion you can imagine and magnified it in a way that hasn't always brought out the best in me. I know that this is normal, or at least I think it is. I'm still reeling from the events of the past six months and I've yet to find a place to settle. Some days I'm way up high and other days I'm way down low. The most unfortunate part of this is that I never know who is going to show up–at work, on my blog, on a date, or even when I'm home alone.
And especially not on ladies night.
Last Tuesday I had a dream. I hesitate to call it in a nightmare because there weren't any scary men chasing me or tidal waves threatening to pull me under. But the sentiment was that of a nightmare. Cold sweats, rapid heart rate, overwhelming sense of fear, and anger. I had a dream that one of my best friends was pregnant with her second child. And it made me so angry for reasons that I couldn't define at the time. The dream wasn't really so much about why, but just that it was happening and I had to learn to temper my negative feelings toward it.
Last Thursday 3 of my best lady friend's and I went out for dinner and drinks. As soon as I made eye contact with the same friend I had the dream about (we'll call her Leggy Blonde) I just knew. I KNEW like I've never known anything before that she was, in fact, pregnant. Then she ordered a water. And since I had no doubt to begin with, I sank as my last shred of hope that she wasn't actually pregnant vanished before I had a chance to swallow my shot of whiskey. But still, I said nothing.
Shortly after ordering her second glass of water she left to use the bathroom. I immediately turned to my other friend and told her that Leggy Blonde is pregnant. I just knew it.
Eventually, she ended up telling us that she is pregnant. Again. And not only is she pregnant, but OOPS! it was an accident. Totally unplanned. Totally easy. Totally amazing.
Remember: Leggy Blonde is one of my very best friends. When I finally got pregnant I told her before I even told The X. When I had to terminate that pregnancy, she cried with me over the phone when I shared the news. I say all this to demonstrate that she too KNOWS something. She knows full well the special kind of hell that I have been through over the last six months. She knows that for me it was never an accident. It was never unplanned. It was never easy. But, she knows how amazing it was in that brief period of time in which I knew I was pregnant. For 13 glorious days, she and I had access to the same amazing knowledge–that of carrying a child.
So maybe now you can understand when I tell you that I didn't react well. I merely mumbled congratulations, dug a cigarette out of my purse, and practically ran outside before the tears could spill over my eyelids and betray the words of celebration that had come from my mouth. And from my heart. You see, I am actually quite happy for her. I would never begrudge any woman, let alone one that I love so dearly, the very thing that I fought for years to create. I would never want her to temper her own happiness to spare my bitter feelings or my empty womb.
However, I would ask for a shred of compassion. I would ask that a friend tread lightly when sharing such news. That she take my vulnerable and broken heart into consideration before haphazardly sharing this type of sensitive news. I imagine myself in a cage, having not eaten for weeks. My ribs and my collarbones jut out from beneath my clothing. My jaw is sore from chewing on the bars of my cage out of sheer desperation for something to that feels close enough to eat. I am surrounded by each and every person that I have ever loved feasting at a table close enough to see, but too far away to touch. And the real tragedy, it is finally revealed, is not that they aren't sharing their food with me, but that when the perspective shifts it is actually me that is close enough to see, but too far away to touch.
Or at least, that's how the dream went that I had the following night.
When I got home that night, I was in a blind rage. Again, I know that it is normal to experience anger in these types of situations, but what I was feeling wasn't even close to normal. The anger was so intense that even my house didn't seem large enough to contain it. And if my house couldn't contain, then certainly my body couldn't either. I could feel my blood boiling, pumping too rapidly in and out of my heart. My feet couldn't stand still and in an effort to diffuse some of the rage, they forced me to walk back and forth, back and forth. My fists clenched into tiny balls of fury waiting to find the perfect reason to expel the anger through them. I never looked into the mirror, but I'm sure that if I had then I wouldn't have recognized the woman staring back at me.
Eventually I went to bed, nary a tear shed. No way for that anger to escape. While I slept I dreamed I was in that cage. When I awoke, the dream seemed so real that I swear my hands were coiled around an invisible bar, cold and hard. Finally, the fog lifted and I realized that had just been dreaming but that I awoke to face a whole other kind of cage–one that has become my entire life as it relates to both my (lack of) marriage and my infertility.
When I came downstairs to get ready for work, The X was there. I told him the Leggy Blonde is pregnant again and he asked me how I felt about it. Alas, I had found a way to extricate all the anger that had taken over my body and my mind: The X.
"You want to know how I'm feeling?" I asked, confused.
"I'm fucking pissed! You can walk out this door right now and knock up any girl of your choosing. And you can do that every fucking day for the next 30 years should you choose to do so." Without so much as a breath, I continued, "I don't have that luxury. And it's all your fucking fault. You want to leave me high, dry, and barren with five years to find a way to make this dream come true."
"You have ruined my chance at happiness," I fired at him.
"You can be angry at whoever you want, but you don't have to take it out on me," he replied as he walked towards the door.
My last words to him were, "I can be fucking angry at whoever the fuck I want to be angry with. And right now you are at the top of my list!"
And just like that, I could breath again. My heart was still racing, but the blood wasn't boiling any longer. Instead, it was cool and refreshing. And instead of contemplating who I was going to murder in order to rid myself of the all-consuming rage, I contemplated the feeling of realization that washed over me.
I'm not angry at Leggy Blonde for accidentally getting knocked up again. I'm angry because I'm not. I'm angry because my husband is leaving me. Not only is he leaving my heart behind, but also the idea of a life that we had created together. The dream of the children we would have together. When I picture my future children they always have his blue eyes and his dimples. They have his wavy brown hair and pension for creativity. When I remove those things from my picture I see that I am left with half-children. Babies with no faces. Teenagers without hair. Grown men and women without personalities. People that I create that share absolutely nothing with The X.
I think I might hate him just a little for that. Because in reality, he's the petulant child who took all of his toys back and pouted all the way home, not me. He's the one that is one lacking compassion for my vulnerable and broken heart, not Leggy Blonde. And lastly, he's the one I should be angry at. Not myself and certainly not Leggy Blonde.
Emotions are a funny thing. Just when you think you know exactly why you are feeling a certain way, another more articulate emotion comes along and changes your perspective. Anger is a broodish, archaic emotion that is usually just masking something much more intangible and acute than anger ever could be. Awareness and recognition are emotions that can actually take your somewhere even if that journey begins with blind rage.
Where My Girls At?
I feel like I got kicked out of a clique. That's the honest truth. I've never been one for sugar-coating.
When I wrote regularly on my previous blog (which I won't link to because I'm clinging to hope that this one can remain anonymous) I had a lot of followers. And among those followers, I had lots of commenters. And among those commenters, I had many regular email-ers. But I feel like 95% of you have disappeared on me.
I mean, I get it. It was hard for me when a fellow TTC-er got pregnant. I simply couldn't relate to her anymore. I still have nothing but love in my heart for each and every dear friend I made along the way. But I get it. I really do. Sometimes people are put in our lives to serve a specific purpose–even if that purpose is support for what we are going through at that time. When one person or the other moves on I like to think that it frees up space in both their heart and life to go on and support someone else. It's like once big circle, or something. Kumbaya. Or whatever.
But I have to admit that starting from scratch sucks. Trying to find other bloggers in a similar situation to me feels next to impossible. Don't get me wrong, there are a handful of lovely ladies that have already reached out to me and their support (as we get to know one another) means the world. But I miss my ladies. I guess that's what it comes down to. I miss you. Yes, YOU.
Even if you can't offer a word of advice or anything positive at all, please just say hi. That's all I really need. I have experienced so much loss in the last 6 months of my life. The loss of my husband and my baby is insurmountable. But to lose a single one of you ladies who have become my sounding boards, my support system, and some of my dearest friends feels like a weight to heavy to bear on top of everything else.
I miss you.
The Case of the Dating Doldrums
I'm feeling kind of blah towards dating right now.
I told The Ginger (who isn't really a Ginger, but his beard is red) that I just wanted to be friends. I felt kind of bad about it. He just moved here a few months ago so he doesn't have many friends, which explains why he was texting me constantly. He's a super sweet guy, but I don't find him terribly attractive. That, and the sex was mediocre. It wasn't bad at all, but it wasn't anything to write home (or my blog) about.
Frenchie is still around, but only every now and again. He's a Quantum Physicist at a nearby prestigious university and he travels a lot. He goes all around the country and the world conducting research and giving lectures. I actually like that he travels so much because it helps keep things casual between us which is exactly what I'm looking for at this this point in time. Thus far, he wins the competition for the best date. He took me to this restaurant that I've wanted to try for a long time. It didn't disappoint and neither did he. Afterward we checked out a couple bands a bar a couple doors down. Dinner and dancing gets me every time. Plus he has a knack for selecting the perfect background music for hooking up—a talent that is much appreciated by me.
The Actor is also still around, but I haven't seen much of him lately. I had company in town for the past week and then I got sick so I've been avoiding him in an effort to not spread my germs. I think we're supposed to hang out this weekend though. He is super sweet and affectionate—both of which I like. However, every time we make out, I walk away looking like my face got in a fight with a porcupine. Not a pleasant sensation. We haven't had sex yet, but I will say that he is AMAZING at other things and just leave it at that.
Obviously, I haven't heard from Mr. Teacher since our awkward run in. I'm debating texting him just to see how he is doing, but I haven't done it yet. I figure I will give it another two weeks and then see how I feel. I don't want to come across as desperate, but I do want him to know that I'm still interested. I've yet to find where those two points meet. Honestly, I'm hoping that they meet at a point that scores me another date. Maybe more?
I think I'm experiencing a case of the Dating Doldrums.
I want to go out and meet new boys, but maybe I have unrealistic expectations. I want that WOW! factor. I want the butterflies and the feeling of anticipation for the next time I see him. Right now, no one really seems to be doing that for me. I want the desire to rip his clothes off and then stay in bed for hours just talking and getting to know each other. Does that even exist or is that just something I've invented in my head as a direct result of watching too many romantic comedies? Am I trying too hard? Or not enough?
I was warned that this dating thing wouldn't turn out to be everything that it's talked up to be. And I think I'm starting to get that. Each guy that I meet has so many great qualities, but none of them have everything that I'm looking for. Is it even possible to find everything that I'm looking for in one person? I am constantly comparing these men to my ex-husband. Not so much as people, but more so the dynamic between us. I mean, at one point I thought my ex-husband was the end-all, be-all. I did marry him, after all. I over-analyze the connection that I share with these boys. Could it be more? Should it be more? Are they just duds? Maybe I'm the dud?
Or is it simply a matter of time?
Perhaps that line I should be looking for isn't the one between desperation and genuine interest, but rather the fine one between good and good enough.
I'm leading the crusade for the refusal to settle. But maybe, in a way, we all settle in the end. If I choose to throw that possibility out the window then I am left with two possibilities:
- I will be forever alone.
- I will find the man that is perfect for me.
I don't think I'm quite ready to give up on my quest for the latter option. In the meantime, I suppose I will just bask in the depths of my doldrums knowing full well that what goes down must come up. So what if that statement defies the laws of gravity. I'm the one making up the rules now.
It's A Small World After All
I live in a pretty major city on the East Coast. There are plenty of different districts downtown and each offers its own variety of people. The drunk college kids have a place that they typically hang out, as do the middle-aged divorcees (of which I most definitely am not). I tend to spend a lot of time in a specific district frequented by older 20-something, young professional, hipster type people. There is frequently live music, local beer, and cute boys. Lots of cute boys.
The problem with this is that I have a type. A very particular type. And, well, this type of boy tends to frequent the same bars, restaurants, and venues as I do. Normally, this would be okay seeing as it would provide me with prime pickings. The issue, however, is that I am starting to run into boys that I have come to know. And it usually happens that I run into these boys when I am out with other boys. As you can imagine, this makes for a very awkward introduction.
Perhaps now you can understand when I tell you that the name of my city rhymes with Smalltimore.
Enter Mr. Teacher. Again.
A couple of weeks ago Ginger BFF and I drove down to DC to go to a concert. It was at rather large venue that I had never been to before. I feel I should mention that we were experiencing torrential downpours, flash flooding, and tornado warnings. I would have been wise if we had just stayed home, but the pull of adventure was drawing us in. Once we finally found parking, we had to walk about 10 minutes through the pouring rain in order to get to our destination. This wasn't entirely a bad thing. For one, it was a freak 70 degree night. For two, we had brought a bottle of wine that we chugged in the car once we were parked. What?!? Beer is expensive at concert venues and I'm a single lady with a budget now!
So, basically we walked tipsy through the rain in a city where we know absolutely nothing. We finally found will call where we needed to pick up our tickets. Will call was a tiny little room with standing room for about 4. As we were waiting at the ticket window, I was vaguely aware that there was a couple in the room with us. I didn't really look at them because I was too busy ringing out my dress and wiping off my running mascara. That's when I heard it aloud: Mr. Teacher's last name being called by the lady behind the glass.
Mr. Teacher does not have an ordinary last name. In fact, I'm still not even sure I know how to spell it correct. So when I heard his last name, I knew it had to either be him or someone related to him. Obviously, these thoughts are all going through my head in a matter of seconds as I slowly turn around to glance at the man with the last night of my hot teacher. Much to both my surprise and relief, it wasn't Mr. Teacher after all. But there was no denying that the man in the room was a close relation–the resemblance was uncanny. I know Mr. Teacher has two brothers, so I just assumed it was one of them.
I decided not to say anything because, really, what would I have said?
When I got home that night, I decided to drunk text Mr. Teacher and tell him what happened. This was our very brief conversation the next morning:
(He had used him own name where I blacked it out)
Talk about a disappointing reply.
Fast forward to this past Saturday. I went out to grab a drink with a male friend that I haven't seen in over 10 years. I walk into the bar where we were meeting and Old Friend walks up and gives me a hug. Then he tells me that he was just sitting talking with a friend of his that he ran into, Mr. Teacher. I look over and sure enough, Mr. Teacher is sitting at the bar. He waved and smiled (uuuggghh!) at me. Apparently, my instinct in this situation was to act as if I had no idea who he was. How mature is that? I just looked away and went and found our seat at the bar.
He was there the whole night–or at least for the few hours that I was also there. The entire time I was acutely aware of his presence in the room. He sat in a place that afforded him the ability to look at me, but that would make it quite awkward for me to look at him. I'm not insinuating that he chose that seat purposefully, just that I was conscious of the seating arrangement and how nervous it made me feel. But nervous in a good way. Nervous like butterflies in my stomach. I hadn't imagined it, he is definitely as hot as I remember. And had he asked me to go home with him that night, I wouldn't have hesitated for a moment.
But he didn't ask. He didn't even exchange a word with me. Or a "nice to see you" follow-up text. To be fair, I didn't either. I think I need to wean Mr. Teacher from my thoughts. And if I'm being honest, I also need to let go of the secret hope that he'll be interested in dating me again. Against my best intentions, it seems that I fell for him harder than I intended to. I don't know if it's a genuine crush or simply because he was the first guy I dated after breaking up with my husband–back at a time where I had the emotional dating capacity of a 17 year old.
Either way, the point if moot. He clearly doesn't reciprocate my feelings or desires. So I am left here to deal with my first rejection. Well, you know, besides the major rejection I suffered when my husband left me, but that is another post for another time. Chances are that I will run into him again and I am thinking that next time it'll be best to play it cool. I can say hi, inquire about his well-being. And maybe flirt, just a little. In the end, however, I know that it would behoove me to accept that he's just not that into me. All the signs there. And yet, even as I type that sentence I know that I'm not ready to leave it alone yet.
I know what I should do, but then I also know myself well enough to know what I will do. I'll keep pining over him, daydreaming of things he could do to me, the way he could touch me. The dirty texts he could send. Those lips. Those eyes. And that smile. The secrets he told me. My regret at refusing to ever have a sleepover with him.
I wouldn't go so far as to say that my heart is broken–things never got serious enough for that. But I will say, that it might be ever-so-slightly bruised.
Act 1: Hot For Teacher
I don't know about you, but there is something about male teachers that just really gets to me…in a good way. I have this fantasy of screwing a hot teacher in his classroom on his desk. After school hours, obviously. While that may or may not actually happen, the idea of dating a teacher is still extremely appealing to me. Maybe it's my bleeding heart or maybe it's just that I find a man in a tie (a man who would otherwise not be caught dead in a tie) super attractive. It could be the idea of the over-worked, over-dedicated man who is so passionate about his job and his students. Or it could be that I'm simply attracted to intelligent men and something about being an English or History teachers screams "I'm well-educated and can carry on an intellectual conversation."
Couple that with good taste in music, beer, and books…I am sold. Bonus points go to the teacher with good taste who can also play guitar. He would have me in his bed before he could even blink his gorgeous blue eyes. If it sounds like I am talking from experience, it's because that's exactly where I'm talking from: the hot teacher who
stole I willingly gave my dating-after-marriage-virginity.
I met Mr. Teacher during the very brief period in time in which my marriage was open. He was my highest match on OK Cupid and our first date was great. I was beyond nervous because I hadn't been on a date in over 10 years! I turned down a dinner invitation because it just felt too likely that I would embarrass myself that way. Instead, I counter offered with meeting for drinks of the alcohol variety.
Side note: I never accept dinner on a first date. It's always drinks or coffee. It's mostly a personal preference, but the idea of sharing dinner with someone who I have zero chemistry with sounds simply dreadful. Drinks or coffee allows me to make a fast escape should I feel so inclined.
We met in a bar downtown and I, of course, was running a few minutes behind so he was already waiting in the bar when I walked in. To say I was floored by his level of hotness would be an understatement. I had heard so many stories of people meeting on the internet only to be disappointed that they looked nothing like their pictures had promised. Mr. Teacher far exceeded the expectations his profile pictures had set. I was instantly smitten.
We had a drink at the bar we met at and then walked over to another bar where we played a game of pool and had another drink. Then he asked me if I would like to come back to his place where the drinks were free and we could control the music. I hesitated for a moment while the following thoughts ran through my head:
"He's obviously inviting you back to his place because he wants to hook up–rule #1 is no hooking up on the first date."
"What if I follow him back to his house and he murders me and cuts me up into tiny, unrecognizable pieces?"
"What if he gets the wrong impression. I'm not that kind of girl."
"Or am I? I certainly don't want the night to be over. He's super hot. I'm very attracted to him. If his arms look that good with a shirt on, I can only imagine how good they look with it off."
So, in a very uncharacteristic move, I said yes. I said yes because I wanted to find out where this night could go. I said yes because when he hugged me upon meeting, I felt a rush of attraction unlike anything I had felt in sometime. And I said yes because at that point I was so turned on that I'm pretty sure the word "no" had erased itself from my vocabulary.
Best. Decision. Ever. I followed him back to his place and we has barely popped open the tabs of our Bohs before we were making out on his couch. Eventually, we took the party upstairs to his bedroom where we hooked up, but didn't have actual sex. To date, it was the hottest hook-up of my life. It even beats subsequent hookups with the same guy. Probably because we were essentially strangers who were equally attracted to one another in casual agreement that our interactions would never go further than hooking up. After all, you must remember that I was still married at the time, albeit in an open marriage.
I drove home that night on cloud nine. But when I got home I was quickly brought back down to Earth–The X no longer wanted an open marriage which meant that I would no longer be able to see Mr. Teacher. I awoke the following morning to a text from Mr. Teacher saying how much he has enjoyed the night before and that he couldn't stop thinking about how much I turned him on. I replied by telling him that the feeling was mutual, but I was no longer in an open marriage and I wouldn't be able to see him anymore. I deactivated my OKC account and that was that….
….Until The X and I decided to separate about 6 weeks later. Upon reactivating my OKC account, I received a text from Mr. Teacher inquiring about what was going on. I filled him in on the situation and we decided to meet up again. And again. And again. And a few more times after that. I quickly realized that I was kind of beginning to fall for this guy. The last thing that I wanted was to fall for ANY guy right after my marriage had just fell apart. Which, is why it's probably for the best that he seems to have fallen off the face of the Earth. One day his OKC account had been deleted and he didn't return the text I sent asking if everything was okay. I decided not to send a follow-up text figuring he most likely received the first one I sent and if he wanted to get in touch with me then he would.
Who knows what happened? Maybe he started dating someone. Although one would hope he'd at least have the courtesy to tell me if this is the case. Maybe he tired of dating and hooking up. I certainly hope it wasn't something more tragic, but chances are that I'll probably never know. And I'm okay with that. I've chosen to look back at those experiences and appreciate them for what they were. I benefited from having a very positive first foray back into the dating world. And I definitely benefited from his amazing body! Maybe I'll hear from him again one day–I haven't deleted his number just yet. Or maybe I won't. Either way, any men I choose to sleep with in the future certainly have a lot to live up to.
But by the same token, any other man has a lot to live up to in terms of intellectual prowess, guitar playing skills, songwriting skills, sense of humor, the ability to send dirty texts, the talent to turn me on (did I already mention that???), and the capacity to keep me intrigued and wanting more. However, whoever that man turns out to be, he'll have at least one thing going for him that Mr. Teacher doesn't…I'll actually know what the hell happened to him.
Besides, most people have desks these days, right?
Because I Really Like Kissing Boys
…I've updated my "About" page so feel free to check that out. It should hopefully give you a little better of an idea as to what this blog is all about…
So, I suppose we should start by playing a little catch-up. I'd like to give you the short version (that's still kind of long) on where I've been and
who what I've been doing since my separation became officially official about 4 months ago.
The Cast of Characters (names have been changed to protect the innocent…mostly myself)
Mr. Teacher
The Ginger
The D-Bag
Ron Swanson
I still can't quite believe it myself that I've been out on dates with 6 different guys already. I have really been looking for distractions over the last few months and it would seem that these guys fit the bill. Some of these dates were better than others. One, in particular, was terrible! But it still makes me happy that I finally have a bad first-date story. Every girl should have one of those, right? Now that I've informally introduced you to the various men who have been taking up my time, I plan to be back and regale you with stories from our date(s). I intend to present these stories in a series of Acts, beginning with Act 1: Hot For Teacher. Keep an eye out for that in an upcoming post.
Meanwhile, I'm exhausted. I came down with the flu about two weeks ago. It knocked me on my ass for almost a week. I don't think I have ever been that sick in my life. Obviously, dating had to be put on hold while I recovered but now that I am happy and healthy once again, the business of my life seems to be picking up right back where I left it. In an effort to preserve both that happiness and health, I decided to lock myself in my house and hide from the world this past weekend. I told all of the boys I'm currently talking to that I was going out of town and I rested and relaxed and texted nary a one. Instead, I cleaned, did laundry, arts and crafted, ordered pizza, and drank wine. All alone. And it was amazing. So amazing, in fact, that I decided to continue the trend this week because I have so many other things going.
Tonight I plan to grocery shop and paint my nails. Tomorrow night I am going to take myself to the movies. Believe it or not, I have never actually seen a movie all by myself! All that will change tomorrow when I treat myself to Silver Linings Playbook and a giant tub of popcorn. Yet one more thing to check off my 2013: Get Growing List. On Wednesday, my girlfriends and are going to see the Lumineers in D.C. Thursday is a day-o-rest. Friday is the "Save Your Soul" dance party at a local dance hall. Who knows what Saturday will hold. And SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY is the Super Bowl. Go Ravens!!! Whew! I'm exhausted just from having typed all that, hence my self-imposed break-from-dating week. But that is totally OK because I have so many, many other awesome things going on this week–things that make me happier than dating ever could.
To end, I'll just say WELCOME, LADIES. I'll hope you'll stick around and follow me on my adventure! I would love it if you would introduce yourself in the comments–but please remember that I am hoping to stay anonymous here so do not use my real name.


text: FOOTBALL: Leicester manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has admitted he failed in an audacious attempt to sign David Beckham. Eriksson, who took charge of the Championship club in October, revealed he contacted the 35-year-old midfielder's agent over a possible move. He said: "I spoke to David's agent to see if there was a chance. He said it was not possible. I knew, but I had to try."


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Monthly Archives: July 2013
D.O.R. Family introduce…Acid Drop!
The Delegates Of Rhyme have an amazing extended family, who over time have helped vice & Donnie get to where they are. Daniel Isles, the creator of the amazing Soap Box. Vice and Daniel collaborated through Soap Box, Basement Sessions, and Street Soul Productions. Now Daniel is taking the next step in his graphic based pathway and he needs your help…
Acid Drop is Daniel's first graphic novel, and he's starting with a bang! The story is about a professional killer named Charlie Cooper, who wants to disappear from the game for good, but in order to do so he must fulfill the buyout clause within his contract (highly original, i know), unfortunately, being one of the finest in the business automatically comes with the most outrageous price tag in the universe. It's a fun, dark humored and gritty thriller.
You can be a part of this great project by helping Daniel to raise the necessary funds on Kickstarter.
There's more info here too..
Please support an incredible UK talent to build his creative dream.
Peace and blessings
The DOR
Beats & Bars and a catch up!
Apologies for the blog silence from D.O.R. but we've been a little busy of late, working on some very exciting new collaborations, recording a p110 (coming out next week!) and our first ever gig as The Delegates Of Rhyme! Footage will be coming of the set soon enough, but if you didn't come along maaaan you missed out!
Thank you to everyone who came out, major props to Tricksta for the support and incredible energy, and thanks to Big Dutty Deeze, Lullaby, Raddical, Flowlosopha and everyone else who showed us love. We look forward to seeing you guys in Wolvo again soon!!!
Shadows Remixes OUT NOW!!!! (audio)
The Shadows Remixes are here!!!!
And with it, we would like to introduce 4 incredible producers from around the World –
Mr. Kwazi –
Mr. Kwazi is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and beatsmith hailing from Ontario, Canada. A relatively-fresh face in the electronic music and beat scene, he has already caught the ears of many as a finalist in the Stussy Make Beats and Olivia Broadfield 'Say' Remix contests – in addition to collaborations with artists in Canada, USA, and the UK. Inspired by a vast musical background and by artists of many genres, his multidimensional style melts moody vibes into fresh drums, fuses classical precision with off-beat rhythms, and breathes new life into any sample he touches. The recently-released Bachelor Pad EP displays his sampling skills, using one song to create all of the album's eight tracks. Mr. Kwazi is a dynamic artist to be on the lookout for.
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mrkwazi
Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/kwazi
Bandcamp: http://www.kwazibeats.bandcamp.com
Joe Bird –
Joe Bird is an incredibly hard working beatmaker, producer and youth worker from Burton (UK). As the creator of Rap-Torial, alongside MC's Jaws and Shell Skruface, a member of the MUD collective, and a talented DJ in his own right, Joe is a regular name on the local scene. With increasing involvement in The Delegates Of Rhyme, and his EDM crew Them Deviants, Joe is a strong force in the UK and a name to watch in 2013 and beyond.
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nuwmaas
Myke Forte –
To introduce Myke Forte, it's best to let him say it in his own words:
"Well..what can I say,,(pause) Im a beatmaker with a passion for music and art, subculture and underground movements. Creating music keeps me fresh it gives me an outlet so i can express how i feel and to see how it affects the people listening to it. Right now im making that spaced out hip hop, samples and pads, strings, electric pianos then seeing how i can mesh them together"
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mykeforte
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/MykeForteMusic
Bandcamp: http://mykeforte.bandcamp.com/
d. C. –
We are very proud to introduce d. C. aka Soul+Mind….
SOUND: A FUSION OF souL AND MInd
The mantra that resonates through Dennis' body. A transmission of raw emotions translated through his hands and conveyed out into the world. The product of his hard work, dedication and hours on end given to his craft. Music.
Hailing out Los Angeles, California, Dennis has been featured on AOL's producer spotlight and has worked on numerous shows and with artists around the world. "He's got his own style. You can hear certain influences in his music but there's definitely uniqueness to his sound," says Matthew Kaplan former studio manager at Quad Studios in New York when asked about Dennis' music.
In his pursuit to build a name for himself, Dennis has gotten placements on a variety of TV Shows: How I Met Your Mother, Love And Hip-Hop: Atlanta, VH1's Behind The Music, Access Hollywood, Pranked, and The Voice, among others, as well as artists: Method Man, J. Nolan, D. Larue, Roxiny, Elle Winston, Carmen Rodgers, Doey Rock, Fokis, Darkim Be Allah, NYOIL, and Dumbfoundead.
As Dennis puts it, "not to sound cliché, but I'm just trying to make music that inspires people. The world is a beautiful place and making music is the only way I see fit for me to add to its beauty."
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/dCsoulplusmind
Site: http://soulplusmind.com/
Please be sure to check out the Shadows and check out these amazing artists!!!
Vice guest mix on The Bobby Tempo Show TONIGHT! (radio)
Tonight from 10pm, Vice will be on the Bobby Tempo Show, offering a 30 minute guest mix, with a range of Hip Hop, Soul, Jazz and more, including a station exclusive of The Delegates Of Rhyme forthcoming single entitled "Stresses And Definitions".
Be sure to tune in to XL FM tonight to check out one of the most eclectic shows on the radio.
And if you miss it, you can check the show again HERE
First radio play on Suspect Packages with Disorda!! (Radio)
MAAAAAANNNN!!! We are seriously excited to announce that the king of UK Hip Hop, The Head Honcho Of Suspect Packages, and all round Mr.Nice guy the man like DIsorda played "Shadows" on Suspect Packages Show, The Boombap Festival Special!!! Mad love to Disorda, and look out for more Delegates joints featured soon.
Be sure to check Disorda's blog for the latest UK music news and beyond (click the logo below)
Shadows played on Strictly Business Show – Juice FM (Brighton) (radio)
As The Delegates Of Rhyme's support is ever growing, we are proud to now announce the support of the amazing Strictly Business Show on Juice FM in Brighton presented by Blackbelt Jonez and Tyni. The weekly show, that's aired at midnight each Wednesday GMT, champions new music from the UK and more. Check out "Shadows" debut station play on Juice FM here –
Shadows Remixes Launch – FREE DOWNLOAD – This Saturday! (audio)
After a great response to The Delegates Of Rhyme's debut full release, it's time now for us to proudly release the remixes! With talent from across the World involved, creating an amazing range of vibes, this will once again be available as a free download.
The release features remixes from Myke Forte (UK – Louis Den), D. C.(USA – NY Oil, Medina Green, MTV), Joe Bird (UK – Rap-Torial / MUD) & Mr. Kwazi (Canada – Indelible Niche Collective).
As ever, please help us to spread the word, and more importantly good music, crafted by talented artists from around the World!
Check out the Facebook event here –
And be sure to head over to Bandcamp on Saturday to cop your free copy!:


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SNAP Stock: What do the stocks say?
One month. That's how long Snapchat has been on the stock market. Chief Executive Evan Spiegel and Chief Technology Officer Bobby Murphy rang the opening bell to a multitude of stock jumpers for sale traders to cheers and applause at the New York Stock Exchange. This being the largest IPO for any Los Angeles company, it means the tech firm now sits firmly among the heavyweights in the technology market.
Hottest IPO this year? Hold your horses
The shares were priced at $17 each so as to raise $3.4B,and recorded a 44% rise to $24, closing the day at $24.48. The demand went up ten times beyond supply in spite of concerns whether the price will be sustainable owing to the presence of strong competitors such as Facebook. With the trends Snapchat set in terms of chatting and entertainment, much seems to be seen whether the performance will hold sway in the turbulent waters of the stocks market.
The euphoria will be short lived
With all the craze fed onto investors by media, it is understandable that people will scuffle to be part of the buzz and the trendier. Analysts, however, warned that the current stock price masks the risks that the company will face soon after, with the market at the moment not being in a position to offer the best judgement on the stock's true value.
More financial scrutiny on the way
Regulations for companies listed at the Stock Exchange is usually stricter. This means that Snapchat's books, investments, and returns will go through the lenses of regulators and will constantly be appraised. There are the quarterly reporting requirements to the Security and Exchange Commission which must be adhered to and the financial scrutiny will mean the company has to keep proving its worth as well as its ability to keep more users trickling in. User engagement and monetisation of users will need to go up for the company to sustain its growth and keep its edge.
2017 Predictions for SNAP Stock not looking good
The week ending on March 10 saw an 18% dip in SNAP share prices. This has raised questions of overvaluation and too much hype. In the case of Twitter, stagnation of user growth stalled revenue growth. What remains to be seen in the year is whether Snapchat's advertising will bring in more users and accelerate growth. The other issue most analysts are keeping an eye on is the youthful executives and staff. With the millennial generation offering no guarantee for staying in the same spot for too long, it remains to be seen what effect this may have on the company.
With SNAP Stock, it's all 'Trader beware!'
Snapchat's parent company lost $514M in 2016, which was a 38% increase in its 2015 loss. With its description under emerging growth companies according to US laws, it means that its gross revenue is below $1B so it may not need to reveal a lot of its financial data. The flipside is that it values itself much higher ($25B) and the shares it sold have no voting rights, a major concern for investors and analysts. Without a solid business model and a well cut out competition approach, SNAP stock doesn't seem to offer any uniqueness since there are already stronger players in its market segment. With fierce competition from Facebook's Instagram and outsourced computing power and storage functions, the company has more muscle flexing to do before its stocks' real worth can be seen on the market.
The Metrics will reveal it all
Twitter's stock soared more than 70% on its first day of the IPO but today has gone down 39%. This has been tied to stagnant user growth and key metrics that have not made investors happy. Facebook's shares, however, have currently gone up to +259% from their IPO price. Snapchat is promising more based on the growing engagement of the younger people using video as opposed to text. Maybe Snapchat has already reached its peak users engagement, or maybe a trick down its sleeve will add more users and keep them engaged. This remains to be seen as the market adjusts to SNAP in the coming days.
Posted in: Apps
Tags: cool apps


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GSL Player of the Week »
Shamrock Campbell Campbell helped Ferris win both games last week scoring 54 points in those games. He also was 100% from the free throw on the week!
Player Profile » http://bit.ly/ShamrockC
GSHL 4A Player of the Week »
Tyler Combs helped knock off undefeated Skyview last week with an 18 point effort. He followed that game up with 20 points in a win against Camas!
Player Profile » http://bit.ly/TCombs
GSHL 3A Player of the Week »
Alex Bailey scored 29 points last week vs Hudson's Bay!
Player Profile » http://bit.ly/2rW6WFG
GSHL 2A Player of the Week »
Peyton Brammer scored 29 points against Ridgefield including 12 free throws!
Player Profile » http://bit.ly/PBrammer
CWAC Player of the Week »
Steele Venters put up 26 points against Ephrata and 16 points against Selah!
Player Profile » http://bit.ly/2GBT1YK
SPSL Player of the Week »
Jacob Holcomb scored 28 in a big win against Rogers last week!
Player Profile » http://bit.ly/2BHCYVp
WESCO Player of the Week »
Brendan Hayes dropped 25 points against Edmonds-Woodway last week!
Player Profile » http://bit.ly/Hayes32
Metro Player of the Week »
Nic Lynch, the Lehigh commit, scored 22 points and 27 points last week, which helped Seattle Prep go 2-0!
Player Profile » http://bit.ly/Lynch42
Northwest Player of the Week »
Brock Ravet, the future Gonzaga Bulldog, scored 40 points and 38 points, which helped Kittitas win 2 games last week. In those two games he poured in 17 threes!
Player Profile » http://bit.ly/Ravet32
PIL Player of the Week »
Kelton Samore averaged 27.5 PPG through two games last week!
Player Profile » http://bit.ly/2E1wF4f


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List of products by manufacturer Loewe perfumes
Loewe for women was the company's first fragrance, introduced in 1972. Loewe Loewe for men was the first men's scent, launched in 1974. The Asian market is one of Loewe's most lucrative, with Japan's first store opening in 1976. Loewe fragrances were made in collaboration with perfumers Emilio Valeros, Olivier Cresp, Carlos Benaim, Yves Cassar, Alberto Morillas and Celine Barel.
A citrus fragrance for contemporary women Light, spicy & feminine Top notes of Lemon, Bergamot & Orange Heart notes of Paprika, Rose & Lily Base notes of Virginia cedar, Sandalwood & Musk Launched in 2009 Ideal for all occasions. Size- 100ml EDT
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A floral marine fragrance for women & men Fresh sensual feminine & enchanting Top notes of orange blossom mandarin & tarragon Middle notes of jasmine lily of the valley & juniper berry Base notes of musk cedar & vanilla Launched in 2011 as a limited edition Perfect for all occasions. Size- 100 ml
Delivery Will take 15-20 days upon reciept of payment.
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- A floral fragrance for contemporary women
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- Perfect for all occasions
- Comes with an elegant pouch


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The Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS) recently announced that MarJuana B. Williams received Board Certification in Commercial and Residential Real Estate Law. MarJuana currently practices in Houston and Beaumont where she is part of the law firm Orgain Bell & Tucker, LLP.
TBLS is one of the largest legal board certification programs in the country that presents opportunities for Texas attorneys to advance their careers and become distinguished. Board Certification is a voluntary designation program certifying Texas attorneys in 23 specific areas of law. Board Certified attorneys must be licensed for at least five years, devote a required percentage of practice to a specialty area for at least three years, attend continuing education seminars, pass an evaluation by fellow lawyers and judges and pass a 6-hour written examination. To remain certified, attorneys must apply for recertification every five years.
MarJuana B. Williams is a 2009 graduate of South Texas College of Law. Since joining the firm in 2010, MarJuana has developed a hybrid transactional and litigation practice with an emphasis on commercial lending, real estate transactions, and construction law. MarJuana negotiates and drafts loan-related documentation, including but not limited to, credit agreements and collateral documents, purchase and sale agreements, revolving credit agreements, and letters of credit. MarJuana advises financial institutions on a broad range of real estate financing transactions, including secured and unsecured syndicated loan facilities, interim construction loans, land acquisition loans, land development loans, leveraged buyouts, other acquisition financing arrangements and leverage lease financing.
MarJuana is experienced in providing counsel with respect to acquisitions and dispositions; development, redevelopment and construction; leasing (landlord and tenant representation), compliance (ADA, EEOC, Environmental and other regulatory issues); financing, due diligence; partnerships, limited liability companies and joint ventures; and other real estate services. MarJuana brings a pragmatic, efficient and cost-effective approach to each transaction.
MarJuana routinely represents business entities and provides tax planning guidance to businesses and individuals alike. Her practice also includes wills, trusts, estate planning and probate services.


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If I can share my knowledge with other business owners and help them to succeed I will have fulfilled my passion!
New Orleans, Louisiana (PRWEB) September 04, 2012
The Take Action Get Profits Live conference, October 4-6 in New Orleans, aims to teach entrepreneurs the two critical skills they need to survive past the 5 year mark where most businesses fail. According to StartUp Nation, most businesses fail because of poor planning, lack of an effective online presence, and lack of a coherent sales strategy.
"Besides my family. I have one passion in life and that is to help other entrepreneurs achieve the success in business that they deserve! The number of businesses that fail every year is staggering and if I can share my knowledge with other business owners and help them to succeed I will have fulfilled my passion!" says Michele Scism, founder of Decisive Minds and organizer of the Take Action Get Profits conference.
Over the course of three days, the conference takes current and aspiring entrepreneurs through the 7 step process Michele Scism used to create a successful six figure consulting business. Ms. Scism will cover business planning, creating an effective online marketing system (including websites and social media strategies), effective follow up systems and more.
Ms. Scism will cover emerging trends in social media including how to leverage Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Linked in to build relationships with customers that lead to more sales and profits.
When asked why she is holding the conference in New Orleans, Ms. Scism replied, "I have been very successful at helping business owners all over the country to create success, I would like to bring my clients to my home state of Louisiana and also be able to help more businesses locally."
Ms. Scism will be joined by Caterina Rando who will teach participants how to use public speaking to build their expertise and relationships with clients and by Tonya Hoffmann who will cover some of the social media topics.
To learn more about the Take Action Get Profits conference, go to http://takeactiongetprofits.com.
About Decisive Minds and Michele Scism
Michele Scism is a leading authority on social media and online marketing and the Founder of both DecisiveMinds.com and The Global Social Media Managers Association. Her clients call her "The Results Lady" because as a business strategist she uses her signature "Take Action Get Profits" system to help entrepreneurs turn their passion into expert status and then profits. Whether you want freedom and flexibility, more time to be with your family, more money, or the feeling of satisfaction you get from creating a successful business, Michele is there with her expert business knowledge, strategies and accountability skills to help you get the results of your dreams. Learn more about Michele at http://decisiveminds.com


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Parking FAQ's
- Important Service Notice: London Borough of Tower Hamlets
- I don't see a PayByPhone sign in the car park or on the meter
- I can't extend my parking session, why?
- Why am I being asked to enter my credit card's CVV/CVC code?
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- PayByPhone Availability around the UK


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M-commerce and mobile payments have started the holiday shopping season off with a bang. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday behind us, holiday shopping has only just begun and more shoppers than ever before are turning to their mobile devices – from Smartphones to tablets – for their holiday gifting ideas.
Data from eBay, PayPal and GSI Commerce paint the picture of the ever-increasing mobile shopping pattern. US shoppers purchased nearly 2.5 times as many items via eBay mobile this year on Black Friday compared to 2010. PayPal announced a 516% increase in global mobile payments this year compared to last and GSI Commerce announced a 254% increase in total US mobile sales on Black Friday. With the growing number of shoppers using mobile devices to look for online sales and make purchases, it is not surprising that the retail industry has become the fastest-growing mobile category, as noted in a recent eMarketer article.
Not only are consumers purchasing on their mobile devices, but 46% of Smartphone users visit retail mobile sites to research prices. This means, regardless of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday spending increases, consumers are still concerned with price and finding the best deal. Moreover, shoppers are turning to mobile shopping out of convenience to find the best deals and gifts and avoid the holiday crowds.
I'll admit, I made a purchase on my mobile phone on Thanksgiving (trying to beat the Black Friday rush) for the same price it would have been at 12 AM. While I still ventured out on Black Friday, only because several of the deals I was looking at weren't available online or were not free shipping eligible, my mobile devices are my life-lines this holiday season for deals, coupons and price comparisons.
Are you using your Smartphone or tablet device for your holiday shopping? Share with us on Facebook or Twitter.


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The Driskill Names Scott Mason, General Manager
People April 11, 2013
The Driskill, a Hyatt property in Austin, Texas, has appointed Scott Mason as general manager. A 15-year Hyatt veteran, Mason most recently was general manager of the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center. He also spent nearly five years as general manager of the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek and led the Park Hyatt Chicago and the Stanhope Park Hyatt New York. He began his career with Hyatt in 1998 as executive housekeeper for the Grand Hyatt New York.
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text: German Elite League Hockey * English coverage of Germany's DEL Deutsche Eishockey Liga W-OTW-RT-L Nürnberg Ice Tigers3-1 @ DEG Metro Stars 26/Sep/04 Games in progress: Click here for live scoring @ www.del.org Eisbären Berlin Juniors (Ger-Jrs) acquire Assistant Coach Jeff Tomlinson from Eisbären Berlin (retired as player) (DEL) all DEL transactions Search Now: Hockey resourcesDirectory of Hockey related websites Link Popularity CheckLearn more about your site popularity at Uptimebot.com Win streak over – Mannheim stops Munich again Home>>> News Archive>>> September 22, 2001; 18:16 Win streak over – Mannheim stops Munich again New acquisition Waibel records his first assist Frank Johne First assist as a Baron: 29-year-old Harry Waibel Munich, Germany - In a rematch of last season's DEL Finals, the Munich Barons were downed by defending champion Mannheim Adler on the road on Friday, 1-4 (1-1, 0-1, 0-2). Defender Mike Smazal's scored Munich's only goal as the Barons had their four-game winning streak snapped. Todd Hlushko makes it 3-1 as the Adler skate to victory Leading DEL Scorers(as of Feb 19, 2005) Team G A Pts Lebeau FRA 27 55 82 York ISL 15 38 53 Norris FRA 22 27 49 Stastny NUR 21 25 46 Hecht MAN 13 32 45 With the loss, Munich slipped to fourth in the standings. The Barons have registered ten points in five games while Mannheim leads the league with 14 points out of six games. Surprise teams Schwenningen and Augsburg, who both didn't make the playoffs last season, are second and third.Individual mistakes and poor special teams were the keys to Munich's poor performance in the clash of title contenders. Christian Künast made his fifth straight start in net. His once again strong performance couldn't bail it out this time though, as Munich was outshot by Mannheim, 39-24.Both teams were hampered by injury problems. Mannheim operated with only three forward lines while Munich was short on defenders with Jason Herter (meniscus), Kent Fearns (adductors) and Christoph Schubert (wrist) out. Former Washington Cap and Cincinnati Cyclone Stefan Ustorf gave Mannheim an early lead six minutes in on a short-hander when he intercepted Munich's Derek Plante in the neutral zone and blasted the puck past Künast.Munich managed to respond immediately, though. Only three minutes later, Alexander Serikow skated around Mannheim's net and beautifully set up trailing defenseman Mike Smazal at the blueline. His shot got past Adler netminder Mike Rosati, who was perfectly screened by Barons winger Harry Waibel.The 29-year-old Waibel, who was brought in last week for the injured Jörg Handrick, also registered his first assist. Waibel is a well-known face in Munich. He played for Munich's former DEL franchise, the Mad Dogs, in 1994-95.Mannheim regained control of the game in the second period. Andy Roach got the Adler ahead 2-1 on a powerplay blast midway through the period after being nicely set up by Flyers draft choice Dennis Seidenberg.The hosts clearly dominated from there on and doubled the lead at 47:34 after a costly turnover by Andy Schneider at center-ice. Michel Picard reacted quickly and set up Todd Hlushko who knocked it past Künast.Former Baron Wayne Hynes sealed Mannheim's 4-1 victory with an empty-netter 135 seconds from the final horn. In a last-gasp effort, Munich's Head Coach Sean Simpson had decided to pull netminder Künast to create a 6-on-4 powerplay opportunity. Frank Johne This is not an official service of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL),Deutschland Elite League, German Hockey League or German Elite League.Copyright © 1999/2002 www.prohockey.de, barons.here.de, www.hockeynews.deV.i.S.d.P.: Frank Johne, Parkstr. 15, 85748 Garching, Germany, email@example.com All rights reserved. Contact The use of any materials found on this website, including but not limited to text and images, is prohibited without the express written consent of www.prohockey.de. Legal Info / Disclaimer Home>>> News Archive>>> English coverage of the German Elite League DEL (Deutsche Eishockey Liga)www.profootball.de powered in 0.18s by baseportal.deErstellen Sie Ihre eigene Web-Datenbank - kostenlos!


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But she does have a Barbie doll.
She adds:
Thighs touching, round hips, arms and tummy!! Thank you@Mattel and @Barbie for immortalizing me into plastic! 💕💎💋#beautybeyondsize
Dunno. Not 100% sure those doll thighs touch.
And Ashley? What about the Mattel sweatshops in China?
Please follow us on Twitter for exclusive stories, Like us on Facebook, Or return home for award winning writing.


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Mahesh Singhi, a simple human being with very little knowledge of banking and investments is now the founder of most successful mid-market investment banks in India. This renowned personality who belongs to Jodhpur, Rajasthan was born on 1st August, 1965. He had never planned to make his career in this field, it was his destiny which suddenly brought him into the field of investment banking. After going to Mumbai in 1989, Mahesh Singhi started his journey by taking a small table space in an office complex. From there he started working hard on his projects and finally entered into the financial world.
Mahesh completed his degree of engineering from Malaviya National Institute of Technology in the field of Mechanical Engineering. He had a very humble beginning, he himself was not sure of what he wanted to do further. After he completed his studies he first joined "LML Vespa" in Kanpur, later he moved to Nagpur where he worked in "Ferro Alloys". He was not satisfied with the salary he used to get so he kept on moving from one firm to another for more salary. He kept on changing his jobs until he entered into this financial world. And once he was into it he created history.The way he expanded his business and took it to new heights is admired by everyone.
Although he didn't have the formal qualifications required for setting up such a business, it did not affect his success. With the motto of moving forward he took his business to a different level. Now, it was not just limited to fund-raising but a lot more. Private equity, mergers and acquisition, due diligence, loan syndication, turnaround management and many other things were included in the business.
To reach this level Mahesh had to start with something. Let's take a look on how he started his journey.
Mahesh first started with the work of project consultancy in Mumbai. After attending the IMTEX engineering machinery show he got a major project. Apart from doing this work of project consultancy he also began to help first time SME entrepreneurs to transform their projects from concepts to commissioning. This little success boosted his confidence level and he kept on working hard in the field of project consultancy.
Till 1996 he was alone but after that he formed a team of six people who now started working together. Since, he had helping hands, now he had time to look into other areas also apart from project consultancy.
Some dear ones advised Mahesh to start a business in finance, and although he was not that educated as per the requirements. This step was his masterstroke and it took him and his business to a different level of success.
Image Credit: www.dealcurry.com
He entered into the competitive financial advisory business which was not only restricted to fund-raising. While this business was in progress he moved his office to a better place from the suburbs. He now had an office in the corporate heart of Mumbai.
Mahesh has not seen any falls as such but his journey was full of challenges. And he successfully managed to overcome all the problems and difficulties which came on his way. There were difficulties throughout, be it the loss of staff in the six membered team, or his team member starting a rival business, Mahesh has beautifully tackled all these problems.
He along with his wife who is also a director on the board have proved that if we are dedicated towards any work, no one can stop us from being successful.
He has received a number of awards for his skill and hard work. His reputation today in the country is the biggest award he can get.
- He is an esteemed member of several organizations like FCCI, AIAI, IFA, and Institute of Chartered Engineers.
- He was the Former Director, Member of Audit Committee and Member of Remuneration Committee Pioneer Embroideries Ltd.
Few achievements are for the team "Singhi Advisors" as a whole. They are:
- Listed among the top 5 M & A advisory firms in India
- It was ranked 6th by the volume of deals closed
- It is the only Indian company which became the member/equal owner of 'Mergers Alliance'. Mergers Alliance is ranked 16th in the global M & A league.
Mahesh Singhi is a remarkable personality. His journey from a simple middle class man to a successful business entrepreneur is inspirational to everyone.


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Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) as a potentially curative in the treatment of symptomatic and drug-refractory atrial fibrillation (AF) and is already included into the ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for the Management of Patients with AF [1]. As a very rare but potentially fatal left atrio-esophageal fistulae were formed from collateral damage resulting from the heat energy from RFA were described in early case reports [2-4]. This nearly fatal complication accounted for nearly 15% of deaths resulted from RFA procedures for AF [5]. Although the incidence of the fistula is less than 1%, high mortality adds significance to the problem. Thin atrial wall resulting from atrial enlargement (>60 mm in diameter), female patients, higher energy settings, cachectic patients, who are likely to have a thin left atrium wall with very little tissue between the left atrium and the esophagus were suspected culprits for development of fistula [2]. A nation-wide survey concluded that the risk of atrio-esophageal fistula is < 1%. However, atrio-esophageal fistula is associated major cerebrovascular events and leads to death in >80% of the patients [6]. In this survey all atrio-esophageal fistulae were associated with the use of 8mm tip ablation catheter.
Typical patients who developed left atrio-esophageal fistula presents with features of pericarditis, fever and neurological symptoms such as stroke or convulsions 2-3 days after the procedure [7]. Multiple cardiac and cerebral emboli complicate the later phase and patients may or may not develop massive hematemesis. Widespread gaseous or septic embolization will continue without prompt surgical intervention as the fistula acts as the source of entry point for GI organisms. Diagnosis of the fistula requires high suspicion and an immediate CT of chest with water soluble contrast may demonstrate pneumomediastinum and/or fistulae. Invasive methods such as transesophageal echocardiography or gastroesophagoscopy should be avoided because, if a fistula is present, instrumentation of the esophagus may cause rapid deterioration and death [2, 4]. To prevent the collateral damage to esophagus during RFA, various techniques were developed. Esophageal luminal temperature monitoring [8], transverse displacement of esophagus [9], visualization of esophagus with barium [10] or Intracardiac echocardiography [11] are few methods that were studied before.
Thermal injury to esophagus can result in destruction of tissues in anterior wall and result in altered function before a full blown fistula is formed. Auerbach's and Meissner's plexus can be damaged from heart energy resulting in myriad of symptoms ranging from esophageal motility disorder to increased acid reflux from altered lower esophageal sphincter tone. Similarly, damage to Vagus nerve which lies in close proximity to esophagus can alter gastric, pancreatic secretions and gastric motility. Upper GI endoscopic studies early after RFA have identified esophageal ulcers consistent with direct thermal injury to the esophagus in 3% to more than 20% of patients and ulcers healed almost always [12-14]11 L. Di Biase, L.C. Saenz and D.J. Burkhardt et al., Esophageal capsule endoscopy after radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: documented higher risk of luminal esophageal damage with general anesthesia as compared with conscious sedation, Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol 2 (2009), pp. 108–112. Full Text via CrossRef | View Record in Scopus | Cited By in Scopus (1). Thus, esophageal injury is relatively common, but rarely leads to fistula formation. One postulated mechanism involves injury to the esophageal vasculature that leads to an ischemic lesion that progress to fistula [15]. A two-hit phenomena, initial thermal injury followed by progressive lesion enlargement promoted by reflux of stomach acid bathing the lesion, was proposed as alternative which was supported by animal studies by Yokoyama et al [16].
Recently two studies attempted to identify the extent of esophageal injury using two different methods. Badger et al used primarily non-invasive technique of the delayed-enhancement MRI of esophagus to identify the esophageal injury [17]. Martin et al investigated the incidence of esophageal ulcerations in patients undergoing RFA and studied the lesion sets and anatomical information given by multi-slice CT imaging with the development of esophageal ulcerations [18].
Badger et al studied 57 patients who are undergoing RFA for AF. All patients underwent MRI scan 3 times during the study period, before the ablation, within 24 hours and at 3 months after ablation. 41 patients were finally analyzed after excluding the patients with uninterruptable studies. None of them had enhancement before ablation but 5 (12%) patients developed within 24 hours. All patients subsequently had resolution at 3 months. The results demonstrated that esophageal injury can be detected as regions of esophageal delayed gadolinium enhancement on MRI. This modality has the potential to noninvasively identify patients who have esophageal injury and track healing of these lesions over time.
Martin et al studied 275 patients undergoing RFA for AF. Endoscopy was performed in every patient the day after the RFA procedure. Multi-slice CT scan was used to measure the distances between left atrium and esophagus and LA dimensions. 6 (2.2%) patients developed esophageal ulcers and all of them healed with proton pump inhibitors and H2 blockers by days. Persistent AF, performing additional lines of ablation LA enlargement and LA to esophagus distance are the significant risk factors. Surprisingly, the symptoms did not correlate the development of esophageal ulcerations.
Conclusions: Esophageal lesions associated with the AF ablation procedure are often transient and asymptomatic and heal without consequence. Non-invasive techniques such as delayed enhance MRI scan can be used to determine the esophageal injury after RFA. The study also indicates that delayed enhancement MRI has the ability to detect and monitor progression of esophageal lesions after catheter ablation of AF. Acute esophageal injury or inflammation may manifest as esophageal ulceration in the immediate post ablation state with resolution of the findings by later follow-up. The risk factors for development of esophageal ulcerations are the LA size, distance between LA and esophagus, and set of ablation lines.
Possible Impact on Clinical Practice: Methods for detecting esophageal injury are of interest to help identify esophageal injury and develop methods to reduce risk, but early detection of esophageal injury has to this point required endoscopic examination. The new non-invasive technique may be used in suspected patients and for serial follow-up. The risk factors identified in the study may provide an opportunity to prevent the esophageal ulcers by appropriate management. Most patients with esophageal ulcers were asymptomatic and universal post ablation acid suppression may be of benefit in healing those asymptomatic ulcers. More studies on the function of esophagus and upper gastrointestinal tract functions may provide more insights into the impact of RFA on esophagus.
1. Fuster, V., et al., ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2001 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation): developed in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association and the Heart Rhythm Society. Circulation, 2006. 114(7): p. e257-354.
2. Sonmez, B., et al., A fatal complication due to radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation: atrio-esophageal fistula. Ann Thorac Surg, 2003. 76(1): p. 281-3.
3. Mohr, F.W., et al., Curative treatment of atrial fibrillation with intraoperative radiofrequency ablation: short-term and midterm results. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 2002. 123(5): p. 919-27.
4. Gillinov, A.M., G. Pettersson, and T.W. Rice, Esophageal injury during radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 2001. 122(6): p. 1239-40.
5. Pappone, C., et al., Atrio-esophageal fistula as a complication of percutaneous transcatheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. Circulation, 2004. 109(22): p. 2724-6.
6. Ghia, K.K., et al., A nationwide survey on the prevalence of atrioesophageal fistula after left atrial radiofrequency catheter ablation. J Interv Card Electrophysiol, 2009. 24(1): p. 33-6.
7. Stollberger, C., T. Pulgram, and J. Finsterer, Neurological consequences of atrioesophageal fistula after radiofrequency ablation in atrial fibrillation. Arch Neurol, 2009. 66(7): p. 884-7.
8. Cummings, J.E., et al., Esophageal luminal temperature measurement underestimates esophageal tissue temperature during radiofrequency ablation within the canine left atrium: comparison between 8 mm tip and open irrigation catheters. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, 2008. 19(6): p. 641-4.
9. Ejima, K., et al., Transverse shifting of the esophagus according to the patient's position helped achieve a safe and successful pulmonary vein isolation procedure. Heart Vessels, 2009. 24(4): p. 317-9.
10. Ruby, R.S., et al., Prevalence of Fever in patients undergoing left atrial ablation of atrial fibrillation guided by barium esophagraphy. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, 2009. 20(8): p. 883-7.
11. Helms, A., et al., Real-time rotational ICE imaging of the relationship of the ablation catheter tip and the esophagus during atrial fibrillation ablation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, 2009. 20(2): p. 130-7.
12. Martinek, M., et al., Esophageal damage during radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation: impact of energy settings, lesion sets, and esophageal visualization. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, 2009. 20(7): p. 726-33.
13. Singh, S.M., et al., Esophageal injury and temperature monitoring during atrial fibrillation ablation. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol, 2008. 1(3): p. 162-8.
14. Di Biase, L., et al., Esophageal capsule endoscopy after radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: documented higher risk of luminal esophageal damage with general anesthesia as compared with conscious sedation. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol, 2009. 2(2): p. 108-12.
15. Sanchez-Quintana, D., et al., Anatomic relations between the esophagus and left atrium and relevance for ablation of atrial fibrillation. Circulation, 2005. 112(10): p. 1400-5.
16. Yokoyama, K., et al., Canine model of esophageal injury and atrial-esophageal fistula after applications of forward-firing high-intensity focused ultrasound and side-firing unfocused ultrasound in the left atrium and inside the pulmonary vein. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol, 2009. 2(1): p. 41-9.
17. Badger, T.J., et al., Initial experience of assessing esophageal tissue injury and recovery using delayed-enhancement MRI after atrial fibrillation ablation. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol, 2009. 2(6): p. 620-5.
18. Martin, M., et al., Identification of a high Risk Population for Esophageal Injury during Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: Procedural and Anatomical Considerations. Heart Rhythm, 2010.
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