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Randomised controlled trial of Alexander technique lessons, exercise, and massage (ATEAM) for chronic and recurrent back pain: economic evaluation
BMJ 2008; 337 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.a2656 (Published 11 December 2008) Cite this as: BMJ 2008;337:a2656- Sandra Hollinghurst, senior lecturer in health economics1,
- Debbie Sharp, professor of primary health care1,
- Kathleen Ballard, Alexander technique teacher3,
- Jane Barnett, research nurse2,
- Angela Beattie, trial manager1,
- Maggie Evans, trial manager1,
- George Lewith, reader2,
- Karen Middleton, data manager2,
- Frances Oxford, Alexander technique teacher3,
- Fran Webley, trial coordinator2,
- Paul Little, professor of primary care research2
- 1Academic Unit of Primary Health Care, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2AA
- 2Primary Care Group, CCS Division, University of Southampton, Aldermoor Health Centre, Southampton SO16 5ST
- 3Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique, Linton House, London NW5 1RS
- Correspondence to: S Hollinghurst s.p.hollinghurst{at}bristol.ac.uk
- Accepted 5 October 2008
Objective An economic evaluation of therapeutic massage, exercise, and lessons in the Alexander technique for treating persistent back pain.
Design Cost consequences study and cost effectiveness analysis at 12 month follow-up of a factorial randomised controlled trial.
Participants 579 patients with chronic or recurrent low back pain recruited from primary care.
Interventions Normal care (control), massage, and six or 24 lessons in the Alexander technique. Half of each group were randomised to a prescription for exercise from a doctor plus behavioural counselling from a nurse.
Main outcome measures Costs to the NHS and to participants. Comparison of costs with Roland-Morris disability score (number of activities impaired by pain), days in pain, and quality adjusted life years (QALYs). Comparison of NHS costs with QALY gain, using incremental cost effectiveness ratios and cost effectiveness acceptability curves.
Results Intervention costs ranged from £30 for exercise prescription to £596 for 24 lessons in Alexander technique plus exercise. Cost of health services ranged from £50 for 24 lessons in Alexander technique to £124 for exercise. Incremental cost effectiveness analysis of single therapies showed that exercise offered best value (£61 per point on disability score, £9 per additional pain-free day, £2847 per QALY gain). For two-stage therapy, six lessons in Alexander technique combined with exercise was the best value (additional £64 per point on disability score, £43 per additional pain-free day, £5332 per QALY gain).
Conclusions An exercise prescription and six lessons in Alexander technique alone were both more than 85% likely to be cost effective at values above £20 000 per QALY, but the Alexander technique performed better than exercise on the full range of outcomes. A combination of six lessons in Alexander technique lessons followed by exercise was the most effective and cost effective option.
Back pain is one of the most common reasons for patients to consult in primary care and is costly for both health services and society.1 Previous studies of the effectiveness of lessons in the Alexander technique and massage for patients with chronic back pain have focused on clinical outcomes. We have found no reports of an economic evaluation of either of these interventions. The cost implications of prescribed exercise have been evaluated in two studies. Moffett et al concluded that a community exercise programme resulted in lower use of healthcare services in the intervention group but that this cost saving was not sufficient to offset the intervention cost.2 No estimate of cost effectiveness was reported. In the UKBEAM trial a class based exercise programme with and without spinal manipulation was evaluated: the combined treatment offered good value, but exercise alone was less cost effective as it cost more and produced fewer quality adjusted life years (QALYs).3 Acupuncture has been shown to reduce pain and be relatively cost effective (£4241 per QALY gained) over two years.4
In this study we compare the costs and outcomes at 12 months of courses of six and 24 lessons in the Alexander technique, six sessions of massage, and a general practitioner's prescription for home based exercise with a nurse follow-up for patients with chronic or recurrent non-specific back pain in primary care.
The main study design and interventions are described in detail in our associated paper.5 Briefly, we conducted a randomised controlled trial using a 4×2 factorial design, in which participants from 64 general practices were randomised to one of eight groups. A short course of six lessons in the Alexander technique, a longer course of 24 lessons, and six sessions of massage were compared with normal care—half with and half without a doctor's prescription for home based general exercise and a practice nurse's behavioural counselling.
We carried out the economic evaluation 12 months after randomisation of participants, conducting it from the perspectives of the NHS, participants, and society. We included costs to the NHS, personal costs to participants, and time off work and unpaid activities. NHS costs included the intervention, primary care contacts, outpatient appointments, inpatient hospital stays, and medication. Personal costs included travel associated with back pain treatment, any private treatment and over the counter preparations, prescription charges, loss of earnings, and expenditure on domestic help and care giving. Societal costs included the value of time off work or unpaid activities and the value of informal care.
We analysed the data in two ways. Individual group analysis was used to provide the most relevant information for policy makers, and we carried out marginal analysis in line with the convention for a factorial design.6 In both cases we compared each intervention group with the most appropriate comparator group as shown in table 1⇓.
We estimated cost to the NHS and patients separately, and conducted a cost effectiveness analysis that compared cost to the NHS with the primary outcome of the Roland-Morris disability questionnaire,7 the number of days in pain,8 and the QALY gain estimated from the European quality of life instrument EQ-5D.9 We estimated cost effectiveness acceptability curves for the individual treatment groups to indicate the level of uncertainty around the point estimates of cost per QALY.
Data collection
Table 2⇓ shows the data sources and unit costs used in this study. We collected resource use data prospectively during the trial. We recorded the number of intervention sessions attended, extracted details of primary care visits and prescribed drugs for back pain from practice records, and took other information from participants' self completed questionnaires conducted at three-monthly intervals. The EQ-5D was conducted at baseline, three months, and 12 months.
We used unit costs in pounds sterling at 2005 prices. We based primary care costs on Curtis and Netten,10 secondary care costs on the Department of Health national tariff,11 and drug costs on the British National Formulary.12 The exercise prescription, which included both general practitioner and practice nurse time, was costed as primary care consultations, and the Alexander technique and massage interventions were costed at the rate paid to teachers and therapists during the trial. A charge was made for a missed appointment but not after a patient dropped out of the trial. Personal costs were self reported except for travel by car, for which we used the AA schedule of motoring costs.13 No adjustment for inflation was necessary.
Data analysis
Data extracted from primary care records were available for all participants. Some questionnaire data, including the EQ-5D responses, were missing because of some participants dropping out or failing to answer all the questions. Complete personal cost data were available for 62% of patients, and the overall proportion of missing data points was 35%. We had complete EQ-5D data for 306 (53%) patients: the data were complete for 92% of participants at baseline, 72% at three months, and 62% at 12 months, giving a total of 25% missing data points. The level of completeness declined to 68% for the period from baseline to three months and to 55% for the time from three months to 12 months, giving an overall level of 62%.
We filled in the missing data points by means of imputation by chained equation using STATA, release 9.15 This method imputes missing values using an iterative multivariable regression technique. Any number of variables can be used in the regression, and any number of complete imputations may be created. In this study we used all available EQ-5D data, plus the intervention group variable; we used 20 cycles of five imputations.
The EQ-5D data were used to estimate QALY gain per patient over the 12 month period using the published social tariff for EQ-5D.16 We used the "area under the curve approach," adjusted for baseline differences across the groups, to calculate QALY gain.17
Uncertainty in assumptions or estimates made during the analysis were addressed in a series of one-way sensitivity analyses. We estimated uncertainty around the incremental cost effectiveness ratios of cost per QALY using the bootstrapping technique. We generated 1000 replications of each incremental cost effectiveness ratio and used them to derive cost effectiveness acceptability curves.
It was not necessary to discount the costs and outcomes, as the time horizon of the study was one year. All analyses were carried out using Microsoft Excel and STATA 9.15
A total of 579 participants were randomised across the eight groups. Table 3⇓ shows their resource use relating to back pain. Four hundred and seventeen (72%) patients had no primary care contacts relating to back pain during the course of the study, 98 (17%) had one, and 64 patients (11%) had two or more. Seventy five (13%) patients had at least one outpatient visit; most referrals were to physiotherapy, orthopaedics, and pain management. There were three inpatient stays: two for pain management and one for back surgery. Prescribed drug use was higher in the control than in the intervention groups. One hundred and sixty three (28%) participants received at least one prescription for drugs associated with back pain during the year (such as analgesics, muscle relaxants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and antidepressants). The mean number of items per patient for prescribed drugs was 2.7 (95% confidence interval 2.4 to 3.0).
Thirty per cent of participants had time off work during the year because of back pain, and 62% were prevented from carrying out unpaid activities. The overall mean length of time off work was just under a week and the maximum about six months. On average, participants received half an hour of informal care each week, but only 50% of participants completed this section of the questionnaire. These resource items were neither valued nor included in the incremental analysis as there is no evidence of a difference across the groups and inclusion of lost productivity as a cost in cost effectiveness ratios is controversial.18
Table 4⇓ shows the mean cost per patient by intervention group. Providing the intervention accounted for 77% of the NHS costs. The cost of other health services was greatest for the patients prescribed normal care plus exercise (£124) and those receiving massage alone (£98). Mean out of pocket expenses were £319 per patient, with £135 (42%) of this relating to expenditure on private therapies.
Cost effectiveness analysis
Table 5⇓ shows the incremental mean cost per patient to the NHS compared with the change in the Roland disability score, days free of pain, and QALYs. The incremental cost effectiveness ratios indicate the cost to the NHS of a gain in health as measured by each outcome. Of the three "single" interventions (massage, six lessons in Alexander technique, and exercise), exercise is best value on all three outcomes. Adding an extra therapy provides greater benefit at extra cost in all cases, with six lessons in the Alexander technique plus exercise looking to be best value. Table 6⇓ gives the incremental cost effectiveness ratios for the "factorial" groups. Exercise (with and without other therapies) has the lowest ratio for the disability score and QALYs as it is cheapest and delivers the second highest gain, but it scores poorly on pain-free days. Patients receiving six lessons in the Alexander technique (with and without the exercise intervention) perform well on all outcomes.
The figure⇓ shows the cost effectiveness acceptability curves based on individual group QALY. These illustrate the scale of uncertainty around the point estimates of cost per QALY given in table 5⇑ and indicate the optimal choice of intervention for a given threshold price. Exercise has the highest probability of being the most cost effective first choice of therapy. If exercise is the first choice, policy makers would have to be prepared to pay more than £18 000 per QALY gain to be 80% sure that a second intervention is cost effective. If exercise is disregarded as first choice because it performs poorly on pain-free days and, to some extent, on the Roland disability score, six lessons in the Alexander technique becomes the most attractive first option. The addition of exercise provides a worthwhile benefit at a modest cost and is more than 80% likely to be cost effective at values above £5000 per QALY.
Sensitivity analysis
The sensitivity analysis (table 7⇓) addresses three areas of uncertainty. As the cost of the intervention was the major NHS expense, we looked at the effect of adherence. Although it is unlikely that adherence would ever be complete in practice, this provides a benchmark for assessing generalisability. If all patients had attended all intervention sessions, the overall mean cost per patient would have been 18% higher. The greatest discrepancy is with the two groups assigned to 24 lessons in the Alexander technique, where NHS costs would have been 26% higher.
Secondly, we looked at the effect of inpatient stays, which are relatively expensive. Excluding these reduces overall costs by 4% with the greatest reduction (45%) in the group assigned to exercise alone, which contained two of the three patients concerned.
Finally, we looked at the effect of imputing data relating to personal costs and QALY gain that were missing from the questionnaire responses. The estimated mean personal costs were 3% lower when we used only the complete cases (n=358) rather than the full (imputed) dataset. This difference varies across the groups, with the largest difference in the group prescribed normal care plus exercise, who had the poorest record for returning the completed questionnaire (46%). The estimates of QALY gain using only the complete cases increases the variation across the groups, with the normal care plus exercise group showing the greatest difference.
Principal findings
Care for patients receiving one of the seven combinations of interventions to treat back pain cost the NHS between £100 (for normal care plus exercise) and £607 (for 24 lessons in the Alexander technique plus exercise) over the 12 months after entry to the study. Benefits provided were additional pain-free days (8-20 per patient, by group, over four weeks), an improvement in ability to perform daily activities (reduction in the Roland disability score of 0.45-4.22 per patient, by group), and a gain in QALYs of up to 0.065 per patient, by group (except the group allocated massage alone, who experienced a mean QALY reduction). Incremental cost effectiveness analysis suggests that, for a single therapy, exercise offered best value because of its low cost even though it did not provide the greatest benefit. For the two-stage therapies, exercise combined with six lessons in the Alexander technique performed well on all clinical outcomes and was relatively cost effective.
Strengths and weaknesses of study
This economic evaluation benefits from having been conducted alongside a rigorous randomised controlled trial. However, we faced two important methodological challenges, both of which indicate the need for further research. The first of these relates to missing data. Data on NHS resource use were collected from general practice records, so information on primary care consultations and prescribed drugs is likely to be of good quality. Some data on outpatient appointments could be missing, and the scale of this is unknown; it is, however, likely to be similar across the intervention groups and so should have a minimal effect on the incremental analysis. The quality of the questionnaire data was limited by the response rates, a factor that affected estimates of personal costs and QALYs, particularly for the participants allocated to normal care plus exercise. We had complete EQ-5D data (from all three time points) for 306 (53%) participants and, as the missing values were unlikely to be randomly distributed, we were unable to rely on complete case analysis for realistic estimates as these could be affected by selection bias.
Missing data are a common problem in economic evaluation,19 as a large number of patient-level data are used, and a range of imputation techniques is available. Whichever method is used, the imputed data may still be unrepresentative of the true values, and the level and direction of any bias are unknown. We used an established statistical procedure to impute the missing values, which affected results particularly for patients receiving the exercise intervention. Our point estimates of QALY gain are similar to those found elsewhere in a similar patient group,3 though it is likely that the high level of missing EQ-5D data in our study (38%) will produce added uncertainty (that is, more than indicated by the confidence intervals) around the QALY estimates. This uncertainty reinforces the importance of considering all outcomes when drawing conclusions about the relative cost effectiveness of each intervention.
The second methodological challenge relates to the design of the study. As it was a factorial design, we analysed and presented the clinical data in terms of the four factorial (marginal) groups. However, the interpretation of this analysis with respect to the economic evaluation is obscure. We have therefore presented an analysis of the eight individual group results as our main findings, thus preserving transparency and aiding interpretation. We also present results for the factorial groups, for completeness and synergy with the clinical results.
The cost of the interventions was a major factor in the total cost to the NHS. In our analysis we used the rate that teachers and therapists had been paid during the trial (£30 per session), which included payment for trial-related administration and inconvenience. Recent information suggests that an appropriate commercial rate in 2008 is in the range of £18 to £45 depending on experience, location, overheads, running expenses, and local competition. These factors limit the generalisability of our results, though, as our payment was at the upper end of this range, our results will be conservative and the conclusions remain valid.
We did not include the cost of lost productivity in our comparative analysis as the data were incomplete and there was no evidence of a difference across groups. However, back pain clearly has a considerable cost to society. Maniadakis estimated UK production losses to be in the region of £3440m (1998).1 Our estimate of just under a week lost per annum per patient with prevalent back pain is slightly less than that of Maniadakis. After adjusting for population changes and inflation, our (conservative) estimate would imply annual losses in excess of £3000m.
The results of this evaluation are limited by the time horizon of the trial. A longer follow-up would have been ideal but was impractical, and there are no reliable data in the literature to populate a model. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to speculate that benefits of lessons in the Alexander technique could have a more lasting effect than either massage or a prescription for exercise. The teaching method used in the Alexander technique lessons5 equips patients with life skills they are more likely to be able to use beyond the intervention period.
Meaning of the study
This study suggests that at £20 000 per QALY there is more than an 85% chance that a general practitioner's exercise prescription with a nurse follow-up, or a short series of lessons in the Alexander technique, will be cost effective for patients with chronic or recurrent non-specific back pain.
It is important for clinicians and policy makers to consider a range of outcomes when drawing conclusions about the cost effectiveness of the interventions.20 In this study we compared the costs of interventions with two distinct types of outcome. Firstly, we compared cost with estimated QALY gain, based on responses to questions gathered on three occasions about health related quality of life. These questions are broad in nature, and, because we used the "area under the curve" method of analysis, the estimates of QALY gain incorporated the information gathered at interim and end time points. Secondly, we compared cost per patient with clinical outcomes at 12 months, which evaluated patients' ability to perform daily activities and their days in pain during the previous four weeks.
Our associated clinical paper5 showed that an exercise prescription alone had only a moderate effect on disability scores and that massage was unlikely to provide a sustained improvement, whereas lessons in the Alexander technique were effective in the longer term over a range of outcomes. Considering the level of uncertainty around the effectiveness of normal care plus exercise, and taking account of all evidence, we conclude that a series of six lessons in Alexander technique combined with an exercise prescription seems the most effective and cost effective option for the treatment of back pain in primary care.
What is already known on the subject
Back pain is one of the most common and costly reasons for patients to consult in primary care
A class based exercise programme with spinal manipulation has been shown to offer good value in the treatment of back pain
The costs and benefits of massage and lessons in the Alexander technique have not been assessed
What this study adds
Massage, lessons in the Alexander technique, and an exercise prescription all provided benefits to patients over a 12 month period
A series of six lessons in the Alexander technique combined with an exercise prescription was the most effective and cost effective option for the NHS
Cite this as: BMJ 2008;337:a2656
Contributors: Jackie Brown designed the economic evaluation and Alan Montgomery and Tim Peters gave statistical advice. PL and GL had the original idea for the study, and DS and FO had been working on a parallel protocol; the protocol was developed by all the authors. PL and DS were the principal investigators, and FW coordinated the trial on a day-to-day basis. KM, JB, and AB managed the data. The analysis was carried out by SH, with all authors contributing to the interpretation of the results. SH wrote the paper, with comments and contributions from all authors, who all approved the final version. SH is guarantor for the paper.
Funding: The study was funded by the Medical Research Council (ISRCTN 26416991 (2000-2005)). All researchers are independent of the funding body.
Competing interests: None declared.
Ethical approval: The Southwest Multicentre Research Ethics Committee (2000 MREC: 01/06/54).
Provenance and peer review: Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


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A U.S. Department of Labor report released today details the bleak fate facing the nation's injured workers, noting that those hurt on the job are at "great risk of falling into poverty" because state workers' compensation systems are failing to provide them with adequate benefits.
The report lays the groundwork for renewed federal oversight of state workers' comp programs, providing a detailed history of the government's past efforts to step in when states fell short. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said in a statement Tuesday night that he was drafting legislation "to address many of the troubling findings laid out in this report" and hoped to advance it in the next Congress.
The 43-page report was prompted by a letter last fall from 10 prominent lawmakers, including Brown, urging more action to protect injured workers following a ProPublica and NPR series on workers' comp. The stories found that since 2003, more than 30 states had changed their laws, causing some workers to lose their homes, or be denied surgeries or prosthetic devices their doctors recommended.
The Labor Department's conclusions echo ProPublica and NPR's findings that states have decreased benefits, created hurdles to medical care, raised the burden of proof to qualify for help and shifted costs to public programs, such as Social Security Disability Insurance.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a division of the Labor Department, made similar findings last year. But Wednesday's report underscores the prominence of the issue, as departmental investigations are typically reserved for White House priorities, such as increasing the minimum wage and guaranteeing paid family leave.
The report provides a roadmap of potential actions, but stops short of new policy recommendations in what appears to be a tacit nod to the fact that President Obama's term is waning and substantial changes must wait for another administration. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, who was shortlisted as a potential vice presidential candidate, is expected to hold a top job if Hillary Clinton wins the election next month.
"With this report, we're sounding an alarm bell," Perez said in an interview Tuesday. "A critical part of the safety net is being both attacked and eroded in no small measure because there are no federal minimum standards for workers' compensation."
"I hope that Congress will step up," he added. "We have to fix this system."
Workers' comp dates back more than century, with each state having its own system of benefits, insurance rules and courts. Typically, when a worker is injured, employers pay their medical bills, a portion of their lost wages and compensation for any permanent disabilities. In exchange for prompt and certain benefits, workers are barred from suing their employers.
But as ProPublica and NPR found, the benefits can vary drastically, with compensation for an amputated arm ranging from $45,000 to $740,000, even in neighboring states.
The Labor Department report details how states have changed their laws largely in an effort to reduce business costs as they compete for new corporate headquarters, factories and warehouses — a trend the report calls a "race to the bottom."
It calls for policymakers to explore how to prevent the costs of workplace injuries and illnesses from being transferred to public programs, how to increase the sharing of injury data between insurers and public health researchers, and how to develop programs that help disabled workers return to the job.
Most significantly, it floats the idea of increasing federal oversight of state workers' comp programs, which could include the appointment of a national commission, federal tracking of state laws and the establishment of minimum standards and penalties if states fail to meet them.
A presidential commission in 1972 came up with 19 guidelines for states to improve their workers' comp systems and recommended that Congress mandate them if states didn't act. Many states did, but as political winds shifted in the early 1980s, the threat of federal intervention passed.
The suggestion of increased federal involvement has set off alarm bells in the insurance and employer communities.
"Federal requirements imposed on a national basis would be inconsistent with the state workers' compensation system, which has been in place for more than 100 years without federal oversight," wrote Douglas Holmes in a recent blog post. Holmes is president of UWC, a business lobby group focused on unemployment and workers' comp.
But in its report, the Labor Department notes that as far back as 1939, the agency considered setting guiding principles for workers' comp as part of its mission. President Harry Truman spoke of promoting standards for state programs while President Dwight D. Eisenhower's labor secretary sponsored the drafting of model workers' comp laws.
Such involvement continued through the Ford and Carter administrations but was curtailed during the Reagan era. The Labor Department continued to track states' compliance with the 1972 commission guidelines until 2004, when budget cuts ended the program.
Courts and lawmakers in several states have moved to restore workers' comp protections since the ProPublica and NPR series published in 2015. Top courts in Florida and Oklahoma have overturned a number of business-friendly reforms highlighted in the series, including a two-year cap on wage benefits and a provision that allowed Oklahoma businesses to opt out of workers' comp and write their own plans to care for injured employees. This summer, New Mexico's Supreme Court granted farmworkers the right to workers' comp for the first time in 100 years.
In California, the governor last week signed a bill that will reduce the roadblocks for workers to get medical care. And the state's workers' comp bureau is in the final stages of writing a new regulation that would allow more severely injured workers to qualify for home health care.
Last year, ProPublica profiled workers who had their home health aides taken away after a new law allowed insurance companies to reevaluate cases based on a more restrictive regulation.


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Workers say CAPSLO charges needy for donated items, doesn't track cash
March 1, 2013
Keeping them homeless
By KAREN VELIE, JOSH FRIEDMAN and DANIEL BLACKBURN
(Editor's note: This is the sixth in a series about San Luis Obispo County Homeless Services and the nonprofits managing the program. See CAPSLO's top salary makers at the bottom of this story.)
Four women who worked for Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO) have come forward to say that the organization sells donated toiletries and other goods to the needy and homeless but keeps no records of where the cash goes.
The women, who have a combined six decades of employment at CAPSLO, and a half-dozen other former and current staff members say that Homeless Services Coordinator Dee Torres required workers to charge homeless people seeking services to pay for the items that had been donated by businesses.
Only cash was accepted. And, current and former employees said at the end of each day, an envelope with cash from sales, cash donations and gift cards would go into a box for Torres. No one interviewed for this story knows where the money went.
The sales brought in a lot of cash, said Corina Salazar, who worked for CAPSLO for eight years.
"We charged the clients right and left. There was so much money and stuff going through there," Salazar said.
Torres pressured workers to charge for the toiletries, 30-year CAPSLO employee Estela Bonds said.
"Dee made us sell razors and other things and if we didn't she would get mad at us," Bonds said.
CAPSLO CEO, Elizabeth "Biz" Steinberg, denied that there was proof of the practice.
"There is no evidence of this ever occurring," Steinberg wrote this week in an email to CalCoastNews.
Torres did not return emails from CalCoastNews seeking comment.
Wal-Mart and other companies donate toothbrushes, razors, toothbrushes, socks and clothing to help the homeless.
The items, given for free, are then sold – disposable razors for 25 cents, socks for 50 cents.
Current and former employees said they were not permitted to simply give donated items to the homeless clients for free. Workers weren't allowed to purchase necessities for the homeless.
Torres fired Bonds after she used her own money to purchase formula for a client's baby, Bonds said. She had previously been written up for giving a woman diapers.
When CAPSLO can't fit any more donations in its storage shed, Torres has ordered subordinates to dispose of older items in the trash rather than provide them to the homeless at no cost, said Joette Sunshine, a four-year employee of the nonprofit.
"[Torres] would throw things away before she would give it away for free," Sunshine said.
Some donations are in the form of gift cards, including some from McDonald's, Sunshine said. Those cards rarely wind up in the hands of the homeless, she added.
"Typically, the only time gift cards would go to the clients is when they would do chores for Dee," Sunshine said. "She provided a couple of five-dollar McDonald's gift cards to clients who helped her count the homeless."
Steinberg criticized CalCoastNews for its reporting.
"It is unfortunate you even mention things like this behind the cloak of 'sources,'" she wrote in her email to CalCoastNews reporters. "If any of your anonymous sources would like to state their specific claims, [Jim] Famalette (CAPSLO's COO) will meet or talk to them, and review their claim."
Peggy Fowler, who worked for CAPSLO for 20 years, says that Steinberg was well aware that Torres had, at times, charged homeless people at the Maxine Lewis Homeless Shelter for items such as plastic ware.
"Biz said she wanted them to stop selling plastic ware and it stopped for a while," Fowler said.
Employees also voiced concerns over the number of homeless people being tossed out of the shelter for breaking rules such as entering the Prado Day Center on foot through the driveway, raising their voices or having unruly children.
"One man showed up a few minutes early and was suspended for another 30 days," Fowler said. "Suspended clients would be refused food and services. This just exacerbates the issues. Those on parole who cannot leave do not get a meal increasing the likelihood they will get into trouble."
Several employees said they informed Steinberg of Torres' alleged mistreatment of the homeless. Those complaints generally resulted in problems for the person making the complaint.
"People have gone to Biz but they just get in trouble," Bonds said. "I put a complaint in writing to Biz about Dee's unprofessionalism. She kicked a woman out [of the shelter] who had two babies. Biz is a nice person; she just doesn't have time, and she just looks the other way."
Employees also contend clients on case management regularly complain that monies given to their CAPSLO case managers are not returned in full. These clients are required to provide CAPSLO between 50-70 percent of their non-Social Security income to be held in order to secure a bed in the shelter or an overnight parking space.
"Clients complained all the time that they could not get their money back from CAPSLO," Bonds said. "There were people who were crying about not getting their money back. Dee would say the clients are liars, and we were not to believe them."
CAPSLO accepts cash or money orders from clients on general assistance or who have a job.
About 40 percent of adult homeless work at least 20 hours per week.
While numerous clients have claimed that they are asked to leave the money order payee line blank, Steinberg says that is not the case.
"Family Ties is used by some clients and some save self-named money orders with CAPSLO," Steinberg said in her email. "All are given receipts, and the funds are verified. Clients are encouraged to save funds in order to eventually secure housing."
CAPSLO top salaries
Keeping Them Homeless, the series.


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Photos: (from left) NYC street style, Jessie J and Taylor Tomasi Hill; Courtesy of fabsugar.com, whowhatwear.com.
Compared to the bold red clothing pieces we shared in my last entry, shoes are one of the easiest ways to incorporate this classic, eye-catching color without being overwhelmed:
You can make the red shoe as a centerpiece by teaming it with understated neutral items, like the crisp white shirt and grey pencil skirt in first look above; You can emphasize it by wearing another red piece, like the red jumper on Jessie J (above middle); Or you can play with colors by adding analogous colors (like Taylor Tomasi Hill's purple floral blouse, above right), or adding complementary colors (like green).
As always, details make a big difference: for the first outfit, the blue printed scarf and leopard sunglasses really spice up the look. I like to take one step further by adding this modern diamond colorblocked skirt by Ann Taylor. This look is great for any age.
For the second outfit, compared to a regular skinny jeans, a two-tone tuxedo version nails this season's hottest trend while a school-girl vibe satchel adding ease to the look. Change the bag to a more sleek, structured version, I can see this outfit on women over 40.
The third outfit is all about colors, from the printed blouse to the colorblock pumps. Use neutral pieces to cool the loudness. Another ageless look that's great to embrace the coming spring!
Shirt: J.Crew
Skirt: Ann Taylor
Shoes: Dolce Vita (also here, similar here)
Accessories: Forever21 scarf; Stella McCartney sunglasses (similar here)
Sweater: Topshop
Pants: Tibi (70% off now! also here)
Bag: Ted Baker (great alternative here)
Shoes: Topshop (lust worthy one here)
Top: Lord and Taylor
Jeans: Citizens of Humanity
Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim (similar here)
Shoes: Pierre Hardy (60% off now! great style here)


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With the state short on cash and prison beds, Republicans in the Florida Legislature are being forced to reassess the tough-on-crime mentality that has permeated their politics for years.Texas would be in the same boat if we hadn't begun reforming the probation system in 2007, and more work is needed to keep the prison system afloat beyond the short-term.
Florida's prison population cracked 100,000 this year, and state prison officials expect to need more and more prison beds during the next five years as the number of people incarcerated swells past 120,000. ...
"Our prisons are growing faster than anything else in our state," said Senate criminal-justice budget chief Victor Crist, a Tampa Republican.
Florida is spending new money for drug courts and diversion programs while putting off opening new prison beds because they can't pay for staffing:
This year's money crunch also prompted lawmakers to abandon plans to bond out $300million in new prison construction in future years.Though in many ways Texas is ahead of the Sunshine State on prison diversion, the Sentinel reports that Florida's budget crunch has caused legislators to take a step that our legislators haven't been able to muster: They've actually ceased passing new criminal penalties because they can't afford new prison beds.
Rather, to address its prison-population growth, lawmakers ended years of resistance and included plans in the state's $66.5billion budget passed Friday to beef up drug courts across the state. These courts are designed to find programs for drug users instead of dumping them into the state prison system.
Lawmakers also directed circuit judges to keep more nonviolent offenders who commit lower-level crimes out of prisons. ...By contrast, Texas keeps passing bills with increased criminal penalties, seemingly oblivious to the long-term financial costs. For some reason, the cognitive dissonance of passing prison diversion bills at the same time they're boosting penalties doesn't seem to phase our legislators.
Lawmakers shied from the normal bills stiffening sentences for sexual predators, drug crimes and other offenses.
Another bill to crack down on smuggling illegal immigrants into the country passed only after the penalty was watered down from prison time to a fine.


text:
Comment, Comment on the Wall, Are You Community or Not at All
One of the coolest things about posting at Freakonomics is the chance to be educated by your high-quality comments, which add to our posts and sometimes correct our mistakes.
But to be honest, every once in a while I have been depressed by the harsh general tone of criticism. (For example, the comments here got me down. To be specific, it's not that commenters sometimes disagree with a post; it's that they claim that the post is insufficiently related to Freakonomics-type thinking.)
Peter Ubel suggested that some of these comments may be the byproduct of Google Alerts and not come from regular readers of this blog. In an earlier post, I made a mistake in describing how often the open-source statistical software, R, is updated, and dozens of knowledgeable R users appropriately corrected me. I'm betting that most of these comments came from Google Alerts (plus indirect links on message boards). The Google Alerts comments are real comments, and as this example shows, they are often helpful comments.
For some reason, it eases my mind to think that some of my flaming may come from Google Alerts instead of from regular readers of this blog.
It might be interesting to have a public signal about whether the comment was based on an alert or not. An indirect signal would be for Google to create an "Alert Trends" feature. Alert Trends would allow you to find out how many people had signed up for Alerts on particular character combinations (just like the existing Trends feature lets you know how many people have searched for a particular character combination).
Using this feature, bloggers could figure out how many alerts a particular post generates. Knowing this might improve distort this marketplace of ideas as authors goose their language to increase their Google Alert readership.
Google Alerts is also a great substitute for email, at least for the thousands of academics, journalists, and webheads who have alerts on their own names. Quasi-famous people who might not have time to read your email might read a Google Alert post that includes their name. To wit:
Hi John Dickerson,
I really loved your Slate article on Obama's donor database. It would be incredibly non-burdensome for the Obama webheads to disclose the three million donors that gave less than $200.
It's better than even money that, thanks to Google Alerts, John will read these words.


text:
"Tasmanian Line Change" Tasmanian Devil x Bruins Limited Edition Print by Artist S. Preston
- Closing Bid: $51.00
Number Of Bids: | 6 (Bid History) |
Bid Increment: | $1.00 |
Quantity Available: | 1 |
Listing Number: | 5115872 |
Open Date: | May 24, 2024 01:00:00 PM EDT |
Close Date: | Jun 9, 2024 09:05:00 PM EDT |
Listing Type: | Auction |
You have a chance to bid on a limited edition print from the NHL and Looney Tunes artist S. Preston! This print is 14x20 inches, printed on museum-grade paper, unframed and limited to 100 prints. The artwork is hand signed by S. Preston and comes with a certificate of authenticity and NHL hologram. At the conclusion of the auction the winner will be asked if they would like to have their print matted and framed as seen in photo 2 for a fee of $200. S. Preston is a graphic artist born in Canada and now living in sunny California. Melding his two passions for sports and clean design, S. Preston has defined himself with his unique perspective in the work of sports branding and graphic arts. Preston's illustrations have quickly gained popularity across North America. Simply, these designs ignite a feeling of reminiscence and make an emotional connection between sports and art. This reaction has made this series an internet sensation. His clean and identifiable designs have been featured in media across the country, including the NY Daily News, Sports Illustrated and ESPN. See more at sprestondesigns.com.
Sales tax is charged for orders shipped to the following U.S. states where we have determined sales taxes are applicable. Items shipped to APO / FPO military addresses are not subject to taxes. The amount of state sales tax charged is based on current tax rates.
Shipping addresses located in the following states will be charged associated sales tax:
Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin & Wyoming.
For items being shipped to Canada, sales taxes will not be charged; however, any duties and taxes will be the responsibility of the customer.
For international shipments (items shipping from vendors not located in the winning bidders country), any duties or taxes are the responsibility of the customer.
Please note the sales tax amount does not reflect on the bid price. You will not receive notification before the charge. The sales tax is applied once your winning bid is accepted and your method of payment is charged.
All products ship within 3-5 Business days upon receipt of payment.
Please Note: All auctions are conducted in U.S Funds.
Canadian Bidders: The winning bid will be converted from US funds to Canadian funds prior to processing payment. This conversion rate is determined on the day of which payment is processed by your affiliated credit card provider.
International Bidders: The winning bid will be converted from US funds to the currency associated with your credit card prior to processing payment. This conversion rate is determined on the day of which payment is processed by your affiliated credit card provider.
For product questions please email firstname.lastname@example.com. Please include the listing # which is found at the top of this page. All inquiries will be answered within 24 business hours. Your satisfaction is very important to us and we look forward to assisting you.
In an Open Auction, buyers bid until the auction ends. The item is then sold to the highest bidder at the end of the auction period. There is no reserve price in an Open auction. The seller must sell the item to the highest bidder. Bidding can start as low as the Opening Value (minimum price or starting amount) of the auction. Once the auction closes, email notification providing contact information is sent to the buyer and seller automatically so that arrangements for payment and shipment of the item can be determined.
What is a Maximum Bid?
Your maximum bid amount is the highest price you are willing to pay for an item (subject to shipping and handling fees, plus applicable taxes). When you place your maximum bid amount, your bid will be processed in the designated bid increment amount above the current bid. If you are outbid, the system will automatically place bids for you at the bid increment until your maximum bid is reached. By way of an example, if an auction opens at $10 with a $1 bid increment and you place a maximum bid of $100, your bid will initially be processed at $11. If another bidder places a bid at $12, the system will automatically bid $13 for you and will continue up to your maximum bid amount of $100.


text:
perlclib - Internal replacements for standard C library functions
One thing Perl porters should note is that perl doesn't tend to use that much of the C standard library internally; you'll see very little use of, for example, the ctype.h functions in there. This is because Perl tends to reimplement or abstract standard library functions, so that we know exactly how they're going to operate.
This is a reference card for people who are familiar with the C library and who want to do things the Perl way; to tell them which functions they ought to use instead of the more normal C functions.
In the following tables:
, av
, hv
, etc. represent variables of their respective types.
Instead of the stdio.h functions, you should use the Perl abstraction layer. Instead of FILE*
types, you need to be handling PerlIO*
types. Don't forget that with the new PerlIO layered I/O abstraction FILE*
types may not even be available. See also the perlapio
documentation for more information about the following functions:
Instead Of: Use:
stdin PerlIO_stdin()
stdout PerlIO_stdout()
stderr PerlIO_stderr()
fopen(fn, mode) PerlIO_open(fn, mode)
freopen(fn, mode, stream) PerlIO_reopen(fn, mode, perlio) (Dep-
fflush(stream) PerlIO_flush(perlio)
fclose(stream) PerlIO_close(perlio)
Instead Of: Use:
fprintf(stream, fmt, ...) PerlIO_printf(perlio, fmt, ...)
[f]getc(stream) PerlIO_getc(perlio)
[f]putc(stream, n) PerlIO_putc(perlio, n)
ungetc(n, stream) PerlIO_ungetc(perlio, n)
Note that the PerlIO equivalents of fread
and fwrite
are slightly different from their C library counterparts:
fread(p, size, n, stream) PerlIO_read(perlio, buf, numbytes)
fwrite(p, size, n, stream) PerlIO_write(perlio, buf, numbytes)
fputs(s, stream) PerlIO_puts(perlio, s)
There is no equivalent to fgets
; one should use sv_gets
fgets(s, n, stream) sv_gets(sv, perlio, append)
Instead Of: Use:
feof(stream) PerlIO_eof(perlio)
fseek(stream, n, whence) PerlIO_seek(perlio, n, whence)
rewind(stream) PerlIO_rewind(perlio)
fgetpos(stream, p) PerlIO_getpos(perlio, sv)
fsetpos(stream, p) PerlIO_setpos(perlio, sv)
ferror(stream) PerlIO_error(perlio)
clearerr(stream) PerlIO_clearerr(perlio)
Instead Of: Use:
t* p = malloc(n) Newx(p, n, t)
t* p = calloc(n, s) Newxz(p, n, t)
p = realloc(p, n) Renew(p, n, t)
memcpy(dst, src, n) Copy(src, dst, n, t)
memmove(dst, src, n) Move(src, dst, n, t)
memcpy(dst, src, sizeof(t)) StructCopy(src, dst, t)
memset(dst, 0, n * sizeof(t)) Zero(dst, n, t)
memzero(dst, 0) Zero(dst, n, char)
free(p) Safefree(p)
strdup(p) savepv(p)
strndup(p, n) savepvn(p, n) (Hey, strndup doesn't
strstr(big, little) instr(big, little)
strcmp(s1, s2) strLE(s1, s2) / strEQ(s1, s2)
/ strGT(s1,s2)
strncmp(s1, s2, n) strnNE(s1, s2, n) / strnEQ(s1, s2, n)
memcmp(p1, p2, n) memNE(p1, p2, n)
!memcmp(p1, p2, n) memEQ(p1, p2, n)
Notice the different order of arguments to Copy
and Move
than used in memcpy
and memmove
Most of the time, though, you'll want to be dealing with SVs internally instead of raw char *
strlen(s) sv_len(sv)
strcpy(dt, src) sv_setpv(sv, s)
strncpy(dt, src, n) sv_setpvn(sv, s, n)
strcat(dt, src) sv_catpv(sv, s)
strncat(dt, src) sv_catpvn(sv, s)
sprintf(s, fmt, ...) sv_setpvf(sv, fmt, ...)
Note also the existence of sv_catpvf
and sv_vcatpvfn
, combining concatenation with formatting.
Sometimes instead of zeroing the allocated heap by using Newxz() you should consider "poisoning" the data. This means writing a bit pattern into it that should be illegal as pointers (and floating point numbers), and also hopefully surprising enough as integers, so that any code attempting to use the data without forethought will break sooner rather than later. Poisoning can be done using the Poison() macros, which have similar arguments to Zero():
PoisonWith(dst, n, t, b) scribble memory with byte b
PoisonNew(dst, n, t) equal to PoisonWith(dst, n, t, 0xAB)
PoisonFree(dst, n, t) equal to PoisonWith(dst, n, t, 0xEF)
Poison(dst, n, t) equal to PoisonFree(dst, n, t)
There are several types of character class tests that Perl implements. The only ones described here are those that directly correspond to C library functions that operate on 8-bit characters, but there are equivalents that operate on wide characters, and UTF-8 encoded strings. All are more fully described in "Character classification" in perlapi and "Character case changing" in perlapi.
The C library routines listed in the table below return values based on the current locale. Use the entries in the final column for that functionality. The other two columns always assume a POSIX (or C) locale. The entries in the ASCII column are only meaningful for ASCII inputs, returning FALSE for anything else. Use these only when you know that is what you want. The entries in the Latin1 column assume that the non-ASCII 8-bit characters are as Unicode defines, them, the same as ISO-8859-1, often called Latin 1.
Instead Of: Use for ASCII: Use for Latin1: Use for locale:
isalnum(c) isALPHANUMERIC(c) isALPHANUMERIC_L1(c) isALPHANUMERIC_LC(c)
isalpha(c) isALPHA(c) isALPHA_L1(c) isALPHA_LC(u )
isascii(c) isASCII(c) isASCII_LC(c)
isblank(c) isBLANK(c) isBLANK_L1(c) isBLANK_LC(c)
iscntrl(c) isCNTRL(c) isCNTRL_L1(c) isCNTRL_LC(c)
isdigit(c) isDIGIT(c) isDIGIT_L1(c) isDIGIT_LC(c)
isgraph(c) isGRAPH(c) isGRAPH_L1(c) isGRAPH_LC(c)
islower(c) isLOWER(c) isLOWER_L1(c) isLOWER_LC(c)
isprint(c) isPRINT(c) isPRINT_L1(c) isPRINT_LC(c)
ispunct(c) isPUNCT(c) isPUNCT_L1(c) isPUNCT_LC(c)
isspace(c) isSPACE(c) isSPACE_L1(c) isSPACE_LC(c)
isupper(c) isUPPER(c) isUPPER_L1(c) isUPPER_LC(c)
isxdigit(c) isXDIGIT(c) isXDIGIT_L1(c) isXDIGIT_LC(c)
tolower(c) toLOWER(c) toLOWER_L1(c)
toupper(c) toUPPER(c)
To emphasize that you are operating only on ASCII characters, you can append _A
to each of the macros in the ASCII column: isALPHA_A
, isDIGIT_A
, and so on.
(There is no entry in the Latin1 column for isascii
even though there is an isASCII_L1
, which is identical to isASCII
; the latter name is clearer. There is no entry in the Latin1 column for toupper
because the result can be non-Latin1. You have to use toUPPER_uvchr
, as described in "Character case changing" in perlapi.)
Instead Of: Use:
atof(s) Atof(s)
atoi(s) grok_atoUV(s, &uv, &e)
atol(s) grok_atoUV(s, &uv, &e)
strtod(s, &p) Strtod(s, &p)
strtol(s, &p, n) Strtol(s, &p, b)
strtoul(s, &p, n) Strtoul(s, &p, b)
Typical use is to do range checks on uv
before casting:
int i; UV uv;
char* end_ptr = input_end;
if (grok_atoUV(input, &uv, &end_ptr)
&& uv <= INT_MAX)
i = (int)uv;
... /* continue parsing from end_ptr */
} else {
... /* parse error: not a decimal integer in range 0 .. MAX_IV */
Notice also the grok_bin
, grok_hex
, and grok_oct
functions in numeric.c for converting strings representing numbers in the respective bases into NV
s. Note that grok_atoUV() doesn't handle negative inputs, or leading whitespace (being purposefully strict).
Note that strtol() and strtoul() may be disguised as Strtol(), Strtoul(), Atol(), Atoul(). Avoid those, too.
In theory Strtol
and Strtoul
may not be defined if the machine perl is built on doesn't actually have strtol and strtoul. But as those 2 functions are part of the 1989 ANSI C spec we suspect you'll find them everywhere by now.
int rand() double Drand01()
srand(n) { seedDrand01((Rand_seed_t)n);
PL_srand_called = TRUE; }
exit(n) my_exit(n)
system(s) Don't. Look at pp_system or use my_popen.
getenv(s) PerlEnv_getenv(s)
setenv(s, val) my_setenv(s, val)
You should not even want to use setjmp.h functions, but if you think you do, use the JMPENV
stack in scope.h instead.
For signal
, use rsignal(signo, handler)


text:
Integrative medicine includes a comprehensive approach to veterinary medicine that complements conventional diagnostic and treatment modalities to optimize clinical outcome. Treatments the Service offers include acupuncture and other methods of pain management, palliative care, burn care and physical rehabilitation (which can include rehabilitation following surgery, paralysis rehabilitation, weight loss, and canine athlete injury rehabilitation).
The integrative medicine team works closely with other services in the UC Davis veterinary hospital to identify multidisciplinary treatment opportunities to provide optimal patient outcomes.
In 2018, the Integrative Medicine Service became the first veterinarians in the world to utilize tilapia fish skin bandages to help animal burn wounds heal faster.
Similar Funds
Ms. Hnouzong Her
School of Veterinary Medicine - Office of Advancement
[email protected]
(530) 752-7024 (Phone)
(530) 752-2801 (Fax)
Fund purpose
Department Support
Fund type


text:
KROHNE @ VGB Congress "Power Plants 2014" with technical exhibition
Visit KROHNE at VGB Congress "Power Plants 2014", Hamburg, 17th – 19th September, booth 74
KROHNE presents at at VGB Congress "Power Plants" 2014 measuring instruments for the power industry:
- OPTIFLEX 2200 Guided Radar (TDR) Level Meters
- OPTIWAVE 5200 2-wire loop powered FMCW radar level meter
- OPTISONIC 3400 Multi purpose, all-round, ultrasonic flowmeter for liquids
- OPTISONIC 7300 Ultrasonic gas flowmeter
- H250 M40 Variable Area Flowmeters – Standard solution for the process industry
- OPTITEMP Temperature Measurement
- OPTISWIRL 4070 Allround Vortex Flowmeters
- UFM 530 HT Ultrasonic Flowmeters – Robust solution for high temperature liquids
Congress Center Hamburg (CCH)
Tiergartenstrasse 2
20335 Hamburg, Germany
Wednesday, 17 September 2014, 08:00 - 18:00
Thursday, 18 September 2014, 08:00 - 17:00
Our team at VGB Congress
Swen Arens | firstname.lastname@example.com |
Markus Kur | firstname.lastname@example.com |
Please get in contact with us! |
With its motto Technical Leadership to Overcome Economic Challenges this year´s VGB Congress is the ideal platform for discussing future plant operation and know-how. Informative and lively presentations and discussions can be expected from the focal issues of the technical papers which reflect the challenges faced by our industry: "Leading Power Plant Projects in Europe", "Future Pathways for Today´s Technologies", "Innovative Operation for High Performance" as well as "Research & Development – Future Perspectives".


text:
Touching on what may prove to be one of the more contentious issues considered by the DNC, one presenter, Democratic Party activist and Harvard University lecturer and former superdelegate Elaine Kamarck, suggested that it may be time to completely eliminate superdelegates since most of those party leaders clearly determined their role in 2008 to be one of ratifying the decision made by voters in primaries and caucuses.
"We can probably let go of the superdelegates," said Kamarck.
"Their deliberative role," she added, "has in fact been supplanted by a very very public process."
I hadn't really given this much thought before, but by following the will of the people (voting the way their constituents did), most superdelegates actually undermined their original purpose. The reason superdelegates came into being in the interim period between the 1980 and 1984 elections was to allow the party establishment an increased voice in the nomination process (something they saw as having diminished in the post-McGovern-Fraser reform era). Make no mistake, that is code for giving the party the opportunity to put a check on the decision of the people's choice. And no, that's not necessarily a bad thing. For the Democratic Party that was a strategic decision based on the prevailing conventional wisdom* of the time that primary voters are typically more extreme (or at least further to the left or right) than general election voters. It was a basic electability argument.
Regardless, superdelegates have basically served to ratify the choice of primary voters since 1984. But they operated in the shadows -- in virtual anonymity -- not triggering any controversy until their role appeared consequential to the outcome of the 2008 Democratic nomination. Their role never changed, though -- not the intended role, at least. Technically, superdelegates are/were still unpledged delegates. However, by very visibly coming out in favor of the candidates their constituents voted for in the primaries and caucuses, they (or most of the superdelegates) completely undermined their initial purpose.
And this was a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. There was no exit strategy where the superdelegate system was going to emerge unchanged. Either the superdelegates were going to vote with their constituency and risk countering their intended purpose or they were going to vote against their constituents and run the risk of ripping the party in two. [Yes, there are a series of gradations in between, but one of those narratives would have emerged as the dominant theme at some point.] Politically, they made the right move for many reasons. [Not dividing the party and their own re-election prospects would have damaged in the case of the office-holding superdelegates were chief among those reasons.] In the process, though, the role of the superdelegate has likely been rewritten.
The Hunt Commission initially called for superdelegates to comprise approximately 30% of total delegates, but that number was whittled down to 14% by the time the 1984 cycle rolled around. Ever since then, there has been what Democratic Change Commission member Suzi LeVine cleverly called a "superdelegate creep" with that percentage rising as time went on. By 2008 superdelegates made up about 20% of the total number of Democratic convention delegates.
Saying that superdelegates wrote their own epitaph with their actions in 2008 is probably a bit of an overstatement. Will they be eliminated? No, because the Democratic Change Commission membership is about one-third superdelegate and the group the DCC will make recommendations to -- the Rules and Bylaws Committee -- is made up of DNC members who were also superdelegates. They won't be eliminated, but their voice in the nomination process -- the voice of the party establishment superdelegates were created to protect -- will likely be significantly diminished for the 2012 cycle and beyond.
We'll find out a little bit more about how much when the Democratic Change Commission reconvenes in late August.
*This is still being debated in various ways within the political science discipline. Early books by Crotty and Jackson (Presidential Primaries and Nominations - 1985), Marshall (Presidential Primaries in a Reform Age - 1981), Lengle (Representation and Presidential Primaries: The Democratic Party in the Post-Reform Era - 1981), Polsby (Consequences of Party Reform - 1983) and more recent articles (highlighted by McCann 1995) all describe varying levels of differentiation between primary voters and (same party) general election voters while Norrander (1989) and Geer (1988), among others, offer evidence against the ideological extremism argument.
Recent Posts:
State of the Race: New Jersey (6/30/09)
The Best Inside Account of the First Democratic Change Commission Meeting
Future Democratic Change Commission Meetings


text:
HOSTAPD(8) NetBSD System Manager's Manual HOSTAPD(8)Powered by man-cgi (2024-03-20). Maintained for NetBSD by Kimmo Suominen. Based on man-cgi by Panagiotis Christias.
hostapd -- authenticator for IEEE 802.11 networks
hostapd [-BdhKtv] config-file ...
The hostapd utility is an authenticator for IEEE 802.11 networks. It provides full support for WPA/IEEE 802.11i and can also act as an IEEE 802.1X Authenticator with a suitable backend Authentication Server (typi- cally FreeRADIUS). The hostapd utility implements the authentication protocols that piggyback on top of the normal IEEE 802.11 protocol mecha- nisms. To use hostapd as an authenticator, the underlying device must support some basic functionality such as the ability to set security information in the 802.11 management frames. Beware that not all devices have this support. The hostapd utility is designed to be a ``daemon'' program that runs in the background and acts as the backend component controlling the wireless connection. It supports separate frontend programs such as the text- based frontend, hostapd_cli(8). The following arguments must be specified on the command line: config-file Use the settings in the specified configuration file; the name of the specified wireless interface is contained in this file. See hostapd.conf(5) for a description of the configuration file syn- tax. Changes to the configuration file can be reloaded by sending a SIGHUP to the hostapd processor or with the hostapd_cli(8) util- ity, using ``hostapd_cli reconfigure''.
The options are as follows: -d Enable debugging messages. If this option is supplied twice, more verbose messages are displayed. -h Show help text. -t Include timestamps in debugging output. -v Display version information on the terminal and exit. -B Detach from the controlling terminal and run as a daemon process in the background. -K Include key information in debugging output.
ath(4), athn(4), atw(4), awi(4), bwi(4), ipw(4), iwi(4), ral(4), rtw(4), rum(4), run(4), wi(4), hostapd.conf(5), hostapd_cli(8), ifconfig(8)
The hostapd utility first appeared in NetBSD 4.0.
The hostapd utility was written by Jouni Malinen <email@example.com>. This manual page is derived from the README file included in the hostapd distribution. NetBSD 8.1 March 21, 2013 NetBSD 8.1


text:
A couple of weeks ago, the Ethics Committee of the ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) published a paper called "Oocyte or Embryo Donation to Women of Advanced Age." In it, the ASRM changed its long-standing policy so as to allow embryo transfer to women up until 55 years of age (where the women have no underlying medical issues that could increase health risks), an increase from the previous limit of 52 years of age. The reason behind the change? At least partly, this change reflects the fact that we now have data demonstrating that for women between the ages of 50 and 54, embryo transfer and pregnancy does not pose a significant increase in health risks to the mother or child as compared to younger women. However, studies show that women over the age of 55 are far more likely to experience hypertension, gestational diabetes and caesarian sections as compared to women in the 50-54 age range. Further, the limited data available about parenting in women who conceived and delivered after the age of 50 does not support the concern that such parents have reduced parenting capacity or capabilities; rather, children of these parents may benefit from increased financial and emotional stability.
Where there is no significant medical reason, and no empirical evidence demonstrating that older parents are any less fit than younger parents, is it right to deny an older women access to IVF solely on the basis of age? I think not.
Various jurisdictions across Canada have enacted legislation prohibiting the denial of services, including medical services, to a person on the basis of age (along with race, gender, sexual orientation and marital status, among others).
The denial of fertility services to a woman solely on the basis of her age falls squarely within the realm of age discrimination. Age is one concern, but what about the other bases of discrimination listed in the relevant human rights codes and acts? For example, there are those who argue that it is in the best interests of children to be raised by heterosexual parents.
Similarly, others may argue that it is detrimental for a child to grow up in a single parent household, in which the parent may be more stressed, have less time and attention for the child, and the child may have less access to financial and other resources. Thankfully, for the most part, we as a society have done away with the stigma associated with same-sex families or single parent homes, and in Canada, fertility services are largely provided to heterosexual, same-sex, married and single people alike. However, if we begin denying fertility services to a 53-year-old woman (thus effectively determining who may and who may not be a parent) without any empirical evidence in support of the policy, it is not much of a stretch to imagine denying fertility services to other groups, including single parents or members of the LGBT community, all in the name of the best interests of the child.
Further, even if we look at this issue solely from the perspective of the best interests of the child and ignore any reproductive right to which the mother may be entitled, it is faulty logic to assume that younger parents = good, while older parents = bad. For example, if we had a situation where the prospective mother seeking to access IVF is 53 years of age while her partner is 65, we have one set of concerns that is effectively minimized where the same
woman's partner is 37 years of age. Similarly, if we look at a situation where the prospective mother is 53 years old but healthy versus a situation where the mother is only 30 years old but has a terminal illness or an illness which will
greatly affect the quality of her parenting, the best situation for a child may, in fact, be with the older mother. There are many factors that go into determining who makes a good parent, and if age is arguably a factor, it is one of many. For example, if we decide that mothers older than 52 ought not be parents, could we not make similar decisions on the basis of the mental health of a parent, financial resources available to the family, functionality of the family and the like? Drawing hard lines in the sand about something as arbitrary as the appropriate age to be a parent is an overly simplistic view that will undoubtedly result in poor decisions.
The ASRM's change in policy is refreshing in that it is based on empirical evidence. This contrasts sharply with Canada's sorely lacking legislation dealing with the use of assisted reproductive technologies, borne out of fear of the unknown. Instead of non-parties continuing to impose their moral judgment on others about they choose to build their families, perhaps we can recognize that most women between the ages of 53-55 who now access IVF as a result of ASRM's policy change will be making a well-considered decision to bring a wanted and loved child into the world. Let's give these parents some credit. Besides, what right do we have to make this very personal decision for them?


text: So you love cute, little Bunnies? You love the way they wriggle their little noses and puff up their little tails. They're so cute you could just eat them! So stick to your word! Eat these little Rabbit Cotton Tails like you can survive on nothing else! The bright and colorful Tails are easy to squish, squash and chomp. Real Rabbits may not have pink or blue tails but they'd be so much cuter if they did. For now, harvest on these fantastical Tails and dream of the rainbow meadows where unicorns, rabbits, and magic work hard to feed you bizarre Candy. This 2.1 oz bag is full of clustered, sugary puffs that can be plucked and eaten any ol' time. They taste particularly delicious at Easter, spring festivals, and when you want to squeeze every Bunny in the world.


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Brahmnishtha Shree Jogi Swami
Pujya Jogi Swami Hariprakashdasji is endowed with all saintly virtues and blessed with high spiritual power.
This realized saint was born at Bhadara (Dist-Jamnagar ) in v.s.1966 in the Bhandari family He was named as 'Devji'.
From the age of five , he was going to Bhadara temple and during childhood he was thinking to leave worldly attachments and to join Tyagashram.
Devji Bhagat came in contact with Rev. Mahant Swami Krishnajivan dasji , when he visited to Bhadara.
Mahant Swami could see the hidden abilities of Devji Bhagat and therefore he was taking keen interest in him and taking him to nearby villages alongwith him. Once Devji Bhagat had gone to Gondal , when Mahant Swami was there. He decided not to return to home and stayed over there in the temple , for which He was craving since long.
He was given initiation as a saint in v.s. 2001 and was named Hariprakashdasji.
He used to undergo penance and observed fasts (different Vratas) many a times.
Though he was not literate, he was able to read shikshapatri. · After passing away of Mahant Swami, he stayed with Shastriji Maharaj in Rajkot Gurukul,. Here he liked the religious atmosphere. Shastriji Maharaj also knew about his high spiritual achievement and was pleased by his devotional life.
He passes most of his time in meditation , chanting God's names with a rosary and hearing vachanamrutams which he likes the most .
Though he has not formal education and could not read vachanamrutams , he can recite reference of vachanamrutams by God's grace .
He is a very kind hearted saint and solved distress of many people by God's grace. Whatever he blesses from inner inspiration comes true.
By his inspiration many temples have been built in the villages by Rajkot Gurukul.
On his call many have left bad addictions and have joined holy fellowship,
Shri Alexander, the Hon. Chancellor of South Carolina University Aiken, of America said after his experience regarding Swamiji that Jogi Swami can make unbelievable things possible by his spiritual power.


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As of late 2022, more than 84 million people were enrolled in Medicaid — a number that has steadily increased in recent years. Amid the pandemic, total enrollees climbed by 20 million people from 2020 to 2022 alone.
Meanwhile, the debate among lawmakers on further expanding Medicaid in some 11 states continues to evolve. Depending on where you reside, passage of such an expansion could mean you become newly eligible for Medicaid.
What Is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a nationwide program designed to provide public health insurance for low-income individuals, including seniors and people with disabilities. Established in 1965, it serves today as the single-largest source of health coverage in the U.S.
Because Medicaid is jointly run by the federal government and state governments, its benefits — and your ability to qualify for them — can vary greatly depending on your state.
As a result, certain populations, even if they are living in poverty, may not be eligible for Medicaid. For example, in some states, a healthy, childless adult couple under age 65 with limited means may not qualify for health coverage through Medicaid if their state has not adopted Medicaid expansion.
What Is Medicaid Expansion?
Medicaid coverage across the country has evolved since the program was first created. Different states may employ different eligibility criteria, income limits, or application requirements.
In 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) attempted to expand Medicaid coverage to adults between 18 and 65 with incomes below a certain level, regardless of their age, family status, or health. The ACA also sought to supply those whose incomes fell within specific limits with premium tax credits that would help them afford the purchase of a private insurance plan.
Yet, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government could not force states to expand coverage. States can decide whether to expand Medicaid to cover more people. This has created a coverage gap: Those who have incomes below 100 percent of the federal poverty level and who live in states that have opted against expanding Medicaid may not qualify for Medicaid, or for the premium tax credits.
Medicaid Expansion States
As of early 2023, most states have adopted the ACA's broadening of Medicaid. Per the Kaiser Family Foundation, the following states – in addition to the District of Columbia – have expanded Medicaid coverage per the ACA:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
States Without Medicaid Expansion
States that have not adopted Medicaid expansion per the ACA include:
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kansas
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Medicaid Expansion Developments
The map of Medicaid expansion states continues to evolve, however:
- South Dakota voters approved a ballot measure adding Medicaid expansion to the state constitution in November 2022. The expansion will go into effect beginning July 1, 2023.
- In February 2023, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed a bill to expand Medicaid. It now awaits review in the Senate.
- Meanwhile, also in February 2023, the Wyoming House of Representatives declined to address a proposed Medicaid expansion bill.
Arguments Against Medicaid Expansion
In states without Medicaid expansion, those opposed to expanding coverage have voiced such concerns as increased costs and a higher risk of fraud.
For example, some argue that Medicaid expansion would burden their state's budget. Although the federal government funds the majority of expanded Medicaid, it does not completely cover the costs; states pay 10 percent. In the case of Wyoming, House Majority Floor Leader Rep. Chip Neiman has raised concerns that the federal government would not uphold the federal match, leaving the state to bear more financial responsibility.
Others contend that Medicaid's most vulnerable beneficiaries may face greater competition for resources, that other health care options are available to those in need, or that expansion may not ultimately translate into better long-term health outcomes.
How Older Adults Can Find Out if They Are Eligible for Medicaid Coverage
In states that have adopted expanded Medicaid, you may qualify if your household income lies below 133 percent of the federal poverty level, according to HealthCare.gov.
For older adults, most states provide Medicaid to those who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). To be eligible for SSI, individuals must have low incomes, limited assets, and be unable to work due to a qualifying mental or physical impairment. Per the Kaiser Family Foundation, some states expand Medicaid to older adults and disabled people whose income surpasses the SSI limit but falls below the federal poverty level.
You may be able to qualify for Medicaid through the Medically Needy program if your state has established one. The Medically Needy program allows people to enroll in Medicaid when they have significant medical expenses. When they subtract their medical spending from their total income, they can qualify for Medicaid if their income, minus health care expenses, falls below a specified limit (which also varies by state).
To find out whether you qualify for Medicaid, consider consulting the following tools:
- The Benefits.gov Eligibility Checker will ask you questions regarding things like household income, number of dependents, and citizenship status to help you determine whether you might be eligible for Medicaid generally.
- The HealthCare.gov site can offer additional insights, including:
- Guidance on Health Insurance Marketplace applications
- Income calculators
- Premium tax credit information
- Q&A tool to determine eligibility for cost-sharing reductions
Again, the rules governing Medicaid and its complex eligibility criteria varies widely by state. To find out whether you may be able to receive public health insurance through Medicaid, consult with your attorney.


text:
BURTON Covert pants
Penthouse performance at bargain basement pricing. Without a doubt the best deal going.
Get the most for your well-earned coin with the all-out performance and premium finishes of the Burton Insulated Covert Pant. Rider-driven features include reinforced cuffs with elevators to prevent parking lot tatters, and waterproof/breathable fabrics for a fresh feel and rugged performance. Available with or without insulation, the Covert Pant includes all the necessities like full knee-to-knee Test-I-Cool venting, fully taped waterproof seams, and a chairlift-friendly cargo pocket with internal stash.
- bluesign® Approved Product [All Colorways]
- Mapped with 40% Recycled Content THERMOLITE® Insulation (40G Throughout) and Taffeta and Mesh Lining
- Fully Taped Seams
- Cargo Pocket with Zippered Pocket
- Mesh-Lined Test-I-Cool Venting
Buy online


text:
This Harpoon Cider tap handle has been taken and converted into a custom umbrella.
The tap handle was used before the conversion, because of this it will have some visible marks and wear. Before being converted the tap handle was carefully cleaned and inspected to return it to its best self while maintaining the marks of use that add it's special character.
*brewery names and all other marks and logos are the property of their respective owners and RainTaps and respective companies claim no right to them.


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Anyone with a 372 credit score has poor credit. Poor credit means having a score that falls between 300 and 629. If your credit score is 372, you will have a tough time getting some jobs, finding sufficient housing, and getting a decent loan.
In Short: If you have a 372 credit score, most lenders will be hesitant to do business with you. A poor credit score often results in more expensive auto loans, a larger required security deposit, and higher mortgage rates.
However, just because you have a 372 credit score now does not mean it cannot improve to a 400, 500, 600, 700, or even 800+ credit score.
Below you will find out if you can get an auto loan, mortgage, or personal loan with a 372 credit score. On top of that, you will also find a complete list of everything that impacts your credit and everything that can improve it.
What Can a 372 Credit Score Get You?
For those wondering what a 372 credit score can get you, here is a quick overview:
- New Car Auto Loan: 11.88% APR
- 3-Year Personal Loan: 34.47% Interest Rate
- Mortgage / Home Loan: Extremely Unlikely
- Credit Card: 23.89% Interest Rate
What Credit Card Can You Get With A 372 Credit Score?
There are two types of credit cards that you can get with a 372 credit score, a secured credit card and an unsecured credit card. Each option has both potential benefits and downsides. Most credit cards you get with this credit score will have a 23.89% interest rate.
Secured Credit Cards
Getting a secured credit card comes with many benefits. But it also has a few drawbacks. A secured credit card is one of the go-to ways to build credit for those with a poor credit score.
The process of getting approved for this type of credit card is much easier compared to its unsecured counterpart. Lastly, some secured credit cards may offer the ability to earn rewards and other perks like cashback.
Potential drawbacks for a secured credit card include higher interest rates, fees, and a required security deposit. Although, one thing to consider with the security deposit is that your credit limit will often be determined by how much you initially deposit.
Unsecured Credit Cards
If you want to get a credit card but do not want to deposit any money as collateral, you can get an unsecured credit card.
Not having an initial security deposit requirement is one of the most beneficial aspects of an unsecured credit card. However, if you have a 372 credit score, you will likely have an annual fee.
Typically credit card annual fees are best avoided. The only time an annual fee makes sense is when the value received from the card surpasses the yearly fee.
Learn More: 371 Credit Score, 370 Credit Score
Can You Get an Auto Loan With a 372 Credit Score?
Getting an auto loan is possible with a 372 credit score. But receiving an auto loan with poor credit often results in a loan with a high interest rate. With a credit score of 372, any auto loan you get will likely have an APR of 11.88%.
Having a high interest rate on an auto loan means higher monthly payments. It also means you will be paying your lender more money in the long run. For auto loans, the lower the interest rate, the better.
For example, imagine you wanted a 60-month $15,000 car loan. According to Experian's Q3 2021 State of the Automotive Finance Market report, deep subprime car loans (300-500 credit score) for new cars will have an average APR of 12.99%.
Your monthly payment on that car loan would be about $341. The total amount you would pay in interest would be $5,478.
Now take that same scenario and only change the credit score. If someone tried to get that same car loan, but they instead had a 700 credit score, the average APR on a new car would only be 3.64%, according to that same Experian report.
The monthly payment on a $15,000 60-month car loan with a 3.64% APR would be $274. In total, you would pay $1,413 towards interest.
Is a 372 Credit Score Good Enough For a Mortgage?
A 372 credit score will likely not be good enough for a mortgage. If you do manage to get a mortgage with a 372 credit score, the interest rate will assuredly be very high.
Conventional and FHA loans are two popular mortgage loans that many use to purchase real estate. Conventional loans usually require a minimum credit score of 620, and FHA loans require a minimum credit score of 580 with a 3.5% down payment.
Many decide to go with an FHA loan because you only need to put 3.5% down. However, it is only possible to get an FHA loan with a minimum credit score of 500 if you are willing to put 10% down.
Neither of these mortgage options is possible if you have a 372 credit score. It would be best to hold off on purchasing a house until you have at least a 500 credit score.
Can You Get a Personal Loan With a 372 Credit Score?
With a 372 credit score, it will be hard to get a personal loan, but not impossible. Those that manage to get a personal loan with a poor credit score will usually get a loan with a high interest rate. With this credit, you can expect a 3-year personal loan to come with a 34.47% interest rate.
Personal loans are often used to consolidate other types of debt with high interest rates, such as credit card debt. If this is your goal and you cannot get a personal loan with a lower interest rate, it would be impractical to take on the new loan.
If you get a personal loan with a 372 credit score, look at the interest rate attached to the loan. Everyone's situation is different. But consider the potential downsides of taking on a loan with a very high interest rate. Check to make sure the benefits of getting the personal loan outweigh the possible disadvantages.
What Impacts Your 372 Credit Score
These are the top 5 factors that will impact your 372 credit score.
1. Payment History
One of the largest factors that impact your credit score is your payment history. Missing a payment on a credit card, or even not paying off your credit card at all can be detrimental to your credit score. Your payment history alone makes up 35% of your total credit score.
2. Credit Utilization Rate
Another factor taken into account when determining your credit score is your credit utilization rate.
To find your total credit utilization rate, take your credit card balance plus any revolving lines of credit divided by the combined credit limit of all your credit cards and any other revolving lines of credit.
3. Credit History Length
The length of your credit history is also a factor in your credit score. The longer your history is with using a credit card, the better.
Remember, closing a credit card that was opened many years ago can hurt your credit score. This is why it is best to try and avoid closing old credit cards if possible.
4. Mix of Credit Types
Having a mix of credit types also impacts your score. An example of having a good mix of credit types would be; opening a couple of credit cards, a mortgage, and an auto loan that you pay off on time every month.
5. New Credit
How often are you getting new credit cards? Every hard credit inquiry has the potential to reduce your credit score by a few points. That said, this change in your credit score usually is only temporary.
How To Improve a 372 Credit Score
Here are the best ways to improve a 372 credit score.
1. Check Credit Reports For Errors
If you find any false information on your credit report, it is possible to dispute any errors. When you dispute inaccuracies in your credit report, you can ultimately end up helping your credit score. This is why checking your credit report for errors is one of the first things you can do to improve your credit.
2. Catch Up on Missed Payments
Catching up on any missed payments will prevent your credit score from being harmed any further.
With a 372 credit score, your goal should be to improve it as much as possible. That means paying off any debts that have accrued.
After a while, debt collectors come knocking when you start missing payments. Additionally, you may have to consider the possibility of being sued by credit card companies or debt collection agencies.
Those with a 372 credit score likely have missed many payments. Catching up on those payments will help you avoid a lawsuit. It will also prevent your debt from ending up in collections.
3. Always Pay on Time
When you pay on time, it tells your lenders that you are financially responsible and are a low-risk borrower.
Making on-time payments will improve your credit over time. This is especially true for someone with poor credit.
4. Get a Secured Credit Card
A secured credit card is virtually the same as an unsecured credit card in the sense that they both can help improve your 372 credit score.
The main difference between a secured and unsecured credit card is that a secured credit card requires you to make a security deposit as collateral.
Often, you will see card issuers match your credit to the amount of money you deposit.
A secured credit card security deposit can be as low as $200 to as much as $5,000.
If you decided to deposit $1,000 towards a secured credit card, you would typically receive a $1,000 credit limit.
What To Do Next
Now that you know the factors that come into play when determining your credit score, you can begin to improve your 372 credit score.
Always pay your credit card, mortgage, and auto loan on time. Don't take on debt know you can't afford to pay back.
If you have a poor credit score, work towards improving it using the strategies listed above.
Be careful of anyone that says there is a fast or immediate way to improve your credit score. If you follow the tips mentioned earlier, your credit will improve, but it will take time.
Building up your 372 credit score cannot be done overnight. But gradually, over time, it can be worked on and fixed.


text: Letter to the Editor Thu, 08/22/2013 - 3:39pm admin We welcome letters to the editor online. Letters are published at the sole discretion of the newspaper staff in the order they are received. Letters must be 500 words or less and require a signature before they run in the newspaper. Contact Information Full Name * City/Town of Residence * E-Mail Address * Email addresses are not used for publication Phone Number * Phone Numbers are not used for publication Letter to the Editor *


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Disney Announces Five Untitled Marvel Films Through 2023
Disney is already planning for Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase 5. Marvel Studios revealed five release dates for untitled MCU films through 2023.
Marvel Studios President, Kevin Feige, announced the Phase 4 plans during San Diego Comic-Con 2019. Films slated for Phase 4 include Black Widow, Eternals, Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Black Panther 2, and Thor: Love and Thunder.
The release dates for the untitled films include October 7, 2022, February 17, 2023, May 5, 2023, July 28, 2023, and November 3, 2023.
Fans have begun to speculate which films will fill the yet to be named slots. Captain Marvel 2 was previously announced without a release date. Brie Larson is set to return for the second installment.
Blade was also announced at San Diego Comic-Con without given an official release date. The film will star Mahershala Ali as the Marvel superhero.
Fans on social media also speculated that one of the release dates could be for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which has been rumored to begin filming next year.
Pop Stars and the Superheroes They Remind Us Of