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- Original Article
- Open Access
Acceleration of wound healing in acute full-thickness skin wounds using a collagen-binding peptide with an affinity for MSCs
© Author 2014
- Received: 5 July 2014
- Accepted: 15 September 2014
- Published: 25 October 2014
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been accepted as a promising cell source in tissue repair and regeneration. However, the inability to enrich MSCs in target areas limits their wide application. As a result, it has been a major goal to induce MSCs to be abundantly and specifically recruited to the injury site. In this study, a peptide with a specific affinity for MSCs (E7 peptide) was immobilized to a collagen scaffold via a collagen-binding domain (CBD) to construct a functional collagen scaffold. In addition, the hypothesis that this method could recruit MSCs specifically was evaluated in a porcine model. In vivo investigations indicated that due to the immunore-action, the CBD-MSC-peptide collagen scaffold enhanced MSC adhesion and infiltration and promoted wound healing. At day 7 after surgery, we found more infiltrating cells and capillaries in the Collagen/CBD-E7 peptide group compared to the Scaffold group. At day 14, 21 and 28, a faster healing process was observed in the Collagen/CBD-E7 peptide group, with significant differences compared with the other groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The results demonstrate the potential use of targeted therapy to rapidly heal skin wounds.
Key words
- Mesenchymal stem cells
- skin wound healing
- Collagen-binding domain
- mesenchymal stem cells affinity peptide
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Website: www.burnstrauma.com
Recently, a novel peptide (E7 peptide, "EPLQLKM") was reported to have high, specific affinity to MSCs. When covalently conjugating to a synthetic polycaprolactone (PCL) mesh, this peptide significantly mobilized and recruited autologous MSC to PCL in vivo.[4] Compared to synthetic materials, collagen has commonly been used in wound repair and skin regeneration due to its weak antigenicity and excellent biocompatibility.[8] Binding of a specific stem cell affinity protein to a biomaterial has also successfully been applied to the regeneration of damaged myocardium.[6] However, few studies have put such a method to use in the treatment of massive full-thickness wounds.[9]
As described previously, the collagen-binding domain (CBD) shows great affinity to collagen I and can maintain growth factor activity both in vitro and in vivo.[10,11] To this end, we produced a fusion protein (CBD-MSC-peptide) consisting of the MSC affinity peptide (MSC-peptide) and a CBD. This protein was able to specifically bind to collagen I and allowed the MSC-peptide to bind to collagen. We hypothesized that due to the immune reaction induced by the scaffold, MSC cells would migrate to the target region and promote both wound healing and skin regeneration. The hypothesis was evaluated in a porcine full-thickness defect model.
Materials and methods
Preparation of collagen/CBD-E7 peptide functional scaffolds
Animal models
Six domestic pigs weighing between 20 and 25 kg were used for implantation. There was no injection of granulocyteolony stimulating factor (G-CSF) before the skin defect model was induced. After the administration of anesthesia by propofol, the dorsal hair was shaved. Six full-thickness wounds (3 incisions on each side, 5.0 × 5.0 cm) were made on the dorsum down to the level of subcutaneous deep fascia, and different collagen membranes were affixed to the defects with 4−0 silk suture.
Total 36 wounds were randomly divided into 3 groups: A control group (Control, n = 2 × 6), a collagen group (Collagen, n = 2 × 6), and a Collagen/CBD-E7 peptide group (Collagen/CBD-E7 peptide, n = 2 × 6).
After the operation, the pigs were housed in separate cages. All animals received intramuscular penicillin for 3 days after surgery. All of the pigs survived during the experiments. All of the animals and experimental procedures were approved by the local Institutional Animal Care committee. Chinese Ministry of Public Health (CMPH) guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals were abided by during all experiments.
Analysis of cells on the material
Three days after the surgery, 3 animals were sacrificed. Samples of the material were removed, and a portion of the membranes (1.0 × 1.0 cm) were excised for cell infiltration analysis. The cells retained on the collagen were stained with Hoechst 33342 (2 mg/ml, Sigma, USA) for 15 min. After washing them three times, photos were taken.
Part of the deep fascia (1.0 × 1.0 cm) that included the collagen membranes was excised. After fixation in 10% formalin, 5 µm paraffin sections were stained by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) for analysis of the inflammatory reaction and cell infiltration.
In a separate experiment, the remaining collagen was digested using collagenase type I, and the cells that were retained on the materials were collected. The cells were cultured in standard liquid culture medium containing DMEM-F12, 10% FBS, 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 mg/ml streptomycin at 37° C in a 5% CO2 atmosphere to the second passage. Then, the cells were prepared for fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis to determine whether the materials were enriched in cells that with stem cell characteristics.
Measurement of healing rate in a porcine model
The wound area was examined and photographed by digital camera (Canon EOS 550D) on day 7, 14, 21 and 28 post-surgery. The area of the unhealed wound was measured using Photoshop software in order to calculate the healing rates (Adobe Photoshop 7.0). The following equation was used: Healing rate = [(original size — non-healing area)/original area] × 100%.[11]
Vascularization evaluation
At day 7 after operation, a portion of the wound samples (1.0 × 1.0 cm) that included the materials was excised. After fixation in 10% formalin, 5 µm paraffin sections were stained with HE, and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was performed for analysis of cell proliferation and blood vessel formation. An anti-von Willebrand factor antibody (vWF, 1:800, Abcam, USA) was used to evaluate the degree of vascularization in the wound granulation tissues. Two independent observers quantified the number of blood vessels for each section, and counts were made for six random selected areas at 200× magnification level in a blinded fashion.
Statistical analysis
Statistics were calculated with SPSS computer software for Windows (version 13.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). The values were expressed as means ± standard deviation (SD). Significant differences between the groups were determined by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The least-significance-difference method (LSD) or Tamhane's T2 test was used for post-hoc multiple comparisons for equal or unequal variances. A probability value (P) of less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Statistically significant values were defined as *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01.
The collagen scaffold
The structure of the collagen scaffold was observed by SEM. Figure 1b and c show the appearance of collagen scaffold before and after treatment with E7 peptide. When conjugated with the E7 peptide, the interconnected pores of collagen scaffold were mostly filled.
Cell analysis of collagen scaffolds
At 7 day after surgery, a sample of granulation tissue with the tested materials was removed and evaluated by HE staining. The scaffold appeared similar to collagen fiber, and more cells had infiltrated in the Collagen/CBD-E7 peptide group [Figure 2c].
The cells enriched on the collagen that were to be used for culture analysis were obtained by digesting the remaining collagen. Three days later, these cells exhibited fibroblast-like growth and clumped together in a "swirl" pattern at day 7 [Figure 2d].
The cultured cells were obtained for molecular phenotype analysis. As demonstrated in Figure 2e, the cells were identified as CD45 negative, CD29 positive and CD44 positive, and thus were characterized as MSCs.
Wound healing rate
Angiogenesis induction by the collagen/CBD-E7 peptide scaffold
Wound healing is one of the basic problems in the surgical field, lacking effective clinical treatment. In most patients, partial skin loss can be managed by closure with remaining local skin[13]; however, for patients with extensive full-thickness injury more than 4 cm in diameter, the incomplete skin cannot regenerate itself spontaneously without a graft.[14]
Stem cell therapy has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy for full-thickness wound repair.[2] Autologous MSCs are among the most promising cell types, exhibiting the characteristics of self-renewal, multi-lineage differentiation and low immunogenicity.[3] Long-term studies have shown that the perivascular niche could be a location in which MSC-like cells reside.[15,16] Although MSCs can migrate to the injury sites during wound repair, ischemia or cancer invasion, the cells that are recruited for tissue regeneration are insufficient.[17]
In this study, we hypothesized that the Collagen/CBD-E7 peptide group could recruit MSCs in vivo. Furthermore, it was proposed that the functional scaffold could promote overall wound repair when used to treat of skin injury. At day 3 in vivo, the cell numbers in the designed material and deep fascia reflected the early tendency of cell migration and the biocompatibility of the scaffold [Figure 2a and b]. We deduced that Collagen/CBD-E7 peptide could enhance the recruitment of stem cells to the scaffold and that the scaffold provided a proper environment for cell survival and the subsequent cascading injury response. As is well known, neovascularization is an essential step in the complicated wound healing process.[2] At day 7 after surgery, we found more cells and capillaries infiltrated in the Collagen/CBD-E7 peptide group compared to the Collagen group.
At day 7, 14, 21 and 28 post-surgery, the wound area was examined and photographed for wound healing analysis. Seven days after surgery, the healing rate between the three groups showed no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) [Figure 3]. We deduced that the stem cells did not exhibit their pluripotent potential in this early part of the process. Subsequently, more rapid healing of wounds was observed in the Collagen/CBD-E7 peptide group at day 14, 21 and 28 post-surgery, with significant difference with the other groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) [Figure 3]. This result indicated that the mobilized MSCs could migrate to the scaffold, shorten the healing time and improve wound repair via their multi-lineage differentiation capabilities. Moreover, the 3D collagen scaffold, which was also important for the survival and function of the stem cells in the injury sites, might facilitate cell-scaffold interactions, including migration, proliferation and differentiation.
The MSCs' specific affinity for the E7 peptide has been successfully used in MSC-homing research.[4] These studies have revealed that the specific binding of E7 to MSCs could induce autologous MSC recruitment in response to trauma or ischemia. A suitable microenvironment is also important for cell migration and tissue regeneration.[2] Collagen is regarded as one of the most useful biomaterials for its excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, and it is widely used in tissue engineering.[11] As is shown in Figure 1b and c by SEM, the collagen scaffold was porous before treatment. When conjugated with the MSC-binding E7 peptide, the interconnected pores were generally filled, which was important for cell immigration.
It has been considered that CBD technology has the advantage of both durability and specificity. In this study, using the collagen scaffold to bind E7 peptide, which has a specific affinity for MSC, resulted in the capture of autologous MSCs and the acceleration of injured tissue vascularization. As is shown in Figure 4, the blood vessel density in the Collagen/CBD-E7 peptide group was much higher than in the other groups. We concluded that the bio-composite could promote vascularization and, thereby, the subsequent rapid tissue regeneration. As is well known, MSCs are positive for CD29, CD90, CD44, and CD105 but negative for CD34 and CD45.[3,7] In this study, adhered cells on the scaffolds were characterized as MSCs (CD45−, CD29+, CD44+), as were verified by FACS. The results indicated that MSCs played a significant role in promoting wound healing and skin regeneration.
Although the Collagen/CBD-E7 peptide scaffold was effective in MSC recruitment and wound healing, certain limitations remained. First, more samples should be investigated. Second, the E7 peptide ("although the Collagen/CBD-E7 peptide scaffold was effective in MSC rein rabbit models, in which it significantly enhanced autologous MSC recruitment.[4] In this study, we constructed an E7 peptide-based functional collagen scaffold to recruit autologous MSCs in a porcine skin model for wound healing at porcine models. No immune rejection and risk of tumor was observed; however, further studies are required to confirm the clinical efficiency and safety profile of this capture system. Lastly, further research is needed on skin and cutaneous appendages regeneration. Taken together, these data provided new insights for the treatment of acute full-thickness wounds by cellular-material therapy and should contribute to new strategies for the treatment of chronic wounds and ischemic diseases.
In this work, collagen scaffolds that were functionalized with a peptide with a specific affinity for MSCs were used in a porcine wound-healing model. After implantation at the injured skin, the functional scaffold effectively enhanced the recruitment of MSCs, accelerated the healing rate and promoted neovascularization. This study provided new insights for enriching autologous stem cells to the wound site and contributed to new methods for the treatment of wound healing.
This study was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (Grants No. 81272108).
Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, duplication, adaptation, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made
Authors' Affiliations
- Ma K, Liao S, He L, Lu J, Ramakrishna S, Chan CK. Effects of nanofiber/stem cell composite on wound healing in acute full-thickness skin wounds. Tissue Eng Part A 2011;17:1413–24.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Jiang Y, Chen B, Liu Y, Zhufu Z, Yan X, Hou X, et al. Effect of collagen scaffold with adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction cells on diabetic wound healing: A study in a diabetic porcine model. Tissue Eng Regen Med 2013;10:192–9.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Ding DC, Shyu WC, Lin SZ. Mesenchymal stem cells. Cell Transplant 2010;20:5–14.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Shao Z, Zhang X, Pi Y, Wang X, Jia Z, Zhu J, et al. Polycaprolactone electrospun mesh conjugated with an MSC affinity peptide for MSC homing in vivo. Biomaterials 2012;33:3375–87.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Li L, He Y, Zhao M, Jiang J. Collective cell migration: Implications for wound healing and cancer invasion. Burn Trauma 2013;1:21–6.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Shi C, Li Q, Zhao Y, Chen W, Chen B, Xiao Z, et al. Stem-cell-capturing collagen scaffold promotes cardiac tissue regeneration. Biomaterials 2011;32:2508–15.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Rankin S. Mesenchymal stem cells. Thorax 2012;67:565–6.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- He Q, Zhao Y, Chen B, Xiao Z, Zhang J, Chen L, et al. Improved cellularization and angiogenesis using collagen scaffolds chemically conjugated with vascular endothelial growth factor. Acta Biomater 2011;7:1084–93.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Kim WS, Park BS, Sung JH, Yang JM, Park SB, Kwak SJ, et al. Wound healing effect of adipose-derived stem cells: A critical role of secretory factors on human dermal fibroblasts. J Dermatol Sci 2007;48:15–24.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Zhang J, Ding L, Zhao Y, Sun W, Chen B, Lin H, et al. Collagen-targeting vascular endothelial growth factor improves cardiac performance after myocardial infarction. Circulation 2009;119:1776–84.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Yan X, Chen B, Lin Y, Li Y, Xiao Z, Hou X, et al. Acceleration of diabetic wound healing by collagen-binding vascular endothelial growth factor in diabetic rat model. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2010;90:66–72.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Wang L, Li L, Shojaei F, Levac K, Cerdan C, Menendez P, et al. Endothelial and hematopoietic cell fate of human embryonic stem cells originates from primitive endothelium with hemangioblastic properties. Immunity 2004;21:31–41.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- McAninch JW. Management of genital skin loss. Urol Clin North Am 1989;16:387–97.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Yannas IV, Kwan MD, Longaker MT. Early fetal healing as a model for adult organ regeneration. Tissue Eng 2007;13:1789–98.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Falanga V, Iwamoto S, Chartier M, Yufit T, Butmarc J, Kouttab N, et al. Autologous bone marrow-derived cultured mesenchymal stem cells delivered in a fibrin spray accelerate healing in murine and human cutaneous wounds. Tissue Eng 2007;13:1299–312.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Borena BM, Pawde AM, Amarpal, Aithal HP, Kinjavdekar P, Singh R, et al. Evaluation of autologous bone marrow-derived nucleated cells for healing of full-thickness skin wounds in rabbits. Int Wound J 2010;7:249–60.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Storek J, Gooley T, Siadak M, Bensinger WI, Maloney DG, Chauncey TR, et al. Allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation may be associated with a high risk of chronic graft-versus-host disease. Blood 1997;90:4705–9.PubMedGoogle Scholar


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|Home > Bellita
♀ Bellita
What does Bellita mean?
Bellita as a name for girls has its roots in Spanish and Hebrew, and the name Bellita means "little beauty". Bellita is a variant form of Belita (Spanish): also pet form of Isabel.
OTHER FORMS VIA BELITA, ISABEL Belia, Belicia, Bell▼, Bella, Belle▼CREATIVE FORMS
Bellita Brooklyn (B.B.), ..
How popular is Bellita?
Bellita is a rare first name for women. Bellita is also a rare last name for all people. (2000 U.S. CENSUS)
Which version is better?
Popular alternative forms of Bellita (NOT RANKED) are Bella (#78 IN 2016), Isabel (#145), Belle (#933), Belia and Bell. These forms of Bellita were popular as baby names in 2010 (ADOPTION OF 0.61%) and are somewhat less conventional today (ADOPTION 0.43%, ▼29.2%), with versions such as Bell going out of style. (TOP 2000 NAMES, 2016)
Similar Names
Recommended sound-alike names are Bellette, Bellina, Bellinda, Bellissa, Bellona, Bellva, Belvia, Benita▼, Bernita, Bertita (see Bertha), Billina, Cellina, Dellina, Dellta (see Delta), Ellita, Felita, Hellia, Kallita, Kellina, Lellia, Lillita, Melita, Mellina, Mellisa and Perlita. These names tend to be more frequently used than Bellita.See names in meaning and etymology.

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Mark Kelly is the husband of former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords (D) who was gravely wounded (not "mortally" wounded as Joe Biden said this week) when Jared Lee Loughner shot her in the head in a Tucson parking lot. Fourteen were wounded, six died. Loughner used a 9mm Glock Model 19 pistol. Giffords and Kelly are lobbying for Feinstein's gun ban (not dead) and a federal/national database. Kelly decided to make a point about how easy it is to buy these weapons, but he didn't buy the 9mm Glock, he bought an AR-15 from Diamondback Police Supply in Tucson.
Kelly reportedly purchased the rifle to prove how easy it is to buy an assault weapon after his ex-wife's injury, planning to turn it into Tucson police after the transaction. However, MacKinlay told The Arizona Daily Star that the purchase was terminated Thursday and a refund was sent the same day. Since the store was by law required to hold the rifle for 20 days, the purchase was terminated before Kelly could take possession of the firearm.Source: IBT
Kelly got down politically before he even took possession of the AR-15, probably because he got caught before the law let him take possession. Diamondback bought the gun from a customer and law requires, in that instance, that the gun be held for 20 days to ensure that the weapon was not used in a crime. In the meantime, Kelly was talking on Facebook about how "scary" it is that people can buy guns without background checks. He has claimed that his intention was to turn the weapon over to police.
Store owner Doug MacKinlay said Monday in a Facebook post of his own that he "determined that was in my company's best interest to terminate this transaction prior to his returning to my store."
"While I support and respect Mark Kelly's 2nd Amendment rights to purchase, possess, and use firearms in a safe and responsible manner, his recent statements to the media made it clear that his intent in purchasing the Sig Sauer M400 5.56mm rifle from us was for reasons other then for his personal use," MacKinlay said in the statement.
He added that the store will return Kelly's money, donate the rifle to the Arizona Tactical Officers Association to be raffled as a fundraiser and make an additional contribution of $1,295 — the value of the rifle — to the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program. Source: Fox News
Gabby Giffords resigned from Congress in January due to her injuries. Mark Kelly is far more famous now than he was as an astronaut, because as we all know, going into Space is no longer important enough to fund. Another one two of those crazy Liberal ideas.


text: New Chevrolet Cruze 2017 20 April 2017 Devnath Ghosh 96858d9f-7822-4bc9-b82c-ea0ec964a171|0|.0|27604f05-86ad-47ef-9e05-950bb762570c 2017 Cruze offers the best reason yet to strongly consider Chevy's compact offering alongside the heavy-hitting rivals from Asia (and one compelling domestic rival). The original Cruze represented a monumental improvement over Chevy's previous small cars, but the new Cruze — fully redesigned last year — truly brings the fight to the rest of the compact class. Front and center is a heavy emphasis on technology. Each Cruze comes with a touchscreen radio, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot, a rearview camera and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto functionality. Advanced safety features, including rear parking sensors, lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring, are also available. But the Cruze isn't just about shiny new gadgets. It also boasts a world-class cabin that feels more luxurious than most other compact cars and a ride that is both sporty and comfortable. Put a late-model Cavalier up against the Cruze, and you'd be stunned to learn they were produced by the same company. At the same time, though, there are some great small sedans and hatchbacks out right now. The Honda Civic, which was also redesigned last year, is one of the best small cars on the market, especially when powered by its potent 1.5-liter turbocharged engine. If you want something with an extra dose of driving spirit, the Mazda 3 is a great way to go. We're also fond of the Kia Forte given its extensive collection of features and reasonable price. But the Cruze's sportiness, style and high-tech accoutrements give it the edge over many rivals in this extremely competitive class. Pros : Plenty of appealing convenience and technology features are offered. Cabin is attractive, especially with the two-tone color scheme Lots of rear seat legroom Cons : Engine stop-start feature cannot be disabled Cruise control isn't available on the L or LS trims. Disappointing acceleration and real-world fuel economy from 1.4-liter engine, and no additional engine choices are offered What's New : A new hatchback body style debuts, and each 2017 Chevrolet Cruze comes standard with a suite of parental watchdog parameters called Teen Driver mode. Otherwise, the Cruze is unchanged from last year's complete redesign. The 2017 Chevrolet Cruze is a compact sedan or hatchback. The sedan is available in L, LS, LT and Premier trim levels, while the hatch comes in LT and Premier only. Standard equipment on the Cruze L includes 15-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, remote locking/unlocking, air-conditioning, a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks, Bluetooth connectivity, a four-speaker audio system with a USB port, OnStar (with 4G LTE connectivity and Wi-Fi hot spot), a rearview camera, and a MyLink infotainment system with a 7-inch central touchscreen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone app integration. The LS is similarly equipped but adds a front center armrest and carpeted floor mats. It can also be equipped with the automatic transmission and a range of dealer-installed options. The LT steps up to 16-inch alloy wheels, upgraded headlights with LED running lights, heated mirrors, cruise control, steering-wheel-mounted phone and audio controls, a rear center armrest with cupholders, and a six-speaker audio system with satellite radio. Hatchback models also get a cargo cover and rear spoiler. For the LT, the optional Convenience package adds keyless ignition and entry, heated front seats, an eight-way power driver seat and remote engine start (with the automatic transmission). The Cruze Premier gets those features as standard plus 17-inch wheels, an upgraded rear suspension, chrome exterior accents, ambient interior lighting, illuminated vanity mirrors, a heated steering wheel, leather upholstery and a height-adjustable front passenger seat. Both the LT and Premier offer an RS Appearance package (foglights, a rear spoiler, a sport body kit and 18-inch wheels for Premier models) and a Sun and Sound package that includes a sunroof, a color driver information center, ambient interior lighting, a larger 8-inch center touchscreen display and a nine-speaker Bose audio system. A navigation system is additionally available for this package on the Premier. The LT and Premier are also eligible for the Driver Confidence package, which consists of rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Driver Confidence II package, offered only on the Premier, adds automatic high-beam headlight control, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning and intervention. The Premier-exclusive Enhanced Convenience package throws in an auto-dimming rearview mirror, automatic climate control, heated rear outboard seats, wireless personal device charging and a 110-volt, household-style power outlet. Power Train : The front-wheel-drive 2017 Chevrolet Cruze uses a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 153 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the L, LS and LT trims. A six-speed automatic is optional for the LS and LT, while the Premier gets it as standard equipment. The automatic transmission also comes bundled with an automatic engine stop-start feature to save fuel when the car isn't moving. In Edmunds testing, a Cruze Premier sedan with the RS package accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 9.6 seconds, about 1 second slower than most compact sedans. For comparison, the Ford Focus sedan with the 2.0-liter engine does the 0-60 mph run in 8.3 seconds, while the hot-rod turbocharged Honda Civic needs just 6.7 seconds. According to the EPA, the Cruze sedan should return 32 mpg combined (28 city/39 highway) with the manual, 34 mpg combined (30 city/40 highway) with the automatic and 33 mpg combined (29 city/39 highway) in automatic-only Premier trim. Hatchback versions are expected to achieve 1 to 2 mpg less across the board. Overall, these fuel economy numbers are very good for a small sedan or hatchback. However, in a Premier sedan, we averaged just 31.8 mpg on our highway-heavy, 115-mile test loop. On the same loop, a 2016 Honda Civic with the turbocharged 1.5-liter engine beat its EPA combined estimate by 1.8 mpg, and a 2015 Ford Focus with the 2.0-liter engine beat its combined rating by a whopping 11 mpg. Safety : All 2017 Chevrolet Cruze models come with stability control, four-wheel antilock disc brakes, full-length side curtain airbags, front knee airbags, and front and rear side-impact airbags. Also standard is OnStar, which includes automatic crash notification, on-demand roadside assistance, remote door unlocking and stolen vehicle assistance. Every 2017 Cruze comes with Chevrolet's Teen Driver watchdog feature, which can be used to set certain parameters for secondary drivers such as teens or valets. Optional safety equipment is limited to the LT and Premier, consisting of the Driver Confidence I and II packages detailed above (see Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options section). In Edmunds performance braking, a Cruze Premier with the RS package came to a stop from 60 mph in 110 feet, an exceptional stopping distance for a compact sedan with all-season tires. Interior : Unlike compact Chevrolets of the past, the Cruze's interior is stylish and composed of high-quality materials. The curving character line that runs diagonally through the dashboard is an unusually artistic touch for this segment, as is the cloth or leatherette upholstery that covers it. These details, along with a large backseat, make the Cruze's interior fully competitive in terms of both appearance and construction. Standard across the board is the attractive MyLink infotainment system, which employs either the standard 7-inch touchscreen or the optional 8-inch version (LT and Premier only). That means even the least expensive Cruze is outfitted with a high-tech interface that boasts clear graphics and a pretty intuitive menu structure. The standard inclusion of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ensures that every Cruze buyer can enjoy a fully integrated smartphone experience. Chevy says that the Cruze sedan's trunk can hold 14.8 cubic feet of cargo (13.9 in Cruze LT and Premier trims), which is a bit roomier than average for this class. Cargo space is greatly expanded on the hatchback, which holds 18.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 47.2 cubes with those seats folded down. Driving : The only engine available for the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze is a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder. Although its power output is healthy for the class, real-life acceleration is little disappointing. In a full-on drag race, for instance, the Cruze is only a half-second quicker to 60 mph than a Toyota Prius. For more relaxed driving situations, however, the engine downshifts smoothly and quickly to give you the boost you need. An engine stop-start feature comes with all models equipped with an automatic transmission. Although the system in the Cruze is one of the least intrusive examples of this technology, we wish there was a way to disable it. You feel a slight shove as the engine turns off, and the time delay between your foot releasing the brake pedal and engine startup is noticeable. The Cruze offers a compliant ride that ranges from cushy to lively (depending on how large the wheels are), but even with the RS package's 18-inch alloys, the car never feels jarring. The Cruze is also an adept handler, inspiring confidence as you travel around tight turns. It doesn't have the unflappability of the Mazda 3, but in general you'll have more fun driving a Cruze than other small cars when the road gets twisty.


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text: Last night at dance, my friend Mike so very kindly told me that there is a video somewhere out there on the internet of a camel spider eating a whole lizard. This is not something I ever want to see. EVER. And I mean it, so don't go posting this video on my facebook wall or hiding behind corners with your laptop at the ready to surprise/terrify me. Continue reading


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Head on over to Taingamala to Link up!
Although it's not required for the Wednesday Walk-about, I decided to do a short and sweet little "Meet Katie" post. Introduce myself to who might be dropping by!
I'm Katie. I'm a 20-something Soldier & student taking each day one step at a time. Living through all the growing pains that come with
becoming that person that I always wanted to be & finding that bright side in all of this Camo-Colored Chaos. You can get to know more about me here.
Follow me on: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
You start drill this Saturday! Eeek! That is exciting! And nerve wracking. I am so pumped for you. I wish I loved to workout. I have to force myself to that torture chamber daily. haha While your blog may have taken a change I am so excited to be there on your new journey. I think it's going to be a good one! Lots of love and thanks for linking up!
Katie ! You have such a positive outlook on life! I am a new follower from the walkabout and am excited to follow your journey!
We have a big military presence in our family and I always like reading about it from another's point of view!
Would love for you to stop by my blog Raising Reagan! Although it's a mommy blog ~ not sure if that's your thing but it's fun for me and I love it!
Good luck with your drill!!
Hey, dear! I nominated you for a blog award on my latest blog post at www.hlewy.blogspot.com!
Thanks for sharing the linkup!!! Congrats on joining the Army recently and now starting drill - so awesome! I wish I loved to work out. I'd be so much better off!
Sarah from GI Joe's Wife


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Anything but 3September 18, 2008 at 1:03 pm | Posted in Christianity | Leave a comment
It's a lot of work to homeschool so many kids, but life is never dull. Spending so much time with kids gives me a lot of material to write about-if only I had the time to actually write.
Jessica is starting kindergarten this year and if you know Jessica, you would understand my apprehension about starting school with her. Jessica knows what she wants to do and she is pretty strong-willed about doing things she doesn't want to do. For example, up until a month ago, Jessica insisted she could NOT count to 10. She said she was only 5, so she would only count to 5. Now I knew she knew how to count to 10, but she definitely wouldn't do it. She would count to 5 and then backwards to 1 and somehow knew this was equal to counting to 10 for hide and seek games…she's a smart cookie.
Much to my amazement, she has embraced homeschooling and so far, she loves it. I cannot come up with enough for her to do. All the things she has been stubborn about trying-writing, counting, etc…she is now eager to learn and do. Except the number 3. She is convinced that she cannot write a number 3. She will "try" but it always ends up either a 2 or a squiggly line.
I have seen Jessica make the letter B so I know that she is capable of making a 3, but it's not on her agenda or she has convinced herself she is incapable…who knows. Her new thing is to copy down BIG numbers off things. She told me this morning, "I'm looking for BIG numbers to copy in my book, but not numbers with a 3 in them because I can't make 3's." She feels the need to show me she can do these big things and is trying to prove to me that 3 just isn't important.
I started thinking about how much we are all like that. We want to do something for the Lord. We want to serve or grow in areas and do great BIG things, but we often have a 3 somewhere in our lives. "God, I will do anything you want except _____" or "I can do this thing, just don't ask me to do that." We limit ourselves so much by thinking we are incapable of doing something or by being unwilling to do something. God is not usually asking us to do the BIG thing, but rather the small obedient thing. He is not asking us to do something in our own abilities, but asking for our obedience and then working through us.
Take a long hard look at the 3 in your life. What are you missing out of by trying to avoid it? Have you fooled yourself into thinking the big is better than the 3? Have you stopped growing because you refuse to tackle the 3 in your life?
What are you drinking?July 29, 2008 at 11:02 am | Posted in Christianity | Leave a comment
Jessica and Chloe were getting ready for bed when Donald noticed a bucket filled with water in their room. When he asked them about it, they had been dipping little cups in the bucket to get a drink of water. Where did the water come from? Chloe had dipped the bucket in the toilet to get water, so they had been drinking toilet water.
Now I'm sure to my girls…they thought they were drinking clean water. It looked clean. It was clear. The potty had been flushed. It looked just like the water out of the faucet, but those of us who have lived life a little longer understand that toilet water is not the water you want to drink.
Why would a kid drink toilet water? Maybe they wanted to be "big" and get it themselves or maybe they thought if they asked me for a bucket of water, I would say no, so they didn't ask and got it the only way they could. Either way, kids often do things like this…how many of you cut your own hair when you were little? Most parents have a nice photo of their kids with a hunk of hair missing.
The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. Proverbs 12:15
You probably didn't drink toilet water or cut chunks out of your hair recently, but you make decisions every day. Who do you go to for advice? Who do you ask for help? Often we make decisions based on what we want or what seems right to us at the moment. But if we are just trusting our own judgment or the judgment of others around us…we will probably end up drinking some "toilet water."
How to avoid drinking toilet water:
Maintain a close relationship with God.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. Psalm 111:10
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
Look in God's Word
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. Psalm 119:9
Talk with your parents and other mature believers.
Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. Proverbs 1:8-9
Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Proverbs 19:20
God will not lead you astray.
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:17
You Are Here…July 21, 2008 at 4:23 pm | Posted in Christianity | Leave a comment
Living in the busy and transient area around DC, people often complain about having to live here and how they can't wait to get transferred out. I understand that the traffic is bad and no one likes traffic. No one wakes up and says "I am so glad I have a long commute to work today" or "I'm so thrilled that my 45 minute commute will take 2 hours tonight." Northern Virginia is a very busy place and there is a lot to dislike about the hectic atmosphere. Although we are military, we have lived in the DC area almost 8 years now, so I understand. But I came across a verse the other day…
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. Acts 17:26-27
God in His sovereignty puts us in the exact places we should live for a reason, so that we might come to find Him. In each time of life, in each place we find ourselves…God has something for us that we don't want to miss.
For some people the "You are here" is not a physical place, but a time of life. We are always waiting for the better place…when I have a boyfriend, when I am out of school, when I am married, when we have children, when I get the promotion, when we buy a house, when we get out of debt, when the children are gone…always longing for the next stage of life without really wanting to live the stage we are in.
I wonder how often we miss the lesson God has for us by quickly trying to get to the next place. But if we move on without learning what God has for us…we move on arriving handicapped. If a baby doesn't learn to sit, how can she learn to walk? If you don't practice the notes, how will you ever play the song?
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Hebrews 5:11-12
Maybe that is why so many of us with easy access to God's word are still so immature spiritually. We refuse to take the time to learn what God has for us and to find Him where we are. We don't have the patience to learn the lesson before we move on.
So wherever you are today, know that YOU ARE HERE with a purpose. God wants you to find Him in your circumstances and it is worth the struggle of today.
It's a bug…May 28, 2008 at 9:20 am | Posted in Christianity | Leave a comment
Well…sickness has again come to the Buttram house. We don't seem to be sick very often…which is a blessing. It also strikes me odd that we ALL don't get sick. You would think with a house of 8 people…when one gets sick, we all do. BUT that just doesn't happen…usually only a couple of us get the same thing…another blessing to be sure.
Jessica woke up in the middle of the night just to tell me that she is really sick. I never doubt Jessica's mid-night revelations…they are usually true. She woke up once again this morning (she was sleeping late…not a good sign in my house), she sat up in bed and preceded to tell me again she was very sick, needed a stool beside her bed with a cup of tea, and the cup needed a lid and a straw. She laid back down and fell asleep. Such clarity of thought! I am convinced Jessica could supervise almost anything under any stress…it's a gift. I wonder if they could use a 4-year old as a platoon leader in battle?
Jessica finally awoke at 8:30am to vomit. No fever. She handles it all in stride. She went to sleep for another half hour before repeating the event. Then she told me she needed me to fix her a bed on the couch so she could watch Playhouse Disney. She has vomited on schedule every half hour. I think she makes her body wait for commercial breaks. She hasn't eaten anything yet and still has no fever. She really is a easy sick person to take care of.
Joshua on the other hand gets the sick person award in our house. He actually has medaled in quite a few categories: Most likely to vomit when not sick. Most likely to gag at any sight, smell, or thought. Most likely to take all day to vomit (after all he doesn't want to throw up. This logic always seems to bother me…who WANTS to throw up?). Most likely to not make it to the bathroom to vomit (After all he is trying really hard not to throw up because he doesn't want to). I would say he is most likely to be sick the longest, but I think I get that award. We are blessed that Josh doesn't really get sick often.
So I guess some sort of stomach virus has made it into our house. Who will get it next? You will have to check back later to find out.
Bedside BooksApril 28, 2008 at 10:19 am | Posted in Books, Christianity, Reading | 5 Comments
The table beside my bed is filled with books I have just read, I am reading, and I want to read. Some are Bible studies like "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" by Joanna Weaver. Other books are for training such as "Children's Ministry Leadership: The You-Can-Do-It Guide" by Jim Wideman. I love to read.
I just finished a book that I cannot help but tell you about. It's titled "The Unexpected Journey: Converstaions With People Who Turned From Other Beliefs to Jesus" by Thom S. Rainer. Donald passed this book on to me after he read it for a seminary class. It contains interviews with people from various different belief systems that came to a relationship with Jesus. They are amazing testimonies that God is able to change the "unchangeable"…those we would easily give up on.
This little book offers great insight into how to reach people of all different faiths with the message of salvation. One passage that stood out to me…
Nine interviews had taken place. Nellie Jo and I agreed that two powerful truths has emerged. First, the power of Christian love was a story line in most of our interviews. In one way or another, the theme of love was sounded with clarity.
Second, my wife and I had become convicted that we should never assume that any person is too difficult to reach…We were discovering that spiritual hunger for truth was persuasive, even in the lives of people who seemed, on the surface, to have no interest in spiritual matters. (The Unexpected Journey, p. 154)
This book also shows how the acts of unloving Christians hindered earlier searches for truth in many of these people's lives. It is quite convicting.
Give it a read. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
PrayerMarch 25, 2008 at 7:21 am | Posted in Christianity, Prayer, Spiritual Gift | 4 Comments
I am part of the Ladies Bible Study and we are reading "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World". Sherry encouraged each of us to identify one area of our Christian walk that we need to work on and right it in the cover of our book. Then at the end of the study, we will look at it again and see what God has done in that area of our lives during our study.
Immediately the area I thought of was the area of prayer. I've been reading "Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions" by George Barna (excellent book) and I was convicted that I am not more intentional in my prayers. Now I pray. If someone ask me to pray for them, I do it right away. If I feel a burden for someone, I will pray for them. I tend to carry on-going conversations with God off and on throughout the day. BUT do I intentionally pray for each child in our church by name? Do I lift up each family in our church in prayer? No. I don't have a system in place that helps make sure I am lifting up family and friends in prayer on a regular basis.
BUT when I think about long sessions of prayer (I had a friend who was a mother of 6 boys and she would pray an hour each day before her kids woke up), it feels more like a burden than a pleasure to me. Several years ago, we went through "Power of a Praying Parent" in our study and trying to pray through every aspect of our child's life felt more like a burden and a guilt trip then a loving, freeing experience with God. I know people who have powerful prayer lives and it brings them such joy and satisfaction and I think…what's wrong with me?
As I was pondering these things on the way home last night, a verse from our study came to mind.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:38-30
Now I'm a server. My spiritual gift is the gift of service. I love to serve others. Over the years I cannot tell you the number of times people have said to me "You do too much. You need to cut back on the areas you serve in" or "If Kristie is doing all of this, then I need to do more too." I have tried to tell people that I wouldn't be happy doing less. I don't serve because I am trying to earn something or because I feel guilty. I serve because it is my spiritual gift and using my gift brings me joy, satisfaction, and a sense of purpose.
"For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." I feel like when I serve, I am picking up the yoke Jesus has given me instead of the one I try to create for myself. It seems like too much work to others around me, but to me it is not a burden at all. I have found the place Jesus wants me to be and that has made all the difference.
So intercessory prayer may be like that. For some it is a spiritual gift God has given them and it brings them a joy and satisfaction that I could not experience if I tried to do what they were doing. That doesn't mean that I shouldn't pray just as it doesn't mean they shouldn't serve. I do believe I need to strengthen my prayer life and focus on it. God wants us to pray and there is power in prayer. What should my prayer life look like?
As I shared all this with my husband, his immediate response was "You need to read Philip Yancey's book Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?" Donald said the book covers all those questions I have. So I am starting to read it and looking forward to finding out what perspective Yancey has on the discipline of prayer.
Pray for me 🙂 as I journey to discover what God wants from my personal prayer life.
What are you listening to?February 15, 2008 at 2:24 pm | Posted in Music, Scripture, Worship | 2 Comments
My friend, Deanna, introduced me to a new CD a few weeks ago. It's called "Glory Revealed" by various artist (Mac Powell, Steven Curtis Chapman, David Crowder, Michael W Smith, Mark Hall, and more). The songs are all Scripture set to folksy music. It's very relaxing and uplifting.
I've been playing it in my kitchen CD player while I go about my day. I was going to recommend my favorite, but when I think of them, I like them all.
You can check out Glory Revealed for yourself. Let me know if you like it.
Welcome to the zoo…February 14, 2008 at 10:03 am | Posted in Blessings, Coffee, Family, Fun, Funny | Leave a comment
There is a sign above my front door that reads "Welcome to the Zoo"…that is often an acurate description of our household. Except for the constant mess, I love it that way!
Joshua had his 12th birthday a week ago. After he opened his presents, he had a small rectangular box one of his gifts came in. Like all good 12 year old boys, he knew just what to do with it…he handed it to Jessica (our 4 year old) and said, "Here's a coffin for your Barbie" (only 12 year old boys think of great uses for boxes like that). Jessica was thrilled to have the box so she quickly said "Thank you." Then with out missing a beat, she opened the box and "coughed" in it. I don't think she quite understood the coffin remark, so she just made it fit what she thought it meant. We all cried, we laughed so hard. Jessica thought this was great, so she spent the rest of the night "coughing" in her box.
Speaking of Jessica, she has officially changed her last name. She told me that she should now be called Jessica Teenager. For several days now, if you address her as Jessica she corrects you and says, "You mean Jessica Teenager." I'm not quite ready for Jessica Teenager yet…or maybe ever.
We bought a Keurig machine and we LOVE it. We bought the basic B40 model since I didn't want to spend an extra $30 on a digital display. It's so easy to use and NO mess. We do find ourselves making more coffee though.
Donald bought the kids ROCK BAND for PS2 last night. We finally broke down and got it…our kids were so thrilled UNTIL they tried to play it. Suddenly our PS2 isn't reading discs anymore. It was fine when the kids used it earlier that day, but now it's broken. Donald and the kids spent several hours trying to fix it, but it's still broken. My poor kids, they were so disappointed.
Donald takes his test for Master Sgt. today. He's been studying so hard. Yesterday he had the day off work to study one last day. After several hours, he decided he just needed to relax. He and I went out for a nice quiet Chinese dinner. After dinner, we both opened our fortune cookies. Donald's fortune read "You are next in line for promotion at your firm." We almost died…how funny is that! We had a good laugh.
Emily turned 17! I can't believe my daughter is seventeen. She had a friend over. They went ice skating and to the Marine Corps Museum. We had Chinese take-out for dinner. She got texting back on her cell phone…she's happy about that. I think she had a fun day.
Never a dull moment at our house. I'm so glad that along with all the daily drudge (housework, cooking, planning, etc) that my husband and my kids help me laugh at least once every day. What a joy!
Church through Daniel's EyesJanuary 15, 2008 at 11:29 am | Posted in Church, Family | Leave a comment
Daniel has been going to "big" church since last September. It has been fun to watch him adjust to sitting through service.
His initial impression was that it was boring, unless they showed a video. Now I've been in boring churches and our church does not fit that description at all, but if you can't read the words to sing the songs or follow the notes, then I could see how it might be boring to just try and sit still for that long.
Then when Daniel got use to the routine of being in church, he moved into his interactive stage. If Pastor Steve asked a question, Daniel wanted to give his answer out loud, right then. Daniel also thought it was okay to add comments (out loud, of course) as Pastor Steve would preach. This was a fun stage for me…NOT!
Then two weeks ago, he made a break through and started "taking notes" on his pad of paper. It was the story of creation and Daniel wrote on one piece of paper "God did it." He heard Pastor Steve say those words and he knew how to spell them, so he wrote them down. Then he flipped to the next page and wrote "I am free to run." That was a line from the song we sang earlier. I was so excited, because he WAS actually listening to what was going on.
This past Sunday he didn't take notes,but he got tickled at the title "The Blame Game". We've been working on long vowel sounds with a silent e and he was so excited he could read those words. He thought it was the funniest title and he couldn't stop giggling about it.
Church with Daniel is an adventure for sure, but it is fun to watch him learn about what is going on and start participating. By the time he has this all down, Jessica will be joining "big" church and we will start all over again.
Who Moved My Cheese?January 11, 2008 at 7:15 am | Posted in Books, Change, Reading | Leave a comment
Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, M.D. is a small, but powerful little tale about two mice and two little men who find themselves searching for cheese in a maze. When their cheese is moved, how do each of them deal with the change?
Donald and I discover the book over a year ago and love it. We bought it and so with all the coming change in my life (see last two posts) I decided it was a good time to pick it up and read it again. It's only 93 pages with large print, so it's a easy nap time read.
The great thing about this book is that it applies to so many areas of my life. All of us go through change…it is inevitable, but we don't always deal with it well. If we can put change into perspective and learn to handle it correctly, we would save ourselves a lot of stress and wasted time.
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Diabetes Blitz
Diabetes Blitz represents a simple concept based on the best available evidence for managing type 2 diabetes – we provide 3 key ingredients:
- The fundamental knowledge you must have, without fads or health crazes;
- The skills to apply that knowledge to your lifestyle;
- The resources that let you reach your full health potential
What does it mean in practice?
You are provided with comprehensive resources, both online and in print, that explain the interaction between the choices you make (in regards to nutrition, exercise, and a range of other habits) and the status of your diabetes (including the severity of disease and need for medications).
Your seven consultations are all about finding ways to apply that knowledge to your circumstances; that's why all our sessions are 1:1 – because we recognise your needs are unique.
The outcome is that people with type 2 diabetes gain control; we'll support you to lose weight, reduce your medication and improve your quality of life for the long term.
What do you get?
Program Guide
The Guide has everything you need to complete the Diabetes Blitz Program, in a simple week by week format.
Program Diary
Track your results over the course of the next 12 weeks and tick off each week's to-do list. We also ask that you complete a few short questionnaires pre and post-program to ensure your diabetes-specific knowledge and ability to self manage.
Online Nutrition support
You will receive 3 month access to a leading online nutrition platform that allows you to track your nutrition and activity. This comprehensive online tracking database helps you stay on track and enables you to understand what you are putting in your body down to a micro nutrient level.
Measuring Utensils
Keep a careful watch on how much you eat. The 8 piece measuring set is everything you need in the kitchen to ensure you have the correct portion size.
These resources are available through your ClickFit access or on your USB drive, just in case you like hard copies of the
diabetes friendly meal plans, shopping lists and exercise recommendations.
Clip on your pedometer and start noticing how many steps you take each day. Researchers* has found that the use
of a pedometer is associated with significant increases in physical activity and weight loss and improvements
in blood pressure.
Calorie Counter Book
Here is a pocket-sized resource to help ou make better food choices when you are out and about.
Measuring Tape
The scales are only part of the story. Waist circumference is and independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes; expect to see improvements over the 12 week program.
*M. Bravata et al. Using Pedometers to Increase Physical Activity and Improve Health A Systematic Review 2007;298(19)
More Information
If you would like to know more about the Diabetes Blitz program please contact Chris Morton.


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To start this epic account of hiking down (and then back up) the Grand Canyon, I want you all to understand that I had no idea what I was getting myself into. For those of you who have been to the Grand Canyon, I am sure you got plenty of pictures standing at the top with the cliffs and rocks in the background, smiling happily and giving a thumbs up, then getting back in your car and going home to a warm bed and warm food. I am sure you stood too close to the edge and your family/friends scolded you, because "it's windy outside, you could fall!" If you did hike, I'm sure you went a couple miles down, wearing a small backpack with some water, sunscreen, and maybe some snacks. Perhaps you saw some squirrels or some deer on the way, and I'm sure that was really exciting and a cool experience.
Now, I'm not saying that your trip was incomplete, but as someone who has been to the Grand Canyon multiple times, I can say that until I went on this hike, I did not at all appreciate the beauty and utter vastness of one of the seven natural wonders of the world. A week ago when I decided to join a few friends on their voyage, some numbers were shared. The length of the hike from top to bottom on the Hermit Creek Trail was 8 miles total. The only source of water between the top and the bottom is the Santa Maria Spring, which is 2.5 miles down and dribbles out water at an incredibly slow rate, and below the spring is a trough of disgusting, smelly water that requires purification (so it is not an ideal water source). Then, at the end of the Hermit Creek Trail, there is an opportunity to hike to the Colorado River, which is another two miles down. The depth of the canyon is 4,200ft, which is almost a mile change in elevation. Then of course, after traveling down that far, you have to go back up. At first, when I heard all these numbers, I was thinking "Okay, I've done a hike that was 3 miles up and 3 miles down, and it was pretty easy. This is going to be hard, but I will make it."
The evening before the hike, Ben, Stephen, Jayden, and I had driven up to Flagstaff to meet up with Bethany, whose family graciously allowed us to stay in their home and eat breakfast with them, then they prayed for us the next morning before we set off. We drove from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon, and further to the head of the trail where we parked. Then the hike started. Bethany, Ben, Stephen, Jayden, and I took some pre-hike group pictures, then we set off on the trail. The first sign posted at the beginning of the trail was a warning, talking about the dangers of dehydration and injury, and stating that the Canyon rangers get over 400 requests for help per year, and that hikers should be properly prepared. The second sign said "Hiking down is optional, hiking up is mandatory." The reality finally hit me then.
Walking down the first few minutes were easy, even fun. But soon after the edge of the cliff where our car was parked drifted out of sight, things became difficult. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, I was not prepared for this trip, and that became apparent after just a few minutes of hiking down. My companions quickly got ahead of me, and my knees shook with every step I took down, stumbling over rocks and slipping constantly because of the harsh decline. If I'm being honest with myself and with all of you, I felt desperate to be at the bottom of the canyon and I felt absolutely alone. Immediately, I began praying and praising God. The rest of the group took turns staying back and hiking with me, but I just felt like I was a huge burden to them. I could feel blisters forming on my feet, my 30 pound pack was causing me to be off balance, and my joints and muscles were crying for rest. The first few stops I didn't have much to say, I was mostly trying to keep my mouth shut because I didn't want to say anything negative. At a certain point, I slipped and fell, and I landed right on a rock. Frustrated and in pain, I just sat there and cried. After a minute or so, I picked myself up and kept going, praying, praising. At a certain point, Stephen asked to take something out of my pack so it was a little lighter, and I immediately and harshly said no. After all, I was the one who decided to tag along, and why should he have to take my burdens away? The group told me I should comply, though, so I reluctantly did. The difference was really helpful and nice, but I was too proud and stubborn to admit how grateful I really was. We carried on, and I was pretty silent all the way down, besides asking Bethany to check her pedometer for how many miles traveled. The whole way down, I was lonely and bitter towards everything. I felt like I was ruining the trip for everyone because of how slow I was, they kept getting ahead so far that I could not even see them at some points. I felt defeated because even with a lighter pack, I was the slowest and everyone seemed eons ahead of me. Again, alot of the time someone stayed back and hiked with me so I would not be alone, which was awesome and I really appreciated it. But still, it was hard. I spent alot of time watching my feet, and not alot of time actually enjoying the view.
After many miles of hiking, the group reached a sign that pointed in two different directions. One arrow said "Monument" and the other said "Hermit Creek". As none of us has ever hiked the trail before, we were not sure which way was the campsite, so we followed the "Hermit Creek" arrow. It took us to the creek as promised, but Bethany's pedometer already said we had traveled 12 miles, so my anxiety kicked in and I started making up all these scenarios in my mind where we got stuck in the canyon. I started thinking of how the last thing I said to my mom was "Happy Mother's Day, I love you." Call me dramatic, but I came to terms with that being the last conversation between my mother and I. I knew that the trail was obvious and I could hike back up, but as we went further and further into the canyon, I wanted to give up and just spend a week down there recovering from the hike down. I had huge blisters on my heels and between my toes, and a bruise on my bum from falling, along with just being generally tired and sore from 7 hours of intense hiking/bouldering.
Finally, our group reached the Colorado River. We decided that it was okay that we couldn't find the campsite, because we found another small one right next to the river that worked out perfectly. Putting down that pack and putting my bruised and ugly feet into the river was one of the most beautiful feelings of my life. We all felt victorious for making it down in one piece. Ben and Bethany went and hiked around a bit more, while Stephen, Jayden, and I enjoyed relaxing. We ate some food and wound down, and just enjoyed the view. Coming back to the sand from the river, we discovered that Jayden's beef jerky was torn open. Immediately, we began making up silly stories about how a mountain man got hungry and tore it up because he saw us hiking and knew we had food. Then, Ben and Bethany got back and informed us that a crow had stolen the jerky, along with Jayden's goldfish crackers. From then on, Jayden and Stephen made it their personal goal to hunt down the crow and kill it. (Which I thoroughly enjoyed.) It wasn't until this part of the trip that I actually stopped feeling sorry for myself and started just having a good time with friends. I finally began realizing that everyone was trying to help me, and none of them felt burdened or slowed down by me. I know it was the Lord that made me see everything more clearly, because I was haunted by demons of fear, bitterness, and defeat on the way down, and once we reached that first goal, my mind cleared and I became hopeful for the hike back up. He answered my prayers by giving me amazing friends who continuously helped me and were a great source of encouragement. We ate, set up our camp, and crashed out at 8 pm. Then we woke up at 5 to set out for the hike back up at 6am. Fortunately, Ben and Bethany had water purifiers for us to restock our water supply (otherwise, we would have been dehydrated and died, to be just a little dramatic). So, we purified a few gallons of water, and set off. Bethany offered to carry my gallon of water to help me out, and I accepted the help, knowing how much of a difference it made when Stephen took weight off my pack, and knowing it would be a huge burden to carry 7 more pounds in my already heavy pack. As we left, I was thinking alot. I knew that the hike back up takes 2-3 times the amount of time it takes to hike down, so I was prepared to arrive at the top late at night. Surprisingly, the hike back up was much more positive and beautiful than the hike down. I got to actually look up from my feet and behold God's glory, through His creation. Stephen and Jayden hiked back up like champions, going so far ahead of us that Ben, Bethany, and I wound up spending the entire hike up together. It was amazing, because Stephen hurt his knee and had been dealing with pain ever since the beginning of the hike, and Jayden had a really messed up ankle that he had even before the hike. Those two got "pumped" (Arnold joke) and powerhoused it back up. Hiking down felt hopeless and endless, and hiking back up gave me such hope and such motivation. Honestly, it was exhausting, but an incredibly smart man (Stephen Ortega) once told me that the limits we set for ourselves are so much lower than what we can actually do, particularly physically. I kept telling myself that even though it was hard and my body was hurting and I had to stop and pee in the rocks every few minutes, I was going to live to see another day, and this was not the end of me. After many stops and lots of false peaks (the bane of my existence), we made it to the top. My attitude had improved greatly on the way up, and the pain was more focused on my muscles rather than my joints, so everything was so much easier to deal with going back up. Also, after I realized that everyone was just trying to help and they were not just pitying me, my heart softened and it became so much more joyful.
If you are still with me, I would just like to end by sharing what I learned from this adventure.
1. It is impossible to hike the Grand Canyon without at some point praying to God that you survive, therefore I believe it is impossible for someone to hike all the way down and back up the Grand Canyon without recognizing the existence of God.
2. There is NOTHING your body cannot handle. I thought I was pain tolerant before this trip, but after hiking 20 miles over two days, with an aching body, blisters, bruises, and sunburns, I have realized that I have never even gotten close to reaching my body's limits.
3. My friends are the most loving, kind, understanding, helpful people in the whole world. I have never felt more encouraged and supported. Thank you Stephen, Ben, Bethany, and Jayden.
4. ANYTHING is achievable when you put your trust in Christ, even a 20 mile hike without any kind of preparation. The only reason I got out of that canyon is because He is full of grace and mercy, and He gave me hope to carry on even when I wanted to cash out.
5. (I hate even numbers so give me a second to think of a 5th lesson….) I learned that the most difficult things in life are the most rewarding, and nothing good comes easily or without sacrifice.
If you want to discover things about yourself and see God's beautiful creation, I HIGHLY recommend this hike. I feel as if I can do anything after defeating the Grand Canyon, and that I accomplished something I never thought I would even try.
Much love,


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Kevin Sheth, MD, FAHA, FCCM, FNCS, FANA, FAAN(Neurology)
Associate Professor of Neurology and of Neurosurgery; Associate Chair for Clinical Research, Department of Neurology; Division Chief, Neurocritical Care and Emergency Neurology; Director, Neuroscience ICU
Departments & Organizations
Neurology: Neuro Intensive Care & Neurological Emergencies | Stroke Telemedicine Program
Center for Biomedical Data Science
Center for Neuroepidemiology and Clinical Neurological Research
Center for Outcomes Research & Evaluation (CORE)
Yale Medicine
Office of Cooperative Research
Dr. Sheth graduated from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He was an intern at Brigham and Women's Hospital and a neurology resident and chief resident at Partners Neurology (Massachusetts General and Brigham & Women's Hospitals). After a fellowship in vascular neurology and neuro-critical care at Harvard, he was appointed the first neurology trained neuro-intensivist at the University of Maryland and R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. He was recruited to Yale as the founding chief of the Division of Neurocritical Care and Emergency Neurology and Chief of Clinical Research for the Department of Neurology.
His interests are in the advancement of therapies and care of patients with devastating acute neurological syndromes, especially those complicated by brain swelling and hemorrhage. He is a nationally recognized clinical and translational scientist and has directed a number of multicenter studies testing potential therapies against brain swelling, stroke, and hemorrhage. His research group also develops novel imaging and serum based biomarkers for the neuro-ICU and furthers understanding of prognosis. His research has been funded by the NIH, American Academy of Neurology, American Heart Association (AHA), US Army, and the Passano Foundation. He has also led several innovative academic-industry partnerships. He has led the initial American Heart Association working group for large stroke and swelling. Dr. Sheth is the author of over 130 publications in critical care neurology and stroke. He serves on six editorial boards including Stroke, Neurocritical Care, Neurology and Neurosurgery and has served on study sections for the NIH, AHA, FDA and NASA. He has formed exciting partnerships with entrepreneurs, pharmaceutical companies, medical device start-ups, and academic collaborators in order to bring forward highly innovative solutions. This effort has resulted in extensive knowledge of FDA pathways, development of phase I-III drug programs, and implementation of new technology into the clinical workspace. His highly collaborative work is dedicated to the improved understanding of neurological disease in the critically ill, and Dr. Sheth is committed to the care of his patients with acute brain injury.
Education & Training
|University of Pennsylvania Medical School (2003)
|Johns Hopkins University (1999)
|Fellow, Vascular Neurology & Neurocritical Care
|Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham & Women's Hospital
|Chief Resident
|Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham & Women's Hospital
|Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham & Women's Hospital
|Brigham and Women's Hospital
|Board Certification
|United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, Neurocritical Care (2010)
Honors & Recognition
Derek Denny-Brown Young Neurological Scholar AwardAmerican Neurological Association (2017)
Stroke Care in Emergency Medicine AwardAmerican Heart Association/American Stroke Association (2017)
Family Centered Care Innovation AwardSociety for Critical Care Medicine (2017)
Robert G. Siekert Stroke Investigator AwardAmerican Heart Association/American Stroke Association (2013)
Visiting Professor Award, Mannheim GermanyGerman Society of Neurocritical Care and Emergency Medicine (ANIM) Conference (2012)
Clinician Scientist AwardPassano Foundation (2012)
Best Scientific Abstract28th Princeton Stroke Conference (2012)
Inducted as FellowAmerican Heart Association (2012)
Clinical Research AwardAmerican Heart Association (2011)
Clinical Research AwardAmerican Academy of Neurology (2010)
Alpha Omega AlphaUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (2002)
Phi Beta KappaJohns Hopkins University (1999)
Professional Service
NINDS (2012 - Present) NSD-K Clinical Trials Study Section
National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) (2012 - Present) Research and Technology Development to Support Crew Health and Performance in Space Exploration Missions – "Visual Impairment and Intracranial Pressure in Astronauts"
American Heart Association (2011 - Present) Professional Education Committee
Neurocritical Care Society (2011 - Present) Neurocritical Care Research Network Executive Committee


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Berkshire County is home to a healthy population of one-of-a-kind, independently owned and operated retail stores. From little mom 'n' pop corner shops to corporations, Western Massachusetts is an oasis of unique businesses. Each started as a vision and each carries the indelible mark of a hope that became a reality. And so it is with Guido's Fresh Marketplace, the dream-child of brothers Chris and Matt Masiero. Now in its 35th year, Guido's has traveled from infancy (a roadside flower stand) through adolescence (a seasonal store at the present Berkshire Flower Co.) and has now entered into maturity (two stores and one major renovation) that fulfills the original goals and values of the Masiero brothers and their extended family.
Hard work is a given for any business to be successful; without doubt, a solid work ethic is carried in the Masiero genes. Ask any of the young Masiero generation and they'll describe their large family in terms that confirm this is one industrious clan – strong, full of integrity, driven, willing. A favorite family motto is, "If you do it, do it well," which speaks to the Masiero relentless determination to excel. That ingrained diligence and purpose kept Matt Masiero driving to the Boston produce market three to five times a week for 25 years, even when, in the early days, his truck often broke down in the middle of the night. Guido, Matt and Chris's father, encouraged Matt to keep going, while Chris faithfully came to work at 4:00 am to set up produce displays. Decades of this of energy and passion laid the foundation for the Guido's stores, and make them what they are today – vibrant, relevant and "done well!"
Working hard is tempered by abundant laughter and joy in the Masiero family. They're a close, loving, funny and outgoing, food-loving Italian family. Their collective sunny disposition spills into their stores, where every day is a happy go-to-market day and shopping is not a chore but an upbeat social event, akin to running into your favorite relatives in the market square. A positive and gregarious outlook is just the Guido's way both in the Masiero households and in the stores.
The close-knit Masiero family keeps strong family bonds through their supportive network. They cheer each other on and act as a family united through the best and most challenging of times. Their willingness to do anything for those they love is a trait that extends to helping those in need in their communities. Matt and Chris wholeheartedly support a large number of charitable causes, from veterans' organizations to literacy and education, animal welfare, environmental awareness, healthy living and numerous local museums and non-profits. Their generosity of spirit begins at home and is put into caring practice in the Guido's stores.
In 1983, when Guido's built its 1020 South Street store in Pittsfield, Matt and Chris saw the exciting move as an opportunity to bring other businesses into the family fold. Modeled after traditional bustling Italian marketplaces, the new Guido's welcomed purveyors of meat, seafood, prepared foods and flowers to assemble an all-inclusive market. The gorgeous floral department, owned by the brothers' sister Annie and her husband Chris Whalen, is a true genetic tie. Love of flowers and gardening has been passed down through the family via Jane Whalen, who was in the floral business for many years and still maintains a beautifully landscaped yard. Other tenants may not share Masiero DNA, but they are very much part of a close business family. Sharing a mutual outlook on life supports the family feel among the Guido's clutch of vendors. David Renner of the Marketplace in the Great Barrington store values hospitality first and foremost, a quality equally prized by the Masieros. David's goal is for customers to be so comfortable and served so well that they "…walk out of the store feeling even better than they did walking in," because as Einstein said, "Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile." Of his passion for food, David claims, "Love is the most important ingredient." Chris Masiero echoes this philosophy; he observes, "When you eat, what ingredient do you taste the most of? The love!" Both graduates of The Culinary Institute, it makes sense that Chris and David are wholly invested in the love of creating and serving food from the heart. Another member of Guido's family, Rob Navarino of the Chef's Shop, explains what it's like to be an honorary Masiero: "The Chef's Shop has been a part of the Guido's family of businesses since 2000. With Matt and Chris, when you're part of the business family, your part of the family. I've never felt so welcomed, so trusted and so valued in a business relationship as I have through the decade-plus that I've had the pleasure to work with the Masieros. This is how business, and family, should be."
A welcoming place where all are well-fed and content…sounds like home, sounds like Guido's! The Masieros have spent the past 35 years bringing the best of their family traditions to Berkshire County; they've done so with diligence, joy and the hope that you, too, believe that, "Food is love."


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In a recent study we read, the role of marketing is changing to become the chief advocate for customers. In fact, the #1 priority of B2B marketers in 2016 will be "understanding buyers," according to a recent survey from the IT Sales and Marketing Association. In today's world of empowered buyers, the marketers who are getting it done are those who understand their buyers best. Customer-centricity is a competitive advantage!
We tapped into the growing Cintell community for perspective from the front lines of customer-centric marketing. Here's one of their stories:
Hendrik-Jan Francke, Principal, Bright Orange Thread
Hendrik-Jan is the lead strategist at Bright Orange Thread. He and the Bright Orange Thread team apply their digital marketing, web usability and design expertise to deliver intelligently designed websites that create the best and most productive user experience possible.
When it comes to B2B marketing, his expertise is understanding how people consume information online.
Hendrik-Jan's Take on Customer-Centricity:
- To me, the phrase "customer-centric" means:
- (1) understanding the pain points of prospects and
- (2) understanding how people consume information online.
- Buyer personas are becoming more and more critical. After winging it for many years, we find that personas stop us from trying tangential experiments that are doomed to fail. They allow us to focus our blog posts, our landing pages, and our conversations with prospects.
- Lessons, tips or tricks about buyer personas:
- Buyer personas must anchor all marketing initiatives. We can all come up with some really innovative ideas, but will our prospects care? Check your personas! Only proceed if the persona would think the idea is great.
- Check them often – not only to stay familiar, but to keep them up-to-date. Revise your personas every few months and tack on new insights you gleaned from clients – and even prospects you didn't win.
- Prioritizing your personas will help you prioritize your content. Content on your website, blogs you publish, even how you speak.
His Philosophy:
- The best marketing advice he's heard: "Talk to your prospects about their issues in their language." I was trying to explain the concept of "client-in language" to a friend of mine, David Newman, when he burst forth with the perfect definition. Using your prospect's language shows you understand their pain points and builds trust.
- If companies are struggling to put buyers first: I recommend the CEO find a coach who will help him refocus himself and then the company. Without the leader of company setting the priority, it is going to be near impossible for marketing to anything but a crapshoot.
The Good Stuff:
- To understand buyers, we dig deep in the beginning. We ask copious questions during the initial stages of the sales process to uncover their issues and find out who they really are.
- We share personas, or information about our buyers with the rest of our company by keeping it easily accessible. We each have a quick bookmark of our "10 Pre-qual Qs for Prospects" questions and the Google Doc of our personas.
- Putting it in practice: Prospects know if a website will be helpful in just 5 seconds! It's important for companies to prove their relevance – and fast! We help companies see if they're speaking to their prospects with "The 5 Second Test". How does it work? We come up with an "imagine statement" that encapsulates the search goal for their top persona. Subjects imagine they have that persona's specific need and we show them the website for 5 seconds, then ask them if the website was relevant to their persona's search expectations. Surprisingly, 61% of B2B websites aren't relevant to their prospects. This is a problem we try to fix!
The Bad Stuff:
- I think it's hard for marketers / companies to create and use personas effectively because we assume we 'get' the persona. Without a regular re-read of the persona, our personal bias creeps in and shifts our understanding. For example imagine a software company who just released their latest version. It is so easy to write a serious of how-to blog posts sharing how the new features enable this and that. If your buyer personas are a CEO who focuses on the ROI of the software, technical articles are not giving them the information they seek. Blog posts focusing on success stories are a better option
- I think the biggest challenge for marketers when understanding buyers and/or building buyer personas is putting in a set of fresh eyes. It's crucial to look at things from the buyer's perspective.
Thank you to Hendrik-Jan for sharing your perspective!
Follow him on Twitter, and stay tuned for more in our series, Habits of Customer-Centric Marketers.


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When President Jimmy Carter worked with Congress to create the Department of Education as a cabinet-level division of the federal government, he – along with parents and educators – envisioned the Secretary of Education as the advocate for the nation's children and their education. I've written about the dangers of concentrating too much power in one office, of so centralizing authority that it could easily be abused. In the appointment of Betsy DeVos, a self-proclaimed opponent of public education, my cautions seem warranted as Ms. DeVos showed in her confirmation hearing little interest in and even less knowledge about the duties of her office to support the nation's schools. Her chilly and, frankly, smug interactions with the senators questioning her, and her fierce devotion to dismantling our public schools to replace them with a "market" of commercial and religious schools, means the struggle to protect, enhance and support our children's schools will take our keenest vigilance, our collective advocacy, and our best ideas.
And that got me to thinking: what if… What if the Secretary of Education understood the gravity of the position: "I am the face of the nation's children in every meeting of the president's Cabinet. I am the voice of America's children and the first and strongest advocate for their well-being and their education." I started wondering what such a person, stepping into the role in a spirit of humility and deep obligation to our children, would do.
Feel free to cue up John Lennon's "Imagine" as you imagine along with me:
Imagine a Secretary of Education who rushes to meet with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, saying "You and I have a job to do. Children learn best when they are healthy. I need you to work with me to make sure every child in America has good, affordable health insurance and a doctor and well-staffed clinic nearby."
Imagine a Secretary of Education who insists on a meeting with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, reminding him that children learn best when they and their family have a safe place to live. "Together," she would say, "we need to bring in mayors, school leaders, builders, bankers, and members of Congress to come up with -- and fund and stay on top of -- creative solutions to the need for affordable housing all across the country."
Imagine a Secretary of Education who understands what it means to work hard and still struggle to support a family, who knows that holding two jobs and still making minimum wage leaves little time to read to your kids. Imagine that Secretary of Education summoning the Secretary of Labor to get together over coffee to hammer out a plan for federal legislation to guarantee a fair and living wage – with benefits – for America's workers. If such a plan needs input about tax laws, she would invite the Secretary of the Treasury to join them. If the president is serious about a huge federal infrastructure investment, bring in the financial advisers to make sure all the jobs created pay fair wages, with benefits.
Imagine a Secretary of Education who pleads with the Attorney General: "Look, I know your record on civil rights is not stellar, but this is your chance to correct that legacy. American kids are counting on me to make sure they are all treated fairly, whether at home or at school or in their communities. I need you to help make sure no one discriminates against a child because of his race, her religion, their gender or culture or country of origin. Jeff, you can do this – and without you, I can't be sure we can get all these kids through school."
Imagine a Secretary of Education who knows that little minds have trouble learning when the children are afraid. She would march over to the Homeland Security building and barge in on the Secretary's border enforcement budget meeting: "If kids think they might be picked up by ICE, or that their parents may disappear while they are at school, they can't concentrate on their lessons. You know that rounding up immigrants violates our cherished due process protections and just makes people in our country and abroad cynical about America's commitment to the rule of law. Work with me here. We can come up with creative ways to protect families – and it will take both of us to convince Jeff Sessions and the loudest anti-immigrant supporters of the President. But an education is a human right. We're Cabinet members! We can do this!"
Imagine a Secretary of Education who can't bear the thought of hungry children, children whose neighborhoods may be "food deserts" without healthy grocery stores or farmers' markets, children eating un-nutritious fast foods that are cheaper than vegetables. That Secretary of Education would call on the Secretary of Agriculture to collaborate in ways that benefit farmers, children and healthy grocery stores.
She's the same Secretary who would venture to the Pentagon to enlist the Secretary of Defense in removing the military's access to students' personal social media information and school records and instead using the power of his office to advocate for publicly-funded higher education so that poor youth don't have to see fighting in wars as their only path to a skill and an education.
A sign in my office urges "Imagine the Possibilities." Yes, let's do! Let's imagine what would be possible for America's children and their education if a Secretary of Education assumed that office in the spirit of humility and obligation that being the voice of America's children requires. We believe all children can learn. Imagine for a minute that all adults – including those in high office – can too.


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BBC Review
One can't help but be touched by many of these amiable, sparsely furnished folk tunes.
Sid Smith 2009
In 1968, the UK's house hippie was getting into mind-expanding form. Originally released as two separate albums, the electric-leaning Wear Your Love Like Heaven and the acoustic-only For Little Ones were eventually combined into what must surely be one of the first box sets in pop music.
Complete with poetry and prints, couched in the flowery prose of the day, this seminal offering urged young people everywhere to give up drugs as a way of exploring consciousness and look instead towards spirituality.
Transcendental meditation was where it was at, and if there was any doubt what he was going on about, then the picture of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on the back cover provided a clue.
So far, so groovy. However, one of the greatest problems listening to this musically fertile period is the singer's irksome tendency to intone certain couplets with a cod-Indian accent, as though underscoring the esoteric significance contained therein.
Putting such arch-mannerisms aside, the languid pop bliss found on the Mickie Most produced single, Wear Your Love Like Heaven, and whimsical Oh Gosh has the kind of vibe that Belle And Sebastian have spent an entire career trying to recreate.
Strip out the off-the-peg Eastern philosophy and you're left with lightweight pop replete with bags of period charm.
Interestingly though, it's For Little Ones that has lasted the better of the two. Island Of Islay (reputedly the Yogi's favourite track) shows Donovan at his most disarming, and one can't help but be touched by many of these amiable, sparsely furnished folk tunes.


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Related Information for Amy Adams There are at least two artists by the name Amy Adams.1) Amy Lou Adams, American actress who starred in the 2007 Disney musical Enchanted.2) Amy Christina Adams, American singer and finalist in the third season of American Idol.1) Amy Lou Adams (born August 20, 1974 in Vicenza, Italy) is an American actress. Adams began her performing career on stage in dinner theaters before making her screen debut in the 1999 black comedy film "Drop Dead Gorgeous". After a series of television.. read more


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Review : ZA Blush Vibrante in PinkNovember 24, 2014
A year ago, I've acquired this blush on from ZA called ZA blush vibrante as an award. The award is for having a pearly white smile. Ahaha! I'm just so happy that day that I keep on smiling, little did I know that it's part of a prizes category. Actually they awarded me with a makeup set and this blush is just part it.
ZA Blush Vibrante "A versatile blusher compact that enhances your cheeks, or acts as an all-over face highlighter. The combination of matte and shimmer textures offers you the choice of a natural look or a glistening glow for more impact."
WHAT I THOUGHTZA Blush Vibrante is a duo blusher. One side is for the blush on and the other side is for the highlighter. It is sold in 4 colors and I had mine in pink which I totally adore.
- Affordable. This blusher can be found on drugstore counters, so you get the idea.
- I love how natural the shade looks on my face. It's nothing dramatic but looks like a natural glow on your cheeks just like a cute baby with rosy cheeks. We'll close to that. :)
- It's a duo blusher. One side is the blush and the other side is the highlighter. So if you want to add some shimmer on your blush you can mix it together with the the highlighter which can also be use to highlight your nose bridge and specific areas on your face.
- It's matte! Perfect for an everyday look.
- It doesn't break me out. Note: I have a combination skin.
- The shimmer has subtle shimmers which I find really good especially for everyday use because I like to mix my blusher with the highlighter.
- Long lasting. I don't usually reapply so I'm surprised that it last me from 9am till night.
- Travel friendly.
- It's not very pigmented so you may have to reapply it a few times.
I mostly have praises for this blusher from ZA. I love how au naturel it looks on my face. Feels like I don't apply a blusher at all. I would totally recommend. You might want to check them out at http://www.za-cosmetics.com/.