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By Eleanore K. Szymanski
Planning for important lifetime family needs isn't easy, but it's something that must be done by everyone.
To make this job even more daunting is the fact that this critical planning deals with the uncertainty of the future.
As with any large undertaking, it helps to first review some appropriate rules of thumb to get a sense of "how much" is needed for current and future needs and second to break the "how much" down into smaller pieces or numbers that are easier to deal with.
Here are some widely used rules of thumb to broadly show "how much" might be needed for different purposes:
- To achieve financial independence at an early age.
Every worker should get into the habit of investing (and not touching until retirement) 10 percent of every paycheck. If parents could instill this one rule of thumb in their children, the whole world of retirement planning would be dramatically altered. The younger one learns this discipline, the better.
- To keep a cash reserve for emergencies.
Homeowners should initiate a home equity line of credit to use in emergencies and only keep a nominal amount of cash available (say $5,000 to $10,000). This will allow them to invest the rest. Renters and non-homeowners might keep a cash reserve equivalent to 3 to 6 months of expenses.
- To save for a child's college.
Funding a newborn's future college cost of, say, $40,000 a year for four years or $160,000 would require investing about $6,000 each year for the next 18 years at a 5 percent return. If that does not seem possible from the outset, plan for the child to fund a portion. A 529 college savings plan is the perfect vehicle because the growth is tax free. Also, grandparents and other relatives can add to the plan for birthday or Christmas gifts over the years.
- To provide for a family in case of death.
Said another way, how much life insurance is needed? It may not be possible to fund a spouse's needs for the rest of their lives, although it would be preferable to do so. At the very least, however, it would be good to provide for the family while the children are dependent.
If the family annual living expenses are $60,000, and the children will be dependent for the next 15 years, the wage earner should consider initiating term life insurance of $900,000 ($60,000 x 15).
For younger and healthier parents, the premiums could be reasonably affordable. If these life insurance premiums are still not affordable, then lower the amount of insurance — but young wage earners should have some life insurance to provide for their surviving family.
- To fund lifetime needs after retirement.
The classical rule of thumb would be to have an investment portfolio at retirement from which a retiree only needs to withdraw 4 percent per year for life (for example, $500,000 of investments would produce $20,000 a year at 4 percent per year). This means that the total amount needed to cover annual living expenses would be expected to come from a combination of Social Security, pension and this 4 percent of investments.
- To produce reasonable long-term returns on investments.
This requires a long-term target asset allocation of 50 to 60 percent in equities (stock-based) and 40 to 50 percent in fixed-income (bond-based) investments, regardless of your age.
A higher concentration in equities than 50 to 60 percent produces excessive volatility and risk of loss. A higher concentration in bonds than 40 to 50 percent will likely not provide sufficient growth to protect against future inflation. The age-old rule of thumb that older persons should invest primarily in bonds or fixed-income investments is one rule that I consider dangerous to follow because of the associated risks.
- To have your investment portfolio double in value all by itself.
The "Rule of 72" gives an expectation for doubling of investments, depending on the time period and rate of return. Simply put, the Rule of 72 shows how long it will take for a portfolio to double at an assumed growth rate divided by 72. The important thing is to expect a portfolio to double over time irregardless of the economic times.
It is important to keep in mind that rules of thumb are only a first cut to assess the reasonableness of a plan of action. Even so, their function allows you to move ahead into an uncertain future with more confidence.
There is no substitute for actual numbers and experience; therefore, your plan should include regular monitoring and verifying a course of action over time.
Eleanore K. Szymanski is a fee-only certified financial planner practitioner and principal of EKS Associates of Princeton and The Financial Planning Answerplace, LLC. You may send questions to her at firstname.lastname@example.com or email@example.com.


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Canoe journey visits Tulalip
TULALIP It was gridlock at the beach as more than 80 tribal canoes landed at Tulalip Bay last week during a stop on their way to the Lummi Indian Reservation. Scores of canoes plied the calm waters of the Tulalip Bay, stacking up like airliners at Sea-Tac International Airport.
The 2007 Intertribal Canoe Journey attracted thousands to the reservation as paddlers on the beach met peddlers on the shore, and natives of just about every band, nation and tribe from the coast met in a feast of friendship.
They were all making their way to the Lummi Stomish Grounds near Bellingham, where as many as 12,000 people were expected for the Lummis first traditional potlatch since 1937.
Under a bright sun the bay filled with canoes on the horizon coming from Hat Island. Crowds cheered as tribe after tribe paddled to the shore, beaching in front of the Tulalip Longhouse and tying up to each other as they waited for formal permission to land from Tulalip leaders.
This was the 13th journey since 1989 and last years final stop at the Muckleshoot Tribe hosted an estimated 40,000 visitors. Its a big deal for natives and a source of pride to be able to provide for that many friends and relatives, according to many tribal members.
Gene Sampson is a member of the Hoh Nation, near Forks on the Washington coast, and he has been paddling during the event since 1996. He was attracting lots of attention with his cedar bark hat topped with a skinned coyote, with another skin wrapped around his waist for good measure. He has paddled with the Hoh canoe for years, but this year he stayed ashore while his mate was in the canoe. He said the canoe journey was a powerful way to relive and revive tribal culture, especially for the coastal Indians.
Its hard to get our kids away from their iPods and Xboxes and things like that, Sampson said. A lot of them think its over, but these canoe journeys teach them that its still going. One ride, one circle, and its for life.
He cited one tribal friend who had faced his share of challenges and burdens. He wasnt looking too good but after an infusion of pride and culture he looked like he won $10 million dollars.
Sampson works to maintain the native language and songs, and took great pride in his drum witch featured an eagle curled over a map of the Puget Sound region, with a canoe superimposed overall. The eagle is named Eli, and the beater is an eagle too, this one named Woolio. Woolio is a son to Eli, Sampson explained.
This is my diary, he said, pointing to the many stops and journeys painted on the worn leather skin.
Hi cuz, love you, good to see you, he shouted to a passerby as he elaborated on his mission to revise the coastal Salish songs of the Quinalt and Quileute tribes. The music is the right bait to lure youngsters back to their heritage, according to Sampson.
Its about the songs that change our people. This way those kids learn the respect.
Lummi Indian Patrick Georges tribal name is Ctsamahzoot. He was particularly proud of the fact that his nation could host the thousand of visitors due to hit town on July 30. The canoe journey attracts tribes from all over the Pacific Northwest including many from British Columbia. The Intertribal Canoe Journey will be the Lummis first potlatch since 1937.
The pride is going to speak for itself, George exulted as canoe after canoe tied up along the shore below. Were doing the best we can to make everybody welcome.
George said his tribe started paddling at the Lower Elwah Tribe, and has prayed and meditated at each stop.
Its a good, clean spiritual life, George said. Were trying to leave our notch in our life.
Tulalip Tribes general manager Shelly Lacy said it was much more than a family reunion to her and her peers. The Tribes hosted the journey in 2003.
It just makes our heart happy that our relatives visit us each year, Lacy said. Its coming together again as a people to celebrate who we are as a people.
The paddlers waited for more than an hour as tribal leaders welcomed them from the bluff hanging over the bay, often enduring the jibes of Tribal leader Mel Sheldon, Jr. as well as greetings from Tribal board members Marie Zackuse, Glen Gobin and Tony Hatch.
We are honored by your presence and your song and I hope we can get to know each other better tonight, Sheldon said. He promised a good feast and warm showers for everybody.
The potlatch will last for about five days and features many events. Sampson said it is a time for healing and forgiveness. Its nothing to see family members apologizing to each other in front of 5,000 or 6,000 people, and many outcasts or long-lost members are brought back into the fold, he said.
Ive seen families patch each other up on these journeys, Sampson said.
He laughed at the memory of the 96-97 Indigenous Games, where a contingent of Royal Canadian Mounted Police manned two fiberglass shells and joined 40 other canoes at a similar event. That was bridging two very different cultures and the intertribal journey is the same thing, on a much larger scale.
You didnt need phones to make that connection, Sampson said.
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Mineral Titles
October 7, 2015
- Mineral Titles Branch Website Transformation
The Mineral Titles Branch website has been updated to the new Government web format.
Please delete your existing bookmarks that may point to this
decommissioned Mineral Titles Branch website
and create new bookmarks for our new
Mineral Titles Branch website. This new site is accessible with the www.MineralTitles.gov.bc.ca URL, however, you may need to delete your cookies on your computer to ensure the redirects work properly.
NOTE: This decommissioned website is no longer being updated.


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This is not sustainable.
Contacts May Affect Eye Microbiome
March 23, 2016|
The bacterial communities in the eyes of contact lens wearers resemble those of the skin, according to a study.
March 23, 2016|
The bacterial communities in the eyes of contact lens wearers resemble those of the skin, according to a study.
March 22, 2016|
At first blush, do-it-yourself clinical trials seem pointless and reckless. But a deeper truth pervades the research and the patients who drive it forward.
March 22, 2016|
A new genomic analysis reveals that the pathogen responsible for the gastrointestinal disease likely originated in Europe and hitched a ride to new lands with settlers.
March 18, 2016|
Answer some brief questions and help us determine the most current salary outlook for life scientists and earn a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card.
March 14, 2016|
Researchers discover a new species of bacteria that can break down a commonly used plastic.
March 10, 2016|
Every time Emily Temple-Wood receives an inappropriate email, she writes a Wikipedia entry about a woman scientist.
March 3, 2016|
On "vaginal seeding" and the challenge of evidence-based parenting
March 2, 2016|
Dictyostelium discoideum produce extracellular nets that can kill bacteria, just as phagocytes in people and other higher animals do, according to a study.
March 2, 2016|
The genome of a mimivirus strain resistant to a virophage has repeated phage sequences alongside nuclease- and helicase-coding sections.
March 1, 2016|
Herding Hemingway's Cats, Hair: A Human History, Restless Creatures, and The Mind Club


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More talk about passenger train service to Bristol
BRISTOL, Va. - There's more talk about bringing passenger rail service back to Bristol.
The Twin Cities have been trying to lure Amtrak for years. They say it would help businesses downtown.
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell says there is some money in the transportation budget to investigate extending the rail service from Roanoke to Bristol. He says there's some planning money in the six-year plan.
The governor also pointed out it would be expensive due to a large amount of uneven terrain in the region.
The governor announced Friday that Amtrak would be extended from Lynchburg to Roanoke. Amtrak said six months ago they would extend their rails from Richmond to Norfolk.


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Derrick Mason wants to retire as a Raven
Wide receiver Derrick Mason played the majority of his career for the Tennessee Titans. He was drafted by the Oilers in 1997 and played in a Super Bowl with the Titans.
But after playing six seasons in the Charm City for the Ravens (2005-2010), Mason views himself as a Raven deep down.
Mason, 38, the franchise's all-time leader in career receptions and receiving yards, told The Baltimore Sun's Matt Vensel on Friday that he hopes to retire as a Raven. And, according to Vensel, Mason has spoken to team officials about his wish, and it will likely happen once he officially retires.
In his time with the Ravens, Mason set franchise records in catches (471) and receiving yards (5,777). His 29 receiving touchdowns are second only to Todd Heap's 41.
After getting released by the Ravens last offseason, the Michigan State product started his final season with the New York Jets, but was traded to the Houston Texans and then was released.
Mason, renowned for his route-running abilities, hauled in 943 passes for 12,061 yards and 66 touchdowns in 15 seasons. His 943 receptions rank him 11th all-time in that category. Mason's best statistical season in Baltimore came in 2007, when he recorded a career-high 103 catches for 1,087 yards and five touchdowns.
He was also selected to two Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams in 2000 and 2003 as a member of the Titans.


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The Rob Boldens vs. Joe Paterno soap opera shows no sign of abating.
Joe Paterno is determined not to release Rob Bolden from his scholarship while Bolden's father is adamant in his wish to not have his son play football for Penn State.
According to a PennLive.com poll and scores on comments, fans have generally sided with Joe Paterno although many also see the Boldens' side of the story.
PennLive.com reader TheMatt offers a comparison to another famous quarterback transfer case: Cam Newton.
TheMatt's tale is a cautionary one for the Boldens and urges them not to bring an NCAA investigation onto Rob's eventual school.
TheMatt writes:
"Bolden's father must have an idol and I believe that idol is Cam Newton's father. Seems to me that Mr. Bolden believes his son is the greatest player in the land and seems to have taken control of what his son will do, or at least comes off that way. He says he has had conversations with over 20 schools already? How long has he been shopping out his son? The game was on Saturday. His dad is probably going to turn out to be his son's own worst enemy if he doesn't let Rob do what he wants. If I was only to give Mr. Bolden one piece of advice (even though I have many) I would tell him to keep his mouth shut or he is going to find himself on the wrong end of an NCAA investigation."
But would Rob Bolden really be so bad following in Cam Newton's footsteps? After Newton left Florida, he gained valuable experience leading Blinn Junior College to an NJCAA championship.
Related topicsJoe Paterno, Rob Bolden, Cam Newton
Related stories
- Penn State coach Joe Paterno plays rough with the Boldens
- Vote: Who's right in PSU's transfer drama, Bolden or Paterno?
- NCAA regulations governing Rob Bolden's transfer
- A look at Penn State true freshman quarterback Rob Bolden's options
- Penn State freshman quarterback Rob Bolden not the one to blame for planned transfer
This year, his first as Division I starter, he won the Heisman Trophy, earned Auburn a spot in the BCS National Championship game and is now a likely first round NFL draft choice.
Of course, Newton and Bolden have vastly different quarterback styles but Cam has clearly thrived after a change of scenery and a chance to start.
And the NCAA still has yet to penalize Auburn or Cam Newton for any infractions.
So why wouldn't Rob Bolden, Sr. want to be like Cecil Newton?
Share your thoughts and opinions below.


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VERGENNES FIRE CHIEF Ralph Jackman waves to the crowd from a vintage fire truck during the Fourth of July parade in Bristol Saturday morning. Jackman celebrated his country's and his own birthday on July 4.
Independent photo/Trent Campbell
The latest in Addison County news, every Monday and Thursday.
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Copyright 2011 Addison Independent | 58 Maple Street, Middlebury, Vt. 05753 | All Rights Reserved
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|Green web hosting
WebHost.pro Is proud to announce that we have new servers that use recycled parts and a third less energy then before. With better air circulation and processor utilization our new eco-friendly servers effect our overall business structure and help us contribute to a greener more sustainable web hosting service. As an ongoing pursuit we will continually focus on ways to leave less of a carbon footprint and to stay lurking for new environmental friendly ways to run a better web hosting service in the years to come.
Sustainable business, or green business, is enterprise that has little or no negative impact on the global or local environment, community, society, or economy a business that strives to meet the triple bottom line. Often, sustainable businesses have progressive environmental and human rights policies.
A sustainable business is any organization that participates in environmentally-friendly or green activities to ensure that all processes, products, and manufacturer activities adequately address current environmental concerns while maintaining a profit. In other words, it is a business that meets the needs of the present world without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs. It is the process of assessing how to design products that will take advantage of the current environmental situation and how well a company's products perform with renewable resources.
The Brundtland Report emphasized that sustainability is a three-legged stool of people, planet, and profit. Sustainable businesses with the supply chain try to balance all three through the triple-bottom-line concept using sustainable development and sustainable distribution to impact the environment, business growth, and the society.
Everyone affects the sustainability of the marketplace and the planet in some way. Sustainable development within a business can create value for customers, investors, and the environment. A sustainable business must meet customer needs while, at the same time, treating the environment well.
Industry Leading RoHS Compliance
DWHS's RoHS Compliance
About RoHS...
Restrictions pertaining to the use of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) are new industry requirements for environmental protection and recycling. RoHS is changing the world-wide electronics industry. And DWHS is doing its part to produce environmentally safe products.
European Union
* Lead (Pb)
California and the Americas
Taiwan, Korea, Australia
RoHS is not 100% Lead Free
* Lead and its compounds


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A Robertsdale woman died at the scene of a head-on collision late Saturday night east of Loxley.
Wanda L. Lutreel, 68, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle, Mark Howard, also of Robertsdale, was taken to USA Medical Center for treatment, according to the Alabama Department of Public Safety.
Baldwin County Coroner Stan Vinson said the accident occurred around 10:30 p.m. Saturday on Baldwin County 62 east of the intersection with Baldwin County 83.
According to the state troopers, Lutrell was eastbound when Howard, who was westbound, veered into her lane and struck her head-on.
State troopers are investigating the accident.


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New Music
Peter Frampton - Thank You Mr Churchill Pop
- Summary
- Reviews / Ratings
- Photos
- Videos
- Events
Thank You Mr Churchill is the fourteenth notch of Frampton's in-studio bedpost. Best known for his readily identifiable guitar playing as a solo and guest artist, Frampton is a former member of Steve Marriott's Humble Pie (five albums) and before that seminal psychedlicists The Herd. Those swinging London roots are hinted at on the cover, which shows a WWII Spitfire resplendent with the very target symbols Frampton & Co. appropriated in their modish youth. The album track "Road to the Gun" was recorded with son Julian's band Smoking Gun, a nice inter-generational touch.
More Details
Released - Tuesday, April 27 , 2010
- Thank You Mr. Churchill
- Solution
- Road to the Sun (with Smoking Gun feat. Julian Frampton)
- I'm Due a You
- Vaudeville Nanna and the Banjolele
- Asleep at the Wheel
- Suite: Liberte - A. Megumi B. Huria Watu
- Restraint
- I Want it Back
- Invisible Man
- Black Ice


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The San Francisco 49ers got down to their 75-man roster on Tuesday. They waived seven players, including Jewel Hampton; released David Reed, moved four players to the NFI list, including Marcus Lattimore and put three people on the PUP list, including NaVorro Bowman.
They have one more game Thursday night against the Houston Texans to make the final roster decisions, before reducing to the team down to the final 53 players on Aug. 30. That means 22 more players must be released, placed on various injury lists or traded away by 1 p.m.
The 49ers just released their unofficial depth chart for the Houston game, their first with the 75-man roster. While that's filled out by the media department and not the coaching staff, it gives us a good picture of which players are hanging out on the fringes of the team and who will need good performances against Houston to ensure their spot on the final roster.
Let's compare the current depth chart with the one from before the preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens to see who is rising, who is falling and who could find themselves without a team come Sunday.


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Results tagged ' A's '
Prospecting in Japan
I haven't done much in the past regarding international signings. Not that I haven't wanted to, it's just that it seems other things get in the way. Every year I promise myself to do more, particularly with the young amateurs signed from Latin America. We'll see if I can do better in 2011.
For now, though, I'm venturing east. Far East, that is. Players coming from Japan aren't really prospects, at least as how I see it. But they are eligible for Rookie of the Year consideration, so I should take a look at them when given the opportunity. So I reached out to some Pacific Rim scouts I know to get some info. on the two Japanese players getting most of the attention these days.
The first is RHP Hisashi Iwakuma. The A's bid $19.1 million for the rights to negotiate with the right-hand and have until Dec. 7 to try and get something done. There's been a lot of buzz about the talks, or the lack thereof. Whether or not they have stopped talking, or whether the amounts agent Don Nomura has floated out there are accurate, here's a breakdown of what Iwakuma might bring to the table should he come to the U.S. in 2011:
Most scouts see Iwakuma as a No. 3 starter in Major League Baseball. He has several pitches in his arsenal and knows how to pitch. One scout reported he throws a fastball, slider, curve and splitter. All are heavy with downward action, making him an extreme ground-ball pitcher when he's on. The fastball sits in the upper 80s, but touches low 90s. The slider is an average pitch, while one scout said the curve is more of a show-me pitch only. He's got great command, but nibbles too much. More than one scout made comments about him holding back at times in Japan, while one said that has led some to question his intestinal fortitude on the mound. He does tend to avoid the spotlight, but did pitch very effectively in the World Baseball Classic.
The other player is infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka, whom the Twins just bid $5 million for the rights to negotiate with. They have until Dec. 26 to get a deal done. He picked up his third Gold Glove in Japan this year and has said he'd be fine playing shortstop or second if/when he comes over. The 26-year-old just won a batting title by hitting .346 this past season. There have been some obvious parallels made to Ichiro (speedy leadoff type, slap hitter), though Nishioka has had injury issues Ichiro never has. Scouts have mixed feelings about Nishioka:
One scout felt he'd be more like a Kaz Matsui or Kosuke Fukudome type, with not nearly an Ichiro-type impact. He is a plus runner — one scout gave him an 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale for his speed. That hasn't always translated to good base-running skills as his base-stealing percentages haven't been great. He can hit a little from both sides of the plate. He's more of a slap hitter from the right side, showing some gap power from the left. He's got a bit of a bail in his swing, one that's been seen in other Japanese hitters. It causes him to open up his front side too early, so what power he has shown might not translate once he comes here. He hasn't always shown great focus and attitude, but winning a title this past year might have helped. So might coming here, as it's long been a goal of his to play in the Majors here. Most feel he's much better suited to second base than shortstop on an every-day basis. He's drawn a comparison to a player like Erick Aybar
Playoff previews — MiLB style
Hey all. It's playoff time in the Minors as most of the leagues get their postseason underway (or have in the last day or two). With that in mind, we've efforted to provide some features on key players who are getting the chance to play for a ring. And you can ask anyone, playing for a ring is huge, no matter what level it's at.
Some of the stories have gone up already, others will arrive in the coming days. But here are links to each of the features currently up on MLB.com. Some were written by yours truly, some by MLB.com reporter Bailey Stephens. I've also linked to the playoff previews done by the fine MiLB.com staff.
Northwest League: First-rounder Michael Choice (A's) gets taste of playoffs
(Sadly, Vancouver and Choice have already been eliminated
NY-Penn League: Cory Vaughn (Mets) hopes to power Brooklyn to title
(Vaughn doubled and tripled in Brooklyn's 7-6 Game 1 loss).
South Atlantic League: Jonathan Singleton (Phillies) leads Lakewood in search of second straight
Florida State League: Former No. 1 pick Tim Beckham (Rays) continues climb
(Beckham went 1-for-4 in a Game 1 loss to Bradenton)
Eastern League: Yankees' prospect Andrew Brackman continues comeback
Still to come:
Texas League: Royals lefty John Lamb joins elite staff in NW Arkansas
And hopefully a couple more when all is said and done.


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BATTLE CREEK -- In early February, Josh Davies, assistant brewer at Arcadia Brewing Company, gave us a tour inside the almost 80-year-old building that was originally a Chevy dealership and now produces some of the area's tastiest British-style ales.
Davies, who has been with company since May, shows you around Arcadia's brewing facility from the hop percolator to the open-top fermenters to the "dinosaur" bottling machine, known affectionately as "Bertha."
|Arcadia Brewing Company


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Luring a grocer to the Federal City development in Algiers is among the items up for discussion Wednesday (Feb. 6), when the Joint Development Committee meets for the first time since it was created in October. The committee is the answer to a years-old dispute between a public board and a nonprofit that have been at odds over how to best govern the conversion of the shuttered Naval Support Activity into a mixed-use development.
Much of the meeting will be spent bringing new committee members up to speed on the project. Three of the seven members have no first-hand experience with Federal City, which is one of the state's top economic development projects. The state provided $150 million for Federal City, most of it through Louisiana Economic Development's "Mega Fund," which was used to build the project's anchor, the Marine Corps Support Facility.
The committee will have a large say on how the remaining money will be spent. Its first order of business Wednesday, however, will be to elect a chairman, a post held currently by New Orleans City Councilwoman Kristin Palmer. The committee also will discuss transitional matters, according to the meeting agenda.
The committee is a public-private partnership between the Algiers Development District board, comprised of elected officials or their appointments, and the New Orleans Federal Alliance, a nonprofit created specifically to govern Federal City. Mayor Mitch Landrieu and GNO Inc., also have appointees on the committee.
The Algiers board and alliance, while both working on the economic development project, grew apart in early 2011, after the Navy was authorized in federal law to give up the land. Because it signed the lease with the Navy allowing Federal City to happen, the Algiers board will own the property. Algiers board members became publicly critical of the alliance's work on Federal City and backed away from a 2007 agreement to provide the alliance with operating money.
The committee was born from the dispute. The committee was formalized in an agreement the Algiers board and alliance signed in October. The last of the committee members were appointed last month.
The Algiers board's representatives are Palmer, state Rep. Jeff Arnold and Rick Legendre, who was an aid to former U.S. Rep. Bob Livingston and a founding member of the congressman's lobbying firm, The Livingston Group.
The alliance named two of its members to the committee: Norma Grace, who retired from the University of New Orleans as a vice chancellor; and Bob Farnsworth, senior vice president for capital programs at the National World War II Museum.
Landrieu appointed his economic development adviser, Aimee Quirk. GNO Inc. appointed William "Bill" Oliver, the former AT&T and Bellsouth executive.
A large grocery has always been considered for Federal City, as the Algiers Point area has none. Residents either go to Gretna or to a cluster of groceries on Gen. de Gaulle Drive and Holiday Drive. A grocery was factored into the Federal City master plan commissioned by the alliance and created after a series of public meetings.
Separately, the Algiers board has considered locating a grocery on a piece of property it owns on Newton Street at Behrman Avenue, across from Harriet Tubman Charter School. The property borders the Navy-owned land and was owned by the Orleans Parish School Board, which auctioned several of its properties citywide.
The Joint Development Committee meeting is scheduled to start at 9 a.m., in Algiers.


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Thalamic cholinergic innervation and postural sensory integration function in Parkinson's disease
The pathophysiology of postural instability in Parkinson's disease remains poorly understood. Normal postural function depends in part on the ability of the postural control system to integrate visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular sensory information. Degeneration of cholinergic neurons in the brainstem pedunculopontine nucleus complex and their thalamic efferent terminals has been implicated in postural control deficits in Parkinson's disease. Our aim was to investigate the relationship of cholinergic terminal loss in thalamus and cortex, and nigrostriatal dopaminergic denervation, on postural sensory integration function in Parkinson's disease. We studied 124 subjects with Parkinson's disease (32 female/92 male; 65.5 ± 7.4 years old; 6.0 ± 4.2 years motor disease duration; modified Hoehn and Yahr mean stage 2.4 ± 0.5) and 25 control subjects (10 female/15 male, 66.8 ± 10.1 years old). All subjects underwent 11C-dihydrotetrabenazine vesicular monoaminergic transporter type 2 and 11C-methylpiperidin-4-yl propionate acetylcholinesterase positron emission tomography and the sensory organization test balance platform protocol. Measures of dopaminergic and cholinergic terminal integrity were obtained, i.e. striatal vesicular monoaminergic transporter type 2 binding (distribution volume ratio) and thalamic and cortical acetylcholinesterase hydrolysis rate per minute (k3), respectively. Total centre of pressure excursion (speed), a measure of total sway, and sway variability were determined for individual sensory organization test conditions. Based on normative data, principal component analysis was performed to reduce postural sensory organization functions to robust factors for regression analysis with the dopaminergic and cholinergic terminal data. Factor analysis demonstrated two factors with eigenvalues >2 that explained 52.2% of the variance, mainly reflecting postural sway during sensory organization test Conditions 1–3 and 5, respectively. Regression analysis of the Conditions 1–3 postural sway-related factor [R2adj = 0.123, F(5,109) = 4.2, P = 0.002] showed that decreased thalamic cholinergic innervation was associated with increased centre of pressure sway speed (β = −0.389, t = −3.4, P = 0.001) while controlling for covariate effects of cognitive capacity and parkinsonian motor impairments. There was no significant effect of cortical cholinergic terminal deficits or striatal dopaminergic terminal deficits. This effect could only be found for the subjects with Parkinson's disease. We conclude that postural sensory integration function of subjects with Parkinson's disease is modulated by pedunculopontine nucleus-thalamic but not cortical cholinergic innervation. Impaired integrity of pedunculopontine nucleus cholinergic neurons and their thalamic efferents play a role in postural control in patients with Parkinson's disease, possibly by participating in integration of multimodal sensory input information.
- Parkinson's disease
- pedunculopontine nucleus
- postural sensory organization
- positron emission tomography
- acetylcholine
Postural instability is a common and disabling feature of Parkinson's disease but the underlying pathophysiology of impaired postural control in Parkinson's disease remains unclear. Postural functions depend in part on integration of sensory information from visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular systems. Previous studies indicate that integration of relevant sensory information may be affected in patients with Parkinson's disease (Chong et al., 1999; Frenklach et al., 2009; Rossi et al., 2009; Colnat-Coulbois et al., 2011).
Parkinson's disease is a multisystem neurodegeneration syndrome. Nigrostriatal dopaminergic denervation is a key pathobiological marker of Parkinson's disease; however, degeneration of major cholinergic projection systems can occur early in Parkinson's disease (Bohnen and Albin, 2009, 2011; Bohnen et al., 2012). The brainstem pedunculopontine complex provides cholinergic inputs to the thalamus, cerebellum, several brainstem nuclei, basal ganglia and the spinal cord (Heckers et al., 1992; Martinez-Gonzalez et al., 2011). Pathological studies of Parkinson's disease report significant degeneration of large cholinergic neurons of the lateral part of the pedunculopontine nucleus, pars compacta (Hirsch et al., 1987; Jellinger, 1988; Zweig et al., 1989; Gai et al., 1991; Rinne et al., 2008). The basal forebrain corticopetal complex, including the nucleus basalis of Meynert, provides the principal cholinergic input to the entire cortical mantle (Mesulam and Geula, 1988). Degeneration of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons is described well in post-mortem Parkinson's disease brains (Arendt et al., 1983; Candy et al., 1983).
There is accumulating evidence that postural instability in Parkinson's disease cannot be attributed to striatal dopaminergic denervation alone. Recent findings support a putative role for cholinergic system degeneration, in particular pedunculopontine cholinergic neuron loss, in the pathophysiology of postural imbalance in Parkinson's disease. Our previous in vivo PET studies showed that Parkinson's disease fallers had significantly decreased thalamic (i.e. pedunculopontine nucleus) cholinergic innervation compared with Parkinson's disease non-fallers, whereas there was no difference in the degree of nigrostriatal dopaminergic denervation between these two groups (Bohnen et al., 2009, 2012). These findings were corroborated by recent post-mortem results (Karachi et al., 2010). Treatment with the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil produced reductions in the number of falls in frequently falling patients with Parkinson's disease (Chung et al., 2010). Degeneration of the cholinergic basal forebrain corticopetal complex may contribute also to postural impairments in Parkinson's disease. This system is associated with executive function and attentional capacity; both important for normal postural function (Woollacott and Shumway-Cook, 2002). Loss of cortical cholinergic innervation is associated with impairments in these and other cognitive functions (Bohnen et al., 2006b), which may affect postural control in Parkinson's disease (Bohnen and Albin, 2011; Yarnall et al., 2011). Basal forebrain cholinergic deficits, however, would not be expected to directly affect sensory integration. Cholinergic pedunculopontine neurons innervate virtually the whole thalamus, including sensory afferent and cerebellar relay nuclei that may mediate important aspects of sensory integration for postural control (Martinez-Gonzalez et al., 2011).
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between cholinergic system deficits and postural sensory integration function in Parkinson's disease while taking into account the effects of other disease-specific features including striatal dopaminergic denervation. Striatal dopaminergic terminal, and thalamic and neocortical cholinergic terminal integrity were assessed with 11C-dihydrotetrabenazine (a vesicular monoaminergic transporter type 2 ligand; 11C-DTBZ) and 11C-methylpiperidin-4-yl propionate (an acetylcholinesterase ligand; 11C-PMP) PET imaging, respectively. To quantify sensory integration function in Parkinson's disease, we used the sensory organization test moving platform protocol (also known as computerized dynamic posturography) to specifically identify difficulties with the integration of postural sensory feedback into the maintenance of balance. We hypothesized that decreased thalamic cholinergic innervation would be associated with decreased postural sensory integration function in Parkinson's disease.
Materials and methods
This cross-sectional study included 124 subjects with Parkinson's disease [32 female, 92 male, mean age: 65.5 ± 7.4 standard deviation (SD) years]. Subjects met the United Kingdom Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank Research Centre clinical diagnostic criteria for Parkinson's disease (Hughes et al., 1992). The diagnosis of Parkinson's disease was confirmed also by the presence of a typical pattern of nigrostriatal dopaminergic denervation on 11C-dihydrotetrabenazine PET imaging (Bohnen et al., 2006a). Most subjects had mild-to-moderate disease severity (modified Hoehn and Yahr mean stage: 2.4 ± 0.5, median stage 2.5) (Hoehn and Yahr, 1967; Goetz et al., 2004) with mean motor disease duration of 6.0 ± 4.2 years. Most subjects were on some form of dopamine replacement therapy (drug naïve: n = 7; carbidopa-levodopa only: n = 52; combination of carbidopa-levodopa and dopamine agonist only: n = 21; variable combinations of carbidopa-levodopa, dopamine-agonist, monoamine oxidase inhibitor, or catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitor medications: n = 44; mean levodopa equivalent dose 674.2 ± 501.8 mg) (Tomlinson et al., 2010). Neurological and clinical examinations, posturography, and dopaminergic PET imaging was performed after withholding dopaminergic medications to obtain a clinically defined OFF state.
The study also included 25 control subjects (10 female, 15 male, mean age: 66.8 ± 10.1 years). These control subjects were selectively pooled from other studies, had identical PET procedures, postural sensory integration function assessment (not reported elsewhere), and comparable clinical and cognitive assessments as the subjects with Parkinson's disease. Neurological exam reports of the control subjects showed no evidence of focal deficits, other neurological disease, or significant balance impairment. None of the control subjects had abnormal cognitive functioning, i.e. the Mini-Mental State Examination (Folstein et al., 1975) or Montreal Cognitive Assessment (Nasreddine et al., 2005) scores were > 26.
No subjects used anti-cholinergic or cholinesterase inhibitor drugs.
Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects before research procedures. The University of Michigan Medical School Institutional Review Board for human studies approved the study.
Clinical assessment
Clinical evaluations of the subjects with Parkinson's disease included a standardized neurological exam, collection of demographic and general clinical information, assessment of peripheral lateral malleolar vibration sensitivity (right and left averaged) with a biothesiometer (Bio-Medical Instrument Company), and assessment of overall Parkinson's disease feature severity with the Movement Disorder Society revised Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) (Goetz et al., 2007, 2008). Cognitive capacity was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test (Nasreddine et al., 2005) and the Dementia Rating Scale (Mattis, 1998). Based on a Dementia Rating Scale cut-off score of 138 (Villeneuve et al., 2011), 31.5% of the subjects with Parkinson's disease had evidence of cognitive impairment.
Assessment of postural sensory integration function
The sensory organization test protocol of the EquiTest balance platform (NeuroCom, a division of Natus) was used for testing postural sensory integration functions. Subjects were asked to stand quietly on the platform with their arms crossed. Each of the six sensory organization test conditions was only performed once, unless the trial was incomplete due to imbalance resulting in a corrective step taken by the subject ('sensory organization test fall') (Frenklach et al., 2009). In that case the sensory organization test condition was repeated with a maximum of three attempts total. For each of the sensory organization test conditions, total centre of pressure excursion over the trial duration (centre of pressure-speed) and centre of pressure variability (centre of pressure-root mean square) were determined (Prieto et al., 1996). We recorded also the total number of 'sensory organization test falls' for each subject.
Magnetic resonance imaging
All subjects underwent brain MRI for anatomical co-registration with PET. MRI was performed on a 3T Philips Achieva system (Philips) using an eight-channel head coil. A standard T1-weighted series of a 3D inversion recovery-prepared turbo field echo was performed in the sagittal plane using repetition time/echo time/inversion time = 9.8/4.6/1041 ms; turbo factor = 200; single average; field of view = 240 × 200 × 160 mm; acquired matrix = 240 × 200. Approximately 160 slices were reconstructed to 1 mm isotropic spatial resolution.
Positron emission tomography
PET imaging was performed in 3D imaging mode using an ECAT Exact HR+ tomograph (Siemens Molecular Imaging, Inc.), which acquires 63 transaxial slices (slice thickness = 2.4 mm; intrinsic in-plane resolution = 4.1 mm full-width at half-maximum over a 15.2 cm axial field of view). A NeuroShield (Scanwell Systems) head-holder/shielding unit was attached to the patient bed to reduce the contribution of detected photon events originating from outside the imaging field of view. Before the radioligand injections, a 5 min transmission scan using rotating 68Ge rods was acquired for attenuation correction of emission data using the standard vendor-supplied segmentation and re-projection routines.
11C-DTBZ [no-carrier-added (+)-α-11C-dihydrotetrabenazine] was prepared using high-specific activity 11C-methyl iodide as reported previously (Jewett et al., 1997; Shao et al., 2011). 11C-DTBZ PET scans were performed using a bolus/infusion protocol acquiring 15 emission scans over 60 min (4 × 30 s; 3 × 1 min; 2 × 2.5 min; 2 × 5 min; 4 × 10 min), with a priming bolus of 55% followed by continuous infusion of the remaining 45% over the study duration using a dose of 555 MBq.
11C-PMP was synthesized by N-11C-methylation of piperidin-4-yl propionate using high specific activity 11C-methyl triflate as described previously (Snyder et al., 1998; Shao et al., 2011). Dynamic 11C-PMP PET scans were performed using a bolus injection protocol acquiring 16 emission scans over 70 min (same as 11C-DTBZ protocol plus an additional 10 min scan) with a dose of 666 MBq.
All subjects were studied supine, with eyes and ears unoccluded, resting quietly in a dimly lit room.
Positron emission tomography analysis
All dynamic PET imaging frames were spatially co-registered within subjects with a rigid body transformation to reduce the effects of subject motion during the imaging session (Minoshima et al., 1995). These motion-corrected PET frames were spatially co-registered to the MRI using SPM8 software (Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging). IDL image analysis software (Research systems, Inc) was used to manually trace volumes of interest on the MRI scan. Traced volumes of interest included the bilateral striatum, thalamus, and neocortex. Neocortical volume of interest definition used semi-automated threshold delineation of the neocortical grey matter signal on the MRI images.
Time activity curves for each volume of interest were generated from the spatially aligned PET frames. Striatal 11C-DTBZ PET distribution volume ratio (which is equal to 1 + the binding potential relative to non-displaceable uptake), a measure of dopaminergic binding, was estimated by using the Logan et al. (1996) graphical analysis method with the striatal time-activity curves as the target regions and neocortex as the reference input. Thalamic and neocortical 11C-PMP acetylcholinesterase hydrolysis rates per minute (k3), a measure of cholinergic activity, were estimated using reference tissue-based linear least squares analysis as described by Nagatsuka et al. (2001), with the striatum as the reference tissue.
Statistical analysis
Based on the normative sensory organization test data of the control subjects, principal component analysis of the covariance matrix was performed first to reduce the 12 centre of pressure variables (centre of pressure-speed and centre of pressure-root mean square for each of the six sensory organization test conditions) to varimax rotated factors with a robust eigenvalue >2. Two factors were extracted with eigenvalues of 3.5 and 2.7, respectively. Together these factors explained 52.2% of the variance. The first factor reflected mainly centre of pressure-speed for the first three sensory organization test conditions and the second factor reflected centre of pressure-speed for sensory organization test Condition 5 (Table 1).
|Factor 1
|Factor 2
Factor loadings > 0.8 are indicated in bold.
COP = centre of pressure; RMS = root mean square; SOT = sensory organization test.
To test the main hypothesis, multiple linear regression was performed to assess the independent effects of striatal 11C-DTBZ distribution volume ratio and thalamic and cortical 11C-PMP k3 on the centre of pressure-speed factor scores of the subjects with Parkinson's disease while taking into account the Parkinson's disease-specific confounding variables of overall motor impairment (MDS-UPDRS motor examination total score) and cognitive capacity (Dementia Rating Scale total score). Given that there were nine subjects with Parkinson's disease who were unable to complete the entire sensory organization test procedure, this analysis was limited to 115 subjects with Parkinson's disease. Variables were rank-order transformed for the regression analyses as normal distributions could not be assumed for most variables. Exploratory post hoc regression analysis was performed to examine possible associations between the total number of 'sensory organization test falls' and dopaminergic and cholinergic system degenerations.
All analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 20 (IBM) with assumed α < 0.05.
Mean scores for the MDS-UPDRS, the cognitive capacity scales, and PET ligands are presented in Table 2. Striatal dopaminergic innervation as well as thalamic and cortical cholinergic innervation were significantly lower in subjects with Parkinson's disease compared with control subjects (Table 2). The control subjects were not significantly different from the subjects with Parkinson's disease with regard to age (Mann-Whitney U = 1392.5, P = 0.423), gender (χ2 = 2.07, P = 0.150), body mass index (U = 1824.0, P = 0.164), or distal vibratory sensation detection (U = 1601.5, P = 0.794).
|Montreal Cognitive Assessment:
|25.9 ± 2.6
|Dementia Rating Scale:
|139.5 ± 4.3
|Non-Motor Aspects of Experiences of Daily Living:
|6.5 ± 4.6
|Motor Aspects of Experiences of Daily Living:
|7.9 ± 5.5
|Motor Examination:
|32.0 ± 13.7
|11C-DBTZ and 11C-PMP PET
|Putamen 11C-DBTZ DVR:
|Caudate 11C-DBTZ DVR:
|Thalamus 11C-PMP k3 (/min):
|Cortex 11C-PMP k3 (/min):
For the PET ligands, the percentage reduction relative to control subjects is indicated in parenthesis, followed by the Mann-Whitney U test to test for statistical difference from the control subjects.
To test our main hypothesis, linear regression analysis was performed to assess for the independent effects of striatal dopaminergic binding and thalamic and cortical cholinergic terminal integrity on centre of pressure factor scores of the subjects with Parkinson's disease while taking into account MDS-UPDRS motor examination and Dementia Rating Scale total scores. The overall significant model of the first centre of pressure factor [R2adj = 0.123, F(5,109) = 4.2, P = 0.002] showed that increased centre of pressure factor score was independently associated with both decreased thalamic cholinergic innervation (β = −0.389, t = −3.4, P = 0.001; Fig. 1) and increased MDS-UPDRS motor examination total score (β = 0.221, t = 2.3, P = 0.022). There was no significant effect of cortical 11C-PMP k3 or striatal 11C-DTBZ distribution volume ratio. There was no significant overall model effect for the second factor [R2adj = −0.009, F(5,109) = 0.8, P = 0.558].
We performed a post hoc linear regression analysis in the cognitively normal control subjects to examine whether the thalamic cholinergic effect on sensory integration functions for the first factor could also be found in the control subjects. The results showed a non-significant overall regression model [R2adj = −0.110, F(6,18) = 0.6, P = 0.724] and no independent effects of striatal dopaminergic binding or thalamic and cortical cholinergic activity on centre of pressure factor scores of the first factor while taking into account age, gender, and distal vibration sensitivity.
Overall, there were 21 subjects with Parkinson's disease who had to take a corrective step ('sensory organization test fall') to retain balance during one or more of the sensory organization test Conditions 2–6. There were nine subjects with Parkinson's disease who were not able to fully complete all six sensory organization test conditions, of which one subject could only complete Condition 1. Most 'sensory organization test falls' occurred during Conditions 5 and 6 (74.4%). The proportion of 'sensory organization test 'fallers' versus 'non-fallers' was not significantly different between subjects with Parkinson's disease and control subjects (χ2 = 0.14, P = 0.713). Significant exploratory post hoc linear regression analysis [R2adj = 0.076, F(5,118) = 3.0, P = 0.013] revealed that increased sensory organization test falls of subjects with Parkinson's disease was associated with increased MDS-UPDRS motor examination total score (β = 0.242, t = 2.5, P = 0.013). There was no independent effect of Dementia Rating Scale total score on sensory organization test falls (β = 0.147, t = 1.6, P = 0.118), neither were there any independent striatal dopaminergic (β = −0.144, t = −1.5, P = 0.144), thalamic (β = −0.006, t = −0.05, P = 0.961) or cortical (β = −0.097, t = −0.8, P = 0.405) cholinergic effects.
The results of this study indicate a role for the pedunculopontine-thalamic cholinergic projections in postural sensory integration functions in Parkinson's disease. Increased postural sway, especially for sensory organization test Conditions 1–3, was associated with lower thalamic acetylcholinesterase activity. Increased postural sway is typically a risk factor for falling in patients with Parkinson's disease (Matinolli et al., 2007; Latt et al., 2009; Kerr et al., 2010; Menant et al., 2011). There was no observed association of neocortical cholinergic innervation changes with postural sensory integration functions. These results suggest that sensory integration functions that especially rely on somatosensory information (Condition 2) or the ability to integrate inaccurate visual information (Condition 3) are affected by thalamic cholinergic denervation. This was a Parkinson's disease-specific effect as there were no observed cholinergic associations with sensory integration functions in control subjects.
The distinct pathophysiology of progressive supranuclear palsy provides further evidence of pedunculopontine cholinergic involvement in static postural control. Progressive supranuclear palsy is an atypical parkinsonian syndrome with severe balance impairments and a higher incidence of falls compared with Parkinson's disease, already prevalent at the early stages of disease (Wenning et al., 1999). Cholinergic in vivo PET imaging shows greater loss of thalamic cholinergic activity in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy compared with Parkinson's disease, reflecting significant loss of brainstem cholinergic pedunculopontine neurons (Hirsch et al., 1987; Jellinger, 1988). Cortical cholinergic innervation is relatively spared in progressive supranuclear palsy (Shinotoh et al., 1999; Gilman et al., 2010). This natural model of relatively isolated pedunculopontine complex cholinergic degeneration provides further evidence for the putative role of the cholinergic pedunculopontine-thalamus projection in postural control.
Cortical cholinergic innervation is an important component of postural control functions, and is likely impaired in Parkinson's disease. However, falling in Parkinson's disease mostly occurs during more dynamic situations such as at gait initiation, walking (trips and slips), stops and turns, and while reaching, but rarely while standing quietly (Ashburn et al., 2008). The sensory organization test protocol, however, assesses mostly static balance. The processing demands on the postural control system of dynamic postural tasks are more complex, attention demanding, and probably require 'higher order' cognitive feedback processes that depend on cortical cholinergic system function. Impaired balance control during more dynamic balance activities may reflect a separate impairment of 'higher order' cortical dysfunction; one that might be distinct from 'lower level' pedunculopontine postural sensory integration functions. We found no independent associations with Dementia Rating Scale score with postural sensory integration functions. Patients with Parkinson's disease with degeneration of both basal forebrain and pedunculopontine cholinergic projection systems may be particularly prone to postural control abnormalities and falls because of multiple compromised systems. By the same token, other cortical pathologies such as neocortical amyloid-β may also affect these higher order processes and further increase postural control impairments through distinct pathogenic mechanisms (Muller et al., 2013).
Vestibulo-ocular dysfunction may also play a role in postural sensory integration functions of patients with Parkinson's disease. There were nine subjects in our study who were unable to complete the full sensory organization test protocol, mainly because of the inability to complete Conditions 5 and 6. Most of the corrective steps ('falls') were taken during these two conditions. Conditions 5 and 6 rely mostly on sensory inputs from the vestibular system. Vestibular dysfunction is likely more common in patients with Parkinson's disease than in normal control subjects (Reichert et al., 1982). We did not, however, directly test for vestibulo-ocular function using nystagmography or caloric tests. Nonetheless, the relative difficulties that subjects with Parkinson's disease experienced with these conditions may indicate that vestibulo-ocular dysfunction may play a role in postural control in Parkinson's disease. Further research is, however, needed to elucidate the relationship between the cholinergic and dopaminergic systems and vestibular function in Parkinson's disease.
The cerebellum likely plays an important role in sensorimotor integration of postural control. For example, a functional MRI study of imagined stance by Jahn et al. (2004) showed significant activation in the cerebellar vermis. Cerebellar vermis lesions typically cause severe postural deficits (Grimaldi and Manto, 2012). A primate study showed a large projection from the deep cerebellar nuclei to the pedunculopontine nucleus, suggesting that a cerebellotegmental projection may exist, whereby the cerebellum may influence the thalamus through a relay in the pedunculopontine nucleus (Hazrati and Parent, 1992). These findings are corroborated by recent diffusion tensor MRI connectivity studies, which showed connectivity of the pedunculopontine nucleus with the mid-cerebellum (Aravamuthan et al., 2007, 2008). A particular limitation of the 11C-PMP cholinergic radiotracer used in this study is that it cannot reliably estimate high acetylcholinesterase activity levels in the cerebellum without using invasive analysis techniques. Our recent human PET study of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter with the 18F-FEOBV radiotracer showed high activity of the superior cerebellar vermis (Petrou et al., 2012). Further studies are needed to delineate the independent and shared contributions of the pedunculopontine nucleus and cerebellum to postural sensory integration functions in Parkinson's disease.
Our study shows that in the presence of severe nigrostriatal dopaminergic denervation, decreased thalamic cholinergic innervation is associated with increased postural sway. This implies a role for the pedunculopontine-thalamic complex in postural sensory integration functions in Parkinson's disease. Caution should be exercised however, as the cross-sectional nature of this study does not allow for causal assessment. Nonetheless, this finding opens up a window for treatment of balance problems in Parkinson's disease. The current class of cholinergic augmentation medications, i.e. acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, have limited brain uptake (Shinotoh et al., 2001; Bohnen et al., 2005) and variable clinical impact (Rolinski et al., 2012). An alternative therapeutic target of the cholinergic system would be the α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. These nicotinic receptors are strongly expressed, especially in the thalamic terminal fields of the pedunculopontine nucleus cholinergic projections (Gallezot et al., 2005). Recent studies with varenicline, an α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist, have shown improvement of gait in patients with ataxic syndromes (Zesiewicz and Sullivan, 2008; Zesiewicz et al., 2009, 2012).
We previously reported heterogeneity of cholinergic denervation in patients with Parkinson's disease in the absence of dementia (Bohnen et al., 2012). The results of this study suggest that cholinergic treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease, especially of those with more severe cholinergic denervation, may deserve further clinical trials to investigate whether such drugs may ameliorate disabling postural instability features through improved postural sensory integration functions.
This work was supported by National of Institutes of Health grants [P01 NS015655 to K.A.F., R01 NS070856 to N.I.B.], the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The authors thank Christine Minderovic, Kristine Wernette, Virginia Rogers, the PET technologists, cyclotron operators, and chemists for their assistance.
- Abbreviations
- 11C-dihydrotetrabenazine
- 11C-methylpiperidin-4-yl propionate
- Movement Disorder Society revised Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale
- © The Author (2013). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Guarantors of Brain. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
By Tom Philpott: Military update
The departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have worked out a plan for sharing the cost and the task of delivering about $500 million in back pay to more than 100,000 military retirees with VA rated disabilities.
The retroactive payments are owed to nearly half of all recipients of Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) and of Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) since those programs began in 2003 and in 2004.
VA and DoD "are looking to make this happen as soon as possible. No one wants to delay it," said an official who attended an Aug. 1 decision meeting between the two departments, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) and representatives from every branch of service.
Retirees awaiting their retroactive payments won't have as long a wait as officials believed a few weeks ago. Even the most complex calculations of back pay involving CRSC and CRDP can be done by computer rather than by hand. This
cuts down significantly on earlier projections by DFAS that the repayment
process could take up to six months.
VA and DoD aren't yet ready to announce the date that back payments will be made. Their new estimate on dollars to be distributed is about a half billion. VA is expected to cover 60 percent of that and DoD the remainder. The size of payments, which might average between $4,000 and $5,000, will depend on rank, level of disability, and the period covered by retroactivity.
Some retirees could receive payments from both VA and DoD, but officials hope to synchronize the process to minimize confusion for retirees. The back pay will be electronically deposited in whatever bank accounts the VA or DFAS, which will make payments for DoD, have on file for individuals. A VA official said retirees will receive a letter explaining the back payments, presumably shortly before the money appears in their accounts.
No one should have to apply for the money. Also, if retirees have died before receiving their full CRSC or CRDP entitlement, the money likely will go to surviving spouses or to the deceased retirees' estates.
For many years, military retirees saw their annuities reduced, dollarfor-dollar, by amounts they received in tax-free VA compensation for service-related disabilities.
Congress enacted CRSC and CRDP to end this so called ban on "concurrent receipt," but only for certain retirees who served 20 years or more: those with combat-related injuries or ailments, and those with non-combat related conditions rated
at least 50 percent disabling. CRSC took effect June 1, 2003. Initially, payments went solely to active duty retirees who applied and were deemed to have combat-related disabilities rated at least 60 percent disabling, or disabilities for which they received the Purple Heart. Eligibility later was expanded to any retiree having a combatrelated disability to include reserve component retirees.
CRDP took effect Jan. 1, 2004. It is payable to retirees with 20 or more years of service and non-combat-related disabilities rated 50 percent or higher. CRDP payments are being phased in based on degree of disability. By 2014 it will end the
retired pay reduction for all retirees.


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SATSUMA, Alabama — If you happen to see a woman in a white car loaded with red and gold ribbon driving the streets of Satsuma, don't be alarmed. It is just one of the ladies whose home is on this year's Satsuma Christmas Tour of Homes.
This year's fundraising event, sponsored by the Satsuma Community Development Organization, is set for Saturday, Dec. 3, from 4 to 8 p.m. Proceeds are used for improvements to the Satsuma Library and Baldwin Square.
Evelyn Butler, chairwoman for this year's tour, has had her home on the tour before, but since she and husband, Mike, have just completed remodeling, they agreed to have their home on the tour again.
Their focus will be toward the back of the house, where they took out a wall and enclosed a back porch to create one large room with 10 windows that reveal a beautiful garden.
This room will feature snowmen, but its grand lady is "Gertrude," a snow-woman made from pumpkins with flowery eyes, a button nose and arms made from a garland of twigs. She wears a shawl made from doilies and keeps her purse and gloves close by for an outing. "She is just the cutest thing I have ever seen," Butler said.
"We all enjoy working together to make this successful," says Becky Murray, whose home is on the tour again this year. "People who know me, know it will be decorated differently," she said. "Each year it is as much of a surprise to me as it is to everybody else how the decorating turns out."
This year, refreshments, usually offered at each home, will only be served at the Murray home. Becky, an excellent cook by reputation, will serve heavy hors d'oeuvres.
Becky's husband, Paul Murray, enjoys the tour as much as she, and helps with the decorating. His favorite part is meeting the visitors.
The Herringtons are another enthusiastic couple on the tour. Patricia Herrington says it is wonderful to have the man of her house involved in preparing for the tour. Hugh Herrington is as busy decorating as Patricia. They have one tree in the foyer that they keep decorated seasonally year-round.
When the fall season ends, they head for their storage room. "It's like going to a store," Patricia Herrington said. "When I catch a sale, I purchase things I like and put them away. Then, when it's time, I just start pulling things out."
They placed a large nativity above the fireplace with a birdcage, which makes one think of the skyline in Bethlehem. Nine trees are carefully decorated and placed throughout the home, including two small upside-down baby trees in the bathrooms.
Visitors so inclined will count 24 wreaths on columns, doors and walls throughout the home.
At Ashley and Lisa Walters' home, everybody gets into the Christmas decorating spirit, including their three sons, Ashton, Garrett and Reese. Lisa describes their Christmas decorating style as "Southern Living Traditional."
The entrance to their home is inviting, with wreaths, poinsettias and bows. The front door opens to reveal a winding stairway with a lighted garland running up the banister.
When: Saturday, 4 to 8 p.m. Tickets: $12; sold at A Little Shoppe, Belle Bouquet, Beanz Coffee House, McConaghy Drugs, Rosebud Florist, Satsuma Library and at the homes the night of the tour.
Homes on the tour: Mike and Evelyn Butler, 371 Vaughan Drive S.; Steve and Carol Chamblee, 320 Carolina Ct.; Hugh and Patricia Herrington, 320 Baltimore Ct.; Michael and Rhonda Hicks, 5745 Hannah Ct.; Paul and Becky Murray, 6054 Vaughn Drive E.; and Ashley and Lisa Walters, 6216 Dolphin Drive.
The homes present a blend of traditional and new decorating ideas. Many people make the tour an annual affair, including this correspondent, who issues a warning: when she first began writing about the tour 10 years ago, her own decorations were limited to one live tree, one door wreath and a small Dickens village. Now, her decorations include seven trees, a large village, a Santa collection and more. It is very contagious.
This story was written by Carolyn Brady, Press-Register Correspondent.


text: Sunday was my fourth time as an author at the Linn Creek Arts Festival in Marshalltown. It was hands down the best experience I have had so far! Even considering the rain, it was an off-the-charts experience. I mean, I was lucky enough to be assigned a brand new, out-of-the-box tent, so I not only kept dry, but during the rain the tent brought in more people than the best carnival barker on a good day. And by day's end, I think I had visited with nearly everyone Joan or I had ever met during our 30-plus years in Marshalltown. And I should also mention the food and music, both served up in ample, Iowa-sized portions. But the best part, by far, was spending the day at the same table with Rekha Basu.


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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Jefferson County's bankruptcy court hearing has ended without a final ruling on the legality of is record-setting Chapter 9 filing last month.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Thomas Bennett said lawyers for the county and its creditors have until Dec. 28 to submit additional information to him. Bennett said all he will accept are suggested questions for him to ask the Alabama Supreme Court, should he
The questions would be to determine the state high court's opinion about what kind of debt instruments permit a municipality to file for Chapter 9 protection.
Creditors say the county didn't have bonds outstanding at the time, only a different bond-like debt instrument called a warrant.
Alabama law, creditors say, only permits municipalities with outstanding bonds to seek Chapter 9 protection, and that means Jefferson County's filing should be dismissed.
The Alabama Supreme Court is currently considering a matter that hinges upon the same question, an appeal of the dismissal of the 2009 bankruptcy of the town of Prichard, in southern Alabama.


text:
Thirty points for sure
Xeljanz? So now pharma execs are just naming drugs after whatever's in the Scrabble rack in front of them?
— Charles Brower (@Carbrovian) October 14, 2013
The generic name tofacitinib is not exactly euphonious either. But Xeljanz? Huh? Nancy Friedman? Anyone?
Oh, and Pfizer thinks highly of this stuff: it's two grand a month. Wholesale. No credit for knowing that the pill was originally developed by a guy from the National Institutes of Health.


text:
11 Canby (18-8, 5-5 Three Rivers) at 6 Westview (20-5, 9-1 Metro), 7 p.m.
Westview hosted Canby on Jan. 7, when the Cougars dressed just five varsity players due to injuries.
But Canby came into the game aggressively, taking a 16-9 lead after the first quarter and holding on by a four-point margin at halftime.
That is when two-time Metro League Player of the Year Jaime Nared took over. Finishing with 30 points, 17 rebounds and nine steals, Nared led the charge in a 26-point Westview third quarter that saw the Wildcats grab the lead and hang on for the 61-52 win.
Canby won its first playoff game since 2007 by beating Southridge 52-42 Tuesday. The Cougars finished 8-8 in the difficult Three Rivers League but earned an 11-seed in part due to their impressive strength of schedule.
However, they have been without Bailey Raines, the team's leading scorer, since she suffered a knee injury in a loss to Oregon City on Feb. 14. Raines scored 16 points in the loss to Westview.
For a full recap of Canby and Westview's first meeting this season, click here.
12 Sheldon (18-7, 8-0 6A Special District 2) at 5 Beaverton (19-6, 8-2 Metro), 7 p.m.
Beaverton and Sheldon will play in Round 2 at Beaverton High School for the second straight season. The Beavers took last year's game 76-70 behind senior Alexis Montgomery's game-high 27 points.
The Beavers had a 20-point lead in the third quarter. But a 15-0 Sheldon run cut that margin to two in the fourth before Beaverton finally took control of the game.
Of the players still on Beaverton's roster, Danielle Hartzog had 14 points, Gigi Stoll added 11 and Alyssa Christiansen hit a late jumper to help seal the win.
Beaverton went on to lose their quarterfinal matchup at the Moda Center (then the Rose Garden) against Oregon City 70-53.
Despite losing some senior talent from last year's squad, Sheldon went undefeated in conference play for the third straight season this year. The Irish forced 24 turnovers in a 53-38 Round 1 win over Central Catholic Tuesday.
Asked about the upcoming rematch, Sheldon coach Brian Brancato told the Register-Guard after the game, "We're two different teams. But maybe we are looking for a little revenge."
-- Danny Moran | @DannyJMoran


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I'd like to see him stay in Cleveland, win a title and score a point for loyalty to a franchise and especially the fans. But I think LeBron won't resist the temptation or the lucrative lure to leave. Popular opinion has him going to the Knicks, but I would like to see him end up with the L.A. Clippers and take on Kobe and the Lakers for Hollywood supremacy.
It's hard to know what rumor to believe in the LeBron Market Watch, but my gut feeling is that it will boil down to two scenarios: He'll stay in Cleveland or end up in New York. He can still win in Cleveland and, money aside, you know he has some loyalty to his home region. But New York would give him the chance to truly conquer the world, make a few billion, and, let's face it, the NBA would love to set up its spotlight in Madison Square Garden on a regular basis. Moreover, what about the Nets and gazillionaire owner Mikhail Prokorov? Stranger things have happened.
He'll re-sign with Cleveland, holding the Cavs hostage while he hand-picks the free agents he wants to join him this offseason and next offseason. That will give him all the pieces for his championship and make him a legend forever in Cleveland. Besides, since when are the Knicks a lucrative option?
Laugh all you want, but the Clippers have a pretty good supporting cast and plenty of cap room. All they need is a star. Enter LeBron. He makes everyone else better. Adding LeBron to a mix that already includes Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin and Chris Kaman could actually break the Clippers' curse. Of course, given that the Clippers are the NBA's answer to the Detroit Lions, chances are just as good that LeBron would suffer a career-ending bicep injury tossing powder into the air before a game. Los Angeles is a major media market, plus there is the challenge of replacing Kobe as the main draw at the Staples Center.
I don't get the "LeBron to the Knicks" thing. Their uniforms are ugly and the team has stunk for years. They won their last championship in 1973 and last conference title 11 years ago. I get it, "big market = big money". If he's smart, he'll go to a team that has a solid big man and a legitimate point guard to complement his bruising point-forward style in a championship run... kind of like the Cavs. Cleveland's management has done well surrounding LeBron with a decent supporting cast, and they're only a real coach away from getting the job done.
At one point awhile ago, when LeBron was coming to The Palace as a spectator for Pistons playoff games before beating Pistons in playoffs games, I thought he'd head to Detroit. It appeared that the Pistons were clearing cap space (how else can you describe that Chauncey Billups-Allen Iverson deal?) and then they inexplicably used the money on Charlie "Twitter" Villanueva and Ben "I've never seen a shot I didn't like" Gordon. LeBron will head to New York City, win 10 titles for the Knicks and then buy the United Nations.
You have to consider how much impact the Cavs' coaching hiring has. That's anyone's guess at this point, but it could sway LeBron one way or the other. I still think him staying put is the most likely scenario, although I would prefer to see him go to the Clippers. What a great storyline. That's the major market he would likely wind up in, certainly in New York with the hapless Knicks.
I think he re-signs with Cleveland, but only for two more years. That leaves him enough time for unfinished business with the Cavs, and the chance to jump to New York when he's still in his prime and there's potentially a team there that could give him some hope of winning (which there isn't this year). If that happens, here's the best part: we can have the LeBron free agency circus again in 2012.
I hope he stays in Cleveland, but I doubt it. If they had won a title this year, I think he would have stayed. His legacy would be set, and they'd have the tools for a dynasty. Now that they've choked... again, the Cavs have become the Atlanta Braves of the NBA. He needs to get out or he'll end up like Dan Marino or Jim Kelly, languishing in one city with a good-to-OK team. The most likely choice is the Knicks. He'll never go to Chicago, it would bring more comparisons to Jordan, and the Nets are career killers. He's already the best basketball player in the league (in my opinion) and playing in N.Y. would put him in the media Mecca of the world. The way New York has been spending in free agency the last few years, they may even give LeBron a credit card and let him sign his own sidekicks.
Two weeks ago I would have said it was a done deal he was going to the ever-futile (minus the 1999 playoffs) New York Knicks but lately I think he could resign with the Cavs. Cleveland learned exactly what Chicago learned after failing to win a title with Jordan for several years, you can't win the crown with just one superstar and you need to have a good supporting crew for them. The Cavs have been trying to build that crew and I think recent comments indicate LeBron has taken notice. If you think he's headed to the Clippers I have some lovely "waterfront" swampland, err, property in Florida I'd like to sell you.


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In Syracuse's last game against Minnesota, Alec Lemon became the all time leader in receptions in the history of Syracuse Football. Considering the long list of great receivers the Orange has had in it's history, that's quite an accomplishment. Congrats Alec!
Lemon and the Orange (I had to) begin the Big East portion of their schedule tonight at the Carrier Dome against the Pitt Panthers.
Michael Borkowski
Michael's new book "Otto's ABC's" will be released in October. It's available for pre-order now!
Michael Borkowski is a storyboard artist and illustrator based in Syracuse. Check out his web site to see what he's up to:


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Transportation Safety Analysis experts in this Transportation And Logistics directory provide witness opinion and testimony in all types of Transportation Safety Analysis accidents including Engineer, Civil Engineering, Traffic Engineering, Transportation Civil Engineer and Demonstrative Evidence.
Transportation Safety Analysis accidents can occur in Blasting Mining, Mining Damage Claim, Mining Vibration,Hazardous Materials Transportation compliance with 49CFR HazMat regulations and Sewer Gas.
In litigation, Transportation Safety Analysis accident experts attempt to use forensic engineering and biomechanical engineering research to reconstruct the accident and damages or event by providing witness testimony, computer animation or graphical exhibits to opine in a compelling way to the jury


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Diver's body recovered near Blake Island
The body of Central Kitsap SCUBA diver Gerard Martin Hall, 59, was recovered at about 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 21.
Hall's body was recovered by Navy divers in 34-feet deep water near the spot he went missing the day before just south of Blake Island. Deputy Scott Wilson, who serves as the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office spokesman, said the underwater search capabilities provided by U. S. Navy divers played a key role in assisting the sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) Unit and detectives to locate the body.
Hall was reported missing just before noon on Sunday by others in his party. An experienced diver, Hall had been engaged in recreational diving approximately 40 feet from the south shore of Blake Island. He was accompanied by a dive partner.
Hall and another diver, a 38 year-old male from Bremerton, were spearfishing in waters approximately 30 feet deep and about 40 feet from the shoreline of Blake Island.
Hall's dive partner speared a fish and both divers then surfaced. Upon surfacing, Hall yelled that he needed help. The dive partner swam over toHall to render assistance. Shortly after, Hall disappeared under the water.
Emergency response units from several agencies converged on the location where Hall was last seen and spent the afternoon engaged in search operations. Those efforts included: surface search assistance provided by U. S. Coast Guard Cutter WAHOO (WPB 87345), two 25-foot response boats and one 45-foot response boat, and air search capability with a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter; underwater Search and Rescue Volunteers of Kitsap County; a Port Orchard Police Department boat with rescue personnel from South Kitsap Fire & Rescue; and a Seattle Fire Department boat with divers and medics.
The search was suspended around 6 p.m. for safety reasons when the weather deteriorated.
Early Monday, sheriff's SAR coordinators requested assistance from the Navy to help with the recovery search effort. Sixteen divers from Naval Base Kitsap – Bangor, and from the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Keyport, responded. They entered the water at 5:21 p.m.
Upon return of the sheriff's boat to the dock in Manchester, the diver's body was turned over into the custody of the Kitsap County Coroner.
Although all indications are that the recovered body is that of Gerard Hall, the coroner is responsible for confirming the identity of the deceased and for determining the cause and manner of death, Wilson noted. An autopsy will be performed by the county's forensic pathologist.
All diving equipment in use by the deceased diver at the time of the mishap will be examined by experts to determine if equipment malfunction was a factor in this tragedy, Wilson said.
The investigation into the diver's death continues by sheriff's detectives.
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I thought my screen was melting. fantastic.
I'm down for playing on a multiplayer server once that's set up.
Dig to the heavens!
Mine the face of God!
When asked as a child what he wanted to be when he grew up, young Leyroy Hicks replied with that vigor only the youthful inncocent posses, "Dog Puppy Guy."
Today Leyroy works for one of the country's largest finacial services conglomerates as VP of cross cultural marketing and vapor reduction. Highly regarded as a leader in his field, Leyroy can be seen most weekends relaxing on the beaches of sunny Friedmantownship, Wisconsin, sipping his favorite drink: the Red Honeymaker.
The Redhoneymaker was originaly concocted by a man named Wibut, yes Wilbut, M. Dunbaker. It's a delightful mix of orange juice, pinaple juice, ginger ale and Dr. Thunder, a knockoff brand of Dr. Pepper.
Wilbut and Leyroy have never met.
Goodnight Gertrude, I'm off to bed--- Hunterman328
Yeah, I got that backwards. Noticed later and didn't care.
But way to catch someone making a minor mistake on the internet! You should be, like, president or something!
its 10 euros which is about 15 dollars.
if anyone is looking for more (im not self promoting! he isnt me) you can go check out in youtube a guy called SeaNanners, he has quite a few cool and funny videos of minecraft.
I'll build you a nice fireplace like the one I saw in that tutorial vid the other day :)
Sharkey built the bat cave!
Sharkey, I'd follow you through hell, you beautiful bastard...so long as you keep quoting Coleridge.
here i go..........
I'm absolutely hooked on this fucking game. Let me know if you throw a server up. I'm sure I can find a way to fill your castle withe creepers...or at the very least, giant sand-dicks.


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With enough clothing to stock a small department store, volunteers transformed Brighton Heights Reformed Church into a mecca for mothers and other Staten Islanders in need.
Shavanne Woodson of Mariners Harbor sifted through organized piles and racks full of clothing, looking for formal pants in her size:
"Listen, this is absolutely great that they do this, because a lot of women like me can't afford this stuff in the store, and the stuff here is great. They've got five Anne Taylor suits. This is really a help for someone like me, because I'm really broke. I have a 1-year-old little girl, but today I'm looking for me, for interview attire."
Ms. Woodson was one of scores of Staten Islanders who benefited from the massive charity effort organized by Staten Island's four Moravian Churches.
Castleton Hill, Great Kills, New Dorp and Vanderbilt Avenue Moravian churches and the Castleton Hill preschool collaborate to collect children's clothing and other items throughout the year.
This year, an interstate friendship among pastors brought 11 more volunteers to Staten Island from Waconia and Altura, Minn., with Waconia Moravian Church raising the travel funds to help.
Boy Scouts from Troop 26 and members of First Central Baptist Church in Stapleton also helped out, unloading and organizing perhaps hundreds of boxes in the back of the St. George church.
The goods were available to residents of Hospitality House on Thursday and were offered to the general public Friday; any surplus items for young children were to be donated to New York Foundling.
"The most important reason for doing this is that we feel as followers of Christ we are called to take care of people in need," said pastor Lynnette Delbridge of Castleton Hill Moravian Church. "It's also a way to work together as friends and colleagues, and to show people what we're about, and to be responsible stewards of the earth by recycling clothing."
"It's fun because you're helping people, and at the same time, you have fun," said Eric (EJ) Smith of the Park Hill section of Clifton, 12, who spent Wednesday afternoon moving emptied boxes out of the church hall.
In addition to second-hand clothing, volunteers gave away new socks and underpants and back-to-school supplies.
"What we really believe in is practicing good Samaritanism," said Tamadja Roberts of Westerleigh. "We're making a family outside of a family."


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The Saints coverage team is counting down the top 25 players on the team. No. 18 is linebacker Jonathan Vilma.
The criteria is largely based on one question: Who would be the best players on the field if a game was played today? Past accomplishments and future potential also are taken into account.
Vilma ranked ahead of DE Kenyon Coleman (25), TE Ben Watson (24), CB Patrick Robinson (23), OT Zach Strief (22), RB Mark Ingram (21), DT Brodrick Bunkley (20), C Brian de la Puente (19).
Will Jonathan Vilma be able to return to Pro Bowl form this season? Answer our poll and tell us what you think in the comments below.


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I'm so excited to be able to introduce you all to new blogging friend today!! This mother daughter team totally knocks my socks off on a regular basis!! I'm sure you will love there blog, you should check it out as soon as you finish reading the awesome tutorial they are sharing today!
Hi, everybody. We're so excited to be invited to share a post with you. My name is Rachel. Me and mom, Donna, blog over at Once Upon a Sewing Machine. We sew for ourselves, our homes, and frequently for my two kiddos.
Today's tutorial is great for sewing enthusiasts of all levels, and it's a super handy skill to have, too. It has gotten cold by us…real cold. That means it's time to layer up, and it also means that hoods have become an essential part of the wardrobe.
Sewing hoods can seem intimidating at first, but they are actually really easy to add to an existing pattern or shirt. I'm sewing for me today, but the steps are the same for men, women, and children. We're going to go through how to attach a lined hood. Let's get started!
For our example I'm using a top I picked up at the thrift store for $3.00 and some waffle weave fabric I had on hand. You could easily take the fabric for your hood from a thrift store top if you wanted to.
I like that this top has the button opening, but you could also create a cardigan, or use a standard tee neckline.
If you don't have a button opening or V at your neckline, make sure your new hood is made of material with stretch or you may not be able to get your head back through the opening!
Now you'll need your favorite hooded item from your closet. Fold it in half, lay it out on the fabric you have chosen for your hood, and grab a ruler.
You're going to trace around your hood, adding in ½" for your seam allowance.
It will look something like this. Remember, if you go too big you can trim it down, but if you go too small you can't fix it! I free handed in my neckline, but you can fold down your hood and trace.
I'm making a lined hood, so I will cut 4 pieces. If you aren't going to line your hood, cut 2.
Take 2 pieces, face them right sides together, and sew from the center front to center back. Do the same with your remaining 2 pieces. Now you will have two hoods! Try one on your head to do a rough size check.
As a reminder, we added ½" to our piece. That will be your seam allowance.
Now take your 2 hoods and place them right sides together. Pin the seam that will run around your face. It will look like this-
Sew with ½" seam allowance. Press the seam allowance that runs from the forehead to the back of the neck to one side and turn the hood right side out.
I use a double needle for this next step because I like the look, but a single needle will work also.
Put a line of stitching down directly next to your seam tacking down your seam allowance and further securing your two layers of hood.
**If you are not lining your hood, turn the front of your hood under and hem. Then put in this stitching to hold your seam allowance down.
Now we're going to attach your hood!
Here is the easiest way to do it. Pin the center back hood to the center back of your shirt. Pin the tip of your hood to the front center or neck opening. Pin at the center point of that space (probably near the shoulder). Continue pinning by breaking your opening in half like this until you feel comfortable that your whole hood is secured. Sew.
If you are adding a hood to a pattern, you can skip the neck ribbing. In this case I'm going to attach it my neck ribbing. Depending on your top you may want to cut off the ribbing and attach your hood directly to the shirt.
Sew all the way around. Your fully lined hood is attached!
Easy, right? Now experiment. Want to add a drawstring? Line the front with some faux fur? The fabric and material mixing offers you a huge variety of projects just waiting to be tackled.
Big thanks to Kadie for having us over to share this tutorial today! We would love for you to stop by and check out our other tutorials, join our Facebook community, Pin great projects with us, and check out our recently moved store front.


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Some Elkhart Lake residents are opposing the establishment of a charter helicopter business in the community, fearing it will be too noisy.
Louisiana-based Mustang Helicopters submitted a request to the village in June for a helipad, according to Sheboygan Press Media.
The business will provide corporate charters, airport shuttle service and customized tours as well as landing and takeoff space for Flight for Life helicopters, said executive administrator, Ellen Dupuy.
More than 100 people showed up for an Aug. 5 public hearing on the rezoning request.
Only a handful of people spoke in favor and the rest spoke against it, said Village Board president Alan Rudnick. A petition with more than 150 names was also submitted.
Dupuy said the community's strong reaction was disheartening.
"I knew this was a completely foreign industry to this area so I knew that people would have questions and want to know what's going on, I just didn't expect the negativity that came from this," she said.
She said the business has already complied with all the FAA regulations regarding noise and other details regarding the Bell 206-L3 helicopter that would take off and land.
Noise is a major concern, Rudnick said, and the village plans to run its own noise tests. Village resident Thomas Nelson wrote a letter to Sheboygan Press Media decrying the plan.
"I think there's noise factors, property values, and I think it's just not in keeping with the character of the Village of Elkhart Lake," said Nelson, 82, who served on the Village Board for eight years.
The board's Plan Commission meets Wednesday. Rudnick said he expects the conditional use permit request to take a while.


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SEA LIFE Rest Of Europe - Paris (France) >
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In traditional Asian culture, the seahorse is known for its medicinal properties. In addition, industrial fishing anticipates their desrtruction since they are often caught accidentally in the nets of trawlers. The destruction of their natural habitats (coral reefs, sea grass beds, magroves) contributes to their gradual depletion. Today, seahroses are endangered species.
Seahorse breeding at SEA LIFE Paris
The benefits related to the environment
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Coral Reefs are among the most incredible living creatures alive. They develop over dozens of kilometers in the ocean. The coral ecosystem has the highest biodiversity in the marine ecosystem with 93,000 species which represent 5% of the total number of the total number of species. Very sensitive to pollution and brutally taken from their natural habitat for trade, they are disappearing slowly: This is a big issue since its is endangering all other species that lives in the unique and exceptional environment they create.
Corals: a study of cutting methods
The benefits related to environment
The shark is a fish that was found in our oceans over 200 million years ago. This predator is very important to the marine chain food and participates to the marine life equilibrium. Yet today, there are 100 million sharks being killed annually in the world. One third of the elasmobranches species (the family of sharks and rays) are today endangered species.
A nursery for baby sharks
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