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The opening sequence, which takes place in the distant land of Transylvania, is in black and white and clearly evokes the 1930s Universal horror pictures that are the film's underlying inspiration. We get the familiar sight of Dr. Frankenstein (Samuel West) declaring ebulliently, "It's alive! Alive!," but the first twist is that Count Dracula (Richard Roxburgh) is also there, having apparently partnered with Frankenstein in his unholy experiments to bring life to the dead. Their partnership doesn't last long, though, as Dracula kills Frankenstein now that the Monster (Shuler Hensley) has been brought to life. Then the mob arrives with torches and pitchforks, and the Monster rushes off to the windmill on the hill with the lifeless form of his "father" in his arms. The windmill is set on fire and collapses. All of this is shot with a stunning sense of composition and contrast by cinematographer Allen Daviau (a frequent Spielberg collaborator), and while there is plenty of digital trickery, it is done in the service of tone and mood.
But that's where Van Helsing stops being good. The story then jumps ahead a year and moves to Paris, where the titular monster hunter, Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman), is on a mission to capture or kill the malicious Dr. Hyde, who has taken up residence in the towers of Notre Dame. A longwinded battle between Van Helsing and the digitally rendered Hyde ensues, and Sommers gets his first opportunity to really overwhelm you with movement, taking all the action and cranking it up so that it verges just this side of incoherence.
There is a brief respite when Van Helsing travels to Vatican City in Rome, where he is to get his next set of orders (he works for a super-secret Vatican sect dedicated to eradicating evil monsters in the world). He is outfitted with various weapons by Carl (David Wenham), a friar who is a late-19th-century version of Q from the James Bond films. The weapons are quite technologically advanced for 1888, including a crossbow that fires arrows with the rapidity of a machine gun and a pair of what look like whirring circular saw blades. Although he protests that he is not a "field man," Carl ends up going along to Transylvania with Van Helsing on a mission to kill Dracula because, well, the movie needs a silly, cowardly but endearing sidekick for comic relief.
The rest of the story takes place in Transylvania. Van Helsing hooks up with Anna Valerious (Kate Beckinsale), the last surviving member of nine generations of a family that has sworn to kill Dracula. If she does not succeed, she and her entire family will live out eternity in purgatory, thus she has some real investment in seeing the vampire go down. Van Helsing, on the other hand, is much like the titular character in The Punisher: He dourly goes about his business of killing because it's his mission, and the movie suffers accordingly. Sommers clearly wanted Van Helsing to fall into the Batman type of tortured comic book hero, torn between duty and self-loathing. When asked if he is a murderer or a holy man, Van Helsing replies, "A little of both." Despite a few asides and amusing quips, Van Helsing is mostly a downer of a character, and the fact that he is mired in a film whose murky visual palette is composed almost entirely of blacks, grays, browns, and sickish greens doesn't help.
From here on, Van Helsing lurches wildly from one spectacle sequence to another with nary a moment to catch your breath. The monster mash is increased with the inclusion of werewolves, Dracula's flying vampire brides, and thousands of demonic-looking vampire offspring that are born in nasty-looking egg sacks that hang from the ceiling. Dracula needs the secrets of Dr. Frankenstein in order to bring his flying brood to life, which is the basic impetus of the plot, as if anyone really cares. The only scene that stands out at all in this digital mishmash is a florid ball sequence that turns suddenly horrifying. The sequence stands out partly because it's colorful and partly because it relies on real rather than digital performances by a troupe of what appear to be Cirque de Soliel performers. But, mostly it stands out because it isn't mind-numbingly hectic (until the last few minutes, that is). Sommers actually slows down, if only for a moment, to let you admire the impressive production design, which is usually just a dark blur in the background as his camera swoops and flies.
Unfortunately, Van Helsing is the logical next step for Sommers, whose movies have gotten increasingly worse as his budgets have increased. His 1999 breakthrough film, an action-adventure updating of The Mummy, was a silly-fun extravaganza that had plenty of digital special effects, but they were used effectively and with some sense of restraint. Two years later, his The Mummy Returns used its expanded budget to move into the realm of chaotic overkill. And now we get Van Helsing, with the biggest budget of all that allows for the digital manipulation of virtually everything on screen, turning the movie into a frenetic, attention-deficit cartoon that still manages to look kinda cheap. Any sense of fun is drowned by what can only be called visual desperation. Every scene is the cinematic equivalent of an obnoxious kid jumping up and down screaming, "Hey! Watch this! Watch this!" Sommers is so intent on wowing us for every second of the movie's overlong running time that its rote eager-to-please fanaticism becomes repetitive before the movie has even hit its stride.
Overall Rating: (1.5)
All images copyright ©2004 Universal Pictures


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My bf has a baby mama and have lied in the past, can I trust him!
Hello I really need advice on this. Am 23 and my bf is 28. I met my bf online last year. I just came out of a bad relationship and online relationship was wat I needed. He was sweet, calling numerous times daily, using my pic on his dp with declaration of his feelngs for me on his blackberry messenger, making me talk to his friends on phone, helping me financially. But he had this picture of his 1st gf on his fb.. Said they re no more dating. He usually talk about her a lot, how he loved her and she dumped him for another guy. So I asked him to delete her pix from his fb if she's really an ex, he did. He told me they can't date and she even ve a baby now for someone else. I believed him. He lives in a different state. I intend moving over to his state permanently in March. So we based our relationship on that. After 4 months of online dating, I went over to see him in january. I found out he's being asking out other girls out and dating some as well. I was mad cause he told me he's dating no one else but me. So he called each of them and introduced me to them as his gf, pleaded with them to talk to me on phone and assure me he's not dating them..which they did. Promised me now he has seen me, he don't think he needs any other girl and he want a serious relationship. I didn't ve sex wtih him during my stay. I noticed however a conversation blw him and a male friend about "his baby". He xplained it off, that it was just a tease. I was in doubt, so I decided to dig deeper. I left back for my state, then from inquiries discovered his 1st gf has a son for him. Called him up and he told me everything. After she left him for a year, she came back..and they dated for 3 yrs when she got pregnant. That he always knew he can't marry her. And when she got pregnant, he told her it won't make him marry her. He had to show her love during the pregnancy but now they re not dating anymore. He sends her allowance for the baby's upkeep. Their only connection is the baby which she will hand over to him when he's of age. He's just 6 months. Said he couldn't bring himself to tell me and wanted to wait till we ve gotten more serious. Since then he's being putting efforts to make me trust him. Being very devoted, promise to formally introduce me to his family once I move over. We make plans for the future together and he's so supportive, caring, loving and romantic. He's understanding and Respects me so much. Even let me have his fb password. Everything I ve ever wanted in a man. Yet, I cnt shake it off. Why was he not exclusive with me when he told me he was? He said we ve only met online bt haven't seen physically and he was still trying to select the best. Why date the babymama for 3 yrs when you knew you won't marry her? He said cos that's the only closest relationship he had and he haven't found the right one. Why dating other girls when he was dating her?. He said he's not a cheat and he was only that way cos of how she dumped him and he haven't found the girl to be devoted to but from the day he Saw me physically, he knew he want to settle down with me. Hence he let all the other girls go for me. Am I right to continue dating him? Can I trust him again? We ve being quarreling frequently cos I keep bringing his past up. He want me to let it go but I dnt know how.

subset: commoncrawl


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Copyright © Mesa Family Chiropractic, 2012. All rights reserved.
Here you will discover a true wellness lifestyle. We will show you the natural way to better health without resorting to the use of medications. We are convinced that after one visit, you will see why chiropractic can be the safe and effective alternative to surgery.
Take a moment to download our patient forms here, so that the doctor can begin with a thorough examination and assess your areas of concern, as well as carefully consider your health history.
After the initial examination the doctor will offer a recommended course of treatment. Based on the analysis of your initial examination, your treatment could consist of chiropractic adjustments, therapies and rehabilitation.
The team at Mesa Family Chiropractic provides a whole host of solutions to help you get over your current condition.
We are thrilled to offer many different aspects of chiropractic care. Please take a moment to enjoy our website and get to know our incredible team of health professionals. If you have any questions, please contact us.
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Probability typing: QWERTED
Looking for a dramatic shift (pun intended) in your typing habits but not in the mood for the physical retraining required for Swype and ShapeWriter or the hefty learning curve of SlideType? Check out QWERTED: a keyboard that determines which letters are most likely next in a given word and resizes the keys accordingly. The app is expected to be available later this month.
Via Android Guys


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2 men found dead at private hunting club
Men believed killed by carbon monoxide
UPDATED 4:09 PM EDT Jul 24, 2012
Investigators in Gordon County, Ga. said two men found dead in a camper trailer parked at a private hunting club appear to have been killed by carbon monoxide.
A family member discovered the bodies of 64-year-old James Lee Asher of Acworth and 53-year-old David Wayne Johnson, of Cartersville, on Sunday.
Sheriff Mitch Ralston said there were no signs of foul play and the deaths appear to be a tragic accident.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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There's a saying in NASCAR: "If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin' to win."
And so the pit mechanics were always tinkering with engines, you know, to harness a few more horses.
In cycling, the engine is the man, and the first guy caught "tryin' to win" was a Danish cyclist named Knud Enemark Jensen, who collapsed and died after a race during the 1960 Olympics in Rome. The autopsy showed a cocktail of amphetamines and other drugs that allow blood to race through arteries and veins in his system.
This was no small deal. The International Olympic Committee formed a medical branch and drug testing was in place by 1968. And so cheating became more sophisticated. Hence, the East German women's Olympic swimming team, which won no medals in '72 but four years later won 18 medals, including 11 golds, and set eight world records. The doping of these women, whose muscularity was freakishly manlike, was state-sponsored and extensive and as massive as the shoulders it produced. Years later, after the Iron Curtain fell, everybody came clean.
Point is, the history and tradition of doping in cycling goes back at least 50 years, so the overwhelming proof now that Lance Armstrong was "tryin' to win" should come as no surprise. The first piece of evidence was the unprecedented string of Tour de France wins, kind of like the unprecedented home runs by Mark McGuire and Barry Bonds, which were kind of like the shoulders on those East German girls.
As Groucho Marx said, "Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?"
Along those lines, are our eyes lying when we look at the size and muscularity of the players in the NFL players, where even the small fast guys, the cornerbacks and wide receivers, are getting bigger and shredded like Mr. America? Or the bodies of MMA fighters, which look like they're drawn by superhero comic artists?
Or the hoists of modern weightlifters, or the size and muscle definition of modern bodybuilders. Drugs are so prevalent in these sports, there are "clean competitions" reserved for people who aren't "tryin' to win," but like to compete just the same.
Is it time for a clean Tour de France? According to the Armstrong investigation by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, almost everybody on the podium during Armstrong-Floyd Landis streak, and most of their teammates, were part of sophisticated doping scheme. In short, they were the East German girls of cycling.
You have to admire the stick-to-itiveness and courage of USADA. Its investigation was as long as it was exhaustive, and Armstrong was no easy target. Unlike the unlikable Barry Bonds or the drab Mark McGuire, Armstrong was a sympathetic figure, a cancer survivor, the face of a popular charity. People wanted to believe his story, no matter what their lying eyes were telling them.
Lance Armstrong trashed all that good faith.
The only way to restore even a smidgeon of it is to stop the lies and come clean. He took a step a few weeks back when he said he would no longer fight the USADA's charges. Right now would be the best time to complete that journey. Redemption is there for him, if he wants it. But it starts with honesty; so far, Armstrong has shown he doesn't have it in him.
Livestrong? No, Liveright.


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The report says that Anthony's representatives William Wesley (aka Worldwide Wes) and Leon Rose of CAA have told Denver to trade the high-scoring forward in their last meeting, because he will not sign an extension in Denver.
Wojnarowski writes:
This wasn't a productive, nor particularly pleasant, meeting and multiple sources said it could turn out to be the point of no return for Anthony and the organization. Sources insist it's no longer a matter of if the Nuggets trade Anthony, but when, where and for whom he's traded for.But, Knicks fans, don't get too excited that his flight will land in LaGuardia or JFK with a shuttle to the Garden.
"It's almost a given they're going to move him," said a front-office executive who's talked with the Nuggets and Anthony's agents with CAA.
In fact, according to the report, his flight is more likely to land at Newark Airport. The report says that Nets, Clippers, Warriors, Rockets and Bobcats all have what it takes to land Anthony.
Rumors swirled about a 'Melo to the Knicks deal around his wedding:
Back in mid-July, the Kroenkes had to travel to New York for Anthony's wedding to finally realize he no longer intended to sign their extension offer. The reception spiraled into an evening of Chris Paul and Anthony's brother making toasts about a future partnership for Anthony and Paul in New York with the Knicks. With nothing to trade for Anthony, though, New York isn't considered a strong contender in the eyes of Denver management.So, at least for now, it doesn't look like Carmelo Anthony will end up in blue and orange, which means the Knicks could have missed out on two of the top players in the NBA this year.
Remember that LeBron James guy?
Also, it doesn't look like Isiah Thomas is helping all that much.
Like this? Want more sports news? Follow us on Twitter.


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It won't.
what would happen to xbox if halo 3 came out to be the worst game ever ???
many xbox users bought the 360 to get halo 3 and if that game is shit there will be hell to pay!!
It won't.
u dont know that and im sure you have not played it
yah, theres to much hypeOriginally Posted by WeToYou
Everything in this signature except for this text was made by Wiired, he is my creator and almighty.
They have a formula. It would be nearly impossible to **** it up.
Originally Posted by duberryboy1
hahahhahahaaaahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhaaaaaaa aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaahhhaaaaaaa
.....it wont fail. have u seen the making of trailers of the brutes on bungie. fracking amazing. i know u cant base it off of that but it wont fail.
maybe a dumb example, but look what has happen to sonic they f*ck*d up that formula.Originally Posted by WeToYou
well if it does.... the 360 will drop lower than it allready is, microsoft NEEDS THIS in order to even have a chance in competing with nintendo, so i bet it wont, but if it does.... good news for nintendo fans! so far, GoW is keeping the 360 at a good resting point, but the wii is catching up, so if this does fail, M$ is s*** out of luck!
Wii Are The Champions!
Feel Free To say hi!
wii friend code: 7228 8695 6936 7573
ok, with halo they just have to keep a similar gameplay and just add new weapons and crap and it can't fail...and thats what there doing.
P.S: In most peoples eyes all 3d sonic games suck, but i love them none the less.
thanks demonflair for the awsome sig
The chances are very SLIM.....I MEAN VERY SLIM!


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Cast Metal Side Table
- Overview
The elongated lines and strong linear forms of 20th-century Giacometti sculptures are recognizable in this chic table, ideal for small spaces.
- Legs are welded to the top.
- Table is sand cast entirely of aluminum.
- Matte hand-applied finish is distressed, and sealed with a lacquer for protection.
- Imported.
- No assembly required.
- Adjustable levelers to add stability on uneven floors.
- Dimensions & Care
- Overall: 20" wide x 12" deep x 24" high
- Top: 20" wide x 12" deep x 1" thick
- Distance Between Legs: 18" side to side; 9.75" front to back
- Weight: 9.5 pounds
- To clean, wipe with a soft damp cloth.
- Avoid the use of chemical and abrasive cleaners.
- Wipe up spills immediately.
- Shipping & Return Info
This is a general shipping item.
Shipping Information
Return Policy
At Pottery Barn, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction is our priority. We carefully inspect your order prior to shipment. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement. If, within 7 days for Quick Ship upholstery and 30 days for all other products, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, made to order items, or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. We also cannot accept returns of final-sale items which are identified by a price which ends in .99.
For returns of items purchased from your Pottery Barn registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later.
You may return merchandise through the mail for a refund or replacement. For detailed procedures for returning items through the mail, please contact Customer Service at 1.888.779.5176, 7 days a week, 5:00am - 9:00pm (PT).


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The artists moved out and the protesters moved in. Is this a great town or what? No sooner had ArtPrize packed its palettes than Occupy Grand Rapids rolled out sleeping bags. Instead of huge murals and giant metal dogs, the occupiers paraded with handmade signs in protest of Wall Street's big dogs.
"One for all — not all for 1%" read one placard hoisted by a neatly bearded marcher, zeroing in on the sliver of Americans with the biggest pot of gold. Shooed by police from their impromptu campground in Ah-Nab-Awen Park, a few dozen 20-somethings took to the downtown streets in protest of corporate greed.
That's the simplest way to sum up the Occupy Wall Street movement, which has begun to gather religious supporters as it snowballs — or is it cannonballs? — through the country.
Pointing a finger at greed
Clergy carried a bullish golden calf named "greed" down Manhattan streets, perhaps hoping Moses would show up to thunder against bank execs. Here at home, Fountain Street Church pastor the Rev. Frederick Wooden joined the Grand Rapids occupiers on Calder Plaza, toting his own placard declaring, "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."
"They're angry at the very same things that anger the tea party," Wooden told me later. "(But) they're pointing the finger not at the evils of government but the evils of the very wealthy.
"I welcome the idea it isn't just one conversation saying all our problems are due to Democrats and the federal government. This is another interpretation, another midrash on our current economic woes."
Would that the Jewish sages could interpret why General Electric paid no federal taxes on $14.2 billion in worldwide profits last year while its CEO advises President Obama on jobs and business. Obama spokesman Jay Carney summed it up with Old Testament imagery: "armies of tax lawyers."
'Milquetoast radicals' or real change agents?
Will the Wall Street occupiers rise up and tear down the walls of corporate privilege, rolling like thunder through the land urged on by prophetic preachers? Or are they mere "milquetoast radicals" with no real solutions to our economic woes, as New York Times columnist David Brooks dismissed them?
Whatever they are, it's more than a media-op sideshow, says Jim Wallis. The leader of the left-leaning Sojourners Christian community has talked to the young Wall Street demonstrators, and he hears legitimate concerns about an unstable and unfair economy.
"I'm not endorsing it. I'm just saying this is a cry from the heart," said Wallis, who plans to lead a worship service for the protesters.
"They feel like they've been betrayed ... and they believe things should be different and better. And frankly, I do, too."
Wallis brings his progressive brand of evangelical prophecy to Fountain Street Wednesday, in a 7:30 p.m. talk titled "What Would Jesus Cut?" His lecture (admission $15) will be followed by an interfaith panel including Mayor George Heartwell, Muslim activist Ghazala Munir and Grand Rapids Urban League interim director the Rev. Joe Jones.
Wallis sees a faith-based movement building to protect the poor and vulnerable while CEOs protect their corporate jet deductions.
"We're saying the (federal) deficit is a moral issue, but how you reduce it is a moral issue as well. You can't make those who are hurting the most already hurt even more. We're trying to protect those who are often left behind."
Wallis spoke to me from Dubai, where he was participating in the World Economic Forum addressing global inequities and environmental problems.
He said he was struck by the fact "the issues we're talking about here are almost the same issues being disussed by the Occupy Wall Street kids."
Issues of economic justice and care for the poor are explicitly hammered home in the Bible, Wooden notes, yet conveniently tip-toed around by many religious and political leaders.
"We have a lot of people in power who proudly wear the label of Christian, and yet somehow find ways to take this issue and say that's not as important as deregulation and lowering taxes."
His church provided its parking lot for the Occupy Grand Rapids group this week. Meanwhile, a group in Muskegon planned to set up in Hackley Park today.
Is Occupy Wherever a rolling thunder across America, or just another Whine About Whatever? We'll see. West Michigan's a pretty comfortable place to mount a mass social protest. And simply blaming the rich is simplistic and unfair. Wealthy people do a lot of good around here.
Still, ordinary people are getting pretty fed up with cutting out coupons while others order a second bottle of wine over their $35 steak. Their resentment needs to be heard.
If this is the Promised Land, a lot of promises have been broken.
E-mail Charles Honey: email@example.com


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Kani Benoit — As reported by Jason Jewell, Benoit is a backup plan for Oregon, likely for Dontre Wilson, the Oregon running back commit who is seemingly on the fence currently on whether he will say. Benoit is talented and is currently verbally committed to UNLV.
Johnny Ragin — The feel good story for Oregon fans. Ragin is a local athlete from Wilsonville, located about 90 miles down the road from Eugene. Ragin was verbally committed to BYU, but flipped to Cal on Jan. 23. In the coming days, Oregon pursued him aggressively and offered him after an in-home visit. Growing up an Oregon fan, Ragin still says he is committed to Cal according to an article by Jake Worthen. But, can the Ducks take advantage and pluck one of the more talented athletes in the Oregon area?


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March 2013
Sometimes when I quote tunes, I get stuck on them, and forget what I was playing to start with. Jeff
Dear Jeff:
Getting "stuck" on a quote means you believe, at some important unconscious level, that the song you're "quoting" is better than the one you've been playing. If your music is to be a true expression of the song within you, it would be dishonest to return to the lesser tune. You need only follow your heart and stay the course.
There's just one possible complication: What if you accidentally switch back to the first tune, despite your best intentions? Then you will indeed have "quoted," sending your musical life down a terrible trajectory. Ultimately, your soul will land in quoter's hell, a fiery shopping mall where the muzak continually recycles fragments of "It Might As Well Be Spring," "The Lick," "Laura" and "Cry Me a River."
Dear Mr. P.C.:
I was playing with a singer, and she said she wanted to do a tune with just bass, drum and voice. I tried to set it up with a walking line, and she waved me off, looking really disgusted. What did I do wrong? Singers Never Understand Bassists
Dear SNUB:
Actually, I'll bet what she said was "bass drum and voice." No comma, no strings attached; just the kick.
But you really shouldn't need me to tell you that, SNUB. After all, the bass drum is by far the most important instrument in jazzjust ask any soundman!
Dear Mr. P.C.:
Why is it that the more chops drummers have, the more irrelevant nonsense they play? It's like "The Art of the Non Sequitur." I have a feeling that my drummer is living in a parallel reality where he's playing the same tune as us in the same tempo, but with Herbie Hancock on piano, or Cedar Walton. It's not that it isn't hip, it's just not what we're playing in this universe. I feel like Walter on "Fringe." Or is it me? Did I really come from the other side?
Rick in Singapore
Dear Rick:
Drummers have to play "irrelevant nonsense" so they can't be replaced by drum machines. The more technology advances, the more irrelevant nonsense they have to play. In other words, they're highlighting the "human" element, reekingin a good wayof imperfection and mortality, multiplied by desperation. Before long, as sampling technology improves and other instruments become dispensable, you'll find entire bands playing irrelevant nonsense, which may prove to be our generation's most enduring contribution to the ongoing evolution of jazz.
Have a question for Mr. P.C.? Ask him.


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The winter storm some are calling Hercules has passed, and our operations in the Northeast are beginning to stand back up. Just because the white stuff has stopped falling though, doesn't mean the airports are done with it just yet.
Nearly 8 inches of snow fell at JFK, and 15 inches covers the field at Boston. It'll take some time for all those runways and taxi-ways to be cleared, and light blowing snow will still impact visibility for airplanes taking off and landing. This unfortunately means until the airports are back to 100%, customers can still expect some delays and cancellations. Our Chief Operating Officer, Rob Maruster took to the airwaves this morning himself to explain more.
For customers able to reschedule their flights, we're still offering a fee waiver for select cities. Check our Travel Alert for the latest information about fee waivers and affected cities.


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Syracuse police shut down a hip-hop block party tonight in Hanover Square because the event lacked permits, organizers said.
The Mojito Block Party was organized by Syracuse University doctoral student Andre Hall, who said he spent more than $2,500 to promote the evening.
But before the beer tent and sound system were set up, police shut the party down. "The police were trying to work with us, but we didn't have any permits," Hall said.
The concert had to be moved inside Downtown Manhattan's bar, where space was limited and fans younger than 21 were barred.
The problem originated a week ago when the Hanover Square Association, which organizes the weekly block parties, didn't confirm tonight's performance with the city, said Bill Harper, who is part of the association. The association will try to reschedule an outdoor event for Sept. 14, he said.


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SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Arson & Bomb Squad arrested a 24-year-old city man Friday and charged him with setting his Sixteen Acres home on fire in November.
Bryan Hall, 24, formerly of 225 Durant St., was charged with arson of a dwelling and injury to a firefighter, Dennis Leger, aide to Commissioner Joseph Conant, said.
Hall is suspected of setting fire to his Durant Street home on Nov. 11, Leger said. A firefighter suffered a leg injury after he fell off a ladder while fighting the fire.
The blaze displaced six adults and three children. Investigators quickly determined that it was deliberately set.
It caused an estimated $80,000 in damage to the property, Leger said at the time, adding that the building sustained fire damage on the first floor and exterior, heat and smoke damage on the second floor, and water damage in the basement.
The Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross aided those displaced. Assessor records state the property is owned by Jonathan B. and Tammy Y. Hall and assessed at $177,900.
Hall denied the charges in District Court. He was released on is own recognizance and ordered to return on March 25 for a pre-trial hearing.
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Roast Busters' school did nothing - victim's mother
Friday 8 Nov 2013 6:09 p.m.
A school that admits three of the 'Roast Busters' were its pupils is defending its handling of its students' welfare.
Two pupils at Green Bay High School were named by the girl who formally complained to police about the actions of the Roast Buster.
Her mother says she complained to the school when one of the same boys later went on to confront and bully the girl on the premises. She wanted the boy expelled.
"The reaction was they couldn't expel the perpetrator because it was not on school grounds," she says.
She says she felt frustrated and angry at the response and her daughter – aged just 13 at the time – stopped going to school.
The final straw, she said, was being bullied on school grounds by the same boy, Beraiah Hales, because she'd gone to police.
"She just kept on getting bullied, sometimes she would go into the toilets, she was wagging, go into the toilets crying her eyes out, stay in there so no one could find her."
The school, she says, did nothing.
3 News asked Green Bay High School for an on-camera interview to discuss who knew what and when, and what was in place to support the students. But our request was declined and instead we got a statement from the school's principal, Morag Hutchinson, saying she had never heard of the term Roast Busters until 3 News broke the story on Sunday night.
She says she was aware of an incident at an out-of-school party which she was told about it in April 2012, and that Beraiah left the next month. She said the school co-operated fully with the police and tried to support the family concerned.
The victim's mother says that's not good enough.
"School's supposed to be a haven for children, a safe place - and it hasn't been."
She says Beraiah should have been expelled.
"Even when he was at intermediate with one of my other daughters and he was 10, she was 12, he locked her in a toilet and tried to rip off her clothes and do the same thing."
The school has now written to all parents, with the letter saying it's been a very difficult week.
3 News


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Leith Pier About 1870
Not on display
- Scottish Art
The mixture of steamboats and sailing ships in this picture gives us a good idea of the thriving trade in Leith during the nineteenth century. Wilson ably recorded the vitality and prosperity of the place in a series of photographs after it was considerably enlarged in the middle of the century. A generous empty space in the foreground puts us right out to sea with the steamboat in the far ground. The silhouettes of the masts thrust up into the sky and the thick dark smoke drifting across are a further demonstration of Wilson's talent for spotting good compositions and shooting contre-jour.


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January 18, 1999
Medina, a private consultant and former public works director from Sacramento, California, was picked after a six-month recruitment period following the resignation of former director Lynn Guttman last June. He brings 30 years of public works experience, and has headed up departments in three cities before becoming a consultant.
Medina, who holds a B.S. in civil engineering, and a Professional Certificate in engineering management, begins work Feb. 15.
Looking out for his own, and making brownie points in GOP territory, King County Executive Ron Sims last week said the state should spend Referendum 49 money in Bellevue, rather than rural areas during a speech on his SmartGrowth initiative.
"If the state is serious about making growth management work, they will reconsider spending Referendum 49 money to widen the [State Route] 522 corridor in rural Snohomish County and instead invest in needed urban mobility projects such as a downtown Bellevue access ramp," Sims said before the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce Jan. 11.
Ironically, it was Gov. Gary Locke, a fellow Democrat and county executive prior to Sims who made widening SR-522 from Woodinville to Monroe one of the highest priority projects in his transportation budget that he unveiled in mid-December.
With only two access points between Woodinville and Monroe, and one of those going to the Maltby urban growth area, SR-522 largely passes through rural Snohomish County. It serves as the major conduit between the Skykomish Valley and Highway 2, and the upper Eastside and Seattle.
"The long-range financial plan we developed last summer called for a rate increase this spring," explained Mark Schinman, PUD general manager. But with wholesale power costs nearly doubling over the past year, he said the commissioners decided the best way for the utility to stay in good financial shape was to both raise rates and cut expenses.
The comp plan, which provides long-term direction about how and where growth should occur in unincorporated King County, is updated once a year. According to the county, the majority of changes are housekeeping.
An outline of major issues to be addressed in the update will be available at the open house which will be held between 4 and 8 p.m. at the Bellevue Regional Library, 1111 110th Ave. NE.
The benefit charge is a fee of 32.5 cent per-thousand dollars of assessed value. It has been levied for the past nine years, according to Chief Steve Smith. It augments the regular property taxes the district collects.
For more information, call Smith or Deputy Chief Ed Nelson at 483-2131.


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"GOP lands no clear punches" wails the Washington Post. Nine hours after it began, a House committee's questioning of Hillary Rodham Clinton has provided few new details about the 2012 attacks on American installations in Benghazi, Libya – and, so far, no clear victory for Republicans seeking to trap Clinton in an admission of… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Benghazi cover-up
The five stages of an Obama scandal
The other day I wrote that as investigators got closer and closer to the truth about Benghazi democrats would max out the volume on the shriek meter. It's begun. The are five stages to a scandal. They are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. We have already passed Stage 1: Denial House Democrats Dismiss Existence… Read more »
At the end of the Benghazi Road you'll find either Valerie Jarrett or Barack Obama
As of November 1, 2012, Barack Obama had told the country 32 times that Al Qaeda was "decimated." He's also declared the war on terror "over." These claims were pivotal to his re-election campaign. Unfortunately they were lies. Al Qaeda was not defeated, it was gaining strength, especially in Africa: As President Obama ran to… Read more »
Benghazi explained: Hillary may as well have killed them herself
There has been much argument about the security situation in Benghazi leading up to the 2012 attacks. On the one hand, there is no dispute that additional security had been requested in the months before the attack. The timeline is important. DECEMBER 2011: The documents also included an "ACTION MEMO" for Under Secretary of State… Read more »
Benghazi: They knew it was an attack within minutes
Following the attacks in Benghazi that took the lives of four Americans, including the Ambassador to Libya, the Obama administration blamed the violence on a spontaneous protest of a home-made video that is said to insult Islam. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said the attack on the American consulate in Benghazi last… Read more »
I want you to listen again to this rant, but this time more carefully
You've heard this, of course. Now hear it again. All of it. The legacy line out of this tantrum clearly is "WHAT DIFFERENCE, AT THIS POINT, DOES IT MAKE?" But you've been bamboozled. Let's look at the fuller statement: "With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans. Was it because of… Read more »
The Benghazi lies are worse than you thought
Yesterday John Kerry informed Congress that he would not be making the Benghazi survivors available to testify before Congress: Sharyl Attkisson of CBS News tweeted today that "Secy Kerry tells congress he will not honor the request to make Benghazi survivors available for questioning." The stonewalling of the Obama Administration on the Benghazi survivors is… Read more »
Benghazi survivor waited 20 hours for rescue
Leon Panetta told us they couldn't mount a rescue within seven hours. Apparently they can't mount a rescue in nineteen hours either. No wonder Obama wants this buried. No wonder Obama struggles to paint this as a "phony scandal." It's been more than 10 months since the Benghazi attack and the Obama regime has done… Read more »
"My son is dead. How could that be phony?"
We have all watched as the multiple Obama scandals developed. Yesterday he dismissed all of them as "phony": President Obama on Wednesday dismissed a series of controversies dogging his administration as "phony" in remarks that represented a clear shift in White House tactics. "With an endless parade of distractions, political posturing and phony scandals, Washington… Read more »
Was David Petraeus blackmailed over Benghazi?
The Benghazi affair is on fire and it could possibly go nuclear soon. It is now very clear that the Obama regime scrubbed the truth from the Benghazi talking points. Politics: It would be naïve to expect any White House to ignore the political implications of a foreign policy crisis occurring two months before a… Read more »


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MWS series plastic chains are designed to be low-wear, friction-resistant, and resistant to bacteria. The line includes top chains, plastic belt chains, and block chains. Sprockets, idler wheels, return rollers, and running rails are also available. Possible applications include conveyors in bottling plants, conveyors where foodstuffs are carried directly on the chain, and frozen food and packing conveyors. Plastic chains are intended to keep mold and bacteria from forming in small damp areas.
Tsubakimoto UK Ltd. , Osier Dr., Sherwood Park, Annesley, Nottingham UK NG15 0DX; FAX: +44 01623 688789.
NYPLASand NYSEALsealing elements are intended to replace O-rings, gasket seals, and sealant compounds when preventing leaks. The NYPLAS process applies a Plastisol material under the heads of fasteners, pop-style rivets, and double-ended flanged screws to seal out water, dust, and air. It is also said to dampen noise and reduce rattle. NYSEAL is a pre-applied, permanently-fused sealing element for threaded and unthreaded fasteners. According to the company, it creates a gasket-type seal to prevent leakage of fluids up to 500 psi.
Nylok Fastener Corp. , 15260 Hallmark Dr., Macomb, MI 48042; FAX (516) 678-5783; www.nylok.com .
TK plastic enclosures are designed to offer protection from dust, water jets, and temporary flooding. They have an ingress protection up to IP 67 and metric knockouts for simpler cable fitting allowing between 4 and 42 entries. There are eleven models in the range available in polystyrene and glassfiber reinforced polycarbonate material.
Spelsbergels UK Ltd. , Unit 17, Stafford Park 12, Telford, Shropshire UK TF3 3 3BJ; FAX +44 0 19 52 20 07 25; www.spelsberg.de .
BG gasket tape is a form-in-place sealant product made with multidirectional 100% pure expanded PTFE, which is said to expand in multiple directions to reduce creep relaxation after compression. Available in three thicknesses, the tape is also said to maintain its original width and profile when compressed, which ensures high gasket stress retention and a tight, long-lasting seal.
W.L. Gore and Associates , 201 Airport Rd., Elkton, MD 21922-4817; FAX (410) 392-4817; www.gore.com .
This company's Ion Air Cannon is said to eliminate static electricity and cleans at distances of up to 15 feet. With no moving parts, the design incorporates the patented Super Air Amplifier, which is said to minimize air use by inducing surrounding airflow at a ratio of 22:1. This design is said to carry ions to the target which reportedly enables the airstream to eliminate static electricity in less than half a second.
Exair , 1250 Century Circle N., Cincinnati, OH 45243-3309; FAX (513) 671-3363; www.exair.com .
TRA-BOND 789-3 is a moisture resistant epoxy adhesive system which is designed to provide excellent moisture resistance for microelectronic applications. It is said to exhibit strong adhesion to metals which are usually difficult to bond such as gold, silver, and copper. The product also reportedly acts as an electrical insulator, and can also be packaged in premixed and frozen syringes.
Tra-Con Inc. , 45 Wiggins Ave., Bedford, MA 01730; FAX (781) 275-9249; www.tra-con.com .
StayLock®work supports are pneumatically or spring actuated, and rely on a positive metal-to-metal latching mechanism to stay in place. The manufacturer says that the product has a very high load capacity, will not move once activated, and will remain locked even if disconnected from its power source.
Jergens , 15700 S Waterloo Rd., Cleveland, OH 44110; FAX (216) 481-6193; www.jergensinc.com .
The two-component Plus9 ml Micro Dispenser for adhesives and sealants is de-signed for electronics, home, and industrial use, and is said to precisely place tiny amounts of material. A 1:1 ratio cartridge and choice of mixers is said to eliminate measuring and mess associated with hand mixing of materials from separate containers.
TAH Industries Inc. , 107 N. Gold Dr., Robbinsville, NJ 08691; FAX (609) 259-0957; www.tah.com .
These multipurpose snap hooks are recommended by the company for light duty marine use, securing cargo to racks, and automotive and home uses. They are made from UV resistant nylon and should not scratch painted or decorated surfaces. Designed to reduce the risk of accidental release, they are available to fit rope diameters of 6.4, 9.5, and 12.7 mm. The hooks range in length from 40.5 to 80.2 mm in widths from 21.4 to 42.1 mm.
Micro Plastics International Ltd. , Unit 2, Henley Industrial Park, Henley Rd., Coventry UK CV2 1SR; FAX +44 02476 614 831; www.microplastics.com .
This chrome-plated hinge is designed to enable easy lift-off door removal and replacement or permanent door installation. The lift-off feature is intended to allow unrestricted access to the inside of enclosures. The company recommends it for use on cabinets, enclosures, furniture, doors, panels, lids, and covers in industries such as telecommunications, industrial machinery, medical devices, and HVAC/R.
Southco Europe Ltd., Midway House, Staverton Technology Park, Cheltanham, Glos. UK GL51 6TQ; FAX +44 1452 715490; www.southco.com
IMnet 310 is a wall-mounted enclosure recommended by the company as a breakout or distribution cabinet in larger systems, or as a server housing in smaller installations. It is available in heights of 7, 12, and 17U, in depths of 400 and 500 mm. It has a static load rating of 40 kg. The top and bottom covers are ventilated and have a cable entry gland. The front door is reversible, and the units inside can be bayed together side by side or one above the other.
APW Electronics Ltd. , Electron Way, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, Hants UK SO534ZR; FAX +44 2380 265126; www.apw1.com .


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By Lena Mitchell/NEMS Daily Journal Corinth Bureau
CORINTH – Heavy rainfall in Corinth on June 28 poured about three inches of rain on the city in less than two hours and flooded areas and businesses previously unaffected by flood waters.
Work that is needed to improve the city and Alcorn County's storm drainage systems likely would not have helped much in the June 28 event due to the intensity of that rainfall, Drainage Commissioner Milton Sandy wrote in a recent newsletter.
"Although it was a lot of rain in intensity, the total amount was not that high for a 24-hour period," Sandy said. "As a result, most of the flooding reports were not in areas that flooded May 2, 2010, which were associated with main canals."
The late-June event, instead, was precipitated by culverts, gutters and side ditches too small to handle the enormous volume in such a short time, he said.
The drainage commission is seeking help from the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District on five priority projects from the master plan they've devised to begin working on area drainage problems.
"We only need one supplemental easement on our first priority project and two supplemental easements on the second priority project," Sandy said.
Since Tombigbee requires 100-foot easements for any work they perform, the drainage commission had to request additional temporary 75-foot easements to add to their original 25-foot easements.
Once those easements are in hand, Tombigbee can begin tackling the first of the five submitted projects. Those projects include
• Project 1: Work on Bridge Creek along C.R. 402, south of Timber Products and back to the sewer plant.
• Project 2: Work from the sewer plant along Elam Creek to U.S. Highway 72.
• Project 3: Work from U.S. Highway 72 to the Tate Street/Old Highway 45 bridge.
• Project 4: Work along U.S. Highway 72 to Hillandale Country Club/Bridge Creek.
• Project 5: Work from Hillandale Country Club/Phillips Creek to Farmington Road.
Last fall $100,000 was added to Corinth's fiscal year 2011 budget to address some of the city's drainage issues.
"We've identified five additional projects with the city to spend monies appropriated last year," Sandy said.


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A health and safety briefing provided by the IET.
Slips and trips are the most common cause of major injuries at work and it is estimated that on average, a third of all reported major injuries and some 20% of over 3-day injuries are the result of slips and trips. Major slips usually result in broken bones and they can also be the precursor to even more serious events, such as a fall from height.
The average annual cost to all UK employers from slips and trips is over £512 million per year in lost production and other costs, whilst the cost to the health service is of the order of £133 million per year.


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And in fitting fashion, the Portland City Council hashed out priorities without its own resident lame ducks, Mayor Sam Adams and Commissioner Randy Leonard. In their places: Mayor-elect Charlie Hales and Commissioner-elect Steve Novick.
Adams' calendar called for him to attend Tuesday's session. But he instead decided to work from home, mayoral spokeswoman Caryn Brooks said.
"I think he wanted to work from home without disruption," Brooks said in an email.
Asked what Adams was working on and why working at his office in City Hall would cause a disruption, Brooks said: "He has many things coming to council in the next weeks. That is what he is working on. Him working in his office doesn't cause a disruption, people constantly disrupt him ... hence he wants to work at home to focus."
Leonard, meanwhile, wasn't in the office Tuesday morning but arrived at City Hall later in the day.
Leonard said he planned to attend the work session but decided to opt out, recalling his days in the Legislature. Leonard said he remembered when an outgoing state senator asked provocative questions during a similar meeting about the upcoming year's agenda, even though the legislator was on the way out.
"I'm not going to be that guy," Leonard said.
-- Brad Schmidt ; On Twitter


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This course helps law students understand the legal implications of a company�s capital structure and finances. It is designed to assist students who are interested in either transactional law or commercial litigation. The course begins with a discussion of valuation concepts. It then moves to a legal analysis of the rights and claims that attach to various securities, beginning with contractual rights of bondholders and convertible security holders. It also considers the contractual and extracontractual rights of preferred shareholders, and finally takes up the dividend and control rights of common stockholders, and fiduciary obligations of directors. The conflicts that arise between security holders, and the implications of the allocation of control rights among security holders for corporate governance, and for public policy, are common themes throughout the course. The following course is strongly recommended, but not required, to be taken before or concurrently with Corporate Finance: Business Associations.
Current & Previous Instructors:
Michelle Harner;
|538B (CRN: 27334) Credits: 4 cr sem
Spring, 2017 (Day).
Mon, Wed: 10:25-11:50
Room 302.
8 openings. (Limit 8).
|538B (CRN: 26676) Credits: 3 cr crse
Spring, 2017 (Day).
Mon, Wed: 10:25-11:50
Room 302.
40 openings. (Limit 40).


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|[TowerTalk] Lower Mast Question
|email@example.com (Sylvan Katz)
|Thu, 19 Apr 2001 18:53:19 -0600
TTs I am putting a Force 12 C31XR and EF240s on my 60' tower with a 6' separation between (the 40m yagi will be rotated 90 deg with respect to the tribander). I want to mount the T2X rotator as far down the tower as possible - in fact the nearer the base the better. I have 20' of 2" OD schedule 40 aluminum tubing for the top section of the mast. I presume that since the lower section(s) will essentially only have a torsional stress that I can use less expensive tubing than schedule 40 aluminum. Any recommendations for the lower section of the mast and what technique I should use to couple the sections together? .. sylvan ---------------- Sylvan Katz VE5ZX & G0TZX Saskatoon, SK List Sponsor: ChampionRadio.com - Trylon self-supporting towers, safety equipment, rigging gear, LOOS tension guages & more! http://www.championradio.com ----- FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk Submissions: firstname.lastname@example.com Administrative requests: firstname.lastname@example.com Problems: email@example.com
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text:
Patent application title: System and Method for Estimating the Glucose Concentration in Blood
Ole Skyggebjerg (Hillerod, DK)
Kristian Glejbol (Glostrup, DK)
Kristian Glejbol (Glostrup, DK)
IPC8 Class: AA61B5055FI
USPC Class:
Class name: Measuring or detecting nonradioactive constituent of body liquid by means placed against or in body throughout test electroanalysis blood glucose
Publication date: 2008-10-09
Patent application number: 20080249384
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This application relates to glucose monitoring systems for continuously
measuring the glucose concentration in a patients blood. The system is
adapted to communicate with one or more sensors (10, 20) for
transcutaneous insertion into a patient and for producing sensor signals
related to the glucose concentration. The system comprises an electronic
calculator unit and a display (14) for displaying the measured glucose
concentration. The electronic calculator unit further comprises means for
calculating an estimate of the uncertainty, i.e. the degree of accuracy
of the glucose measurement, and the display is configured for displaying
an interval representing said uncertainty (15).
1. A system for measuring glucose concentration comprising a
transcutaneous sensor, an electronic calculator unit and a display for
displaying the measured glucose concentration, characterized in that the
electronic calculator unit has means for calculating an estimate of the
uncertainty of the glucose measurement; and that the display is
configured for displaying an interval representing said uncertainty.
2. A system according to claim 1 characterized in that the display is configured for graphical representation of the interval.
3. A system according to claim 2, characterized in that the display is configured for being able to produce various types of graphical representations of the interval.
4. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that the sensor comprises an electronic circuit configured for being able to communicate with the electronic calculator unit.
5. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that the electronic circuit in the sensor contains calibration information.
6. A system according to claim 5, characterized in that the electronic calculator unit comprises data storage for calibration information.
7. A system according to claim 6, characterized in that the data storage is configured for receiving information used in the electronic calculator unit for iteratively estimating the uncertainty of the blood-glucose measurement.
8. A system according to claim 7, characterized in that the apparatus has means for generating said data/information.
9. A system according to claim 8, characterized in that said means comprise a test-strip glucose-measurement device.
10. A system according to claim 8, characterized in that said means comprise a further transcutaneous sensor.
11. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the apparatus comprises transmitter and receiver circuits for wireless communication of said data/information between the separate parts of the apparatus.
12. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the apparatus comprises an electronic alarm circuit; and that the apparatus comprises means by which a user is able to adjust the threshold values of the alarm circuit.
13. A system according to claims 1, characterized in that the apparatus is configured for being able to communicate with a unit intended for dosing a medicament.
14. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for dosing and administering a medicament.
15. A method of estimating the glucose concentration in blood by means of a sensor inserted subcutaneously in live tissue and by means of associated electronic calculator circuits, characterized in that an estimate is provided of the uncertainty of the glucose-concentration measurement; and that a result is displayed on a display comprising the display of an interval that represents the estimated uncertainty.
16. A method according to claim 15, characterized in that the uncertainty is reduced by performing valid calibration measurements.
17. A method according to claim 16, characterized in that the uncertainty is estimated in response to the number of calibration measurements performed.
18. A method according to claim 16, characterized in that the number of calibration measurements is zero; and that the uncertainty is estimated in response to the signals emitted by the sensor during a pre-defined period of time.
19. A method according to claim 16, characterized in that the number of the number of calibration measurements is zero; and that the uncertainty is estimated on the basis of measured data and calibration parameters that are present either in the sensor and/or in connection with the calculator circuit.
20. A method according to claim 16, characterized in that at least one calibration measurement is performed; and that the uncertainty is calculated on the basis of maximum and minimum values from the sensor that are observed during a predetermined period of time which is time-lagged in relation to the calibration measurement.
21. A method according to claim 16, characterized in that the number of calibration measurements is larger than zero; and that the uncertainty is calculated on the basis of measured data, calibration measurements and the calibration parameters that are present either in the sensor and/or in connection with the calculator circuit.
22. A method according to claim 16, characterized in that the number of calibration measurements is larger than zero; and that the validity of earlier calibration measurements are reduced compared to more recent calibration measurements.
23. A method according to claim 15, characterized in that a signal is produced that represents said uncertainty; and that the signal is used as input signal for an electronic alarm circuit.
24. A method according to claim 23, characterized in that signals are produced that represent the calculated blood-glucose concentration and its estimated uncertainty; and that the signals are used as input signal for the alarm circuit.
25. A method according to claim 23, characterized in that the threshold values of the alarm circuit is pre-programmed by a user.
26. A method according to claim 23, characterized in that the alarm circuit is controlled to act differently in dependence of whether the upper or the lower threshold value is exceeded.
27. A method according to claim 26, characterized in that the information regarding the uncertainty is weighted such that the values are regarded to be more critical in case of relatively low blood-glucose concentrations than for relatively high blood-glucose concentrations.
28. A method according to claim 23, characterized in that the threshold values of the alarm circuit are changed in response to the in-use situation.
29. A method according to claim 23, characterized in that the threshold values of the alarm circuit are shown on said display.
30. A method according to claim 15, characterized in that the display comprises the size of the estimated uncertainty.
31. A method according to claim 15, characterized in that the display represents the blood-glucose value and the size of the uncertainty.
32. A method according to claim 15, characterized in that the display comprises the highest and lowest possible values of the blood glucose.
33. A method according to claim 15, characterized in that the display comprises numerical values.
34. A method according to claim 18, characterized in that the display comprises a graphical representation.
35. A method according to claim 15, characterized in that the display may both be graphical and numerical or a combination thereof.
36. A method according to claim 15, characterized in that, for the calculation of the information, signals are used from a further sensor that was introduced subcutaneously and emitted signals to said electronic calculator circuit for a period of time preceding the use of said sensor.
[0001]This invention relates to procedures for estimating the glucose concentration in blood using biosensors, in particular using transcutaneous electrochemical sensors suitable for in vivo measurement of metabolites.
[0002]In recent years, a variety of implantable sensors have been developed for in vivo measurements of various biological parameters. Among these transcutaneous sensors (ie sensors mounted through the skin) show promise for real-time measuring of important biological parameters like acidity of the blood and concentration of metabolites and blood gasses.
[0003]One of the most prominent examples of the use of implantable sensors is within the field of blood glucose (BG) measurements. BG information is of the utmost importance to diabetics, as these readings are instrumental in the adjustment of the treatment regimen.
[0004]The conventional way to obtain BG information is by applying minute amounts of blood to test strips. Although simple and reliable, this method gives only discrete readings and thus not a complete understanding of the BG at any time. A new development is transcutaneous sensors where the sensor is implanted under the skin. As the sensor is always in contact with biological fluids, this opens the possibility for continuous measurements. Continuous BG readings obtained with little or no delay will be particularly useful in numerous ways. First of all, the continuous monitoring will help preventing hypoglycaemic incidents and thus contribute to a vast increase in the quality of life of the diabetic patient.
[0005]Although the invention described in this application is not limited to systems for BG measurements, BG measurements will be used in the following text to exemplify all relevant aspects of the invention.
[0006]In general, readings from a transcutaneous sensor reflect only to some extent the value found in undisturbed tissue. An exact reading is not obtainable due to the metabolic changes in the tissue caused by the damage inflicted during insertion. The relation between readings in disturbed tissue and the actual value in undisturbed tissue is therefore unknown in the general case.
[0007]If transcutaneous sensors are used to indicate the concentration of species in the bloodstream, the relation between the reading and the actual value becomes even more complex due to time lag between the concentration found in the blood and the value read by the sensor. This is the case in particular for BG measurements, as BG sensors are most often implanted in the subcutaneous tissue although the value of interest is the concentration of glucose present in the bloodstream.
[0008]To summarize, the measured value of eg glucose found in the subcutaneous tissue reflects to some degree the concentration found in the bloodstream although a time lag between the reading and the actual value exists. For glucose the time-corrected concentration in the subcutaneous tissue is in general lower than in the bloodstream due to physiological factors as well as tissue damage. Thus the readings even from an ideal subcutaneous sensor will represent only the actual value found in the blood if corrected for the unknown proportionality factor as well as time-lag.
[0009]In patent application No. US 2002/0161288 A1 an approach to calibration is claimed that employs numerous calibration values taken at predetermined intervals. According to the method described in this patent, sampling has to be carried out at predetermined intervals until two consecutive calibration factors fall within a certain interval. Thereafter a readout of the measured glucose concentration can be presented on a display.
[0010]If follows firstly from the above circumstances that the prior art is vitiated by the drawback that--when a new sensor is to be started up--it is necessary to perform calibrations and then wait a while for it to be verified, by means of electronic circuits, that the deviation between the measurements/calibrations is sufficiently low. Secondly, the prior art is associated with the drawback that, for safety considerations, the users are "deprived" of the option of regulating themselves the accuracy of the readings because the accuracy is programmed into the electronic circuits. For instance, there may be situations where the user desires to accept a higher degree of uncertainty than average. This may be at the theatre, where it is inconvenient if an alarm is suddenly produced that might just as well have been postponed a couple of hours.
[0011]One object of the invention is to devise a novel method of collecting, processing and presenting data obtained in systems employing at least one biosensor, hereby increasing the flexibility and convenience of the system without reducing its safety and reliability.
[0012]This object is accomplished in that an estimate is provided of the uncertainty, i.e. the degree of accuracy of the glucose-concentration measurement, and that a result is displayed on a display comprising the display of an interval representing the estimated uncertainty.
[0013]By showing the user the uncertainty interval it is possible, on the one hand, to use the measurement entirely without preceding calibration and time-lag and, on the other, it is sound from a safety point of view to allow the user himself to adjust the accuracy in connection with eg the alarm functionality.
[0014]According to one further aspect of the invention, the display presents the readings as an interval of possible values rather than an exact number. Depending on the quality of the achieved data, a wider or narrower interval will be displayed.
[0015]The display is controlled by a microprocessor which, based on available data, calculates the interval within which the real measured value is to be found. By available data is meant data from the biosensor as well as calibration data from other devices and sensors.
[0016]One of the major advantages provided by the invention is that it is possible to obtain a readout of a measured blood-glucose value albeit the uncertainty is comparatively high. As it is, there may be situations in which the user will appreciate this option which does not involve any risk; the level of uncertainty being, as mentioned, displayed to the user. Another major advantage is that the uncertainty can be reduced considerably merely by one calibration, because the uncertainty is calculated on the basis of maximum and minimum values from the sensor that are observed during a predetermined period of time which is time-lagged in relation to the calibration measurement. By performing further valid calibration measurements, the uncertainty can be further reduced, which will become immediately apparent on the display. Thus, the user is able to perform precisely the number of calibration measurements it takes to achieve a desired narrowing of the uncertainty interval. Valid calibration measurements are intended to designate that such measurements are disregarded that exhibit obvious errors, or where the measurement is too old. If a number of calibrations are performed successively, the measurement accuracy will improve with time by the reciprocal of the square root of the number of measurements; however, this requires that the measurements are not too old. It is to be noted that the great advantages provided by the invention appears by no, one single or few calibrations for the mere reason that by performing many calibrations, also in accordance with the prior art, it is possible to accomplish a relatively small uncertainty; a scenario where it is of comparatively less interest to calculate and display the uncertainty interval.
[0017]As mentioned, the invention provides the advantage that, from a safety point of view, it is perfectly all right to display the result of a blood glucose measurement. This is due not only to the invention overcoming the prejudice that one cannot display an uncertain measurement value, but also to the circumstance that measurement sensors are increasingly improved, and thus it is exclusively the uncertainty of the tissue which is decisive at the beginning. This will typically give rise to an uncertainty between 0 and -30%. Irrespective of the safety, it is also a feature of the invention that, from the onset, it is possible to verify whether the glucose concentration is increasing or decreasing as soon as a brief initial operational period of the sensor has elapsed. Moreover, sensors are advantageously employed that are provided with calibration information to the effect that the sensor can be regarded as being essentially flawless.
[0018]As mentioned the uncertainty can be reduced by performing one or more calibration measurements, in which context it is also important to note that, in accordance with the invention, an interval is shown representing the uncertainty albeit it decreases as more calibrations are being performed. Owing to tissue changes, lower validity is ascribed to earlier calibration measurements compared to recent calibration measurements.
[0019]As mentioned above, the invention provides the advantage that it is sound from a safety point of view to enable the user to adjust the safety margin used on connection with an electronic circuit. The adjustments may also take place automatically in dependence on the uncertainty estimated in accordance with the invention. Measurement equipment and alarm circuit may be closely integrated functionality-wise, and the user himself may be enabled to program threshold values for the alarm circuit. It is well-known that uncertainty regarding low blood-glucose values is more serious than uncertainty regarding high blood-glucose values. Typically, the alarm circuit will be configured for taking this into account. It is also well-known that some situations are critical, while others are not--eg it is critical to drive a car, while it is not critical to rest.
[0020]The presentation on a display can be accomplished in a variety of ways by means of numbers, graphics, colours, sound signals; bearing in mind, though, that diabetics are often elderly and visually impaired.
[0021]The invention is also particularly suitable in connection with a calibration process of a sensor, while the previously used sensor is still active. The latter calibration technique will generally be able to reduce the calibration time; and when this feature is combined with the present invention, readouts will result that are even quicker and even more useful than previously.
[0022]The invention also relates to a system for calculating and displaying measurement results from a subcutaneous sensor. The system is characterized in that an electronic calculator unit is provided having means for producing an estimate of the uncertainty of the glucose measurement; and that the display is configured for displaying an interval representing the estimated uncertainty. The system may be provided as one self-contained apparatus. The apparatus may contain one or more sensor units or may be communicating with one or more sensor units. Alternatively, the electronic calculator unit may be physically divided from the means for generating an output on a display. Thus, the presentation of the output may be provided on a separate device communicating with the electronic calculator unit.
[0023]Since the user is now able to obtain information on the magnitude of the uncertainty of the measurement it is now possible--as will appear from the following--to obtain many considerable advantages. Therefore, it is also important to be able to display the interval as illustratively as possible; preferably by graphical representation. The users' perception of what is a clear and safe representation may differ widely, and therefore the apparatus is preferably configured such that the display is able to display the interval in different graphical ways that can be selected by the individual user.
[0024]In the preferred embodiment the sensor is directly coupled to an electronic circuit that is configured for being able to communicate with the electronic calculator unit. The assembly concerned may both be a disposable assembly where the sensor and said electronic circuit are built integrally and discarded as a whole when the longevity of the sensor is exceeded; or it may also be a disposable sensor connected to a multiple-use electronic circuit. According to a preferred embodiment the electronic circuit in the sensor contains calibration information that can typically be produced in the manufacture of a series of sensors.
[0025]Preferably the electronic calculator unit comprises a data storage for calibration information, which information can be accomplished in various ways and communicated to the data storage in various ways.
[0026]The apparatus according to the invention is able to provide not only the uncertainty of a first measurement without preceding calibration measurement--it can also be used for reducing the uncertainty on the measurements in that the electronic calculator unit is able to perform iterative calculations on the basis of the information available in the data storage. The information may be generated by the electronic calculator unit itself, or it may be generated by eg a test-strip glucose-measurement device. As a further alternative, the means for producing said information may comprise a further transcutaneous sensor that has been in operation for some time already.
[0027]Preferably said apparatus parts comprise transmitter and receiver circuits for wireless communication of said data/information.
[0028]According to a preferred embodiment, the electronic calculator unit also comprises an electronic alarm circuit; and the apparatus has means, such as push buttons, by means of which the user is able to adjust the threshold values of the alarm circuit. This feature which is of great significance to a user is now enabled in practice, because the user is able to set the alarm values on the basis of a displayed margin of uncertainty. So far the user has not been allowed to perform such changes as it would be far too risky when the measurement uncertainty is unknown.
[0029]The invention also puts an end to the prejudice that automatic or semi-automatic apparatuses for administering a medicament can be controlled only when the measurement uncertainty has been reduced to a pre-defined minimum. In particular in connection with semi-automatic dosage units, the user will be granted much more freedom in using the apparatus since display of the uncertainty interval may preclude the risks that have so far limited the applicability of the known apparatuses.
[0030]The invention will now be explained in further detail in the following specification of exemplary embodiments; reference being made to the drawing, wherein:
[0031]FIG. 1 shows relations between a true glucose concentration in the blood and a measured value from a sensor;
[0032]FIG. 2 shows a flow chart illustrating the method according to the invention and illustrates how it is possible to accomplish an estimate of the uncertainty of the measurements;
[0033]FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention; while
[0034]FIG. 4 illustrates the electronic functionality units that may partake in the apparatus, eg the one shown in FIG. 3.
[0035]The principle of the invention will first be described with reference to FIG. 1 with the object of showing how, in practice, it is possible to calculate the uncertainty intervals presented to the user.
[0036]Especially for the algorithms calculating the calibration constants numerous approaches are valid, thus the example below is only depicting one possibility among many.
[0037]In the general case calibration values are weighted such that new values count more than older ones. This is not included in this example in order to keep the mathematical expressions simple.
[0038]Also the validity of older calibration measurements degrade with time. This is conveniently accomplished by letting ΔM grow with time. This is not included in this example in order to keep the mathematical expressions simple.
[0040]BG value=Real BG value, i.e. the value one would obtain from a perfect CGM system f(t)=The variation of BG value with time.
[0041]f(t) is not known. Only discrete points are known in the general case. These discrete points are found by strip measurements.
[0042]Measured BG value=The raw data coming from the CGM system.
[0043]F(t)=The recorded raw data
[0044]F(t) is known as data is continuously stored in the monitoring device
[0045]M=Uncertainty on the acquired BG value due to handling and variations in strip production.
[0046]Ignoring uncertainties in the system the correlation below is given
f(t)=(F(t+δ)+Co)Cp (eq 1)
[0048]=Time lag. δ might either be calculated from the correlation between calibrations and F(t) values or δ might be a fixed pre-programmed value.
[0049]According to this example δ is pre-programmed by the user, based on experience. ε=The uncertainty of δ. If e.g. the user is in a hot bath the rate of blood flow through the outer capillaries is high and a typical time lag will be (δ-ε). If the user is outdoors and freezes, the outer capillaries of the skin will contract whereby the blood flow in the outer capillaries is reduced. In this situation a typical lag time is (δ+ε). ε is typically found during initial calibration of the system.
[0050]Co=Offset value. Co might either be calculated from the correlation between calibrations and F(t) values or Co might be a fixed pre-programmed value.
[0051]According to this example, Co is pre-programmed into a memory module mounted on the sensor.
[0052]Cp=Constant of proportionality. Cp might either be calculated from the correlation between calibrations and F(t) values or Cp might be a fixed pre-programmed value.
[0053]According to this example Cp is estimated until calibration data exist.
[0054]Cp=Cpp*Cps where Cpp is specific for person using the sensor whereas Cps is specific to the sensor. In this example information on Cps is pre-programmed into a memory module mounted on the sensor.
[0055]Including uncertainties equation (1) expands to
f ( t - δ ) - Δ M max ( F ( t - ) F ( t + ) ) + C o ≦ C p ≦ f ( t - δ ) + Δ M min ( F ( t - ) F ( t + ) ) + C o OR ( eq 2 ) f ( t - δ ) - Δ M ( max ( F ( t - ) F ( t + ) ) + C o ) * C p s ≦ C pp ≦ f ( t - δ ) + Δ M ( min ( F ( t - ) F ( t + ) ) + C o ) * C p s ( eq 2 a )
[0056]If multiple calibration measurements exist the significance of ΔM decreases, thus yielding the expression
n f ( t - δ ) - Δ M n n ( max ( F ( t - ) F ( t + ) ) + C o ) ≦ C p ≦ n f ( t - δ ) + Δ M n n ( max ( F ( t - ) F ( t + ) ) + C o ) ( eq 3 )
[0057]Upon mounting the sensor assembly is activated. By measuring the current flowing through the sensor during start-up it will be possible to detect whether the sensor is mounted correctly. If the electronic circuits detect that the current rises in a correct manner an "OK" message is signaled to the monitoring device.
[0058]Upon full wetting of the sensor a voltage pulse is initiated conditioning the sensor for further service.
[0059]After initial pulse, the monitoring device communicates the interval within which the blood-glucose value is expected to be. For this calibration free value, eq (1) is used for calibration. Depending on the precision of the sensor and the tissue damage following the mount the values of Co and Cp varies. According to this example Co is exactly known prior to insertion whereas Cp is known ±30%. Although ±30% might be critical for low glucose concentrations this value is sufficient precise if the system measures the blood-glucose to be in the middle/upper part of the allowed range.
[0060]Of interest is furthermore that the variations in blood glucose can already now be detected, i.e. a drop/rise in BG level is without any further calibrations precisely detectable on a relative scale.
[0061]If the user wants better information on the blood-glucose, an additional calibration can be carried out, e.g. using a strip measurement as known in the art. The result of the strip measurement can be communicated to the monitor either automatically or manually.
[0062]Now the Cp value is recalculated according to the formula.
[0063]By using this formula the calibration factor Cp is compounded partly from a preset calibration value and partly from a calibration value obtained on the specific sensor.
[0064]If even improved precision is wanted, further calibrations can now be performed. For more than one calibration values, the formula Eq (3) is used. By using Eq (3), all data for calibration is obtained on the specific sensor of interest. Hence the best possible calibration possible is obtained.
[0065]Note that according to the invention, Cp will always be calculated as an interval.
[0066]FIG. 2 shows a flow chart for illustrating how a user is able to execute the method according to the invention. At 1 the user positions a new sensor subcutaneously, following which the electronic circuits detect whether the sensor is positioned correctly, see 2 in FIG. 2. When the sensor is positioned correctly, it will emit signals that the circuits are able to detect and take as an expression of correct positioning. At 3, a further start-up action is outlined: ia comprising an over-voltage impulse to the sensor. When the sensor is fully wefted, it is ready to perform reliable measurements within the uncertainty intervals explained above in connection with FIG. 1. Preferably the display shows a message to the user, see 4 in FIG. 2, following which the user knows that the apparatus is ready for use. The apparatus immediately starts to calculate the blood glucose concentration at 5 and to perform a first estimation of the uncertainty of the measurement. The estimation is based on calculations of the kind that will appear from equation 1 above, and at 6 the result of both the measurement and the found uncertainty interval is displayed. Preferably the trend of the measurement is also shown immediately as a function of time since, after function No. 4, the sensor provides absolutely reliable, relative measurements. The uncertainty concerns the absolute measurement and is displayed as an interval.
[0067]For certain uses measurements, albeit associated with an uncertainty of ±30%--see above, are valuable to the user, in particular in connection with relatively high glucose concentrations that are not life-threatening to the user. Here, great benefits can be obtained by being able to influence alarm functions, as will be explained further below. Some users are happy with relatively uncertain measurement values, while other users are very careful to obtain accurate measurement values, which require calibrations of the apparatus as explained below in connection with FIG. 2 (repeat block).
[0068]By a single traverse of repeat block, the function 7 enables a calculation in accordance with equation 2 above. That calculation depends exclusively on the continuous measurements performed by means of the sensor, and according to equation 2 the maximum and minimum values are used that are found within a predetermined period of time as long as a higher degree of accuracy has not been obtained for the time-lag that exists between a calibration measurement on the blood, eg by means of a strip measurement, and the corresponding glucose concentration in the tissue. Then, at 8, a new blood-glucose concentration is calculated as well as a new uncertainty interval that is displayed to the user on the display as shown by 9. If the user desires even less uncertainty on the measurement, the repeat block can be traversed more times following preceding strip calibration measurement and using the more advanced formulae given above.
[0069]It is noted that by performing many repeated calibration measurements, an information level is reached that does not differ substantially from that obtained by the prior art. The great advantages of the invention reside in the rather more flexible applications quite briefly after the taking into use of a new sensor due to the user being acquainted with the uncertainty associated with the measurements.
[0070]FIG. 3 shows an example of a concrete embodiment of A system according to the invention. The apparatus comprises a sensor 10 comprising an electrode 11 and an electronic circuit 12, preferably configured for being able to transmit measurement data to a portable unit 13. The sensor 10 may be of the type where the electrode is connected to multiple-use electronics, or it may be of the disposable assembly type, where both electrode and electronic circuits is one assembled unit that is discarded after use.
[0071]The portable unit 13 is configured for calculating and displaying values for the blood-glucose concentration that is measured by means of the electrode 11. The information is shown in a display 14 showing, in the shown embodiment, on the one hand the measured value (5, 6), and being--on the other and in accordance with the invention--a graphical representation of the uncertainty associated with the measurement. The graphical representation is shown in the field 15 that comprises a light field between the values 4, 5 and 6, 7. Outside these values the fields are dark, and the value 5, 6 is indicated by an arrow. In this manner the user is able to clearly read the measured value and have a clear impression of how uncertain, or rather how certain the measurement is. Uses are perceivable, where measurements with an uncertainty as high as ±30% are acceptable and informative, and measurements are perceivable where it is necessary to operate with a far smaller uncertainty. Representation of the uncertainty as an interval enables the user to very readily form an impression of what the measurement in question can be used for.
[0072]One of the uses is for the alarm circuits that are typically integrated in the unit 13 to the effect that an alarm, be it visible and/or audible, is emitted if the blood-glucose concentration becomes too low or too high. According to the invention the unit 13 comprises control buttons 16, 17 by means of which the user is able to influence the threshold values with which the integral alarm circuit operates. The options can be made considerably more flexible than has been possible so far, because the user may rely on the displayed interval of the uncertainty of the measurements. 18 symbolizes a push button by which it is possible to switch between several types of graphical representations of the uncertainty interval, thereby enabling the user himself to select the kind of display he/she feels most comfortable with.
[0073]19 represents an introduction opening for a strip, as the unit 13 may comprise an integral strip reader for measuring the glucose concentration in a drop of blood on the strip. Such measurement is used for performing calibrations of the unit 13. Alternatively it is an option to use a separate strip measurement device that may be in wireless communication with the portable unit 13. It is also an option that the portable unit 13 is able to communicate wirelessly with a further sensor 20.
[0074]FIG. 4 shows which functions are contained in a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention.
[0075]As will appear from FIG. 4, an example is selected where a disposable sensor 21 is used that is coupled to a durable transmitter unit 22. The transmitter unit 22 contains pre-amplifier circuits and A/D converters and a storage for storing measured values and optionally values received from the durable receiver 23. Preferably a disposable sensor is used, being in connection with its manufacture provided with information on a calibration factor, ie the conversion value between a measured sensor current and an associated blood-glucose concentration value. This information is also transmitted to the storage in the durable transmitter unit. In this manner the durable receiver 23 can start out by assuming that the uncertainty interval concerns exclusively the physical conditions (see C0 in the explanation given in the context of FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 3, the durable transmitter unit and the durable receiver are preferably configured for wireless communication and preferably the durable receiver 23 also contains a strip reader, thereby enabling transfer to the storage 2 of calibration values for the blood glucose concentration. The storage 1 is configured for being able to contain other information on calibration parameters or historical data that can be used for calculating a glucose concentration value and an associated interval that represents the uncertainty of the glucose concentration measurement. As outlined in the durable receiver 23, the micro-computer may be configured for performing the calculation processes explained above in the context of FIGS. 1 and 2.
Patent applications by Kristian Glejbol, Glostrup DK
Patent applications by NOVO NORDISK A/S
Patent applications in class Blood glucose
Patent applications in all subclasses Blood glucose
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GRAND RAPIDS -- A dozen fugitives in Kent County were among 137 arrested statewide in a recent sweep for violent parole violators.
Of the 137, 83 were parole violators, 18 were parole absconders and one was a probation violator, state police said.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm established Project SAFE (Statewide Apprehension of Fugitives Effort) in 2003. The project involves local, state and federal agencies, and the Michigan Department of Corrections. Those targeted had been previously convicted of armed robbery, assault, burglary, sexual assault, domestic violence, prison escape and other charges.
Since the project began, 3,174 fugitives have been arrested.
Along with the 12 in Kent County, others in West Michigan include three in Ottawa, eight in Muskegon and three in Wexford, state police Capt. Annemarie Gibson said.


text:
Narinder Batra
Hockey India Wants Oltmans as Coach till Tokyo Olympics: Narinder Batra
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Hockey India Demands 8-member Support Staff for Men's, Women's Teams
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text:
I Wonder
I Wonder
I Wonder
I Wonder
Realistic (fiction), 56 words, Level C (Grade K)We all love the insatiable curiosity that children possess. Their wonder propels them to learn and explore their world. I Wonder celebrates that joy of questioning by sharing a girl's musings about animals. Simple patterned sentences and supportive pictures ensure a positive reading experience for emergent readers.
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text:
The bridesmaids carried bouquets that complemented the bride's bouquet of lush, white peonies.
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Chicago rockers (and Flint favorites) Oh My God canceled the remainder of their tour after all four members were injured in a head-on collision Sept. 21.
The injuries suffered in the accident were described as "non life-threatening" by Lori Berk, the band's publicist.
"However, many broken bones were suffered and the van was destroyed," she said in a press release issued today.
The band -- singer Billy O'Neill, keyboardist Brian "Iguana" Berkowitz, drummer Brandon Plotz and guitarist Matt Neuroth -- were headed to Cincinnati after a gig in Akron when their van was hit head-on by a car that had crossed into their lane, according to the press release.
OMG has canceled the remainder of a fall tour, which was being documented for their Web site (ohmygodmusic.com) and plans to resume touring early next year.