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The violent conflict between Israel and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip has sparked protests and rallies around the globe from both sides of the issue.
The Middle East violence that has seen hundreds of rockets fired back and forth between Gaza militants and the Israeli Defense Forces over the last week has sparked supporters of each side into action around the world. Here is a roundup of JTA coverage of some of protests and rallies from Los Angeles to Paris to Sydney, Australia:
LOS ANGELES — A federal officer fired his weapon in the direction of counter demonstrators at a rally in support of Israel held in Los Angeles.
Some 1,200 people attended the rally Sunday afternoon in front of the Federal Building in West Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Department told the Los Angeles Jewish Journal.
During the rally, at least three men waving Palestinian flags and carrying wooden sticks arrived at the rally and allegedly hit some of the protesters, according to the Jewish Journal.
The men, who told the newspaper that they were Palestinians living in Anaheim, returned to their truck and drove off after the melee was broken up.
As they left, a Department of Homeland Security officer fired his gun in the direction of the truck, Brian Thomas of the LAPD West Los Angeles Patrol Division, told the Jewish Journal. The men reportedly were stopped and handcuffed, after they left the scene of the demonstration.
Speakers at the pro-Israel demonstration included Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center; Roz Rothstein co-founder and CEO of StandWithUs; Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer; and Israeli actress and activist Noa Tishby.
A counter demonstration of about 200 Palestinian supporters was held across the street from the pro-Israel demonstration.
Several streets in the area of the demonstration were blocked off into Sunday evening, according to CBSLA.
FRANKFURT, Germany — A demonstrator in Frankfort, Germany, used a police megaphone to shout anti-Israel slogans after duping police.
Police said the demonstrator had agreed to calm down a violent protest Saturday but instead shouted "Child murderer Israel" and "Allahu akbar!" — Arabic for "God is great" — a Frankfurt police spokeswoman told The Associated Press.
"We as police had come up spontaneously with this unusual method and he abused it — we didn't expect that," the spokeswoman, Virginie Wegner, told AP.
The crowd of more than 2,000 protesters, who were waving Palestinian flags and calling for a boycott of Israeli products, followed the police car while cheering and repeating the slogans, according to AP.
Dieter Graumann, head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, condemned the incident.
"I'm shocked that a German police car was used to spread hatred and agitation," Graumann said, according to AP. "It was a big mistake that the police let themselves be abused for this."
CASABLANCA, Morocco — The rabbi of the Jewish community in Casablanca, Morocco, was beaten allegedly because of Israel's Gaza operation.
Rabbi Moshe Ohayon was attacked Friday night as he walked to synagogue for Sabbath services, according to local and Israeli reports.
Ohayon suffered a broken nose and broken ribs, and was beaten on the head in the attack, according to the French language alyaexpress-news.com. The rabbi reportedly asked passers-by for help but was ignored.
The alleged attacker, a local Muslim man in his 20s, reportedly told the rabbi during the attack that it was in retribution for Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. The assailant is known to local police, according to the report, and officers were searching for him in order to arrest him.
Following the attack, Casablanca Jews called on local authorities to increase security around synagogues and other Jewish institutions.
BERLIN — Rocks were thrown at police in Berlin during a protest by some 1,000 demonstrators — most of them Palestinians — against Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
As many as 10 demonstrators were arrested for breach of the peace and trying to forcibly free others already arrested in Saturday's protest, a police spokesman said. One police officer was struck by a rock but was not injured.
The march was unregistered; demonstrations in Berlin require a police permit.
The demonstrators, who the police spokesman said were aggressive and chanting, tried unsuccessfully to enter the "Fan Mile," where tens of thousands of soccer fans have been gathering to watch World Cup games on big screens over the past few weeks. Pushed back by police, the protesters proceeded up one of Berlin's main avenues near Potsdamer Platz.
Facing a major police response, the demonstrators — at that point led by someone who was trying to calm them, the spokesman said — gradually broke up.
By some estimates, Berlin is home to 35,000 Arabs of Palestinian origin.
On Friday, several hundred pro-Israel demonstrators gathered at Wittenberg Platz in Berlin under the banner "Fight Terror, Support Israel" organized by the Mideast Freedom Forum Berlin, a non-denominational NGO.
SYDNEY, Australia — A senior Jewish leader in Sydney who also holds a government post is under fire for an email on the Gaza conflict deemed "biased."
The email sent last week by Vic Alhadeff, chief executive of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies and chair of the Community Relations Commission there, accused Hamas of "war crimes" but did not make reference to Palestinian deaths from Israel's operation in Gaza to end rocket fire.
Mike Baird, the premier of New South Wales, called the email "inappropriate" for someone in a government-appointed position, according to Baird's spokesman, the Sydney Morning Herald reported Saturday. Alhadeff's email had provoked outrage from Arab leaders.
Titled "Israel Under Fire," Alhadeff wrote that Hamas was guilty of "war crimes" while Israel "is operating with care to avoid civilian casualties."
Israel had made it clear it would "do whatever is needed to defend its citizens," he wrote. "All options are on the table."
Joseph Wakim, a founder of the Australian Arabic Council, slammed Alhadeff's email as "biased and provocative," according to the Morning Herald.
"Do such statements build bridges and community relations, or wedge a wall between us and them?" Wakim asked.
The Baird spokesman also said, according to the newspaper, "Few people have done more to promote interfaith engagement and understanding between the Jewish and Muslim communities in New South Wales than Mr. Alhadeff."
Asked whether his Jewish and multicultural posts were mutually exclusive, Alhadeff told JTA, "Definitely not. We can agree to disagree on issues, but we live in Australia as Australians and should all be committed to our shared values … in a democratic multicultural society."
Alhadeff added that "within minutes" of the news of Palestinian teenager Mohammed Abu Khdeir's murder last week, allegedly by Jewish extremists, he tweeted that it was "despicable."
"The role of the CRC chair is to fight racism, promote multiculturalism and ensure community harmony," Alhadeff told the Herald. "This is what I have done passionately and will continue to do."
PARIS — Dozens of young men protesting Israel's actions in Gaza briefly besieged a Paris synagogue and clashed with security.
At least three Jews were taken to the hospital as a result of the clashes that erupted Sunday between the protesters and young Jewish men who guarded the Don Isaac Abravanel Synagogue in Paris, a witness said.
"The attackers splintered off an anti-Israel demonstration and advanced toward the synagogue when it was full," Alain Azria, a French Jewish journalist who covered the event said.
Azria said that when the demonstrators arrived at the central Paris synagogue, the five police officers on guard blocked the entrance as the protesters chanted anti-Semitic slogans and hurled objects at the synagogue and the guards. He said nearly 200 congregants were inside.
"They were determined to enter and the police did not have enough forces," he said.
Azria said the mob was kept away by men from the SPCJ Jewish security unit, the Jewish Defense League and Beitar, who engaged the attackers in what turned into a street brawl.
"Thank God they were there because the protesters had murder on their minds and it took awhile before police reinforcements arrived," he added.
The synagogue attack followed several anti-Semitic incidents that coincided with Israel's offensive in Gaza, which began on July 8.
In one attack in Belleville north of the French capital, a firebomb was hurled at a synagogue, causing minor damage. In another attack, a man pepper-sprayed the face of a 17-year-old girl.


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Serves 12.
Bake and cool your favorite 2-layer cake recipe or mix. Place on serving platter or foil-wrapped cake board cut to fit.
Ice cake smooth in rose buttercream. Decorate sides of cake with basketweave using tip 18. Add tip 18 top and bottom rope borders.
Just before serving, position berries on cake top.

subset: commoncrawl


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Logistics information
Kid CodePotty Policy
Kid Codes are a vital part of our ensuring the safety of all camp kids. Thank you in advance for respecting this policy and the staff enforcing it.
After enrolling your child for camp, the next step is to complete a medical form. On this form, there is a required space for you to list a one or two word Kid Code that we will keep on file. Anyone (including yourself) coming to pick up your child must provide us with the valid kid code. If a person arrives to pick-up your child and does not know the Kid Code we will need to contact you or a person listed on your emergency contact list to obtain permission to release your child.
If you call us to verify your kid code, we can tell you if the code you are giving us is correct. If, however, you need to get the code again, we will need to call you back at one of the phone numbers we have on file from your medical form or registration enrollment.
We find it works best if only adults know the Kid Code. If your child does know, please ask your child not to share his/her Kid Code with anyone else. If the situation arises with your child telling an arriving adult their Kid Code before the adult gives the code to the staff member at check-out, we will not be able to accept the code. The next step will be to contact you or a person listed on your emergency contact list to obtain permission to release your child. If you have forgotten your own Kid Code and are the adult who signed the registration and/or medical form then we can accept a valid state ID in lieu of the Kid Code.
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The following is the camp policy as written in the staff training manual
Never take a child to the bathroom by yourself.
If a child needs to go to the bathroom, a camp staffer or zoo corps intern should take a minimum of two children of the same sex and accompany the children to the restroom. The camp employee should make sure there is no one in the restroom before the children enter and other people should not be allowed in the restroom while the children are in there alone (this includes zoo staff as well as visitors). If there is another staff person or member of the public, the camp staff person should stand inside the restroom, if they are of the same sex. Otherwise, once the restroom is clear, the staff person should remain outside with the doors blocked open and not allow any other staff member or member of the public in until all campers are out of the restroom.
Never leave a child unattended.
While out on zoo grounds, the entire group will stop at the public restroom. One WPZ camp employee will remain outside with the children who do no have to use the facilities and the other WPZ camp employee will enter the facilities (as appropriate) with the children and remain there until all participants are finished. The staff person should never remain alone with only one child in the restroom.
If the camp employees are not of the same sex as the children, the employee should make sure there is no one in the restroom before the children enter and other people should not be allowed in the restroom while the children are in there alone (this includes zoo staff as well as visitors). Obviously this is difficult for other non-camp individuals, so it is optimal that children take restroom breaks while at the Education Center. The Taiga building and Zoomazium have restrooms that are open to individuals only. The West Entry restrooms are also seldom used and a good place for camp restroom stops.
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text: On today's show, Randy was live from the Sugarland Home and Gardens show at the Stafford Centre. The theme for today was survivor plants and how you should go about preserving your plants in this cold weather. Randy also took a wide range of calls about anything and everything garden related.


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Our President, the Great Prevaricator, likes to mislead people. I suppose that shouldn't be a surprise. That's what prevaricators do, they mislead. Obama's statements about who pays their "fair share" of taxes have received lots of press, as have Obama's statements about billionaire Warren Buffett paying less in taxes than his secretary. Let's examine these claims.
According to 2010 tax data, the top 1% of earners made about 24% of the national income (if you include capital gains) and paid nearly 40% of the income taxes. Thus the rich, as a group, are paying nearly double their "fair share" according to the data. The Great Prevaricator conveniently forgets to tell us that part.
I know I'm supposed to write about politics here, but I've been having some minor intestinal problems and my doctor told me to avoid stress. He also scheduled a colonoscopy for me, to which I replied, "I thought you said you wanted me to AVOID stress !".
And then one of my "friends" e-mailed me the following column from Dave Barry. This is too funny not to share, though it's somewhat less funny when you have a colonscopy looming on the horizon. Without further ado, here's Mr. Barry:
After watching President Obama's State Of The Union (SOTU) speech last night, I have to say, the man simply astounds me. Obama is the ultimate politician, a very good performer. I have to give him that much. He knows how to give a speech. They say politics is the art of manipulation (or maybe it's just me saying it). Obama has that game down pat. He knows how to tell people what they want to hear, and more importantly, he knows how to leave out the parts people don't want to hear, the parts Obama doesn't want the people to know.
If you had arrived in America for the first time yesterday and listened to Obama's SOTU, you'd think things were going really well in America. If all you listened to was this President, you'd think he has done a fabulous job, because he told you he has. You wouldn't know how deeply we are in debt. You wouldn't know we have record deficits. You wouldn't know our entitlement programs are unfunded. You wouldn't know unemployment is so high. You wouldn't know our public schools are falling short. You wouldn't know our health care costs are still skyrocketing. You wouldn't know we're on an unsustainable fiscal path. You wouldn't know the federal government is borrowing 43 cents out of every dollar it spends. You wouldn't know Obama's net record on private sector job creation is below zero. You wouldn't know the federal government is spending more money than at any other time in American history barring WWII. You wouldn't know we have record numbers of people on government assistance. You wouldn't know energy costs are rising. You wouldn't know so many people had simply given up looking for work. You wouldn't know any of these things, and that's my first major problem with Obama's speech. He managed to give a State Of The Union speech without ever leveling with the American people about the actual state of the union.
Voter ID frauds: A few weeks ago, I excoriated the Obama Justice Dept. for blocking South Carolina's voter ID law. Every time I mention voter ID laws, liberals tell me voter ID is racist (because voter ID is applied equally to all voters, by definition it cannot be racist). Liberals also tell me there is no voter fraud problem to justify the implementation of voter ID. As usual, liberals are lying:
According to ABC News, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney said he "probably" pays about 15% in federal incomes taxes:
In trying to decide who should be our next President, we first have to ask if our current President deserves a second term. This should be based upon his performance in office, not on the political party to which he belongs.
Does Obama deserve a second term ?
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The story revolves around a girl named Indira, who stammers. However, she doesn't let her incapability destroy her cheerful and obedient character. Indira's parents were keen on getting her marriage done. But owing to her speech impediment, no one was willing to marry her.


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ONTARIO - When he was 18 years old, Devin Setoguchi's slapshot was clocked at 96 mph at an event for NHL scouts. A few months later, he became the eighth player picked in the 2005 Entry Draft.
Several onlookers were marvelling at Setoguchi's scorching slapshot again Friday. This time, instead of scouts, it was his teammates at the Reign's morning skate.
Was there a feeling in the air that Setoguchi's time in Ontario was running out?
At one point Thursday, the marathon collective bargaining agreement talks in New York seemed destined to end the NHL lockout. Ultimately no deal was reached.
The NHL Players Association made a proposal, the NHL roundly rejected it, and Setoguchi, a Minnesota Wild player, and Kings forward Kyle Clifford went back to work in Ontario, honing their superior skills on an ECHL rink.
"It definitely makes it easier that I'm here, I'm working out, I'm skating, I'm playing," Setoguchi said, "but at the end of the day, it's still frustrating to not be practicing and playing with the team, with the league I've been playing in for seven years. It definitely makes it easier to be here, to be playing, winning and having fun playing hockey."
After NHL commissioner Gary Bettman pulled the league's last offer from the table, rumors of player dissension circulated in the media. Clifford said that's not the case, offering strong but measured responses to the latest round of give-and-take.
"If it was easy it'd be resolved by now," Clifford said. "At the same time you want it to be all over, but you want to do what's right too. We can't just bend over and let them do whatever they want. We want to get a fair deal, what's right for us long-term. I mean, it's a lot of money we're arguing over here."
Setoguchi was less measured, saying he was "really fired up" one day after talks broke down.
"We know there's a couple of things in place, but obviously Gary blatantly said that everything that was proposed is off the table now," he said. "We start all over again and get back in the meeting room. I can see things getting done because there's a couple things we agreed on this past week. That's always a bonus."
The league and the players' union had not scheduled a formal meeting Friday. How long the new CBA should last, and whether individual player contracts should be capped at five years, are the main issues separating the two sides.
Reign coach Jason Christie reiterated that he isn't worried about the impact on his team if the lockout ends. He's had several regulars take turns as healthy scratches - including Setoguchi last week and Clifford on Friday - to keep all his healthy players fresh.
Both Clifford and Setoguchi are averaging at least a point per game, but so are C.J. Stretch and Dan DaSilva, both of whom are on ECHL contracts.
The Reign rank third in the 23-team league in goals per game at just under 4.
"We've got players who play the game," Christie said. "We've shown it this year, we've shown it last year."
If the lockout ends, the Reign can probably count on losing some players to the American Hockey League too. Their AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, are using four players who helped the Kings win the Stanley Cup last year. DaSilva is himself a veteran of six AHL seasons, though he hasn't been given any assurances that he'll get called up once the lockout lifts.
"If the NHL breaks open and we have a season, it should be interesting to see what happens and where guys go," he said. "You just hope for the best."
The ECHL did not levy an additional fine or suspension on Reign defenseman Cameron Burt, who was barred from playing last Saturday after his hit to Stockton's Matt Reber. Center C.J. Stretch was a runner-up for ECHL Player of the Month for November. Stretch had 10 goals and 19 points in 11 games last month, including a four-goal, five-point game Nov. 24 in Bakersfield. Goalie Chris Carrozzi, tonight's expected starter, has won his last seven starts.


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Feminism | Posted by Danielle B on 09/7/2011
"Faces of Feminism" Project: Donate Your Face to Feminism!
Greetings, F-bombers!
My name is Danielle and I write for a blog called Experimentations of Teenage Feminist. You may remember some posts I've written in the past here on the FBomb. Well, now I have a new mission.
Society is fixated on a very narrow-minded image of what a feminist is "supposed" to look like, and I have a problem with that. On November 24th I'll be publishing a special blog post titled "The Faces of Feminism" to show just how diverse the feminist community really is.
Please help this little experiment by sending in a picture of yourself for me to post!
• Photos can be sent to email@example.com (Deadline: November 17th)
• Please title your email "This is what a feminist looks like!"
• If you'd …


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Acca Kappa Toothbrush
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Historic Italian design house Acca Kappa fashioned these brushes with modern lines, eco-friendly materials and superb quality. Made from cellulose acetate, a resilient material derived from cotton.
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Beginners: please read this post and this post before posting to the forum.
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Do you have the project that uses the controller that you can post? That way i can load it into avr studio and see if i can build it? And see what it is i"m doing wrong.
I should start a new project like i would for any other program. then add the PS2_Controler c file and header file to my project. All the #includes will be in my projects main c file "Myproject.c". then i need to call functions from the ps2_controler c file?
now you know why my name is supernoob lol


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House, Gordon (1932-2004), 'Tower (Bridges Portfolio)', Etching, 1985.
From the 'Bridges' portfolio of eight etchings. Signed, titled and numbered by the artist. Edition of 30 plus 5 artist's proofs. Editioned at Kelpra Studio, London, in collaboration with Nigel Oxley.
Gordon House described these etchings in his catalogue 'Gordon House Editions 1982-1996':
'As I live and work in London I find that over the years of circumnavigating the City one is taken back and forth, sometimes by the same bridge or another. Either way one is crossing from North to South to North that Old Father Thames by its many wonderful bridges. All these structures have their own idiosyncratic character that distinguishes that particular district of the great Metropolis. Even when not crossing the river one finds oneself traveling along the Embankment or adjacent to some boundary walling, the road sometimes running over or under bridge arches. The majestic buildings mingle with warehouses and historic wharfs. Many artists, such as Turner and the Chelsea circle of Whistler, on to Monet from the Savoy Hotel, have given us such views of our river and its life. Approaching the millenium other river structures are already at planning stage, with some structural works appearing. It seems that the river will always change in tandem with the City's growth.
My own Bridge portfolio of etchings suggests a modest homage to an old friend and to those previous artists of a different time. The river's turn from Westminster, Big Ben to Blackfriars and St Paul's, on to Southwark, passing my friend's apartment at Whitehall Court (twin black towers) on the north side. It was here from Sidney Nolan's balcony apartment high at the centre of the building that we both marvelled on many delightful occasions at the river's twisted flow, a view embracing several bridges from East to West, a majestic sight to behold in any weather at any time of day or month.'
Image Size: 195 x 300 mm
Paper Size: 400 x 527 mm
Click here to enquire about this work
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Specialists in 19th and 20th Century Works of Art
© Gerrish Fine Art
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WATCH: Demi Lovato talks new 'do & her mom's interpretation of Beyonce's 'surfboard' lyric
Listen to Demi Lovato on iHeartRadio
On her "Neon Lights Tour" stop at the Izod Center in New Jersey over the weekend, Demi Lovato sat down with Z100's JJ.
The singer recently shaved the side of her head and tells JJ that her new 'do was an impulsive decision. She said, "We just like parted it, put it in a ponytail, I cut the ponytail off. I just did it."
She also talked about the tour, her mother's explanation of Beyonce's surfboard "surfbort" lyric (which she promises to reveal more on "The Tonight Show" with Jimmy Fallon"), her contributions to the Oscar-winning song "Let It Go" from Frozen, making her next album, and much more.
Demi is set to appear on "The Tonight Show" with Jimmy Fallon tonight! Don't forget to tune in for some neon lights!
Check out Demi backstage on her "Neon Lights Tour" below!
JJ also hung out with Fifth Harmony and Little Mix. Fifth Harmony talked about life on the road, their pet peeves about each other, what would happen if they only had one hour to get ready for a show and had to share a dressing room and one curling iron!
Little Mix discussed life on the road, how they miss home cooking and their beds, having to always look their best, and their favorite dress down clothes.
Photo Credit Getty Images


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Weekend in instagram
A lazy sleep in followed with breakfast by Stu ♥. We have been eating way too much bacon lately, so have swapped for the healthier smoked salmon.
Crunchy leaves. It is autumn in Sydney!
Rose, in its first day of bloom, from my garden.
Munching on an old childhood favorite snack; this is blueberry cream on a stick.
A spot of shopping. Finally bought a long coveted classic. I'll tell you (no wait, I'll show you) another time.
What did your weekend look like?
32 Responses to Weekend in instagram
- AVY said...
Autumn huh? I'm just getting ready for spring.
- March 12, 2012 at 10:55 AM
- Lisa - Sweet Little Pretties said...
Cant wait to see what you brought from Burberry - ever piece is a classic
- March 12, 2012 at 12:31 PM
- hope in high heels said...
Looks like a gorgeous weekend! Mine was lovely - lots of relaxing with a bit of shopping thrown in.
- March 12, 2012 at 12:59 PM
- M.E said...
lovely pictures! hope you had a great weekend!
- March 12, 2012 at 2:55 PM
- Mandy said...
Sounds like a fun weekend! That flower from your garden is gorgeous! My weekend was great....ready for a little vacation this coming week :)
Kini Style & Klury.com
- March 12, 2012 at 3:09 PM
- honey my heart said...
looks like an awesome weekend. the sunset is lovely and the food looks delicious.
- March 12, 2012 at 4:29 PM
- eat my shorts said...
I love your instagrams! That sunset is beautiful! :)
- March 12, 2012 at 5:20 PM
- ROS.E. said...
nice pics!
thank you for following me too!
xxxx Ros.e.
- March 12, 2012 at 7:18 PM
- oomph. said...
i love summer months...staying outside as long as possible, seeing the sunsets. can't tell you how many pics i have of the sky, lol! your rose is very pretty!
- March 12, 2012 at 9:10 PM
- nancy said...
that sunset looks great, and I'm now intrigued about the Burberry!
my weekend looked like a lot of food, great friends, lots of fairy lights, and a painful hike during the Sunday sunrise! it was a goodie!
- March 12, 2012 at 9:32 PM
- ❤AdamAlexMommy❤ said...
great weekend photos. sadly, i didn't have time to take photos...
hope you have a great week!
- March 12, 2012 at 9:56 PM
- lauraa said...
Those skies! One day I'll see Australia. And yup, still find hte whole swapped around seasons thing very strange!
- March 12, 2012 at 10:00 PM
- Sick by Trend said...
LOVE Burberry :D very nice post
Check my blog and follow me if you like :)
- March 12, 2012 at 11:00 PM
- NauticalWheeler said...
Excited to see what you got at Burberry!
From Brooklyn with love,
- March 12, 2012 at 11:12 PM
- momto8 said...
I started my sprain garden this week...yea!
and everything tastes a little better with bacon!
happy week!
- March 12, 2012 at 11:43 PM
- Mona M. said...
your blog is really cute. love to get inspired by other bloggers :)
- March 12, 2012 at 11:44 PM
- danica said...
I am jealous of your autumn leaves, as I am still waiting for them to start falling here.
Lovely snaps :)
- March 12, 2012 at 11:54 PM
- Wynne Prasetyo said...
these pictures have a lovely tone. great blog overall :)
- March 13, 2012 at 1:19 AM
- sealaura said...
YUM! I think you just gave me my lunch idea. I LOVE smoked Salmon and can eat a ton all by myself!
Sounds like you had a nice relaxing day. :)
- March 13, 2012 at 4:12 AM
- ★ JASMINE ★ {Barbie-Bombshell} said...
just stumbled onto your blog and I love it! you're gorgeous!
newest follower <333 Xx
- March 13, 2012 at 6:25 AM
- Natasha said...
These photos are lovely, I love the one of the sunset. xxx
- March 13, 2012 at 9:38 AM
- Shoko said...
Great colors! Can't believe it's autumn there - we're just seeing the first signs of spring here in New York! :)
- March 13, 2012 at 1:52 PM
- Emma Litton said...
Lovely photos. love all the florals.
- March 13, 2012 at 2:03 PM
- Style, She Wrote said...
It looks like a lovely weekend! Lynnie and I saw some exhibitions at Bard Graduate Center, grabbed a quick lunch, and hit some shops. Can't wait to see your undoubtedly beautiful Burberry purchase! xo style, she wrote
- March 13, 2012 at 2:21 PM
- Inês de Castro said...
Spring is arriving to Portugal in full speed :) Loved the photos, can't wait to see the Burberry classic. I'm following you sweetie :)
- March 13, 2012 at 8:48 PM
- Pop Champagne said...
mmm that salmon looks delicious!! and can't wait to see what you bought from burberry!
- March 14, 2012 at 1:43 AM
- Diva In Me said...
Such a teaser (on the Burberry logo)! Can't wait to see it * squeal*
I love smoked salmon. You food pictures are making me hungry in the middle of the night =D
- March 14, 2012 at 5:19 AM
- Paper Moon said...
beautiful pictures. one inspiration to the next, love it xx
- March 14, 2012 at 7:58 AM
- Isabel said...
Is that Pocky? lol We have another version here : Rocky and I love it!
- March 15, 2012 at 6:36 AM
- thingsIlove said...
I like the first picture :)
- March 16, 2012 at 1:37 AM
- green tea and red nails said...
looks so lovely! looking forward to seeing what is in that little box ;)
Kel x
- March 25, 2012 at 6:55 PM
- Kimmy said...
now i'm hungry... nice blog
- April 3, 2012 at 6:15 AM


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Northern Illinois University's
Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship
Each year Northern Illinois University's Center for Southeast Asian Studies selects a number of qualified graduate students to study Southeast Asian languages and area studies as Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellows. The FLAS fellowships are funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Title VI Program. The fellowship covers NIU tuition, student fees and insurance. FLAS fellows also receive a ten-month stipend. NIU offers a wide range of area studies courses (see Course Offerings at http://www.cseas.niu.edu) and the following Southeast Asian languages: Burmese, Indonesian, Khmer (Cambodia), Tagalog (Philippines) and Thai.
Completed fellowship application form and all required application material are due by February 1 to the Center for Southeast Asian Studies.
If you are intending to apply for both the Summer 2014 and AY 2014-15 FLAS awards:
1. Please inform your two referees of this so that they write a single letter for both rounds.
2. You do not have to submit another Language Reference Form (LRF) for the AY 2014-15 application.
3. Please do not submit your AY 2014-15 application until you have been informed of the outcome of your Summer 2014 application.
Requirements for Application
- Graduate applicants must be citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the U.S.
- Graduate applicants must be enrolled as full-time students or accepted at Northern Illinois University.
- Applicants must compile the following documents into a single PDF file and submit it to email@example.com at the Center by 4:30 p.m. on February 1:
- Completed official application form, including the signed checklist
- Transcripts showing degree(s) granted and/or in process
- Curriculum vitae
- Statement of purpose explaining: your need for one of the offered Southeast Asian languages as part of your total academic program, your previous language learning experiences both formal and informal, and your commitment and plans more broadly for the study of Southeast Asia.
Applicants must also request two letters of recommendation from those in a position to evaluate their academic credentials. There is no form for these letters and they should be addressed to the FLAS Fellowships Committee and sent electronically by the recommenders directly to firstname.lastname@example.com. Ongoing language students, with previous training in a Southeast Asian language, must also submit the Language Reference Form.
Award Provisions and Reporting Requirements of Fellows
- FLAS awards carry a ten-month stipend of $15,000 ($1,500.00/month for 10 months), a tuition waiver (provided by the NIU Graduate School), payment of regular class fees, and health insurance for the academic year. Special materials or lab fees are the responsibility of the student.
- A fellowship recipient must enroll as a full-time student (9 credit hours minimum). All classes must be taken for graded credit. Auditing is not permitted.
- A fellowship recipient must register for a minimum of one course per semester in their selected Southeast Asian language.
- In addition to the language course, a fellowship recipient must register for a minimum of one course (3 credit hours minimum) per semester in a Center-approved Southeast Asia course (at least 50% Southeast Asia content).
- A fellowship recipient must inform the Center of any change in his/her program of study, residence or academic status.
- A fellowship recipient must present a paper at the annual NIU Southeast Asia Student Conference or at a different conference (only with the approval of the Center Director).
- A fellowship recipient must complete the pre- self-assessment in IRIS (the on-line reporting system used by the U.S. Department of Education) at the beginning of the school year as well as a final student report which must be completed before recipient's final stipend check for May will be issued. In addition to your self-assessments, a NIU language instructor will submit pre- and post-language evaluations in IRIS that the U.S. Department of Education has prescribed to assess your speaking skills.
- In addition, a recipient is strongly encouraged to participate in other, extra-curricular events sponsored by the Center as well as the Southeast Asia Club.
- In accordance with the authorizing legislation for the FLAS program, the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of August 2008, Congress has mandated additional terms and conditions for prospective FLAS fellowship recipients. If you are awarded and accept a fellowship offer, you agree to complete a survey once every two years to report back about your employment, education, or training after graduation.
Due to a change in reporting procedures by Northern Illinois University, please be aware that any student awarded a Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship will have their Student Financial Aid reduced by the dollar amount equal to the fellowship award. Requirements and conditions are subject to change.
A federally funded National Resource Center since 1997, the Center for Southeast Asian Studies provides leadership, focus, and coordination for Southeast Asian studies at the university. email@example.com


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DAVID WARNER yelled at himself as a ball from James Pattinson flew off the edge of his bat. The next one, from Peter Siddle, he missed altogether. A later attempt to strike a net bowler into the River Torrens resulted in a painful blow to the ribs.
Warner has a ''see the ball, hit the ball'' approach to batting, but it's not so simple for Australia's combative opener at the moment. His torrid session in the Adelaide nets on Tuesday suggests he is struggling to overcome the disjointed preparation that saw him sit on the bench for the Delhi Daredevils at the Champions League before the Test series against South Africa, leaving him just one first-class game to adapt.
Warner has been putting in extra sessions in an effort to rediscover the sweet spot on his bat, but on Tuesday he looked like a batsman at war with himself. Selection chairman John Inverarity recently declined to guarantee Warner's place after Shane Watson returns to full fitness, and if Rob Quiney plays in Adelaide and excels, and Warner fails, the pressure will intensify.
Ed Cowan expressed sympathy for his opening partner, who was trotting around the globe playing Twenty20 while Cowan was at home accumulating precious time in the middle for Tasmania in the weeks before the Test series against South Africa.
''He's always going to be in a different preparation phase to me because he plays three formats of the game. Since the last Test series in the West Indies I think I've played 11 or 12 first-class games - Dave hadn't played one. He's constantly going to fight that battle of travelling around the world playing white-ball cricket. Thankfully I don't have that,'' Cowan said. ''That's the nature of the beast, I guess.''
Even though he approached the Test series with a succession of middling scores, Cowan's grounding in the Sheffield Shield enabled him to quickly banish any self-doubts that crept into his head.
''They're only fleeting thoughts, I'm not sitting at home wallowing in a glass of whiskey, they're just moments that I've [asked] … 'Am I doing this the right way?' To have that affirmation … that you're hitting the ball well and you might not have got huge runs in the Shield game but you know that you spent 140 balls against a Test quality attack and they couldn't get you to play a bad shot, you just keep telling yourself that you're on top of your game.
''Batting is about rhythm and feeling and after a while you get a pretty good indicator of how you're going, so I always felt like I was close.''
Warner has no such comfort. In Brisbane, he poked at a ball he could have left and edged Dale Steyn to second slip for four from 15 balls, while Cowan received the ultimate affirmation with a maiden Test century, 136 against a high-class attack.
Warner scored two contrasting centuries in his first five Tests, the first with his head down in a valiant but unsuccessful effort to save a match against New Zealand in Hobart, and the other a blistering 180 against India in Perth last December. In the eight innings since, he has averaged 25.87, with one half century.
Ricky Ponting still believes Warner has the temperament for Test cricket, and drew a comparison with another swashbuckling left-hander, Adam Gilchrist. ''There's always going to be those questions asked about Dave because of the way he plays. No one thought Gilly would have the temperament to survive and make as many hundreds as he did in Test cricket, but he found a way and he did it,'' Ponting said.
''Sure, it's a bit different for Dave because he's an opening batsman, but the bottom line is he's not playing any more short-form games than the majority of our players. What he has to be able to do, though, is adapt himself very quickly from the changeover of formats. It's not an easy thing to do. One thing I know is if he's playing well and hitting the ball off the middle of the bat, he'll set-up a lot of Test wins for Australia.''
For the moment, Warner can be thankful his Test place is not riding on his net form.


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1992 Land Rover Range Rover Problems
RepairPal has identified the most common problems with the 1992 Land Rover Range Rover based on complaints from actual vehicle owners. We'll tell you what the problem is and what it'll take to fix it.
An oil leak may develop from the front crankshaft seal. Our technicians tell us a revised seal is available which should correct this concern.
A rough or unstable idle may be noted due to an intake manifold vacuum leak. Our technicians tell us a revised intake manifold gasket, along with manifold bolt flat washers which will better distribute the clamping force are available to correct this concern.
An oil leak may develop from the oil pan area. This may be caused by improper sealing of the oil pan "through" bolts. Our technicians tell use that revised "patch" bolts and sealing procedures are available to correct these leaks.
A pulsation may be noted upon brake application. This condition is commonly caused by warped brake rotors. Our technicians recommend inspecting both front and rear brake rotors when this condition occurs. Brake pads should be replaced along with any warped rotors to correct this condition.
An oil leak at the front of the engine may be a result if internal cracks in the timing cover. These cracks are caused by over torquing the oil cooler pipes. If leaks are noted at the cooler pipe fittings, the fittings/pipes should be removed, cleaned, and reinstalled to the correct torque. Our technicians tell us if the leaks persist the timing cover is most likely cracked internally and should be replaced.


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Watch: 'My Son The DJ: Laidback Luke'
Listen to Laidback Luke on iHeartRadio
Ever wonder where DJs get their start? Or what their family is like? Or just what life is like for them? Laidback Luke is giving fans a personal look into his world, his family, and his music in a new documentary featuring his parents called "My Son The DJ."
The video shows where Luke got his start as he shares his first record (and adorable baby pictures!), while his parents describe him growing up to the super hero DJ he is today.
The clip also shows life outside the booth for Luke, communicating with wife DJ Gina Turner via Skype, a look behind his shows, why he brings his Kung Fu teacher on tour, and much more.
You can catch Laidback Luke's Mixmash Radio show every Saturday night on Evolution Radio at 9 p.m. ET.
Watch "My Son The DJ: Laidback Luke" below:


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id Software basically invented the first person shooter genre, so when I heard they were coming out with a new game, I was certainly intrigued. I had wasted countless hours as a kid, and later as a college student, playing Doom, and I had loved every second of it. It wasn't just a linear FPS, but involved complex levels and tons of gore, monsters and guns. What else could you want? Soon I heard that Rage was a little more than a FPS, it was to include some racing elements, some RPG elements, and all sorts of innovative aspects that were sure to piss off purists and sure to intrigue those not so blinded by cynicism. I was sold, and preordered it as soon as I could.
The game features a pretty standard post-apocalyptic setting and is bound to give rise to comparisons to Borderlands and Fallout. But when you first walk out of the room you start in, and step into the world, blinded by the sunlight, you will notice something far different. This world is expansive, this world is beautiful, this world looks real. Rage is the first game I've seen that deviates from the standard and says that a barren wasteland doesn't have to look like shit. No, this world is different. It is amazing looking. The graphics are astounding and take what I thought this generation's hardware could to do another level. The game has worked hard to cultivate a certain vibe, and this vibe keeps you wanting more.
I've been seeing a lot of criticism for this game in forums and comments sections following reviews. People are complaining that this game lacks a blockbuster story. This makes sense, considering the edge of your seat story telling they've come to expect from a developer who's previous games featured a space marine fighting demons on Mars' moon. I mean, lets get real, people only played Doom for the story, and we as consumers can expect no less from Rage. In all seriousness, I understand people may want a hugely story driven game, and that's fine. But this game never boasted that it would have an amazing story, and the developer's pedigree has never involved such accomplishments. You may have fought demons in Doom, but you certainly weren't accompanied by Dante into hell. You were accompanied by a chainsaw and a few disenfranchised kids from Colorado. It doesn't make it a bad game if it doesn't meet your expectations when your expectations aren't well founded. I complain all the time that my bologna doesn't taste like foie gras but that doesn't mean Carl at the Kroger has to take me seriously (and let me tell you, he doesn't).
But back to the main point, the game is a wildly violent first person shooter (with some auxiliary elements) and it does that very well. My main complaint with many games is the guns are too weak. Not weak as in how they perform against enemies, but weak sounding, weak looking, and simply underwhelming in almost all aspects. Not so here. In Rage, the guns kick hard, they are loud, and they certainly show their stopping power when they hit those little bastards that will run at you from every direction. Shooting a running mutant in the leg will cause him to slide with his momentum to the ground, and then continue hobbling towards you. The action is fast paced and certainly frantic, creating a unnerving feeling during battles. The opponents have fantastic AI, make great use of the environment around them, and are difficult as can be to hit. But when you do hit them, you know it counts. That's something so rare in games, that a gun actually acts like a gun, its sadly baffling when you do find it.
The voice acting is great as well, and the first voice you are greeted by is none other than John Goodman, infamous Fred Flintstone impersonator. And even as to the story, I don't find it bad or even lacking. You are in a desolate world after an asteroid strikes the earth and deal with tons of weirdos and interesting people. The voice acting for almost everyone is well done, as are the character animations, and the sheer variety and beauty of the different environments only serve to make this game something so unique, even when featuring a somewhat overused premise, that I find it extremely difficult to put down.
And no wonder, because it also includes some simply fantastic driving mechanics and fighting systems that make Twisted Metal all but forgettable. Borderlands had buggies to drive as well, but bumping a guardrail would slam you to a complete hault, and it was clearly an afterthought thrown in to make traveling less of a bore. Not so here. The driving system was clearly a focus of the developers, and adds a great amount of variety to an already compelling game. Racing and vehicular combat work very well, and the physics of the new id Tech 5 engine make for a very fluid experience that simply works.
The game features a few RPG elements, such as collecting items from the landscape and bodies to either sell or use to craft new items. All weapons are upgradable, as are the vehicles, which gives a great feel of customization to the game. But don't expect an RPG with Rage, because it certainly isn't one. It is not an open world sandbox game, it is not a Fallout or Borderlands clone, and I think a lot of the criticisms come from people expecting this to be the case, and then feeling that it falls short. But it doesn't fall short when you view Rage for what it is, an FPS. id Software invented the genre, and have gone and added other elements from other genres that work, elements that serve to expand on the FPS system they have while staying true to what works. And Rage certainly works well. My only criticisms are a few texture problems that arise occasionally, such as surfaces taking a moment to load. But when you look at the scope of what they have done graphically with this game, the achievement that is the world they've created, and the fact that it is an 8Gb install on the PS3, some of that fault has to lie with the six year old hardware it is using. I would say the PC version might fare better, but I've heard it is a port that will give users significant problems, so I'd recommend the console if at all possible. Overall, Rage has exceeded my own personal expectations for the game, and has set the bar a little higher when it comes to other shooters, and far higher when it comes to graphics of all genres. I certainly wouldn't pass this game up.


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Mount Saint Mary College recently held a pinning ceremony for 76
nursing graduates.
Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, president, gave an invocation and
blessed the pins, which were presented to the graduates by chosen
family members and friends.
The Mount Saint Mary College nursing pin contains the college's
motto, "doce me veritatem," which translates as "teach me the
Mount professors Jeanne Roth and Andrea Ackerman offered the
graduates words of encouragement and advice for their upcoming
nursing careers.
The class of 2013 is "ready to make the transition from student
nurse to graduate nurse," said Roth. "As you receive your nursing
pin today, let it serve as a constant reminder not only of the
excellent education you have received at Mount Saint Mary College,
but of the desire, dedication, and the commitment you have made to
serve the healthcare needs of others."
Jennie Rouleau of Bristol, CT gave her reflections at the
"We made it. We're nurses. How cool is that?" said Rouleau. "I
am truly honored to be a part of this nursing class."
She added, "This is the beginning of a beautiful and honorable
Rouleau's pin was presented by her mother, Christine, and her
father, Mark, both nurses themselves.
Nora Ames of Titusville, NJ was pinned by her stepmother, Jodi,
and her father, Warren.
"My pin is dedicated to all three of my wonderful parents,
without whom I would not be receiving it at all," she said. "My
mom, before she passed away, showed me the meaning of compassion
and selflessness. And my parents, whose unrelenting support and
love are the best gifts."
Daniel Beers of Montgomery, NY was pinned by his grandmother,
Harriett Beers.
"She is the smartest person I know, always showing her love and
support while encouraging me to follow my dreams," he explained.
"She has given me inspiration that will always follow me on my
journey through life."
The newly-minted nurses recited "A Nurse's Prayer," which speaks
of dedicating one's life to helping others.
The nursing graduates are: Nora Ames of Titusville,
NJ; Lorin Andalora of Hamburg, NJ; Daniel Beers of Montgomery, NY;
Meredith Benanti of Poughkeepsie, NY; Mollie Bowman of Newburgh,
NY; Kathleen Brown of Wappingers Falls, NY; Alyssa Bujalski of
Campbell Hall, NY; Jessica Burns of Niskayuna, NY; Kelly Candelet
of Mystic, CT; Elise Carbonette of Miller Place, NY; Eileen Carey
of Hopewell Junction, NY; Claudine Castano of Newburgh, NY; ToniAnn
Cervone of Beacon, NY; Lisa Choe form Brooklyn, NY; Jaquierra Cook
of Washingtonville, NY; Sharon Cranwell of Putnam Valley, NY;
Salvatore Cusa of Highland, NY; Catherine Davidson of Wallkill, NY;
Marcelo Domingues of Tuckahoe, NY; Aryn Doyle of Northford, CT;
Danielle Drosihn of Massapequa, NY; Sarah Dwinall of Wappingers
Falls, NY; Rattinan Eckardt of Newburgh, NY; Michelle Espinosa of
Poughkeepsie, NY; Laura Ficarelle of Massapequa Park, NY; Samantha
Fiorentino of Holmes, NY; Ryan Folken of Centereach, NY; Victoria
Furgiuele of Mahopac, NY; Megan Hall of New Windsor, NY; Kate
Hartnett of Floral Park, NY; Antoinette Iaquez-Samuelson of New
Windsor, NY; Karesia Jones of Peekskill, NY; Sean Jordan of
Middletown, NY; Kassandra Kayal of Wayne, NJ; Jennifer Keahon of
Newburgh, NY; Alexis Kissel of East Moriches, NY; Katherine
Lidestri of Washingtonville, NY; Kristen Lippert of Wingdale, NY;
Emily Malaspina of Cortlandt Manor, NY; Alexis Malloy of Wallkill,
NY; Caitlin Maynes of Miller Place, NY; Kerilyn McNamara of Staten
Island, NY; Keffion Mensah of Newburgh, NY; Kayla Monaco of
Bohemia, NY; Megan Morris of Carmel, NY; Diana Nunziato of Warwick,
NY; Kristina Olang of Poughquag, NY; Ashley Orldando of Highland,
NY; Katelyn Owens of Montgomery, NY; Jenna Padavano of Flemington,
NJ; Alexis Pappis of Newburgh, NY; Caitlyn Perillo of the Bronx,
NY; Cassandra Pinter of Bridgewater, CT; Shannon Plouffé of
Massapequa Park, NY; Brittany Protsko of Campbell Hall, NY; Justin
Rodriguez of Highland, NY; Kasey Ronan of Yonkers, NY; Jennie
Rouleau of Bristol, CT; Kerrin Rowe of Smithtown, NY; Laura
Santiago of Hopewell Junction, NY; Jill Saydlowski of Milford, CT;
Jacqueline Schouten of West Milford, NJ; Nurije Sefa of Yorktown
Heights, NY; Jesse Segal of New Windsor, NY; Vanessa Sochulak of
Monroe, NY; Alyson Spinelli of Wappingers Falls, NY; Sevchelle
Suarez of Middletown, NY; Alexa Sullivan of Mahopac, NY; Courtney
Troy of Washingtonville, NY; Kaitlyn Umstead of Sussex, NJ;
Brittany Weeks of Hopewell Junction, NY; Amanda Westhelle of
Norwood, NJ; Kaitlin Wickes of Walden, NY; Jacquelyn Zagarino of
Wallingford, CT; Alyssa Zordan of Torrington, CT; and Zachary
Zoutis of Newburgh, NY.
The nationally accredited nursing program at Mount Saint Mary
College boasts a high NCLEX-RN passage rate that consistently
outperforms the state average.
High-tech patient simulators in the college's Kaplan Family
Mathematics, Science and Technology Center provide students with
scenarios than might be experienced in a clinical situation.
Clinical and simulator experience helps students develop
decision-making skills and critical thinking for real-world
In total this academic year, the college graduated more than 100
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HPU News for December 2011
Deadline extended for poetry award
December 09, 2011
HONOLULU — Hawai'i Pacific University is seeking entries for the James M. Vaughan Award for Poetry. The award will recognize a Hawai'i writer for an outstanding poem or group of poems. The winner will receive a $250 cash award and have his or her works featured in Hawai'i Pacific Review, the annual literary magazine published by HPU. The deadline has been extended and submissions must be postmarked by Dec. 20, 2011.
Dr. Patrice M. Wilson will judge the competition this year. Wilson is author of three chapbooks of poetry, has had her poetry published in several literary journals, and is an Associate Professor of English at HPU.
To participate, send three poems with a 100-line limit each along with name, address, phone number, e-mail address, names of poems on a cover page and a five-line biography to: James M. Vaughan Award for Poetry, 1060 Bishop Street, LB 7A, Honolulu, HI 96813. No author identification should be on the actual poems.
Participants must have resided in Hawai'i for at least one year. Submitted poems must not have been previously published. Manuscripts will not be returned.
The winner will be announced in newspapers January 2012, and the award will be given at HPU's annual Ko'olau Writing Workshops in March 2012. The winner will also be asked to share his or her poetry and writing experience with HPU students and faculty during the spring semester.
This event is supported in part by Hawai'i Literary Arts Council and the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. For more information, contact Wilson, the award coordinator, at email@example.com or 544-1108.


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Treading Lightly
Thanks to the Gap's recent TV ads, Audrey Hepburn is back in the limelight. But cinema fans know there's far more to the slender, long-legged actress than her skinny black pants. After Hepburn's 1953 part as Princess Ann in Roman Holiday brought her immediate stardom and an Academy Award for best actress — she continued charming audiences as Jo in Funny Face (popularizing that waifish wardrobe item), Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady and, of course, Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Following her film career; Hepburn played the real-life role of Special Ambassador for UNICEF. And her lineage is every bit as illustrious as her list of movie credits. In honor of Hepburn's upcoming birthday, we give you the skinny on the beloved actress' ancestry.


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A Lomita chef who killed his wife and cooked her body in his restaurant's kitchen fired his attorney Tuesday, delaying his sentencing to prison.
David Viens, 49, who was convicted of second-degree murder in September for killing his 39-year-old wife, Dawn, was set to receive a sentence of 15 years in prison in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom. Dawn Viens has not been seen since Oct. 18, 2009. Her remains were never found.
Superior Court Judge Rand Rubin granted David Viens' request during a brief hearing. Viens' attorney, Fred McCurry, quickly left the courtroom after Viens smiled at him and shook his hand.
"Thank you, Fred," Veins said.
Why Viens fired McCurry was not disclosed. It should make no difference for his mandated sentence, but Viens can argue himself for the verdict to be dismissed, something that virtually never happens at the end of a trial.
During his trial in September, Viens' facial expressions often displayed displeasure at his attorney's work and questioning of witnesses. When McCurry rested his case, Viens stood from his wheelchair and announced, "Your honor, I object!"
Although prosecutors - armed with two recorded Viens' confessions - argued the killing was premeditated and sought a first-degree murder conviction, McCurry argued that jurors should return a conviction on a lesser charge of second-degree murder or manslaughter.
Jurors chose second-degree murder after just five hours of deliberation. A first-degree conviction would have brought a sentence of 25 years to life.
After his wife disappeared, Viens told her friends and the Daily Breeze that she had simply left him. But after months without a trace of her, sheriff's detectives opened a homicide case. On Feb. 23, 2011, Viens jumped from a Rancho Palos Verdes cliff after a Daily Breeze article reported that detectives considered him a "person of interest" and believed his wife was dead after finding blood in the house they once shared.
At the same time, Viens' daughter, Jacqueline, told detectives that her father had admitted to killing his wife, though accidentally, by placing duct tape over her mouth because she was keeping him from sleeping. He awakened to find she had vomited and was dead.
Viens survived the fall and remains in a wheelchair. He wore a back brace in court Tuesday.
While hospitalized, Viens confessed twice to detectives, once telling the same story he told his daughter and later saying he placed his wife's body in a large pot and cooked her over four days, dumping her remains in his restaurant's grease trap.
Dawn Viens' sister, Dayna Papin, and father, Michael Papin, who lives in Florida, appeared in court Tuesday with plans to speak at the sentencing. Dayna Papin said she expected the postponement.
"My dad came all this way and was not able to experience the feeling of justice," Dayna Papin said.
During a break in the court proceedings, Michael Papin spoke with David Viens' mother, Sandra Viens. Michael Papin said later that they had dated in junior high school and it was a coincidence that their children later married. He had not seen her in 50 years.
He said he had no animosity toward her.
"We just talked about old times," he said.
David Viens asked for a continuance.
After a few courtroom appearances to receive trial transcripts and file motions, Viens is set to be sentenced on Feb. 1.
Follow Larry Altman on Twitter at http://twitter.com/larryaltman


text: Liquor Act 2007. It is against the law to sell or supply alcohol to, or to obtain alcohol on behalf of, a person under the age of 18 years. This website is operated by Cellar Force Pty Ltd. ABN 15 107 876 022. Licence Number LIQP770010302. © 2017 Cellar Force. All rights reserved.


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USC invests in suicide prevention
By Liz White, email@example.com, 803-777-2848
"Have you thought about committing suicide?"
It's not an easy thing to ask someone. Often people are too uncomfortable to ask. If they do, they'll ask vague questions, using words like "harm" over "kill."
That's why the suicide prevention gatekeeper training offered by USC's Counseling and Human Development Center is so important.
"Going through that training definitely empowers you in a way that helps you to ask that question – 'Are you considering suicide?'" said Devin Moss, who works in the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs. "It empowers you in a way that allows you to ask that question because you know by asking that question you are potentially saving someone."
Jennifer Myers, coordinator of suicide prevention services in the Counseling and Human Development Center, hopes to create more suicide gatekeepers like Moss on campus.
"One of the biggest reasons suicide prevention is important is because I think people are afraid to talk about suicide and I think people often miss signs that someone might be suicidal, which means that we have deaths that potentially could be preventable," she said. "Deeper and broader than that is having a culture of caring on campus, and isn't that what being a Gamecock is all about?"
Suicide is never easy to talk about. At the gatekeeper training sessions Myers directs, opening the dialogue about suicide is key. Faculty, staff and students are taught what sort of warning signs to look for and how to approach such a sensitive situation head-on.
"I think there's an individual anxiety about, 'I'm not sure what I would do if this person is suicidal.' And sometimes the person feels like another person's life is in their hands," Myers said.
That's why she hosts the gatekeeper trainings. It's a way to teach individuals in this situation exactly what to do if someone does say he/she is suicidal. It's also a way to let people know that no one person is responsible, Myers said.
"It's a community responsibility to take care of one another," she said. "As a part of the Carolina community we take care of all parts of each other. If someone walked in bleeding, you would offer them some assistance. We should recognize who is bleeding on the inside and offer them some assistance."
This semester Myers has scheduled six open trainings. (The next session is Oct. 5 at 1 p.m. For more dates, times and to register click here.)
She also does trainings for specific groups, classes or any organization that is interested. Myers, who started working at USC last October, has trained more than 600 individuals in suicide prevention at USC.
"Most people have been receptive, especially when they understand that suicide prevention is just being there for someone and talking about mental health issues in general," she said. "I think our community here really wants to care for one another."
The American College Health Association's 2010 National College Health Assessment findingssuggest that 5 percent of USC students seriously consider suicide in a given year, Myers said. The 2010 assessment also found that 41 percent of USC students felt things were hopeless in a given year while 54 percent reported feeling very lonely.
"If you're teaching for a number of years, you might run into one of those students," she said. "I think it's important to know how to handle that and I think it helps academically to intervene early, know what the resources are, so that the faculty and staff here can really focus on academics."
Moss, who signed up for the training because his role as coordinator of LGBT programs involves students that face a higher risk of suicide, said everyone at USC should be aware of how to handle the issue and what resources Carolina provides.
"Whether we make it a big issue or not, it's a need that has to be addressed," he said. "When we look at our students holistically and really truly challenging and supporting them to be better individuals, then we have to take a stake in knowing what individuals are facing on our college campus. We have to be able to come to the rescue for our students."
USC, with its 45,000 students across the state is like a small city, and with that size population there are individuals who might seek to harm themselves. So the university has invested in suicide prevention as a way to take care of students and their mental health needs, Myers said
"The administration has been really supportive of suicide prevention efforts and they really believe in caring for the whole person of a student, so to me that's been important," she said.
The university has a comprehensive suicide prevention plan and the gatekeeper training is just a small piece of USC's mental health awareness on campus. Carolina is also committed to being proactive about violence in general, as with the Stand-up Carolina campaign that is meant to spread awareness and empowerment throughout campus by encouraging people to be responsible for their peers individually and collectively.
"The larger issue is talking about mental health issues in an open way. I don't think it's helpful to just talk about suicide," Myers said. "It's fairly normal to struggle with depression and anxiety and it doesn't have to be such a big deal to talk to someone about it."
Her biggest piece of advice: "Pay attention to the people around you and if you notice something, ask them, connect with them, talk with them."
Together we can prevent suicide
People should not be afraid to ask about suicide or other mental health issues, Myers said. Part of the gatekeeper training is learning what signs to look for to show someone needs help.
"When people show signs of distress, it's an invitation for you to ask them about it," Myers said.
A few signs to look for:
- Ideation or expressing thoughts of suicide
- Substance Abuse
- Purposelessness
- Anxiety
- Trapped
- Hopelessness
- Withdrawal
- Anger
- Recklessness
- Mood Change
For more on warning signs visit this website.
If you notice someone with these signs, talk with them and encourage them to seek help.
Students, faculty and staff can call the Counseling & Human Development Center for help at 803-777-5223 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also call 911 from any campus landline and be directed to the USC Police Department.
If a person refuses assistance, file a report with the Behavioral Intervention Team at sc.edu/bit or call the counseling center to ask about how to help.
News and Internal Communications


text:
Hana Rug Swatch - Amethyst
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Loose blossoms and arching vines transform a historic Oushak design into a streamlined floral. Exceptionally lush and naturally lustrous, the rug is masterfully knotted by hand from smooth wool yarns and sheared to a long, luxuriant pile.
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Many people who enter prison in America emerge as Muslims once they have served their sentences. Bilgin Erdogan, who has spent 5 years as an imam serving prisoners at SCI Huntingdon in the state of Pennsylvania and has been instrumental in 59 people converting to Islam during that time, summarizes this by saying, 'One in four people in a prison housing 2400 inmates are Muslim.' Erdogan has described how after converting to Islam, prisoners completely change their lives and are also instrumental in their families' converting to Islam once they are released.
Bilgin Erdogan reveals there are some 600 Muslims in the institution in which he works, 400 of whom fast during Ramadan. And that he made the prisoners perform Friday prayers and gave khutba. He goes on to describe what he communicates in prison:
"We study the Qur'an and the hadith. I try to restore them to society. I try to instill compassion in their hearts. I speak of the faith as a reference point in order for them not to re-offend. There was one elderly prisoner who became a Muslim after entering prison. He had a wife and seven children. First his wife converted to Islam, and then his children and grandchildren. He was thus instrumental, in prison, in 49 people becoming Muslims."
Asked why Americans are choosing Islam, Erdogan replies:
"Islam is the religion of human nature. The message of Islam is highly attractive, and people left face to face with their consciences on the inside have the opportunity to hear that message. Even if they are prisoners, they still enjoy a greater freedom of soul compared to the social dungeon on the outside. Convicts read the Qur'an and study Arabic. Tens of people perform the night prayer. Some even recite the Qur'an every 10 days."
The Qur'an, the word of God, protects people against the deceits and snares of satan. As is revealed in the verses of the Qur'an, sent down by God as a path to salvation for all mankind:
News has come to them which contains a threat: consummate wisdom – but warnings are profitless. (Surat al-Qamar, 4-5)
Since Muslims spend every moment of their lives seeking to earn God's approval, compassion and paradise, they never do anything unlawful. A community made up of true believers who genuinely fear God will be the most trustworthy society on Earth. Because these people always act in the light of the conception of love, affection, compassion and brotherhood that lies at the essence of Islam. They submit themselves to God as being good people until the last moment of their lives. This superior moral virtue of believers is revealed as follows in the Qur'an:
You who believe! Enter Islam totally. Do not follow in the footsteps of satan. He is an outright enemy to you. (Surat al-Baqara, 208)2009-01-26 00:00:00


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GSA Partners with Utilities on Award-Winning Energy Conservation Efforts
May 5, 1997
Contact: Renee Miscione 212-264-0424
or Hap Connors 202-501-1231
Elaine Kamarck, Vice President Gore's senior policy advisor, today presented the Vice President's Hammer Award to the Energy Management Team of the General Services Administration's (GSA) Northeast and Caribbean Region for cutting energy use in Federal buildings and saving up to $34 million.
The team, headquartered in New York City, has reduced energy consumption in GSA buildings by 25% over the past 10 years, far exceeding the Government's goal of a 20% reduction by fiscal year 2000, by building effective public-private partnerships with local utility companies and other Government agencies.
"This team exemplifies the Administration's emphasis on solving problems through public/private partnerships and community solutions," she said. "Their use of innovative management and funding techniques is a prominent example of how Government programs are working better and costing less."
GSA Acting Administrator David J. Barram and Regional Administrator Karen Adler also praised the team's many conservation accomplishments, in the Executive Office Building ceremony.
The team was responsible for savings that total nearly $34 million in cost avoidance and savings since 1991. These include the following:
� cost avoidance of $10 million from reducing energy consumption in Federal buildings;
� identifying, obtaining funding for and tracking to award over $16 million in savings from over 50 energy conservation projects;
� getting more than $6.5 million in utility company rebates for installing a variety of energy efficient projects in many Federal facilities in the region, funds that were reinvested in additional energy conservation projects;
� negotiating agreements with the Federal and State energy agencies and a major public utility to perform comprehensive energy audits that saved GSA more than $1.4 million.
The team also forged an unprecedented public/private partnership, bringing GSA together the Consolidated Edison Company of New York (ConEd) and the U.S. Energy Department in the nation's first Federal Utility Energy Resource Partnership.
This partnership makes ConEd's learning center resources available to provide state-of-the-art information and training in energy management and conservation for Federal energy program managers who must comply with mandates to reduce energy use.
The Partnership will offer energy conservation workshops for Federal and local Government officials in accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and Executive Order 12902, which specify energy conservation objectives.
In another regional initiative, GSA worked with local utility companies to obtain payment extensions and payment agreements for Federal employees who suffered financial strain during the congressional budget impasse in late 1995 and early 1996.
Under the agreement with GSA, the utilities agreed to accommodate requests for assistance by Federal employees who could not pay their utility bills because they were furloughed or working but not getting paid.
The Vice President's Hammer Award is awarded to teams that contribute dramatically to improving the way the Government works. Its name is symbolic of a $600 hammer the Government purchased under old procurement methods that have been reformed through initiatives sponsored by the Vice President's National Performance Review.
For information about this and other GSA programs, visit our home page at Http://www.gsa.gov


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Seimone AugustusLSU Women's Basketball - 2005 & 2006 Corbett Award WinnerAmong the outstanding individuals to earn the prestigious Corbett Award, honoring the outstanding male and female college athletes in the state of Louisiana for the past 40+ years, Seimone Augustus is the first four-time winner of the award.In redefining women's basketball at LSU, Augustus was the two-time Consensus National Player of the Year, attendance at women's basketball games increased by 700 percent, and LSU appeared in three straight NCAA Women's Final Fours.In her four seasons, Augustus scored 2,702 points, the second all-time leading scorer in LSU history, while also pulling down 728 rebounds (5.2 avg/gm). . She had 72 games in which she scored 20 points or more and scored double figures in a school-record 97 straight games. She scored in double figures in 132 of her 140 games, the most in NCAA history.During the 2005-06 season, Augustus capped her brilliant career by leading the nation in scoring, averaging a career-best 22.7 points per game, leading the Lady Tigers to a third straight Final Four. In doing so, she earned All-America honors for the fourth time (including becoming LSU's only three-time Kodak recipient) and earned National Player of the Year honors for a second consecutive season. In addition, she received the Wade Trophy, the Naismith Award, the John R. Wooden Award, the Honda Award, the Senior C.L.A.S.S. Award, as well as the Player of the Year Award by the Associated Press.In 2004-05, Seimone was named the Associated Press Player of the Year, the Naismith Player of the Year, the USBWA Player of the Year, the Honda Broderick Player of the Year, a Kodak All-America for the second year in a row, an AP All-America Third Team member for the third year in a row, and All-SEC First Team player and the SEC Player of the Year.Those exploits led her to become the first overall pick in the 2006 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx. In her inaugural season, she averaged nearly 22 points and four rebounds a game, earning All-Star, All-League, and Rookie of The Year Honors.
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An utterly gorgeous and chic-ly modern design, this accent pillow is designed for almost any firm, medium-weight fabric... try linen, denim, velvet, corduroy, brocade or of course, classic home-dec fabrics. The contrast applique can be done in solid or print fabrics of the same or similar weight & type as your pillow fabric... fabulous!
Square pillow sham fits a standard 17"/43cm square pillow form, and features a "thanks" applique. Pillow buttons closed at the center back. Make this as a special holiday treat for yourself, or as a stylish and thoughtful hostess, housewarming or "thank you" gift.
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School district expects jobs and economic boost from new schools in Dorchester County
In Dorchester County, plans are underway to build four new schools and tackle 12 other improvement projects. The total cost of the expansion is estimated at $187 million.
Tuesday is the first of three public meetings to discuss job creation and the economic impact of the work. School district leaders will also discuss how local businesses can take advantage of the projects.
The public meeting will be hosted by M.B. Kahn and will begin at 6:00 p.m.in the auditorium at Summerville High School. This will be the first of three meetings that will be held to educate the community on subcontractor, vendor, and employment opportunities.
The expansion plans include 3 new elementary schools along with a new middle school with an arts emphasis, upgrades at several high schools, an aquatics center, and a new district office.
A school district spokesman said crews will break ground on the three new elementary schools by next spring and open them by August 2015. The middle school should open by 2016.


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The Trijicon ACOG ECOS is the ultimate sight for both Close Quarter battle (CQB) situations and longer distance shooting where accuracy and pinpoint bullet placement are required. Trijicon is the first to market with its unique dark earth brown color, a definite factor to concealment- directly contributing to the safety of the operator, who is often in harm's way. This dual-sighting system gives the shooter a distinct tactical advantage with the option of either the Trijicon ACOG or the RMR Sight. With the quick target acquisition of the RMR Sight or the precise aiming capabilities provided by the magnified 4 power Trijicon ACOG- the shooter has the ability to select the proper aiming solution for the situation at hand- truly the best of both worlds. No tools are needed for windage and elevation adjustments because the ECOS also features external windage and elevation adjusters, making it waterproof up to 11m without caps.
The TA01ECOS also includes:
1 3.25 MOA RMR™ LED Red Dot mounted to ACOG (RM01)
1 A.R.M.S.® Throw Lever Mount
1 Set of backup Iron Sights
1 Lenspen (TA56)
1 Trijicon Logo Sticker (PR15)
1 ACOG Manual
1 Warranty Card
Express orders for items available to ship the same business day must be placed by 1 PM MST. Express orders received
after 1PM ready for immediate shipment will not be shipped until the following business day.
Note: Delivery times are approximate and although generally accurate are not guaranteed. FFL transfer issues may affect
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delivery time.
Impact Guns is the gun shop for all your shooting needs. We offer a wide selection of firearms, including: handguns, shotguns, rifles, ammunition, rifle scopes and optics, as well as collectible machine guns and other NFA/Class 3 guns. Impact also services the needs of law enforcement and military with our wide variety of tactical weapons and accessories. Shop online through our 256-bit Secure Sockets Layer encrypted online gun store 24 hours a day!


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Topic Title
- Comparative Effectiveness of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACEIs) and Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists (ARBs) for Treating Essential Hypertension
Full Report
- Research Review Nov. 1, 2007
Executive Summary – Nov. 1, 2007
Comparative Effectiveness of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACEIs) and Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists (ARBs) for Treating Essential Hypertension
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Archived: This report has been updated.
Table of Contents
More than 65 million American adults—approximately one-third—have hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension increases with advancing age such that more than half of people 60-69 years of age and approximately three-fourths of those 70 years of age and older are affected. In addition to being the number one attributable risk factor for death throughout the world, hypertension results in substantial morbidity because of its impact on numerous target organs, including the brain, eyes, heart, arteries, and kidneys.
Despite the high morbidity and mortality attributable to hypertension, control remains suboptimal. In addition to several effective nonpharmacological interventions—including diet, exercise, and control of body weight—many individuals will require antihypertensive medication to lower blood pressure.
Therapies aimed at modifying the renin system have been used extensively for treatment of hypertension, heart failure, myocardial infarction, diabetes, and renal disease. Currently, therapies fall into one of two classes of angiotensin antagonists: the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and the angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARBs, or angiotensin receptor blockers). ACEIs block conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. ARBs selectively inhibit angiotensin II from activating the angiotensin-specific receptor (AT1).
While ACEIs and ARBs both target the renin system and are regarded by clinicians as effectively equivalent, it is not clear that this is appropriate. ACEIs, for example, do not entirely block production of angiotensin II because of the presence of unaffected converting enzymes. Also, ACEIs are associated with well-known adverse events not shared by ARBs, including cough (estimated incidence 5-20 percent) and the possibly related phenomenon of angioedema (estimated incidence 0.1-0.2 percent). It would be clinically useful to have a clear understanding of the state of the science with regard to the relative effectiveness of ACEIs and ARBs.
This review summarizes the evidence on the comparative long-term benefits and harms of ACEIs vs. ARBs, focusing on their use for treating essential hypertension in adults. Key questions addressed are:
Key Question 1. For adult patients1 with essential hypertension, how do ACEIs and ARBs2 differ in blood pressure control, cardiovascular risk reduction, cardiovascular events, quality of life, and other outcomes?3
Key Question 2. For adult patients with essential hypertension, how do ACEIs and ARBs differ in safety,4 adverse events,5 tolerability, persistence, and adherence?
Key Question 3. Are there subgroups of patients based on demographic characteristics (age, racial and ethnic groups, sex), use of other medications concurrently, or comorbidities for which ACEIs or ARBs are more effective, associated with fewer adverse events, or better tolerated?
1 "Adult patients" are defined as adults age 18 years or older.
2 ACEIs evaluated are benazepril (Lotensin®), captopril (Capoten®), enalapril (Vasotec®), fosinopril (Monopril®), lisinopril (Prinivil®, Zestril®), moexipril (Univasc®), perindopril (Aceon®), quinapril (Accupril®), ramipril (Altace®), and trandolapril (Mavik®). ARBs considered are candesartan cilexetil (Atacand®), eprosartan (Teveten®), irbesartan (Avapro®), losartan (Cozaar®), olmesartan medoxomil (Benicar®), telmisartan (Micardis®), and valsartan (Diovan®).
3 Outcomes considered include:
Intermediate outcomes—Blood pressure control; rate of use of a single antihypertensive agent for blood pressure control; lipid levels; progression to type 2 diabetes; markers of carbohydrate metabolism/diabetes control; measures of left ventricular (LV) mass/function; and measures of kidney disease.
Health outcomes—Mortality (all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease-specific mortality, and cerebrovascular disease-specific mortality) and morbidity (cardiac events [myocardial infarction], heart failure, cerebral vascular disease or events [including stroke], symptomatic coronary artery disease, end stage renal disease, peripheral vascular disease, and quality of life).
4 Safety outcomes considered were overall adverse events, withdrawals due to adverse events, serious adverse events reported, withdrawal rates, and switch rates.
5 Specific adverse events included, but were no limited to, weight gain, impaired renal function, angioedema, and cough.
Summary Table A provides an aggregated view of the strength of evidence and brief conclusions from this review of the comparative long-term benefits and harms of ACEIs vs. ARBs for adults with essential hypertension.
Remaining Issues
Despite the relative importance of both ACEIs and ARBs for treatment of essential hypertension, there is a paucity of comparative evidence for long-term benefits and harms of these two classes of agents. In particular, there is a lack of information about death or major cardiovascular events, and data on adverse events are inconsistently reported. Only nine studies compared ACEIs and ARBs for periods longer than 1 year.
Future Research
With the exception of rates of cough, the hypothesis that ACEIs and ARBs have clinically meaningful differences in long-term outcomes in individuals with essential hypertension is not strongly supported by the available evidence. Given the importance of these issues, it is notable how few large, long-term, head-to-head studies have been published. Further research in this area should consider:
- Subgroups of special importance, such as individuals with essential hypertension and diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and dyslipidemia.
- Pragmatic designs, such as clinical trials in which treatment is consistent with typical clinical practice, or randomization by organizationally meaningful clusters, such as practice organizations or health plans.
- Outcomes over several years.
- Outcomes measured according to current clinical standards.
- Broader representation of groups such as the elderly and ethnic and racial minorities.
- Evaluation of specific pairs of ACEIs and ARBs to allow differentiation within class.
Given the demonstrated higher incidence of cough with ACEIs, it would also be valuable to gain more precise understanding of the impact of cough on quality of life, care patterns (e.g., use of therapeutic agents for cough symptoms or conditions associated with cough), and health outcomes, particularly for individuals who continue to use ACEIs.
Full Report
This executive summary is part of the following document: Matchar DB, McCrory DC, Orlando LA, Patel MR, Patel UD, Patwardhan MB, Powers B, Samsa GP, Gray RN. Comparative Effectiveness of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACEIs) and Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists (ARBs) for Treating Essential Hypertension. Comparative Effectiveness Review No. 10. (Prepared by Duke Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-02-0025.) Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. November 2007.
For Print Copies
For print copies of Comparative Effectiveness of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACEIs) and Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists (ARBs) for Treating Essential Hypertension: Executive Summary No. 10 (AHRQ Pub. No. 08-EHC003-1), please call the AHRQ Clearinghouse at 1-800-358-9295 or e-mail email@example.com.
Abbreviations: ACEI = angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; ARB = angiotensin II receptor blocker/antagonist; GFR = glomerular filtration rate; LV = left ventricular; MI = myocardial infarction; NNT = number needed to treat; RCT = randomized controlled trial.
|Key Question
|Strength of evidence
|1. Key Question 1. For adult patients with essential hypertension, how do ACEIs and ARBs differ in the following health outcomes:
|a. Blood pressure control
|ACEIs and ARBs appear to have similar long-term effects on blood pressure among individuals with essential hypertension. This conclusion is based on evidence from 50 studies (47 RCTs, 1 nonrandomized controlled clinical trial, 1 retrospective cohort study, and 1 case-control study) in which 13,532 patients receiving an ACEI or an ARB were followed for periods from 12 weeks to 5 years (median 16.5 weeks). Blood pressure outcomes were confounded by additional treatments and varying dose escalation protocols.
|b. Mortality and major cardiovascular events
|Due to insufficient numbers of deaths or major cardiovascular events in the included studies, it was not possible to discern any differential effect of ACEIs vs. ARBs for these critical outcomes. In 9 studies that reported mortality, MI, or clinical stroke as outcomes among 3,356 subjects, 16 deaths and 13 strokes were reported. This may reflect low event rates among otherwise healthy patients and relatively few studies with extended followup.
|c. Quality of life
|No differences were found in measures of general quality of life; this is based on 4 studies, 2 of which did not provide quantitative data.
|d. Rate of use of a single antihypertensive
|There was no statistically evident difference in the rate of treatment success based on use of a single antihypertensive for ARBs compared to ACEIs. The trend toward less frequent addition of a second agent to an ARB was heavily influenced by retrospective cohort studies, where medication discontinuation rates were higher in ACEI-treated patients, and by RCTs with very loosely defined protocols for medication titration and switching.
|e. Risk factor reduction and other intermediate outcomes
|Moderate (lipid levels, markers of carbohydrate metabolism/diabetes control, progression of renal disease) to Low (progression to type 2 diabetes and LV mass/function)
|There were no consistent differential effects of ACEIs vs. ARBs on several potentially important clinical outcomes, including lipid levels, progression to type 2 diabetes mellitus, markers of carbohydrate metabolism/diabetes control, measures of LV mass or function, and progression of renal disease (either based on creatinine, GFR, or proteinuria). Relatively few studies assessed these outcomes over the long term.
|2. Key Question 2. For adult patients with essential hypertension, how do ACEIs and ARBs differ in safety, adverse events, tolerability, persistence, and adherence?
|High (cough, withdrawals due to adverse events) to Moderate (persistence/adherence) to Low (angioedema)
|ACEIs have been consistently shown to be associated with greater risk of cough than ARBs: pooled odds ratio (Peto) = 0.32. For RCTs, this translates to a difference in rates of cough of 6.7 percent (NNT = 15); however, for cohort studies with lower rates of cough, this translates to a difference of 1.1 percent (NNT = 87). This is generally consistent with evidence reviewed regarding withdrawals due to adverse events, in which the NNT is on the order of 27—that is, 1 more withdrawal per 27 patients treated with an ACEI vs. an ARB. There was no evidence of differences in rates of other commonly reported specific adverse events.
Angioedema was reported only in patients treated with ACEIs; however, because angioedema was rarely explicitly reported in the included studies, it was not possible to estimate its frequency in this population.
ACEIs and ARBs have similar rates of adherence based on pill counts; this result may not be applicable outside the clinical trial setting. Rates of continuation with therapy appear to be somewhat better with ARBs than with ACEIs; however, due to variability in definitions, limitations inherent in longitudinal cohort studies, and relatively small sample sizes for ARBs, the precise magnitude of this effect is difficult to quantify.
|3. Key Question 3. Are there subgroups of patients based on demographic characteristics (age, racial and ethnic groups, sex), use of other medications concurrently, or comorbidities for which ACEIs or ARBs are more effective, associated with fewer adverse events, or better tolerated?
|Very low
|Evidence does not support conclusions regarding the comparative effectiveness, adverse events, or tolerability of ACEIs and ARBs for any particular patient subgroup.


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'Thorburn has eight goals and nine assists in 21 games with the Amerks this season. He currently ranks second on the Amerks with 50 penalty minutes. It is the first recall of his career for the 6'3", 220-pound native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Thorburn was the Buffalo Sabres' second-round selection (50th overall) in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.'
Buffalo calls on Thorburn
December 3, 2005 Submitted by
Via: Amerks.com


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Posts Tagged 'Webbased'
Costa Rica Real Estate Development Partners with New York City Integrative Medical Center to Offer Complimentary Web-based Seminar on Blue Zones
(PRWEB) February 25, 2011
On Tuesday, March 1, at 6 p.m. Eastern, renowned holistic medical expert Dr. Rashmi Gulati, the medical director of New York City's premier integrative medical center, Patients Medical, and holistic nutritionist, Judy Penta, will join Brian Albury, executive vice president for Hacienda Matapalo, Costa Rica's premier gated community on the South Pacific Coast, for a complimentary Web-based Seminar about Costa Rica's Blue Zone.
Titled "Live Longer in Costa Rica, Understanding the Blue Zone," in addition to understanding the characteristics of people who live in Blue Zones and the lifestyles they live, Dr. Gulati and Ms. Penta will also talk about the benefits of holistic medicine including wellness programs, nutrition, anti-aging and hormonal therapy, all of which can add years to one's life.
A Blue Zone is a region of the world where people commonly live active lives past the age of 100 years. Scientists and demographic researchers have classified these longevity hot-spots as having common healthy traits and life practices that result in higher-than-normal longevity. There have been five prominent spots around the world identified as a Blue Zone and one of them is Costa Rica.
To learn about Blue Zones and to register for the complimentary Web Seminar, please visit haciendamatapalo.com.
Can't attend on our schedule? Then watch it on yours! Our new On-Demand feature enables you to view the eSeminar at your convenience.
All you have to do is register to participate.
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text: Merrigan 'Knows' Ag December 8, 2012 06:28 AM Tweet USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan (right) volunteers her time and energy at many of the local food programs that are promoted by the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative. TAGS: Marketing, Overseas December 18, 2014 By Ben Potter AgWeb.com Social Media and Innovation Editor Email USDA deputy secretary honored for local food initiative Communication between consumers and farmers is increasingly important. Yet, far too often, misinformation rules the day. Moved by their frustration, Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan and others at USDA launched Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food in 2009. Merrigan was recently honored by the James Beard Foundation for her role in making the initiative a success. She received the JBF Leadership Award along with author Wendell Berry, Jason Clay of the World Wildlife Fund, Tensie Whelan of the Rainforest Alliance and Malik Yakini of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. "These trailblazers are all working to create a more sustainable future, and it is through their monumental achievements that we are able to continue a critical conversation about the future of food," says Susan Ungaro, pres-ident of the James Beard Foundation. Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food is a USDA-wide effort to promote local and regional food systems. It does this through a website (www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer) that is more of a "one-stop shop" than similar online resources. While USDA has a lot of helpful information, Merrigan says, its website isn't user-friendly. "The USDA website is a huge mountain to climb," she says. "How do people really know what's there? How can we make it more accessible and transparent to people?" USDA helps answer these questions through the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food website. The goal is to spark conversations about food and promote transparency about local USDA funding, Merrigan says. The website has information about grants and loans, school-to-farm programs, and other tools and resources. A highlight of the website is an interactive compass map that shows who received what funding, and what it was used for. "There's no more wondering who's getting resources and how they're using them," Merrigan says. She hopes local communities will use the interactive map to discover inspiring success stories and engage in new networking opportunities. The website regularly adds new content. Merrigan says she is flattered by the JBF Leadership Award but adds that there is still much work to be done. "I'm proud of what we've done, but there are still many untapped avenues," she says. "We've just scratched the surface. We can do better." Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Goals The goal of the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative is to lead the dialogue about food and agriculture to strengthen the connection between consumers and farmers. USDA promotes programs and policies that can: stimulate food- and ag-based community economic development. foster new opportunities for farmers and ranchers. promote locally and regionally produced and processed foods. cultivate healthy eating habits and educated, empowered consumers. expand access to affordable fresh and local food. demonstrate the connection between food, agriculture, community and the environment. Back to news Click here to learn more about the Million Dollar Wildfire Relief Challenge, and see how you can help in the rebuilding effort.