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Waiting (or Not) for Superman
Superman could change the course of mighty rivers and bend steel in his bare hands, but is he strong enough to lift America's education system to greatness?
"Waiting for Superman" has been called everything from "powerful, passionate, and potentially revolution-inducing" to "complete nonsense."
With great emotion, the documentary follows five children who passionately want coveted spots at a charter school. Throughout the documentary, familiar issues are touched on: bad teachers, unions, test scores, charter schools, and public schools. And, you're introduced to some education reform "superheroes." You can't help but root for the five kids. But the film is only the beginning. Director David Guggenheim wants to inspire social change and get people to take action for better schools. A "Waiting for Superman" initiative to fix our public schools is under way in cities across the country.
Education nonprofit and publisher Rethinking Schools thinks the message of "Waiting for Superman" is negative and disrespectful to teachers, parents, and communities working hard in today's public schools—so it started a project to talk back to the film and the message it promotes. NOT Waiting for Superman asks why there was no discussion of race, poverty, and testing in the documentary. Instead of helping people understand the many real problems schools face and what it will take to address them, NOT Waiting for Superman believes the film presents misleading information and simplistic solutions that will make it harder for those working to help public schools improve and succeed. "It's as if someone made a film about global warming and did not mention cars, oil companies, or carbon dioxide."
These two groups offer disparate points of view, but they both agree on one thing: there is work to be done to improve our public schools so that all kids get the education they deserve.
We encourage you to explore both websites and continue the conversation. Be assured there is plenty to talk about.


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Immune-Based Therapies and Preventive Technologies Pipeline
September 29, 2005
A note from TheBody.com: The field of medicine is constantly evolving. As a result, parts of this article may be outdated. Please keep this in mind, and be sure to visit other parts of our site for more recent information!
The Current LandscapeThe development of immune-based HIV therapies, preventive HIV vaccines, and microbicides is hampered by a common problem: the lack of any effective precedent. All three fields are currently attempting to build on a barren landscape -- a challenge not faced by developers of new antiretroviral, hepatitis C, and TB treatments. This makes investment in this research high-risk and highly dependent on public funding. Many of the products in the pipeline are the fruits of collaborations between academic and/or government investigators, small companies, and nonprofit organizations. Even if proven successful, obtaining regulatory approval and scaling up manufacturing to allow widespread distribution will likely depend on additional investments, the prospects for which are uncertain. In short, the path through these particular pipelines is tortuous and difficult. Additionally, preventive vaccines and microbicides must confront a problem also faced by new treatments for TB: the vast majority of the potential market for these products is primarily in the developing world where people have the least ability to pay. Again, this puts the onus on public-private collaborations to walk a landscape where most major pharmaceutical companies fear to tread.
Preventive Technologies: VaccinesOver the last five years, the once-dry preventive vaccine pipeline has begun to fill with new candidates. This upsurge can be traced to improvements in techniques for inducing T-cell (also known as cell-mediated) immune responses. Initial efforts to develop an HIV vaccine focused primarily on candidates designed to induce neutralizing antibodies against the virus. These efforts, however, were severely compromised by the discovery that, while HIV viruses grown in the lab could be easily neutralized, viruses taken from infected people (called primary isolates) are highly resistant to antibody-mediated neutralization. The relevance of these observations was confirmed by the failure of an early antibody-based vaccine candidate (AIDSVAX) to protect against HIV infection in two large efficacy trials (Flynn 2005; Pitisutithum 2004).
While researchers continue to work on strategies for inducing neutralizing antibodies against HIV, only a minority of the vaccines currently in human trials are antibody-based. Instead, the leading candidates have drawn on evidence that T-cell responses may play an important role in controlling HIV infection (Pantaleo 2004). T-cell responses are comprised of both CD4 "helper" and CD8 "killer" T cells. The ability of scientists to dissect T-cell responses has improved vastly over recent years due to new technologies that allow the numbers, specificity (i.e., the pathogen they are targeting), and functional properties of CD4 and CD8 T cells to be evaluated. Most researchers believe it is unlikely that a T-cell-based vaccine will completely protect against HIV infection, but there is some optimism that it could slow or prevent disease progression in an immunized individual who subsequently becomes HIV-infected. Also, if vaccination could reduce postinfection viral load, the risk of onward transmission of the virus might also be reduced.
The leading vaccine strategies for inducing HIV-specific T-cell responses involve the use of naked DNA (genetic code engineered to make selected HIV proteins when delivered into the body) and viral vectors (harmless viruses altered so that they carry the genetic code for making selected HIV proteins when delivered into the body). Other approaches being investigated in human clinical trials include lipopeptide and whole protein vaccines.
Desired ElementsThe ideal attributes of a preventive HIV vaccine can be quickly summarized:
ALVAC (Aventis Pasteur)ALVAC is an HIV vaccine candidate manufactured by Aventis Pasteur that uses a bird virus called canarypox as a vector. ALVAC has the dubious distinction of being the longest-studied viral vector vaccine candidate, with more than 1,000 people having participated in phase I and II studies over the last ten years. Unfortunately, ALVAC induces persistent HIV-specific CD8 T-cell responses in only around 10-20% of recipients (Nitayaphan 2004; Russell 2005), leading to considerable skepticism about its potential efficacy. A number of ALVAC variants have been developed in an effort to improve the response rate (known as the vaccine's immunogenicity), but none have proved successful. ALVAC version vCP1521 (which encodes HIV-1 CRF01_AE env and clade B gag, the protease-encoding portion of the pol gene and a synthetic polypeptide encompassing several known CD8 T-cell epitopes from the Nef and Pol proteins) is undergoing an efficacy evaluation in a huge 16,000-person trial in Thailand. Results should be available within the next five years. Many leading HIV vaccine scientists have harshly criticized the planning and design of this trial, as has TAG (Burton 2004; Jefferys 2004).
AIDSVAX: A Dishonorable MentionIn the early years of HIV vaccine development, when it was thought that antibodies to the viral envelope protein gp120 might be successful, several companies made constructs using recombinant gp120 proteins. Among them is the AIDSVAX vaccine (manufactured by a company called VaxGen) that failed to protect against HIV infection or slow disease progression in two phase III trials. Initial claims by VaxGen that the vaccine had shown some protection in people from particular ethnic backgrounds were quickly revealed to be spurious (Follman 2004). Although the trial results indicate that AIDSVAX should have been flushed from the vaccine pipeline, it is still being used as a booster in the Thai ALVAC trial mentioned above.
Adenovirus-Based VaccinesMerck created a splash in 2001 when it announced the launch of a clinical development program for an HIV vaccine candidate based on two platforms: naked DNA and a viral vector using adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5). Ad5 was chosen in part due to its salutary ability to target dendritic cells, the initiators of T-cell responses. The original plan, based on promising immunogenicity studies in macaques, was to utilize the DNA vaccine as a "prime" (to generate low-level HIV-specific T-cell responses) followed by the Ad5 vaccine as a "boost" (to raise the HIV-specific T-cell responses to much higher levels). Human trials have since shown that the DNA vaccine is only marginally immunogenic, leading Merck to focus on the Ad5 construct. The data to date on Ad5 (still unpublished) appear to be highly promising, with one very significant caveat. The good news is that Ad5 can induce HIV-specific CD8 T-cell responses in up to 60-70% of recipients, a far superior showing compared to the previous best achieved by ALVAC (Isaacs 2004). The bad news is that this robust immunogenicity is seen only in people that lack significant levels of neutralizing antibodies against Ad5 (in its natural form, Ad5 is a common cause of severe colds and many people have been exposed to it). It's estimated that about a third of the North American population has high levels (a titer of over 200) of neutralizing antibodies against Ad5; in the developing world the proportion approaches 90% (Kostense 2004). In such individuals, Ad5 is essentially about as immunogenic as ALVAC.
As a result of this dilemma, Merck is currently collaborating with the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) on a phase IIb "proof of concept" efficacy trial that restricts enrollment to individuals with low levels of anti-Ad5 antibodies. The primary goal of the study is to evaluate whether the HIV-specific T-cell responses induced by the vaccine (which encodes the gag, pol, and nef genes from HIV clade B) can offer protection against HIV infection and/or disease progression. Results are expected by 2007. Because so many current candidates aim to induce T-cell responses, the study is addressing a critical question for the future of HIV vaccine research; if the results are positive, alternative versions of the vaccine will have to be developed in order to circumvent the neutralizing antibody problem. Merck is looking at less common Ad5 serotypes such as 11 and 35. Work is also underway to determine whether the Ad5 vaccine can be modified to evade preexisting antibody responses by altering the Ad5 hexon protein, which is the major target of these antibodies (Sumida 2005).
The NIH's Vaccine Research Center (VRC) has developed another Ad5 candidate, which is in human trials. VRC is testing this vaccine both alone and as a booster to its DNA vaccine. VRC's long-term plan is to conduct a three-arm 16,000-person efficacy trial that will compare Ad5 to DNA + Ad5 to placebo, powered to detect efficacy in any vaccine arm. However, as with the Merck construct, the issue of pre-existing antibodies to Ad5 will need to be addressed.
LipopeptidesLipopeptides comprise synthetic fragments of viral proteins associated with lipids that facilitate the induction of T-cell immune responses. Lipopeptide vaccines have induced HIV-specific CD8 T-cell responses in around 50% of recipients (Salmon-Ceron 2002). Lipopeptides are difficult to manufacture on a large scale, making it uncertain whether they could ever be produced commercially. These vaccines are being developed by the French research agency ANRS, but studies are currently on hold after a serious adverse event (spinal cord inflammation) in a trial participant.
The Travails of MVAModified Vaccinia Virus Ankara strain (MVA) is an attenuated, nonpathogenic derivative of the cowpox virus. An MVA-based HIV vaccine candidate designed by Andrew McMichael and Tom Hanke from Oxford University has undergone extensive human testing with the support of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI). Unfortunately, the immunogenicity was disappointing, with persistent HIV-specific CD8 T-cell responses detectable in just 10-20% of recipients (Guimaraes-Walker 2004; Jaoko 2004). As a result, IAVI is not pursuing further studies of this construct. Two other MVA-based HIV vaccine candidates (one manufactured by Therion and the other developed by the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center) remain in human studies, but it is unclear whether they will prove more immunogenic. The problem with MVA may be its large size; immune responses targeting the vector appear to dominate at the expense of responses targeting the HIV components that the vector encodes (Harrer 2004).
A Multitude of DNAsDNA vaccines are perhaps the simplest, cheapest approach for inducing T-cell responses. These constructs have proven immunogenic in mice and monkey studies, and a few years ago there was considerable optimism that they would be efficacious in humans. Data from human trials have since dimmed that optimism, with only a minority of recipients displaying low-level T-cell responses to the vaccines. Scientists speculate that the problem may be a matter of size and dose: humans are simply much larger than the animals used in preclinical studies, and the dose of DNA vaccine that can be delivered is limited by the fact that the DNA becomes an unwieldy goo (that is difficult and painful to inject) at doses much above 5 mg. Nevertheless, multiple DNA vaccines continue to undergo human testing. In some cases, as with the candidate being developed by VRC, the intent is to use the DNA vaccine as a "prime" before boosting with a viral vector vaccine. Another strategy under study involves adding adjuvant components (such as cytokines like IL-2, IL-12, or IL-15) to the DNA vaccine that may boost the T-cell response. (For a detailed review of DNA vaccine development in HIV, see Giri 2004.)
Recombinant ProteinsShortly after Merck announced the launch of its HIV vaccine program, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) chimed in with a press release touting its own "new" HIV vaccine program. Jaded observers of the field rapidly noticed that the construct -- recombinant HIV Nef, Tat, and gp120 proteins in a proprietary ASO2A adjuvant -- was a candidate developed and then shelved by SmithKline Beecham, the company with which Glaxo had just merged. SKB discontinued developing the vaccine due to conflicting results from macaque challenge experiments and its apparent inability to induce CD8 T-cell responses. GSK chose to put a positive spin on these studies and has advanced the construct into phase I human testing. Preliminary results have demonstrated decent HIV-specific CD4 T-cell responses, but no vaccine-induced CD8 T cells were detected (Horton 2004).
Three other vaccine candidates undergoing human trials also use recombinant protein components. Chiron is employing an oligomeric envelope protein (gp140, with the V2 region deleted) as a booster following immunization with a DNA vaccine. An oligomeric protein is composed of multiple protein chains as compared to a monomeric protein, which contains a single chain (for example, AIDSVAX is a monomeric gp120 protein). Chiron is hoping that this protein will stand a better chance of inducing neutralizing antibodies against HIV. Macaque studies demonstrated induction of antibodies capable of some degree of neutralizing activity against four of five primary HIV isolates tested, but this activity was seen only at high antibody concentrations (Srivastava 2003).
Advanced Bioscience Laboratories (in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts and CytRx, and with NIH support under the HIV Vaccine Design and Development Team program) are using recombinant gp120 proteins from multiple clades (A, C, E, and two from B) as a booster following a DNA vaccine encoding the same env genes along with HIV clade B gag. The approach, based on unpublished animal data, suggests that immunization with gp120 proteins from multiple clades may induce qualitatively superior antibody responses compared to those induced by gp120 from a single clade.
Maverick Italian researcher Barbara Ensoli has long been pursuing the hypothesis that a recombinant HIV Tat protein could prove effective as a vaccine. Ensoli and colleagues published a controversial study in cynomolgus macaques many years ago that claimed successful protection against a SHIV89.6P challenge using this approach (Cafaro 1999). A subsequent attempt to confirm these findings by David Watkins was unsuccessful, although the construct and approach used were not exactly matched (Allen 2002). Ensoli has now successfully moved the Tat protein vaccine into phase I human testing in Italy.
Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV)One of the more intriguing new viral vectors to enter human trials is Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV). AAV is a parvovirus that is dependent on adenovirus for replication; the vector has been further modified so that it is completely replication-incompetent. Developed by Phil Johnson at the Children's Research Institute in Columbus, Ohio, in collaboration with Targeted Genetics (with the support of IAVI), AAV displays some unique features that could prove extremely advantageous for an HIV vaccine. Specifically, AAV appears to persist and express its HIV protein payload for months after a single immunization. This feature offers the hope that, if successful, AAV could be used as a single-shot immunization. It has taken many years to advance this candidate to human testing due to concerns that it may integrate into human DNA, but extensive safety studies in animals have now reassured regulatory authorities that it is safe to test in humans; AAV appears able to persist in the episomes of cells without integration. Immunogenicity results in macaques were impressive, showing a robust, dose-dependent induction of HIV-specific T-cell responses and anti-Gag antibodies (Schulz 2004). A phase I human trial began in Germany at the end of 2003, and results are anticipated by mid-2005.
Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEE)Originally developed by the U.S. military as a potential biological weapon, an attenuated form of VEE is in testing as a potential HIV vaccine vector under the aegis of the biotech company AlphaVax and NIH (early work on the vector was sponsored by IAVI but they recently ended their relationship with AlphaVax). VEE belongs to a family known as alphaviruses and, like adenovirus, targets dendritic cells. Only limited immunogencity data are available from macaques (Davis 2000); human data from a phase I trial initiated in South Africa in 2002 are pending.
Preventive Technologies: MicrobicidesMicrobicides are substances that aim to prevent HIV infection (and possibly other STDs) by being applied topically to the vaginal or rectal surface prior to sex. One major advantage to such an intervention, if one could be successfully developed, is that it could potentially be used by women who may not be able to control whether or not their partner uses a condom. After a period in which microbicide research seemed to wander in something of a scientific wilderness, the past few years have witnessed a new and broadening enthusiasm for the field. As a result, the microbicide pipeline has swelled, and a number of phase III efficacy trials have recently got underway.
Desired ElementsAs outlined in a recent review, the four guiding principles of microbicide design are "cheap, safe, effective, acceptable" (Moore 2003). It would also be highly advantageous if a microbicide could be used without detection by the sexual partner. A rectal product is also desirable, but no candidates are yet in human trials. The microbicide field therefore faces the challenge of not just finding compounds, but developing user-friendly delivery methods (a science in itself). A key long-term goal is the development of formulations or devices (such as intravaginal rings) that can facilitate the slow release of a microbicide over a period of days or months (Woolfson 2000).
The microbicides that have advanced into efficacy trials fall into the following categories:
Preventive Technologies: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
PrEP is the moniker given to drug therapies that may prevent HIV infection when taken prior to exposure. Currently there is only one candidate being evaluated as PrEP, the nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor tenofovir (trade name Viread). There are several ongoing and planned trials designed to evaluate both the safety and efficacy of this approach (three sponsored by the US Centers for Disease Control, two by Family Health International and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation). Recent criticisms of the ethics of these trials have led to the suspension of a study site in Cameroon and the termination of a proposed study among sex workers in Cambodia. A number of issues have been raised by critics, including the long term safety of tenofovir (side effects, albeit rare, include bone loss and kidney damage), the quality of safe sex counseling, provision of clean needles to intravenous drug users, plans for condom provision to participants and provision of care for participants that seroconvert and/or experience tenofovir-related toxicities. Discussions among the various stakeholders are now occurring in the hopes that these issues can be addressed.
Immune-Based TherapiesDespite more than two decades of research, there is as yet no approved immune-based therapy (IBT) for HIV infection, and while antiretrovirals continue to course through the developmental pipeline, relatively few potential immunologic interventions are dripping their way toward efficacy trials. This imbalance is partly due to an incomplete understanding of HIV's effects on the human immune system compared to our detailed knowledge of the viral life cycle. Absent this information, targets for IBTs are typically based on theories regarding pathogenesis and thus are susceptible to failure if a particular theory turns out to be incorrect. In contrast, a new antiretroviral compound can be targeted to a well-understood step in the HIV replication process. In addition, several IBTs (including Jonas Salk's ill-starred therapeutic vaccine candidate, Remune, and the bone marrow stimulant GM-CSF) have progressed to phase III efficacy trials but have failed to show clinical benefit (Kahn 2000; Angel 2000), making industry leery of pursuing compounds that risk a similar fate. It is also difficult to assess the prospective market for IBT, given that none are available, while there are years of accumulated data on the sales of antiretroviral drugs.
Desired ElementsThere are a number of settings where IBTs could potentially prove useful. It is estimated that perhaps 5-10% of recipients experience a discordant response to HAART wherein viral load is successfully suppressed but CD4 T-cell counts do not increase (Carcelain 2001). An IBT that could speed immune reconstitution in such individuals would be highly desirable. An IBT that delayed, or allowed prolonged interruptions of, HAART could potentially reduce both the cost and toxicity of drug therapy. Recently, some researchers have proposed using IBTs to specifically target drug-resistant HIV (Stratov 2005). Beyond these potential uses, the desired characteristics of an IBT would be much the same as other therapies: broadly effective, safe, cheap, and convenient.
Therapeutic VaccinesThe advent of HAART has led to a resurgence of interest in therapeutic immunization, based on the idea that viral suppression and the attendant immune reconstitution may provide an opportunity to induce new and more effective T-cell responses targeting HIV. As with preventive vaccines, the field has been aided by improved tools for evaluating the functional properties of HIV-specific T cells. These tools have identified a number of properties that are associated with control of HIV viral load such as IL-2 production and proliferation (Pantaleo 2004; Boritz 2004; Migueles 2002), but it remains to be seen whether the induction of these T-cell responses by vaccination will prove beneficial. The primary goal of therapeutic immunization is to maintain better control of viral replication during HAART interruptions, thereby reducing dependence on drug therapy over the long term. Although this is certainly a desirable outcome, there are as yet no convincing human data showing that it is achievable. Some researchers are optimistic about the prospects for this approach, while many others remain profoundly skeptical.
There is extensive overlap between the therapeutic and preventive vaccine fields, with many of the same candidates being studied in both settings. ALVAC is a stalwart of therapeutic vaccine studies, despite its poor immunogenicity. A recent ANRS study found a statistically significant difference in post-treatment interruption control of viral load among recipients of a regimen that included ALVAC, lipopeptides, and IL-2 compared to participants receiving HAART alone. The numbers were small, however, and the average time to restarting HAART differed by only a matter of weeks (Levy 2005). Merck's Ad5 vaccine candidate is also being evaluated as a therapeutic in an ongoing ACTG study, although the construct being used encodes only the HIV gag gene and not the pol and nef genes that are included in the preventive trial.
Jonas Salk's Remune, amazingly, is edging its way towards two decades in human trials. Remune underwent a mild renaissance in the post-HAART era due to its one demonstrable talent, which is to induce HIV-specific CD4 T-cell responses capable of proliferating and producing IL-2 (Maino 2000). A tiny pilot study has hinted that these responses may also improve HIV-specific CD8 T-cell proliferation (Lichterfeld 2004), and trials using Remune in the context of treatment interruptions are continuing, although recent results from a study in acute HIV infection failed to show an effect of immunization on viral load (Perrin 2004). Recently initiated trials are also investigating the effects of delivering Remune with a CpG-based adjuvant called AmpliVax (CpG motifs are immune-stimulating stretches of DNA).
A new strategy for therapeutic immunization involves the use of dendritic cells (DCs). The job of DCs is to process and present small protein slices (called epitopes) of pathogens to T cells, thereby initiating an immune response (the job is known as antigen presentation). Several research groups are conducting trials wherein DCs are taken from an individual's blood and mixed with HIV proteins or epitopes, then reinjected to act as a vaccine. A small, uncontrolled pilot study recently claimed an immunologic and virological benefit to the approach in participants with early HIV infection who had yet to start HAART (Lu 2004), but these results await confirmation in larger controlled studies. It is unclear whether the approach can be rendered practical and cheap enough for widespread use.
Cytokines, Immunomodulators & Gene Therapy
Interleukin-2Another category of IBTs comprises candidates intended to improve overall immune function as opposed to just HIV-specific immunity. The hardy perennial of this class of therapies is interleukin-2 (IL-2), which has been in trials since the mid-1980s. IL-2 belongs to a family of chemical messengers called cytokines, which transmit signals among the cells of the immune system. Initially dubbed "T-cell growth factor" due its ability to induce T-cell proliferation, IL-2 is now understood to have more complex effects, including an unexpectedly important role in programmed T-cell death (Waldmann 2001).
Many studies have demonstrated that IL-2, administered either intravenously or subcutaneously, can increase peripheral blood CD4 T-cell counts in people with HIV infection (De Paoli 2001). Questions persist, however, about the functionality of these IL-2-induced CD4 T cells, with one recent ACTG study finding that they did not appear to improve (and may in some cases have diminished) the response to a variety of routine vaccinations such as hepatitis A vaccine (Valdez 2003).
The mechanism of IL-2's effect is also uncertain, with recent evidence suggesting that over the long term it decreases T-cell proliferation and increases T-cell survival (Sereti 2004). Side effects such as fever, chills, and malaise are also typically associated with IL-2 administration. Nevertheless, it remains possible that the CD4 T-cell increases associated with IL-2 therapy will lead to long-term clinical benefit by delaying HIV-induced CD4 T-cell depletion, and this hypothesis is being investigated in two large clinical endpoint trials: SILCAAT and ESPRIT. IL-2's manufacturer, Chiron, originally sponsored SILCAAT, but in 2001 it pulled its support, and NIH (already the sponsor of the ESPRIT trial) had to step in to prevent the trial's termination. Preliminary results from the two trials should be available in 2005. An engineered and potentially less toxic form of IL-2 known as BAY 50-4798 is also under investigation in a phase I/II trial.
IL-7IL-7 is a cytokine that plays a key role in T-cell development and naive and memory T-cell proliferation and survival (Fry 2005). IL-7 studies in SIV-infected rhesus macaques have shown dramatic increases in peripheral blood CD4 and CD8 T-cell counts, without a concomitant increase in SIV replication (Fry 2003; Nugeyre 2003). Although it was originally thought that IL-7 might stimulate thymic production of new T cells, the increases in the macaque studies appeared to result from peripheral naive and memory T-cell proliferation. The ACTG has recently initiated a phase I trial in HIV infection.
Anti-IL-4 and IL-13Another IBT strategy involves blocking potentially harmful cytokines. A small Biotech company called Regeneron is developing a product called IL-4/IL-13 Trap based on the idea that these cytokines inhibit virus-specific CD8 T-cell responses. Results from a phase I dose-ranging trial in HIV-negative volunteers were presented at the 2004 Retrovirus conference, showing that the construct was well tolerated with a long half-life of 13 days (Parsey 2004). Further studies in HIV-infected individuals are planned.
Human Growth HormoneOne of the more surprising proposed IBTs is human growth hormone (HGH, Serostim), which is better known as an approved treatment for AIDS wasting syndrome. Several years ago, studies in mice indicated that HGH increased the size of the thymus. As a result, researchers became interested in the potential for HGH to speed naive T-cell reconstitution in people with HIV. Mike McCune's research group at the Gladstone Institute measured thymus size and naive T-cell counts in five individuals who were receiving HGH as a treatment for wasting and found that thymic mass did indeed increase, and that this was associated with a rebound in naive T-cell numbers (Napolitano 2002). The ACTG is now enrolling a larger study involving over 100 participants that will prospectively evaluate the impact of HGH on thymus size and naive T-cell reconstitution.
TucaresolTucaresol is a relatively obscure IBT candidate that has languished in GlaxoSmithKline's HIV drug portfolio since the early 1990s. The drug appears to enhance interactions between antigen-presenting cells and T cells and has been shown to boost cell-mediated immune responses both in mice and in humans. Preliminary data from a phase I trial in 17 HIV-infected individuals were presented at the 2004 Retrovirus conference, demonstrating increases in naive CD4 T-cell counts and the number of T cells containing TRECs (a potential marker for T cells recently produced by the thymus) in the group of participants receiving HAART treatment (Gazzola 2004).
MDX-010, ZenapaxSome experimental IBTs aim to influence T-cell function by interacting with signaling molecules on the T-cell surface. One such molecule is CTLA-4, which is upregulated on T cells in HIV infection and associated with the induction of T-cell unresponsiveness or anergy (Leng 2002). In June 2003, the Biotech company Medarex launched a phase I trial of an anti-CTLA-4 antibody dubbed MDX- 010 in heavily treatment-experienced HIV-infected individuals who were failing HAART, with the aim of blocking the suppressive activity of CTLA-4 and thus improving HIV-specific immunity. Results from this study have not yet been presented.
A monoclonal antibody targeting another signaling molecule, CD25 (the IL-2 receptor) is also under evaluation as an HIV therapeutic. Roche manufactures this antibody under the trade name Zenapax (generic name daclizumab) and it was approved in 1997 for the prevention of kidney transplant rejection. A small phase I trial of Zenapax in HIV infection is being conducted by the NIH intramural research program.
Pegylated Alpha InterferonStraddling the boundary between antiretrovirals and IBTs is the approved hepatitis C treatment, pegylated alpha interferon. Alpha interferon appears to have direct antiviral effects and also enhances cell-mediated immune responses in humans. The unpegylated form of alpha interferon was studied for many years as a potential HIV therapy, but eventually abandoned due to underwhelming results. The newer pegylated form is now once again being studied as an adjunct to HAART and in the context of treatment interruptions.
HE2000Another proposed enhancer of cell-mediated immune responses is the DHEA derivative HE2000, but no data have been published on this IBT, and many distrust the drug's developer, Hollis Eden, which has hyped the results from a small phase II South African study without ever managing to get them into the scientific literature. The company's web site currently states that they "are pursuing public/private partnerships to conduct a phase II/III clinical trial in infectious disease."
Immunosuppressive AgentsThe association between heightened levels of immune activation and HIV disease progression has led some researchers to pursue studies of several drugs that are typically referred to as "immune suppressants." These drugs include cyclosporine, prednisone, hydroxyurea, and mycophenylate mofetil. All are approved for other indications, and none of the manufacturers are specifically developing these compounds as IBTs. Academic researchers nonetheless continue to evaluate their potential, typically as an adjunct to HAART or in the context of treatment interruptions. It seems unlikely that any of these agents will be approved for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, and there are no known novel drugs being evaluated (a lone cyclosporine derivative from Sandoz never made it to human trials).
CD4 ReinfusionThere is a grab bag of approaches involving infusing CD4 T cells that are isolated from HIV-infected individuals, expanded, in some cases genetically modified in the laboratory, and then reinfused as a potential IBT. NeoProbe's Activated Cellular Therapy (ACT) does not involve genetic modification, but expands CD4 T cells isolated from the lymph nodes using a technique designed to select the cells secreting HIV-suppressing factors such as beta-chemokines. Despite the publication of intriguing data from a pilot study of this approach (Triozzi 1999), the development of ACT is currently on hold pending identification of commercial partners that might support further research. At least three different biotech companies are attempting to genetically modify CD4 T cells in the lab in order to enhance their resistance to HIV infection, subsequently reinfusing them into a matched HIV-infected donor. A similar approach modifies both CD4 and CD8 T cells in an attempt to improve their ability to restrict HIV replication. Preliminary results from trials of these approaches have shown some limited promise (Deeks 2002; Amado 2002), but it remains very uncertain whether any of these gene therapy/IBT combinations will eventually enter efficacy trials.
Online ResourcesAlliance for Microbicide Development Microbicide Research Portal
Global Campaign for Microbicides Pipeline Fact Sheet
HIVInsite: Clinical Trials Databases and Lists
HIVInsite/HIV Vaccine Trials Network Pipeline Project
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative: IAVI Database of AIDS Vaccines in Human Trials
NIH/National Library of Medicine Clinical Trials Database
TAG Immune-Based Therapy Pipeline Chart
A note from TheBody.com: The field of medicine is constantly evolving. As a result, parts of this article may be outdated. Please keep this in mind, and be sure to visit other parts of our site for more recent information!
This article was provided by Treatment Action Group. It is a part of the publication TAGline.


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please can you tell me what an allegory text is and give me some examples of them.
Allegory: A narrative using symbolic names, usually a short, simple, commonly cliched lesson, it is a whole world of symbols.Originally Posted by majicangel-4
example of an allegory in a joke:
A crow was sitting in a tree, doing nothing all day. A small rabbit saw the crow, and asked him, "Can I also sit like you and do nothing all day long?" The crow answered: "Sure, why not." So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the crow, and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.
Management Lesson:
To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.
taken off of the internet.
Allegory is symbolism that carries a deeper meaning.


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Oops, missed the day. Should have posted this yesterday. My great grandparents, George Murray Turner of Amble and Sarah Ann Carr of Radcliffe, were married 8 July 1882. The ceremony took place in the Wesleyan Chapel at Alnwick in Northumberland by certificate. The certificate shows them both as age 21 which is in accordance with the information I have on their birth dates. Sarah was born in October 1860 and George in May 1861. Their fathers are recorded as William Robinson Turner, shoemaker, and Thomas Carr, miner. However, I now know George to be the illegitimate son of Barbara Murray who married William Robinson Turner in 1864. The witnesses to George and Sarah's marriage were Sarah Elizabeth Rogers and Leonard Watson. I currently have no idea whether these were friends or relatives.
130 years ago yesterday


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RoboCup: A Challenge Problem for AI
The Robot World-Cup Soccer (RoboCup) is an attempt to foster AI and intelligent robotics research by providing a standard problem where a wide range of technologies can be integrated and examined. The first RoboCup competition will be held at the Fifteenth International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Nagoya, Japan. A robot team must actually perform a soccer game, incorporating various technologies, including design principles of autonomous agents, multiagent collaboration, strategy acquisition, real-time reasoning, robotics, and sensor fusion. RoboCup is a task for a team of multiple fast-moving robots under a dynamic environment. Although RoboCup's final target is a world cup with real robots, RoboCup offers a software platform for research on the software aspects of RoboCup. This article describes technical challenges involved in RoboCup, rules, and the simulation environment.
Full Text:PDF
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1609/aimag.v18i1.1276
Copyright © 2018, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (www.aaai.org). All rights reserved.


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Show tenderness, pope urges at installation Mass
After yesterday's drenching, wind-swept rain, Brother Sun emerged gloriously today to shine on the Mass of Installation of Francis as Bishop of Rome.
The joyful throngs swept well beyond Piazza San Pietro to stretch along the Via della Conciliazione almost to the Tiber.
It was particularly appropriate, said the pope, that his installation take place on the feast of St. Joseph, patron of the universal church, since his own Petrine ministry embraced a care for the church universal.
As has become his custom, Pope Francis delivered his homily not from the papal throne but from the ambo, from which, moments before, the gospel had been chanted in resonant Greek.
At the beginning of the homily, Francis recalled, to prolonged applause, that today is the name day of his illustrious predecessor, Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger.
In a strong, rhetorically effective voice, Francis spoke of St. Joseph as the guardian of Jesus and Mary, and hence of the church--a guardianship marked by humility and fidelity. Joseph was able to interpret events and take the necessary action, because he was always attentive in his listening to God.
We all are called, said the pope, to imitate Joseph: to become guardians, care-givers. To care for one another, especially the most fragile and needy, the very young and the elderly. Indeed, we are called to the care of all creation.
To do so effectively, we need, said this son of St. Ignatius, to watch over our hearts, lest envy or greed take root there. We should not fear to show tenderness toward each other, for tenderness does not denote weakness, but strength.
The Petrine ministry which Francis assumes is, indeed, one of power. But it is the power, he insisted, of service, of responding to the Lord's command to Peter: "Feed my lambs, feed my sheep."
Let us together, said Pope Francis, by our witness and action, allow the star of hope to shine for people everywhere. So, as he began his homily with reference to Benedict XVI, so Francis concluded with what, to these ears, seemed a clear evocation of his predecessor's great encyclical Spe Salvi: We are saved in hope.
Photo of a crowd gathered in Piazza San Pietro, which served as the site of Pope Francis' installation Mass.
Flickr photo cc by BostonCatholic


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Hello Anthony - some time now, you've been preparing yourself to own a Northern Marine yacht.
The process started the first time you felt the weight of a perfectly
crafted wristwatch.
Or sank into the rich leather of a fine automobile.
In that moment, an appreciation for elite craftsmanship was born.
Remember that moment. Now imagine it on a much, much grander scale.


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JAW BATS Model JB18 (S318) Adult Wood Baseball Bat
Product Code: JAWJB18
Availability: Custom Made To Order
Availability: Custom Made To Order
Price: $129.99
The JB18 is modeled off the s318. This model offers a large fat barrel that tapers down to a thin handle a very traditional non flared knob. This bat offers a slight end loaded feel.
|This bat is custom made to order and requires anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks to manufacture and deliver in most cases.
|Similar to an S318
|Handle slightly tapers to the standard knob
|Handle measures 1.33" where it meets the knob
|Handle measures .90" at the top of your bottom hand (approx. 5" up from the knob)
|Barrel measures 2.44" at the sweet spot and 2.48" near the very end of the barrel
Write a reviewYour Name:
Your Review: Note: HTML is not translated!
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Actor Zac Efron has turned to his family for support as he continues to recover from alleged addiction issues, insisting they have been his "rock".
The High School Musical star hit headlines last month (Sep13) amid reports he had checked into a rehabilitation center earlier this year (13) to seek help for substance abuse problems.
Efron has yet to directly address the claims, but recently reached out to fans online to thank them for their support and revealed he had trekked to the ancient site of Machu Picchu in Peru with his father for a little retreat.
Now the 25 year old has opened up about his close family bond, admitting he has been leaning on his sibling, Dylan, to keep his ego in check.
During a California press conference for his new film, That Awkward Moment, on Tuesday (15Oct13), he said, "My family's my rock. I know they're not going anywhere. More and more I've come to rely on my little brother to keep me grounded. He's 21 now... I know my family's always going to be there."


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The city's legal bills for the failed Landings development have exceeded original expectations and now eclipse $600,000, according to records obtained by The Ledger.
WINTER HAVEN | The city's legal bills for the failed Landings development have exceeded original expectations and now eclipse $600,000, according to records obtained by The Ledger.
As of the week of May 15, the city's total bill for legal fees related to a lawsuit over The Landings was $609,478, city records show.
A small fraction of that amount is being reimbursed by the city's insurance policy. A larger percentage of future bills will be covered, said Donna Sheehan, a city spokeswoman.
Just over a year ago, when the city was pondering whether to settle the lawsuit, estimates of potential legal fees were $300,000 to $350,000.
The Landings was a mixed-use development proposed for the city-owned Chain of Lakes Complex. After the first phase of the planned project, which included adding three restaurants on Cypress Gardens Boulevard, things fell apart.
The City Commission cancelled its contract with financier Taylor Pursell, citing his failure to close on one-third of an acre and submit a list of covenants, conditions and restrictions by a May 5, 2012, deadline.
In his lawsuit against the city, Pursell alleged the city's attorney, John Murphy, verbally agreed to extend that deadline when Pursell signed an agreement that allowed a college baseball tournament to be played at the Chain of Lakes Complex before Pursell began the next phase of the development.
Murphy has said he made no such verbal agreement.
Pursell is seeking damages from the city for lost profits and restitution, plus interest. He has said he would seek $20 million, although an amount is not mentioned in the complaint. Attempts to reach Pursell's attorney, John Wesley Frost II, for comment were unsuccessful Friday.
Before the lawsuit was filed, Pursell was in negotiations with the city on a possible settlement. He offered $2,475,000, and the city countered with a $600,000. Pursell rejected that offer.
At the time, the city was deciding on a counter offer in April 2013, Murphy estimated during a commission meeting that the city's legal fees, if a lawsuit were to be filed, would likely cost the city about $300,000 to $350,000.
"I don't know if I said that, but in April 2013, if there were any numbers provided in the commission, it would have been just estimates," Murphy said. "At that time, the lawsuit was not filed."
Mayor Nat Birdsong said at the same April meeting that he thought the city would spend about $600,000 total if the city lost a lawsuit brought on by Pursell.
Commissioner Brad Dantzler was elected last year close to the time the settlements were being negotiated.
"I made it very clear that I wanted to push for a settlement. There are three or four things that I ran on, and that was first and foremost," he said.
Dantzler said the last he had heard, legal fees were greater than $450,000. He added that he didn't remember Murphy estimating the fees to be lower than that and that he knows how much this sort of litigation costs.
"Honestly, that figure doesn't surprise me," he said. "We are spending a lot of money, and (Pursell) is spending a lot of money, and all that money could have gone to something else. I know what these long, drawn-out lawsuits cost."
About $485,000 of the fees have been paid to GrayRobinson, the firm representing the city in the lawsuit. More than $97,000 has been paid to Boswell & Dunlap, Murphy's firm. The rest of the fees cover mediation costs and deposition transcript costs, Sheehan said.
Mark Miller of GrayRobinson is the attorney representing the city. He charges $350 per hour.
Kristie Hatcher-Bolin and Kari Reed, both of Gray Robinson, also have been working on the suit. They charge $250 and $105 per hour respectively.
Miller said his firm is more than halfway through the discovery phase of the litigation. Although he said most cases get settled before going to trial, he would not rule out the possibility that this one would get all the way to trial.
"If these guys would just stop suing us, everyone can stop spending money," he said.
He added that he is confident after collecting a fair amount of evidence, that the city has a winnable case.
The city pays the legal fees whenever an invoice is received, usually monthly, Sheehan said. The most recent bill was paid this week. The city paid GrayRobinson about $37,000 and Boswell & Dunlap more than $10,000.
The city has insurance through the Florida League of Cities, which will help lighten the financial burden the lawsuit is putting on the city.
The city received confirmation that it will be reimbursed for almost $23,000 of the most recent GrayRobinson bill, and it will be reimbursed a percentage of GrayRobinson bills going forward, depending on who performs services, Sheehan said. The insurance will cover $155 per hour for work done by partners, $135 for associates and $75 for paralegal services.
In terms of the financial impact on the city, Finance Director Cal Bowen said the amount spent so far this fiscal year was not budgeted for this fiscal year. The city will be using surplus money to pay the fees, possibly pushing the city below the required 17 percent in reserves.
"If legal fees exceed (what we have in surplus) this year and then the budget comes in right on target, we could dip below it," Bowen said. "That would mean next year I have to put a surplus in the budget to get back to the 17 percent."
The city has not determined how much it will budget for legal fees related to the lawsuit in the upcoming year.
The city already faces a deficit between expected revenue and expected expenses for fiscal year 2015 of more than $800,000, not counting the legal fees the city is expecting to incur next year from this lawsuit.
The next hearing date in the lawsuit is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Oct. 8 in circuit court in Bartow.


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FreeMotion t7.5 VMTL83607 Treadmill Overview
Featuring a unique, rear-drive motor system, the FreeMotion Treadmill t7.5 offers users a spacious running surface with comfortable cushioning.
FreeMotion t7.5 VMTL83607 Treadmill Features
Integrated Speakers
Users can plug in their CD or MP3 player directly into the console via a standard audio cable to listen to their favorite music through the integrated speakers.
Integrated Fan
With low, medium and high settings, the fan offers added comfort even during the most intense training.
By combining the 4 urethane isolators suspending the deck and the rear-drive motor system, users experience additional cushioning as the deck is able to give with every foot strike.
Maintenance-free Belt
The 22" x 60" multi-ply belt requires no lubrication for years of smooth, consistent use.
QuickTouch™ Speed
Adjust speed from 0 to 12 MPH by simply touching a QuickTouch button or scrolling in 0.1 MPH increments.
Adjust incline from 0 to 15% by scrolling in 0.5 increments.
Rear-drive Motor
The continuous-duty, 3.0 HP DC motor is positioned in the back of the machine for a smooth running surface.
Double coated with phenolic resin on both sides of the deck to last twice as long.
Lift Motor
AC lift motor provides smooth incline and decline movement and stabilizes the deck.
Heart Rate
Pulse information can be displayed on the console via contact sensors or Polar® compatible wireless chest strap.
FreeMotion t7.5 VMTL83607 Treadmill Specifications
Motor: rear drive, 3.0 HP DC continuous duty, commercial grade
Speed Range: 0.5 - 12 MPH
Incline Range: 0 - 15%
Max User Weight: 350 lbs. (159 kg)
Power Requirements: 120 Volt 12 AMP
Treadbelt: 22" x 60", commercial grade, multi-ply
Rollers: 2.5" crowned and machined
Display Type: large, high resolution LCD with dedicated speed and incline windows
Display: speed, pace, distance, time, incline, calories, calories per hour, mets, pulse
Programs: manual, pulse, interval, quick start, all-terrain, fit test, custom, random, walk/run (5k, 10k)
Light Commercial Warranty: Lifetime Base Frame, 3 Years Drive Motor, 3 Years Parts Including Belt & Deck, and 3 Years Labor.
Home Warranty: Lifetime frame, 10 years parts and 2 years labor.


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Tool measurement
Tool measurement on the machine shortens non-productive times, increases machining accuracy and reduces scrapping and reworking of machined parts. With the tactile TT touch probes and the contact-free TL laser systems, HEIDENHAIN offers two completely different possibilities for tool measurement.
|TT touch probes
|Probing method
|Physical probing
|Probing directions
|3-dimensional: ±X, ±Y, +Z
|Probing forces
|Axial: 8 N, radial 1 N
|Tool materials
|Breakage-prone teeth are at risk
|Sensitivity to
unclean tools
|Very small
|Possible measuring cycles
|Length, radius, breakage, individual teeth
|Installation effort
|Simple connection to NC control
|Signal transmission
|Radio/infrared to SE 660; infrared to SE 642
|2 σ ≤ 1 µm
|Min. tool diameter
|3 mm 1)
Measuring the tool radius
By probing the rotating tool, the touch probe finds the maximum tool radius. Then the tool orients itself to the longest tooth. The exact radius is measured by repeatedly probing the longest tooth to "close in" on the highest value
Individual tooth measurement is possible only with your HEIDENHAIN control.
|TL laser system
|TL Nano
|TL Micro 150
|TL Micro 200
|TL Micro 300
|Probing method
|Non-contacting by laser beam
|Probing directions
|2-dimensional: ±X (or ±Y), +Z
|Probing forces
|No forces, operates without contact
|Tool materials
|Sensitivity to unclean tools
|High (tool must be cleaned with blown air before measurement)
|Possible measuring cycles
|Length, radius, breakage, individual teeth, tooth geometry (also for combined contours)
|Installation effort
|PLC adaptation in the NC control necessary (6 outputs, 3 inputs), compressed air connection
|Signal transmission
|2 σ ≤ 0.2 µm
|2 σ ≤ 1 µm
|Min. tool diameter
|0.03 mm
|0.1 mm
|Max. tool diameter
|37 mm 2)
|30 mm 2)
|80 mm 2)
|180 mm 2)
1) Probing force must not result in tool damage
2) With centered measurement


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Hawthorne willed its way to a semifinal win at the 19th Annual Hitchcock's Challenge and advanced to the finals tonight against East Ridge.
Hawthorne willed its way to a semifinal win at the 19th Annual Hitchcock's Challenge and advanced to the finals tonight against East Ridge. The Hornets (14-0) defeated host Santa Fe (5-7), 65-50 on Saturday night in front of a standing-room-only crowd in Raider Gym, while Buchholz (6-7) fell to East Ridge in the other semifinal matchup earlier in the evening, 48-29.
The Hornets' semifinal victory was fueled by 21 points from sophomore center Ed Porter, while wingman Nick Chisholm netted 15 points. The teams were deadlocked at the half, 31-31. Santa Fe junior Denarius Harris kept the Raiders in slim control most of the first half with 10 second-quarter points. He would go on to lead Santa Fe in scoring with 18, while fellow junior guard Marcus Archer chipped in 10 points.
Hawthorne's full-court defensive pressure paid off in the third, as the Hornets converted steals into transition points. Leading 45-38 after three quarters of play. The Raiders would chip the lead away to four points early in the fourth, before Hawthorne would pull away behind nine points from Chisholm.
In other semifinal action, Buchholz found itself in control in the first half in a defensive battle, leading 17-13 at halftime over East Ridge. However, the Bobcats would go on to score just 12 second-half points, while East Ridge dominated with Austin Mills' 10 third-quarter points to cruise to the 19-point win. Mills led all scorers with 16 points while teammate Markeith Allen added 10 points. The Bobcats were led by Dedric Ross with 12 points.
Buchholz will face Santa Fe in the third-place game at 6 p.m., while the Hornets will try to remain undefeated on the season and knock off East Ridge at 8 p.m. in the championship game.


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NPR: Korva Coleman
In her work as an NPR newscaster, Korva Coleman is responsible for writing, producing, and delivering national newscasts for NPR's newsmagazines All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and Weekend Edition. She is also a substitute host for Talk of the Nation, Weekend All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition Sunday with Liane Hansen.
Before joining NPR in March 1990, Coleman was a staff reporter and copy editor for the Washington Afro-American newspaper. She also produced and hosted First Edition, an overnight news program at NPR's member station WAMU-FM/Washington, DC.
Originally from Arizona, Coleman worked in commercial radio as news and public affairs directors at stations in Phoenix and Tucson. Her awards include Arizona Associated Press Awards for best radio newscast, editorial, and short feature. She was also nominated for Outstanding Young Woman of America in 1983.
Coleman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Howard University in 1989 and studied law at Georgetown University Law Center from 1989 to 1990.


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Contact details
Maxim House, serving quality Chinese Cuisine, is located on O'Connell Street, Waterford City. Relax in the friendly atmosphere while enjoying the specialities Maxim house has to offer – Cantonese, Szechuan, Malaysian and Thai Food
Read more
Want to know more? Ask a question in our Community, they're the people who know Ireland best.
For more information on travel and accommodation, attractions have a look at our brochures and maps.
If you're a visitor from the island of Ireland you may want to visit one of these sites… Otherwise proceed to Ireland.com
Ireland.com uses cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies from Ireland.com.


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My Account
844-843-7778 (Se Habla Español)
Baby boys need shoes too! Many parents buy shoes before the baby is even born. Many moms love shoes, and little tiny baby shoes are hard to resist. Baby boy shoes also make an exciting shower gift for a mom-to-be. Whoever said baby boy shoes are boring needs to take a look at Babysupermall.com's selection. We have an adorable selection of baby boy sneakers, sandals, baby boy boat shoes, loafers, and baby boy boots.
Like adults, baby boys' shoes change with the seasons. We have baby boy sandals for those hot summer days and Zutano cozie fleece booties for cold winter days. We have comfy casual baby shoes to complete an outfit, and baby boy boots for the cooler weather.
For both fashion and function, see our collection of Robeez baby boy shoes. Robeez baby boy shoes are constructed of 100% leather with a non-slip bottom and an all over soft flexible design. They are the perfect all around first baby boy shoe. Robeez boys crib shoes come in a variety of colors and designs. Pick up a few to coordinate with all your baby boys clothing.
Baby shoes are meant to protect baby's feet when learning to crawl, when walking outside, and from the weather. Baby shoes can also help to keep your baby boy's socks on her feet! From the time your baby is a newborn until your baby is walking, it is important to keep her in soft, flexible shoes that are made out of breathable materials like cotton or leather. This will help your baby's feet develop normally. The non-skid soft soles will help aid in learning to walk.
Your baby will go through many different stages during the first years of her life and so will her feet. Baby boys' feet are constantly growing and developing. When purchasing baby, infant, or toddler shoes, they should always be comfortable, flexible and properly fitting. No shoes should require "breaking in". As a general rule, foot growth should be measured every month for babies less than one year, every 2 months for one to two-year olds, and every 3 months for two to three-year olds. Do allow some room for growth when buying boy shoes.
Your baby's first stage will be the crib stage. Crib stage baby shoes are for newborn babies. Crib shoes need to be secure, comfortable and not too tight. They should be made from breathable materials such as cotton or leather. Crib shoes are available in sizes 00 to 2 and recommended for ages preemie to 6 months. Most often, newborn baby boy shoes are used to complement an outfit.
Your baby boy's next phase will be the crawling stage. Crawling stage baby boy shoes provide protection for babies beginning to crawl and move around. Babies learning to crawl tend to scrape the tops of their feet and their toes. Crawling shoes are constructed of soft flexible materials for little ones who are starting to become active. Crawling shoes are available in sizes 0 to 3 and recommended for ages birth to 9 months. Crawling baby shoes can also complement your baby boy's wardrobe.
Soon after learning to crawl, your baby will progress into the prewalking or training stage shoes. These shoes bridge the crawling and walking stages. Prewalkers are soft lightweight shoes with a non-skid sole guide for little feet as the child learns to walk. They are available in sizes 2 to 5 and recommended for ages 3 months to 18 months. See our Robeez shoes selection for soft sole leather baby shoes.
In the final stage, your little one is on the move and ready for walking shoes. Walking stage shoes are best when children are walking on their own and outside. They are comfortable and lightweight to allow for natural movement, yet provide support for balance. An important feature includes non-skid, flexible outer soles. Walking shoes are available in sizes 2 to 10 and recommended for ages 3 months to 4 years. Our Rileyroos shoes are perfect shoes for your little walker.
We at Babysupermall.com pride ourselves on our selection of baby boy shoes. Visit our clothing finder for a large selection of baby boy shoes and other clothing.


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Tuning your ride for park boxes is similar to setting it up for other freestyle riding like rails and walls. The big difference is the increased amount of surface area you're sliding on, so you want to make sure your edges are dialed and that you have super glide-ability.
Follow the freestyle basics for your board's edges:
-Detune the tip and tail area (round off completely)
-Get rid of burrs and other rough spots with a gummy stone
-Bevel (angle) your edges with a file and file guide to at least two degrees on the base (angled away from the snow), and then throw on the same degree of side-edge bevel so you're left with a 90-degree edge.
This tune will be forgiving enough to prevent you form catching an edge, while still allowing you to make turns on hard snow and in icy conditions.Waxing your ride will ensure a smooth ride throughout the trick--on, butter, lipslide, and off. Rub-on waxes are easy and great for quick fixes in between hot waxes, but without the heat of an iron, a wax job won't last nearly as long.Hot waxing is a better solution. It's totally affordable, and it'll give you the best results.
Buying a wax iron (don't use your mom's clothes iron!) and enough wax for a few seasons will cost about the same as having your board professionally tuned just three or four times!
Dialing in your edges and a riding a slippery, well-waxed stick will enhance your style and keep the fun at a maximum.


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In package sketch of 3-pin power mini mold, is it the top or bottom view?
Latest Updated:04/01/2007
I cannot tell if the package drawing of a 3-pin power mini mold (SC-62) is the top view or the bottom view.
The bottom view is shown so that it is easy to recognize the pin shapes of the collector and source at the center.
Suitable Products


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Jockey Quotes
RAFAELA BEJARANO, UNUSUAL HEATWAVE, Winner: "It was a good trip. I followed the favorite (Stoney Fleece) the whole way and stayed out of trouble. He was much the best today. At the beginning, it didn't look like he wanted to go, but at the half mile pole he really picked it up. I was waiting for the favorite to move by the three eighths and I decided to wait a little more until I came to the stretch. As soon as we straightened away I let him run and he took off."
JOEL ROSARIO, STONEY FLEECE, Second: "A couple of seconds today. I guess that's just the way it goes sometimes. I was in a good spot and I thought he had a good chance to win, but the other horse came from behind and got me. It was a great race and both horses ran well."
Trainer Quotes
ALEXIS BARBA, UNUSUAL HEATWAVE, Winner: "I was always confident about the distance with this family. I know the family well and believe me, they're not sprinters. He's just done things a little backwards. He's a May foal and he's just coming around now. I was a little worried, because I thought we were a little too far back. But I know we had the rider of the day and the turn of foot is there and he seems to use it when he's not pressured."
JOHN SADLER, STONEY FLEECE, Second: "The post (10) really cost him. He was four and five wide the whole way. But he ran well. He's a hard-trying horse. He's not a champ, but he's a good horse. He'll come back on turf or synthetic, just not dirt." Notes: Alphie's Bet, a half-brother to Unusual Heatwave, won the 2010 Snow Chief for Barba and owners Ellen and Peter O. Johnson, Sr. and Teresa McWilliams.
Copyright © 2009-2012, Hollywood Park. All rights reserved. Site design by Love Has No logic Design Group


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Is your drinking making you fat? Find out how many calories are in your drink and get tips on avoiding weight gain.
Did you know a standard glass of wine can contain as many calories as a piece of chocolate, and a pint of lager has about the same calorie count as a packet of crisps?
The average wine drinker in England takes in around 2,000kcal from alcohol every month.
Drinking five pints of lager a week adds up to 44,200kcal over a year, equivalent to eating 221 doughnuts.
You can find out the calories in many more drinks using the Drinkaware unit and calorie calculator.
Wine, beer, cider, spirits and all our favourite drinks are made from natural starch and sugar. Fermentation, and distillation for certain drinks, is used to produce the alcohol content.
This helps explain why alcohol contains lots of calories – seven calories a gram in fact, almost as many as a gram of fat. And, of course, additional calories can be present in added mixer drinks.
Regularly drinking more than the NHS recommends can have a noticeable impact on your waistline as well as cause less obvious but more serious health problems.
Tips to avoid weight gain:
For more help on reducing your alcohol intake, read Tips on cutting down.


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by Janet Schultz
According to an audit, Lewiston-Porter has correctly presented its financial statements and is handling its finances in the appropriate manner.
While the financial aspect for school districts in the coming years is not positive, the way Lewiston-Porter has handled its finances, in the opinion of the auditors, is in good shape.
"You will have to look at how you handle your fund balance during the next two years," cautioned Richard Ertel, representing Amato, Fox and Company LLC.
"You have been eating away at the fund balance and, in 2014, there will be an impact," he said.
For the past several years, the school district has used its fund balance to smooth out the tax rate and keep the burden off taxpayers.
With $4 million in the fund balance, the district set aside $1.8 million to lessen the tax rate on local residents in 2012 and used only $1.6 million. It set aside $1.8 million again this year, and if its uses all or most of it, that would substantially impact the fund balance in 2014 and leave no fund balance in 2015.
The major issues facing the district are significant increases in retirement and health care benefits and a decrease in monies from the federal and state governments, plus no income.
"There aren't many places for school districts to go to obtain revenue," explained Superintendent Christopher Roser.
Lew-Port has reduced staff over the past two years, made settlements with union contracts and has cut spending in as many areas relating to program as it can, he said.
"We really are sitting OK," Roser said. "But big decisions need to be made about whether we need to go above the tax threshold.
"We are at a point where we are two years away from using our reserves and need to make some recommendations to maintain programming. We are in a precarious situation regarding the tax threshold."
Roser is going to recommend that the district go above the tax threshold in the upcoming budget.
"Your audit results are good all the way around and look good moving forward," Ertel said. "You will just have to keep an eye on the budget."
The board held a special regular board meeting following the audit meeting.
It was at that meeting the board formally accepted the audit report from Amato, Fox and Company.
It also appointed James McKeever as impartial hearing officer and approved Tyler Seelbinder as the musical production and drama production technician.
The next board meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Resource Center.


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Bipartisan bill would do away with "dysfunctional" PBA; under state rules, management of The Peace Bridge would be transferred to the NFTA
Today, New York State Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-I-Buffalo, and New York State Assemblyman Sean Ryan, D-WF-Buffalo, announced they will be introducing bipartisan legislation to dissolve the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority - the PBA. Under current state law, if the authority is dissolved, management of the Peace Bridge will transfer over to the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority.
The elected leaders said it has become clear the PBA is no longer a functioning body. Grisanti and Ryan are putting forth a new plan that will transfer management of the Peace Bridge to the NFTA, an entity that is specifically structured to operate transportation assets. The NFTA would create a new entity to operate the Peace Bridge, in a similar manner to the structure of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates surface transportation as well as a tunnel authority.
In addition, under state law, the PBA was never meant to exist in perpetuity. The law states the PBA would cease to exist in 2020, or when its bonds are paid off, whichever is longer. Grisanti and Ryan said that the public should not wait until all bonds are paid off to dissolve the "dysfunctional" PBA.
"Public Authorities are too often arrogant, unaccountable and lack transparency. The PBA is all of the above and it is time that we shut down this dysfunctional authority. The people of Western New York deserve better," Grisanti said.
"It has become clear that the PBA is no longer a functioning body, and should be dissolved," Ryan said. "It is time for a productive solution that will allow the NFTA to manage the Peace Bridge, something that fits within their core mission of administering public transportation."
State Sen. George Maziarz, R-I-C-Newfane, also supports the dissolution of the PBA.
"I am extremely concerned over the current situation at the PBA," Maziarz said. "New York state, under the leadership of Gov. Cuomo, has shown its dedication to improving the U.S. plaza of the Peace Bridge. The lack of cooperation and respect from the Canadian members is very disappointing, especially considering the continued support by the U.S. of the Canadian projects over the years. Action needs to be taken in order to allow for U.S. progress to continue. The inability of the general manager to provide a functioning board nor one that adequately and fairly represents all members of interest is of great concern. Therefore, I join my colleagues in calling for the dissolution of the PBA. The Peace Bridge greets tens of thousands of visitors each year, and the state is and will continue to do everything it can to ensure all are greeted with the best possible facilities and service."


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The latest addition to Bowens Island Restaurant is a 4-by-8 square foot grill, constructed from hand-mixed concrete and oyster shells. Chet Hanson, a former mason who works at the restaurant, kept a skeptical eye on Cook It Raw chef Eric Werner's progress over the three days it took him to build the intentionally rustic cooker.
"I aggravated the hell out of him," Hanson admits.
But even Hanson approved of the final product, which yesterday was fitted with a rack that successively supported wedges of warty pumpkins, swordfish and a massive amberjack that cropped up on countless Instagram feeds. The highly praised food only lasted for the duration of BBQ Perspectives, the first-ever public event associated with Cook It Raw, an annual gathering of avant-garde chefs. The grill, though, will remain a permanent monument to what 25 chefs from around the world accomplished during their weeklong stay in Charleston.
At their headquarters at Middleton Place, the Cook It Raw chefs learned from food historian David Shields about 19th-century Lowcountry residents' tendency to salt their fruit, a practice which resurfaced in the pickled oyster dish Mexican chef Jair Tellez presented at a summation dinner at McCrady's. They puzzled out boiled peanuts; took a virtual tour of Sea Island red pea fields with Southern Foodways Alliance director John T. Edge and savored shellfish stews. Off the property, they picked rice, stalked gators, foraged sorrel and fell hard for the region.
"We'll be like mini-ambassadors for Charleston, all of us," Finnish chef Sasu Laukkonen said. "It's ultimately all about the fact we've all been so welcomed."
Bowens Island owner Robert Barber hasn't yet decided how he'll use the restaurant's new contraption: "We might grill some seafood on it," he mused. Yet for the 550 food fans who paid $100 apiece to sample Cook It Raw and local chefs' riffs on meat and heat, it will most likely serve as a reminder of a sunny afternoon event that was even more successful than its biggest boosters anticipated: None of the feared parking hassles or food shortages materialized.
"I woke up really nervous this morning," said hometown host Sean Brock, pausing during a tour of the tasting tents. "It's a lot. And every six seconds, someone walks up to me and says 'thank you'."
For BBQ Perspectives, the Cook It Raw teams devised dishes including a smoked ossabaw hog stuffed with Carolina red rice; suckling pig tacos and a pig head lowcountry boil. They were joined by a Canadian contingent serving barbecue beef tongue; clay-baked salmon with whiskey and sticky Carolina rice wraps with bison, peanuts and maple syrup.
Local restaurants contributed smoked oyster and benne duck stew (Carter's Kitchen); smoked wild cobia and malted balsamic cannellini beans (Coda del Pesce) and a spicy tomato stew with smoked silver side mullet and clams (Slightly North of Broad). Cypress made quail pastrami, and Two Boroughs Larder used their pasture-raised rose veal pastrami for reubens garnished with smoked Brussels sprout kraut.
Mike Lata ran out of hay-smoked oysters with wild fennel butter after an hour or so, which loyal Charlestonians interpreted as evidence that The Ordinary's chef served the event's most popular dish. Attendees also finished off Rodney Scott's esteemed whole hog barbecue by 1:45 p.m. BBQ Perspectives marked just the second time Scott's crew used a custom-made mobile rig which earlier this year debuted in New York City. "It cooks real good," Scott's uncle Sam Wilson confirmed.
Professional chefs and food lovers traveled significant distances to experience Cook It Raw: Alice Fischer and Ken Appel drove from Fort Lauderdale ("a culinary wasteland," Fischer confided) to witness what Brock had brought to town. Fischer, a native Brooklynite who measured in at 4-feet-9-inches at her last bone density exam, counts Brock among her favorite chefs — although she reports she had her lifetime best meal at Le Bernadin.
"Don't say it!," Appel yelped. "They'll never let us move here."
Fischer and Appel first learned of Brock from a No Reservations episode devoted to a Cook It Raw held in Japan. "We fell in love with him," Fischer says.
Now the couple's made chef-chasing their hobby.
"This is our art," Fischer said. "We used to collect art. We switched to food."
Cook It Raw chef James Lowe, based in London, was pleasantly surprised by the cheeriness of the crowd. He relished small talk about burning his British skin and teased patient attendees about portion sizes.
"Everyone's super friendly," Lowe said. "I think it's really lovely."
And after a week spent thinking about grain origins and agricultural practices, BBQ Perspectives gave the chefs an opportunity to learn about Charleston's contemporary character — and its residents' easygoing manner. "I love that!," Lowe exclaimed good-naturedly as a young mother pushed a pair of babies past his booth. "A pram with a beer can! Welcome to the South!"
"This is a perfect example of what it's like to live here," Brock said, motioning toward the band stationed on the restaurants' deck and lined-up eaters sipping on bourbon cocktails. "Barbecue brings everyone together. This is the way we love to live in the South: Low and slow."
Brock said after folks thank him for facilitating Cook It Raw's inaugural North American stop, they usually follow up with the same question.
"Everyone's like 'we're doing this every year, right?'," Brock said. "Why wouldn't we? Why wouldn't we do this every year?"


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2012-'13 Warriors Scouting Reports
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 11:11 am
Hello all; I figured with less than a month until tip-off, I would go ahead and post some of my scouting reports for some of our overseas members - as well as any new Warriors fans or anybody lacking the league-pass to have closely followed guys like Andrew Bogut or Carl Landry. Let's start with the starting lineups and I'll add more if the thread picks up any steam. I'm hoping to generate some convo on the type of styles certain players have and how they'll fit together. Enjoy!
32 wrote:2012-2013 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS SCOUTING REPORTS
STRENGTHS (+): Defensively speaking, trails only Dwight Howard as the baddest beast on the Serengeti. Timing on blocked shots borders precognition; extremely efficient shot-blocker with consistent length and weight advantages. Changes shots, commits hard fouls, clears the boards, bodies up even the biggest of ogres. One of, if not the best, centers in terms of taking charges and drawing fouls. Bonafide size; 7-feet tall, 265 pounds, supreme strength in the paint, gets off of two feet incredibly quickly and explosively, rockets out from under the cup for backboard swaying slams. Bogut is slick near the rim; comfortable scoring underhanded, tips balls with military precision, uses head fakes and ball swings to draw fouls. Among the best 7-footers at passing the ball; can drop no looks in the lane and has thrown behind the back baseline passes more than once. Overall, a prototypical center: mean, tough, ideal size, and undeniable skillset.
WEAKNESSES (-): Disappointingly poor shooter for someone who displays such touch at close range; can't hit free throws and is seemingly best suited to put it up within 8 feet. His need to contest every shot puts him on dunk posters and in foul trouble with disturbing regularity. Not a go-to-scorer and despite his intelligence and skill, can flat out disappear on the scoreboard certain nights. Prone to missing games due to a checkered injury history that – while it has yet to be proven chronic – has followed him around never the less. Despite being a top 3 defensive center, is somewhere between 12-20 in terms of offense. Shows flashes of enforcement, but has yet to truly embrace the role of dominance.
Offensive game… 3.5/5
Defensive game….. 5/5
Intangibles………..… 4.5/5
Skill……………………... 4/5
Effort………………..…. 4/5
STRENGTHS (+): Extremely clever power forward. Can work from the elbow, the block, the wing, off the ball, or even occasionally as an initiator. Deceptively ambidextrous; Lee is surgically precise with his right hand and, along with the usual hooks, lay-ins, and dunks, has also shown short range touch with his off-hand. Jumper is streaky, but when it's on it will extend out to 18 feet and become automatic in spurts. When this happens, Lee faces up out of the elbow and uses the triple-threat as effective as any PF in the league; his pump fake draws fouls and opens the lane for Lee to use his guard-like handles en route to the cup. A point guard until mid-high-school, Lee see's the play develop on the fly, skips passes on the perimeter, is not above making the extra dish, and has displayed a knack for the drive-and-kick to open up corner three-point shooters (bear in mind, this is a 6'10" power forward we're talking about). Lee pushes the break and when his guards are unavailable, is perfectly capable of initiating the offense himself. David Lee is an all-star level rebounder, double-tough, who fights through injuries, takes heavy contact inside, wrestles for possessions, and always goes after a loose ball with full effort. Despite a reputation as a stat-hound, Lee has displayed a willingness to tip rebounds to teammates instead of hogging numbers, as his detractors would claim. Among the league's most fearsome on the offensive glass. Lee is a first rate vocal leader who makes no excuses to the media and carries himself as a class act on and off the court.
WEAKNESSES (-): Lee does not possess professional-level lateral movement and his inability to move side-to-side quickly allows quicker forwards to blow by his matador-style of defense for easy hoops. Lee is also a near 7-footer without the slightest interest in blocking shots or defending the rim. Opponents use this knowledge to take their time on jump shots, knowing Lee will only offer a lackluster attempt to contest (in any). While Lee is a top-rate rebounder in his own right, he has shown that he is often incapable of keeping other glass hounds off the boards (ie, Lee will leave the game with 12 rebounds, but if he's playing Kevin Love or Blake Griffin, they typically will too). Because Lee is most comfortable facing up and putting the ball on the floor, his offense will stall and become transparent when his jumper doesn't fall and opponents will play him exclusively for the drive. He's not a huge threat from the block and if he's forced to work entirely out of a back-to-the-basket position, he will flounder more than flourish. David Lee is also athletically overrated; despite winning a dunk contest in high school, he does not win many jump-balls and plays the game primarily below the rim (even in the paint).
Offensive game… 4.5/5
Defensive game….. 1.5/5
Intangibles………….. 4/5
Skill……………………… 5/5
Effort…………………… 5/5
STRENGTHS (+): Surprisingly versatile for a knock-down spot-up shooter. In terms of outside range, Rush is automatic from the corner, knocks it down in transition, and has one of Golden State's most effective pump fakes when he feels like driving the ball. From inside 10 feet, Rush is adept at hitting shots off the glass, off-balanced, or with contact. He is an underrated rebounder that clears the boards on defense rather than leaking out for fast breaks. Rush is also a prototypical wing defender, who could be spare to be a little more pestering, but otherwise has ideal length, size, strength, and quickness in terms of defending the perimeter. He is explosive and loves the baseline drive out of the corner. Rush often has an athletic advantage on his opposition in one way or another and has made no beefs about being a team's 6th man. He is an ultimate teammate, willing to do whatever the team needs him to do in order to succeed. Along with his league-leading 3-point shooting, Rush is a surprisingly versatile and athletic guard who can play both sides of the court and is one of the league's best kept secrets.
WEAKNESSES (-): Overly embraces his status as a role player; some might claim that Rush plays within himself, but others have a legitimate argument that Rush doesn't assert himself nearly enough. Can be flat-out passive on some nights and falls in love with his stand-still jumper way too often. Does not utilize his pump fake or driving skills nearly enough and shows zero interest in distributing on the drive. As hinted above, his defense is solid, but you get the feeling that Rush could be a lock-down defender if he really put the work in. Likewise, Rush has the physical attributes to draw more fouls, but doesn't. He's also completely dependent on a playmaker; Rush never puts him man in isolation and is among the worst Warrior guards at moving without the ball.
Offensive game… 4/5
Defensive game….. 4/5
Intangibles………….. 3/5
Skill……………………… 4/5
Effort…………………… 3/5
STRENGTHS (+): The second coming of Reggie Miller; Thompson is a 6'7" sharp-shooter whose range extends out to half-court, his touch is virtually unaffected by defense, and he is already one of the league's most effective players at running off screens. Strange as it sounds, Thompson often appears more comfortable behind the three-point line than in front of it. He has a silky smooth, quick-release, high-arcing jumper that has become his best friend out of college. A heady player, Thompson makes the right play almost every time (which is saying something for a guy that only has a rookie season under his belt). His handles and court vision also gave Mark Jackson incentive to test out Thompson at the point last year. He is an underrated, albeit unspectacular, defensive player who may not get all the glitzy stats but is constantly throwing a hand in his man's face. An all-around scorer, Thompson's clockwork jumper opens up other parts of his game, allowing him easy driving lanes and extra defenders (where he almost always hits the open man). Given the right amount of responsibility, Thompson could feasibly evolve into the Warriors' best player down the line.
WEAKNESSES (-): Outside of shooting over smaller guards, Thompson does not use his height in any sort of meaningful way. He isn't an impressive rebounder for a 2-guard, he doesn't block many shots on smaller opponents, and while he uses them all over the place, Thompson has no interest in setting solid screens for his teammates. Thompson is also a bit athletically overmatched and will get beat by quick and/or strong guards alike. He has yet to go into a true cold spell, so it will be interesting to see how Thompson handles the adversity when his jumper isn't falling. He shows no game with his back-to-the-basket and hasn't the slightest clue in how to crash the boards when his big men are getting beat. Overall, Thompson has many fixable mistakes and if he hopes to remain effective, he'll need to address them (as teams zoned into him during the final 2 weeks of the season and his percentages dropped across the board).
Offensive game… 4.5/5
Defensive game….. 2/5
Intangibles………….. 4/5
Skill……………………… 4/5
Effort…………………… 4/5
STRENGTHS (+): Among the most fundamentally sound players to hit the pro game in the past 10 years, Steph Curry's masterfully crafted skillset is often reserved for the true greats of the game. He can catch-and-shoot with his momentum taking him entirely away from the basket. He shoots free throws in the mid-90 percentile. He uses the rim against shot-blockers and despite being constantly overmatched in the paint, uses a tear-drop floater with cat-burglar release and unreachable arc to score almost on command. Curry has clairvoyant court vision and completes half-court lobs, one-handed zip passes, and no-look drop offs as easily as his marksman-like chest passes. He always makes the defender commit on the fast-break, uses head-fakes and hesitation in the Olajuwon category, and can scoop shots off the glass like a post player. He reads opponents eyes and is usually good for 2 steals every night. Despite all the intangibles, Curry's bread-and-butter is his jumper: a fundamental masterpiece including instantaneous release, stratospheric arc, and excellent follow-through; a weapon that has already made him of the most feared all-around shooter in the game.
WEAKNESSES (-): Curry displays an unattractive laziness at times. He can toss frustrated lukewarm passes in the backcourt after an opponent scores (leading to an additional bucket). He lets his opposition beat him to loose balls. Perhaps most annoying of all, Curry has an insistence upon throwing a one-handed bounce pass at the top of the arc which has been cut off more than it's been completed. Not particularly fast or explosive, Curry doesn't have the first stop to blow by defenders with a simple crossover and must rely (heavily) on his craft and skill. When that becomes too much of a bother, he falls in love with the step-back jumper – which isn't always a bad thing, but doesn't work for long periods of time against lankier or quicker guards. Curry has little to no strength in terms of fortifying his position and gets pushed off course on both screens and on the glass. He has also, to date, failed to become to the team's primary offensive option, even when Monta Ellis would be resting on the bench. Curry's willingness, or lack there of, to put the team on his back remains his biggest question mark.
Offensive game… 4.5/5
Defensive game….. 2.5/5
Intangibles………….. 5/5
Skill……………………… 5/5
Effort…………………… 3/5


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Increased meowing may mean that your cat is suffering from hyperthyroidism, a common condition among older felines. Schedule a checkup with your veterinarian to have this checked out.
Name: Moomer
Age: 5
Breed: American Shorthair
Owner: Jeff
Hometown: Rockville, MD
Likes: Climbing
Dislikes: My girlfriend
Jeff says:
Moomer is a fun cat who likes to climb on everything. She is very playful and energetic, but also only appears to like me. Everyone else, including my girlfriend, gets hissing and other rough treatment. Hopefully she'll make peace- it'll make my life easier!
Click a star to rate this photo
Cats reach full skeletal development when they are this old:
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NEW ORLEANS — The Essence Music Festival is dropping the music — from its name, that is.
The festival held in New Orleans every July Fourth weekend for the past 18 years has re-branded itself The Essence Festival to showcase the event as "more than a music festival," said Michelle Ebanks, president of Essence Communications Inc.
The festival was started in 1995 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Essence magazine. Besides concerts, the festival includes guest speakers and seminars on health, beauty, jobs, education, relationships and other topics covered in the magazine.
"Music is important, but Essence is so much more than music," Ebanks said.
Still, music will remain a fun and exciting part of the festival, she said.
The 19th annual Essence Festival will be held July 4-7, and the lineup includes more than 30 acts — a number of them Essence veterans. On the roster: Jill Scott, Maxwell, New Edition, Charlie Wilson, Keyshia Cole, LL Cool J and Brandy.
Other talent will be announced next month, Ebanks said.
As in years past, the concert portion of the festival will be held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome while empowerment seminars are held free of charge at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The seminars will include panels led by the Rev. Al Sharpton, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., and educator Steve Perry.
The Superlounge stages inside the corridors of the Superdome this year will feature crowd pleasers such as Mint Condition, Blackstreet, Big Daddy Kane, Leela James, Bridget Kelly, Jody Watley, Mia Borders, Les Nubians and Anthony David.
In addition, there will be an all-star gospel tribute to Pastor Donnie McClurkin and Tramaine Hawkins.
Last year, the festival added a fourth day and drew a total of 413,000 attendees with a lineup that included Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan and D'Angelo. That was down slightly from the 422,000 who gathered for the festival in 2011, when it ran for three days.
The fourth day was geared for youth with a lineup that included Diggy Simmons, the OMG Girlz and Roshon Fegan.
This year the fourth day, which is opening day and falls on July 4, will focus on family and include barbecue, music and special events geared for all ages, Ebanks said.
Essence concert tickets are on sale, with weekend packages starting at $130.
Sponsors include presenting sponsor Coca-Cola and major sponsor Wal-Mart.
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