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Your Premier RV Park near Houston and The Woodlands
This RV park near The Woodlands TX, is quiet city living! Woodland Lakes RV Park is just two miles from restaurants, shopping, I-45, St. Luke's Woodlands and Memorial Hermann Hospitals. Yet campers wake to the sound of chirping birds, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, fishing ponds and just an extraordinarily quiet park. Woodland Lakes RV Park is privileged to have guests from all over the country for various reasons such as Exxon pipeline workers, construction workers, traveling nurses, and those taking advantage of Houston's many medical facilities, including the Texas Medical Center – the worlds largest. Concert goers stay the weekend to enjoy entertainment at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, and many RVers stop by on their way to a final destination. The RV Park has 89 FHU sites, 50 amp and 30 amp service, comfortable amenities such as free TV cable at each site, public bathrooms and showers, a clubhouse with free Wi-Fi, onsite propane and a laundry facility. This RV Park has reasonable rates for daily, weekly and monthly stays. Woodland Lakes RV Park is your premier RV Park near Houston and The Woodlands.


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With all the auto manufacturers working to reach new fuel economy standards set by the U.S. for future vehicles, we are seeing new technologies, materials and techniques.
One of the newer technologies is direct fuel injection. Direct fuel injection has actually been around for decades, but it was only recently that materials development and computer speeds have reached the point where it would not only work, but work within the strict emissions regulations that are in place.
So what is direct injection? Right now there are two types of injection systems common on gasoline-powered vehicles — port injection and direct injection.
Both systems use computer-controlled electric injectors to spray fuel into the engine, but the difference is where they spray the fuel. Port injection sprays the fuel into the intake ports where it mixes with the incoming air.
The injectors are often mounted in the intake manifold runners and the fuel sits in the runners till the intake valve opens and the mixture is pulled into the engine cylinder.
Direct injection has the injectors mounted in the cylinder head and the injectors spray fuel directly into the engine cylinder, where it then mixes with the air. Only air passes through the intake manifold runners and past the intake valves with direct injection.
There are advantages and disadvantages of both systems. The biggest advantage of direct injection is its better fuel economy. Improvements of 15 per cent are not uncommon just by changing from port to direct injection.
With tight fuel economy standards, this is the main reason we are seeing so many vehicles on the market now equipped with direct injection. Another advantage is performance.
Direct injection can meter the amount of fuel exactly into each cylinder for optimum performance and it is sprayed in under very high pressure — up to 15,000 PSI on some vehicles — so the fuel atomizes well and ignites almost instantly.
With current computer controls, the injectors can be pulsed several times for each combustion stroke so the fuel can be injected over a longer time frame to maximize the power out of the cylinder.
Disadvantages of direct injection include cost. Because the injector tips are mounted right into the combustion chamber, the materials in the injector have to be very good quality and that costs money.
Also, the high pressure needed to inject fuel directly into the cylinders means that more expensive high-pressure fuel pumps are required. These are typically mechanically driven from the engine, so add to the complexity.
One final disadvantage is that direct injection has in the past made it more difficult to control emissions. Even though the fuel is injected under high pressure, there is little time for it to mix with the air. Current injector designs include precise nozzles with multiple holes in them to direct the fuel accurately.
Piston and cylinder head design that promotes swirling of the intake air also helps the air and fuel mix better and turbocharging is even better, as it causes the air to swirl rapidly as it is forced into the cylinders. With these innovations, meeting emission standards are no problem.
Port injection systems are much cheaper to manufacture. The injectors are not exposed to the high heat and pressure of the combustion chamber and they don't have to handle the high fuel pressures.
Port injection systems typically operate in the 30 to 60 PSI range, which is dramatically lower than direct injection systems. Support systems such as fuel pumps are also cheaper, because fuel pressures are lower.
Port injection systems spray the fuel behind the intake valve and the fuel has to wait till the valve opens. This does allow some fuel to drop out of the air but the faster the engine is running, the less disadvantage this is.
If your engine is running at 2,000 rpm down the highway, the intake valve for a cylinder is opening at 1,000 times a minute, or nearly 16 times a second. Fuel doesn't have to sit very long before it is pulled into the combustion chamber.
I can see the day when port injection systems are completely replaced by direct injection. Port injection, although much better than the old carburetor and central injection systems just can't match the power and economy produced by direct injection.
As fuel costs increase, the difference in manufacturing cost between port and direct injection systems becomes less important. Right now, both systems are available on new vehicles, depending on the model you select.
Weighing the advantages and disadvantages of both systems may make a difference on the selection of your next vehicle.
Jim Kerr is a master automobile mechanic and teaches automotive technology. He is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Florida Scrub
Visit a vanishing natural treasure.
Florida Scrub is one of the most interesting and one of the most endangered natural plant communities in the United States. Florida Scrub is a unique plant community that occurs in small patches scattered across the state. It is home to dozens of plant and animal species that occur nowhere else in the world.
What you'll see...
Follow this Track to learn about this fascinating ecosystem. You will be introduced to scrub ecology and the native plants and animals that have adapted to life in the scrub. And, we will give you directions should you decide to visit the scrub on your next trip to Florida!
So what is a scrub?
Scrub is a plant community characterized by the dominance of shrubs, in contrast to forests which are dominated by trees, and savannas and prairies which are dominated by grasses.
The Florida scrub environment is harsh. Without a canopy of trees, summer temperatures are hotter than in other plant communities. Rain water rushes through the deep, sterile sands as fast as it falls. Fires sweep through the bushes burning the scrub to the ground at unpredictable intervals. The loose sands are shifted about by wind, abrading and sometimes burying small plants. Only the toughest plants and animals can survive!
The scrub depends on fire...
In much of the world, and especially in the southeastern United States, lightning-set fires are a natural part of the environment, and the period between these fires determines what kind of plant community will grow on a particular site. This "fire-return interval" is itself determined by the lay of the land with respect to lakes, rivers and wetlands which act as natural firebreaks. Without firebreaks, everything would burn every time lightning started a ground fire, which in Florida averages more than 8000 times each year!
And on how often it burns...
Under natural conditions, savannas and prairies burn every 1-5 years, and forests only once in a century or even less often. Scrub is maintained by fires that burn the plants to the ground at intermediate intervals of 30-75 years or so. The scrub-adapted plants then resprout from their roots or germinate from seeds that were already "banked" in the sand.
Where is the scrub?
Florida scrub develops on dunes and ridges behind wave-washed sandy beaches. It also develops in fire shadows, where the frequency of ground fires is reduced, down-wind from natural fire breaks such as streams and wetlands. Florida scrub occurs in patches along the northern Gulf Coast and along the lower Atlantic Coast, and throughout the peninsula as 'islands" within the pine savannas that covered Florida before modern man's arrival. Scrub is Florida's oldest plant community, and the scrubs on the Lake Wales Ridge are the oldest of all.
The Lake Wales Ridge scrubs occupy remnants of ancient beaches and sand dunes that marked Florida's shoreline millions of years ago when sea levels were 100' higher. As the sea level receded, the beaches were left behind. The long isolation of the Lake Wales Ridge scrubs has permitted the evolution of unique plants and animals and is the last remaining habitat for many that were once more widespread. The white sands of the scrubs along the Lake Wales Ridge in the center of the peninsula are clearly visible in this satellite photograph of Florida. (The conspicuous rectangle west of the southern end of the Ridge was cleared in the late nineties of all vegetation in preparation for a huge orange grove!)
Adapting to life in the scrub...
The plants of the Florida scrub are especially adapted to life in a harsh environment. In order to adapt successfully to life in the scrub, plants must:
- avoid being eaten
- survive occasional fires
- deal with heat and little water
How not to be had for dinner...
Many scrub plants are adorned with thorns and spines. Many scrub plants are highly aromatic, containing volatile oils. These chemicals protect the plants from being eaten. They give the plant a strong taste and smell (like camphor, peppermint, or oregano). In some cases these oils simply make the plant taste bad. In others they are toxic and could kill the diner. At least one Florida scrub plant has been shown to have important insecticidal properties. Others may have medicinal uses. Most have not even been investigated.
Surviving Fire...
Most scrub plants resprout from underground stems, rhizomes or roots after a fire. Others are killed by fire but replace themselves with seeds already stored in the soil. The sand pine (the only kind of tree normally found in scrub) retains its seeds in sealed cones on its branches until it burns to death.
Dealing with heat and lack of water...
Most scrub plants do not have long taproots - the water table is too far below the sandy surface; instead, their roots are massed near the surface to take advantage of condensation and Florida's brief afternoon thunderstorms. Because there is no tree canopy in scrub, temperatures drop rapidly when the sun goes down and that causes moisture to condense on the leaves. The moisture then falls in drops right above the roots.
Many scrub plants have waxy-covered or curled leaves to resist evaporative water loss. Some have hairs (called pubescence) on the underside of the leaves to resist evaporation by maintaining high humidity at the surface. These hairs also increase the surface area for dew to form on. The needle-like leaves of many scrub plants may reduce evaporation (which occurs from the leaf underside) during the daytime, and provide increased surface area for dew to form on at night. This scrub holly has curled, spiny leaves that are oriented vertically, the better to direct water drops to its own roots.
Florida scrub is dominated by woody shrubs and herbaceous perennials. Annuals and trees are rare. There are few grasses in scrub, and no turf-forming grasses at all, only bunch grasses. The diversity of plant species in Florida scrub is lower than for other Florida plant communities. Only a couple hundred species of plants have adapted to the scrub environment. Perhaps because it is such a harsh environment, there are almost no introduced species in scrub. In Florida, where exotic introduced species are a constant problem, from water hyacinths and hydrilla to Brazilian pepper and melaleuca and a hundred species in between, it is truly amazing that scrub is (so far) immune to the invasion of foreign weeds. Knock on sand pine.
Many scrub plants are beautifully suited for xeriscaping, the practice of landscaping with plants that can tolerate droughts and don't need to be watered. Most scrub plants require light, well-drained sandy soils and cannot tolerate clayey or moist soils. Fungus and various root rots attack scrub plants that have been planted in heavy soils or watered too much. Most scrub plants do best in full sun but a few can tolerate some shade.
Many scrub shrubs respond well to heavy pruning. Several of the typical scrub shrubs would make fine hedges. Some of the herbaceous perennials in scrub are among Florida's most beautiful. Florida's unique scrub plants are just beginning to be noticed by the horticultural community. Several, but not all, are currently available from native nurseries, primarily in central Florida (sources are provided at the end of the presentation).
Take a side track to our Gallery of Typical Scrub Plants for profiles and pictures of some of the Scrub's most common plant species.
Animals of the Florida Scrub
Florida scrub originally existed as "islands" within a landscape of pine flatwoods, high pine communities and wetlands. In general, the larger animals move freely into and out of scrub. Most birds, as well as black bears, bobcats, raccoons and other mammals visit scrub but can't be considered strictly scrub animals. There are only a few vertebrates that are totally restricted to scrub. Florida's famous scrub jay is probably the most well known scrub endemic (organism that occurs nowhere else). There are several species of lizards and snakes that are practically restricted to Florida scrub. Some of these, such as the sand-swimming sand skink, and the peninsula mole skink pictured here, are highly adapted to life in the scrub. By one count there are at least 40 species of spiders and insects that are known to be restricted to Florida scrub. There are probably many more yet to be discovered.
Take a side track through Floridata's Gallery of Scrub Animals and meet some of the critters that have adapted to survive in Florida's harshest habitat.
The scrub's disappearing plants...
Plants and animals whose natural occurrence is restricted to one area are said to be endemic to that area, and such species are called endemics. There are no fewer than 40 species of plants that are endemic to Florida scrub. Of these, about 20 are endemic to scrubs on the Lake Wales Ridge only. Most of these are considered Endangered or Threatened by the US Department of Interior and the State of Florida because their distributions are so small that they are vulnerable to extinction. Some are known from only 2 or 3 localities and may go extinct within a few years. One species, a thorny shrub in the jujube genus Ziziphus, was thought to be extinct but was recently rediscovered near Avon Park after 40 years. The beautiful flower pictured here belongs to the Endangered long-spurred balm (Dicerandra cornutissima) which is endemic to a handful of scrubs in the vicinity of I-75 and the Marion-Sumter County line in north central Florida.
In a vanishing world...
The ancient scrub of the Lake Wales Ridge has been reduced from over 80,000 acres a hundred years ago to less than 25,000 acres today. Citrus groves and subdivisions have replaced rosemary balds and scrub jays.
The trend continues but recent efforts to preserve remnants of Florida scrub have resulted in a few scrub sanctuaries. The Nature Conservancy has established a half dozen scrub preserves on the Lake Wales Ridge. Florida's Conservation and Recreational Lands (Preservation 2000) program is currently buying Florida scrub for protection. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has recently begun purchasing remnants of ancient Lake Wales Ridge scrub around Sebring and Avon Park for a new national wildlife refuge, the nation's first ever dedicated primarily to plant conservation.
Once acquired, the scrub preserves have to be managed. Since many are surrounded by roads, subdivisions or agricultural lands, managers cannot depend on natural lightning-set fires to reach the scrub. Without periodic fires, the scrub oaks grow into trees, and the unique scrub plants and animals are shaded out as in this photo. Prescribed fires, set by trained land managers, are necessary, but often resisted by neighbors.
Visiting the Florida Scrub in real life...
If you are interested in seeing the Florida Scrub for yourself, this page will guide you to some of the best examples of these unique communities. Contact information and web site addresses for the organizations mentioned below can be found on the next page.
Scrub remnants occur on undeveloped dunes along the northern Gulf coast from Carrabelle to Pensacola and on some of the few remaining undeveloped dunes on the Atlantic Coast from Titusville to West Palm Beach. The "Big Scrub" of the Ocala National Forest in Marion and Lake Counties is managed for commercial pulp wood production, but many scrub plants still persist within the clearcuts.
Several of Florida's state parks contain examples of typical Florida scrub. These include Gold Head Branch, Lake Kissimmee, Jonathan Dickinson, Cedar Keys, Rock Springs and Wekiva Springs State Parks. Lake Arbuckle State Park and Lake Arbuckle State Forest contain examples of ancient Lake Wales Ridge scrub.
You can see Lake Wales Ridge scrub at The Nature Conservancy's Catfish Creek, Tiger Creek and Saddle Blanket Lakes Scrub Preserves in Polk County and at their Lake Apthorpe Scrub Preserve in Highlands County.
One of the best ways to see the Lake Wales Ridge ancient scrub is to take some of the side roads off US-27 between Lake Wales and Lake Placid. If you stay within 10 miles of US-27, you'll see the white-sand patches of scrub in undeveloped lots and road shoulders. Within these remnant patches of ancient scrub, you can expect to see many of the endangered scrub plants!
Some of the best Lake Wales Ridge scrubs are preserved on the Archbold Biological Station in Lake Placid, Florida.
On your next visit to Disney World and central Florida why not visit the Scrub? The peace and beauty of the Lake Wales Ridge scrub is only an hour's drive away and will provide a soothing change of pace from the excitement of central Florida's other attractions.
Want to learn more?
The US Fish and Wildlife Service's Endangered Species office in Jacksonville has information about the Florida scrub, and about the new Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge: (904) 232-2580.
Visit the Florida State Park web site for more information about seeing "The Real Florida" in person: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/index.html.
The Nature Conservancy's Lake Wales office can direct you to more information about their projects in Florida scrub.
Archbold Biological Station has a staff of scrub experts and a library of scrub information.
Dr. Steve Christman, the author of this Track, is available to conduct guided tours of the Florida scrub.


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History at Work
the Department's guide to your post-college career
Isabel Mann: honors student interns with the Athens Land Trust
AB History, AB Religion, MA History student Isabel Mann works hard at her courses, and harder in the community...
Our Amazing Student Kathryn Veale
We already knew our Master's history student Kathryn Veale is amazing. Read the entire article about Kathryn on the UGA web site.
History service projects
History students volunteered for service projects this year cleaning and restoring the grounds at local historic African American cemeteries.
was founded at UGA by historians Claudio Saunt and Stephen Berry in the belief that new technologies make possible a new kind of humanities research
Selected Departmental Publications


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The following is a list of the various companies that have provided financial support to IFFGD:
- Actavis
- Allergan
- American Medical Systems
- Ana-Tech
- Astra Pharmaceuticals
- AstraZeneca
- Axcan
- Boehringer Ingelheim
- Boston Scientific
- Chugai Pharma USA
- Entera Health
- Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson Company
- Ferring International Pharmascience Center US, Inc
- Forest Laboratories
- Furiex Pharmaceuticals
- G&W Labs
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Glaxo Wellcome, Inc.
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Inc. (formerly Microbia)
- Janssen Pharmaceutica
- McNeil Consumer Healthcare
- Medtronic Gastroenterology
- Merck & Co., Inc.
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
- NPS Pharmaceuticals
- Oceana Therapeutics, Inc.
- Pfizer Limited
- Procter & Gamble
- Prometheus Laboratories
- QOL Medical
Salix Pharmaceuticals
- Sandhill Scientific
- Schering Corporation
- Schwarz
- Shire
- SmithKline Beecham
- Solvay Pharmaceuticals
- Sucampo Pharmaceuticals
- Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA
- Torax Medical, Inc.
We are grateful to companies whose support has made possible many of the activities that IFFGD initiates. The activities originate from IFFGD and are implemented by IFFGD.
We do not endorse any product or particular treatment. Rather, we focus on overall treatment or management issues or strategies, including quality of life issues.
The impartiality of the foundation is a strength essential to accomplishing our mission and attracting widespread support.
We work within the framework of guidelines established to help ensure our independence. Please see IFFGD Standards for Collaboration.


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What Are STIs and What Are the Goals of STIs?
January 2004
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!
STIs (structured treatment interruptions) involve going off anti-HIV therapy for periods of time in a structured and strategic fashion, typically guided by increased lab and health monitoring. In all, more than two dozen studies of STIs of varying types have been conducted since 1998. It is important to note that interpreting the results of STI research can be challenging. Some of the assumptions about HIV disease that led researchers to investigate treatment interruptions in the first place have yet to be proven conclusively. At least some of the research on STIs, however, has been promising and other research has made clear those areas where interrupting therapy is neither safe nor effective.
The discussion that follows will explore what is known about the following STI-related strategies where the goals were:
Interrupting Anti-HIV Therapy to Reinvigorate the Immune ResponseThe primary rationale for studies of STIs to reinvigorate immune responses came from observations suggesting that HIV disease progression might be linked to the loss of a specific type of immune cell, called an HIV-specific cytotoxic lymphocyte (CTL). HIV-specific CTLs are cells that seek out and destroy other HIV-infected cells. Some findings indicate that long-term non-progressors -- those who remain well for many years despite HIV infection, without the use of anti-HIV therapy -- manage to maintain potent HIV-specific CTLs while people who progress more rapidly do not. Not all research supports that the loss of HIV-specific CTLs is responsible for HIV disease progression. Nevertheless, a number of studies including treatment during acute infection followed by STIs, or STIs combined with therapeutic vaccines to enhance immune responses against HIV, were planned or initiated.
The goal of this research is to enhance HIV-specific immune responses and thus improve the body's own ability to control HIV infection for the longer-term, preferably without anti-HIV therapy. In this context, anti-HIV therapy (with or without the use of an experimental therapeutic vaccine against HIV) was used to curb the destruction of cells by HIV. By starting and stopping therapy periodically, it was hoped that with each successive treatment interruption the immune system would demonstrate increasing ability to control HIV on its own. This approach is sometimes called autoimmunization, where it's hoped that modulating a person's exposure to virus can induce a more potent and effective response against the virus.
Ultimately the goal of this approach is to enhance and preserve HIV-specific immune responses in people with very, very early HIV infection, such that a person's immune system would better control HIV on its own for longer, perhaps indefinitely, without anti-HIV therapy. Or, for people with established HIV infection, the goal is to enhance or restore HIV-specific immune responses, such that those who have lost these responses might regain them and thus hopefully do better in the long-term.
The results of this research, however, were exactly the opposite of what was expected. People who had been infected longest were actually the most likely to carry a broader and more potent HIV specific CTL response. Those who had initiated anti-HIV therapy during primary infection had a fairly narrow and weak CTL response that could be boosted somewhat during a treatment interruption, but then tapered again back to lower levels after reinitiating treatment. Similar results have been found in several other studies of STIs in people with chronic, established HIV infection.
More recently, several studies began to combine STIs with immune modulating therapies such as IL-2 (Interleukin-2) or therapeutic vaccines. The hope is that these therapies, used in conjunction with an STI may provide the additional lift necessary to orchestrate a stronger immune response to HIV. Although several studies are still ongoing, the results reported so far have not been promising. As such, people who are hoping to "boost" their immune response to HIV should not look to STIs as a proven course.
There are, however, data that show it may be safe for people who started anti-HIV therapy early to go off of treatment safely. Many people who initially went on anti-HIV therapy early now wish to try going without it. The decision to simply stop anti-HIV therapy and then reinitiate therapy according to current Federal Guidelines is not an STI, per se. There have, however, been STI studies conducted in people who initiated treatment in the "hit it hard, hit it early" era of treatment. People in this population have been among the most likely to be able to discontinue anti-HIV therapy. On average, roughly one third to one half of people treated early in HIV disease who have participated in STI research have been able to go off of treatment and stay off for months at a time without virus levels climbing again. Some were able to achieve virologic control during the first treatment interruption; others required two or three treatment interruptions. The results of STIs in people who initiated treatment somewhat later (six months to several years after primary infection) have been less promising and consistent. Generally, however, people whose viral load was low and whose CD4+ cell counts were high before starting anti-HIV therapy are also the most likely to achieve long-term suppression of virus following an interruption.
For individuals who were treated early in HIV disease and who wish to attempt going off HIV medications, there are indications that it may be possible to do so safely. As reported in studies, however, treatment interruptions carry the risk even in people treated during primary infection of leading to loss of control of the virus. There is no particular STI protocol in this population that can be recommended over another. People who wish to go off their medications, should only do so with the full knowledge and assistance of their doctors. It is important to monitor CD4+ cell counts and viral load following a treatment interruption and to resume anti-HIV therapy in accordance with the Federal Guidelines ("Starting Anti-HIV Therapy"). Most doctors would recommend reinitiating anti-HIV therapy if CD4+ cells drop below 200 or viral load climbs and remains over 55,000. It is also important to remember that some people experience symptoms of acute infection in the first weeks following a treatment interruption. These symptoms are flu-like in nature and can include a fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash.
Interrupting Anti-HIV Therapy in People Experiencing Treatment FatigueTreatment fatigue is when a person is simply "tired" of taking anti-HIV medicines. For people who wish to discontinue anti-HIV therapy due to treatment fatigue the data are somewhat conflicting. Perhaps the most hopeful data to emerge from the various STI studies is that some people can successfully take a break from treatment without developing drug resistance, treatment failure or symptoms of HIV disease progression. Moreover, several factors have emerged that help predict when a person may have a poorer outcome during their time off of treatment. These are:
There is a significant difference between studies looking at a single treatment interruption versus multiple treatment interruptions. There have been several studies that used CD4+ cell counts and viral load as a guide for when to restart therapy following a single treatment interruption. Nearly all of these studies were conducted in people who had achieved undetectable viral loads for at least the past twelve months and a CD4+ cell count above 350 for the past six months. In most studies, at least one third of volunteers were able to remain off of therapy for at least one year. The median time off therapy for the remainder of the study participants ranged from eight to twelve weeks.
It should be noted, however, that people who interrupted treatment had significant drops in their CD4+ cell counts (on average dropping 50%) compared to people who remained on treatment. Without appropriate preventive medicine against opportunistic infection, these CD4+ cell count decreases could be dangerous for people whose counts drop below 200 during an interruption. Also, the majority of the studies were unable to consistently measure significant or meaningful improvements in cholesterol and triglycerides in people taking an STI versus people on continuous therapy. Study dropout rates also tended to be higher among those taking STIs compared to those who received continuous therapy in most of these trials, indicating that treatment interruptions may actually be more difficult to manage than taking pills every day.
For people with treatment fatigue, who wish to take a break from anti-HIV therapy, there are certain guidelines that may be followed. Because of the risks for disease progression and opportunistic infections, careful monitoring by your doctor is critical. People should check their healthcare benefits (whether through private insurance or public assistance) to ensure that additional viral load and CD4+ cell counts will be covered if needed. In situations where additional tests are not covered, it can be argued that the cost of additional tests will be far less than the costs associated with remaining on most anti-HIV therapy regimens.
A viral load test and CD4+ cell count should be taken before interrupting therapy and at least three months following the interruption. You and your doctor should decide in advance what factors will indicate that you should resume anti-HIV therapy. At minimum, most people would recommend using the Federal Guidelines for anti-HIV treatment (i.e., CD4+ cell counts that drop below 200 and/or a viral load count that settles above 55,000) as a basis for reinitiating therapy.
Your doctor may also wish to check your CD4+ cell count sooner if your counts were near 200 before stopping therapy, you had less than 200 cells before starting your last regimen or you have previously had an opportunistic infection. Federal Guidelines for preventing and treating opportunistic infections should absolutely be followed. Whenever CD4+ cell counts drop below 200, preventive treatment for opportunistic infections is highly recommended.
Interrupting Anti-HIV Therapy in People to Reduce the Costs and Side Effects of TherapyAnother form of STIs studied were those designed primarily to reduce the amount of time a person spent on treatment. The first attempt, which directed volunteers to go on and off therapy every fourteen days, resulted in several people in the study developing drug-resistant virus and losing control of their viral load. Another small study of continuous cycles of seven days on and then seven days off therapy resulted in improvements in side effects and quality of life issues for people attempting STIs versus people on uninterrupted therapy. As well, virus levels were well controlled. A larger study in the US is ongoing. A similar study in Thailand had conflicting results, however, so it is impossible to state conclusively whether STIs of this type are likely to work.
Interrupting Anti-HIV Therapy Before Starting a Third-Line RegimenWhen a person is attempting to construct a new regimen that may contain specific medications that had previously failed, the combination is often referred to as a third-line or salvage regimen. Because salvage also means, "to save," others sometimes call salvage regimens, "rescue therapy". For the purposes of this article, the term third-line therapy will be used to describe a new regimen that typically contains four or more different anti-HIV drugs, some of which a person's virus may carry resistance for.
The theory behind treatment interruptions in settings where a person wishes to start a third-line regimen is the hope that time spent off therapy may enhance the virus' susceptibility to treatments to which it had previously become resistant. Studies conducted in the early days of anti-HIV treatment found that when a person goes off a therapy to which the virus has become resistant, the newly emerging virus will rapidly revert to what is called wild-type. Wild-type virus is one of the many strains of HIV that exist in the bodies of people living with HIV. It is the strain of virus that reproduces most easily and is sensitive to anti-HIV therapy. The earlier studies found that when the wild-type virus takes over as the dominant form existing in the body, a therapy that had stopped working could sometimes regain some of its earlier potency.
For this reason, several studies have now been conducted examining the impact of treatment interruptions in third-line settings. One study from Barcelona found that a three-month treatment interruption did not provide any additional advantages before starting a third-line regimen compared to starting immediately. The GIGHAART study from France, which used a shorter interruption, did show that people taking a treatment interruption had larger reductions in virus when they started their next regimen than those who started their next regimen immediately. More recently, researchers in San Francisco conducted a similar study comparing a group of patients who were given a four-month treatment interruption before starting a salvage regimen to another group who started the new regimen immediately. Unfortunately there were no benefits in viral response to treatment in the group who underwent the treatment interruption. In fact, people who had interrupted treatment for four months were more likely than the other group to develop an opportunistic infection or die. Although the authors of this study concluded that treatment interruptions should not be attempted in people with lower CD4+ counts and drug-resistant virus, it may be fairer to say that they should certainly not be attempted in this population without proper medication and follow-up to prevent the development of opportunistic infections. It may also be that four months is too long to wait before resuming anti-HIV therapy.
It is critical for people to be monitored closely by their doctors when attempting a treatment interruption in this setting. Guidelines for preventing opportunistic infections are a must. Additionally, expert guidance in interpreting the results of drug resistance tests should be sought in constructing a third-line regimen (see "Third-Line Anti-HIV Therapy Strategies)."
Treatment Interruptions: A Final WordWhile the results of the STI studies conducted so far have not been what anyone might have hoped, they are also not a reason to be discouraged. Based on what has been learned from the various studies, there may still emerge a new strategy that will successfully allow people to spend more time off treatment without problems. The prospect of time off treatment and the chance for a reduction in side effects have been tantalizing enough that a number of people living with HIV are still eager to enroll in STI trials or to attempt them on their own. There simply isn't sufficient data to say that any trial conducted so far or currently ongoing will offer a benefit to those attempting an STI. We do, however, know now that it is safe for at least some people to take a break from treatment for awhile. We also more clearly understand the conditions wherein breaks from treatment can result in problems. As stated in the lead article of PI Perspective #36, there are reasons to remain hopeful and to examine every piece of new information as the possible thread that will lead us one day to a cure.
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 Project Inform. It is a part of the publication Project Inform Perspective. Visit Project Inform's website to find out more about their activities, publications and services.


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The Challenges of Writing Books in a Series
By Joan Johnston You might think that writing books in a series is easier than writing a book that stands on its own, but each type of novel has its challenges. Thirty-eight of my fifty-six novels are connected in some way, part of several different series, including Bitter Creek, Hawk's Way, Captive Hearts, and Sisters… Read More
Joan Johnston
One of the most popular romance writers in America today,
former attorney and college professor Joan Johnston has over
10 million books in print world-wide — including the
New York Times bestsellers SISTERS
BLACKTHORNE and NO LONGER A
THE PRICE represented a milestone in Johnston's career as her first hardcover original.
Joan Johnston has an eclectic background. Now the bestselling, award-winning author of forty-five novels, she was formerly an attorney with Hunton & Williams in Richmond, Virginia and Squire, Sanders & Dempsey in Miami, Florida. Joan also worked as a newspaper editor and drama critic in San Antonio, Texas, as a director of theatre in Southwest Texas, and as a college professor, most recently at the University of Miami, Florida. Joan has a B.A. in theatre arts from Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida, an M.A. in theatre from the University of Illinois in Urbana and received her J.D. with honors from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law.
Joan loves to travel and visited England and Scotland to do research for her Captive Hearts series (Captive, After the Kiss, The Bodyguard and The Bridegroom). She also made journeys to Tahiti, Australia and Bali–for a South Seas, WWII novel that she hopes to write. Joan's books have appeared on the New York Times, USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly Bestseller Lists.
For her Bitter Creek series, Joan toured the legendary King Ranch in South Texas and took a course on tracking (humans and animals!) from a Deputy Marshal deep in the Big Bend country of West Texas. She also traveled to Australia to tour the big cattle stations there and see what life is like Down Under.
Joan is a member of the Authors Guild, Novelists, Inc., Romance Writers of America and Florida Romance Writers. She divides her time between homes in Colorado and South Florida.
Johnston recently became a grandmother for the second time. Her daughter, a teacher, lives in the Tampa area. Her son, a budding novelist, lives in Orlando.


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
Congressman joins senators in push to end sports blackouts
Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, introduced H.R.3452 the Furthering Access and Networks for Sports Act of 2013, the House of Representatives version of a bill backed by senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the Senate.
In remarks Thursday on the House Floor, Higgins said, in part, "In my home community of Western New York, there is a threat of a blackout for the next two home games. This means that, despite overwhelming community support, money spent on merchandise, and tax dollars being spent for stadium improvements, Buffalo fans will not be able to see their hometown NFL team on television. ... Blackout rules are unfair, outdated and alienate fans. I will continue to fight until sports teams do the right thing for their fans."
The FANS Act:
•Removes the antitrust exemption that allows the NFL to blackout home games if they don't sell out tickets;
•Doesn't allow cable companies to use the threat of blackouts as leverage in contract negotiations;
•Asks leagues to make home games available on the Internet when a game is not available on television through broadcasters or subscription channels; and
•Applies the antitrust laws to Major League Baseball.
The NFL has a policy of blacking out games that are not sold out to the home market. A 1961 federal law requires broadcasters (networks) to abide by the league's blackout policy. On Jan. 12, the FCC opened up a public comment period on a long-time FCC rule that requires cable or satellite providers to honor the blackout rule if it applies to the local affiliate it carries.
Last year, NFL owners passed a resolution allowing teams to decide to broadcast games locally when more than 85 percent of the seats are filled, but not all teams opted into this policy.
On Nov. 1, Federal Communications Commission acting chairwoman circulated a notice of proposed rulemaking recommending elimination of the nearly 40-year old sports blackout rules.
Following up on that announcement, this week Higgins and Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, sent a letter to the FCC, asking it to follow through with the Nov. 1 proposal and issue a final rule eliminating the FCC blackout rule.
Higgins has been outspoken against blackouts:
•In August of this year, he sent a letter to the FCC pushing it to make a ruling on the sports blackout rule.
•In January 2012, Higgins submitted a formal comment to the FCC and also urged Western New Yorkers to participate in the public comment period.
•In February 2012 Higgins also led several of his congressional colleagues in sending a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell asking for the league to end its policy of game blackouts in home team media markets.
Ralph Wilson Stadium, home to the Buffalo Bills, is one of the largest in the NFL, with seating for 73,000. Therefore, the Bills must sell 6,000 more tickets than the league average to avoid a blackout.


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Reviewed By Chris B (FOND DU LAC, WI) Reviewed for a 2012 Chevy Traverse —8/16/2018 8:26 PM
Looks good,fits good,appears to be high quality
There are no customer reviews for this product
If you're going to spend money on cargo space protection, you want it to be the best protection possible. But, if you're torn on whether to choose cargo liners or cargo mats, you may be interested to know what the differences are between these protective accessories.
Between carrying groceries, hauling sports equipment, and bringing your four-legged friends along for the ride, your cargo area puts up with a lot. But, if you want your trunk carpet to continue looking as good as the day you bought your vehicle, you need to install a cargo liner.
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Meatballs or Burgers? FN Stars Make a Meaty Decision at New York City Wine & Food Festival
By: Sarah De Heer
The fifth annual New York City Wine & Food Festival officially kicked off Thursday night with Meatball Madness, followed up by a second hearty course at Burger Bash on Friday. That's a lot of beef (and sometimes pork, turkey and veal, too). So we couldn't help but ask some of our favorite food personalities to weigh in on what's more satisfying: meatballs or burgers? Click play on the video above as FN Dish gets the answer straight from Bobby Flay, Alex Guarnaschelli, Geoffrey Zakarian, Anne Burrell, Jeff Mauro, Amanda Freitag, Aarón Sánchez, Marcus Samuelsson, Chris Santos and the Neelys.
Continue reading more of our New York City Wine & Food Festival coverage.


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Backwards, Forwards: A Scroll Workshop with Sophie Blackall
Date and Time:
June 6, 2009 - 2:00PM
Event Location:
NYPL Mulberry Street Branch 10 Jersey Street (bet. Lafayette and Mulberry Streets
Award-winning illustrator of over a dozen children's books, Sophie Blackall helps children apply their ideas to paper, working backwards and forwards, in drawings and in poetry. This workshop is inspired by Chinese and Japanese scroll paintings and "exquisite corpse," the Surrealist drawing and poetry game.
Event Sponsored By:
Poets House
Event Type:
Children's Events


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Proposed city budget reviewed, hearing date set
Quorum finally happens to conduct business
Twice was a charm Tuesday morning when a quorum gathered in city council chambers to approve a proposed budget for publication and a hearing date.
The council met at 9 a.m. and opened a public hearing about granting the new Shopko Hometown a liquor license but didn't have a quorum.
As a result, members kept the hearing opening and reconvened at 10:30 p.m. when council member Gary Fritch was available.
Members Tim Strauser and Jeff Kennedy were also there but Jeff Whiting was out of town.
Shopko Hometown, which will be in the former Pamida building, was granted a Class D license to sell beer, wine and spirits.
In other action, the council reviewed the 2012-13 budget and set Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. as the date for the budget and tax request hearing.
The city is proposing a $20,703,428 budget and is asking for 570,527 in property taxes.
Unused budget authority is proposed at $154,604.
Council members also raised boarding fees for the care of animals impounded at Eastside Animal Center.
Daily boarding for large dogs increased from $11 to $11.50 and from $10 to $10.50 for small dogs and cats.
Disposal of large dogs rose from $45 to $49.50 and from $35 to $39.50 for small dogs and cats.
In other business, the council:
approved a $2,980 payment to Miller & Associates Consulting Engineers of Kearney for observation and management of the south Lake Avenue street improvement project.
okayed payment of $41,000 to Miller & Associates for design of a Lake Helen rehabilitation project.
discussed a request by Five-Star Flooring to vacate a portion of city right of way at where their store will relocate at 915 Lake Avenue.
Store owners want to rebuild the front of the store with new windows, stone and stucco that's likely to encroach on city right of way.
Council members said they want to work with Five Star because store owners are making improvements.
The council will take action once members know how much area is needed.
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To ensure the safety of those displaced by the attacks on people from other countries, the City of Cape Town has decided to move them from the temporary shelters in Soetwater, Kommetjie to Blue Waters.
At the Canterbury street depot one of the volunteers who was wearing the T-shirt (that was distributed at the St.George's gathering) had crossed out the word 'foreigner' and written AFRICAN - that says it all - i think any future runs of the T-shirt should do the same: show the word foreigner striked out and have AFRICAN written below.
On another note: we put down our names as volunteer drivers but have not yet been contacted. Surely there is a huge need to move supplies around? I also wonder whether children need transporting to school or to the nearest train station - especially those in high school with mid year exams coming up. Are school principles being contacted regarding the children's safety?


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Jersey Shore Guide For Complete Listings Of Hotels, Motels, Bed & Breakfast Inns, Summer House Rentals, Beaches, Restaurants , Boardwalk Amusements, Attractions, Shops, Contractors, NJ Businesses And More!
Browsing New Jersey » Monmouth County » Red Bank » Food & Dining
160 Route 35 South
New Jersey 07701
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Since 2000, We have been one of the premier restaurant destinations in America. With his no-nonsense approach to New American cuisine, Chef Nicholas


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Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes: 9 Delicious Dishes
Believe it or not, your holiday leftovers can be recycled as something other than a Thanksgiving sandwich. If you've got the drive to cook but very little time, try jazzing up your leftovers with these simple, delicious recipes.Download All (9)
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Click on an activity in the set below to see more info.
Thanksgiving Stuffing MuffinsView Full Activity
Transform that big batch of stuffing into a new dish to add some zest to your dinner with this leftover stuffing recipe.
Make Mashed Potato SoupView Full Activity
With just a handful of ingredients and some leftover mashed potatoes from dinner the night before, your child can make this simple and healthy soup.
Cranberry Sauce BreadView Full Activity
Turn your leftover cranberry dressing into a sweet, rich bread with this holiday recipe.
Mashed Potato SnowmanView Full Activity
Try this kindergarten arts and crafts activity and sneak in a little extra nutrition this holiday season: make a mashed potato snowman sculpture!
Sweet Potato GnocchiView Full Activity
Your child can create gnocchi with a twist by using sweet potatoes, and then rolling them into a healthy main dish!
The set is continued below.
Bake Healthy Dinner CupcakesView Full Activity
Get your kindergartener involved in the kitchen by making healthy cupcakes loaded with veggies and protein in this fun cooking activity.
Breakfast ScrambleView Full Activity
Similar to fried rice, this quick fix scramble uses leftover quinoa and vegetables.
Mashed Potato CasseroleView Full Activity
On St. Patrick's Day, bond with your child over a delicious dish with potatoes as the focal point.
The Perfect Pumpkin SoupView Full Activity
Nothing says October like pumpkin soup, but it's also really good for you, with high amounts of fiber, iron, zinc and free radical busting antioxidants.
Want to download this whole set as a single PDF?Download All (9)
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Schedule your campus visit today!
After a special blessing from Sr. Norma, five buses took nearly 200 new Marian University students out into Greater Indianapolis for The New Student Day of Service on Saturday, August 16.
Students, led by orientation staff leaders, served at five off-campus locations and the Nina Mason Pullium EcoLab. Sites included Gleaner's Food Bank, Peaceful Grounds, Second Helpings, Society of St. Vincent dePaul, and Meikel City Park.
Jennifer Plumlee, director of academic engagement, said, "The New Student Day of Service at Marian University has become a tradition where first-year students come together as a class and realize the impact they can have not only on the Marian University community, but the Indianapolis community as well. The students are able to connect with faculty, staff, orientation leaders, and each other. It's a positive, common experience, where students make a difference."
Linda Profitt, executive director of Peaceful Grounds said, "Service is the highest form of peace making there is. You're giving of yourself and your time to help others."
The orientation staff was excited about the opportunity to lead students in this day of service. Emily Doll '17, said, "I was able to work with our students to help kick off their freshman year by giving back."
"At Marian University, our goal through service is to add another dimension to students' education by providing our students with these resources and opportunities to make an impact from day one," said Jeanne Grammens Hidalgo, campus minister of service and social justice.
For those interested in weekly service, S.T.A.R.R. (Students Taking Active Reflective Roles) meets every Friday from 3-5 p.m. in Oldenburg Hall, room 165. Contact Jeanne Grammens Hidalgo at email@example.com, or visit the website.
Mark Apple
Vice President of Marketing Communications
(317) 955-6775 firstname.lastname@example.com
© 2017 Marian University
Notice of Nondiscrimination
Marian University does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, age or disabilities in the selection of administrative personnel, faculty and staff, and students. *Placement rates are gathered from data collected from graduates within six months of graduation.


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By Lisa Maria Garza
DALLAS, Texas (Reuters) - Schools damaged by a West, Texas, fertilizer plant explosion will receive $2.75 million in federal funds for temporary classrooms and administrative buildings, the government said Friday.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said the money cannot be used for permanent rebuilding by the cash-strapped school district, which is still fighting for resources after the April blast obliterated much of its property.
But the grant allows the town's older students, who were sent to other districts after their schools were damaged, to resume classes back home while their schools are being rebuilt.
The April 17 explosion at the plant killed 14 people and wreaked havoc on surrounding areas. Local officials said costs are approaching $100 million for city and school repairs.
FEMA in June rejected a $40 million request for aid.
Students up to 5th grade finished out the academic year at West Elementary, the only school untouched by the devastation. Students in grades sixth through 12th were bused to nearby school districts.
The district's 1,500 students will resume classes in West on August 26, with students in grades six and above using temporary, portable buildings.
(Editing by Karen Brooks and Doina Chiacu)


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Amplivox Half-Mile Hailer PA with Wired Mic
by AmpliVox | Item #: 335204 | Model #: S610A |
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About this item
Half-Mile Hailer. Powerful 50 watt PA reverberant horn delivers 108dB sound pressure level over the 450Hz - 4kHz audio range. Reach crowds up to 3000. Covers the length of a football field! Lets you see and be seen. Great for athletic events, band practice, field days, public safety, law enforcement, outdoor marketing events crowd control, auctioneers, political campaigns, missionaries - any outdoor event. Includes powerful 50 watt multimedia stereo amplifier with Push Button Siren and dynamic mic with 5 foot coiled cord; shoulder strap. Power with 10 D-cell alkaline batteries (not included) for up to 200 hours; S1460 International AC Adapter/recharger; or S1465 Rechargeable Nicad Battery Pack (requires S1460).
- Covers the length of a football field.
- Reaches audiences up to 3,000.
- Weatherproof reverberant horn speaker
- Delivers 108db sound pressure level over the 450Hz – 4kHz audio range
- Push Button Siren
- 50W multimedia stereo amplifier with 3 mic inputs
- Includes dynamic mic with 5' coiled cord
- Shoulder strap
- Power with AC adapter S1460 or power up to 200 hours with 10 D-cell alkaline batteries;
- Optional Rechargeable S1465 Nicad Battery Pack (requires S1460)
Assembled Country
Assembled Size
11 x 12 x 9.25
Component Country


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By Lindsay Claiborn
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Al Gore won an Oscar with a documentary that used bar graphs and pie charts to illustrate climate change and the fate of the Earth.
Six years after Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth," a new film, "Chasing Ice," goes beyond the data and the diagrams to document the disappearance of the world's glaciers with time-lapse photography.
Nature photographer James Balog has been capturing the grandeur of glaciers and ice floes since 2007. He started the Extreme Ice Survey the same year, which is considered the most wide-ranging photographic study of glaciers.
What started as a video record of Balog and his team's Arctic excursions instead turned into "Chasing Ice," a chronicling of the effort to capture and consolidate time-lapse photos over months and years of vanishing polar landscapes.
The film is released in large U.S. cities on Friday with a national rollout later in November.
Balog came to the idea of illustrating the changing ice floes with time-lapse montages while shooting single images of glaciers for magazines like National Geographic.
"It was pretty evident to me that single frame could only take you a very little distance into telling the story of that ice. I started to get the idea that I would be coming back and repeating some of these camera positions in years to come," Balog told Reuters.
"And yet after I got done editing the film for the story ... I realized maybe time-lapse would be better than just revisiting these sites over and over again."
The composite images, which are made up of still photographs taken every hour or so over the course of months, show how much glaciers have shrunk. Balog and his crew were equally floored by the images they had captured.
"We were really stunned especially right in the beginning, but now, six years into this, we're still stunned when we see these pictures and see how the landscape has changed. It's bringing to life something that is otherwise invisible, otherwise really unimaginable," he said.
"Chasing Ice" won the audience award for best documentary at the 2012 SXSW festival, and the documentary cinematography award at the Sundance festival in January.
Although climate change was rarely mentioned in the recent U.S. presidential election campaign, the devastation wrought by Superstorm Sandy in the U.S. Northeast has placed the environment back in the headlines.
Balog and "Chasing Ice" director Jeff Orlowski both made it clear that their film was not intended as a political statement.
"That wasn't the goal. But based on the response to the film, based on how much people are resonating with it, we're really curious to see how far it can go to influence this issue," Orlowski said.
Balog argued that the climate change debate needs to rise above partisan lines.
"This is a universal issue that has profound implications for the health and wellbeing and safety of everyone on the planet. We can't avoid it, we have to deal with it."
(Reporting by Lindsay Claiborn, editing by Jill Serjeant and Matthew Lewis)


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Napa and Sonoma Wine Tours and Transportation
For over a quarter century, California Wine Tours has provided the finest in wine country transportation and wine tours of Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley and Sonoma County.
Our knowlegable guides and drivers, combined with our luxurious, highest quality vehicles have made us the leader in Northern California. As a full service transportation company, we can accommodate groups of any size. California Wine Tours operates New Lincoln Town Cars, Corporate Suburbans, Stretch Limousines, Custom Vans, Mini Buses, Full Size Motor Coaches, specialty vehicles, and environmentally friendly vehicles.
Sit back and relax while sipping complimentary sparkling wine in one of our latest luxury vehicles and allow our knowledgeable chauffeurs/tour guides to take you to the wineries of your choice or you may want to opt for one of our prearranged itineraries - the choice is yours! Visit our Napa Valley Tour page for more detailed information and itineraries on the ins and outs of the beautiful Napa Valley region. Also find information on Sonoma Valley Wine Tours, Historic Tours, learn about the Northern California Wine Country, take a Champagne Tour throughout the Carneros region or learn about the inner process of wine making on our Wine Education Tour.
California Wine Tours also provides Tours throughout both the Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley region. These tours depart daily from popular Napa or Sonoma Hotels. Staying in San Francisco? Visit Napa Valley via ferry from San Francisco on our San Francisco Wine Country Excursion. These tours are a very affordable way to visit the Wine Country with other wine enthusiasts.
Planning a corporate event? California Wine Tours works directly with most of the Sonoma and Napa Valley Hotels. California Wine Tours is a full service transportation company with over 28 years of experience in Airport Arrivals and Departures, Sightseeing Tours and Charters. Let our knowledgeable Sales and Event Coordinators help you plan your next event.


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Limping through Life by Jerry Apps is a memoir of the author's life with polio. The book reveals how the disease affected him physically and emotionally, profoundly influencing his education, military service, and family life. A hard working farm boy in the Wisconsin Fox River valley, young Jerry Apps contracted polio at the age of 12. In Limping through Life, he explores the ways his world changed after poliio and pays tribute to those family members, teachers, and friends who helped along the way.


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See Delphi and Die
- Marcus Didius Falco, Book 17
- Narrated by: Christian Rodska
- Series: Marcus Didius Falco, Book 17
- Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release date: 24-04-2007
- Language: English
- Publisher: Audible Studios
Regular price: $29.51
Publisher's Summary
Critic Reviews
"The author's vivid picture of life in A.D. 76 and the sparkling characterizations, particularly the amusing byplay between Falco and Helena, will satisfy most readers." (Publishers Weekly)
"If Sam Spade traveled back in time to A.D. 76, he'd be Marcus Didius Falco, the Roman sleuth at the center of Davis' mordant series." (Booklist)
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- Rose
- 22-06-2007
Touring Ancient Greece
One of the best parts about this book was the way Davis caught the standard annoyances of swanning around the country as part of a tour group. In this case Falco's family group is chasing after a tour on which a young woman had been killed. Touring was quite popular in the Roman Empire during Falco's time and even now it is possible to find Roman graffiti on ancient monuments thus proving that the urge to leave some personal mark cuts across the ages.
Anyway there are shady tour operators, annoying and importunate guides, bad lodging, worse food and lots and lots about Greece.
The narrator does a fine job of giving Falco a believable voice.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
- Bonnie
- 23-10-2011
This is the third one I've read in the series.....
Seems to me our main character "Falco" just develops more and more. This one was a real mystery, with lots of twists and turns. You may need a strong stomach for some of this story. ( I don't want to give away any of it, just a heads up) If you've read any of my other reviews, you know I read lots of historical novels. I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys mystery and history.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
- Louise
- 05-01-2008
History and Fun
If you loved "I, Claudius", you will love this. Although set 2000 years ago, it reminds me of my recent trip to the same area. Also, I love the British accents for Roman characters a la "Claudius." A fun read for history and mystery readers and for those planning a trip to Italy and Greece.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
- Laurie
- 30-10-2009
So much fun...
I agree completely with the review that characterized Ms. Davis' Falco novels as an Ancient Roman version of Moonlighting -- although Helena is not as tetchy as Maddie Hayes.
Mr. Rodska is pitch-perfect as narrator.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
- Michelle
- 29-11-2009
Better then Remebered
Always having been a voracious reader, I read all the Falco books, apart from the last, as soon as they came out, but found the later ones slightly hard going. Being no longer able to read, I've turned to audiobooks and am finding the narrations of Rodska adding so much more to the author's text making it far more than merely reading the prose out loud. For me, he brings alive what are ostensibly Falco's memoirs, written in the first person, making me laugh out loud in places. He also voices the other characters superbly; the "welsh" Athenian law tutor we meet is making me smile just thinking about it. This book is well worth listening to for the final chapter alone - when I read it for myself I remember feeling "is that it", but Rodska's comic timing and voice characterisation really brought it to a perfect close.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
- Ruth
- 11-06-2008
An entertaining listen
If you're already a fan of Didius Marcus Falco, I'm sure you'll like this, I reckon it's as good as any of the others. If you are new to the series there are a lot of people to get to know, but the characterisation is good and I didn't get confused.
Falco is a Roman 'Informer', which seems to be the equivalent to a modern day detective. He and his wife and assorted members of their family go travelling around Greece in search of the reasons behind a couple of nasty deaths, and find more death everywhere they go. Coincidence? We think not.
The story was engaging enough to keep my interest, and the idea of Ancient Roman tourism is quite thought provoking. I was expecting some progression in their search through the book, but the vital clues and the final revelation only come right at the end. Some ends are left a little bit loose.
I liked the narration, and was amused by the various regional British accents used for the speech of native Greeks, other tourists and supporting characters.
Not too long, and definitely worth a listen.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
- Catherine
- 12-04-2013
compelling and entertaining
Christian Rodska's voice has developed Falco's personality really well as the novels have followed Falco's life and turning fortunes. It is an utterly convincing characterization of the detective, his talented wife, and in more recent novels: growing family. This novel delves into corruption in the roman travel trade. Lindsey Davis's descriptions of the key locations of Greek tourism: the acropolis, Delphi, and Olympia are startlingly accurate and evocative. Falco's dry, sardonic world view spices up the classic detective format Davis specializes in to create a compelling and entertaining listen. I really enjoyed it.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
- Ruth
- 10-06-2010
This was my first Marcus Didius Falco murder mystery and I loved it. The narration was excellent and I found myself able to visualise the main characters and get caught up in the plot. I also enjoyed the humour and would wholly recommend this to others who enjoy colourful who-dunnits set in bygone eras. For me, this audio book gave me much more than if I had simply read the text.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
- 24-06-2016
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Excellently researched historical detail, coupled with an intriguing plot that kept me gripped throughout . The narration complimented the story, with good characterisation, making each individual instantly recognisable.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
- Amazon Customer
- 20-07-2018
The series just gets better and better.
Characters come alive through the excellent narration and story.
A great listen.
- Ronan
- 03-12-2013
A very average Falco mystery
What did you like best about See Delphi and Die? What did you like least?
I have read many Falco books but this lacked the usual humour and interest and I found myself hoping it would end, overall it was very average.
Would you recommend See Delphi and Die to your friends? Why or why not?
No, there are far better Falco stories
Did Christian Rodska do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?
Narration was fine.
Do you think See Delphi and Die needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?
Any additional comments?
Perhaps story lines and content are getting more difficult to invent after so many mysteries, this one felt like it.


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text: Bacon dumplings. Bacon pie. Bacon tacos. Bacon cotton candy. These are just a few of the smoky, salty treats that local chefs plan to serve at Baconfest Chicago this weekend. Unfortunately, the lure of these pork-packed dishes proved so great that the event sold out the same day tickets went on sale. If you're not among the fortunate few that will be stuffing yourself silly at the UIC Forum on Saturday, you still can get your fix. These restaurants are serving the same or similar Baconfest dishes—but for a limited time, so don't wait too long. Find even more options on Baconfest's own Do-It-Yourself Baconfest Guide at baconfestchicago.com.


text: With its unique, diffuse lighting system this series presents your dishes more beautifully. It also dries them more intelligently; Zeolite technology enhances drying and decreases the energy usage of the eight programmes. Perfect results are achieved in under an hour and the wash time is even projected onto your floor. The cushioned door closing system, smooth running rails, flexible basket system and adjustable racks secure and protect your prized dishes.More


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Brian Austin Green: Megan Fox is My Better Half in Parenting
Brian Austin Green opens up to Details magazine in the publication's October 2010 issue!
Here's what the 37-year-old actor had to share:
On his new role in Desperate Housewives, as a buff contractor: "Sweaty guy with a hammer. A lot of tank tops. I've got to say it's a whole new world for me. I've never played a hunky guy. There was one day when I had to take my shirt off. I must have done 400 push-ups. I feel like I understand the pressure that women go through. I feel, like, all-woman at times."
On making Megan Fox a stepmom: "She is absolutely my better half in parenting. She just gets it. It's instinctual for her."
On if their relationship was on-again/off-again: "We've been together for six years. Find a picture of one of us with any other boyfriend or girlfriend' I challenge you. You'll only find pictures of her doing press with Shia LaBeouf or me with my son. That's it. We never once dated anyone else or did anything else."
For more from Brian, including how he deals with paparazzi, visit Details.com!


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Betty Friedan
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Betty Friedan (4 February 1921 – 4 February 2006) was a "second-wave" feminist best known for The Feminine Mystique, a critique of women's role as stay-at-home mothers.
- Men weren't really the enemy — they were fellow victims suffering from an outmoded masculine mystique that made them feel unnecessarily inadequate when there were no bears to kill.
- As quoted by The Christian Science Monitor (1 April 1974) This has sometimes appeared paraphrased: "Man is not the enemy here, but the fellow victim."
- We need to see men and women as equal partners, but it's hard to think of movies that do that. When I talk to people, they think of movies of forty-five years ago! Hepburn and Tracy!
- As quoted in People magazine (7-14 March 1994), p. 49.
- The only way for a woman, as for a man, to find herself, to know herself as a person, is by creative work of her own. There is no other way.
- Interviews with Betty Friedan, Janann Sherman, ed. Univ. Press of Mississippi, 2002, ISBN 1578064805, p. x.
The Feminine Mystique (1963)[edit]
- The problem lay buried, unspoken for many years in the minds of American women. It was a strange stirring, a sense of dissatisfaction, a yearning that women suffered in the middle of the twentieth century in the United States. Each suburban housewife struggled with it alone. As she made the beds, shopped for groceries, matched slipcover material, ate peanut butter sandwiches with her children, chauffeured Cub Scouts and Brownies, lay beside her husband at night, she was afraid to ask even of herself the silent question — "Is this all?"
- Opening lines, Ch. 1 "The Problem That Has No Name".
- The suburban housewife — she was the dream image of the young American women and the envy, it was said, of women all over the world. The American housewife — freed by science and labor-saving appliances from the drudgery, the dangers of childbirth, and the illnesses of her grandmother … had found true feminine fulfilment.
- Ch. 1 "The Problem That Has No Name"
- Strange new problems are being reported in the growing generations of children whose mothers were always there, driving them around, helping them with their homework — an inability to endure pain or discipline or pursue any self- sustained goal of any sort, a devastating boredom with life.
- Ch. 1 "The Problem That Has No Name".
- Instead of fulfilling the promise of infinite orgastic bliss, sex in the America of the feminine mystique is becoming a strangely joyless national compulsion, if not a contemptuous mockery.
- Ch. 11 "The Sex-Seekers".
- American housewives have not had their brains shot away, nor are they schizophrenic in the clinical sense. But if … the fundamental human drive is not the urge for pleasure or the satisfaction of biological needs, but the need to grow and to realize one's full potential, their comfortable, empty, purposeless days are indeed cause for a nameless terror.
- Ch 13 "The Forfeited Self".
- The feminine mystique has succeeded in burying millions of American women alive.
- Ch 13 "The Forfeited Self".
- It is easier to live through someone else than to become complete yourself.
- Ch. 14 "A New Life Plan for Women".
- The problem that has no name (which is simply the fact that American women are kept from growing to their full human capacities) is taking a far greater toll on the physical and mental health of our country than any known disease.
- Ch. 14 "A New Life Plan for Women".
- When women take their education and their abilities seriously and put them to use, ultimately they have to compete with men. It is better for a woman to compete impersonally in society, as men do, than to compete for dominance in her own home with her husband, compete with her neighbors for empty status, and so smother her son that he cannot compete at all.
- Ch. 14 "A New Life Plan for Women".
- A girl should not expect special privileges because of her sex but neither should she 'adjust' to prejudice and discrimination.
- Ch. 14 "A New Life Plan for women".
- A woman is handicapped by her sex, and handicaps society, either by slavishly copying the pattern of man's advance in the professions, or by refusing to compete with man at all.
- Ch. 14 "A New Life Plan for Women".
The Playboy Interview (1992)[edit]
Interview of Friedan by David Sheff Playboy September 1992, pp. 51-54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 149; reprinted in full in Interviews with Betty Friedan, Janann Sherman, ed. Univ. Press of Mississippi, 2002, ISBN 1578064805.
- "Do you object to the celebration of sexuality in our pictorials?
- Friedan: A celebration of women's bodies is all right with me so long as there is no denial of the personhood of women. I suppose sometimes women are sex objects -- and men are too, by the way. It's the definition of women just as sex objects that bothers me. Women can celebrate themselves as sex objects, they can celebrate their own sexuality and can enjoy the sexuality of men as far as I'm concerted. Let's have men centerfolds. [..] Playboy's centerfold is fine. It's holding onto your own anachronism and it is not pornographic, though many of my sisters would disagree. It's harmless. [...] Playboy strikes me as an odd mixture of sex -- sometimes juvenile --- and forward intellectual thoughts.
- Friedan: There was a masculine mystique, too.
- Playboy: What was it?
- Friedan: Men had to be supermen: stoic, responsible meal tickets. Dominance is a burden. Most men who are honest will admit that.
- Playboy: What's behind the current's men's movement?
- Friedan: I think it's partly a reaction against feminism, partly envy of feminism, and partly partly a real need of men to evolve through the burden of the masculine mystique, the burden of machismo.
- Friedan: I thought it was absolutely outrageous that the Silence of the Lambs won four Oscars. [...] I'm not saying that the movie shouldn't have been shows. I'm not denying the movie was an artistic triumph, but it was about the evisceration, the skinning alive of women. That is what I find offensive. Not the Playboy centerfold.
It Changed My Life: Writings on the Women's Movement (1998)[edit]
- If I were a man, I would strenuously object to the assumption that women have any moral or spiritual superiority as a class. This is [...] female chauvinism.
The Fountain of Age (1993)[edit]
- What had really caused the women's movement was the additional years of human life. At the turn of the century women's life expectancy was forty-six; now it was nearly eighty. Our groping sense that we couldn't live all those years in terms of motherhood alone was "the problem that had no name." Realizing that it was not some freakish personal fault but our common problem as women had enabled us to take the first steps to change our lives.
- Preface.
- If women's role in life is limited solely to housewife/mother, it clearly ends when she can no longer bear more children and the children she has borne leave home.
- Ch. 4.