text:
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RJ Fite Property Preservations LLC employs a staff of high energy, high integrity, field trained and honest in order to deliever the
results that are demanded in the field asset business. With our team, you can rest assured that your project is in good hands. Each staff member whether field or
office have been trained and promoted within to ensure consistant understanding of the business.


text:
It wasn't long ago since we caught up with Alpha BMX. Tommy who is apart of the Alpha team just uploaded this edit featuring all the Alpha dogs riding their local park, Stoke Plaza. Take a look below and be sure to check out the catch up video we did with them too!
It's been some time since we've had a wallpaper! Well, guess what! We've got some banging new ones for ya'. Check them out!
Check out the flyer here for details of the second Anthem II Premiere.
Check out the first snow bike edit from the boys at Alpha BMX in Stoke.
Check out Ryan Taylor's power hour at Dave Mirra's skatepark, The Animal House.
Check out the trailer for Proper Bike Co's forthcoming DVD, Picture Box.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Beaches Energy Services offers up to $1800 energy-saving rebates.


text:
A person who has friends may be harmed by them,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 (NETFull)
My childhood friend came for a visit. We laughed about old times and got somber over shared grief. How was it that I'd left this guy behind? I asked him how long he could stay and he said he'd be with me as long as I needed. I invited him to sleep on the couch and he was grateful.
I needed groceries from the store. I also wanted some unhealthy indulgences.
"Um, would you mind waiting out here?" I didn't want him to see what went into the bag. "I know right where everything is and it will be quicker this way."
A twitch of dejection crossed his face.
Next, we stopped to pick up documents from my office. I thought about asking my friend to come see where I worked, but what if we ran into my boss? I knew my friend was too direct for my manager's tastes. I left him in the car.
That evening, I created a distraction for my friend while I planned an upcoming vacation with some buddies. I sent my childhood pal out to buy ice cream. He returned to see me with a bunch of off-color hooligans and watched without comment.
At the grocery store, I'd made him wait outside like a dog. I kept him out of my work life, vacation plans, and relationships like he was a flea on a dog. Soulmates don't treat each other like that.
I broke the silence, "I don't know what I was thinking. I want you with me everywhere I go. I'm sorry, Jesus."
Prayer: Lord, I invite you into every activity.


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There he was outside his Chicago bungalow Wednesday, well-coiffed and determined to star in his own crazed fantasy, the Prisoner of Zenda giving us the long goodbye.
Rod Blagojevich, convicted former governor of Illinois, leaves us as Gov. Dead Meat and arrives in prison Thursday as Gov. New Fish, the second consecutive governor to go to the federal slammer in this thoroughly crooked state we call home.


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Alison Sweeney revealed her kids' food diary, and it's super healthy
Alison Sweeney is a beloved actress, former The Biggest Loser host and author. She's also a great mom to two kids that she's raised on healthy cooking. We asked her to teach us her clean eating ways, how she keeps things interesting in the kitchen and how she's passing what she's learned onto her kids. Here's what she said.
On where she gets her food inspiration:
"I definitely have go-to meals that I'm used to making, so I'm always trying to figure out ways to branch out and find something new. I think, partially, my inspiration comes from what I have in the fridge — you know, sometimes you've just gotta be creative because you don't have a choice. It's like picking that outfit on laundry day — oh, this is edgy, let's try something different. But then you just own it, like yeah, I totally meant to combine those flavors; I thought it would be an adventure. I read a lot of magazines. I watch a lot of cooking shows. I'm obsessed with Food Network. It just gives me confidence to try something different. And I mean, I taste things along the way so if I feel like it's terrible, and this has definitely happened, it's like no, we're not eating it. All right, starting over."
On what she does when the kids are picky:
"Often times the fun is when I know they will like it if they try it, and I'm totally not above an 'I told you so' when I make them try something they'll really like."
Her tip? "Have them cook it. We watch Chopped Junior for inspiration, but definitely the kids are inspired by the idea of making their own stuff. I've really engaged them in making their own meals. There's such pride they have in the fact that they made it themselves."
On the snacks her kids love:
"One of their favorites is a Greek yogurt with blueberries and cinnamon and either maple syrup or a little bit of agave nectar. Sometimes I'll put granola or sliced almonds in it for a little bit of a crunch. It's the same thing I eat. It's so substantial and it feels really decadent. We do smoothies together."
On the strangest thing her kids love:
"My kids love edamame. I take home leftovers from the restaurant and everyone's excited over it."
On what her kids will make themselves:
"Apples and almond butter. Smoothies. My son knows how to make scrambled eggs. Sometimes I come downstairs and I'm like, 'What happened here?' And he's like, 'Oh, I made eggs.' OK."
On what they eat for lunch:
"They request pretzels and hummus. I do a lot of fruit in their lunch. Sometimes I'll mix it together, like apples and blueberries and cantaloupe sometimes. They like the fruits that are also hydrating. I don't give them a lot of food at lunch time. I give them half a sandwich, a few different flavors of different snack stuff and that's it. I know they're going to eat again later. They're rushing to run outside and play, so I don't want them to scarf down food and I don't want them to waste food. I'd rather have them ready again for a snack at 3:30 than waste food or feel sick to their stomach when they're running to play with their friends."
On teaching healthy habits:
"My rule, in general, with my kids is to teach them to be accustomed to see smaller amounts of food on the plate — just really healthy portions — and then you can always ask for seconds. But let's start here and see how it goes, see how it feels and really listen to your body. Those are the kinds of tips I want them to take away as they grow up and go to college and live on their own. I want them to really listen to their own bodies "
On her secret to getting kids to eat healthy:
"We talk about it a lot. I'm not saying they just eat kale all the time. I find things they like, which is kale and Brussels sprouts, and [my son] Ben really likes it. I try to make sure I mix in the things they love with things we're trying. There are certain fish that they like, but my son doesn't like shrimp, and that's, like, OK."
Sweeney is also a big fan of the Blueberry Council's tips for having a great summer by focusing on the small moments over big adventures. "I think parents always think they have to do the big adventure to have a great summer, and sometimes it just doesn't have to be super-sized," she told us. You can see tips on their website, blueberrycouncil.org/bitesizesummer.


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August 22, 2014 16:30 ET
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Aug. 22, 2014) - Kingsway Arms Retirement Residences Inc. (TSX VENTURE:KWA) (the "Company" or "Kingsway") provides the following update:
About Kingsway Arms Retirement Residences Inc.:
Kingsway is the owner of senior housing facilities located in Aurora, Ontario and in Clarington, Ontario. The Corporation continues to actively pursue the acquisition of development of additional senior housing facilities in order to grow the Company's portfolio of properties.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
Kingsway Arms Retirement Residences Inc.Mr. Dan AmadoriChair, Board of Directors416-644-4361
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Other Areas of Blog
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Parents Spying on Their Adult(ish) Children
25 comments:
Sadly, there are some "ifs" here. How old are the adult kids in question, and do they live at home?ReplyDelete
The dad is a failure, who obviously gets his strength from controlling his family.
IF these scenarios are real, then those kids ought to a) move out; b) block their dad from their facebook; c) change their computer password every 15 minutes; d) buy their own computer; e) did I say move out?
Now here's my IF -
IF I was a parent with a teen, living in my house, eating my food, unready to face life as an adult just yet, and IF I legitimately believed that teen was engaging in illegal and/or dangerous behavior, and IF I believed this teen was deliberately being secretive and evasive and shifty, and IF I thought he was genuinely unsafe - I might attempt to find out what's going on. But it would have to be major to prompt me to do such a thing.
But those are immense IFs.
A teen or young adult, still at home, or even not, has to be trusted, just on the basic fact that we as parents are to believe the best about our children. REALLY! We are supposed to believe the best, not assume the worst.
A kid/adult OUGHT to have a facebook page with the ability to voluntarily friend his parent and that parent ought to respect the kid/adult enough to be their friend on facebook with their trap firmly shut.
I have a 15 year old. He bought a computer for his 15th birthday and we said "sure" to starting up facebook. We are friends on facebook. I read his crap, he reads mine. We have an open, talking, trusting relationship at home in real life.
And there's the rub - the psycho dad above in your scenario? The relationship that dude has with his children in real life must be sick sick sick. Those kids' only hope is to flee, and fly under a pseudonym on the computer :)
He lost those kids years and years and years ago, probably in the midst of some horrid "training session" when the tots were 2.Replies
- AnonymousDecember 24, 2015 at 2:49 AM
My father still spies on me via social media, ez pass, and by finances, as he did us the "favor" of taking out our mortgage to get us lower interest. Recently when we were 2 weeks late with *part of the rent (paid 70% of it on time) he launched into a tirade and accused my husband and I of having spent all of our rent money at a concert. Even told my aunt we'd payed nothing. Real reason we were late- I'd started a new job and my first check was delayed. Husband got layed off with no notice during same time, took 3 weeks to get unemployment money. I'm 40 and married. Before you ask what's up with no savings at age 40. I just completed a career change and obtained my masters degree. i wish we'd never entered into this "rent" agreement. I wanted my own house. The ez pass was sadistic "false help" as well. He gave it to me a few years ago, then when I moved to an area next to a major toll road, started chastising me every time I have a very small toll. Now, normally everyone prefers the non toll roads, but sometimes they're backed up and you need to be somewhere so need to jump on the turnpike. Then you realize you have that darn ez pass in the car. You're supposed to drive all the way home and get rid of it then? I did since remove it from the car but why put an ez pass in someone's car then yell at them for using it. I'm talking like maybe 2-5$ in tolls a month. Not excessive use.Delete
I'm so sorry. :*Delete
Jill. I agree with you 100%. I was listening to KS95, Twin Cities, Morning Show where the hosts asked the listening audience if they spied on their kids. The majority, actually ALL, the respondents said they did, meaning, they watched Facebook and such to catch any weird patterns. I see a clear difference between attempting to keep your kids safe and religious based control. I'm writing about the latter here, of course.ReplyDelete
Thanks for your insight.
As young of a parent as I am, the fact remains that I am a parent. I have a mother who cannot acknowledge that very fact and move on. I'm actually still the child, in her eyes, who needs such monitoring.ReplyDelete
As a dad, who wants nothing of that for my own children - her grandchildren - I have managed to thwart her conniving, condescending, "motherly"-worried comments and messages with short and sweet rebuttals.
Let the parent do their monitoring; do everything that you normally would, and at all costs, be a rebel for the cause!
I agree that parents should monitor their child's internet usage, to a point...for SURE not hacking into their private accounts unless trust has been breached, and even then, it needs to be an honest thing.ReplyDelete
But adult "children"? HELL to the NO. There comes a point where they need to LET THEIR KIDS GO and learn from their own mistakes, internet and real-world both!
Agreed, Rachel! Thanks!ReplyDelete
Oh, and just one other small point that I just HAVE to put in here: whether your children make mistakes in their youth or in their adulthood has NOTHING to do with whether you raised them appropriately or with the right amount of boundaries/restrictions/etc.ReplyDelete
Parents cannot control. I don't care how much of a lock-down a child of 10 or a "child" of 20 is placed under, they WILL find some way to make their own mistakes. That's part of life -- part of the REAL WORLD!
So when your children are grown, out in the real world, looking to marry/buy a house/start into the professional world, their mistakes are their own. Not yours, not your raising or training going south. It's them now. You sowed the seeds of wisdom, love, and the truth of God. Now for the love of Peter and Paul, let them grow!!!!
Well said. I'll come to you for parenting advice in the future. Much appreciated.ReplyDelete
Experience is the best teacher. Dealing with a situation of my own currently where my husband and I are still being "parented" and being told that "we weren't raised well enough" because we aren't making the "right" decisions.ReplyDelete
Not an expert by any means. Just speaking from my own weeping heart.
Regardless. Keep it coming. I'd rather get my advice from real people than purported experts. It is they who have brought most of us to our current condition, anyway.ReplyDelete
Being the oldest of 11 here I have a few things to say.ReplyDelete
Up to my parents becoming Christians, I had a somewhat easy life at 10ish, per se. I had friends that I spent time with, hung out with, etc.
Then my parents became Christians and started home-schooling. At this time there were 7 of us.
We slowly got indoctrinated (really, they got told it was "God's design" and turned it around on us) to believe "Children should honor (by obeying) your parents". "First time Obedience", "Blood is thicker than water" (no friends really now. Moved a few times and being home-schooled left that part out), guilt trips (You will lose God's blessing. Is this what God wants?), "Ask your father, he is the home's head" (This is also being severely whip-lashed from coming from matriarchal home. Dad was content to let mom run the place.) etc.
When I finally got a job at 16, with one of my only friends (and a good one at that!), he would constantly be doing something and asking me to come along. My excuse was "I have chores and I need to ask Mom" which usually meant I didn't go (Mom said no...). All the way until I started paying rent at 19.
I bought a 1948 Farmall H on ebay, sight unseen, for a project. My parents gave their blessing for this. Now I got it running, acquired a John Deere 14T baler (smallest one ever made to be run behind a tractor. Just perfect for this one.) and helped to bale our farms hay so dad didn't have to hire out for it. Anyways, a guy who helped us in this farming endeavor broke his baler when we tried to bale another farmers field. So he asked me to get my tractor and baler. I took my tractor home, got her hooked up, ran in to tell dad, mom yelling at me to stop and talk about something, and off I went with my dad behind me with his flashers going. Now I was 17 at this time. There was a really short section of main highway I had to drive to get to the house. Like 500ft worth. I pull out, dad right behind me and get the tractor in road gear, 15mph TOPS. This place had 2 drives about 100ft apart. I push the clutch in at the 1st drive to start slowing down and look over my shoulder to see if anyone was trying to pass. there was a car coming over a small hill about 300ft behind. So I thought they would slow down enough. Long story short-ish, he tried passing and I took out his bumper. Shaken but I got the work done. I got home and had a very quiet supper as mom was PISSED. Literally slamming things around as the farms insurance was "at stake". You know what was said to me later when I started going to bed? "Jon, you know you could have met Jesus today?" Me, about all that I had bout now, screamed "Yeah! Why are you mad?!?!?! Do you now hate me for costing you a bit more on your insurance instead of dying?" Cooly she replied "Well, if you stopped and got your dads blessing, none of this would have happened." I stormed out of there pissed.
From then on, my farm chores I refused to do and then I started paying rent when I wouldn't even help bale and put away hay. I was work 10hr shifts and hanging out with a couple friends. I needed to get up at 2:30 AM for work Tues-Fri, and spent my weekends as much away as I could. Since I wasn't helping the farm, I could pay rent. $100/month guaranteed my freedom.
I would have gladly paid $300.
Comment from Permission To Live. You can find her blog at http://ayoungmomsmusings.blogspot.com/ReplyDelete
I was one of those monitored kids. My dad did not allow any of his children to be online at all, much less be on Facebook or MySpace etc.
At 19 years old I was allowed to get my first email address for job purposes, but it was fully accessible to my dad, who read every single email that came through it. Pretty hard to trust your parents in that environment. I did not have privacy until I got married at 20 years old.
Another point: Although I was the "obedient" oldest child, and just wanted to please my parents in everything (didn't realize that was impossible) My dads obsessive control did not prevent my siblings from getting secret Facebook and email accounts. The fact is, you cannot control your adult/teenage children, you can only influence them.
The sad thing is that this P/QF/CAD movement purports that they have such "godly" kids. If they're so freaking "godly" then why do men have to control everything, even down to their children's and wife's (wives'?...hehe) thoughts.ReplyDelete
Funny thing is, those who disagree with this stupid movement mostly allow their children the freedom to listen to God by themselves and act on it.
Who's happier? Not even close. Oh sure, they'll swear that they're happy, but it isn't hard to train the mind that a new norm is the norm. The proof is in the pudding and the pudding is the unquestionable worship of man.
I can't handle being in that movement for a very small reason. I'm not perfect. And I cannot live the lie every second of every day that I am. My kids continually remind me of that and I am very grateful for it. The damage I would cause them if my faults were covered up with "I am your freakin' dad so shut-up!" would be irreparable, in my opinion.
I see it all the time.
I made a good friend from reading a post dealing with this at Quivering Daughters. The gist of the post was how all this control teaches one lesson very well- the necessity and successful application of secrecy and deception.
This adult daughter was posting under a pseudonym. When her father found out, she had to get a new blog under a new name, and finally, she left under a blanket of secrecy and a year later she has still not told them where she lives. The location of her home (hundreds of miles away) is too sacred to trust with people who have shown no respect for her as person.
I have a teenager at home still. I occasionally look at his text messages, but only in front of him and with his permission- mostly cuz I'm friends with a lot of his friends. Other than that, he has a phone and a laptop and I am quite sure I don't know all the trouble he might possibly have come close to or will in the future investigate- but I do expect he'll come out okay in the end.
That is so tough. I completely kicked my mother out of my life a few months ago. She never learned to see her adult children as independent entities. We will forever need her "loving" (yeah, whatever) wing to hide under, according to her.ReplyDelete
Thanks for sharing and for reading.
My 17 yo brother is dealing with this right now. He has challenged my parents' beliefs on issues like dating and in his career choice and they have responded with emotional manipulation. And he's nervous about them hacking his stuff on the internet. I didn't think he was, until he asked me the other day "did mom get on my facebook account?" Poor guy. He should NOT have to worry about that!ReplyDelete
I'm pretty sure my parents haven't actually done any of that - yet. And let me tell you, if they do, there will be hell, because he won't stand for it. He's not brainwashed in the least at this point, although I can't for the life of me figure out why (fifteen yo sister, for example, is planning to be a stay at home mom because that's all women should be, and god forbid anyone wear a swimsuit that doesn't look like a burka). Anyway, if my parents try that, I have no doubt that he will leave.
My view: breaking into your adult children's accounts is NEVER okay without permission. Period. If you think they're doing something illegal and they're not being open with you, you have way bigger problems.
My daughter will have the freedom I never got. Trust is incredibly important.
Liberty. I agree. Right now, my kids care more about Looney Tunes than anything else. Their current social media is to befriend every kid in town.ReplyDelete
Just the other night, at 11PM, my bride and I walked into our oldest son's bedroom (he is 6) and he was laying at the foot of his bed, staring at the wall with a dreamy look plastered on his face.
We asked him what was up and he said that he wanted to have a play date the next morning, but NOT WITH CHARLIE! So, we asked him who he wanted to do it with and he told us that he got every one of his classmate's (kindergarten) phone numbers in a notebook but he didn't know where the notebook was.
So, we told him we would find the notebook the next day and he declared loudly that he needed to rip out the numbers list page and keep it in a safe spot.
I walked away on cloud nine, floating down the 35 foot hallway to our bedroom. I ramble on about this because I was never allowed to have any friends outside of other patriarchy families (yes....families...not kids my age) AND WE WERE PUBLIC SCHOOLED!!! We didn't even know our own neighbors.
To see my wife's phone filled with mom's numbers from our kid's school and the many many friends the squirts are making is a great joy to me.
I'm loving life right now and looking forward to the day when they learn about electronic social networking. They may be more creative than their dear old dad.
Also I just realized if your oldest is nine, that means you had six kids in nine years. I was the oldest in my family, and I was nine when baby number six was born. Memories. Life was so much more sweet back then, before the crazy train sped up and my parents drank the rest of the koolaid.ReplyDelete
I would do my darndest to hide anything and everything from my overbearing old man. If he ever caught up with me, I would deny, deny, deny. He wouldn't get a shred of truth out of me. And, if he did happen to beat or squeeze it forth (sadly, a CAD adherer will do this to their "children" of any age…I know…I'm living proof), I would learn my lesson so well that it would take Houdini and six of his relatives to even catch a scent of what I was continuing to cook. It's that simple.ReplyDelete
That's what I did. Not that my parents snooped using my passwords, but like they did require all my facebook friends to be friends with my mom, and they always wanted to know who I was talking to online. (I was 18+, by the way.)
At age 20 or 21, my dad told me not to talk to boys online. I had some really great guy friends, and instead of getting rid of them, I hid them, lied about them, denied everything. I'm not proud of the fact that I did that; I'm extremely angry that in order to keep my friends I had to do that.
Same with my secret relationship with my now-husband.
Anne. I'd let it go. BE PROUD of the fact that you got through the control and came out on the other side in one piece, no matter how burnt out and broken that one piece might have been. The system lives on your guilt ("I'm not proud of the fact that I did that...") as validating your rebellion and their way of life as the ONLY righteous way of life.ReplyDelete
You are ALMOST free. *waves his hand. Your sins are absolved. Mwahahahaha!
Seriously though, no need to feel guilty. As I tell my children, if a man kidnaps you and one of your siblings and says he'll kill your other sibling if you don't tell him something that you know is a lie, you better tell him that something to save your sibling's life.
There are times in life when lying is absolutely necessary and noble. I am convinced you found one of them.
Thanks, IC! You're right. I feel much better. ;)ReplyDelete
Wow! I'm going to wave my hand of absolution more often!ReplyDelete
"I want to be waiting to lick the wounds of my children if they ever come crawling back home. I want them to want to come to me for my advice. Not out of expectation, but because I'm an insecure loser of a father and I am easily flattered. They don't even need to need it. Just fake it once in a while. But most importantly, I want to have taught them all the foundational lessons that I think they'll need when they jump from the nest and fly away..."ReplyDelete
So exactly what I believe-I appreciate your honesty too- the thing is, (though I disagree with a lot of their methods and they made their mistakes) my parents were pretty good parents until I became an adult- then it was like they didn't know I was meant to leave! I want my kids to WANT to come home, not have to fend me off all the time because I don't have a life of my own.
My parents made their kids their world, but both their kids- my brother and I- decided to marry people they initially didn't approve of, and my parents felt they had the right to tell adults of over 25 years of age who we should marry. That was helpful for family relations, let me tell you.
Thankfully we've all gotten over it, but it took me setting some pretty tough boundaries with them to make them understand I have flown the nest for good. They are NOT permitted to come between me and my hubby or son, and if anything ever happened between me and my hubby, they are NOT the people I'd come crawling back to- there is no "back" in THAT case, I'm an adult, there's only my life lived forwards.
What's sad is that I should WANT to spend time with them, and be free to go back home. I sure hope I can learn from their smothering and let go of my kid and respect his boundaries as he grows up to fly the nest. That's the goal of parenting- letting them go, and BEING there so they can come back- to visit, to enjoy each other, but not to stay. It can really hurt you when your parents won't let you grow up.


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A spectacular sunrise to kick off Summer here in Perth, Western Australia.
A combination of high cloud, and strong and gusty early morning wind produced some interesting looking shapes in the cloud shortly before the sun came up, these shapes were further enhanced by the early dawn light. This cone shape lasted for about 15 minutes before eventually breaking up and blowing away.
Canon 60D And 15-85 IS.
Viewed 107 times.
Featured in:
A World Of EOS, Clouds, South West Art And Photography, The BEST Of Redbubble, WA Red Bubbles.


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Marketing and Communication // 09.19.2016
Buc News is Charleston Southern University's student-led news program. Catch up on the latest campus news and events.
Founded in 1964, Charleston Southern University is a private, four-year liberal arts college. CSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and is affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention. The University's vision is to be a Christian university nationally recognized for integrating faith in learning, leading and serving.


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TITANIC-TITANIC.com | Titanic Victualling Crew - White, Mr. L.
- Age: 32
- Date of Birth (D.O.B.): 1880
- Place of Residence: Southampton, England ( List )
- Embarked at: Belfast, Ireland
- Occupation: First Class Saloon Steward
- Monthly Wage: £3 15s
- Department: Titanic Victualling Crew
- Survived: No ( List )
- Died: 15th April, 1912 at sea
Mini Biography
L. White boarded the Titanic at Southampton, England.
L. White was a First Class Saloon Steward aboard the Titanic, and was part of the Victualling Crew.
L. White lived at 248, Romsey Road, Southampton, England, United Kingdom.
L. White was lost in the sinking of the Titanic, and his body was not recovered or identified.
Similar Pages: Titanic Passengers | Titanic First Class Passengers | Titanic Second Class Passengers | Titanic Third Class Passengers | Titanic Crew | Titanic Deck Crew | Titanic Engineering Crew | Titanic Guarantee Group | Titanic Officers | Titanic Mail Clerks | Titanic ã la Carte Restaurant Crew | Titanic Victualling Crew | Titanic Death Certificates | Titanic Record of Bodies and Effects |


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From "All in the Family" to "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" to "Seinfeld," comedy has always lived in the zeitgeist of the culture, and if there's one series that satirizes society's ever-expanding love-hate relationship with modern technology, it's HBO's freshman entry "Silicon Valley." In one episode, and in quick succession during a disastrous business meeting, a "Star Trek"-esque TeleHuman device bites the dust, a Skype session goes south and, to boot, there's bad cell phone reception. It's a scene that aptly mocks our collective frustration with the toys meant to make our lives easier but that ultimately create infuriating stumbling blocks.
It makes you wonder: Weren't we way better off getting together in person? And that's the big joke, broadly told but also completely on point and realistic. And that's why it works.
"I always thought the distance between the promotional mystique and the actual frustrating consumer experience is pretty funny," says Zach Woods, who stars as Jared, the structure-seeking tech geek, on "Silicon Valley." "The thing about the show (that) I like in terms of the satirical elements is that it's less about the particular products and more about the culture."
What endears "Silicon" to audiences is that its humor resonates in a way that never feels alienating or off-putting. It's equal opportunity in the way it both makes fun of its characters and empathizes with their predicaments.
"(The show) ridicules the things about Silicon Valley and just people in general that are worthy of ridicule, but I don't think it's dehumanizing," says Woods. "I don't think the show feels like it's cooler than the subjects. Shows that are mean ultimately are not funny for very long."
Gone is the era of Archie Bunker when comedies like "The Jeffersons" and "Sanford and Son" dwelled in politically incorrect territory. With certain exceptions (think "Louie's" recurring "life sucks" theme that verges on the depressing), shock value has superseded social issues, with irreverence and outrageousness today's comic aim.
"In the '70s and early '80s on TV, they would make jokes about race and sexuality and religion and now we don't do that," says Retta, who plays Donna, the sassy office manager on "Parks and Recreation." "We don't highlight bigots, if you will, but we're raunchier. We have more sex jokes, but not necessarily sexuality jokes."
There's also more fluidity in this year's Emmy Comedy race than ever before, with uproarious series such as "Parks and Recreation" and "Modern Family" competing against much darker skeins like "Shameless" and "Orange Is the New Black." Even "Girls," in which Lena Dunham walks around unabashedly in a green bikini for an entire episode (which is the joke), prescribes to a far more nuanced brand of comedy than, say, over-the-top laugh fest "Brooklyn Nine-Nine."
"Shameless," says executive producer John Wells, is very much in the vein of the boundary-pushing comedies of yesteryear.
"What we are allowed to now make comedic is substantially different than what it used to be," says Wells. "What they were doing on 'All in the Family' some 30 years ago was very pointed and satirical and (it's) what we try to do on 'Shameless.' We're doing class satire. We're poking fun at the notion that our nation is a meritocracy, which everyone knows isn't quite true."
Most TV comedies, says Wells, citing Showtime's "Nurse Jackie" as one example, live at that curious intersection of Sad and Absurd. The idea of a "conventional" comedy, he proffers, is essentially a myth.
"A more sophisticated way of looking at these shows is in the way they tell their stories, particularly in serialized shows, where they fall into a much grayer and more naturalistic category than comedy vs. drama," he says. "Personally, I don't think those categories are valid anymore."
As our relationship to television evolves, so does our perception of what makes something funny, Woods says.
"People are enormously media savvy now and that's affected the way people experience comedy," he says. "Back in the day, audiences didn't know what a showrunner was, but now people are more interested in the mechanics. They want to see the gears; they want to look under the hood a little bit more. I wonder sometimes if the personality of the actor — who's tweeting funny things all week long — eclipses the character he plays (on TV) in the viewer's mind. I'm not sure if this makes a show funnier or less funny. It's confusing, and really interesting, but maybe that's OK. Maybe all we really want is to feel connected to individuals."


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Natural Insight provides workforce management software that stores data via cloud network and helps businesses with labor management, project organization, data collection and business intelligence, notes the company website. It helps companies tasks like scheduling, productivity analysis and time tracking.Continue Reading
Natural Insight's software also allows companies to interact with both remote and onsite employees in real time and supports mobile device use for this purpose. Other features include collecting data about projects, checking whether tasks have been completed and tracking mileage for employees who travel, states Natural Insight. The cloud-based aspect of the software allows for integration with other business applications and dedicated technical support.Learn more about Managing a Business


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Gender and Education
The gender gap in college education is the subject of a new Pew Research Center report that includes analysis of public opinion data and of Census Bureau statistics. Women surpass men among recent college graduates, and women also have a more positive view of the value of a college education. The report includes Current Population […]
Women See Value and Benefits of College; Men Lag on Both Fronts, Survey Finds
At a time when women surpass men by record numbers in college enrollment and completion, they also have a more positive view than men about the value higher education provides.
Lifetime Earnings of College Graduates
A new Pew Research Center analysis, using Census Bureau data, estimates that the typical adult with a bachelor's degree (but no further education) will earn $1.42 million over a 40-year career, compared with $770,000 for a typical high school graduate.
Is College Worth It?
College costs are rising, student debt is mounting, and most Americans say college fails to deliver good value for the money. Meantime, only 19% of college presidents say the U.S. system is the best in the world. However, more than eight-in-ten college graduates say college was a good investment for them personally.
Interactive: The Value of College
These interactive charts explore the attitudes of the public and of college presidents about the value, cost, quality, mission and payoff of higher education.
The Rise of College Student Borrowing
Graduates who received a bachelor's degree in 2008 borrowed 50% more than their counterparts who graduated in 1996, while graduates who earned an associate's degree or undergraduate certificate in 2008 borrowed more than twice what their counterparts in 1996 had borrowed.
Marriage and College
Throughout the 20th century, college-educated Americans were less likely to be married by age 30 than Americans without a college degree.
The Reversal of the College Marriage Gap
In a reversal of long-standing marital patterns, college-educated young adults are more likely than young adults lacking a bachelor's degree to have married by the age of 30.
Childlessness Up Among All Women; Down Among Women with Advanced Degrees
Nearly one-in-five American women ends her childbearing years without having borne a child, compared with one-in-ten in the 1970s. While childlessness has risen for all racial and ethnic groups, and most education levels, it has fallen over the past decade for women with advanced degrees.
Minorities and the Recession-Era College Enrollment Boom
The recession-era boom in the size of freshman classes at four-year colleges, community colleges and trade schools has been driven largely by a sharp increase in minority student enrollment.


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Correction: Sally Field Did Not Put Her Junk in a Box
Vulture apologizes to Sally Field's wang.
Earlier today, Vulture told you about Sally Field's Emmy speech being censored last night, and we semi-facetiously accused the actress, in the time that Fox cut her audio and cameras panned away, of performing "'Dick in a Box' in its entirety before flashing her nipple." After viewing the unedited version of the speech (from the Canadian telecast, presented above), we realize that this was not the case. We regret the error and extend our sincerest apologies to Field's wang and nipples.
Earlier: The Emmys: Who Got Censored and Why


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Definition of High court
1. Noun. The highest court in most states of the United States.
Generic synonyms: Court, Judicature, Tribunal
Category relationships: Jurisprudence, Law
Definition of High court
1. Noun. A supreme court; a court to which final appeals may be taken. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
High Court Pictures
Click the following link to bring up a new window with an automated collection of images related to the term: High Court Images
Lexicographical Neighbors of High Court
Literary usage of High court
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. A History of English Law by William Searle Holdsworth, John Burke (1903)
"9 To the high court was assigned the jurisdiction exercised by the following courts:—10 (1) The high court of Chancery as a common law court as well as a ..."
2. Encyclopaedia Britannica, a Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and edited by Hugh Chisholm (1910)
"(2) Decrees passed on an appeal to any court in India subordinate to a high court are as a general rule subject to appeal to the high court on the grounds ..."
3. The Law and Custom of the Constitution by William Reynell Anson (1907)
"Divisions of the high court. The Supreme Court is divided into a high court and a Court of Appeal: the high court is itself divided for the sake of ..."
4. Commentaries on the Laws of England by Herbert Broom, Edward Alfred Hadley, William Wait, William Blackstone (1875)
"10, the high court of admiralty is constituted a court of record for all intents and purposes, and has power to proceed either in rem or in ..."
5. The Origin and Growth of the English Constitution: An Historical Treatise by Hannis Taylor (1898)
"l As the result of that report was enacted the Supreme Court of Judicature Act,* 1873, which provided that "the high court of Chancery of England, ..."


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Participation in organizations like the chambers of commerce is a valuable way for a business to have a positive impact on the community
Palm Harbor, FL (PRWEB) November 26, 2012
Nationwide Title Clearing (NTC), a leading service provider for the residential mortgage industry with clients that include eight of the top 10 residential mortgage servicers in the country, will be sponsoring a children's art tent at the 38th Annual Fine Arts and Crafts Harbor Art Festival in historic downtown Palm Harbor, FL. The festival will begin on Saturday, December 1st from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm., and continue on Sunday, December 2nd, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Over 80 artists will display their artwork at the Greater Palm Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce's 38th Annual Fine Arts and Crafts Harbor Art Festival and nearly 100 artists have been selected to compete for $6,250 in cash awards. In addition to art, guests can enjoy food from local downtown restaurants, street food vendors, music and children's activities. A promising first this year will be the "Battle of the Best Wings In Pinellas County," which will be held Saturday, December 1st – judging begins at 2:00 pm.
The festival was founded by Louise and Bill Hoskins and a visual arts scholarship is awarded to a local high school student in their honor. Some of the proceeds from the festival will go towards that scholarship.
With over 300 local employees, NTC has reinforced its community involvement by a more active role in chamber.
"Participation in organizations like the chambers of commerce is a valuable way for a business to have a positive impact on the community," commented John Hillman, CEO of NTC.
To strengthen its presence in the local community, NTC hired Community Relations Director Janice Rush, whose main responsibility is to forge community relations in Tampa Bay on behalf of NTC and help the area become a better place to work and live for its employees.
A voluntary organization of business and professional men and women, the Greater Palm Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce acts as a spokesman for the business and professional community and provides a variety of services for members and the community.
Sponsorships and exhibit tables are available at the event. For more information, call 727-784-4287 or visit http://www.palmharborcc.org/.
Located in Palm Harbor, NTC is a privately-owned leading service provider to the mortgage and financial industry that performs research services and processes documents for the residential mortgage servicing industry. NTC has long been dedicated to helping the community through events like blood drives, toy drives and the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life of Palm Harbor.
For more information on NTC, visit http://www.nwtc.com.
About Nationwide Title Clearing, Inc.:
Based in Palm Harbor Florida and founded in 1991, Nationwide Title Clearing, Inc. (NTC) is a privately-owned leading service provider to the residential mortgage industry, serving mortgage lenders, servicers and investors, including eight of the top 10 residential mortgage servicers in the country. NTC earned the position of #2,730 on the 2012 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America, ranking #36 in Tampa and #46 in the real estate industry. The company's land records and document experts are able to track and fulfill county document requirements for close to 3,600 recording jurisdictions nationwide. NTC specializes in providing land records research, lien release services, assignment services, final document tracking, document retrieval and other custom business solutions. For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.nwtc.com.


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UTA partner Marty Bowen and Davis Entertainment president Wyck Godfrey dropped a bombshell Thursday, announcing they'd leave their plum posts to establish a producing partnership with a first-look deal at New Line Cinema.
While Godfrey won't be able to start his new venture until his contract expires in April, the exec suite at Davis is being shored up by the arrival of Robbie Brenner as an exec VP of production after ankling 20th Century Fox as a senior VP.
Bowen and Godfrey, a New Line director of development in his formative years, became friends when they shared a house in the Hollywood Hills with producer John Goldstone and writer Don Winston as all four were establishing their careers. Bowen decided over the recent holiday that he wanted to change his career path, and Godfrey was eager to join forces with him.
New Line has only nine producing deals, and the pact may give the mini-major some traction in developing projects.
Bowen announced his exit in a tearful UTA lit meeting. After joining the mailroom right after UTA formed in 1991, he worked his way up to partner in 2002.
"This was an exceptional event because he's an agent in his prime, risking a great career because he's passionate about trying something else, and I applaud him for that," said UTA motion picture head Jeremy Zimmer, who hired Bowen right out of Harvard.
Bowen repped a list highlighted by Charlie Kaufman, James Gandolfini, "Brokeback Mountain" scribes Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, "Dukes of Hazzard" director Jay Chandrasekhar and his Broken Lizard troupe and "Alien vs. Predator" helmer Paul W.S. Anderson.
(Longtime client Kaufman created a character in "Adaptation" of a coarse-talking agent named Marty, played by Ron Livingston.)
Bowen spent much of Thursday helping transition his clients to other agents at the company, which has recently dealt with the exits of partners Dan Aloni, Jason Heyman and Martin Lesak (all went to CAA).
When rivals heard of the exit, they started circling, much as they did when John Lesher left Endeavor to head Paramount Classics and Steve Dontanville retired from WMA.
Godfrey, who's been president of Fox-based Davis Entertainment since 2001, is ending an eight-year run at the company. He was working Thursday in post-production on "Eragon," Davis's big-scale dragon tale for Fox.
During his run with Davis, Godfrey was producer on "Daddy Day Care," "First Daughter" and "Flight of the Phoenix." He exec produced "I, Robot," "Behind Enemy Lines" and "Alien vs. Predator."
Prior to working at Davis, Godfrey served as senior veep of production for Paul Schiff and Michael London's Horizon Entertainment.
Godfrey said his exit was due to timing and the opportunity to work with his friend.
"I told John Davis that I'd sat back and watched him build a company and was at the point where either you decide to do my job the rest of your life, or try to create your own company like he did," Godfrey said. "Marty has salesmanship, energy and a skill for identifying talent, and I know how to produce a movie after doing eight of them for John. After six months being away on 'Eragon,' and with four Davis Entertainment movies ready to come out, the time was right."
Bowen also felt the clock ticking. "I wanted to give myself the opportunity to do this at the peak of my creative energy," he said, "because I've seen a lot of people make the transition too late. I can learn at the side of one of my oldest friends, so how could I say no?"
On his new hire, John A. Davis said, "She's a sensational exec and producer and I'm looking forward to making movies with her."
Brenner joined Fox in 2004 after working for eight years at Miramax. While at Fox, she oversaw Jesse Wigutow's adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "Tender Is the Night," the Davis-produced thriller "Under" and the vidgame adaptation "Max Payne."
She has also produced crime thriller "Haven," helmed and penned by Frank Flowers, for El Camino Pictures.
(Gabriel Snyder contributed to this report.)


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Category Archives: Scottish castles tour
Outlander tour of 5 Scottish castles
The smash hit series Outlander hits UK TV screens this week . Most of the first 2 series were shot in Scotland with 5 castles in particular featuring heavily. 1 Midhope Castle – Lallybroch Those seeking a glimpse of the … Continue reading
Posted in Outlander tours, Scottish castles tour Tagged Aberdour Castle, blackness castle, Castle Leoch, castle tours, castles, doune castle, Five Scottish castles, Fort William army headquarters, Lallybroch, Linlithgow Palace, Midhope Castle, outlander day tours, Outlander tours, Sainte Anne de Beaupré's monastery, Scottish castles tours, Wentworth Prison Leave a comment


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How do you know when depression is serious or temporary? Learn depression warning signs here with three checklists you can use right away. Find out now if you or someone you love has symptoms of severe depression.
Don't wait until it's too late.
Depression is common in individuals who suffer with migraines and chronic pain.
It is not just a low mood. Depression is a serious medical condition that can reduce everyday normal functioning to become virtually impossible.
Participating in any of the activities or being with the people they once used to enjoy, can become unbearable.
There are visible depression warning signs shown in changes of behavior, physical reactions and the not so visible emotional symptoms.
Everyone deals with it differently, but the signs are there if you know what to look for.
We all have a low day now and again and life's events alone can leave us feeling quite miserable and down.
The problem arises when these low feelings persist for a long time causing changes in mood and behaviors that can then develop into a deeper depression.
One in five people will experience some kind of depression in their lifetime.
According to the Beyondblue organization here in Australia, your depression checklist can be an important indicator of what stage you might be in on the depression scale.
Have a look so you can know the depression warning signs before they take you by surprise and it's too late.
If you experience any of these for more than two weeks please contact someone for professional help:
In the past two weeks have you:
1. Been feeling sad, down or miserable?
2. Lost interest in most of your usual activities, or notice a real lack of pleasure in your life?
3. Increased or lost your appetite significantly resulting in losing or gaining a lot of weight?
4. Experienced insomnia or have a hard time sleeping? Or the other end of the spectrum – wanting to sleep all the time?
5. Felt slowed down, lethargic, unable to do usual things? No energy.
6. Become restless or have (or made yourself) excessively busy?
7. Experienced feelings of worthlessness?
8. Had excessive or obsessive feelings of guilt?
9. Poor concentration?
10. Had any thoughts around death, wanting to die or commit suicide?
If you answered yes to 4 or less, it is unlikely that you have a depressive illness, you may just be experiencing a low time in your life.
If you answered yes to 5 or more, it is likely that you may be experiencing a depressive illness. If you are experiencing some of these symptoms please TAKE ACTION NOW and arrange to speak to your doctor or phone a counsellor. Please don't wait, there is a lot of help around for you, so don't tackle this on your own.
If you are having thoughts of suicide or harming yourself please take urgent action now. Thoughts of suicide are the most extreme result of depression. I cannot stress how important it is to get help as soon as possible. See your Doctor, tell your friends, let others help you. I know asking for help can be hard – but as the Nike ad says "Just Do It".
I can highly recommend the professional counselors that you can reach 24/7 online for pain counseling and migraine support. Even though I was embarrassed and ashamed at first, getting counseling and migraine advice was one of the best steps I ever took towards getting the help I needed.
You don't have to do this hard bit all by yourself. There are professionals that are trained to help.
Some of visible depression warning signs to watch for include:
- regular headaches, migraines;
- excessive sleepiness, lethargy, social withdrawal;
- excessive weight loss, diminished mental capacity, loss of focus and concentration and prolonged sadness or grief.
Each person will experience and exhibit different depression warning signs, so these lists may not include all of the possibilities or combinations of symptoms.
Depression can seem to have no cause (called "endogenous" literally meaning 'created within'), or you may have an obvious cause – like chronic migraines - called "reactive" depression. Either way, depression can become severe at any stage.
If the symptoms I have mentioned above last a long time and become persistent, you may reach a point where it feels like there is no way out. The cause will play a part in how you cope and eventually overcome it. It can become a downward vicious cycle.
It is difficult to break this cycle on your own, especially with recurring severe debilitating migraine pain in your life, so please find a professional who can help you. Friends and family are good, but it really is an area for the trained professionals to handle more efficiently for you.
Please don't let it reach levels of complete despair, severe depression can lead to suicide if left unattended. Let's face it - recurring long term chronic migraines would depress even the most optimistic of people. We are not trained to deal with this level of constant pain and disruption in life in all areas that follows as a result, so getting some help is a smart move.
All you have to do is make it. The smart move that is! Click here for help right now.
Other useful links for dealing with depression now that you know the depression warning signs:
When I am feeling down I put on my earphones and listen to my favorite music for 5 minutes minimum. I sing and dance around and I always feel better after that.
If you are struggling to cope, here are some things that can help:
Until next time, be well and be pain free,
Depression Warning Signs Reference: Priest, R. Prof (1983) Anxiety & Depression: A practical guide to recovery. Random House: UK.
Your comments and guest posts are welcome here!


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15% off pillows, duvet covers, mugs, and tapestries. Own your home. Use code YOURHOME
I love this shirt. Great quality and so cute. Shipped faster than expected.
Great quality product but remember chiffon style tops are shorter than usual t shirts but overall apart from being a little short its great
Londrona, Brazil


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Sunset meditation on the beach is a great way to wind down after a surfing lesson.
Will, Original Traveller
The Galapagos are of course all about the rich variety of marine and land creatures, as well as the harsh but beautiful volcanic landscape. Now guests at Galapagos Safari Camp can combine the two with getting fit – and finding their inner zen - on a yoga and surf safari.
Ollie is here to help give you the inside track.
Key Stats
Flight from London
11:15 hrs
Time Difference
GMT -5 hrs
Believe it or not, yoga is a great way to learn to surf. Not only is it a way of learning to control breathing (especially useful when surfing), but the moves can mirror those in surfing. The first day explains why, and after that guests focus on balance, paddle stroke (or 'steering the soul of the surf board') and master the art of standing up (otherwise known, in yoga terms, as 'one breath one motion pop up').
After a few days of strengthening the core while learning the key skills of surfing, it is time to take to the water. Spend the day with an instructor on a long, white sandy beach, taking breaks to look for wildlife with a naturalist guide.
Wildlife is an integral part of the trip, and the daily yoga is broken up with trips to see some of the Galapagos's infamous inhabitants. See giant tortoises and an abundance of birdlife - including the blue booted booby, finch and vermilion flycatcher - as well as a number of endemic plants. The Galapagos Marine Reserve is the second largest in the world and snorkelling with sea lions here is a real highlight. Other activities on offer include kayaking and mountain biking.


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What's New at Target Health Inc.?
Filed Under News, What's New | Leave a Comment
Manuscript on Direct Data Entry (DDE) Accepted for Publication in DIA Journal
Target Health is pleased to announce that The Drug Information Journal has accepted a manuscript for publication entitled "Lessons Learned From a Direct Data Entry (DDE) Phase 2 Clinical Trial Under a US IND." This is the 4th article in a series of articles in the DIA Journal co-authored by Dr. Jules T. Mitchel, addressing approaches to transform clinical trials operations, source document verification and data collection. Two of the 4 articles have already been published.
The article assesses the impact of direct data entry (DDE; real time data entry at the time of the patient visit) when used in a Phase 2 study, performed at single site under a US IND. For DDE, the clinical site used Target e*CRF® (EDC) for data collection and Target e*CTR® (eClinical Trial Record) as the subject's eSource record. Access to Target e*CTR, which is controlled by the PI, was through the Target e*CTR Viewer™. The monitoring plan defined the scope of source document verification (SDV), online data review and the criteria for when to perform onsite monitoring. As a result of DDE, there was a major reduction in onsite monitoring compared to comparable studies that use paper source records; compliance issues were identified in real time and corrected; there was rapid detection of safety issues; and the clinical site saved 70 hours of labor by not using paper source records. We will let you know when it is published or we can send you more details now upon request.
For more information about Target Health contact Warren Pearlson (212-681-2100 ext. 104). For additional information about software tools for paperless clinical trials, please also feel free to contact Dr. Jules T. Mitchel or Ms. Joyce Hays. The Target Health software tools are designed to partner with both CROs and Sponsors. Please visit the Target Health Website at www.targethealth.com
Quiz Question (fill in the blanks)
Filed Under News | Leave a Comment
Drug Clears Chronic Urinary Infections in Mice
Scientists have found a way to block the "glue" that lets bacteria stick to the walls of the bladder and start a urinary tract infection. In this image, the glue (red, white and blue spheres) and the glue-blocker (yellow spheres) are overlaid on a micrograph of an infected bladder cell (red) filled with bacteria (green). (Credit: Bradley Jones)
An experimental treatment for urinary tract infections has easily passed its first test in animals, alleviating weeks-long infections in mice in as little as six hours. "This drug can block the spread of the bacteria that cause urinary tract 1) ___ far better than any other previously reported compound," says senior author Scott J. Hultgren, PhD, the Helen L Stoever Professor of Molecular Microbiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. "If it has similar effects in humans, the potential applications would be very exciting." The compound is a novel derivative of the natural sugar called mannose, making it unlikely to be toxic. Because the body normally directs excess sugars to the kidney for disposal in the urine, the new drug is naturally sent to exactly where it needs to be to treat infections of the urinary 2) ___.
The results appear in Science Translational Medicine.
Urinary tract infections mainly occur in women and are one of the most common infections, causing around $1.6 billion in medical expenses every year in the United States. Scientists believe 80% to 90% of these infections are caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli). Half of all 3) ___ will experience a urinary tract infection at some point in their lives, and additional recurrent infections will affect 20% to 40% of these women. Doctors currently treat urinary tract infections with 4) ___. But about 10% to 30% of these infections are antibiotic resistant, and resistance is spreading rapidly.
Hultgren has shown that the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections create long hair-like fibers on their surfaces that are tipped with a protein that acts like glue. These glue-tipped fibers allow them to cling to receptors on the bladder wall instead of being flushed out by 5) ___. "Binding to host cells is the key event in most bacterial infections because it's the step that has to be taken before the bacterium can infect the cell," Hultgren says. The glue also helps bacteria stick to each other in cooperative communities, increasing their resistance to drugs and the immune 6) ___.
James W. Janetka, PhD, research assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics, designed a group of investigational drugs based on information from Hultgren's research. Scientists call these drugs mannosides because they are derivatives of mannose and block the bacterial glue's ability to bind to mannose found on the surface of 7) ___ in the bladder. They designed and tested a number of these compounds, and chose one finalist from among the top six candidates.
When scientists fed the most promising drug to mice with chronic urinary tract infections, bacteria levels in their 8) ___ declined much more quickly than in a second group of mice given antibiotics. The mannoside also prevented new infections.
"In other tests, when we gave infected 9) ___ the mannoside first, the bacteria became much more vulnerable to treatment with antibiotics," Janetka says. "But we produced our most exciting results when we used the mannoside and the antibiotics simultaneously. This created a synergistic effect in the mice that could rapidly eliminate even infections by antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains." Hultgren says it should be much harder for bacteria to develop resistance to the mannoside. "Antibiotics have to get into the bacterial cell to kill it," Hultgren says. "This gives the bacteria a number of opportunities to resist: They can change their cell walls to make it harder for the antibiotic to get in, or they can destroy the antibiotic after it gets in or pump it back out of the cell. Mannosides bypass those resistance mechanisms because they don't have to get into the cell." Hultgren and Janetka are continuing to develop more potent mannosides. They hope to begin human toxicity tests for the drugs late in 2012. If those tests are successful, 10) ___ trials may follow.
According to Hultgren, the approach he and Janetka are using to develop the mannosides could be harnessed to treat infections in other parts of the 11) ___, such as ear or kidney infections. "Cells in other parts of the body have different materials on their surfaces, and bacteria that cause infections in those areas will have proteins that are customized to stick there," he says. "Blocking binding 12) ___ could be helpful in fighting a wide variety of bacterial infections." Washington University holds a patent on the 13) ___ developed by Hultgren and Janetka. Their interests in these compounds are managed by the Office of Technology Management in accordance with the University's policies on intellectual property.
ANSWERS: 1) infections; 2) tract; 3) women; 4) antibiotics; 5) urine; 6) system; 7) cells; 8) bladders; 9) mice; 10) clinical; 11) body; 12) proteins; 13) mannosides
Filed Under History of Medicine, News | Leave a Comment
Not only will the text below be fascinating from a historical perspective for our readers, the important update is equally interesting. Joyce Hays, Target Health Inc.
Ancient Babylonian and Sumerian physicians first inscribed their evaluations of urine into clay tablets as early as 4,000 BCE. And in ancientGreece, Hippocrates, often called the father of Western medicine, expanded on urine's importance: "No other organ system or organ of the human body provides so much information by its excretion as does the urinary system."
Urine as a specimen to diagnose infections in 21st century: Urine as a clinical specimen to diagnose infections has been used since ancient times. Many rapid technologies to assist diagnosis of infections are currently in use. Alongside traditional enzyme immunoassays (EIA), new technologies have emerged. Molecular analysis of transrenal DNA to diagnose infections is also a rapidly growing field. The majority of EIAs utilize the detection of excreted sugar compounds of the outer microbial cell-wall shed into the bloodstream and excreted into the urine.
Urine as a Specimen: Milleniums ago urine as a diagnostic specimen attracted the attention of early physicians. InEgypt and Aztec cultures, urine was used to disinfect wounds and was rubbed into the skin to treat cuts and burns. In medical papyri (1550 BCE) of ancientEgypt hematuria was described using hieroglyphic symbols. This condition was most probably caused by the worm Schistosoma haematobium that plagued people living along theNileValley.
A Greek philosopher, naturalist, and the Roman emperor's physician, Claudius Galenos (129–200 CE) used the humoral philosophy of ancient Greece which was based on the concept of Hippocrates (460–370 BCE). According to Hellenistic teaching the body is at equilibrium or homeostasis when four juices are in balance. Urine was one of the four pillars of the galenic humoral pathology. Centuries later this teaching was reintroduced inEuropeduring the Renaissance.
Urine is an ideal clinical specimen for diagnostics because it is excreted in large quantities and collection does not require invasive methods. When conventional culture remains either negative or unreliable, diagnosis of systemic infectious disease based on the demonstration of bacterial antigens directly from urine has many potential advantages. If the kidneys are intact, the excreted urinary antigens have a lower MW than of albumin (<67 kDa) or for transrenal DNA usually do not exceed 100 bp. Inspection of the color of urine is still useful today. Unusual color comprising practically the whole spectrum of the rainbow is associated with various metabolic or infectious diseases.
Red Color, or Hematuria: Hematuria is a condition of the presence of fresh blood in urine. This symptom is found in a great variety of non-infectious disorders but may also occur in relation to common infections, e.g., urinary tract infection (UTI). It may follow the prodromal period (Katayama syndrome) after infection with Schistosoma haematobium. Hematuria may also be a symptom in viral zoonotic infections that may lead to hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). HFRS are caused by, e.g., Hantaan, Dobrava,Seoul viruses, or other arboviruses, e.g., Yellow Fever Disease, Rift Valley Fever, or tick-borne Crimea-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, or Dengue virus that may cause Hemorrhagic Fever.
Brown Color, or Black Water Fever and Other Infections: Black water fever is a urological manifestation of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. The color of urine turns brownish due to profuse hemoglobinuria. The brownish color of urine could be observed also in cholestasis with jaundice that may occur, e.g., in hepatitis A virus infection or in leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease, caused by the spirochete Leptospira interrogans.
Milky Color, or Chyluria: Chyluria, or "milky urine", is a symptom of the disturbance of lymphatic flow that may be caused by filariasis. A tapeworm, Wuchereria bancrofti, accounts for 90% of human filariasis and is widespread across tropic and subtropic areas.
Inflammatory Markers from Urine: A non-specific immune marker, neopterin, produced by human macrophages has been detected from urine as well as blood. This marker was found elevated in several inflammatory diseases and in AIDS. Recently, pro-inflammatory chemokines and cytokines have been studied in urine from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Only IP-10 was excreted in the urine in measurable quantities exceeding those of patients without TB.
Tests for Histoplasmosis: Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis (PDH) is common in persons with AIDS, and other immunosuppressed patients. The most frequently reported test is the enzyme immunoassay (EIA). This method detects circulating polysaccharides of Histoplasma capsulatum and provides quantification of antigen concentration. Antigenuria is a sensitive laboratory biomarker of Histoplasma clearance and was used to monitor the efficacy of antimycotic treatment. On the other hand, positive urine antigen levels may persist at low levels for months in patients without clinical illness.
Streptococcus pneumoniae Polysaccharides in Urine: Despite availability of pneumococcal vaccines, Streptococcus pneumoniae is the number one causative agent of community acquired pneumonia (CAP), sepsis, and meningitis. The diagnostic utility of excreted soluble urine antigen in patients with pneumonia was first described in 1917.
Legionella pneumophila Polysaccharides in Urine: Suspicion of nosocomial or community acquired legionellosis warrants immediate diagnosis and differentiation from other pathogens because the infection requires antibiotic treatment different from that used in pneumococcal infection.
LAM from Urine to Assist Diagnosis of Tuberculosis: Tuberculosis is a global health emergency of enormous proportions. The major obstacles to TB control is the lack of fast, affordable, and accurate diagnostic techniques both for pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB in adults and children. One approach is to detect the presence of urinary microbial metabolites, e.g., LAM. Lipoarabinomannan is a structural heat-stable cell-wall glycolipid of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It constitutes up to 15% of the total bacterial weight. LAM is a virulence factor and is released from metabolically active or degrading M. tuberculosis in TB infection.
Urine as a Sample to Study Viral Infections: Human polyomaviruses (HPyVs) are widespread and unique to humans. High quantities of viral particles can be shed in urine from a healthy individual. In nephropathy, e.g., after kidney transplantation, in profound immunosuppression or in AIDS, in hemorrhagic cystitis (BKV), or in symptoms of central nervous system compatible with progressive multifocal leucomyelopathy (JCV), these viruses may no longer be "innocent bystanders". NAATs for both urine and blood have been developed to detect, subtype, and estimate viral loads. Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, a leading cause of sensorineural hearing loss and neurological impairment can be robustly detected directly from urine. In primary infections CMV is excreted and can be cultured from urine for several weeks. Urine has also been utilized as sample for the early diagnosis of Dengue virus infection. In some situations urine NAATs provided greater sensitivity than does analysis of plasma. Virus-specific IgG or IgA-class antibodies as serological markers of this disease have been also detected in urine.
Urine as a Sample to Diagnose STDs: Urine is extremely useful to diagnose infections of the reproductive tract. The review of non-invasive testing for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae showed that both assays reached specificities of 97% for both infections and in both genders.
Emerging Technologies and Pathogens: Flow cytometry-based analysis (FACS) that quantifies both bacteria and white blood cells in the urine has emerged as a promising diagnostic tool. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to detect volatile organic components in human urine has been recently described although not yet implemented in clinical practice. Detection of microbial transrenal DNA is an attractive option to diagnose infections. As new detection technologies emerge, knowledge about new pathogens continues to increase. For example, Actinobaculum schaalii may cause undiagnosed cystitis predominantly in the elderly and in those persons in whom the primary focus appears to be anomalies in the genitourinary tract (e.g., benign prostatic hyperplasia). Most recently it has been associated with bloodstream infections. Urine FACS may prove useful to identify less known or unknown pathogens which can be suspected on the basis of discrepancy between conventional culture and a positive fluorescence signal denoting "presence" of bacteria.
Conclusion: In the future urine, because of ease of collection, processing, and storage, may be extensively used for targeted multiplexed analyses. Current state-of-the-art, however, indicates that some detection methods still require further understanding of molecular forms and structures detected, as well as the excretion kinetics of these polymeric compounds.
Citation: Tuuminen T (2012) Urine as a specimen to diagnose infections in twenty-first century: focus on analytical accuracy. Front. Immun. 3:45. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2012.00045
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Survival Advantage for Bypass Surgery Compared With Non-Surgical Procedure
Comparative effectiveness research results provide information to help patients and health care providers decide which practices are most likely to offer the best approach for a particular patient, what the timing of interventions should be, and the best setting for providing care.
In coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease, plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. Over time, blocked or reduced blood flow to the heart muscle may occur, resulting in chest pain, heart attack, heart failure, or erratic heart beats. Each year, more than half a million Americans die from CHD.
In CABG, or bypass surgery, the most common type of heart surgery in the U.S., blood flow to the heart muscle is improved by using ("grafting") a healthy artery or vein from another part of the body to bypass the blocked coronary artery. In contrast, in theU.S., cardiologists perform over a million revascularization procedures, also known as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), to open blocked arteries in order to improve blood flow to the heart muscle. PCI is a less invasive, non-surgical procedure in which blocked arteries are opened with a balloon (also called angioplasty). A stent, or small mesh tube, is then usually placed in the opened arteries to allow blood to continue to flow into the heart muscle.
According to an article published online in the New England Journal of Medicine (27 March 2012), a new comparative effectiveness study found older adults with stable CHD who underwent CABG surgery had better long-term survival rates than those who underwent PCI. While there were no survival differences between the two groups after one year, after four years the CABG group had a 21% lower mortality.
With NIH support, the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) came together to compare short- and long-term survival outcomes after CABG versus PCI. The investigators linked medical data available in their ACCF and STS databases with follow-up information in the Medicare Provider Analysis and Review database of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Linking these three datasets from 644 U.S. hospitals allowed the study to analyze information from the STS database on 86,244 older adults (average age 74) with stable CHD who underwent CABG between 2004 and 2007 and 103,549 older adults (average age 74) with stable CHD from the ACCF database who underwent PCI between 2004 and 2007. Follow-up ranged from one to five years, with an average of 2.72 years.
Results showed that at one year there was no difference in deaths between the groups (6.55% for PCI versus 6.24% for CABG). However, at four years there was a lower mortality with CABG than with PCI (16.4% versus 20.8%). This long-term survival advantage after CABG was consistent across multiple subgroups based on gender, age, race, diabetes, body mass index, prior heart attack history, number of blocked coronary vessels, and other characteristics. For example, the insulin-dependent diabetes subgroup that received CABG had a 28% increased chance of survival after four years compared with the PCI group.
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Interventions to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes Give Good Return on Investment (ROI)
In the U.S, nearly 26 million people have diabetes, and up to 95% of them have type 2 diabetes. About 7 million people have type 2 diabetes but do not know it. In addition, about 79 million adults have prediabetes, with high blood sugar levels that are not yet in the diabetic range. Prediabetes substantially raises the risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
According to an article published online in Diabetes Care (19 March 2012), programs to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in high-risk adults result in fewer people developing diabetes and lower health care costs over time. Prevention programs that apply interventions tested in the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) clinical trial would also improve quality of life for people who would otherwise develop type 2 diabetes.
In 2002, the DPP showed that lifestyle changes (reduced fat and calories in the diet and increased physical activity) leading to modest weight loss reduced the rate of type 2 diabetes in high-risk adults by 58%, compared with placebo. Metformin reduced diabetes by 31%. As the study monitored participants for seven more years in the DPP Outcomes Study (DPPOS), lower rates of diabetes continued in the lifestyle and metformin groups compared with placebo. Lifestyle changes were especially beneficial for people age 60 and older.
The economic analysis of the DPP/DPPOS found that metformin treatment led to a small savings in health care costs over 10 years, compared with placebo. (At present, metformin, an oral drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, is not approved by the FDA for diabetes prevention.) The lifestyle intervention as applied in the study was cost-effective, or justified by the benefits of diabetes prevention and improved health over 10 years, compared with placebo.
The DPP enrolled 3,234 overweight or obese adults with blood sugar levels higher than normal but below the threshold for diabetes diagnosis. Participants were randomly assigned to a lifestyle intervention aimed at a 7% weight loss and 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity activity, metformin treatment, or placebo pills. The groups taking metformin or placebo pills also received standard lifestyle recommendations.
"We don't often see new therapies that are more effective and at the same time less costly than usual care, as was the case with metformin in the DPP. And while the lifestyle intervention was cost-effective, we would see greater savings if the program were implemented in communities," said Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D., director of the NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). "This has already been demonstrated in other NIDDK-funded projects, including one in YMCAs, where a lifestyle-change program cost $300 per person per year in a group setting, compared to about $1,400 for one-on-one attention in the DPP."
In the DPP, direct costs over 10 years per participant for the lifestyle and metformin interventions were higher than for placebo ($4,601 lifestyle, $2,300 metformin, and $769 placebo). The higher cost of the lifestyle intervention was due largely to the individualized training those participants received in a 16-session curriculum during the DPP and in group sessions during the DPPOS to reinforce behavior changes.
However, the costs of medical care received outside the DPP, for example hospitalizations and outpatient visits, were higher for the placebo group ($27,468) compared with lifestyle ($24,563) or metformin ($25,616). Over 10 years, the combined costs of the interventions and medical care outside the study were lowest for metformin ($27,915) and higher for lifestyle ($29,164) compared with placebo ($28,236). Throughout the study, quality of life as measured by mobility, level of pain, emotional outlook and other indicators was consistently better for the lifestyle group.
According to the authors, the DPP demonstrated that the diabetes epidemic, with more than 1.9 million new cases per year in theU.S., can be curtailed. We now show that these interventions also represent good value for the money," said study chair David M. Nathan, M.D., director of theDiabetesResearchCenteratMassachusetts GeneralHospital,Boston.
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Weight Loss and Increased Fitness Slow Decline of Mobility in Adults
Overweight and obesity affects more than two-thirds ofU.S.adults age 20 and older. More than one-third of adults are obese. Many factors contribute to the problem, including genetics, lifestyle habits, and the food environment. Excess weight can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and certain cancers. Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes, and 7 million of them do not know it.
According to an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine (2012; 366:1209-1217), weight loss and increased fitness slows decline of mobility in adults which could lead to lower health care costs for adults with type 2 diabetes. Results showed that weight loss and increased physical fitness nearly halved the risk of losing mobility in overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes.
Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) trial is a multi-center, randomized clinical trial designed to determine the long-term effects of intentional weight loss on the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. Beginning in 2001, a total of 5,145 participants were randomly assigned to either an intensive lifestyle intervention group (ILI) or a diabetes support and education group (DSE). Participants receiving the intervention attended group and individual meetings to achieve and maintain weight loss through decreased caloric intake and increased physical activity. The DSE group attended three meetings each year that provided general education on diet, activity, and social support.
To assess mobility and disability, participants rated their ability to carry out activities with or without limitations. Included were vigorous activities such as running and lifting heavy objects and moderate ones such as pushing a vacuum cleaner or playing golf. Participants also separately rated their ability to climb a flight of stairs; bend, kneel or stoop; walk more than a mile; and walk one block. Both groups were weighed annually and completed a treadmill fitness test at baseline, after one year, and at the end of four years.
Results showed that after 4 years of the study, participants in theILIgroup experienced a 48% reduction in mobility-related disability compared with the DSE group. Furthermore, 20.6% ofILIparticipants reported severe disability compared to 26.2% of participants in the DSE group. Likewise, 38.5% of those in theILIgroup reported good mobility, whereas the rate was 31.9% in the DSE group. Weight loss was a slightly stronger predictor of better mobility than improved fitness, but both contributed significantly to the observed reduction in risk.
According to the authors, the weight loss and physical activity goals promoted in the study are well within the reach of most Americans and that future research is needed to determine if this sort of intervention can be translated into public health interventions, particularly in light of possible effects on health care costs."
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TARGET HEALTH excels in Regulatory Affairs. Each week we highlight new information in this challenging area
FDA Takes Action to Address Tobacco Epidemic
The FDA released two separate draft guidance documents to help fight the tobacco epidemic and stop children from using tobacco. The draft guidance documents implement provisions of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act that will ultimately provide the public with previously unknown information about the chemicals in tobacco products and help prevent misleading marketing about the risks associated with tobacco products.
The first document provides guidance on how companies will comply with the requirement to report on the quantities of potentially harmful chemicals in tobacco products. The second document provides guidance to companies that seek to advertise or market a tobacco product as less harmful or associated with reducing the risk of tobacco-related disease.
The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act requires tobacco product manufacturers and importers to report quantities of harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) found in tobacco products or tobacco smoke by brand and sub-brand. HPHCs are chemicals or chemical compounds in a tobacco product or tobacco smoke that cause, or could cause, harm to smokers or non-smokers. All HPHCs included on the list cause or may cause serious health problems including cancer, lung disease, and addiction to tobacco products.
While there are more than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco and tobacco smoke, FDA has established a list of 93 HPHCs that tobacco companies will be required to report for every regulated tobacco product sold in theUnited States. The FDA recognizes that industry may be unable to meet the deadline due to current testing limitations. In recognition of this, the draft guidance released today identifies 20 HPHCs that are representative of the full list and for which testing methods are well established and widely available.
FDA intends to focus reporting enforcement on these 20 HPHCs during 2012 and intends to make information about the amount of HPHCs in specific products available to the public in a consumer-friendly format by April 2013.
FDA also issued draft guidance on submitting applications to sell modified risk tobacco products (MRTPs). Modified risk tobacco products are tobacco products that are sold, distributed, or marketed with a claim to reduce harm or the risk of tobacco-related disease.
The Tobacco Control Act establishes rigorous scientific criteria an applicant's tobacco product must meet before FDA can allow the applicant to sell that product with a claim to reduce harm. The draft guidance describes scientific studies and analyses an applicant should submit to demonstrate its product will, or is expected to, significantly reduce harm or exposure to individuals, and benefit the health of the population as a whole.
The draft guidance for MRTPs provides details for those who seek to market a tobacco product as modified or lower risk including how to organize and submit an MRTP application, what scientific studies and analyses should be submitted, and what information should be collected through post-market surveillance and studies.
The draft guidance document and a December 2011 report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) titled "Scientific Standards for Studies on Modified Risk Tobacco Products" are open for comments from the public until June 4, 2012. Before issuing the final guidance, FDA will consider these public comments, the IOM report and feedback from an FDA public workshop held in August 2011.
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"Cheaper is Better": Another Challenged Shibboleth
By Mark L. Horn, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer, Target Health Inc.
With oral arguments at the Supreme Court, the multistate challenges to the Affordable Care Act are hogging the headlines. However, interesting and substantive discussions about key elements of healthcare spending and quality continue apace, and it's important to headline these, especially when they challenge conventional wisdom in ways that suggests "truths" widely accepted with profound implications for health policy may, in fact, be more nuanced than we think. It's especially important to pay attention to these challenges when they have significant impact on health policy makers.
The March 14th issue of JAMA contains an article (Stukel, Fisher, Alter et.al. JAMA 2012; 307:1037-1045) and an accompanying editorial (Joynt & Jha. JAMA 2012; 307:1082-1083), examining the relationship between health care quality and cost. For some time, it's been almost an article of faith that not only can quality be achieved with lower costs, but that there is, counter-intuitively, potentially an inverse relationship between these parameters. Based upon data from the Dartmouth Atlas, it has been suggested that (at least for the Medicare population) higher spending might, paradoxically, negatively impact health outcomes.
The recently published article and editorial cite evidence suggesting that theseDartmouthdata should be interpreted in a more nuanced fashion, that the poor outcomes potentially result from dysfunctional care systems and that institutions thoughtfully targeting increased resource allocation may indeed improve patient outcomes.
These two papers are important because of their challenge to a shibboleth with appeal to both sides of the health care debate – the entrenched idea that costs can be cut without compromising quality, the quintessential 'free lunch'. Unfortunately, as with most things medical, it's not so simple. Cost cutting must be done with care to assure that it is the dysfunctional systems and ineffective care that are cut, while spending on improving coordination and enhanced application of evidence based interventions, including subspecialty care and procedures, may well improve outcomes. It's impossible to know how all this will 'net out' in dollar terms, but there is clearly a developing literature supporting the argument that the burden of providing data and analyses confirming the salutary impact of their decisions will (and should) increasingly fall upon the costs cutters. Policymakers will, and should, be compelled to justify their cost cutting recommendations with evidence.


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Chuck King, a Towson State junior from Abingdon, won the boys division of the first United States Duckpin Invitational Championship yesterday at Westview Fair Lanes in Catonsville.
King, 20, advanced to the final by defeating Buddy Nichols of Brookeville, 147-117. Nichols, 19, carries a 132 average and was a runner-up in this year's Youth Duckpin Invitational Championship.
In the championship, King beat Luke Robustelli, the grandson of former National Football League player Andy Robustelli, of Forestville, Conn., 148-97, bowling spares in the first five frames of the match.


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6 Must-Do Exercises to Improve Pelvic Stability
In one of our previous blog posts, we talked about the importance of pelvic stability in running form to help you improve performance and reduce the risk of injury. As a refresher, here is a quick recap on the pelvis and it's importance in our running:
Pelvic movement happens on three different planes: sagittal, coronal and transverse, which correspond to tilt, drop and rotation respectively.
Tilt: This is the forward and backward movement of your pelvis and is most effectively seen from the side of the runner. For exaggerated movement, try sticking your butt in and out.
Drop: This is the up and down movement of your hip and can be seen from the front (or rear) of the runner. Swing your hips from side to side to get a sense of what this movement feels like.
Rotation: Finally, this is the left and right movement of your pelvis and is best seen from a birds-eye point of view of the runner. Swing one side of your hip forward at a time for this movement.
Excessive movement on any or all of these planes lead to wasted energy and instability in your core that translates into uncontrolled movement in your extremities — namely your legs and arms — that make for inefficient running and increased risk of injury. To help with this, we've collaborated with Dr. Bryan Heiderscheit (read his blog post here) to create a comprehensive pelvic stability program that will help runners strengthen this very core part of our bodies.
Here is a sneak peak of 6 exercises to help you begin strengthening these muscle groups today:
1. Leg Curl with Exercise Ball
2. Multi-Planar Lunges
3. World's Greatest
4. Dead Bug
5. Lateral Band Walk or Side Stepping
6. Fire Hydrant
Doing these 6 exercise repeatedly (not just once!) will help you begin to strengthen and recruit some of these large muscle groups necessary to provide your pelvis with the support it needs to remain stable as you power your strides.
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Lumo Run measures lab-grade biomechanics data for your running form including important measures like cadence, bounce, braking, and pelvic drop and rotation. The Lumo Run app provides insights into your running form during and after each run, coaching you to become a better, more efficient runner to improve performance and reduce the risk of injury.


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Youth Philanthropy Presentation at the Or Chadash Annual Meeting on May 9, 2016: Joseph Cohen, Jeremy Levine, Elana Goldberg, Maya Baker, and Brenda Landau
Our seventh grade students participate in a youth philanthropy program in which they evaluate and fund community grant proposals. Through this process, they choose their causes, raise funds, requst proposals and fund the ones that meet their objectives.
Objective: Help reduce suicide and bullying of youth in the LGBTQ community through training, prevention, and education.
Objective: Help reduce the trauma and incidence of child abuse through treatment, prevention, and education.
Office: firstname.lastname@example.com President: email@example.com Website: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Walk on the Ocean
As I was processing this photo the song by Toad the Wet Sprocket kept looping through my head.
Under the Pier
We got to the beach right after a storm, so it was relatively empty. The tide was coming in and kept chasing me away whenever I put my tripod down. Love the beautiful reflections on the wet sand.
So soft Your Goodbye
The waves ebb and flow lapping softly against the pier as the sun waves goodbye with a warm glow.
CaliforniaLandscapePismo BeachSLO CountySeascapeSunsetUnited Statesbeachoceanpacific oceanpierseawaves


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And here is open! Perfect to display on your Birthday Girl's desk!!
Check out this adorable "kick stand"!
The best thing about this card is that I got that great stamp set for FREE!! Let's see how this works:
I ordered the Succulent framellits - $33 (Tons of great flower shapes here)
next I grabbed that versatile Organza ribbon - $6 (what a value!!)
Then I stocked up on some colored papers - now I can make lots of cards
- Perfect Plum paper - $8 (I could make 48 cards from this pack!!)
- Wild Wasabi paper - $8 (What she said...)
for a grand total of $55 - Now that stamp set is FREE!! Yippee!!
Here are the links for you:
Hop on over to Helen to see what Saleabration freebie she has for you today!