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When you read a news article about Austin real estate that reports average and median home prices, the values quoted are often those from total Austin MLS sales. Those sales figures are compiled from the entire Austin MLS service area, including suburbs, nearby cities as well as some far flung areas. The "Austin MLS" might more accurately be referred to as a "Central Texas MLS".
Therefore, you might read in one of the "Best of" articles about Austin, that "The Average Sold price for single family homes in the Austin Metro area for 2013 is $314,300 and the Median Sold price is $235,000".
Those values are represented in the green bars in the graph above. To those thinking of moving to Austin, a median price of $235K sounds pretty affordable. It means half of all houses in "Austin" sell for less than $235K. A buyer with good credit earning the Austin median family income of $65K annually, can qualify for a mortgage payment of $1,950 per month at 5%, or a $266K home. Austin seems like a sweet deal and a great place to live to an outsider reading about it.
Below is the breakout of the Austin real estate market year to date, through June 2012 compared to the same period 2011. The format is as follows, which shows the entire market.
|MLS Area
|# Sold
|Avg Sold
|Med Sold
|Avg SQFT
|Avg PSF
|Avg Days
|Med Days
|All Areas
The color coding at the bottom of each MLS Area summary indicates whether that measure improved or slid back. In the "All Areas" example above, all of the measures improved. That is, # Sold, Avg and Median sales prices, and Avg price per sqft all increased on a market-wide basis, while days on market decreased. Average sqft size is not color coded because I don't see how a slight change in average size up or down is either good or bad.
A quick summary of some stats results:
Fastest selling: The fastest selling area in the Austin MLS market area is Southwest Austin (MLS Area SWW) which has an average days on market of 29, and a median of 10. Yes, half the homes in SW Austin have sold in 10 days or less so far in 2012. There are a lot of other MLS areas with median days below 20, which you'll see in the full chart below, but no area is as hot as SW Austin in terms of demand. MLS area SWW includes subdivisions such as Circle C, Legend Oaks, and Villages at Western Oaks.
Highest Price Increases: There are 44 MLS areas shown in the chart below. 12 of those have avg price increases of over 10%. 12 areas (though not the same 12) have median sold price increases over 10% from last year. Most of the highest increases are in closer in areas of Austin proper, though Cedar Park/Leander North (CLN) and Georgetown West (GTW) are in that group, as well as dark horses Manor and Elgin, which have been perennial low performers in the market.
The full chart is below. As usual, questions and comments are welcome.
The Austin real estate market has found its traction this selling season. Good for sellers, frustrating for buyers. And there hasn't been any let up. Sylvia and I personally had a record June. July has been extremely busy as well. We're encountering multiple offers, backups offers, and several listings we've sold from "Coming Soon" signs that never made it into the Austin MLS.
That said, we still see that this good market isn't yet showing up for every home or in every neighboirhood. So, for now, the rising tide is floating most boats, but not all. I'll have a neighborhood breakdown in a following post.
I have several charts and graphs below that give visual representation to the market. The first is my recurring 1999 look-back graph. I like this one because it puts into context our market for the past 13 years.
Next is June 2012 compared to June 2011. The left column shows the previous month, for reference. The right colum is color coded, red for downward movement, green for upward movement in the particular market measure. As you can see, everything is green.
This isn't a full-blown market update, but I wanted to post a few graphs real quick to show current market activity and movement. Let's start with the graph below showing Average and Median Sold values for homes in Austin for the past 49 months.
So, what looked like a pretty bleak December/January (lowest of lows for past 49 months. See the previous bottoms) quickly turned into an upswing. This isn't necessarily unusual. In fact, if you look back at every May in the chart, that's when the price peaks normally occur, and we're heading that direction again this year. What is unusual is the fast and sudden absorption rate of homes combined with shrinking inventory. This is a sudden "spike", at minimum, and may develop into a sustained upswing. I've been monitoring this and don't see any let-up yet.
Let's look at the Active/Pending chart below.
Above, we see the aftermath of the Tech Bust in 2000/2001, and what happened to the Austin sales market in 2003. For 2003 there was an inverted Sold/Not Sold ratio. More listings failed to sell than actually sold. That's a really weak, sour market when that happens. Dismal in fact. But then it happened again in 2010 in Austin. More sellers gave up (Expired or Withdrew) than successfully sold their homes in Austin. 2010 was the 4th year in a row of declining sales volume.
Then in 2011, we see these lines achieving separation again as the number of failed sales drops and the number of closed sales increases. And the separation is sudden and pronounced, indicating very strong buyer demand.
Now let's see what that graph would look like for just the first 3 months of 2012.
Almost overnight, with little warning, the Austin real estate market has caught fire. We are encountering multiple offers and buyer frustration. Not everywhere, but in the popular neighborhoods. Let's look at some Active/Pending stats for popular neighborhoods.
Circle C
27 Active Listings. Average Days on Market = 35
31 Pendings. Average Days on Market = 32
Over half of all listings under contract. A normal ratio is about 1 of 5 listings under contract in a balanced market.
Southwest Austin 78749 Zipcode (includes Legend Oaks, Village at Western Oaks, Westcreek)
25 Active Listings. Average Days on Market = 88
49 Pendings. Average Days on Market = 38
Double the number of homes under contract than there are available. This is an ASTOUNDING ratio reflecting a lot of pent up demand.
South Austin 78704 Zipcode – MLS Area 7 – Zilker/Barton Hills
10 Active Listings. Average Days on Market = 126
16 Pendings. Average Days on Market = 50
Like SW Austin, the Active/Pending ratio is inverted, with more Pending listings than Active.
Northwest Austin 78759
60 Active Listings. Average Days on Market = 59
51 Pendings. Average Days on Market = 47
Nearly half of all listings under contract.
The ratio for the entire Austin MLS at present is 1 of 3 listings under contract, which is very strong overall, even in typically weaker areas like Manor and Hutto. What does this mean for the Austin real estate market?
The Austin real estate market did about what we expected in 2011, which wasn't much. Basically treading water with some slight improvements, but nothing that represents a notable shift in market activity. Instead, it looks like momentum is building for a breakout year of increased activity and rising prices either in 2012 or 2013.
Let's start with a look back at the past 12 years for some context.
From 1999 to 2001, you see the effects of the Tech Bubble, as Austin experienced strong job growth, which in turn drives housing demand. From 2002 through 2004 (and most of 2005, though not obvious from the graph), Austin housing prices were flat, as we suffered the hangover of lost jobs after the Tech Bubble bust. Then in 2005 jobs returned as well as a lot of real estate investors who felt that other areas such as Phoenix, Las Vegas, Boise, Florida, etc. (which we now know were in a severe bubble) were playing out. So we had a mini burst of strong buyer demand through about the middle of 2007. After dipping in 2008, prices have slowly climbed since then, though many homes still sell for 2007 prices. By 2010, overall values were back to 2007 prices and have now surpasses the 2007 high. That's the Austin real estate market in a nutshell, for the past 12 years.
Let's look at the gains in 2011 compared to 2010.


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Nineties Throwback Party at Levels Tonight & it's All That
Correction: Cover is $3 all night for everyone over 21. First 50 guests under 21 are $5 and after that it's $10.
Who loves orange soda?
That's right, that was a Keenan and Kel reference. And you may have guessed it: The 90's are making a comeback in State College.
In what appears to be another Levels Nightclub curve-ball (which has us all saying "as if"), @PennStatePRSSA is hosting a 90's themed-party tonight at Level Nightclub to give us generation Y-ers a Friday night that is full of energy like the batteries in our Game Boys never were. The event will begin at 10 p.m. and the first fifty people to arrive get in for free. After that, it's $10 for the 18-20 crowd and $3 for those 21 and over.
PRSSA will be holding a costume contest at the event and winners will receive prizes. One can only dream of a second chance to own a Ferbie, tamagotchi, or a razor scooter. So dust off those over-sized jean jackets, dig up your old chokers, and tie up your hair into a "this seems too natural" high pony tail. Because the 90's are back.
Here's a 90's classic to get you in the mood to wiggle and shake your rump at Levels tonight.
For more information, check out the event Facebook page.
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subset: commoncrawl


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vCenter 1.3 and ESX 2.5.2 New Communication
With vCenter 1.2 and ESX server 2.5.1, when you add an ESX Host to farm it adds a vmware-ccagent process.
With vCenter 1.2 and ESX server 2.5.1 when you add an ESX Host to farm it adds a vmware-ccagent process. This vmware-ccagent...
Continue Reading This Article
Enjoy this article as well as all of our content, including E-Guides, news, tips and more.
replaces vmware-serverd. The agent allows the vCenter Server together with vCenter client to make changes to the ESX server. If you do a clean install of vCenter 1.3 and ESX 2.5.2 – the vmware-ccagent will not be there. The agent has been discontinued and its functionality has been incorporated into vmware-serverd. If you have upgraded from ESX 2.x to ESX 2.5.2, and it was previously part of a vCenter farm, you will find that vmware-ccagent is still there.


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We're living in a time when design and user experience have never mattered more. The past decade of change shows us that design must constantly adapt as a discipline in order to meet user needs. While it's impossible to see the future, we can still make some educated guesses about it. Explore some of the trends that will shape UX design in 2018 and, possibly, for several more years to come.
Check It


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Try the USAC Program Search to narrow programs by terms or fields of study.
Browse USAC programs using our Interactive Programs Map.
We pride ourselves on providing well-rounded, academically sound and credible programs in non-traditional locations or in unique parts of more traditional places. By choosing a USAC program, you have flexibility in the length and time of your study (short-term summer or January programs from three to ten weeks, to semester, trimester, or year options) and a wide range of courses to choose from, plus small class sizes, a multitude of disciplines taught in English, and language study at any level of proficiency from beginning to advanced and with no language prerequisite. Many of our locations have the option of intensive language study, where you can earn up to two years-worth of credit in one semester. USAC alumni give our programs a 94% recommendation rate.
Our programs feature outstanding on-site staff and support from USAC and/or host university staff and services. USAC programs are stable and well-established, benefiting from the longevity, experience, passion, and wisdom of many of our staff. In addition to excellent academic offerings, USAC programs offer a wide array of informal and formal opportunities to enrich your time abroad and immerse yourself in your host culture, integrating with the local and global community. Internships, field study, and service learning courses offer for-credit opportunities to combine tangible experience and university credit. Volunteer opportunities, field trips and tours, activities with locals and as part of the host campus, cultural and sporting opportunities, and much more provide social and cultural context—both meaningful and enjoyable — to your studies abroad.
As a non-profit, university-based organization, we understand the financial pressures students face to finance their educations. We are committed to maintaining modest fees for our programs and in addition work to provide scholarships and access to other means of financing in order to provide an affordable study abroad opportunity with USAC.
Our goal is for your USAC experience to be fully rewarding and to expand your knowledge of another culture.
Living and learning in another culture not only provides the competitive edge that today's employers are looking for, but also offers a life-changing experience. The benefits of study abroad are multifaceted and extend far beyond the classroom—there is no substitute for the experience. Your opportunity to enhance your future prospects and have this life-changing experience is here now!


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Kings Of Leon frontman Caleb Followill kicked off his 30th birthday celebrations on Friday (11Jan13) when his pals threw him a surprise party.
The rocker turns 30 years old on Monday (14Jan13), but his friends started the fun early with a night out on the town at a bar in Nashville, Tennesse.
His Victoria's Secret model wife Lily Aldridge managed to keep the secret from Followill, but she posted photos of the big bash on her Twitter.com page throughout the evening.
In one snap, the Sex On Fire singer can be seen enjoying a cigarette break outside with Aldridge and guests including The Black Keys rocker Patrick Carney and his wife Emily.


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August 24, 2016
B of A, US Bank Launch Real-Time P2P Payments
March 10, 2016
Bank of America and U.S. Bank yesterday launched P2P real-time mobile transactions. Early Warning, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based antifraud provider owned by the two banks (as well as other credit-card issuers JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Capital One and BB&T), will manage the clearXchange payments network that enables the payments for the banks. Early Warning acquired clearXchange last October so the major banks could begin to compete against Silicon Valley fintech companies like PayPal, Facebook, Square and others that have been more innovative in the P2P space than banks.
"At Early Warning, our vision of faster payments is an ecosystem built by financial institutions to provide consumers the ultimate in convenience, flexibility and safety," said Paul Finch, CEO of Early Warning. "Today, I am pleased to see that vision become a reality with Bank of America and U.S. Bank. We are proud to partner with these forward-thinking institutions as we bring our real-time payment solutions to consumers nationwide."
Capital One told Reuters it would integrate the platform and begin offering P2P payments "later this year." Presumably the rest of Early Warning's ownership consortium will follow.


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Event Details | Overview | Speakers
Event Details
Service Oriented Architecture & NGN: Introduction and Overview
Speakers: Bharat Gupta, Principal Architect, Communication Service Providers Unit
Ganapathi Subramaniam, Client Relationship Manager, Communications Service Providers Unit
Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Time: 1530-1555 GMT
TeleManagement World assembles the most insightful speakers and experts to present, discuss and debate the critical issues including:
Bharat Gupta and Ganapathi Subramaniam present Infosys' approach on "Taming the tide of Business Transformation using TM Forum Standards - NGOSS, eTOM, TAM and SID".
Session Overview
The proposed Infosys approach enables telcos to effectively use TM Forum standards - eTOM, TAM and SID framework - in taming the big transformation tide. The approach has been used in analysis of OSS/BSS application portfolio of a large telecom operator. It starts with data-gathering of various applications, application segmentation based on TM Forum's eTOM and TAM, and functional and technical health assessment of an application for business transformation.
Bharat M. Gupta is a Principal Architect in the Communication Service Providers IBU. Bharat is currently engaged in business process and solution consulting, including thought leadership and solutions innovation. He focuses on BSS layer including Billing, CRM, and Enterprise Application Integration. Bharat has 15 years of professional experience in the telecommunication industry including business and technical roles encompassing Communications Service providers, Telecom Product Vendors and Research & Development.
Ganapathi Subramanian is a Business Manager in the Communication Service Provider business unit, responsible for identifying and implementing client-specific business solutions in the areas of Network Services and Service Delivery. Ganapathi has over 15 years of experience in Telecom Services and Technology including six years as the Director of Engineering & Services Management at a leading Telecom & IP Service provider.
Management profiles
Meet the leadership at Infosys
Media relations contacts
Thank You
Our representative will get in touch with you shortly.


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- Triple H spoke with Mike Dunsmore of NBC Sports Radio this week. In the audio above, he talks about Daniel Bryan, Hulk Hogan, the WWE Performance Center and more.
- The WWE NXT Twitter account is hyping Mark Henry and "surprise guests" for the August 22nd NXT tapings from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida.
- As noted, WWE taped the August 23rd episode of Superstars last night in San Jose. They were taped this week because the doors for next Monday's post-SummerSlam RAW in Anaheim, California open up just 30 minutes before RAW hits the air, at 4:30pm local time or 7:30pm EST.
Got a news tip or correction? Send it to us by clicking here.


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Under Construction:
250 Taylor
250 S.W. Taylor St.
District: Downtown
Developer: Third & Taylor Development, LLC, a partnership between Onder Development and Arthur Mutal
Designer: Ankrom Moisan Architects
This 10-story office building has plans to include two levels of underground parking, 181,295 square feet of office space and 9,530 square feet of retail space. Plans include bike parking for 124 bicycles. The same architect and development team are also building a 20-floor hotel on the Salmon Street side of the block. NW Natural has plans to move into the office space from its Chinatown headquarters in the fall of 2019.
Under Construction:
905 N.W. 17th Ave.
District: Northwest
Developer: Holland Partner Group
Designer: SERA Architects
This new six-story apartment building has plans for 124 units and one level of below-ground parking. Plans also include 3,200 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, and nine of the units will also be on the ground floor. There will be 20 percent of the units set aside to be affordable for those earning less than 80 percent of the area median family income.
Under Construction:
Con-way Blocks
1717 N.W. 21st Ave.
District: Northwest
Developer: Cairn Pacific
Designer for Block 294E: GBD Architects
Designer for Block 295E: Jones Architecture
Contractor: Andersen Construction/JBA Construction joint venture
Block 294E is a 14-floor apartment tower with 220 units. Block 295E is a six-story mid-rise with 160 apartments. Both blocks include ground floor retail and share two levels of underground parking with 602 stalls, equaling 20,000 square feet. Plans include bike parking for 553 bicycles. The total square footage is 594,000.


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for hospitals, medical and dental practices, laboratories, and residential homes as well as for food processing industry, canteen kitchens, and sanitary facilities. For more than 20 years, esteer® Pharma UG has been your partner in disinfection and medical hygiene.
Today, MEDENTECH LIQUIDS continue to manufacture these advanced disinfectants for special application - for example, in dental medicine, elderly care and safety at work.
Medentech is Part of Anti-Germ. Founded in Memmingen/Allgäu in 1938, today the Anti-Germ brand is synonymous with cleaning and disinfection in many countries. With 13 subsidiaries and a strong sales network, we offer more than 1,200 products, technologies, and services across Europe and China.
Our management holding company, Anti-Germ International GmbH, as well as our operating company, Anti-Germ Deutschland GmbH, are still based in Memmingen, where 70 of our 420 employees work.
We produce detergents and disinfectants for professional applications, which we sell both directly and through specialized retailers. Our size and expertise allow us to advise international companies, while also being a reliable partner for smaller businesses.
Anti-Germ International GmbH
Oberbrühlstraße 16-18
D-87700 Memmingen
Phone: +49 8331-8360-0
Fax: +49 8331-8360-50


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| Jumper Monki | Jeans Asos | Studded Vest Topshop|
Sorry for the photo heavy post for such a boring outfit. I am SO bored right now and the boyfriends out for beers so I thought I'd blog some of these photos that I took today (although wasn't going to use as they're not really that good) But boredom does things to you.
So yesterday I had a little trip up to London with my Nan, Dad and Mum to visit my Uncle who's just got out of hospital (chopped his hand in half, and has a missing finger, Ouch! god damn you big scary saws)
It was a lovely day and nice to see my Uncle in high spirits, He's my favourite person. We were walking along Carnaby Street after lunch, And I couldn't not go in Monki so I ventured in and found this jumper with 50% off! My nan kindly bought it for me and I am in love. Hasn't pictured very well it does look a lot nicer in person I promise!
I wore it with my favourite ever jeans that I recently got from Asos. I've said before that I normally don't branch out from my usual Topshop Leigh jeans but I'm so glad I did as these are bloody good and are so high waisted and flattering. All for £28! (sorry for the slight zip undone) I think I'm going to get the black pair soon.
I thought I'd quickly show you this as well as it arrived in the post today. Quite a while ago I went up to London for a shoot with the lovely Jazzabelle and this is what it was for! so weird to see myself in the pages of a book but its actually pretty fuckin good and I really do like the photographs (I hope that doesn't sound too vain) but the colours in the book are just incredible, And I am definitely going to start up knitting again not that I'm any good but this book has some really good instructions, I'm going to try the bobble hats first.
Oh I almost forgot, Anyone else going to the AX Paris event? hoping to go, Just also hoping I'm not a shy dick like I always am, Anyone wanna meet before hand? Help this lonesome blogger not go in by herself? I'd be much appreciated. Or Any Brighton bloggers travelling up? Give me a shout on Twitter!
Love, Rose


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what do maggie gyllenhaal and maison21 have in common? they are both featured in the pages of the latest edition of angeleno modern luxury magazine!
big thanks to maile pingle for writing up the shapes collection for our first print press! love the title too: "geometry class"!
my rug collaborators 27ground, woven accents, and i are all very honored!


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Taylor Stevens used a stormy childhood to write a series of spine-tingling books, and she'll explain how during Friday's Mansfield Reads.
The 11th annual Friends of the Mansfield Library event feature Steven's debut book, "The Informationist," the first in her series about the adventures of Vanessa Michael Munroe, an undercover operative who uses her skills to help people in trouble.
"When I began to write what would eventually become 'The Informationist,' the first in what has since become a 5 1/4 book series, I was really just looking for a way to bring to life a little spec on the map off the west coast of Africa called Equatorial Guinea, where I'd lived for a little over two years," Stevens said via email. "The character of Vanessa Michael Munroe was born from the circumstances I threw her into."
Stevens, who now lives in the Metroplex, knows about unique experiences.
"She's pretty much self-educated," Friends president Carol Grantham said of Stevens. "She was born into a cult and they only allowed her to go to school through the sixth grade. She's clearly very intelligent and very well educated. I think everybody will be hanging on every word. Most of us have no inkling of what her life was like. Her second book (The Innocent) is pretty much the story of her life, about a teen-ager being rescued from a cult."
Writing is not something that the New York Times best-selling author studied before she began "The Informationist."
"I'd never taken a writing course, had hardly read but maybe 30 novels at that point in time," she said. "My adolescence was spent as unpaid child labor in the communes of the apocalyptic cult into which I was born and raised. Separated from my parents at age 12 (which was also when my education stopped completely), the days were filled with washing laundry or cooking for hundreds at a time, taking care of the younger children, or out on the streets begging on behalf of the leaders."
Her upbringing did give her a source for her stories, though.
"Being raised differently has certainly allowed me to see the world from a different perspective and that does lend to characters and locations that veer away from what's common in mainstream USA," she said. "I suppose this could be seen as a help in writing, but 'help' in this sense is rather relative. Struggling to make up for the educational lacks hasn't been easy and, while I'm by no means the most successful of those I grew up with, many of my childhood compatriots are dead from suicide, drug overdose, reckless self-harming behavior and such. I consider myself fortunate that I was driven to achieve instead of to self-destruct. It could have gone either way."
"The Informationist" follows Munroe, a chameleon who goes where others cannot, as she tries to find the step-daughter of a Texas millionaire who has been missing in Africa for four years.
"She is able to be different people depending on what the situation is," Grantham said. "She can be a beautiful sexy woman or she can be a man."
In some places, being a man is the only way to get information, Stevens said.
"I've personally experienced many of the cultures through which Munroe navigates and most of them aren't very progressive in their views on women," she said. "There would be no way possible for her to do what she does if she only looked and acted like a woman, so her chameleon nature was a direct response to the unfortunate realities of the world as it really is."
So how can Mansfield readers relate?
"I wrote the story to invite readers who would never have an opportunity to visit these off the map places in real life to experience them with me from the safe distance of their armchairs," Stevens said. "With 'The Informationist' in particular, and also 'The Catch,' which comes out in July, we sort of ended up with travelogues cleverly disguised as action-adventure stories. Readers who would like to experience an immersion in an unfamiliar foreign culture will probably enjoy these stories even more than those who merely want the adrenaline rush of a thriller."
Just having a thriller was a change Mansfield Reads, Grantham said.
"That's one of the reasons we picked this book, we've never done a thriller before," she said. "It's suspenseful, it keeps you on the edge of your seat."
Readers will get a chance to meet the author, ask questions and have their books signed at Friday's event. Admission is free, but reservations are required and space is limited. The library only has space for about 125 and the event usually fills up.
"There are very few seats left, make reservations right away," Grantham advises.
For reservations, go to www.friendsofmansfieldlibrary.org.


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A structure designed by Frank Lloyd Wright that sucks the big one.
That house across the street from us is a Frank Lloyd Wrong and I am going to set it on fire tonight to get rid of that fuckng eye sore.
by jennifer dietz May 09, 2008
buy the domain for your cat vlog


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Needing help
Hi my name is Kali Leanne Hodnett.I was born April 11 1989 i was born in Clovis NM however my parents at the time lived in texas..somewhere like Morton or Maple i have no idea hahaha. i am the daughter of Tamera D Hodnett (Vezina) and James L Hodnett.. I never met my dad so i only know his name from my birth certificate and because of my mom.. I dont talk me my mom any more.. i hear from her every now and then. However i am almost 21 and lately i have been thinking bout my family and i have always wondered what my biological father was like..when im not at school im living with my step parents and my younger siblings.. I have always been curious bout where i came from..However i dont know where to start.. If any one has any information for me or can at least point me in the right direction that would be greatly appreciated..
thanks for the help


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Have one to sell?
HTC Desire 620G Back Cover - Gaming Zone Designer Cases
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Pay on Delivery (POD) includes Cash on Delivery (COD) as well as Debit card / Credit card / Net banking payments at your doorstep.
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The State Board of Massage Therapy regulates and licenses persons providing massage therapy services to the general public in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Board's purpose is to safeguard the public from harm caused by unqualified persons; to assure the highest degree of professional care and conduct on the part of massage therapists; and to assure the availability of massage therapy services of the highest quality to persons in need of such services.
The Board's duties include passing upon the
qualifications of applicants for licensure; insuring the conduct of
examinations; issuing and renewing licenses to massage therapists;
revoking or suspending licenses issued by the Board; and maintaining a
record listing the name of every massage therapist licensed to practice
in the Commonwealth, along with the last known place of residence and
the date and number of the license.


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So a few days ago I was at the mall and I suddenly felt like checking out some watches. Guess it's about time I get a new timepiece. So I walked over to a nearby watch shop and checked out what they have.
I was actually looking for a digital watch but not the mainstream ones and something caught my eye.
GUESS actually makes digital watches now. Can you believe it? I was like woah this is rare. So I quickly asked the assistant to open the glass box for me. LOL.
I laid my eyes on 3 watches, all of the same type, but different colour variations. Black, Gold & Blue.
Look at this. SO BEAUTIFUL! According to the assistant there, this is GUESS' first digital watch for the young and trendy people. (Sounds like me kan?) This watch has this retro design that reminds me of the time when timepieces were symbol of one's status-this seems to achieve that.
I was kinda leaning towards the blue, W0595G2, one as it looks super modern and edgy. The shiny bezel just stands out and confirm people will ask me to show them my watch if I were to wear this out.
So I finally bought it. Wore it out a few days ago and took some photos. Check it!
I honestly think the watch looks really good, especially on my wrist. 🙂
So what you think? Does the blue one suit me? Or should have picked the black or gold variant? Anyhow, this is definitely money well spent. RM500+ for GUESS' first digital watch… and a really good looking one. *Pats own shoulder* .
Good job on your purchase, Jason.
See more details at http://guesswatches.com/watch/W0595G2 and be sure to like GUESS WATCHES on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Guesswatches.


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The Best Whole House Water Filters in 2018
Reviews & Buying Guides
We get it — you want cleaner water. But not just in the kitchen — you want clean water when you shower, when you brush your teeth in the bathroom — everywhere.
We don't blame you. And if you stay tuned, we're gonna lay out some whole house water filter reviews to help guide you on your way.
Considerations for Choosing the Best Whole House Water Filter
1. Your Water Issues
The first step is to determine the water issues you're facing. Is your water sourced from the city or from a well? Is sediment your biggest issue or rust from old pipes? Are you concerned about the smell and taste of chlorine, or herbicide and pesticide runoff?
Answering these questions and knowing what you're trying to filter out is going to serve you better than just grabbing the most expensive or cheapest filtration system.
2. Level of Filtration
Once you've got your water situation scoped out a bit, you'll need to figure out what level of filtration you'll be happy with. Filtration is measured in microns. Portable water filters for use in backwoods situations will often filter down to the 0.1 micron level. Why? Because the liquid is raw and there are often nasty things in it that can make you seriously sick, like Giardia, Cryptosporidium, mercury, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
Whole house system filters will generally filter down to the five micron level. Why not lower? Two reasons — first, the liquid has likely already been through a treatment facility. Second — filtering down to the sub-micron level is going to slow down water flow. Ten gallons per minute is about standard for the filters we review here while half a gallon a minute is considered high speed for 0.1 micron whole house filters.
All that means this — if you're looking to get rid of absolutely everything, you may need to run more than one filter — a whole house system to get most of the stuff out, then additional filters at each faucet to finish the work. Remember, your whole house filter will be filtering the supply for your water heater, toilet, washing machine, and other stuff. You may not need to get that liquid super clean. But for your drinking water? Might wanna tighten that up a bit.
One final note about stages of filtration: generally the more stages you have, the better it is going to be. However, a lot of that will depend on how each stage functions and what it does exactly. Multiple stages will usually filter out progressively smaller particulates as the supply flows from filter to filter. In theory, that is a more effective plan, but sometimes a single stage filter can do a better job than multiple stages. It all depends on the makeup of the filters themselves. The main point – don't get bogged down in searching for the highest number of stages. Instead, focus on what they do and what they get rid of.
3. Other Costs
A great price on a system does you no good if you've got to replace the filter every month. Keep in mind the annual costs of filter replacement when evaluating a unit.Also, most of these would be best installed by a plumber. While they can be done by the end user, unless you've done something similar before or are willing to pony up for emergency plumber costs, you might want to just have your friendly neighborhood plumber take care of it.
Our Top Picks for the Best Whole House Water Filters of 2018
Alright, enough beatin' around the bush. Let's get to the nitty gritty (get it? gritty? Har har har, right? Sorry). Here are the reviews for the four best whole house water filter systems we found.
The Home Master HMF2SDGC Whole House 2-Stage Home Filtration System
- Filters: Sediment, manganese, sulfur, chlorine, heavy metals, micro-contaminants down to 1 micron
- Filter Lifespan: Varies, up to 95,000 gallons in carbon filter
- Stages: two
- Rate: twenty gallons per minute
- Large filter housings and ports allow for full-strength pressure.
- Filtration down to one micron.
- Oversize filters allow for lower frequency of replacement and maintenance.
The Home Master is only a two-stage unit, but it's got some nice features. First up is the main filter — it filters in varying levels, starting from 20 microns down to 1 micron. Why is that nice? It helps keep the liquid flowing and at the same time gets all the stuff out of your water that it should.
The second stage is a coconut shell carbon filter and gets rid of what most carbon filters do: lead, mercury, copper, and bad tastes and odors.
The two-stage Home Master system is for chlorinated city liquids only. If your city uses chloramines, you'll need a different system. And if you're using well supply, you'll need an entirely different system.
The only drawback? The large filters that allow greater liquid flow are pretty dang heavy. You'll need to mount them on wall studs or something equally secure. If you've got upper-arm strength issues, you'll need help changing filters or a different system.
- Twenty gallons per minute means you get good supply pressure in your house.
- Long lifespan so you're not changing filters every month.
- Filters out pretty much everything you need to worry about, but keeps the beneficial minerals.
- Large filters hold a lot of liquid and require to be installed on wall studs.
- Fairly pricy unit. Replacement filters aren't cheap, either.
- Only for city supply. If you have well supply, you'll need this one (which costs more).
Best for: The family that's got a solid place to mount this big boy, is looking to filter out the greatest number of contaminants and knows what kind of water they've got so they can pick up the right system.
- Filters: rust, sediment, microscopic particulates, chlorine
- Filter Lifespan: Main filter — 1,000,000 gallons, pre- and post-filter vary
- Stages: three
- Rate: seven gallons per minute
- Removes 97% of chlorine, exceeding NSF standards.
- Main filter lasts for a million gallons.
- No salt, electricity, or back flushing required.
A million gallons. 1,000,000 gallons of water. That's how much Aquasana's main filter will go through before it needs changing. How long is that? Oh, just 10 years, that's all. So, there you have it. That is the reason why Aquasana Rhino EQ-1000 is one of the our favorites on here.
Now, since this is a three stage filtration unit, there are two other filters to think about, and those won't last a million gallons. Not anywhere close. The pre-filter cuts out everything down to the five-micron level, including rust, dirt, and microscopic particulates. Aquasana says it should be good for three to six months of city supply or one to three months of well supply.
The main filter, the big blue one, contains copper-zinc oxidation media (yeah, I've got no idea what that actually is either) and crushed mineral stones. Why? To reduce chlorine and balance the pH of the water, bringing it to a more alkaline state.
The post-filter is carbon. Cuts the chlorine even more and other baddies in the liquid, and makes it taste fantastic. The carbon filter should last 6–12 months in the city and 2–6 months with well supply.
This is the heaviest unit we recommend here. It's so heavy you're likely going to want to rest that big blue bottle on the floor. Don't worry — you won't have to change it for the next 10 freakin' years. Another thing to note — the filter changes can add up. The pre filters cost about 10 bucks a pop and the post filters run around 30 bucks. Which means about 100 bucks a year in the city and about 300 a year with a well.
Wanna see what Aquasana thinks? Here's their promotional video for the Rhino:
- One. Million. Gallons.
- Balances the pH of your supply, getting closer to soft water without a liquid softener.
- Removes 97% of chlorine in your system.
- Frequent replacement of pre- and post-filters.
- Weight of unit requires installation on floor, and likely a plumber.
- Not great for people who dislike the soft water feel.
Best for: someone who is looking for a robust unit that will get them close to alkaline supply without the need for adding salt or using electricity. Also good for anyone looking for unchlorinated liquid.
- Filters: Sediment, dirt, rust, chlorine taste and odor
- Filter Lifespan: 100,000 gallons
- Stages: one
- Rate: twenty gallons per minute
- Stainless steel head with 25-year warranty.
- Filters out chlorine taste and odor, rust, and sediments down to 5 microns.
- Twist-off filter replacement.
Looking for a simple and clean solution to get rid of chlorine, sediment, and rust in your water? The 3M Aqua-Pure might be right for you. Its stainless steel head is warrantied trouble-free for 25 years and its twist-off filter mount promises easy filter replacement every 100,000 gallons or so.
Now, is it perfect? Nope. Might be a good idea to install a shutoff valve before the filter, just in case the neat-and-easy promises aren't true. Also, 3M claims this filter can last up to 12 months. Problem is, it's a single-stage carbon filter and if your supply isn't already clean, that single stage is going to get clogged up pretty quickly. A pre-filter in place before this unit would help extend the life of the 3M Aqua-Pure.
And replacement filters? Well, it's more of a replacement unit, which is kinda nice, but it's 150 bucks a pop to replace. Simple, but kinda spendy.
And for the curious, here's a video showing an installation of the 3M, even though it seems to be a bit of overkill:
- Single stage carbon filter simplicity.
- Replacing the entire unit means no messy liquids everywhere, in theory.
- Could last up to a year.
- Five micron filter is going to clog up if your supply is too full of sediment, requiring a pre-filter or more frequent filter unit replacements.
- Entire unit needs to be replaced, no cheaper options.
- Doesn't get rid of smaller stuff like giardia, VOCs, or heavy metals.
Best for: someone with fairly clean h2o that is looking to get rid of chlorine smell and taste along with bigger chunky stuff but isn't worried about VOC's, heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, etc.
- Filters: Reduces sediment, dirt and rust
- Filter Lifespan: varies
- Stages: one
- Rate: ten gallons per minute
- NSF tested and certified.
- Clear housing to easily identify when to change the filter.
- 3 filters included with unit.
The Watts WH-LD filter system is a straightforward whole house filter. The unit has a bypass switch so you can easily change the filter without making a big mess on the floor, although a physical shutoff switch before the filter might be a good idea.
Here's where the simplicity of the unit comes into play. As the absolute cheapest option on our list, you might want to get more than one. Why? Because you can set them up in series with different filters to create your own multi-stage filtration system for less than the costs of the other units on our list.
See, the Watts comes with a 50 micron filter, which will cut down on rust, dirt, and sediment. But add in another unit with a carbon filter to get rid of even more and make your drink taste better. Or go for three stages — the 50 micron stage, a 10 micron stage, and a 5 micron carbon filter stage. The choices are limitless because the unit cost on this is low. The filters use a standard 10-inch fit that run around five bucks or less.
If you're looking for visuals about how to put together your own multi-unit system, watch the following video. The guy doesn't use the Watts, but the concepts are similar.
- Low cost unit and replacement filter price.
- Uses widely available and easily replaceable filters.
- Bypass switch allows for easy filter switch.
- Filters only down to 50 microns, letting through a fair amount of other stuff.
- Should install a shutoff valve before unit in case bypass fails.
- Unit comes with three filters, but they are 50 micron filters.
Best for: someone looking for an effective, low-cost whole house filtration and likes to tinker a bit.
So, Which one is Our Favorite?
Honestly, this was a hard choice, but we're going to pick the Home Master 2-stage filter.
Three reasons. First, the one-micron filter level is nice. It gets rid of a lot of nasty stuff that may be in your water. Second, the simplicity of it is pretty sweet: evaluate your drinking situation (chlorine, chloramines, or well H2o) and choose the right one. And third, the fast flow and long filter life are good enough.
Not to say the other options aren't good. We like the expandability and low price of the Watts, but the average consumer might not want to tinker with it. The Aquasana Rhino is a beast, but unless you're hankering for soft water without an actual liquid softener, the million gallon filter seems like overkill. And the 3M is good as well, but in it needs a pre-filter to let the unit perform at its best.
So that's it: four whole house filter reviews for your perusal, covering a range of approaches to the same goal — good clean h2o. Take a look at them and pick one up to get your drink as clean as it can be.
Go to our main water filters page and check out more options for you : https://www.watersoftenercritic.com/water-filter-reviews/


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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - White Plains Hospital will host its eighth annual Nursing College and Career Day Feb. 1.
This event will take place in the Hospital's Auditorium beginning with registration at 8:30 a.m., and will run from 9 a.m. to 3 PMp.m
This free event is designed to give direction to high school and college-aged students who are interested in pursuing a career in Nursing, although anyone interested in a future nursing career is welcome to attend. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet admissions counselors from various local nursing schools, learn about financial aid and scholarship opportunities and hear first-hand from nursing students and nurses who are passionate about what they do. Nursing College and Career Day is coordinated through the Richard P. Biondi Nurse Apprentice Program at WPH, which works on the local level to address the nationwide nursing shortage. The program includes apprenticeships, scholarships, and career exploration programs. To attend WPH's Nursing College and Career Day you must register by January 24th. Please call Program Coordinators Annie Norris, MS or Monica Purdy, RN, BSN, MA at 914-681-2378 to reserve your spot.


text: Peter McGuire Photography | Canal Boats & Riverside | Meg Peter McGuire Photography Galleries | Recent | Clients | Guestbook | About | Contact Home»Collections»Re-enactment Groups»South Kyme Festival 2012»Canal Boats & Riverside Visitors 21 « Previous Next » 13 of 21 photos Meg One feature of the Festival was to provide an opportunity for canal boats to meet up and enjoy the weekend of festivities. Unfortunately the expected number of boats was low due to technical problems (apparently caused by the drought!). However it was a pleasure to view those crafts that had congregated along the river banks of the Kyme Eau. No EXIF information is available Categories & Keywords Category:Transportation Subcategory:Boats Subcategory Detail: Keywords:2012, Kyme Eau, South Kyme, boats, canal, festival, narrowboats, river © Peter McGuire Photography Galleries | Recent | Contact Powered by ZENFOLIO User Agreement Cancel Continue


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LATEST NEWS: We're proud to announced that we are the Official Travel Supplier to Jacksonville Jaguars. Read More
Ocean Holidays
Established in 2004, Ocean Holidays has sent well in excess of 250,000 holidaymakers overseas over the past 10 years. Ocean Holidays comprises of 4 brands; Ocean Florida, Ocean Beds, Winged Boots and Ocean California, all of which operate in the travel industry. These 4 very unique and reputable companies are characterised by their exceptional customer service from our experienced and educated team. We use only the best products on the market to ensure our customers are fully satisfied with their holiday, and rest assured we are fully bonded by ATOL and the TTA for your protection


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It's impossible to learn a foreign language unless you are able to maintain some level of motivation to learn over a certain period. Unfortunately we lose motivation from time to time.
Even better than using the up's and down's of motivation to drive your language learning, the end goal should be to build a habit or routine. Create a habit where your studies are just something you do daily like brushing your teeth, having lunch or getting dressed in the morning.
While we are big fans of using short language learning sprints to attack foreign language acquisition, these "language hacks" won't work unless you stick to it. You gotta hit the "gym" everyday. You gotta do your rep's to strengthen your memories. You gotta consume the best materials to expose yourself to the most important stuff you want to learn. You gotta get good sleep too.
Ideally you should aim to study everyday or at least every few days. On Day 1, you start building a chain and you should aim to keep building that learning chain with each additional day. Eventually that chain of days spent studying your new foreign language will get so long that you'll have a pang of regret if you miss or nearly miss a day of study.
Frankly, once you get going, you won't want to break that chain so you'll keep studying.
Even if you do miss a day (or a few!) of study, which inevitably does happen, just get back at it and keep studying each and every day. Language learning is a massive endeavor (imagine climbing a mountain). Language learning is about persistence. The only way to get to the top is to take a few more steps and then persist through life's fatigue and setbacks and persist to take just a few more steps.
Obvious the more time you study the better but even a few minutes every single day will help you to achieve your learning goals. A well-maintained routine is your best bet towards successful language learning.
I'm a fan of tracking if I do my daily routines. You can use a simple paper calendar (aka the "Seinfeld Method") or use one of the various apps like Lift. Personally, I use a site called "AskMeEveryDay" to send me a daily email or SMS where I respond with Y if I did my studies. Each week it's great to see my streak lengthen.
Get up each and everyday and do your language studies. Not only will you be closer to your goal, your future self will appreciate it.
At HackingLanguage we're actively building tools and analytics to make language learning better. Want to know more?
Check out our blog with latest posts and analytics or join our mailing to get the latest news and updates from HackingLanguage.com.


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LONDON (CBS/AP) – Nathan Adrian took out the Missile by a fingertip.
Adrian, a 23-year-old largely overshadowed by American stars such as Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, made a name for himself by winning the 100-meter Olympic freestyle Wednesday. He lunged to the wall to edge James "The Missile" Magnussen by one-hundredth of a second – the slighest margin possible – and again deny Australia its first individual swimming gold of the London Games.
Adrian pounded the water, then put his hands over his eyes while dangling over the lane rope, as if he couldn't believe the "1" beside his name. Magnussen hung at the end of the pool, staring straight ahead at the wall in disbelief, the wall he got to just a fraction of a second too late.
Complete Olympic Games Coverage
"I had no idea, to be honest," said Adrian, whose winning time was 47.52 seconds. "I'm a guy that has a lot of speed and I can go out fast and I die a little more than he does. It's a little nerve-racking the second 50. I just had to really focus on it and stay strong."
Adrian was a 5-time individual champion in his years at Cal. He graduated this spring with a degree in public health.
PHOTOS: Nathan Adrian, Olympic Medal Winner & Cal Grad
Adrian gave a glimpse of his potential in the 4×100 free relay, going faster than Magnussen on the opening leg, a stunner given the Missile had looked unbeatable at last year's worlds and set the fastest time ever in a textile suit (47.10) at the Australian trials in March.
Unfortunately for the Aussies, Magnussen hasn't been at his best when it really mattered, and these Olympics are turning into a bit of a bummer for the swimmers from Down Under.
"I just felt pretty much bullet-proof coming into this Olympics," Magnussen said. "It is very humbling."
Adrian came through with the race of his life, giving the U.S. its first title in swimming's signature event since Matt Biondi at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Canada's Brent Hayden took silver in 47.80, his country's first medal ever in the furious down-and-back sprint.
"We were in the ready room and we watched it and just went nuts," Lochte said. "We were screaming and everything. That was one of the greatest finishes. We're so happy for him."
(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)


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Program of panel "Redressing the gender balance in mathematics: strategies and outcomes", held Tuesday July 3.c.a.15:45 - 17:45.
Professor Caroline Series.
University of Warwick. UK.
presentation (pdf)
Dr Penelope Bidgood
Kingston University, UK
Chair, Committee on Women in Statistics
Topic: Committee on Women in Statistics presentation(pdf)
Professor Kari Hag
NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
Topic: Scandinavian initiatives for Women Mathematicians. Presentation(pdf)
Professor Marja Makarow, University of Helsinki.
Chief Executive of the European Science Foundation 2008-2011.
Topic: Does a research career in mathematics attract women? Presentation(.doc)
Dr Christie Marr.
Deputy Director, The Isaac Newton Institute, Cambridge, UK
Topic: The Newton Institute Gender Balance Initiative. Presentation: Part1, Part 2(pdf)
Professor Marie-Françoise Roy,
Univ. de Rennes. France. Convenor of EWM.
Topic: Women in Mathematics in France and Germany in the last 25 years Presentation(pdf)
The organizing committee consisted of Caroline Series together with two other members of the EMS WiM Committee: Bodil Branner (DTU, Lyngby, Copenhagen) and Elena Fernandez (Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Spain).
Photos courtesy of Ulf Persson.


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Study design and rationale of "Synergistic Effect of Combination Therapy with Cilostazol and ProbUcol on Plaque Stabilization and Lesion REgression (SECURE)" study: a double-blind randomised controlled multicenter clinical trial
Probucol, a cholesterol-lowering agent that paradoxically also lowers high-density lipoprotein cholesterol has been shown to prevent progression of atherosclerosis. The antiplatelet agent cilostazol, which has diverse antiatherogenic properties, has also been shown to reduce restenosis in previous clinical trials. Recent experimental studies have suggested potential synergy between probucol and cilostazol in preventing atherosclerosis, possibly by suppressing inflammatory reactions and promoting cholesterol efflux.
The Synergistic Effect of combination therapy with Cilostazol and probUcol on plaque stabilization and lesion REgression (SECURE) study is designed as a double-blind, randomised, controlled, multicenter clinical trial to investigate the effect of cilostazol and probucol combination therapy on plaque volume and composition in comparison with cilostazol monotherapy using intravascular ultrasound and Virtual Histology. The primary end point is the change in the plaque volume of index intermediate lesions between baseline and 9-month follow-up. Secondary endpoints include change in plaque composition, neointimal growth after implantation of stents at percutaneous coronary intervention target lesions, and serum levels of lipid components and biomarkers related to atherosclerosis and inflammation. A total of 118 patients will be included in the study.
The SECURE study will deliver important information on the effects of combination therapy on lipid composition and biomarkers related to atherosclerosis, thereby providing insight into the mechanisms underlying the prevention of atherosclerosis progression by cilostazol and probucol.
Trial registration number
ClinicalTrials (NCT): NCT01031667
KeywordsPercutaneous Coronary Intervention High Density Lipoprotein Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein Cilostazol Probucol
low-density lipoprotein
coronary artery disease
percutaneous coronary intervention
high density lipoprotein
cholesteryl ester transfer protein
scavenger reverse cholesterol class B type 1
vascular cell adhesion molecule
monocyte chemoattractant protein
intravascular ultrasound
Virtual Histology
- hsCRP
high-sensitivity C-reactive protein
- vWF
von Willebrand factor
- Lp(a)
lipoprotein (a)
- Lp-PLA2
lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2
major adverse cardiac events
The benefit of reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the management of coronary artery disease (CAD) has been demonstrated in various large-scale randomized clinical trials [1]. These trials have shown that statin therapy, which is currently considered an essential element in CAD treatment regimens, does improve clinical outcomes, but is only able to prevent coronary events in less than 30% of patients. Therefore, a need remains for new and more effective cardiovascular drug therapies.
Probucol, a mild cholesterol-lowering agent with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has been shown to reduce atherosclerosis and prevent restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) [2]. However, probucol also causes a remarkable reduction in high density lipoprotein (HDL) and prolongation of QT intervals on electrocardiograms, side effects that have led to the withdrawal of probucol from the market in many countries. Although the mechanisms underlying the antiatherosclerotic effect of probucol remain unclear, previous speculation has centered on inhibition of oxidative modification of LDL cholesterol [3]. However, recent studies have suggested that enhanced reverse cholesterol transport caused by activation of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and scavenger reverse cholesterol class B type 1 (SR-B1) is the major mechanism responsible for both the antiatherogenic effect and reduction of HDL levels by probucol [4, 5, 6]. The apparent lowering of HDL levels by probucol may be related to a change in the composition of HDL subtypes, including an increase in preβ1-HDL ("lipid-poor" apoA-1), that participate in the cholesterol efflux [7]. Therefore, the lowering of HDL by probucol is not a side effect, per se, but instead may reflect its main effect of increasing cholesterol efflux. Furthermore, probucol has been shown to inhibit mononuclear cell adhesion and reduce expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) [8]. Probucol also promotes nitric oxide-mediated vasodilatation and re-endothelialization, and inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation [9].
Cilostazol, an inhibitor of type 3 phosphodiesterase that exerts antiplatelet activity through suppression of cyclic adenosine monophosphate degradation [10], also exhibits diverse antiatherogenic properties. Studies have shown that cilostazol improves endothelial function by increasing nitric oxide production [11], promotes scavenging of free radicals [12], and inhibits foam cell formation [13] and smooth muscle cell proliferation [14]. In addition, cilostazol has been shown to decrease triglyceride concentrations and increase HDL cholesterol concentration, possibly by increasing the activity of lipoprotein lipase [15, 16].
A previous study by Sekiya et al. [17] reported that cilostazol and probucol combination therapy reduced restenosis after stent implantation more effectively than did either cilostazol or probucol alone. In addition, recent studies have demonstrated potential synergistic effects of cilostazol and probucol used in combination in the prevention of atherosclerosis [18, 19]. Yoshikawa et al. [18] found that combined administration of cilostazol and probucol induced a greater decrease in the atherosclerotic lesion area in LDL receptor-deficient mice than did administration of each drug separately. Park et al. [19] showed that cilostazol and probucol combination therapy inhibited the expression of VCAM-1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) more effectively than did either cilostazol or probucol monotherapy.
Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a useful imaging modality for assessment of atherosclerotic plaque and vessel wall morphology. Especially, Virtual histology (VH) IVUS (Volcano Therapeutics, Inc., Rancho Cordova, California) using spectral analysis of the radiofrequency ultrasound back-scatter signals allows identification and relative quantification of four different components of atherosclerotic plaques: fibrous, fibro-fatty, dense calcium and necrotic core [20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25]. Therefore, the SECURE study is designed to investigate effects of cilostazol and probucol combination therapy on coronary plaque volume and composition using VH-IVUS in comparison with cilostazol monotherapy.
Study Design
Study population and Randomisation
Patient Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
Inclusion criteria
1. Male or female over 20 years of age
2. Clinical indication for coronary angiography
3. Presence of at least one significant coronary artery stenosis (>50%) requiring PCI with stent implantation and one intermediate lesion with luminal narrowing of ≥30% and <70% by visual estimation on native coronary arteries.
4. Presence of at least one PCI target lesion (reference diameter 2.5~4 mm, lesion length ≤26 mm) with >50% diameter stenosis that can be covered with a single Zotrolimus-eluting stent (Endeavor Sprint, Medtronic Vascular Inc, Santa Rosa, CA).
5. Able to understand and willing to provide written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
1. Intermediate lesions that might provide difficulty for IVUS evaluation because of following reasons: heavy calcification (>90° Arc), tortuous vessel with severe angulation, total occlusion, or bifurcation lesions
2. Previous PCI in the last 6 months
3. Previous coronary artery bypass graft
4. Patients with AMI undergoing primary PCI or rescue PCI after thrombolysis
5. Cardiogenic shock
6. Inability to take adequate antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel)
7. Thrombocytopenia (platelet count <70 × 109/l)
8. Known hypersensitivity or contraindication to any of the following medications: Heparin, aspirin, clopidogrel, cilostazol, probucol, statin, contrast media
9. History of severe ventricular arrhythmia
10. Significant QTc prolongation (≥470 ms) on electrocardiogram
11. Heart failure (New York Heart Association class III/IV) or left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%
12. Familial hypercholesterolemia
13. Uncontrolled hypertriglyceridemia (>400 mg/dL)
14. Chronic renal failure with serum creatinine level ≥2 mg/dL
15. Severe liver disease or transaminase level ≥3 times the upper limit of normal.
16. Pregnancy or women at age of childbearing potential
Index intermediate lesion for evaluating plaque volume
An intermediate lesion is defined as a lesion with a luminal narrowing ≥ 30% and ≤ 70% (estimated visually) that does not require percutaneous coronary intervention. One such lesion located in the proximal or mid segment of coronary arteries is selected by the operator as the index intermediate lesion. Intermediate lesions that might prove difficult to evaluate by IVUS, such as bifurcating lesions, heavily calcified lesions (> 90° arc), and those in tortuous vessels with severe angulation are avoided in the selection of an index lesion.
Percutaneous coronary intervention
All patients should be on chronic aspirin (100-325 mg/day) and clopidogrel (75 mg/day) therapy for ≥ 5 days or receive aspirin (250 mg) and clopidogrel (300-600 mg) loading at least 12 hours before PCI. Unfractionated heparin will be administered according to local standards of care (target ACT 250 sec) at a dosage as per label instructions. The use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors will be left to the discretion of the operator. The criteria for an index PCI target lesion are a stenotic lesion with a stenosis diameter > 50% and lesion length ≤ 26 mm that can be covered by a single stent. All PCI target lesions, including additional lesions not established as index lesions, will be treated with Zotarolimus-eluting stents (Endeavor Sprint, Medtronic Vascular Inc, Santa Rosa, CA). After implantation of stents, aspirin (100 mg/day) and clopidogrel (75 mg/day) will be administered during the period of study.
Intravascular Ultrasound and Virtual Histology
All IVUS imaging will be performed using a 20-MHz 2.9F, phased-array IVUS catheter (Eagle Eye, Volcano Therapeutics, Rancho Cordova, CA) after first administering nitroglycerin (200 mg). The IVUS catheter is placed distal to the target lesion, and then pulled back using a motorized pullback system at 0.5 cm/s. During pullback, grayscale IVUS is recorded and raw radiofrequency data are captured at the top of the R wave for reconstruction of the color-coded map by a VH-IVUS data recorder (Volcano Therapeutics). For evaluation of the index intermediate lesion, a segment at least 30 mm in length will be evaluated with IVUS and VH at baseline and 9-month follow-up. The most severe 10-mm segment centered on the minimal lumen area will be analyzed for plaque volume and plaque composition (fibrotic, fibrofatty, dense calcium, and necrotic core components). The index PCI target lesion will be evaluated for neointimal growth with grayscale IVUS after PCI and at 9-month follow-up. IVUS evaluation will include 5-mm segments proximal and distal to the stent. IVUS and VH images will be analyzed by an independent core laboratory (Cardiac Core Analysis Laboratory at Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA).
Laboratory assessment
Blood samples will be obtained after overnight fasting. Serum lipids, apolipoproteins, hs-CRP, Lp(a), oxidized LDL, VCAM-1, and vWF levels will be measured at a central clinical laboratory (Seoul Clinical Laboratories, Seoul, Korea). Serum total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglyceride levels will be measured using standard enzymatic methods. Apolipoprotein A-1 and B concentrations will be measured by turbidimetric immunoassay methods. Serum oxidized LDL, VCAM-1, and vWF levels will be measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Serum hsCRP and Lp(a) levels will be measured using latex-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassays. The particle-size distribution of LDL isolated by sequential flotation ultracentrifugation will be determined using a pore-gradient lipoprotein system (CBS Scientific, CA) at the National Research Laboratory for Clinical Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, as previously described [26]. Circulating HDL subfractions HDL2 and HDL3 will be quantified after ultracentrifugation of serum at the Laboratory of Nutritional Medicine/Nutrigenomics, Sungshin Women's University, Seoul, Korea, as previously reported [27].
Study end points
The primary end point is the change in the plaque volume of index intermediate lesions between baseline and 9-month follow-up.
The secondary end points include the following:
Plaque composition change by VH
Clinical outcomes (death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization)
Neointimal volume obstruction at index PCI target lesions
Blood lipid composition (total cholesterol, LDL, LDL particle size, HDL, HDL subfractions, apolipoprotein A-1 and B)
Biomarkers (hsCRP, VCAM-1, oxidized LDL, Lp(a), vWF)
Statistical considerations
Sample size calculation
The calculation of the sample size was based on an in-equality design and a two-sample, two-sided test. Assuming a standard deviation of 8%, an α-level of 0.05 and a statistical power of 80%, 41 patients are required for each group (combination therapy, cilostazol monotherapy) to demonstrate a 5% difference in the mean plaque volume in a 10-mm segment with the greatest disease severity of the index intermediate lesion. Making allowance for a drop-out rate of 30% increases the number of patients required for each group to 59. The treatment difference and standard deviation assumptions are based on previous clinical and animal studies. Several IVUS studies have successfully demonstrated the effect of statins in reducing plaque volume. Yokoyama et al. [22] showed a 3.2% reduction in plaque volume in patients treated with atorvastatin (10 mg/day) for 6 months. The ASTEROID trial achieved about a 25% reduction in the normalized total atheroma volume using rosuvastatin (40 mg/day) for 24 months [28]. Recently, Tardif at al. [29] reported that a 12-month therapy with succinobucol, an analog of probucol, reduced the plaque volume of index lesions by 1.5%, whereas the control group showed no significant change in plaque volume. Notably, the results of an animal study evaluating the antiatherogenic effects of cilostazol and probucol showed that combination therapy was more effective in reducing the size of atherosclerotic lesions than was administration of either drug alone [18]. For this reason, we expect that cilostazol and probucol combination therapy will be more potent in reducing plaque volume than succinobucol, and hypothesize that the combination therapy could achieve a reduction in plaque volume 5% greater than that achieved by cilostazol monotherapy.
Statistical analysis
All statistical analyses will be carried out by an independent organization, ADM Korea Inc. All primary and secondary end points will be analyzed on a modified intention-to-treat basis (all randomized subjects who receive at least one dose of study drug and have IVUS and VH measurements at baseline and at the study end point). The primary efficacy analysis will be performed using an analysis of covariance model, adjusting for baseline values. If the data are not distributed normally, a nonparametric analysis of covariance analysis will be used. All continuous secondary efficacy variables will be analyzed using similar methods. The composite end point of cardiovascular events will be analyzed by comparing Kaplan-Meier event rates using a log-rank test. Independent predictors of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were determined using a multiple logistic regression analysis.
Trial Organization
Principal Investigator Won-Heum Shim, Division of Cardiology, Severance Cardiovascular Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Korea
Statistical analysis ADM, Korea Inc., Seoul, Korea
Core laboratory for IVUS and VH Peter J. Fitzerald and Yasuhiro Honda, Cardiac Core Analysis Laboratory at Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA
Core laboratory for biomarkers Seoul Clinical Laboratories, Seoul, Korea
Core laboratory for LDL subfractions Jong Ho Lee, National Research Laboratory for Clinical Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
Core laboratory for LDL subfractions Myoungsook Lee, Laboratory of Nutritional Medicine/Nutrigenomics, Sungshin Women's University, Seoul, Korea
Data coordination and site management Novotech Korea, Seoul, Korea
SECURE has been designed to test the hypothesis that combination therapy with cilostazol and probucol is more effective in reducing plaque volume than cilostazol monotherapy. The effectiveness of probucol against atherosclerosis has been demonstrated in previous clinical trials. In the Fukuoka Atherosclerosis Trial (FAST), the patient group treated with probucol (500 mg/day) showed significantly reduced intima media thickness in the common carotid artery compared to the control group [30]. In an IVUS substudy of the Canadian Antioxidant Restenosis Trial (CART-2), significant atherosclerosis regression was observed in patients treated with the probucol analog succinobucol, whereas no significant change in plaque volume occurred in the placebo group [29]. In the Probucol Observational Study Illuminating Therapeutic Impact on Vascular Events (POSITIVE), long-term probucol treatment effectively prevented secondary cardiovascular events in a higher-cardiovascular-risk heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia population without causing severe adverse effects [31]. Cilostazol has also demonstrated diverse antiatherogenic properties in previous studies [11, 12, 13, 14]. Recent animal studies have suggested that probucol and cilostazol may synergize in the prevention of atherosclerosis by suppressing inflammatory reaction and promoting cholesterol efflux [18, 19].
In the SECURE study, in addition to changes in plaque volume, we will also evaluate the potential of combination therapy to stabilize coronary plaques by altering their composition. Virtual Histology, a software system that enables a spectral analysis of radiofrequency backscatter IVUS, was recently developed to analyze plaque composition, providing information on fibrous, fibrofatty, dense calcium, and necrotic core components [20]. VH findings have been validated using various human atherosclerotic plaque tissues [21]. Different statins and darapladip, a direct lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) inhibitor, have shown coronary plaque-stabilizing effects by reducing the necrotic core [22, 23, 24, 25]. The SECURE study will also confirm whether the combination therapy is superior to cilostazol alone in decreasing neointimal hyperplasia after implantation of a drug-eluting stent. Previous studies have shown that both probucol and cilostazol are effective in preventing restenosis after PCI with or without stent implantation [2, 10, 32]. In addition, Sekiya et al. [17] demonstrated that cilostazol and probucol combination therapy reduced restenosis after stent implantation more effectively than either cilostazol or probucol alone.
Another focus of the SECURE study is on changes in lipid composition associated with probucol and cilostazol combination therapy. Generally, high LDL and low HDL cholesterol levels are regarded as major risk factors for coronary artery disease. However, within LDL and HDL cholesterols are subfractions with different particle sizes and different roles in the metabolism of lipids [33, 34]. Although still controversial, small, dense LDL is thought to be more atherogenic in conjunction with other features of metabolic syndrome, such low HDL and high triglyceride levels [33]. Generally, the larger triglyceride-rich HDL2 subfraction is thought to confer better protection against coronary artery disease than the small HDL3 fraction [34]. In a recent trial, the CETP inhibitor torcetrapib, which raised HDL-C levels by approximately 70%, showed a paradoxical increase in cardiovascular disease outcomes [35]. Thus, a simple elevation of HDL cholesterol levels does not necessarily translated into protection from atherosclerosis. Probucol is thought to reduce HDL cholesterol by enhancing reverse cholesterol transport through increased expression of the hepatic HDL-receptor SR-B1 and activation of CETP [4, 5, 6]. Hepatic over-expression of SR-B1 increases hepatic uptake of HDL cholesterol resulting in increased biliary excretion of cholesterol. Probucol is known to increase the levels and activity of CETP [4, 5]. Activation of CETP increases transfer of cholesterol esters from HDL to triglyceride-rich lipoprotein particles in exchange for triglyceride, thereby reducing the circulating HDL cholesterol concentration. Whether CETP is anti- or proatherogenic is currently not fully understood. Potential antiatherogenic roles of CETP include HDL remodeling, with increased efflux of lipid-poor apolipoprotein A-I in exchange for cholesterol; and shuttling of cholesteryl esters to apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins, namely LDL, intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL), and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), for excretion by the liver. In the SECURE study, we will investigate lipid parameters, such as LDL and HDL subfractions, and apolipoprotein A1 and B, as well as total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, and LDL. In addition, we will evaluate the effects of probucol and cilostazol combination therapy on the atherosclerosis biomarkers, oxidized LDL, VCAM-1, and vWF.
Possible major limitations of the SECURE study will be the relatively small number of study population and the short interval duration for follow-up IVUS study. However, several small clinical studies have shown significant plaque reduction with change of plaque composition despite relatively short period (6 or 12 months) of follow-up [22, 23, 25]. Thus, if probucol combined with cilostazol has strong antiatherosclerotic effects as shown in previous clinical and experimental studies, we think the SECURE study will be able to demonstrate them in terms of the primary or secondary endpoints.
In conclusion, the SECURE study will be the first double-blind, randomized, controlled multicenter clinical trial using VH-IVUS to investigate the effects of probucol and cilostazol combination therapy on the progression and composition of coronary artery plaques. Furthermore, the SECURE study will deliver important information on the effects of combination therapy on lipid composition and biomarkers related to atherosclerosis, thereby providing insight into the mechanisms underlying the prevention of atherosclerosis progression by cilostazol and probucol.
Trial registration number
National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials Registry (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier #NCT01031667).
Supplementary material
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Copyright information
This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


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Animal Species:Barred Grubfish, Parapercis allporti (Günther, 1876)
The Barred Grubfish is endemic to Australia and is usually found on sandy and rubbly sea beds, occurring in temperate marine waters.
Standard Common Name
Barred Grubfish
Alternative Name/s
Allport's Grubfish, Barred Weever
The Barred Grubfish is an elongate slightly compressed fish with a large mouth and a long based dorsal fin. The body is reddish above, whitish below and has seven to nine blackish bands dorsally that fade on the side of the body. Alternate bands are sometimes narrower. The fins are yellow with orange lines.
Size range
The species grows to 33 cm in length.
This species is endemic to Australia, occurring in temperate marine waters from southern Queensland to Kangaroo Island, South Australia.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Distribution by collection data
Ozcam map of Barred Grubfish specimens in the Australian Museum.
It is usually found on sandy and rubbly sea beds at depths from 45 m to 200 m.
- Species:
- allporti
- Genus:
- Parapercis
- Family:
- Pinguipedidae
- Order:
- Perciformes
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Kuiter, R.H. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:
Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Barred Grubfish, Parapercis allporti, Pinguipedidae, brown, yellow, white, black, 'normal fish', 30 cm - 1 m, stripes or bands, countershaded, soft substrate, marine, adult,


text:
|Re: (Belated) Requiem for the R-44 (1166734)
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Re: (Belated) Requiem for the R-44
Posted by Widecab5 on Sun Jul 15 11:06:42 2012Sometimes it takes a while for things to come together...
NYCT (apparently) has a disposition contract Frontier Industrial Corp. for the disposition of 277 R-44 subway cars and an undetermined number of retired work and surplus passenger cars. This includes every single R-44 that was on NYCT property, including SIR's 402.
The R-44's are being loaded on a cradle at 207 Street shops daily (at least including Saturdays, maybe Sunday, too) and driven across the GWB to New Jersey. Destination across the river is less certain but believed to be Croxton (NS) or North Bergen (CSX). From there they go by rail (flatcar) to Pioneer's rending facilities in Ohio, just as were Metro-North's M-1's, as well as the PATH subway cars (though they went all the way by truck). I believe the Ohio facility is somewhere in the vicinity of Ashtabula.
In any case, approximately 27 R-44's departed NYCT property in the month of June, another dozen or so in July thus far. At the rate of movement given the large quantity of cars, it is likely this part of the process will continue into early 2013.
I do not as yet have car numbers as to what has been removed or what remains, so if "anyone" out there would enjoy a good sweat and care to do a little "field" research, please advise of your findings.
Happy Hunting and Thanks in advance.
George Chiasson Jr.


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The full line-up includes lip and eye trios, cheek stains, eyeliners, face powder, glitter pots, an under-base mousse and cleansing oil, as well as accessories that include eyelashes, an eyelash curler and a brush set. It's a vast and fun collection that will no doubt appeal to fans of Karl, his fashion creations and cat lovers alike. I'm not 100% sure, but my assumption is the mastermind behind the collection has combined the 'Shu' from Shu Uemura and the 'Pette' from Choupette to offer a name that combines the two creative minds - it's slightly confusing, but I've no doubt it will do incredibly well... There are a lot of cat fans out there!
In terms of product quality, the eyeshadow trio is incredibly soft and provides a good buildable pigment that can be blended with ease. The golden base shade is great for covering dull tones on the lid, while the dark brown is the perfect daytime colour that can be build up from the lashline. I've never been a fan of pink eyeshadow and think only a small minority of people can get away with the shade, so it's disappointing to see it in the trio - however, it's obviously there to continue the pink story of the collection and will no doubt come in handy as a cheek colour. The lip trio is super cute and contains three wearable shades that are actually a lot more transparent when applied to lips; they're much more of a tinted balm than a lipstick, but are nevertheless comfortable to wear. I do find lip colours in palettes a bit annoying, not helped by the fact that the casing doesn't contain an applicator brush, but the cuteness does slightly override the inconvenience.
Although I've only got a few products to see for myself, the eyelash curlers are definitely worth a look. The Shu Uemura curlers are well documented as some of the best in the business, so there's no better excuse to splurge than the addition of a Shupette charm. Although it's totally impractical and needs to be removed as soon as you open the box (unless you want to have something flapping around your hand while you're attempting an incredibly precise and nerve-wracking task,) it is cute and is calling out to be added to my keys. The bonus is that it's no more expensive than usual (£20.00) meaning you can get your hands on this cute limited edition version for not a penny more.
I love the idea of this collection and have no doubt it will be incredibly successful, but the products themselves could have been a bit more thought through. The makeup in particular is very expensive for what it is (£29.00 for each of the trio palettes,) and you can no doubt get products the same or better quality for a fraction of the cost. However, for fans of Karl, cats and makeup this may be too much to resist come payday. What do you think of the latest collaboration - is it the cats pajamas, or just a stray? (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
The Shupette for Shu Uemura collection is available now, via Selfridges and Shu Uemura counters nationwide. (Although a lot is already sold out!)


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Clare Short in a Nutshell
On the subject of Clare Short and the evidence the former International Development Secretary gave to the Iraq inquiry, John Rentoul takes his hammer, aims it squarely at the nail and hits it on the head. In ShortWorld, everything is the fault of someone else.
As John says: "She changed her mind after she voted for the war. This was an important decision; so important that if she had doubts about the legal position, which was much debated at the time, she could have acquainted herself with the facts. Instead of leaving it to the Cabinet three days before the invasion. When she was "jeered at", she says. That is a feeble excuse. She was then responsible for much of Britain's part in managing post-invasion Iraq. If the main justifiable criticism of Tony Blair and the Government is that it failed to plan adequately for the occupation, she ought to bear a heavy responsibility. If we planned for a humanitarian crisis instead of a breakdown of security, she is implicated. Instead, she found a pretext to resign and has been rewriting history ever since."
I suspect that at the root of this is a particular kind of attitude to the military in parts of the Department for International Development. Short is a relic of the 60s, 70s and 80s peace movement, which recoils instinctively from association with muscular and often messy action designed to take ground, maintain security, gather intelligence and if necessary kill the enemy. Yet how else are the conditions to be created for peace after war?
I remember a senior Labour defense minister explaining to me bitterly after Iraq that Short's department was only interested in the army if it was handing out food parcels and being nice to people. Otherwise, they weren't interested in engaging much with the process. Demanding a properly rigorous curfew and robust military government until civic society could be rebuilt? Not really DFID's scene. How, like, totally militaristic, man.


text: As if the excitement of our last art for sale update wasn't enough, here's another one for you to behold. Just added over a dozen pages of that cult classic hero The Tick. Art by the always amazing Marc Sandroni. We've got several pages from The Tick: Big Tax Time Terror #1 and The Tick: Massive Summer Double Spectacle #1. You'll see plenty of the kind of shenanigans you expect from the Tick and his crew of bumbling do-gooders! All are priced to sell quickly. And if that isn't enough, if you buy a page, you get a copy of the issue it is from, autographed by Marc Sandroni! So, it's a great deal all around. Head over to the art gallery and see all there is to see. Then, place an order today.