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I believe a few years ago I read in one of the major journals that you never do elective surgery on a smoker. I've abided by that rule for over 20 years. If they were in enough pain that they needed to consider foot surgery, they were referred back to their primary care doctor to get help to stop smoking before the surgery was scheduled. If there were ever doubts they had quit, a nicotine level was run a day or so before the case was to be scheduled.
Performing Surgery On Smokers: What You Should Know
Patients who smoke have a higher risk for nonunion, non-healing wounds and other complications. Offering insights from the literature and their experience, these authors discuss the impact of smoking on surgical outcomes, timing issues with smoking cessation and pertinent pearls for improving surgical results in patients who continue to smoke.
Cigarette smoking is a major health and economic concern. Smoking is well known to have destructive effects on the respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine and immune systems.1 The adverse health effects from cigarette smoking account for an estimated 443,000 deaths or nearly one of every five deaths each year in the United States.2,3 Smoking is the most preventable cause of premature death.
Smoking also has adverse effects on bone, decreasing calcium absorption and increasing bone resorption.4 It is a risk factor for the development of osteoporosis and fractures.4 Smoking has a negative effect on surgical outcomes. Multiple studies have shown that smoking has negative effects on bone, skin and wound healing as well as fusion procedures.5-9
Smoking contains over 4,000 chemicals of which only 109 are known chemicals, including nicotine, benzene, arsenic, hydrogen cyanide and tar. Nicotine negatively impacts fracture healing and bone fusion processes. Nicotine causes the release of catecholamines, which results in peripheral vasoconstriction that causes decreased blood flow, tissue ischemia and oxygen tension as well as depressed osteoblastic activity in bone.10-14 Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide, which causes tissue hypoxia by binding to hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin. Carbon monoxide has a high affinity for oxygen and decreases the delivery of oxygen at a cellular level.15 Hydrogen cyanide inhibits the cellular respiratory enzymes.
Various authors have reported the adverse effects of cigarette smoking on wound and bone healing. Looking at the effects of smoking on lumbar fusions, Brown and colleagues found a 40 percent pseudarthrosis rate in smokers versus 8 percent in non-smokers.5 Ishikawa and co-workers found a 18.6 percent nonunion rate in smokers versus 7.1 percent in non-smokers receiving hindfoot fusion.6 Krannitz and coworkers found the healing time after Austin bunionectomy was delayed in smokers and even in secondhand smokers in comparison to non-smokers.7 The authors determined there was a 42 percent increase in the time to bone healing in the smoking group in comparison to the non-smoking group. Studies have shown that nicotine has detrimental effects on tendon to bone healing in a rat rotator cuff animal model.8 Daftari and colleagues showed that nicotine reduced the revascularization of cancellous bone grafts.9
Law and Hackham reported that postmenopausal bone loss is greater in smokers than in non-smokers and that tobacco smoking increases the lifetime risk of hip fracture in women by about 50 percent.15
In addition to its adverse effect on bone healing, smoking can result in an increased risk for infection after surgery. Smoking decreases cutaneous blood flow, which interferes with the natural process of wound healing and leads to an increased complication rate. The Lower Extremity Assessment Project (LEAP) study group showed that current smokers were more than twice as likely to develop an infection and 3.7 times as likely to develop osteomyelitis at the site of open tibial fractures.16
Smoking has also been implicated in postoperative infections.17 In a study of wound infections after adult posterolateral lumbar spine fusions, Kayvanfar and co-workers discovered a significant incidence of infections in smokers as well as obese patients.18 Thalgot and colleagues also found that 90 percent of postoperative infections in elective surgery occurred in smokers.19
What Is The Ideal Timing For Surgery After Smoking Cessation?
Studies have shown that smoking cessation four to six weeks prior to elective surgery decreases the postoperative complications, especially in wound healing.20-23 Møller and colleagues determined that smokers were not only at an increased risk for wound complications but they stayed in the hospital longer than the non-smokers.24 The authors concluded that smoking was the single most important risk factor for the development of postoperative complications, especially those related to wound healing, cardiopulmonary complications and the need for postoperative intensive care with hip and knee arthroplasties.
The results of experimental laboratory studies and clinical outcomes following surgery clearly indicate the detrimental effects of cigarette smoking and postoperative complications. As a result, many surgeons will not perform elective surgery until the patient has stopped smoking.
Currently, there are no specific criteria to suggest how long the surgeon should wait after smoking cessation before performing surgery. Rees and colleagues suggest waiting a minimum of 12 hours based on the time it takes to clear carbon monoxide from the blood and return the carboxyhemoglobin to normal.25 Lind and colleagues have suggested waiting one week to operate based on the half-life of free radicals and thrombotic components in tobacco.26
Following surgery, Mosley and coworkers recommended smoking cessation for at least one week because their data indicates that nicotine can impair the wound healing of incisions for up to 10 days.27 Nasell and co-workers also reported that smoking cessation intervention programs initiated during the first six weeks after acute fracture surgery decrease the risk of postoperative complications.20
Some foot and ankle elective procedures are considered high risk because of the likelihood of delayed union, nonunion and possibly pseudarthrosis. This would include tibial and fibular osteotomies with allogenic bone grafts, repair of large osteochondral defects with bone grafts, ankle arthrodesis, solitary talonavicular fusions and double and triple arthrodesis.11,28-30 In our experience, it can be difficult to achieve union in first metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis procedures as well as diaphyseal metatarsal fractures, pilon and comminuted Weber C fibular fractures in patients who are smokers.
In cases like these, the foot and ankle surgeon has the option of not performing elective surgery until the patient stops smoking. Many hospitals, communities and even health insurance companies sponsor smoking cessation programs that educate the patient in the many adverse risks of smoking. The program should include a discussion of the risks of surgery associated with smoking.
Trauma of the foot and ankle usually does not give patients time to enroll in a program preoperatively but if they are hospitalized, a smoking cessation program can start in the hospital or they can enroll in a program after discharge.
Pertinent Pearls For Performing Surgery In Smokers
If you decide to operate on the nicotine addict who cannot stop smoking, there are several options that can minimize the risks of delayed union and nonunion.
In a study of high-risk hindfoot fusions, Donley and Ward used electrical bone stimulation to supplement rigid internal fixation.28 At a minimum of one year postoperatively, fusion occurred in 12 of 13 patients even though 11 of the 13 patients were smokers.
One can also consider minimally invasive procedures with percutaneous fixation. This has the advantage of smaller incisions with less vascular and periosteum disruption. Surgeons can perform many foot and ankle procedures in this manner. This includes surgery for calcaneal fractures, LisFranc fractures, metatarsal fractures and many elective forefoot procedures. Surgeons can even close, reduce and fixate some ankle fractures with a bone plate and screws percutaneously.
Alternate or supplemental fixation that provides greater strength and stability to the osteotomy or fracture can offset non-adherence and a lot of comorbidities such as smoking, osteoporosis and diabetes. Holt suggested that fixation with cancellous screws encourages revascularization by not interfering with the contact of bone to soft tissue as plates do.31 Frey and coworkers also indicated that surgeons can keep the nonunion to a minimum by understanding the predisposing factors and using good compression techniques.29
Authors have demonstrated that the Austin osteotomy takes longer to heal in a smoker.7 Instead of just using one bone screw for fixation, one may use two screws to provide a more stable osteotomy site.
Recently, we have been using a low profile bone plate on the Austin osteotomy in high-risk patients like smokers. This type of fixation provides excellent stability in osteoporotic bone, cystic areas in the distal portion of the metatarsal head and greater protection against displacement in a non-adherent patient or a patient who does not have the ability to stay off the extremity.
Surgeons can even strengthen fixation for the Akin osteotomy when operating on the smoker. Instead of using just an interosseous wire, one can stabilize the osteotomy with a staple or K-wire. Many times, the senior author will combine a staple with insertion of a K-wire from the distal aspect of the toe across the osteotomy site to resist axial loading. Using bicortical fixation with a small, two-hole bone plate also offers very strong fixation.
It can be difficult to obtain fusion at the talonavicular joint either as a solitary procedure or as part of a double or triple arthrodesis in any patient, let alone the smoker. Good preparation of the joint is essential for union. One must remove all cartilage and there must be bleeding bone with good alignment of the bone surfaces. In the patient who is at a higher risk for nonunion at the talonavicular joint, the senior author will consider intramedullary beaming, primarily using it in Charcot reconstruction. We will insert a large diameter cancellous screw in the medial column through the talonavicular joint, anchoring it into the talar body.
Insert another screw through the lateral column to stabilize the calcaneocuboid joint. If fusing the subtalar joint, insert one or two large diameter screws from the posterior aspect of the calcaneus into the body of the talus. The combination of large diameter cancellous bone screws, good joint preparation and minimal dissection can provide very acceptable fusion rates, even in the patient with comorbidities.
Surgeons can use supplemental fixation in ankle fractures in patients at risk for prolonged healing. In addition to conventional forms of fixation, one can stabilize the fractures with hook plates for both malleoli and locking plates, or bicortical fixation for the medial malleolar fractures. The surgeon can create a fibular cage to add greater strength to the fibula by inserting one or two K-wires.
Case Study One: When There Is A Nonunion Following An Avulsion Fracture In An Active Smoker
A 52-year-old female sustained an injury to her right foot after stepping off a curb, twisting her right foot. Her medical history was positive for hyperlipidemia, arthritic changes in the lumbosacral spine and fibromyalgia. She was taking amitriptyline (Elavil, Pfizer), ropinirole (Requip, GlaxoSmithKline), diazepam (Valium, Roche USA) and simvastatin (Zocor, Merck). The patient had a 30-year history of smoking. She had a hysterectomy and multiple surgeries for endometriosis.
Radiographic examination showed a non-displaced avulsion fracture of the fifth metatarsal in the right foot (see left of photo above). We educated the patient on the adverse effects of smoking regarding the inhibition of bone healing. She wore a non-weightbearing, below-the-knee fiberglass cast for six weeks. Radiographs showed some consolidation at the fracture site but not complete healing.
After six weeks, she started wearing a controlled ankle motion (CAM) walker. The patient had follow up every four weeks in our clinic and X-rays showed no further healing of the fracture site. The patient reported that she had reduced smoking from one pack of cigarettes a day to one-half pack a day. However, she continued to smoke despite knowing it would delay bone healing and could result in nonunion. The patient continued to have pain at the fracture site.
At five months after the injury, it became obvious that she had a painful nonunion. She declined the option for surgery. We then utilized a bone growth stimulator. After 12 months, the fracture healed radiographically and pain had resolved even though she continued to smoke (see right of photo above).
Case Study Two: How Additional Fixation Helped Facilitate Healing Of A Fifth Metatarsal Fracture In A 20-Year Smoker
A 59-year-old male sustained an injury to his left foot when he slid off the stairs and fell. The patient's medical history was positive for chronic low back pain secondary to trauma resulting in multiple back surgeries. The patient has been smoking cigarettes for about 20 years. The patient was on hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Purdue Pharma) for chronic back pain. At times when his back pain was so severe that he could not walk, he would use a wheelchair.
Radiographs showed a displaced oblique diaphyseal fracture of the fifth metatarsal. We immobilized the patient with a multilayer compressive dressing and scheduled him for surgery. His surgery consisted of open reduction and internal fixation of the fifth metatarsal. We fixated the diaphyseal oblique fracture of the fifth metatarsal with two one-quarter tubular plates. We applied the first tubular plate laterally and fixated it with 2.7 mm cortical screws. We applied the second one-quarter plate dorsally and fixated it with 2.7 mm cortical screws. Additionally, a 0.062 K-wire supplemented the fixation to provide greater strength and stability at the fracture site (see photo at left).
Postoperatively, the patient wore a non-weightbearing slipper cast after three weeks and a partial weightbearing cast for an additional three weeks. Radiographs revealed early consolidation at six weeks and the patient wore a surgical shoe. The patient transitioned to shoe gear after eight weeks postoperatively and he returned to full activity after 12 weeks.
The additional fixation helped achieve greater stability of the fracture and offset the detrimental effects of smoking. This resulted in fracture consolidation within a reasonable time and early weightbearing without complications.
In Conclusion
The risks and complications associated with cigarette smoking are well documented. Ideally, the patient will start a smoking cessation program prior to elective surgery. The surgeon must be aware of the complications and make an effort to educate the patient of these risks.
Dr. Fallat is the Program Director of the Podiatric Surgery Residency at the Oakwood Annapolis Hospital within the Oakwood Healthcare System in Wayne, Mich. He is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
Dr. Chahal is a second-year podiatric surgery resident with the Oakwood Annapolis Hospital within the Oakwood Healthcare System in Wayne, Mich.
1. Barendregt JJ, Bonneux L, van der Maas PJ. The health care costs of smoking. N Engl J Med. 1997; 337(15):1052-7.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Annual smoking-attributable mortality, years of potential life lost, and productivity losses—United States, 2000–2004. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2008; 57(45):1226–8.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health, United States. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/previous.htm .
4. Lucas TS, Einhorn TA. Osteoporosis: the role of the orthopaedist. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 1993; 1(1):48-56.
5. Brown CW, Orme TJ, Richardson HD. The rate of pseudarthrosis (surgical nonunion) in patients who are smokers and patients who are nonsmokers: a comparison study. Spine. 1986; 11(9):942-943.
6. Ishikawa S, Murphy A, Richardson G. The effect of cigarette smoking on hindfoot fusions. Foot Ankle Int. 2002; 23(11):996–8.
7. Krannitz KW, Fong HW, Fallat LM, Kish J. The effect of cigarette smoking on radiographic bone healing after elective foot surgery. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2009; 48(5):525-527.
8. Galatz LM, Silva MJ, Rothermich SY, Zaegel MA, Havlioglu N, Thomopoulos S. Nicotine delays tendon-to-bone healing in a rat shoulder model. Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006; 88(9):2027-34.
9. Daftari TK, Whitesides TE Jr, Heller JG, Goodrich AC, McCarey BE, Hutton WC. Nicotine on the revascularization of bone graft. An experimental study in rabbits. Spine. 1994; 19(8):904–911.
10. Hollinger JO, Schmitt JM, Hwang K, Soleymani P, Buck D. Impact of nicotine on bone healing. J Biomed Mat Res 1999; 46(3):438-9.
11. Benowitz NL. Clinical pharmacology of nicotine. Annu Rev Med. 1986; 37:21-32.
12. Forrest CR, Pang CY, Lindsay WK. Pathogenesis of ischemic necrosis in random-pattern skin flaps induced by long-term low-dose nicotine treatment in the rat. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1991; 87(3):518-28.
13. Sørensen LT, Jørgensen S, Petersen LJ, Hemmingsen U, B¨ulow J, Loft S, Gottrup F. Acute effects of nicotine and smoking on blood flow, tissue oxygen, and aerobe metabolism of the skin and subcutis. J Surg Res. 2009; 152(2):224-30.
14. Heliövaara M, Karvonen MJ, Vilhunen R, Punsar S. Smoking, carbon monoxide, and atherosclerotic diseases. Br Med J. 1978; 1(6108):268-70.
15. Law MR, Hackham AK. A meta-analysis of cigarette smoking, bone density and risk of hip fracture: recognition of a major effect. Br Med J. 1997; 315(7112):841-6.
16. Castillo RC, Bosse MJ, MacKenzie EJ, Patterson BM, LEAP Study Group. Impact of smoking on fracture healing and risk of complications in limb-threatening open tibia fractures. J Orthop Trauma. 2005;19:151-7.
17. Capen DA, Calderone RR, Green A. Preoperative risk factors for wound infections after low back pain fusions. Orthop Clin North Am. 1996;27:83-86.
18. Kayvanfar JF, Capen DA, Thomas JC, et al. Wound infections after instrumented posterolateral adult lumbar spine fusions. Abstract presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, February 1995, Orlando, FL.
19. Thalgot JS, Cotler HB, Sasso RC, et al. Postoperative infections in spinal implants. Classifications and analysis – a multicenter study. Spine. 1991; 16(8):981-984.
20. Lindström D, Sadr Azodi O, Wladis A, Tønnesen H, Linder S, Nåsell H, Ponzer S, Adami J. Effects of a perioperative smoking cessation intervention on postoperative complications: a randomized trial. Ann Surg. 2008; 248(5):739-45.
21. Livingston EH, Arterburn D, Schifftner TL, Henderson WG, DePalma RG. National Surgical Quality Improvement Program analysis of bariatric operations: modifiable risk factors contribute to bariatric surgical adverse outcomes. J Am Coll Surg. 2006; 203(5):625-33.
22. Møller AM, Villebro N, Pedersen T, Tønnesen H. Effect of preoperative smoking intervention on postoperative complications: a randomised clinical trial. Lancet. 2002; 359(9301):114-7.
23. Nasell H, Adami J, Samnegard E, Tonnesen H, Ponzer S. Effect of smoking cessation intervention on results of acute fracture surgery. J Bone Joint Surg. 2010; 92(6):1335-42.
24. Moller AM, Pedersen T, Villebro N, Munksgaard A. Effect of smoking on early complications after elective orthopaedic surgery. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 2003; 85(2):178-81.
25. Rees TD, Liverett DM, Guy CL. The effect of cigarette smoking on skin-flap survival in the face lift patient. Plast Reconstr Surg 1994; 73(6):911-915.
26. Lind J, Kramhoft M, Bodtker S. The influence of smoking on complications after primary amputations of the lower extremity. Clin Orthop Rel Res. 1991; 267:211-7.
27. Mosley LH, Finseth F. Goody M. Nicotine and its effect on wound healing. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1978; 61(4):570-575.
28. Donley BG, Ward DM. Implantable electrical stimulation in high-risk hindfoot fusions. Foot Ankle Int. 2002; 23(1):13-18.
29. Frey C, Halikus N, Vu-Rose T. A review of ankle arthrodesis: Predisposing factors to nonunion. Foot Ankle Int. 1994; 15(11):581-584.
30. Cobb TK, Gabrielsen TA, Campbell DC II, et al. Cigarette smoking and nonunion after ankle arthrodesis. Foot Ankle 1994; 15(2):64-67.
31. Holt E, Hansen S, Mayo K, Sangeorzan B. Ankle arthrodesis using internal screw fixation. Clin Orthop Rel Res. 1991; 286:21-28.
Editor's note: For further reading, see "Study Examines Effect Of Smoking On Elective Foot Surgery" in the November 2009 issue of Podiatry Today or"Does Secondhand Smoke Contribute To Delayed Post-Op Wound Healing?" in the May 2007 issue. For other related articles, visit the archives at www.podiatrytoday.com .


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Over 25,000 acres in Leslie and Clay counties make up the Redbird Wildlife Management Area. Found within the Daniel Boone National Forest, the Redbird WMA is popular among hunters, anglers, and trail users. Part of the Redbird Crest ATV Trail travels through the WMA, which also has 25 miles of improved hiking trails. Popular species that are hunted include whitetail deer, wild turkey, squirrel and other small game. The southern portion of the WMA is open for elk hunts to those who are drawn for an elk permit. The Redbird River is one of Kentucky's native muskellunge streams, and also contains good populations of smallmouth, spotted bass and rock bass. There is no doubt there is plenty of adventure waiting at Redbird Wildlife Management Area.

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Gov. Patrick's pick for Southern Berkshire District Court judgeship rejected again
PITTSFIELD -- Local attorney Michael J. McCarthy's nomination to a judicial post in Southern Berkshire District Court in Great Barrington was shot down Wednesday in a 5-3 vote of the Massachusetts Governor's Council.
Berkshire County officials' reaction to McCarthy's rejection was swift and harsh.
"I could not be more dissapointed," said state Sen. Ben Downing, D-Pittsfield. "This was essentially a couple of Boston politicians figuring they know more about the judicial system in Berkshire County and that they know more about the integrity and professionalism of Michael McCarthy."
Michael Albano, a former Springfield mayor who represents the Western Massachusetts District 8 on the council, strongly backed McCarthy in comments prior to the vote. Albano said he heard an outpouring of praise for the attorney during a recent visit to the Berkshires.
The vote during an afternoon council meeting in Boston marked the second time McCarthy was rejected by the Governor's Council for the Southern Berkshire judgeship for which he was twice nominated by Gov. Patrick Deval.
In September, McCarthy's confirmation failed on a tie vote. Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray was out of the country on a trade mission to Europe and was unable to cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the governor's nominee.
This article will be updated in future editions of The Eagle.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.


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Ben Roethlisberger will be the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting quarterback in Sunday's home game against San Diego. Coach Mike Tomlin announced the decision after Roethlisberger had no setbacks Thursday, his second consecutive day of practice.
Although Tomlin said he won't know how Roethlisberger will respond to taking hits until he drops back against the Chargers at Heinz Field, the coach saw enough during the week to believe Roethlisberger is near full strength as a passer.
"I am extremely comfortable with his ability to work the field both vertically and horizontally," Tomlin told reporters. "He has great velocity on his ball. We're ready to go."
Roethlisberger missed three games with injuries to his ribs and right shoulder. The Steelers went 1-2 without him in the lineup but got a critical win last week at Baltimore as 38-year-old third-stringer Charlie Batch played well.
According to the NFL Network, Roethlisberger took between 80 and 90 percent of the first-team snaps in Thursday's practice and said he felt good afterward. The Steelers (7-5) are trying to hold off another division foe, the Cincinnati Bengals (7-5), for the AFC's second wild-card spot.
Roethlisberger steps into a good matchup with the Chargers' No. 21-ranked pass defense. They have sputtered along during a four-game losing streak, and in his career, Roethlisberger is 3-1 against them with a 71.8 completion percentage and 97.7 passer rating.


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"The way you think, the way you behave, the way you eat, can influence your life by 30 to 50 years."
Related quotes
"A mind with thoughts and ideas is like a search engine on a computer. But, You must type them in order to get results."
"We all at certain times in our lives find ourselves broken. True strength is found in picking up the pieces."


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August 20, 2009
Epic Twilight-Husband WIN!
Dream Revelry Twitpiced her late birthday presents from her husband - including a Comic Con New Moon tote, hard-back copy of Twilight SIGNED by Rob AND Kristen as well as an AUTOGRAPHED photo of ROB!
WTF?! The only thing that could possibly beat this would be Rob, nekkid and in lots of feathers ;)
EPIC WIN Mr Dream Revelry *applauds* bravo!
Thanks Letters To Twilight
- Lorabell
12 comments:
- AnonymousAugust 20, 2009 at 12:59 AM
Mmm. I'd marry him (:ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 20, 2009 at 1:07 AM
what? that'S AMAZING!! can i please have it?ReplyDelete
I'd marry him too. EPIC WIN. Husband of the year, clearly.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 20, 2009 at 1:52 AM
I'd prefer the "nekkid" Rob, thanks! ;)ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 20, 2009 at 2:41 AM
Husband of the year nod, for sure.ReplyDelete
Oh wow epic win for sure. Someone got lucky for sure. :P How is he going to top that next year?! RPatz himself?! Lucky lady :)ReplyDelete
Husband = SCORE!!ReplyDelete
Aw thanks guys! :) Yes, I am so damn happy tonight. This is on the heels of a week long trip to visit a Twilight BFF in Denver for a week! He loves me, he really, really loves me :) and he is getting special hugs. lots of special hugs. LOLReplyDelete
Girl you got one ROCKING husband!ReplyDelete
That's awesome.
I want New Moon signed by the wolf pack.
Husbands & BF's have it easy lately, they know they can get any obsessed twilight fan anything with the word twilight on it - and automatically it's like the best Bday ever.ReplyDelete
Great husband!! He's a keeper.ReplyDelete
kristin's husband rules and not to mention her!!!!!!!! deserves this and more!!!!!!ReplyDelete


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Aside from the first match in club history, never have the Philadelphia Union (3-7-1) been so excited to go on the road.
Why? Because they're headed right back home afterwards for four straight league matches at PPL Park.
The early stretch of the season was as tough mentally as it was physically, with long road stretches that seemed endless. But PPL Park's grand opening – and it was grand after the Union dominated the Sounders 3-1 in comeback fashion – was just what the doctor ordered to re-focus a young expansion side.
That brings us to Saturday night's tilt (10:30pm ET, Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports en Español) against a struggling Chivas USA (3-9-1), losers of six straight league matches. Jonathan Bornstein's homecoming from World Cup action will boost Martin Vasquez's squad, but Chivas doesn't benefit from much of a home field advantage, having lost their last three at the Home Depot Center to bring their overall home record to 2-4-0.
At PPL Park on Sunday, Philadelphia looked as dangerous as any team in the league in the second half. Crisp possession, frequent scoring chances, efficient finishing, and superior fitness equated to the finest half of soccer in franchise history.
The challenge for manager Peter Nowak & Co. is bringing the same intensity and confidence on the road with them, where the club has only earned three points in eight matches.
A win on Saturday would give the Union a world of momentum heading back to the Chester Waterfront. With only two points separating Philadelphia from 5th place in the Eastern Conference, a rise up the standings is in their future if they consistently play with the form they've shown at times this season. And yes, that means on the road as well.
Let's take a look at a few of the key matchups on the pitch.
Sebastien Le Toux, Alejandro Moreno and Danny Mwanga vs Jonathan Bornstein and Zach Thornton
Le Toux's shift back to an attacking midfield role essentially gives Philadelphia a trio of strikers, in addition to attack-minded midfielders Fred and Roger Torres. Le Toux is just as dangerous as a midfielder, with a goal and two assists last week and the game-winning assist against Houston in the club's only other road win after dropping back to allow for Mwanga's late substitution. With six goals and five assists on the season, tied with Edson Buddle, Dwayne De Rosario and now Alvaro Saborio for the highest combined goals/assists total in MLS, the word on Le Toux is quickly spreading. No longer just a hard working, versatile option, Le Toux has taken his place among the league's elite.
Le Toux will need to continue serving as a link in the midfield, and his 7th goal of the season early in the match would go a long way towards convincing the Union that they can be a different team on the road than they were in the first third of the season. In fact, Philadelphia have scored first on the road once all season and that was in Houston.
Moreno is constantly softening defenses with his physical play, creating space and opportunity for those around him. When he's not racking up assists (tied with Le Toux for the team lead), he's drawing fouls in and around the area like the one that led to a penalty kick last week. You can bet he's hungry for his first goal for the Union, and one would think it's on the way with Moreno looking for his shot more frequently of late.
Rounding out the trio is everybody's favorite rookie, number one overall pick Danny Mwanga, who forced his way into the starting lineup with three stoppage time goals in a row off the bench. On Sunday, he showed that he can find the back of the net as a starter too. While maintaining his pace of 1.1 goals per 90 minutes is unrealistic, Mwanga has already proven that he belongs at this level. The question is just how good the 18-year-old can become with starter's minutes.
In net for Chivas is Thornton, a physically imposing 'keeper who had a stellar year in 2009 with career bests in shutouts (12) and GAA (0.87). 2010 has been a different story, however, with the opposition scoring an average of 1.57 goals per match against the Baltimore native. Chivas' defense hasn't been the same either, which is certainly contributing to the stark difference, but nor has Thornton. At age 36, it remains to be seen whether he can return to last year's form, or even close, and it's up to Philadelphia's attack to find out in the short term.
Bornstein's return can only help a defense that has given up the fourth most goals per game in MLS. The left back is joined by Mariano Trujillo, Michael Umana and Dario Delgado, but it's Bornstein who is the glue. If he can ward off Le Toux's dangerous runs along the right flank, Chivas will have a far better chance of containing the Union. If not, it could be a long day for the Goats at home.
Justin Braun and Jesus Padilla vs Stefani Miglioranzi
Braun and Padilla are the only Chivas players with more than a single goal on the season, with four and three respectively. Braun is Chivas' most dangerous player and is one of the better young talents in MLS. While defenders Danny Califf and Michael Orozco will have to do their part if Braun finds his way into Philadelphia's third, the Union would be better off preventing situations like the one that allowed Kei Kamara to score early on a wide open strike from the edge of the box last match.
Much of that responsibility will fall on holding midfielder Stefani Miglioranizi. The elder stateman on the roster doesn't get the headlines, but he's been one of Philadelphia's most consistent contributors through 11 matches. The Union are at their best in the midfield when Miglioranzi is winning loose balls or breaking up onrushing attacks, then jumpstarting the counter attack. If he can do just that on Saturday, the Union may very well be too much to handle in Chivas' half.
Chris Seitz and the Union defense vs the club's shutout-less streak
After an encouraging performance across the backline and Seitz's best performance of the season, which including a game-changing penalty kick save with the score tied at 1-1, the Union have their sights set on the first shutout in club history. Seitz's confidence is at an all time high, and his critics have quieted.
Despite a successful outing last week, no defense-goalkeeper combo is fully happy without a zero on the scoreboard for the opposition. Chivas has an offense that can be shut down, and the Union know they have the talent on their backline to do it, even on the road.
Michael Orozco Fiscal will be back from suspension to pair with fellow centerback Danny Califf, which leaves Nowak needing to choose between Shea Salinas and Cristian Arrieta on the right. Salinas could push up to his natural midfield position, with Torres coming off the bench as a second half spark plug, but Salinas' speed is a nice compliment to Califf's ball winning. The former Earthquake doesn't lose his attacking instincts coming out of the back and he has the speed to get back on defense after making a run forward. Don't be shocked to see Salinas starting in the same position again on Saturday, and possibly longer.
More analysis
Union Looking to Build on PPL Park Opener
Goats, Union Look to Climb out of Basement
Last Match Highlights
Philadelphia Union Injury Report
OUT: MF Kyle Nakazawa (R knee sprain);
QUESTIONABLE: FW Alejandro Moreno (R knee contusion);
PROBABLE: DF Cristian Arrieta (R ankle contusion)
Chivas USA Injury Report
None reported
Match Information
Date: Saturday, July 3, 2010
Time: 10:30pm ET
Location: Home Depot Center, Carson, Ca.
Television: Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Sports en Español


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Pudding Pop is a match puzzle game in facebook. Pudding Pop game is published by cookapps. You can play this game in facebook. Pudding Pop is a very popular game in facebook. It has 1 million players in facebook. In this game there are various puddings arranged according to rows and columns in every level. You have to match same colors pudding vertically or horizontally or anyway you can to get points. You have to find the connection of same color puddings to connect and remove them to get points.You have to beat the level within 20 moves. In every level you will be given a goal to beat the level. Goal can be various types. Such as earn 1, 2 or 3 star and collect some points. You will also get various kinds of boosters to remove any column or row during playing any level. When you will match same puddings, you will score. You can share this score with your friends in facebook to beat your friend in any level. The more you will solve levels the more difficulty will arise.
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Lyon knows the pressure is on in AdelaideChloe Saltau, Brisbane
Published: November 14 2012 - 3:00AM
NATHAN Lyon approaches his home Test in Adelaide under no illusions about South Africa's intentions to take him down.
The off-spinner's first spell as Australia pushed for an unlikely fifth-day win at the Gabba lasted two overs and cost 26 runs as Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla enacted their plans to hit him out of the attack.
Amla skipped down the track and hit his fifth ball for six over long on, while Kallis smashed two fours and a six off his next over. The final blow was so flat and straight it almost decapitated umpire Billy Bowden.
Lyon recovered to pick up the wickets of Kallis and Jacques Rudolph, and could not contain his excitement.
He has endured a modest start to the season with 10 first-class wickets at 58, and was always going to play a support role in Brisbane, but more will be expected of him in the second Test at the Adelaide Oval.
If Mitchell Starc comes into the XI, Lyon will benefit from the rough created by the left-arm paceman.
South Africa will revert to normal proceedings, and recall leg-spinner Imran Tahir.
The immediate future of Australian batsman Rob Quiney, who was out hooking for nine on debut at the Gabba, depends on the fitness of Shane Watson.
Meanwhile, South African great Barry Richards wants to see popping creases widened to prevent the torrent of no-ball reviews being a blight on cricket.
Three times in the first Test at the Gabba - with Australia suffering twice and South Africa once - a wicket was denied by the third umpire's technology after the bowler marginally overstepped with his front foot.
The biggest drama of the final day came when Hashim Amla, on 7, played on a full James Pattinson delivery as the tourists were battling against the new-ball at 1-26.
Pattinson over-strode by a mere centimetre, with his heel landing on the popping crease, but the third umpire made the correct call to let Amla stay. Fellow Australian paceman Peter Siddle was denied in the same manner against Jacques Kallis on day one while Proteas quick Morne Morkel was the victim of a dubious call when Ed Cowan gloved down the leg-side late on day three.
''If you want to fix it you could go back to the back-foot rule but I don't think that's going to happen, so why don't you widen the line?'' Richards said on ABC Radio. ''It would help the umpire and the bowler.''
Elsewhere, Justin Langer is expected to be announced on Wednesday as the new head coach of Western Australia. The former Test opener will relinquish his position as Australia's batting coach for the appointment with the Warriors, who are in disarray following the Champions League T20 misbehaviour saga and the resignations of captain Marcus North and coach Lachlan Stevens.
Langer will be replaced for the remainder of the international summer by Stuart Law.
With aap
This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/lyon-knows-the-pressure-is-on-in-adelaide-20121113-29aq9.html


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Crash relatives in prosecution plea
The families of 16 men who died in a North Sea helicopter crash have called for the aircraft's operator to be prosecuted after an inquiry found the tragedy might have been avoided.
Fourteen oil workers and two crew died when the Bond Super Puma plunged into the water off the Aberdeenshire coast on April 1 2009.
Their relatives have called for the Crown Office to review its decision not to pursue a criminal prosecution against Bond after a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) identified failings in the maintenance of the aircraft's gearbox in the days before the crash.
Sheriff Principal Derek Pyle said the tragedy was "possibly" the result of a failure to detect a significant fault in the helicopter's gearbox.
Audrey Wood, who lost her son Stuart Wood in the crash, said: "We, the families, feel let down by the system. We just wanted answers. We will never have closure, this will go on and on for us.
"We are asking to meet with the Lord Advocate to try and convince him that the case against Bond helicopters needs to be looked at again.
"No more families should have to go through what we have been through."
Lorraine Doyle, from Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire, who lost her father Raymond in the crash, said: "Basically this could have been avoided. We've always known it but now it's in black and white.
"How Bond thinks we could get closure from this, I don't know. It's almost cruel what we've had to go through. You can't move on, you go through day to day existing, it's always at the back of your mind. To put us through it for this length of time is cruel.
"And to get the outcome we did, it's not fair."
Solicitor advocate Tom Marshall, who represented relatives at the FAI, said: "There were numerous opportunities for Bond to have prevented this awful tragedy. Had they followed the correct procedure for these craft then the fault in the gear box would have been properly dealt with.
"It's an appalling state of affairs where 16 men can lose their lives while simply returning from work and yet no one has yet been prosecuted."
The families have joined trade unions in calling for a full public inquiry into offshore safety in the North Sea.
The Crown Office said it would meet with relatives but that the decision not to prosecute was "correct".
A statement said: "For a criminal prosecution to have taken place, the Crown would have to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. The Sheriff Principal makes clear that a reasonable doubt remained over the technical cause of the crash.
"The evidence presented during the FAI has not altered the insufficiency of evidence therefore the decision not to hold criminal proceedings remains the correct one."
An earlier Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) probe into the crash found that the aircraft suffered a ''catastrophic failure'' of its main rotor gearbox.
Sheriff Pyle, who heard the six-week FAI at Aberdeen's Town House earlier this year, found that Bond had failed to follow the aircraft maintenance manual on March 25 2009 after a metal particle was discovered on the helicopter's epicyclic chip detector.
Bond failed to ensure that communications with the manufacturer Eurocopter were done according to procedure, with the result that "misunderstandings arose between the parties" and contributed to the failure to carry out the maintenance.
The sheriff said that while it was "certainly possible" that the gearbox would have been removed if Bond had carried out the maintenance, that had not been proved "on the balance of probabilities".
He said: "The essential fact is that everyone in the company well knew that maintenance must be done by the book.
"On one occasion, that fundamental rule was broken. It resulted in the failure to detect a significant fault in the helicopter's gearbox, which possibly - but only possibly - resulted in the crash."
In a statement B ond Offshore said: "W e have always accepted that we made mistakes through honest confusion over telephone calls and emails.
"Lessons needed to be learned, lessons have been learned and lessons continue to be learned. We are absolutely committed to continuing to drive safety improvements across the business, and will study the Sheriff Principal's recommendations carefully, along with our industry colleagues."
The inquiry heard a witness account of how the helicopter fell from the sky ''like a torpedo'' followed separately by its detached rotor blades.
The crash claimed the lives of captain and co-pilot Paul Burnham, 31, from Methlick in Aberdeenshire, and Richard Menzies, 24, from Droitwich Spa in Worcestershire.
Five men from Aberdeen died: Alex Dallas, 62, James Costello, 24, Stuart Wood, 27, Vernon Elrick, 41, and Brian Barkley, 30; and two workers were from Aberdeenshire: Leslie Taylor, 41, from Kintore, and Warren Mitchell, 38, from Oldmeldrum.
The other victims were Raymond Doyle, 57, from Cumbernauld; David Rae, 63, from Dumfries; Gareth Hughes, 53, from Angus; Nairn Ferrier, 40, from Dundee; James Edwards, 33, from Liverpool; Nolan Goble, 34, from Norwich; and Mihails Zuravskis, 39, from Latvia.
Many of those killed worked for KCA Deutag Drilling and were returning from BP's Miller platform at the time of the crash.
Manufacturer Airbus Helicopters, previously known as Eurocopter, said it will analyse the recommendations of the FAI.
A spokesman said: "This accident and resulting loss of life was a tragic event that deeply saddened everyone at Airbus Helicopters. We would like to express again our deepest sympathies to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives.
"Airbus Helicopters takes note of the FAI's three recommendations issued today that involve rotorcraft manufacturers. They will be analysed in depth with other concerned parties, including regulatory authorities, as part of the company's continuous drive toward safety improvement.
"These recommendations are in line with the company's research programmes related to materials, surface treatments, manufacturing processes, and monitoring devices.
"The company took immediate action following the accident to understand the contributing factors and to enhance the safety of the fleet. Airbus Helicopters are confident that the actions implemented to date remove any risk of such a dramatic event recurring.
"The safety of our fleet is our number one priority. We are committed to doing everything possible to ensure the safe operation of our aircraft for the thousands of operators and passengers who rely everyday on our helicopters around the world."
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "Our sympathies are with all of those who lost loved ones, friends and colleagues in this tragedy. We welcome Sheriff Principal Pyle's findings following the Fatal Accident Inquiry, and we will now take time to consider those findings in detail.
"This Government has already committed to bringing forward a Bill to implement the recommendations of Lord Cullen's review of FAI legislation within the lifetime of this Parliament."


text:
Mate, that's awesome. Congrats.
Opteron email@example.com (stock HS/fan), Asus A8N-SLI SE (passive NB), 1.5GB RAM (2:3:2:5, 2T), WD Raptor 740GD 74GB, Maxtor DM10 300GB, Asus EN7600GT SILENT@???, M-Audio Revo 7.1, Nebula DigiTV, Dell 2005FPW, Enermax 431W Active.
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Useful PSU info
Congrats, bro.
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congrats ris, now you get to reap the benefits
It sounds corny, but my parents used to say 'short-term effort = long-term rewards'
I studied for an MBA (masters in business admin) while working full time, so I know how stressful it can be. In the end I binned the final year, but still got a diploma in management studies out of it.
Then got made redundant a year later
But every cloud has a silver lining, as that's when I retrained and got into IT.
Windows 7 x64 Ultimate Edition, Gigabyte Z77-D3H, Ivy Bridge i7 3770, nVidia GTX480 1.5Gb, 16Gb Corsair 1600MHz, Creative X-Fi, Seagate 500Gb SATA II, DGM 23" Widescreen TFT
"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction" -Blaise Pascal
Well done mate
A64 3200+ Venice | XP-120 | 1024MB GeIL Ultra PC4000 | Asus A8N-SLi Deluxe | Connect3D ATi Radeon X800 XL 256MB | 2x 250GB Maxtor DM+10 (RAID-0) | LG Flatron L1710B | 1999 Ford Mondeo Ghia X 2.5 V6
"Oh Lord, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference."
Congrats. The wife and I also graduated this Spring. I got a Geology degree with Chemistry minor and the wife has a BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences. We are both going to grad school. I got accepted into the Environmental Science program while she is going to get her PharmD. I am already taking one credit this summer towards my thesis as a grad student.
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These are modifications not for the faint of heart.
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Congrats ris
Intel Q6600 | Asus P5K SE | 8 GB DDR2 800 | 500GB Seagate SATA | 250GB Seagate SATA | 18x Pioneer SATA DVD-RW | 1 GB Geforce GTX 650 Ti | Logitech Keyboard & Mouse | 650 Watt Cooler Master PSU | Benq 22" LCD
Learn How to Join our Folding@Home Team - Detailed Folding@Home Stats
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text:
Hello to All,
I am new here and new to Zonealarm internet Security Suite.
I am facing a big problem.Since few days ago I updated my Hotmail email accounts to Windows Live Hotmail.I use Outlook 2007
to access all my accounts. So for Windows Live Hotmail, I have to use Microsoft Office Outlook Connector
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because Live hotmail does not support Outlook except through the use of Outlook Connector.
Now to come to the problem.When I enable Outlook Connector and Zonealarm antispam filter, Outlook
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The only way I am able to stop Outlook 2007 from crashing is either to disable Zonealarm spam filter or to Disable/Uninstall Microsoft Office
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somebody here help me to find a solution?I want to have Spam filter running and I also need Microsoft Outlook Connector to access my Live Hotmail emails.
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Operating System:Windows XP Pro
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text:
4.1003 Publication of rules.Cite as [A.S.C.A. § 4.1003 ]
The Secretary of American Samoa shall compile, index, and publish all effective rules adopted by each agency. Revised or supplemented compilations shall be published at least once every 2 years. Compilations shall be made available upon request to agencies and officials of the government free of charge and to other persons at prices fixed by the Secretary to cover mailing and publication costs.History: 1969, PL 11-55.
Case Notes:
An administrative rule adopted pursuant to the rulemaking process in the Administrative Procedure Act has the force and effect of law. A.S.C.A. §§ 1.0201(3), 4.1001-4.1010. Bryant v. Southwest Marine of Samoa, Inc., 23 A.S.R.2d 55 (1992).


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But is everyone going to text "carter" now?!
But is everyone going to text "carter" now?!
You win you win young fella!!!
oooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Vote mothafuckasss!!!! vooote now!!!
That was much better than any of his dunks tonight!
If he had made his first one on his first attempt, he would've run away with it....
You win you win young fella~!!
That's still easier than Ross' dunk....wtf Jeremy
damn these missed first attempts
come on...if he loses this, they need to rethink the whole format. HE's had 4 dunks that are all arguably better than everything else.
Ross won!!!! You win young fella!!!!!!!!
You win young fella!!!!!
Representing toronto!!!!! Hell yea!!!!!
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)


text:
July 30, 2003 -- This was not an emphatic stamp of approval on the trade, but Allan Houston admitted his partnership with Latrell Sprewell had become too much duplication.
So while he paid homage to Sprewell, Houston said he understood why Scott Layden pulled the trigger for 6-10 Keith Van Horn in correcting the lineup's structural flaw of having two shooting guards.
"We'll see if it's a positive move," Houston said. "I know the intention was to get bigger. Unfortunately, it's for someone who everybody in New York loved. He brought an energy to us that we haven't had."
Houston also defended Van Horn's "soft" label and admitted management's war with Sprewell could have played a small role in the trade.
"With [Van Horn's] addition, the whole face of the team changes," Houston said at their practice facility where he received an NBA community award and read to campers. "Where last year we had me and Spree as the focal point, we did pretty much the same things. Now you have a different dimension. It's not just one dimension.
"The key is if the chemistry remains good, it will work. He definitely adds some things that we can benefit from - his size and shooting ability. His biggest strength is offensive rebounding. People talk about his attitude. How could a guy not have a strong attitude if he's a great offensive rebounder? I don't understand how you can question someone's heart if they're a great offensive rebounder. That's all that is - heart. "
Houston never was close with Sprewell but spoke to him Monday. He wouldn't reveal the contents of their goodbye but indicated Sprewell has come to terms with becoming a Timberwolf.
"Going back to a winning team, back in his natural position, that's better than being traded under different circumstances," Houston said.
Houston lauded Sprewell for playing small forward at 6-5 where he was undersized. "He made a tremendous sacrifice for so many years going to small forward," Houston said. "I definitely appreciate that because I don't think I could've played small forward."
No one questions Sprewell being the more accomplished player, but Van Horn makes the Knicks five inches taller and five years younger at the "3."
"It's apples and oranges," said Houston, who had a routine scope on his knee in May and ditched his crutches one week ago. "You're comparing someone who's 6-10 to someone who's 6-5. They're two different players. Van Horn is a great rebounder, Spree did things Keith can't do and Keith does things Spree doesn't do. We'll see if it's the best thing for the team. I'm optimistic by nature so I'm leaning that it will."
Aside from October's Garden exhibition vs. Wolves, Sprewell will face Knicks for first time when it counts on Thanksgiving Eve (Nov. 26) at Target Center. Spree's first official trip to Garden is Dec. 23.
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text:
Elsevier's ScienceDirect is a leading full-text scientific database offering journal articles and book chapters from more than 2,500 peer-reviewed journals and more than 11,000 books. There are currently more than 9.5 million articles/chapters.
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Staff Spotlight: Stefanie Hilles
New in Leisure Reading!
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text:
Intermodal's rebound follows two weeks of decline compared with the comparable period a year ago. It also helped offset the decline of 3.9% in U.S. freight carload traffic for the week, continuing the yearlong slump in this category.
AAR said 12 of the 20 carload commodity groups it measures posted increases compared with the same week in 2011, led by petroleum products, up 50.1%, lumber and wood products, up 22.9%, and motor vehicles and equipment, up 13.6%. Declining commodities included nonmetallic minerals, down 20.4%, coal, down 13.2%, and grain, down 11.3%.
Volume was evenly spread throughout the nation, with Eastern railroads down 3.9%, Western railroads down 4%, measured against the same week a year ago.
Canadian freight carload volume, by contrast, rose 3% for the week ending Dec. 15, while Canadian intermodal mirrored U.S. intermodal movement, rising 7.7%. Mexican freight carload volume was up 10.7% compared with a year ago; Mexican intermodal volume rose 4.5%.
Combined North American freight carload volume for the first 50 weeks of 2012 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads was down 1.8% measured against the comparable period in 2011. Combined North American intermodal volume for the period was up 4.3% from last year.


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Bachelor of Arts
Childrens Literature - unit set code MJ-A000063
Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Warrnambool, Cloud (Online)
In the Children's Literature major sequence, students explore a wide variety of literary and popular texts, from picture books for the very young and novels and films intended for young adults, to adult texts relevant to young people's literary education. The sequence focuses on how these texts imagine and convey ideas and values, and on the interplay between texts for young audiences and the social and cultural contexts in which they are produced and received. The sequence caters to students interested in children's literature as a prominent domain of literary production, and is of particular relevance to those who intend to work with children and young people as primary or secondary teachers and librarians, and those who wish to produce texts for young people. Units aim to equip students with critical, analytical and research skills which will enable them to critique texts for children and young people and to recognise the socialising agendas which inform them. On successful completion of the major, students should have the following skills:
- An ability to recognise and critique the language and narrative strategies whereby texts for children and young people position readers
- An ability to read texts for children and young people in relation to cultural discourses and practices
- An ability to use critical terminology where appropriate, and to draw upon knowledge of relevant aspects of literary, visual and cultural theory
- An ability to articulate how various genres and forms of texts shape the communication of ideas and values to young audiences
Students must take 5 core units, and 3 selected units from listing below, of which at least 1 should be at level 3
Level 1
|Literature for Children and Young Adults
|Power Politics and Texts for Young People
Level 2
|The Golden Age in Children's Literature
|Re-Imagining Literature for Young People
Level 3
|Material Girls, Material Boys
Select 3 credit points from the following, including at least one level 3 unit:
ACV203 Visual Narrative Studio (No longer available for enrolment)
|Australian Literature
|Supernatural Literature
ALL375 Shakespeare: Six Plays, Six Worlds ALL381 Literary Ecologies: (Re)Imagining Our Place in the World


text:
Home Birth Is Safe Despite Medical Opinions
27 Jan
Last week the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued a press release announcing the publication of Committee Opinion Number 476, Planned Home Birth questioning the safety of home birth based on a discredited and highly criticized study by lead author J.R. Wax. The Opinion states that babies are two-to-three times more likely to die when women give birth at home. This is not the first time that ACOG has attempted to discredit the safety of home birth without supporting evidence.
"Although the Committee on Obstetric Practice believes that hospitals and birthing centers are the safest setting for birth," states ACOG, "it respects the right of a woman to make a medically informed decision about delivery. Women inquiring about planned home birth should be informed of its risks and benefits based on recent evidence. Specifically, they should be informed that although the absolute risk may be low, planned home birth is associated with a twofold to threefold increased risk of neonatal death when compared with planned hospital birth."
ACOG's opinion is based on a faulty study not "recent evidence." Even more egregious, ACOG is recommending to its members to spread this misinformation to their own patients.
In a commentary on the Wax study written for the Birth Journal Marc J.N.C. Keirse, MD, a member of the editorial team responsible for preparing Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth notes,
"Home birth has attracted a great deal of attention of late, culminating in a meta-analysis to assess its risks for mother and baby. Mothers were estimated to be 2.6 times more likely to die and babies 3 times more likely to die from a planned home birth than from a planned hospital birth. The actual data on which these estimates were based demonstrate that meta-analysis can be developed into an art that suits whatever purpose its authors hope to achieve. Combining studies of home versus hospital, without differentiating what is inside them, where they are, and what is around them, is akin to producing a fruit salad with potatoes, pineapples, and celery."
ACOG states that hospitals are the safest place to give birth for all women. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (NVSS Vol.58, Number 11, March 3, 2010) low risk women who plan a home birth have fewer preterm and low birthweight babies. For low-risk women who gave birth between 1990 and 2006 the low birthweight (less than 2,500 grams) rate was 5.2% for planned home births compared with 8.3% for hospital births. For preterm (less than 37 weeks of gestation) births the rate was 7.2% for home births compared to 12.9% for hospital births.
Home Birth is Safe When Four Important Criteria are Met
Planned home birth is as at least as safe as planned hospital birth for similar groups of women when four important criteria are in place.
1. Pregnant women are low risk.
2. Home was chosen as the intended place for birth.
3. The primary care provider is qualified according to professional licensing standards and trained to assist at home births.
4. A collaborative relationship with consulting physicians and a medical center exists with clear guidelines for continuity of care should a complication arise where the mother or baby would benefit from the transfer.
Based on a review of 16 years of scientific studies on home birth the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services Expert Work Group found that compared to low risk women who plan a hospital birth, low risk women who plan a home birth have similar or better outcomes with fewer medical interventions and fewer cesareans. The researchers found several health advantages to giving birth at home for both mothers and their infants.
Women who gave birth at home had the same or lower rates of induction and augmentation of labor. They were less likely to need IV fluids, to have an amniotomy (intentional breaking of the bag of waters), or to have continuous electronic fetal monitoring. (Routine continuous electronic monitoring and amniotomy are associated with an increased risk for cesarean section.) At home women had more freedom of movement and more choice of positions for labor and birth. Ultimately the home birth group had fewer cesareans and more VBACs, less or similar incidents of maternal infection requiring antibiotics after birth, and less need for a blood transfusion.
Perinatal outcomes from the planned home births were similar to planned hospital births. Similar rates of newborns were admitted to the intensive care unit and similar or fewer numbers of newborns suffered from birth traumas. The number of babies who died in the first twenty-weight days (perinatal mortality) was similar in the home birth and hospital birth groups. Overall 85 % of women who first gave birth in a hospital and went on to have a home birth preferred their experience of birth at home. Nine out of ten women who planned to have other children said they would have another home birth.
Evidence supporting the safety of home birth is freely available on several websites including the American College of Nurse Midwives, the Midwives Alliance of North America and The Big Push for Midwives.
Undoubtedly, this unfounded opinion on the dangers of home birth is likely to cause some alarm. However, given that expectant mothers actively search the internet for information on pregnancy and birth women can be trusted to access the accurate information they need to make an informed choice about home birth.


text:
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text:
Episode 1
The Old Wagon
Claire convinces Phil to sell their old wagon.
Rent, buy and watch the latest movies and TV shows online
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Comedy, Drama
Suitable for 12 years and over.
The Old Wagon
Claire convinces Phil to sell their old wagon.
The Kiss
Alex has her first crush, and Mitchell hates PDAs.
An earthquake gets everyone a little rattled.
Strangers on a Treadmill
Cam and Phil constantly embarrass themselves.
The Dunphys go offline in an attempt to reconnect.
Claire's Haunted House fails to scare anyone.
Phil goes head to head with a smoke detector.
Manny Get Your Gun
Manny's birthday causes a lot of commotion.
Mother Tucker
Cam's affectionate mom makes Mitch uncomfortable.
Dance Dance Revelation
A school dance causes anxiety for the parents.
Slow Down Your Neighbors
Claire goes after a speeding neighbor.
Our Children, Ourselves
Claire and Phil question their intellectual drive.
Caught in the Act
The kids walk in on Phil and Claire.
Bixby's Back
Phil's alter ego, Clive Bixby returns.
Princess Party
Lily's princess party has an uninvited guest.
Regrets Only
Phil is confused by an argument with Claire
Two Monkeys and a Panda
Cameron makes a startling discovery.
Boys' Night
Jay joins Mitch and Cam on boys' night out.
Musical Man
Cam becomes the music director at Luke's school.
Someone to Watch Over Lily
Mitch and Cam name a legal guardian for Lily.
Mothers' Day
Mother's Day comes with a little sweat and tears.
Good Cop Bad Dog
Phil and Claire swap parenting roles for the day.
See You Next Fall
Alex's graduation causes Claire some heartache.
The One That Got Away
It's Jay's birthday, and nothing is going his way.
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WASHINGTON -- The Concord Coalition today praised a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators for proposing to offset the revenue loss from a one-year extension of three expiring tax breaks. The proposal by Senators Snowe (R-ME), Baucus (D-MT), McCain (R-AZ), Breaux (D-LA), Chafee (R-RI) and Lincoln (D-AR) would extend through 2005 the 10 percent bracket inflation adjustment, certain "marriage penalty" provisions and an enhanced $1,000 child tax credit. The revenue loss would be offset by closing corporate tax loopholes that have been targeted by the Senate Finance Committee and by extending customs user fees.
"With the deficit expected to set a new record this year of more than $400 billion, extending these tax cuts in a deficit neutral manner would send a very positive signal that Congress is finally prepared to take the deficit seriously and make some hard choices among competing priorities. Finding offsets for these tax cuts could also act as a springboard for future negotiations on the more substantive goal of bringing the budget back into balance. Moreover, it would set a good precedent for the kind of bipartisan cooperation that is needed to restore fiscal responsibility," said Concord Coalition executive director Robert Bixby.
"The push to find offsets is a prudent and reasonable response to dramatically changed circumstances. These tax cuts were originally enacted in 2001 on the assumptions that the nation would not be at war, that the Social Security surplus could still be set aside, and that even with a $1.3 trillion tax cut the public debt would be virtually eliminated by the end of the decade. All of those assumptions were wrong. It cannot be said that we are 'refunding a surplus' to the taxpayers. In 2003, the tax cuts were accelerated to provide fiscal stimulus, but the economy now seems able to stand on its own two feet. Since the task at hand is now to bring the deficit under control, if Congress wants to extend these tax cuts as a matter of revenue policy, it should make every effort to do so in a deficit neutral manner. It also makes sense to use the loophole closings and fee extensions in the bipartisan plan to make up for the lost revenue of extending existing tax cuts before using them to help pass new tax cuts. It's a matter of setting priorities," Bixby said.
The Concord Coalition is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to balanced federal budgets and generationally responsible fiscal policy. Former U.S. Senators Warren Rudman (R-NH) and Bob Kerrey (D-NE) serve as Concord's co-chairs and former Secretary of Commerce Peter Peterson serves as president.


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MLS Cup wasn't the only thing going on Thursday.
*The Houston Dynamo arrived in Southern California on Thursday evening. 100 Percent Soccer's Nick Green caught up Houston at their hotel.
Chris Wondolowski of the San Jose Earthquakes was awarded the league's Volkswagen Most Valuable Player after tying Roy Lassiter's all-time single season goal mark of 27. Video of his conversation with MLSsoccer.com is below
Seattle Sounders FC defender Patrick Ianni was awarded Goal of the Year honors. Check out his strike below.
Lastly, Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando won the league's Save of the Year honor. Rimando had three saves among the final four.


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- News
Kubica not expecting F1 return soon
- Drivers:
- Robert Kubica
Robert Kubica will start making decisions about his future soon, but has admitted there is no chance of him returning to Formula One in the immediate future.
Kubica suffered life-threatening injuries in a rallying accident at the start of 2011 and has faced a long rehabilitation period to get back in the cockpit of a rally car. In the past month Kubica has won the Rally di Como in a WRC Citroen C4 and was in a commanding position in the Rallye du Var before he crashed out.
In an interview with Autoweek, Kubica revealed that, although he misses the world of F1, limited mobility in his right arm will prevent a return any time soon.
"If I can move my arm again [freely], there is a chance that I will return," he said. "But until that happens, we'll have to see. There's no chance of me coming back to Formula One soon."
He added: "If it was just about power, it could be fixed by some training at the gym. The main problem is the mobility of my elbow and wrist. I still find it difficult to move my right arm. I had several operations that were meant to improve this issue, but there's not been a spectacular improvement."
Kubica's recent exploits in a WRC Citroen C4 has led to speculation he might compete in next year's World Rally Championship, and while he revealed he is in talks, he said he had several options moving forward.
"I will make a decision very soon. My name still means something, so it would be relatively easy to find a place in touring cars or endurance racing, I think. If I go down that road, I can expect some good results: I've got 20 years of circuit racing experience behind me to fall back on. If I choose rallying, it's going to be a different story. In terms of experience, I'm practically nobody. I'll need two or three years to learn to get to the highest level."


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"We at the university continue to believe that the 45-foot height along Lincoln Way and Beach (Avenue) is compatible with the remainder of the east university-impacted area."
Related quotes
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. Corporations have been enthroned, an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money-power of the country will endeavor to prolong it's reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."
"We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution."


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MORE HELMHOLDT: Mailbag | Weekend's best
There are several big showcases in the Midwest this weekend, including the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown in Cincinnati and the Big Day Prep Showdown in Detroit. Rivals.com will have coverage of games at both events, with Midwest Analyst Josh Helmholdt in Detroit for the Big Day Prep Showdown, preceded by a Friday night matchup of Detroit Catholic Central and Dearbon (Mich.) Fordson. Here are five things he is looking forward to seeing this weekend.
1. Farminton Hills Harrison vs. Detroit Cass Tech: The final, and featured, game of the Big Day Prep Showdown is probably the top game on the schedule in the state of Michigan this fall. Harrison is the reigning Division 2 state champions and Cass Tech made it to the state semifinals a year ago. Between them they have 10 prospects listing Division I offers, including six that are already committed to Big Ten programs. Both teams also have several rising junior prospects who will eventually be recruited to the D-I level.
2. To which position does 2013 jumbo athlete Wyatt Shallman project?: Detroit Catholic Central's Shallman is 6-3, 250 pounds, running consistent 40-yard dash times in the 4.7 range and he is only 15 years old. He could play tailback, fullback or on the defensive line in college. Michigan is legitimately recruiting him to carry the football, so does that make Shallman a freakish Brandon Jacobs-type tailback, or will he be better suited to line up at defensive end or fullback in college? We should get a better feel after Friday against Dearborn Fordson.
3. Cass Tech's defensive backs vs. Harrison's receiving corps: Led by four-star cornerback Terry Richardson, Cass Tech's entire defensive backfield is headed to the Division I level after college. The 5-9, 170-pound Richardson is joined by three-star safety Ruben Lile, Buffalo-bound cornerback Will Rembert and safety Brandon Berry, who holds four Division I offers. On the other side of the football, Harrison brings four-star wide receiver Aaron Burbridge, three-star tight end Devin Funchess and rising junior Gairus Coleman. Quarterback [/db]Jake Vento[/db] also has the ability to get the ball to his playmakers.
4. Can Dennis Norfleet keep his momentum going?: The Detroit King running back tore up the 7-on-7 scene this off-season with his Maximum Exposure team. The 5-7, 175-pound back was electric at events in Bradenton, Fla., Dallas and Pittsburgh, showing off his sensational agility and explosiveness. Now we get to see Norfleet with the pads on again. Last year we saw that he can carry the ball 25-30 times a game and take a pounding. He will have his work cut out for him on Saturday against one of the state's top teams in Brother Rice.
5. Several top 2013 prospects from the state of Michigan: Besides Shallman and Coleman, this weekend's slate of games will also allow us to see Brother Rice linebacker Jon Reschke, Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard quarterback Mason Sarosi, Dearborn Fordson running back Ahmad Al-Aboody, Detroit Cass Tech cornerback Jourdan Lewis, defensive tackle Kenton Gibbs and offensive linemen Karel Finley and Dennis Finley. These represent some of Michigan's best offerings in the 2013 class.


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Innovative Fundraising Ideas Harness Technology To Raise Awareness
Dive centres are creating innovative fundraising campaigns around the world.Project AWARE relies on dedicated divers to raise funds to protect our ocean planet. Fundraising can be as fun, fishy, flamboyant or FINatical as you like.
Meet Dot. Dive World Brisbane's newest ambassador. Dot has finally arrived in Australia with plenty of steam to start the Shark Conservation Specialty Course. Dot is also putting out his first catalogue sale through Facebook. For every person who Tags themselves on the catalogue, Dot will donate $1 to Shark Conservation.
In the UK, Sub-Mission is raising sponsorship online through the "Tough Mudder Challenge". They're training like mad for the toughest event on the planet. "On November 18th we'll be putting ourselves through hell, all in the name of a good cause and team spirit." said Katy Bloor, Sub-Mission. They're encouraging everyone to donate generously to help make the training all worthwhile.
Tough physical challenges aren't for everyone. It's just one click to submit a photograph for the Scuba Symphony Photo Contest. 100% AWARE dive centre Scuba Symphony have raised AUD $ 779.00 for ocean protection so far. "Our goal is to raise AUS $1000.00, to do so we're holding monthly underwater photo contests dedicated to Project AWARE and showcasing the beautiful underwater world. Contest prizes given by our sponsors and ourselves are very attractive and have a total value exceeding USD $ 30,000.00!" said Sim, Scuba Symphony.
A Fish Guide App is launching soon, the brainchild of Niclas Andersson, Kon Tiki Lanta, Thailand. "I'm launching a Kon-Tiki fish guide as a mobile application. We've worked on this app all summer. The guide is for the Andaman region and will represent 40 families and 240 species of marine life with pictures and funny facts. Everything is touch based and can be used on iPads, iPhones, Android Tablets and Android phones. We'll donate a part of this to Project AWARE for each application sold. It will be an ongoing donation from now in to the future, to help protect our ocean planet," said Niclas Andersson, Kon Tiki Lanta. The Fish Guide App is launching soon on both AppStore and GooglePlay.
The team at Sail Rock Divers, Thailand asked divers to LIKE their Facebook page "We asked divers to share this with their friends and help us raise money for one of the most important organisations in the world, Project AWARE! We believe if we protect our seas we can help protect our future. We decided to donate two Thai Baht for even new 'Like' we received on the Sail Rock Facebook page, and kept the campaign running until we reached our goal of 10,000THB," said Alex Arnold, Master Instructor at Sail Rock Divers.
A big thanks to all our fabulous fundraisers. If you have a fun, fishy, flamboyant or FINatical fundraising idea and you want help to get startedcontact us today.


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Zimmerli Richelieu white shirt from The Wolverine seen with Hugh Jackman (Logan / Wolverine)
As Seen on Logan / Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) in The Wolverine
The Wolverine: What does The Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) wear during his continued battle with immortality? Not a shirt for starters. Sometimes a tank top. Occasionally a suit and tie. The film, which follows a favorite X Men through a series of trials in Japan, features a generous dose of Japanese cool-girl styles and of course, the Silver Samurai.
Tank top. Say it with us. Think it, whatever. Logan, or The Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) makes this hard-to-wear piece look easy as one thousand workouts.
Scroll down to see more clothes, outfits and products identified from The Wolverine.
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I mean OT.
Not sure what that play with chandler was all about, these guys have to hold on.
Lin even makes Dantoni play better
Wow, Lin is the freakiest chinaman I've ever seen.
How many times is that ref gonna spank chandler?
Please Lin, hit another basket.. I want him to get 40
OH MY GOD! Jerahmotherfukinee Lin...
Damn we played so smart all game then we inbound to Fields?? With 2 TO's? Jesus...
Well! Lin is not from China so he get away with a warning.
Kobe's a beast even tho LA most likely loses this game


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Rays trying to win arms race with stout 'pen
By Sam Strong / MLB.com
ST. PETERSBUG -- Rays manager Joe Maddon has often said he feels his bullpen has the potential to be the best group of relief pitchers in the American League.
Yet, Tampa Bay has made four bullpen transactions this month. The club designated Kyle Farnsworth for assignment, briefly called up Josh Lueke from Triple-A before sending him back in addition to claiming former Astros reliever Wesley Wright off waivers.
The Rays also acquired Jesse Crain from the White Sox in a non-waiver Trade Deadline deal in July, but he remains on the disabled list with a right shoulder strain.
"[Our bullpen] is strong, but if you can make it stronger, you want to do that," Maddon said. "You never walk away from Jesse Crain. Wesley was available and we think he looked good last night. I liked the appearance. He's done some really good work. It gives us another option from [the left] side. There are different ideas we have with him."
Wright, making his Rays debut on Tuesday, inherited a baserunner from starter Chris Archer in the top of the sixth inning and gave up an RBI triple to Dustin Ackley before retiring the next three batters he faced, two of them via strikeouts.
"I want them to know what they're going to get every time and know that I can get outs in big situations," Wright said. "I'm trying to fit into a great bullpen. Guys have welcomed me and I'm real excited to be here."
Moore opts to delay return to Rays' rotation
ST. PETERSBURG -- Rays pitcher Matt Moore will not return to the starting rotation on Saturday as he remains on the 15-day disabled list with a sore muscle in his left elbow.
Moore previously said he would pitch this weekend against the Blue Jays "in a perfect world" but decided, along with trainers, that his arm needs more time to heal after throwing a 55-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday. Moore will not throw again until Sunday.
"I felt good, but good isn't great and good isn't 100 percent," Moore said. "We're looking to be 100 percent. There are still a few things in doubt that we're not comfortable with. We're just going to give it a couple more days and see where we're at."
Since aggravating the muscle in a July 28 loss to the Yankees, Moore has maintained it only bothers him when throwing changeups.
The delay is not considered to be a setback in recovery.
"We're talking a very little bit, but enough to that we want to make sure it's not something I have to be shut down again for if I go back out there," Moore said. "It's kind of like picking a scab. It's great until I pick that scab once and then it turns into my arm not feeling 100 percent."
While he feels better, Moore does not have a target date for his return.
"The progress we have made is substantial. There's just a little more to go."
Cobb remains fearless about return to mound
ST. PETERSBURG -- Rays pitcher Alex Cobb's last trip to the mound at Tropicana Field could have resulted in the end of his baseball career when he took a line drive to the head off the bat of Kansas City's Eric Hosmer on June 15.
Cobb will return with no fear to the same mound on Thursday when he faces the Mariners in his first start since the injury.
"I have played this game my whole life and there have been more good memories than the one incident that happened," Cobb said.
After doctors ruled out bleeding in his brain or a skull fracture on the night of the injury, Cobb never had a doubt that he would return to the mound.
Although Cobb unrealistically wanted to make his very next scheduled start, he still beat the timeline given to him by medical professionals. The right-hander was stuck at home immediately following the injury because of balance issues related to fluid trapped in his inner ear, but he tried not to let the emotional side of the process derail his progress.
"You could have that [negative] outlook on anything," Cobb said. "If you let it bring you down and affect the way you live, it beat you. You have to beat the situation and just be happy to be back."
Cobb has conducted interviews since beginning a rehab assignment on July 23. Few of the questions posed to him have related to his pitching.
"I'm tired of this," Cobb said. "I'm tired of hearing it, seeing it, answering questions. Hopefully on Thursday, I'll get it all behind me."
Sam Strong is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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According to the most recent Federal Railroad Administration Office of Safety Analysis statistics, trespasser fatalities in the first four months of 2014, at 167, were 30.5% higher than the same 2013 period, in which 128 deaths occurred. From the same period in 2011, following three years of relatively flat numbers (123, 124, and 128; for 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively), they've risen 35.8%.
This came into sharp focus at 6:50 a.m. Thursday, July 10, 2014, on Indiana Rail Road's viaduct spanning an inlet of Lake Lemon, 10 miles northeast of Bloomington, Ind., when two female subjects were found trespassing on the middle of the bridge, known as Shuffle Creek Trestle. INRD spokesperson Eric Powell describes the incident:
"The person who first saw the trespassers was the engineer in the lead locomotive of a northbound, 14,000-ton INRD freight train traveling at 30 mph. Imagine, if you will, rounding a curve just before a 500-foot-long, 80-foot-high bridge, only to find two subjects sitting in your train's path. The engineer followed all appropriate protocols, immediately making an emergency brake application and repeatedly sounded the horn. However, as the subjects ran toward the opposite end of the viaduct, the engineer was helpless to do more. The slowing train was still catching up to the fleeing trespassers.
"Nearly every locomotive in North America, including ours, is equipped with video cameras for safety and security purposes. Our video shows that with more than 100 feet left until the end of the bridge, and the train still catching up to them, one woman slammed her body onto the ties between the rails. The other veered to the left and nearly fell off the bridge, and then with the locomotive approximately 30 feet away, she too 'hit the deck' between the rails. By the time the train came to a stop, the locomotives were beyond the bridge; they completely passed the point where the subjects stopped running. The engineer assumed he had just killed two people. The Monroe County Sheriff's Department was quickly alerted. Miraculously, however, the two subjects survived, and escaped to a nearby vehicle and fled the scene."
"The consequences of trespassing on railroad-owned property are never taken seriously by those choosing to do so, and this incident at Lake Lemon is one of the most glaring examples I've seen in more than 40 years in this business," says Indiana Rail Road Co. Founder, President, and CEO Tom Hoback. "In this case, not only did two trespassers narrowly escape a horrible death, but had the heavy train derailed due to the emergency brake application—which isn't uncommon—it could have taken down the bridge, possibly killing the engineer as well. The human, environmental, and financial toll would have been enormous."
The subjects involved in the Shuffle Creek incident have been identified by law enforcement, and the trespassing incident is now a criminal matter. "But the tragic fact remains that 908 people were killed in the U.S. by trespassing on railroads in 2013; 38 of those unnecessary deaths were in Indiana, and each represents a tragedy that mars the lives of not just the trespasser's family, but railroaders and their families for life," says Hoback.
The reasons behind trespasser fatalities increasing in recent years are difficult to ascertain. "We know that there was an 11% increase in trespassing fatalities from 2012 to 2013, and that the first four months of 2014 are trending higher still," Operation Lifesaver President and CEO Joyce Rose tells Railway Age. "We recognize that educating the public about the dangers of trespassing on railroad property can be even more challenging than educating people about how to be safe around grade crossings, because it is harder to target the trespass audience—everyone walks. This is one of the reasons that we developed and deployed a large-scale, national public awareness safety campaign called 'See Tracks? Think Train!' that focuses particularly on trespass prevention, as well as crossing safety and anti-distraction messages for rail and transit passengers. The video PSA, which is currently being played by 86 television stations around the country, has an especially strong anti-trespass message."
One possible, and potentially major, contributing cause to the increase in railroad trespassing fatalities and injuries is what Rose calls "distracted walking," pedestrians who "are focused on their cell phone or other handheld electronic device instead of paying attention to where they're walking—especially if they are using earbuds or headphones," she says. "A recent study by an Ohio State University professor published in the August 2013 issue of Accident Analysis & Prevention shows that pedestrian cell phone-related injuries have more than doubled since 2005, based on emergency room data from 100 hospitals around the country maintained by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission. The study found that the age group most at risk is young adults under 30."
For more information on trespassing laws, and railroad safety and awareness, visit Operation Lifesaver's website at www.oli.org.