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As early as January, the city of Sarasota and the Salvation Army could be collaborating on a new program designed to help members of the homeless population find gainful employment.
Called Street Teams, the concept is modeled on a program that has been under way since January 2009 in Daytona Beach.
During the City Commission's special meeting Monday, acting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, Vice Mayor Terry Turner said he recently had discussed Street Teams with Salvation Army officials in Sarasota.
"(They) have a very disciplined approach to helping people," he said.
Commissioner Paul Caragiulo also had talked with Salvation Army General Manager Bryan Pope, he said.
"It is a remarkable program … there's quite a lot of literature out there that shows how effective it really is," he said.
In an interview with the Observer, David Sutton, the Salvation Army's Sarasota director of programs and facilities, said he first learned of Street Teams during a conference a couple of years ago. Last year, he said, he traveled to Daytona Beach to see first-hand how it operates.
In Sarasota, each Street Team would be composed of 10 men who would work four hours every morning, five days a week, picking up trash, cleaning the streets and undertaking other chores under the direction of the city's Public Works Department, Sutton said. The goal, he said, "is to help people who are capable of work" and provide them a safe environment in which to work.
"They have to be clean and sober and willing to work a program" such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Sutton said.
The Salvation Army would house and feed the Street Teams participants, Sutton said. Regarding city funding, he said the Salvation Army was seeking just enough money to cover the cost of providing those services.
Turner suggested Monday that $50,000 a year in Community Redevelopment Agency funds could be awarded for each of the next two years to Street Teams.
"It's not a very expensive program," he said. "I think this is a very high priority use for (CRA funds)."
Caragiulo agreed with Turner about funding a local program for two years to see how effective it would be in helping the homeless get off the streets. Moreover, he said, the Salvation Army would be able to track the program's effectiveness.
"I'm in favor of trying to help people," Commissioner Shannon Snyder said. However, if a homeless person were given several opportunities to participate in the program and refused, Snyder said, a judge should have that information in determining the handling of a case if the person were arrested.
Later, Snyder said he would be comfortable with putting as much as $80,000 a year from CRA funds into the program.
"I think this is fabulous," Mayor Suzanne Atwell said, adding that she also had talked with Sutton about the program. "What a great way to start this … because the hue and cry in the community is we've got to do something … We're finally going to do something about this."
The City Commission Monday directed staff to present a formal proposal to it for the program.
"I think there's no doubt that there's five votes there for it," Turner told the Observer after the meeting. "I'd be surprised if there wasn't something up and running by the start of season," he said. "It's my strongly held hope."
City Manager Bob Bartolotta told the Observer Tuesday that he felt that timetable was "probably doable … I think if we try to shoot for having it up and running by January, that is realistic."
The real challenge for many homeless people, Sutton said, is that those past the age of 40 or 45 with no clear work record find it almost impossible to land jobs.
"They have an uphill battle," he said. The Street Teams program, he said, "would give them an opportunity to move forward."
He added: "When they get out and do something physical, they get reorganized emotionally, physically and mentally."
In Daytona Beach, 38% of the people in the program are able to find other employment and leave homelessness behind them, Sutton said.
The Salvation Army already has staff and programs in place that will enable it to identify potential Street Teams members, he said. "I know all the homeless (in the city)," Sutton said. "I see them every day" in the Salvation Army's cafeteria. I'm going to look for people who are actually trying to help themselves."
Not knowing whether the City Commission would be willing to pursue the program, Sutton said he already had been seeking support from the district office for the Salvation Army looking into the possibility of grants. However, he said, without the city's support, "(the start of the program) probably would be delayed."
Sutton added that the Sarasota Ministerial Association was scheduled to discuss Street Teams during its meeting this week.
As early as January, the city of Sarasota and the Salvation Army could be collaborating on a new program designed to help members of the homeless population find gainful employment.


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Padres give Nady Minors deal with spring invitation
Veteran played 269 games with San Diego after Major League debut in 2000
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
SAN DIEGO -- In their pursuit of organizational depth this offseason, the Padres have turned to a very familiar face -- outfielder Xavier Nady.
The Padres have signed Nady, 35, to a Minor League contract that includes an invitation to big league camp for Spring Training.
Nady should be a familiar name for Padres fans. He was selected by the Padres in the second round of the 2000 Draft out of the University of California.
Nady, who has played parts of 11 seasons with eight big league teams, made his debut in September 2000 with the Padres, collecting a hit in his only at-bat. He then appeared in 268 games with the Padres from 2003-2005 before he was traded to the Mets for outfielder Mike Cameron.
Nady, who has 792 career hits with a .270/.324/.432 line, will be a long shot to make the Padres' roster, especially since the team has six outfielders in Carlos Quentin, Seth Smith, Chris Denorfia, Will Venable, Cameron Maybin and Kyle Blanks. Alexi Amarista can play the outfield as well.
Nady hasn't appeared in the big leagues since 2012 when he appeared in 59 games with the Giants and Nationals. He hit a combined .296 with 15 home runs last season in Triple-A with the Royals and Rockies.
To date, the Padres have signed infielder Alberto Gonzalez and pitcher Anthony Brooks to Minor League deals with invitations to big league camp.
The Padres will likely announce their non-roster invitees to Spring Training later this week.
Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. Keep track of @FollowThePadres on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

subset: commoncrawl


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ByEric Morath
The White House and union leaders are using Labor Day reinvigorate efforts to raise the minimum wage.
Legislation to increase the federal pay floor from $7.25 an hour stalled in Congress this spring, but Democrats hope the issue will resonate with voters in November, especially in states with closely contested Senate races.
"Raising the minimum wage would be one of the best ways to give a boost to working families," President Barack Obama said Saturday in his weekly radio address. He pointed to stronger job creation gains this year but noted many workers are in low-paying jobs.
Raising the federal minimum wage "would help around 28 million Americans from all walks of life pay the bills, provide for their kids, and spend that money at local businesses," he said. "And that grows the economy for everyone."
Congress has not heeded the president's call. A bill that would have lifted the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour failed to pass the Senate earlier this year. And Republican House Speaker John Boehner indicated a similar measure wouldn't be introduced in his chamber, arguing raising the wage will cost the country jobs.
Republicans are generally skeptical that minimum-wage increases support economic growth. They point to a February report from the Congressional Budget Office that found an increase to $10.10 an hour would reduce employment by about 500,000 jobs. The same CBO report found such an increase would lift almost a million Americans out of poverty.
"The American people want it to be easier to find a good-paying job," Sen. Lamar Alexander (R., Tenn.) said in a speech this spring. "The Democratic proposal…will eliminate 500,000 jobs."
Mr. Obama attempted to rebuff Republican concerns in his radio address, saying states that have acted on their own to raise the minimum wage have recorded stronger job growth than states where the rate hasn't increased.
However, a July study from the right-leaning American Action Forum found employment growth specifically in restaurant and retail jobs—fields most likely to pay the minimum wage—was slower in those states with newly raised minimum wages.
The exact effect of minimum-wage increases is difficult to discern because broader economic trends and company-specific concerns may play a greater role in hiring decisions. Last year, less than 5% of hourly workers were paid the federal minimum wage, according to the Labor Department.
Raising the minimum wage enjoys relatively strong support among voters. In a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll released in early August, 60% of respondents said addressing income inequality by increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 would have a "positive" effect on the economy.
The minimum-wage debate cooled in July and August after a very active start to the year. In the first half of 2014, 11 state legislatures voted to enact wage increases. And in June, Seattle's city council approved a $15 an hour minimum wage, setting the highest rate in the country.
The debate is poised to intensify again with initiatives in Alaska and South Dakota asking voters to approve minimum-wage increases in November elections. A similar effort is pending in Arkansas. In each of those states, a Democrat-controlled Senate seat is also at risk.
AFL-CIO union President Richard Trumka was in Alaska last week, urging members to vote in favor of the wage increase in November. He also voiced is support for an increase Thursday at an event in Washington.
"We need to increase the minimum wage as quick as we can do it, and it will help the economy," he said at a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor. "It will help put some upward pressure on wages just above the minimum wage and help create additional demand."


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Led Zeppelin To Reissue First Three Albums With Bonus TracksAnd the bonus tracks? Pretty tasty!
Bruce Springsteen Releases 10 Remastered Albums on iTunesThere was no pre-announced release date for the remasters.
Led Zeppelin Reissues Due In 2013?Jimmy Page reportedly told British magazine Mojo that he's planning on releasing expanded versions of each Zeppelin album, with artwork re-designed by Shepard Fairley.


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Researchers find better way to predict suicide attempts
By GREGG ZOROYA | USA TODAY | Published: March 5, 2014
Asking a soldier about self-worth or emotional pain may be a better way of predicting suicide than inquiring whether they intend to kill themselves, researchers report.
Research has shown that more than half of troops who die by suicide denied in their last medical appointment that they were contemplating the act. Scientists are concerned that they fail to admit suicidal thoughts out of worry it would harm their military career.
But a Defense Department-funded study published online this week in the Journal of Affective Disorders discusses how several questions used on military members identified those at risk for suicide attempts, and yet don't use the word "suicide."
"Those statements of 'I'm horrible, worthless,' actually predict future suicide attempts better than asking them, 'Do you want to kill yourself?' " said Craig Bryan, a psychologist and lead author on the study.
Research questions focused on how a servicemember sees himself or herself, and their place in the world, concentrating on areas scientists labeled "unlovability" — feeling worthless or defective — and "unbearability," being unable to tolerate distress.
The questions were asked of 175 soldiers at Fort Carson, Colo., who had been hospitalized for mental health problems and 152 airmen who were behavioral health outpatients in military clinics in the southern and western United States.
Troops were asked to rate how certain statements pertained to them.
Examples include "nothing can help solve my problems"; "I can't imagine anyone being able to withstand this pain"; "I can never be forgiven for the mistakes I have made"; and "I am completely unworthy of love."
Examining the medical records of those airmen who participated and tracking the soldiers over a period of two years, scientists found that high scores on questions identified those soldiers who later attempted suicide and those airmen who had attempted it in the past.
The 18-question assessment tool that was used included questions about suicide. But Bryan said that when answers to those suicide questions were excluded from the analysis, the remaining responses were highly predictive of suicide attempts.
"So maybe we can detect or pick up somebody who otherwise might be reluctant to discuss suicidal thoughts. That's the hope," he said.
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Video: Take a stroll at winds over 40 mps
Bad weather, not warm enough? Think again. It can be way worse.
The video published by the Mount Washington Observatory in the U.S. shows a person walking at winds over 44 metres per second.
Ref: 188.8.131.5239
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airBaltic CEO does not consider lost investors a failure
Although no investor was found for Latvian national airBaltic airline in the past two years, it should not be considered a failure, said airBaltic CEO Martin Gauss in an interview to Rīta Panorāma programme of LTV.
Coca-Cola Company announced new global vision – World Without Waste
Coca-Cola Company has announced a goal to work on collecting and recycling an equivalent of every sold bottle or can by 2030, as BNN was informed by the company.
Estonians see Narva's potential in culture, push for eastern border-city to become European Capital of Culture
The Estonian border city of Narva, located near the Russian border, closer to St Petersburg than Tallinn, has introduced its candidacy to become the 2024 European Capital of Culture, with Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid evaluating that the city is not a depressing place.
Riga Freeport wants to borrow up to EUR 77 million to finance Krievu Island project
Riga Freeport authority has announced an open procedure for talks regarding a loan of up to EUR 77 million to finance the development of Krievu Island and continue relocation of port activities from the city centre to the island.
Dienas Bizness: Tallinn port sells coal terminal's assets; Latvia should consider handling other cargoes
Tallinn port [state-owned company Tallinna Sadam] has announced a sale of assets owned by Mūgas coal terminal. The company responsible for managing the territory – Coal Terminal – went bankrupt. Now the port searches for a new partner, port's representative Sirle Arro told Dienas Bizness (DB) journalist Egons Mudulis.
Estonia to start buying land for Rail Baltica railway construction
Continuing its way to beginning the construction of the pan-Baltic Rail Baltica slated for 2020, the management of Rail Baltic Estonia, has unveiled that this year will be spent on negotiations with land owners and the marking-out of the railway.
Despite EU investigation Ikea management believes it covers its fair tax share
Commenting on the tax investigation opened by European Union officials into a part of the Swedish furniture retail giant Ikea, the group's head Jesper Brodin has explained that the company covers its fair share of tax in countries, where it operates.
EU funds worth one billion euros were provided to Latvia last year
The total worth of contracts signed with European Union funds was more than EUR 1 billion last year. Thanks to financing provided by EU funds, Latvia was able to commence and realize 526 projects, allowing this money to stimulate the country's economy, according to information from the Central Finance and Contracting Agency (CFCA).
5 000 people displaced by Turkish incursion in Syria, estimates UN
UN has estimated that around 5 000 people have fled north-western Syria, where Turkish and their allied Syrian forces are battling Kurdish militia.
Minister: foreigners find Latvia's business environment more and more attractive
«Measures were performed last year to improve the business environment and make it more attractive for local and foreign investors, as well as significantly ease everyday work for them,» said Latvian Economy Minister Arvils Ašeradens.
Number of students in Latvia declined 35% in the past decade
The number of students accounted for 81.6 thousand in the academic year 2017/2018, indicating a decline of 1.6 % over the year. During the past decade, due to the population decline, the number of students has reduced by 43.8 thousand or 35 %.
National Alliance member: small countries cannot afford legal and corruption scandals
«Every resident living in a democratic country finds it difficult to follow political processes and what political interests each party has. More often than not the loudest and more expressive politicians do not have any wisdom to share or a state development plan to offer and fit Latvia's interests. If the time comes when we conclude that we do not like a newly-elected Saeima...
Italy's leading party drops euro referendum plan
The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, leading opinion polls ahead of a March 4 election, has presented a 20-point program which makes no mention of a referendum on Italy's membership of the euro zone.
Latvia shares experience in civil rights reforms with Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is one of Latvia's priority countries for development of cooperation. Considering Uzbekistan's launched reforms for state administration, Latvia is ready to continue offering support and sharing experience, says Foreign Ministry's special assignment ambassador Igors Apokins.
Estonian state rail cargo company worked with million-euro losses in 2017
Estonian state-owned rail cargo carrier EVR Cargo concluded the year 2017 with net losses of 1.2 million euros, but managed to earn a million euros in from October to December 2017.
Alcohol industry to adopt social responsibility symbols on labels
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ManaBalss.lv initiative «On saving Agenskalns market» submitted to Riga City Council
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Estonian construction price rise influenced most by higher labour costs
Estonian construction price index grew by 1.5% in 2017 aligned with the average of 2016, Estonian statisticians calculated.
Latvian Economy Ministry proposes self-regulatory measures for postal sector
The problem with postal items lacking addresses can be resolved using self-regulatory measures in the postal industry, as mentioned in Economy Ministry's prepared report on new measures and proposal for mechanisms to help make the work performed by the postal sector more efficient.
Venice tourists stunned over 1 100-euro restaurant bill
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Ratification of Istanbul Convention falls through in Latvia
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Spain sees Puigdemont's trip to Denmark as provoking his own arrest
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LALRG secretary general: we have to reduce gap in quality of life for EU citizens
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Czechs up for close race in this week's presidential run-off
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Tabarnia @ 2018-01-23 09:53:40
Country of exile? What kind of journalist are you? Less than 50% of Catalonians are pro-independence, following a handful of lies they created several years ago, including historical facts or economy issues. But it seems you enjoy to follow the track of madness they want to spread.
ramsey mike @ 2018-01-22 22:24:31
and Alexandria whatever. Stop using other peoples names for your own ends. L
lee chang @ 2018-01-22 22:23:19
Linda @ 2018-01-22 22:22:29
why are u using someone elses name for your inappropriate advertising. Sod off.
Linda @ 2018-01-22 22:21:12
am surprised that Russia wants to hold to any peace treaty .... have not in the past ... perhaps the leopard is changing spots. All blame to Russia.


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Socio-Economic, Public Policy, and Political Data for the United States, 1890-1960 (ICPSR 15)
Principal Investigator(s): Hofferbert, Richard I.
This study contains data for 48 states at decennial points from 1890 to 1960, including electoral, demographic, economic, public expenditure, and educational information. The majority of the variables in the dataset are derived measures such as percentages, ratios, indices, and ranks of the states along various dimensions presented. The data were collected and prepared by the staff of the Comparative Political Behavior Project of the Cornell University Center for International Studies.
Access Notes
Data in this collection are available only to users at ICPSR member institutions. Please log in so we can determine if you are with a member institution and have access to these data files.
This study is provided by ICPSR. ICPSR provides leadership and training in data access, curation, and methods of analysis for a diverse and expanding social science research community.
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Study Description
Hofferbert, Richard I. Socio-Economic, Public Policy, and Political Data for the United States, 1890-1960. ICPSR00015-v1. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 197?. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR00015.v1
Persistent URL: https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR00015.v1
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Scope of Study
Subject Terms: economic behavior, education, expenditures, government expenditures, public policy, voting behavior
Geographic Coverage: United States
- 1890--1960
Original ICPSR Release: 1984-05-03
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Our hospice care brings comfort and compassion wherever and whenever you need us
As part of St. John Providence Health System, Reverence Home Health & Hospice offers comprehensive, home-based hospice care and support for terminally ill patients – 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We involve the patient and their loved ones in the care planning process to provide personalized services based on the patient's individual needs and symptoms with a special emphasis on managing a patient's pain and discomfort.
Our team of caring specialists focuses on providing support, quality care and helping patients maintain dignity, while they live their remaining time as fully as possible. Physicians, nurses, medical social workers, registered dietitians, therapists and home health aides provide scheduled visits to ensure all of the patient's needs are addressed. In addition, other compassionate care providers include:
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BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's girls' varsity lacrosse team earned a number-two seed in the state Class 3A-2A East regional tournament this week and earned a first round bye.
The Seahawks are seeded second in the Eastern Sectional of the Class 3A-2A-East region and will face third-seeded Wicomico, which also earned a first-round bye, in the second round at home tomorrow. In their only meeting with WiHi this season, the Seahawks routed the Indians, 22-0, back on April 18.
Lurking on the other side of the Eastern Sectional bracket is familiar foe Parkside. Decatur split two big games with Parkside this season, losing to the Rams, 14-13, back on March 30 before avenging that loss with a 15-13 win on April 29. Parkside is the top seed in the Eastern Sectional and will face the winner of the game between Kent Island (4) and Bennett (5). Decatur beat Bennett, 14-13, and Kent Island, 9-8, during the regular season.


text: IDT Careers Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc., an Iowa-based Biotechnology Company, is a major force in advancing biomedical research as both a supplier of custom oligonucleotide synthesis and a developer of innovative new biotechnology. Join our growing IDT family! View Current Openings Successful Candidates Share Our Core Values Our Core Values are the lifeblood of our company. They define a unique culture that really sets IDT apart. We strive to make IDT a great place to work by attracting talented people and creating a company culture where we all want to come to work each day. IDT Core Values Locations Integrated DNA Technologies corporate headquarters is located near major university medical and research centers in Coralville, Iowa. The diverse atmosphere of the Iowa City/Coralville area has something for everyone! Home of Iowa's first state capitol, as well as the diverse University of Iowa campus, the Iowa City/Coralville area is second to none with its rich cultural offerings, historic charm, and ideal central location. Iowa's Creative Corridor — Pick Your Pace The University of Iowa IDT also has operations in San Diego, California, Leuven, Belgium, and Singapore. Competitive Salaries and Benefits IDT offers competitive salaries and an excellent benefit program. Benefits offered include: Health and prescription program Dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, life insurance 401K Medical and dependent care flexible spending Employee Assistance Program, and other voluntary services IDT is a Top Workplace In 2013, IDT was voted one of the Best Places to Work by The Scientist. Also, IDT has been voted a Top Workplace by The Des Moines Register for five consecutive years (2011–2015). Integrated DNA Technologies is an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer and provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in job application procedures. If you have any difficulty using our online system and you need an accommodation due to a disability, you can send your resume to firstname.lastname@example.com or you can call us at +1-319-626-8400.


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Li Na Sails Into Australian Open Semis
Li Na's campaign for a second Grand Slam title continued in impressive fashion on Tuesday as the Chinese tennis rebel put an end to fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska's 13-match win streak.
The Chinese 30 year-old, who won their quarterfinal clash 7-5, 6-3, will compete in a semifinal in Melbourne for the third time in four years.
"This time I really didn't see the draw, I really didn't think like far; just match by match," she said of her mentality.
Li described Poland's Radwanska as a wall – something that sends every ball you hit back. "She can hit everywhere, but without a mistake," mused the right-hander, adding that she focused on adding pace and depth to each shot against Radwanska, whom she lost to less than a fortnight ago at a tuneup event.
"She's a very consistent player; she's always playing on the same level, it's not like up and down like the other girls," the Pole said of Li.
The top-ranked Chinese player revealed she is still haunted by memories of her four wasted match points against Belgian Kim Clijsters at last year's Australian Open.
"It's very tough, you know, because when I was playing [Sorana] Cirstea in Rod Laver [Arena], I was thinking about the match last year," said Li, adding that the loss was unforgettable.
Hounded by questions about her hiring of Justine Henin's former coach Carlos Rodriguez, Li joked she considered retirement just days into their off-season training in November, during which she was doing up to six hours of training, split between fitness and tennis.
"After three days I was really tired. I [called] my husband, I say, I really want to retire," she smiled.
Li famously broke free of China's rigidly controlled sports system in 2008, winning the right to choose her own coach and decide for herself which competitions to enter. At the end of 2010, she promoted her husband to coach, fired him a few months later, then went on to win the 2011 French Open.
The Wuhan resident's semifinal opponent is Russian second seed Maria Sharapova, who, along with Serena Williams, has the opportunity this week to dethrone Belarusian Victoria Azarenka from the top of the world rankings.
Li trails Sharapova 4-8 in head-to-head meetings, including the most recent three in 2012.
"She's [a] more aggressive player on the court," Li said when asked how Sharapova has improved since they last met in March last year. "Should be [a] tough match," added the sixth seed, who shares IMG tennis agent Max Eisenbud with the 25 year-old.


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The Ramsey County Sheriff's office says there are more cases of people siphoning gas from cars, and it's asking the public for help.
Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher is asking citizens to help law enforcement officials identify gas siphoning suspects.
His office has set up a gas siphoning report line to help sheriff's deputies track the thefts. The theft patterns will help law enforcement develop prevention strategies and apprehend suspects.
Gas siphoning is difficult to track. Many citizens are not even sure if they have been victimized.
In January, the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office began a new program designed to identify and prosecute people who fill up at a gas station and leave without paying.
Through a secure website linking the service stations directly to the Sheriff's Office, stations can report information about the offender's vehicle as the gas drive-off occurs.
The Sheriff's Office then investigates these cases for prosecution.


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Dog Killed in Police Raid on Wrong House
Click to viewAn attempted drug raid in Philadelphia ended badly on Wednesday night when a police officer entered the wrong home and shot and killed a dog that had bitten him on the ankle. It's hard to blame the officer for shooting an attacking dog (or the dog for attacking an intruder), but one would hope that when armed police are executing raids they could at least get the address right. [NBC10; video below]


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Baja Designs Strykr SL Lights
|(3 Reviews)
Product DescriptionBattery powered LED light for all your adventures – excellent as a helmet light or handlebar light for your mountain bike or road bike, it is also great for your motorcycle or ATV handlebars with 925 lumens, weighs only 470 grams, runs up to 12 hours and completely waterproof to 33 ft.
Mtbr Bike Lights Shootout - over 50 bike lights reviewed, photographed and measured here.
Baja Designs Strykr SL Pro Review
This year, the Strykr is called the Strykr II and the output has increased from 700 claimed lumens to 950. On our light meter, the reading has increased from 52 lux to 74 lux so it is noticeably brighter. We measured the light though at an integrating sphere and the actual lumen output is 670 lumens. The head unit is big and made of very sturdy aluminum with the front rim protected by a rubber casing. The battery is nicely sealed as well as this light seems ready to take on the roughest conditions.Continue reading →
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|Reviews 1 - 3 (3 Reviews Total)
User Reviews
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2012
Strengths: Materials and workmanship, mounting options, optional reflector, solid battery, smart charger, weight.
Weaknesses: I only got one.
Bottom Line:
I use this light predominantly on my helmet. Running it at medium is a good balance with my seca 800 on high. I have had the opportunity to run it 3 times so far and have noticed several positives over my legacy SB2 and HID lights. First, it is noticeably lighter weight, and compared to the HID it is a much lower profile. I also prefer the mounting methodology -vs- legacy systems, it is very quick and easy.
On the trail it does not move around and does not cause my helmet to move around as well. I haven't tried the alternate reflector as I am quite happy with the sphere of light the lamp currently produces. The light seems pretty even throughout the beam and has a hotspot in the center for seeing a bit further down the trail.
I have not had the opportunity to test the run-time on the system, however for the 2 hours or so that I've been out, I haven't had a single issue.
Quality wise, the manufacturing is top notch. It is a very robust unit and seems much more solid than my Seca, which feels, aside from the heat sink, to be made entirely of plastic.
Expand full review >>
Price Paid: $225.00
Purchased At: online
Similar Products Used: Schwinn Mod 2 Halogens
Planet Bike Alias lights (2 pair) these were nice but had some design and run time issues
Light & Motion HID ARC Ultra
Princeton Tec Switchback 2
Light & Motion Seca 800
Bike Setup: N/A
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2012
Strengths: Bright, Small and Very strong- Bullet proof- Good support!
Weaknesses: None so far- improved design from the original Strykr
Bottom Line:
The new designed light has fixed the issues I had with the original. The SL has a trick o-ring mounting system (similar to other brands) for handlebars and helmet included which brought the light to a 10 for me and having the two reflectors- wide and narrow beam is great.
The light is bright and works well with my older Strykr which is on my handlebar, the two lights are perfect for when I get to the fast downhill sections. Baja Designs Forever!!
Expand full review >>
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $339.00
Purchased At: Baja Designs
Similar Products Used: Minewt, Magicshine.
Bike Setup: Chromag Stylus.
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2011
Strengths: Bright, light weight and awesome battery life, mounting options
Bottom Line:
Expand full review >>
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid: $330.00
Purchased At: WheelzRack.com
Similar Products Used: Niterider Slickrock
Bike Setup: Tallboy carbon
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text: Try the beta version of our new search results! Search Results Use the search box below to revise your search, or start a new search. Studies (1) Variables Publications Your query returned 1 studies. Sort by: Title A-Z Released/Updated Time Period Most Cited in ICPSR Bib. Released/Updated 1. National Corrections Reporting Program, 2000-2015 (ICPSR 36746) United States Department of Justice. Office of Justice Programs. Bureau of Justice Statistics 2017-06-22


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Pitching to contact helping strikeout artist Fernandez
By Robert Falkoff / Special to MLB.com
KANSAS CITY -- Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of Jose Fernandez's latest performance was that he required just 94 pitches to get through seven shutout innings against the Royals on Tuesday.
Fernandez has continually demonstrated that he has swing-and-miss strikeout stuff. But if he can get hitters to put the ball in play early in the count, it bodes well for a deeper outing. Fernandez had six strikeouts on Tuesday.
"I think he's going to have games where he strikes out more against certain teams," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "This [Royals] team is pretty scrappy. They shorten up and put balls in play. They rely a little more on their speed.
"Jose understands that he has limited bullets. He has to be aggressive, and the best way to do that is go out there and let them put the ball in play. He was able to do that. He got a ton of rollovers."
The 21-year-old Fernandez is on an innings limit of about 170 in his first Major League season. He has 97 strikeouts since June 1, which ties New York's Matt Harvey for first in the National League over that span.
"He didn't get a lot of strikeouts [Tuesday], and that's OK," Redmond said. "There will be other games where he'll strike out guys. When he can get through the seventh inning, that's a great effort."
Ruggiano ends 0-for-42 funk, has big day
KANSAS CITY -- Justin Ruggiano's offensive nightmare is over. The Marlins outfielder snapped an 0-for-42 slump in the second inning of Wednesday's 5-2 win with an infield single off Royals right-hander Ervin Santana.
Ruggiano had been closing in on the all-time record for consecutive hitless at-bats by a position player when he smacked a grounder through the middle. Shortstop Alcides Escobar made a diving stop, but his throw was too late to get Ruggiano streaking down the line. The modern hitless streak in one season is 45, held by Craig Counsell (2011) and Bill Bergen (1909).
With the pressure lifted, Ruggiano went on to have a 3-for-4 day, including a game-tying RBI single in the fourth.
"It was like taking a monkey off my back," Ruggiano said. "I'm just glad it's over and I can get back to doing what I do."
On contact, Ruggiano thought he had a clean single to center. Then he saw Escobar make a diving stop.
"Escobar tried to ruin my day," said Ruggiano, who kept the streak-breaking ball.
And if Escobar had been able to throw him out?
"I would have run all the way to the bullpen and just sat down," Ruggiano said.
Prior to Wednesday, Ruggiano's last hit came on July 6. He had a big smile as he returned to first base after dashing down the line. Teammates raised their arms in celebration from the Marlins' dugout.
"Did you see everybody?" Ruggiano said. "It was like my first hit."
Coghlan opens rehab stint at third base in Jupiter
KANSAS CITY -- Chris Coghlan, who has been out since June 8 with right calf nerve irritation, was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday at Class A Jupiter.
Coghlan, the National League Rookie of the Year in 2009, was scheduled to play five innings at third base as the Marlins explore ways to get him in the lineup when he returns. Manager Mike Redmond said Coghlan could be back around early September if there are no setbacks with his rehab process.
The Marlins are well-stocked in the outfield, and Redmond said third base could be a landing spot for Coghlan if he shows well defensively at that position.
"You've got to figure out a spot for him where he can get some at-bats," Redmond said.
Stanton gets another day off 'to regroup'
KANSAS CITY -- With an off-day looming on Thursday, Marlins manager Mike Redmond decided to give slumping Giancarlo Stanton a day off Wednesday so he could get a two-day mental breather.
"It's not an injury thing," Redmond said. "Just giving him a couple of days to regroup."
Stanton arrived at Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday with a .237 batting average, 13 homers and 35 RBIs. He's tracking well below last year, when he hit .290 with 37 homers and 86 RBIs.
"You've got to find a happy medium between clearing your head and finding something productive out of it," Stanton said. "I've still got to be ready to potentially help us win later in the game."
Stanton can't find any one concrete reason why his offensive numbers have dwindled.
"You might tell yourself not to think too much, and maybe you are," Stanton said. "You might say you're not trying too hard, and maybe you are. There are so many things that can spiral out of a situation like this. And when you've never been in a situation like this, it's a little more difficult to get out of it.
"When you've had all the checkpoints that you've built for yourself in your professional career, and all of those have failed, you have to find new ones."
Stanton said the positive he can take out of his current situation is that when he's hitting again, he will be able to look back on how he battled through adversity.
"I usually like growing experiences, but this one I don't like," Stanton said. "But yeah, when I look back on this, as annoying as it is, hopefully this time is the only time it will be this long. You just try to find some positive out of it."
Robert Falkoff is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Iowa cop shot, killed, suspect charged
Officer Jamie Buenting, 37, was hit by a single gunshot Friday morning from a suspect holed up inside a home
Duty Death: Jamie Buenting - [Rockwell City, Iowa]
End of Service: 09/13/2013
By Barbara Rodriguez
Associated Press
ROCKWELL CITY, Iowa — The Rockwell City police department lost one of its four officers Friday in an early-morning shooting that occurred during a standoff.
Officer Jamie Buenting, 37, was hit by a single gunshot and pronounced dead later at a hospital in Lake City, Division of Criminal Investigation Special Agent Michael Motsinger said at a news conference.
Corey Trott, 32, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. The Rockwell City man is being held in the Sac County Jail. Information about upcoming court appearances was not available.
Officers went to a home in Rockwell City, about 75 miles northwest of Des Moines, on Thursday night after receiving a 911 call from someone who saw Trott inside the home.
A warrant had been issued last Sunday for Trott on charges of fourth-degree theft and assault causing bodily injury. The warrant doesn't offer details, but Motsinger said he believed the charge stemmed from an assault on Trott's mother.
When officers arrived, no one came to the door, but they noted movement inside. Officers called in a regional tactical team, set up a perimeter around the house and arranged for negotiators to contact Trott.
When the team approached the home about 1:40 a.m., one shot was fired from inside, striking Buenting.
After the shooting, an Iowa State Patrol tactical team arrived, and Trott surrendered about 5:30 a.m.
Buenting was married with two young children. He had worked for the four-officer Rockwell City Police Department for eight years and had been in law enforcement for 12 years.
Residents in the 1,700-person community struggled to describe their shock at the death of Buenting.
"Jamie was a good one," resident Laura Sahala said, sobbing. Her son attends school with Buenting's children, she said, and she'd known him for years. She described him as kind and eager to chat with people.
"He was an excellent officer," she said.
Dawn Nath, a clerk at a thrift store, said the shooting brought back memories of the May 20 abduction and killing of 15-year-old Kathlynn Shepard in Dayton, about 30 miles to the east. Although the circumstances behind the deaths are different, Nath said the violence has shaken residents of the area.
"That's why people move to smaller towns, because it's supposed to be safe," she said.
Buenting is the 170th Iowa officer to die in the line of duty, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety records, which date to 1869.
The last Iowa officer shot to death was Keokuk County Sheriff Deputy Eric Stein, 39, on April 4, 2011.
Authorities said Jeffrey Alan Krier, 53, shot Stein when he and two other officers arrived at Krier's Hayesville home to check on him after reports that he'd shot at another family's home. Krier was killed by police after a standoff during which shots were exchanged.
Trott has a history of relatively minor offenses.
He spent two days in jail in 2004 for disorderly conduct, and in September 2007, he was charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon. He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of harassment, and then pleaded guilty to another harassment charge in February 2008. He was sentenced to two years prison for each to run consecutively and later placed on probation.
In March 2009 he was charged with a probation violation and sentenced to four years in prison. It appears he was released in January 2011.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press


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We begin with an Interview with David Shapiro responding to Keats' Ode on a Grecian Urn and much more. (You can catch up on the conversation by checking out last week's post which included contributions from Alfred Corn, Richard Howard, Don Share, Dara Wier, and Richard Zenith.)
That urn is cold. I find it strange that several poets and scholars speak of the beauty-truth equation as the last lines of the poem. That equation has called forth so much fuss – its bald assertiveness is immensely persuasive at first hearing, then almost instantly the mind rebels against the symmetry of identity. The equation seems like a handsome face you glimpse in the crowd—it teeters between vapidity and sublimity, depending on whether you keep on gazing or else close your eyes to retain the first impression. This very oscillation is Keats' work, his way of bracing us for the actual conclusion of the poem: the last words the urn addresses to us, assuring us that the equation, problematic as it seems, is all we know on earth, and all we need to know.
If in fact we are the 'ye' –archaic second person plural familiar—spoken of twice in those last lines.
That urn is cold – 'cold pastoral' we have heard, the chill ring of marble. The strophes of the ode grow progressively more somber. The passions and delights pictured on the urn are sublated into eternity, which is usually a pretty chilly condition in Christendom – one doesn't think of eternity as the prolongation of life but as the prolongation of the tomb, the marble replica of life – which this Grecian urn also is.
And the cold, marmoreal, eternal, all-encompassing time-denying Thing speaks to us, from the serene apartness of things, and says …all ye know, and … all ye need to know.
Experiment: Try hearing, just for once, the stress placed firmly on the ye. Then, with the sprezzatura so appropriate to artist and artifact alike, a creature from eternity condescends to speak to our flesh-bound mortality, whose antics the marble creature literally comprehends and (perhaps with infinite, tender subtlety) envies.
All ye know on earth – beauty, truth, these glorious abstractions, easily revered, more easily compromised. And that equation will serve people like you in your contingencies and trivial earthly need for reassurance that there is something to understand in life, and that you understand it. With the stress on the ye, I hear an insinuation that some higher, worthier form of knowing exists, whose propositions and parables far exceed the simplistic equation the urn offers us as our consolation.
Or do humankind and urn console each other? The urn consoles us for our transience and we console it for its inability to feel the kiss it holds suspended for two thousand years, unable to pursue the beloved or be pursued, unable to share in the sacrificial meal when the poor heifer is offered up to those vague and nameless deities towards which, even now, she raises her lustrous amber eyes.
I don't think Keats meant (not that it's important whether he did or didn't) or believed the equation – if he had, he would have set it in his own authorial voice, which speaks with all the immense authority that found Keats in that mild May of 1819, the voice that speaks all the rest of the poem. By putting just those words in the urn's mouth (so to speak) Keats proposes what our cronies overseas would call a rupture, a chasm in the texture of trust and sincerity we still insist on finding in poems. The urn tells us not what truth is, not what beauty is, but what we are.
—Robert Kelly, February 2010
The quotes given, except for Bridges, don't have much range – from I.A. Richards to M.H. Abrams, we are throughout in the realm of the New Criticism, with the "Word According to Eliot" holding supreme sway. For all that I admire them, these critics shared two limitations evident in their commentary on Keats:
- They're prejudiced against Romanticism and skeptical of the philosophical underpinnings of Romantic aesthetics (Bloom called them out on this).
- They looked for complexity to the point that they imposed it — mostly, it would seem, as a way of satisfying their own intellectual vanity (7 types, etc.). No one was going to out-sophisticate them! Richards's disdain for the gullibility of the common reader and Eliot's mock-modest "I fail to understand it" and his "grammatically meaningless" exemplify this tendency. Eliot wants to prove his superiority to Keats himself (by looking down his nose at Keats's sentimental abstraction), not just Keats's readers – and yet Eliot's the poet of "in my beginning is my end, in my end is my beginning," etc. and "What the Thunder Said" – a pseudo-philosopher among poets if ever there was one.
Also, there's the newfound aspiration to a "scientific" kind of literary criticism, modeled on empiricism and the scientific method (doubt as the vehicle of truth), most purely exemplified by Richards. Ask any real scientist – this is largely a sentimental construct in itself.
Brooks and Abrams waffle more sympathetically with their invocation of dramatic context, though frankly this poem is hardly King Lear (nor was it meant to be) and the Urn is hardly a character in the Shakespearian sense. The Urn is an emblem and the quotes are not, cannot be, meant to denote a speaking Urn. This bespeaks another overdone motif of mid-20th century critical orthodoxy: Persona is all. What they really mean is much closer to Williams's "no ideas but in things" (which Keats is one of the greatest exemplars of, as a supreme poet of the senses and of startlingly immediate imagery) than it is to anything specifically "dramatic."
Don't get me wrong, I admire all these critics tremendously, love and admire Eliot's poetry, and I believe that the New Criticism was a far cry better than most of the ideological and theoretical criticism that followed. But I think they are all (except maybe Bridges), missing the point almost deliberately.
The context of the quote, and the thrust of the poem, is pretty straightforward, actually — and pretty run-of-the-mill for its time. It's the execution that makes the poem special.
The predominant philosopher for all the Romantics, from Blake to Yeats, was Plato. Plato was the prime philosopher behind 19th century idealist philosophy, and so he was the philosopher that the 20th century empiricists (logical positivists, Popper, etc.), including the aestheticians, rejected first. Keats's main man in this respect was Joshua Reynolds. Joshua Reynolds's aesthetics were influenced by Locke, but they were first and foremost Platonic, and Keats's poem is an extraordinary expression of this most admired contemporary intellectual's belief in the source of the power of art: the Platonic tenets that a) the contemplation of Beauty leads to Truth and b) the highest forms of art refer to things eternal and immutable.
It's as simple as that, but I'd add that in this context there are two moments in the poem that wonderfully presage the conclusion in this context:
- "Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard / Are sweeter…" == pure Platonism (out of Pythagoras). Yeats couldn't have said it better
- "Cold Pastoral!" – a great moment in the poem, and tougher and brighter and more surprising by far than the ending. Here we're in the realm of "the sublime" as it was defined by Longinus, then Baudelaire, and more recently by Anne Carson. The sublime is cold, truth is cold, beauty is cold. So much for sentimentality. And so:
The value of Beauty cooled by Truth, hardened by truth, made honest by truth, the sense that all the pleasures of the senses are belated and second-hand: this is at the heart of what Keats (speaking through his megaphonic Urn) has to say as a "friend to man." This is another way of saying that we can't really appreciate the value of beauty, or create an honest beauty, without admitting the truth of death to the equation.
One last observation, maybe too cute, but irresistible in the face of Eliot's huffy "grammatically meaningless":
If you read the famous statement (pace I.A.) as an equation, i.e. "Beauty = truth truth beauty" what you have is a recipe – a recipe for beauty that is not mere "beauty," but aesthetically ideal "Beauty." In other words: real Beauty = one part beauty, two parts truth.
—Bill Wadsworth


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MLSE has named a new president and it is a fantastic hire! I would see this as a step toward Colangelo being not renewed, but that is speculation on my part.
MLSE has named a new president and it is a fantastic hire! I would see this as a step toward Colangelo being not renewed, but that is speculation on my part.
I have read that as well, and until now have given no credence to the rumour. Could this be the delay in BC's option being picked up or rejected?
Leiweke will most likely want to put a stamp on the franchise relatively soon, and if anyone can brin Jackson to Toronto it would be him. If so, what an incredibly fascinating off season this is going to be!
When does Colangelo's option have to be picked up by? Lieweke doesn't take over until June 30th, so it may be next season before any real changes are made. Also Phil Jackson has a friend Alex Mchenie in Toronto maybe he can persuade Phil to join here lol. From what Ive heard though Lieweke is known as one of the best at his position. Hopefully he makes some changes.
Why would anyone assume this guy has connections to, and influence over Jackson?
He was working for a group whose primary sports ventures were in MLS and NHL....So clearly, this isn't a hire with a mind toward basketball. I imagine this guy played absolutely no role in the operations of the Lakers, tightly handled by the Buss family and their own management team. IMO, this is a hire geared toward TFC and the Leafs, so who knows if it can have a positive impact on the Raptors?
This more or less secures the fact that BC and Casey are not getting fired at the moment. I really doubt Leiweke would make such a franchise changing decision right off the bat in case it actually backfires on him. He'll probably give it one season and see how they do. If we start of the season with a shitty record, I see Leiweke firing Casey. And if BC can't make a good splash during the trade deadline, I see BC getting fired and Stefanski getting the intern GM job!
He does have some experience in the front office of NBA teams.Previously he spent four seasons as President of the NBA's Denver Nuggets, where he also played a leading role in the development of the Pepsi Center. In 1988, Mr. Leiweke was the first employee hired by the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves, serving as Vice President of the team as well as handling naming rights, marketing and sales for all events at the Target Center, before moving to Denver in 1991.
Twitter: @ReubenJRD NBA, Raptors writer for Daily Hive Vancouver, Toronto.
Twitter: @ReubenJRD NBA, Raptors writer for Daily Hive Vancouver, Toronto.
I don't think this changes much. Tanenbaum still owns part of MLSE.. he is friends with Colangelo, and therefore I don't see Colangelo leaving anytime soon (unfortunately).
Wholy crap! I like Stein.. he doesn't bullsh!t. This would be a pretty awesome coup for the Raptors.
Phil Jackson would be awesome to have as GM of the Toronto Raptors or as head coach, if he's the GM, he will most likely hire either Sam Cassell or Brian Shaw, we would love to see a triangle offense type of style for this team.
Jackson would make DeRozan instantly better, could be Heir Jordan or Heir Kobe as opposed to Heir VC.
Rudy Gay ain't no Scottie Pippen but he can be better scorer
Amir Johnson is no Horace Grant but he can be a better defender
Kyle Lowry is a lot better than John Paxon and BJ Armstrong
Jonas Valanciunas ain't Shaq but he can be a better scorer and hit the open jump shot
Bargnani will be traded along with T-Ross under Phil Jackson possibly for some key backup veterans
Give a year or two, the Raptors will make some noise in the NBA.
But basically, since he started out with the LA Kings and been working under AEG, has he worked in basketball at all? He's just a suit. AEG's scope goes way beyond sports. Is his background being a sports executive? Technically, yes, but really as a businessman. The company also runs lots of random things related to venues and non-sports events.
Also, again, the company was simply a stakeholder in the Lakers. So I again wonder why anyone believes this has any impact on going after Jackson? If he somehow decided to come here, I can't fathom that this would be the reason why. Off the top of my head, there's a situation in Charlotte with his best ex-player as an owner just waiting for someone competent to right the ship. And Jackson has said he'd like a situation where he gets to put his stamp on thigns and help develop a whole organization.
Also pointing out time in Denver and Minnesota is not a plus. Minnesota was a joke until they landed Garnett....Denver was a joke pretty much all through the 90s.
I just keep wondering why people think this is a strong basketball-related hire? Strong general hire? Maybe. But I really see nothing to suggest this guy has any special knowledge of the NBA. He's probably closer to owners and CEOs than he is to players, managers and coaches...in all sports.
This is an implied president title, not GM.. Phil would hire his own GM (most likely) and would have a say on who the coach would be.. I believe Phil would have a better vision for the team, but saying that Phil has no executive experience. So it could turn out badly.
The thing I like about Phil as President is that he can bring some credibility back to the Raptors, something that Colangelo (in my opinion) was unable to do. The Raptors need to become relevant and hiring someone that a lot of people respect in the basketball community can only be a good thing (again in my opinion).
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That's a smart move by lin.
Lin gets no calls...nothing new here.
Amare will be the death of this team...
Stat are u fukin serious???????????
"I'm more concern how Melo is gonna play with Lin" Joe Budden
f'ing Stat. Cost us the game.
Carmelo wants to win it all by himself... Amare does NOTHING.
WTH, stat? you just missed a easy slam
Why couldn't we just hit one shot with 4.9.....
We need to get rid of this sob. He is a major liability.


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eBooks and eReaders are exciting technologies that enable you to get your hands on that new bestseller at the speed of light. You can enlarge the typeface, bookmark your favorite parts, take notes, and also store or access from the cloud thousands of other titles with just one small, portable device. That's great!! And now you've found out that your public library has free e-books! Life doesn't get any better, does it?
Well, unfortunately, there's going to be a little rain on this parade. You see, of the Big Six publishers, only Random House is currently allowing unrestricted sales of their e-titles to public libraries. And they just raised their prices significantly. Hachette, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan will not sell to public libraries at all. Penguin recently ceased sales to libraries (and is even considering cutting off access to titles already purchased), and Harper Collins sells their titles with a 26-use licensing restriction.
Compound that problem with the fact that many people received eReaders and tablets for the holidays. You'll notice limited availability of the electronic books in our Digital Download Center [2] as demand has skyrocketed in these last few months. These digital titles that we buy through the distributor Overdrive are treated just like physical books; when one customer has a title checked out, it is unavailable to another until the lending period is over (the maximum period is three weeks). This is digital rights management (DRM) at work. Understandably, the publishers want this control on their copyright. They do not want what happened to the music industry to happen to them. However, they are so far unable to come up with a distribution model that meshes with the public library's practice of first-sale and our desire to ensure that all citizens have access to reading materials, especially those that cannot afford to buy them.
We don't want to regress to the days of long ago when only those who could afford to read had that privilege. We believe in the public library system and its mission of supporting an educated, enlightened, and informed citizenry. Part of that mission involves maintaining access for all. If only everyone could witness the international visitors to our library as they marvel at the availability of information and culture in our books, audiovisual materials, and on our internet stations. You would understand and appreciate in an instant this unique, democratic privilege of ours. This privilege is under serious threat as the availability of print begins to shrink, publishers continue to refuse to sell to libraries and purchasing (actually leasing) a book electronically becomes the only option for individuals.
We are continually seeking solutions to this 21st century problem. New providers of ebooks and different models of distribution are on the horizon, and we are exploring these alternatives. We are hopeful that publishers appreciate the role the public library has played in "growing" the readers (the people kind) that buy their books and that they will work with us so that we may continue to promote literacy, encourage lifelong learning, and ensure access to vital information so necessary to sustain our democratic society.
Further reading:
E-Book Borrowing, Preceded by E-Book Waiting [3]
[4]Libraries In Crisis: Urging Random House To Reconsider Pricing Decision [4]


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Tutoring Center
Join Us for Bow Tie Thursday!
Help us raise awareness for tutoring services by participating in Bow Tie Thursdays!
Our Mission
The Tutoring Center is a safe, creative space where we help students become more successful by employing a variety of tools such as, demonstrating processes, relating ideas, providing resources, encouraging group work and welcoming questions. We promote students' increasing independence and confidence, preparing them for a lifetime of learning.
Tutoring Services Provided
How the Tutoring Center Works
The Tutoring Center provides free academic/tutorial support to students enrolled in courses offered by EvCC, providing schedules can be matched and a qualified tutor can be located. Students may access services only in the courses they are currently enrolled in at EvCC for credit.
There are several ways a student may use the Center's services: they may use the Drop-In Center, they may use the computers to do independent research, they may attend a small group session, or they may collect and use the handouts provided in the Center.
The Center does not provide credit to students using its services.
The Center's goal is to assist students to:
Become a Tutor
Interested in becoming a Tutoring Center tutor?
Details on getting started tutoring others.


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MAKERS Profile
Violet Palmer
First Female Referee, NBA
Violet Palmer broke a major glass ceiling in sports in 1997 when she became the first woman to officiate in the NBA, as well as the first female official in any major U.S. professional sport. While her entrance into the league drew the rancor of several players and coaches, her performance and professionalism quickly won over even her most vitriolic opponents. Fifteen years later, she's a respected league veteran with a growing number of playoff games under her belt. Palmer grew up in a sports-loving family in the Compton section of Los Angeles. Her basketball career began at Compton High, where she was a star point guard. She attended Cal Poly Pomona on a sports scholarship and helped lead her team to two NCAA Division II national championships in 1985 and 1986. After college, she worked as a recreation director for the city of Los Angeles and began refereeing on the side, starting with high school girls' games and working her way up to the NCAA women's Division I. Palmer spent nine seasons as one of the top women's collegiate basketball officials. She officiated five NCAA Women's Final Fours and two Women's National Championship games during her tenure. She was recruited to the NBA's referee training program in 1995 and began officiating NBA pre-season and exhibition games before getting her first shot the regular season in 1997. In 2006, she became the first woman to officiate an NBA playoff game, an assignment reserved for the top-performing referees, and in 2009, she officiated in the NBA finals.


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In the press session about AMDs K10
architecture Guiseppe Amato also gave some additional info on the AMD
Fusion project. He explained that it is very possible, that Fusion
products might come in the form of multi-chip modules, also known as MCMs.
Amato noted, that multi-chip modules
are more flexible in comparison to single dies. He gives a very
simple example. To paraphrase, Amato says AMD could ship a CPU with integrated DX10
graphics functionality. Once DX11 comes out, AMD would have to do a complete chip redesign. When
implemented as a MCM, the company can keep the CPU part as is and just
exchange the graphics core for a new one – all implemented on a
single package.
Integration into the main silicon die
only makes sense, if the functionality doesn't
change for a at least a year. Ironically, efficiency advantages were always
touted by Intel when talking about their MCM implementations of dual-
and quad-core CPUs. However, AMD adds one interesting factor, a
partial upgrade of a product with the other chip left untouched.


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Bonding bill deposits gifts around the state
ST. PAUL -- It's Christmas in July for Minnesota colleges and other state-owned facilities.
Minnesota legislators early Wednesday approved $498 million worth of public works projects such as college building renovations, flood-fighting projects and developing the state's newest park.
"It is about 75 percent shovel ready," Rep. Larry Howes, R-Walker, said. "It will put a lot of Minnesotans to work."
It is something of a surprise gift to many of the recipients, who have lobbied for the projects but saw the regular legislative session end on May 23 with no public works bill.
When Gov. Mark Dayton broke a budget impasse last week, one of his requirements was to pass a public works bill. Republicans who control the Legislature agreed and Howes pulled out a bill he already had ready and tweaked it to get enough Democrat votes to pass.
The House approved the measure 112-17 and the Senate 53-11. House debate took less than 10 minutes on a bill that often takes hours to discuss.
"It is a very, very sound investment in Minnesota," Sen. Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon, said.
"It is basically a fix-up bill," he said, because so many of its projects are repairing and renovating state-owned facilities.
Public works projects in the bill will be funded by the state selling bonds.
Democrats killed a bonding bill late in the regular legislative session because it had too few projects. They were much happier with the one passed during the Tuesday and Wednesday special session.
The Minnesota State Colleges and University system gets the most out of the bill, $98 million of state money. The University of Minnesota receives $89 million.
Most college and university spending will be for renovating buildings, although the university's Twin Cities campus also gets a new physics and nanotechnology center in the deal.
Langseth said fixing buildings like on college campuses does not get a lot of attention, but is a good way to spend state money.
Besides colleges, many other state facilities are due to renovations under the bill.
The measure also would spend $51 million to build flood-prevention measures across the state. Langseth said he sought $55 million, but $51 million will go far.
Previous bonding bills proved funding flood projects pays off, Langseth said. "We have got it all back and then some based on the fact that we have prevented some very big disasters."
Much of the money is to be spent in Langseth's Red River Valley area. He said he ran for re-election a final time last year to get the flood-prevention money.
Among other projects is $4 million to begin repairs on the state Capitol
"We are very fond of this Capitol," Sen. Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, said, and the bill funds exterior repairs so the state may remove scaffolding now in place to protect people from falling marble.
Also in the bonding bill is:
-- $8 million to develop Lake Vermilion State Park, a new northeastern Minnesota park.
-- $16 million for a new Mississippi River dam at Coon Rapids to stop the spread of destructive Asian carp through northern Minnesota waters.
-- $20 million to improve conservation.
-- $33 million for local bridge repairs and replacements .
-- $10 million for local road improvements.
-- $7 million to improve the Minnesota Sex Offender Program St. Peter treatment facility.


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In the realm of fantasy, orcs are that iconic 'bad guy.' They're muscular, greenish, feral, evil, and want to crush you; possibly eat your face off as well. On top of all that, there are a ton of them. Neverwinter, the new free to play MMORPG coming out, did not exclude these green menaces. No matter how many times orcs are done, I don't get tired of them. Unlike Drow, PLEASE stop making Drow the main antagonists. I don't think I can handle another Drow/Underdark storyline – it's truly like beating a dead horse at this point.
So that was my anti-Drow rant, my apologies. Because it is Neverwinter though and not just Dungeons and Dragons… there will be Drow. It's inevitable. Until then though, check out these orcs in the video above. The direction of this video is particularly interesting because it shows the concept art next to the final project. It's fascinating to see the intention next to the result.
Will you have what it takes to push the orcs occupying the northern half of the old Tower District? These brutes have gone as far as to make the old Cloak Tower in Neverwinter their home. You guessed it, they got to go and you're in charge of removing them. Have at it then – heroes.


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SPARTANBURG, SC-- Marian Patricia Parks Johnson, 92, former 30-year resident of Murph Road, Pauline, died Sunday, March 3, 2013.
Born in Inman, Marian was a daughter of the late Convy and Lennie Mae Dixon Parks. She was an avid quilter, hiker, and a past member of the Walnut Grove Garden Club.
Marian is survived by four daughters, Linda J. Laster (John) of Pauline, Alice J. Cooper (Kenneth) of Spartanburg, Inell J. Barnes (Jeff DeMontmorency) of Boiling Springs, and Patricia G. Hensley of Enoree. She was blessed with five grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Marian was predeceased by two brothers, Neville A. Parks, Boyce K. Parks; and a great-granddaughter, Makenzie Gilliland.
A memorial service will be held at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at Dunbar Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Andrew Franceen, Pastor of Grace Bible Church, Moore, SC.
The family will receive friends following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made Interim Healthcare Hospice, 155 Deacon Tiller Ct., Duncan, SC 29334 or the charity of your choice.
The family will be at their respective homes.
Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.jmdunbar.com
Dunbar Funeral Home
& Crematory


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© 2008 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Tribe reportedly close to Sabathia trade
Brewers would send slugger LaPorta, plus two more prospects
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com
CLEVELAND -- If the latest reports and rumblings are to be believed, CC Sabathia's next start will come Tuesday in a Brewers uniform. Indians general manager Mark Shapiro confirmed Sunday that the Indians are in negotiations about a trade involving Sabathia, and the club scheduled a news conference to be held Monday at 12:30 p.m. ET, at which time they are expected to announce a deal with Milwaukee. "Obviously," Shapiro said on Sunday, "we've made some progress." Shapiro wouldn't confirm a rumor from a Major League source that the Indians and Brewers have completed a trade in which Sabathia, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, would be sent to Milwaukee for Double-A outfielder Matt LaPorta and two other prospects. "It is definitively not a done deal," Shapiro said. "I won't comment on what point it's at or how far along [it is]." But multiple reports claim the deal is indeed done and contingent on the completion of paperwork and the exchange of medical records. It appears Sabathia would be ready to make his first start in a Brewers uniform Tuesday against the Rockies, while the last-place Indians would likely call up veteran Jeff Weaver, freshly signed to a Minor League deal, from Triple-A Buffalo to round out their rotation. LaPorta was out of the lineup for Double-A Huntsville's game Sunday, providing, perhaps, yet another hint that he is involved in the trade.
Milwaukee's WSSP radio reported that Triple-A Nashville left-hander Zach Jackson would go to Cleveland along with LaPorta, and the Wisconsin State Journal reported that Class A West Virginia right-hander Rob Bryson and one other player would also be included.Sabathia flew to Cleveland with the Indians following Sunday's 4-3 loss in Minnesota. But in a text message posted on ESPN.com, he wrote, "I'm good, excited. It's weird leaving these guys." Sabathia had been dangled by the Indians to several teams in recent days. The Rays and Phillies were believed to be finalists in the CC sweepstakes, but the Indians were always intrigued by Milwaukee's depth. The Brewers' Double-A Huntsville club has several prospects of interest to the Indians, including LaPorta, third baseman Mat Gamel, shortstop Alcides Escobar and catcher Angel Salome. The Indians have also reportedly had their eye on Class A third baseman Tyler Green and outfielder Lorenzo Cain. The Indians opted not to make Sabathia available over the winter because they believed he was a key to their hopes of defending their AL Central title. But when the club suffered a three-game sweep at the hands of the first-place White Sox last week to fall into a double-digit deficit in the Central standings, Sabathia went on the market. The Tribe's efforts to sign Sabathia to a contract extension over the winter came up empty. The Indians offered Sabathia a four-year extension through 2012 that would have paid him $18 million a year, and he turned it down and cut off negotiations when Spring Training camp opened. The Indians reportedly made an effort to reignite talks with Sabathia recently. If LaPorta is indeed involved in the trade, he would fit the Indians' need for more power in the organization. LaPorta, who was the Brewers' No. 1 Draft pick last year, was batting .288 with 20 homers, 23 doubles and 66 RBIs through 84 games at Huntsville. The Brewers are 3 1/2 games back of the Cubs in the National League Central standings. Acquiring Sabathia would give them a major push toward reaching the playoffs for the first time in 26 years. Milwaukee's chances of locking up Sabathia long-term aren't considered any better than those of the Indians. If the Brewers lose Sabathia to free agency this winter, they would receive two first-round Draft picks as compensation for the loss. Sabathia, who turns 28 on July 21, is 6-8 with a 3.83 ERA this season. He has struck out an AL-leading 123 batters in 122 1/3 innings. A first-round Draft pick of the Tribe in 1998, he has compiled a 106-71 record and 3.83 ERA over the course of eight big league seasons.
Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Pacific Northwest
December, 2009
Regional Report
Removing Snow from Shrubs
If you're concerned about the weight of snow on evergreen branches, use a broom or rake to gently brush away most of the snow. Start at the bottom of a shrub and work up, being careful not to break any frozen branches. Trees and shrubs with strong branching structures will shed the weight of snow naturally. If in doubt, leave the snow.
Prune Deciduous Trees
The winter dormant season is one of the best times to prune out dead, damaged, or unwanted branches on deciduous trees. Remove crossing branches that may be rubbing each other, as well as weak branches that may break in windstorms or under the weight of snow.
Keeping Indoor Plants Healthy
Be sure to keep your indoor plants and any newly acquired flowering houseplants away from trouble spots, such as heating vents, fireplaces, and frequently opened entry doors. Forced air heat can quickly dry out plants and is often responsible for browning leaf margins. Temperature fluctuations also can cause houseplants to develop yellow leaves, or suddenly drop their leaves.
Watch for Indoor Plant Pests
It's important to monitor indoor plants for insect pests, especially aphids. These pests consider the indoor environment a perpetual spring and can reproduce in alarming numbers. Look for these tiny insects on the undersides of leaves and on stems, and also check for the sticky honeydew they secrete on the upper sides of leaves. Spray them off foliage with a lukewarm water and soap mixture: use a few drops of mild, liquid hand soap in an 8-ounce spray bottle filled with water. Repeating this treatment as necessary will help your houseplants remain pest-free.
Clean and Sanitize Seed-starting Containers
Before you start your seeds indoors, take time to scrub your old trays and containers with a 10 percent bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water). This treatment will help prevent seedling diseases. For the healthiest seedlings, it's also important to use fresh, sterile growing media.


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Notes: Abreu gets the call
Dodgers promote infielder, send down pitcher Kuo
By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com
"We're looking for someone to get hot," said manager Grady Little, who started Abreu at third base Tuesday night against Milwaukee. "The guy's been hitting .350 or .360 all season long and we're going to give him a chance. He's earned the right. From all reports, he's one of the best players in the [Pacific Coast] League, if not the best. "
The 22-year-old Abreu, who has been rotated defensively at third base, shortstop and second base, was batting .347, and his 35 runs scored in 39 games ranked second in the PCL. He hit his second home run Monday night.
"The kid brings life, he brings, energy, he brings productivity," Little said of Abreu. "After playing the team south of town [the Angels, who swept three games from the Dodgers over the weekend], that's exactly what we were beaten by."
The switch-hitting Abreu batted .340 in Spring Training as a non-roster invitee and emerged as a potential candidate to eventually replace 39-year-old second baseman Jeff Kent. Originally signed as a shortstop, he had been exclusively a second baseman until this year.
"I really feel like I'm still learning, but I know enough to play," he said of playing third base.
Abreu batted eighth Tuesday night, but he led off in Las Vegas, and if he's productive, he could find himself batting second behind Rafael Furcal, with Juan Pierre dropped to eighth.
"None of us should be assuming anything about our batting order at this time," Little said.
Abreu was the fifth starting third baseman the Dodgers have used in 46 games this year.
Pitching fallout: Little indicated more changes are on the way. He said fifth starter Brett Tomko would be skipped in the rotation and was non-committal whether Tomko (1-5, 6.28 ERA) might be removed entirely. Randy Wolf will move up and pitch Sunday.
Little said Kuo will return to the Las Vegas rotation Wednesday night with the intent to build enough endurance to rejoin the Dodgers as a starter, if needed.
"He was right there [with Tomko] in the running for the fifth starter until his injury [in Spring Training]," said Little. "At this point in time, that's where we feel he'll be the most productive."
Little said he might do the same with Chad Billingsley, another starter who has been transferred to the bullpen. Billingsley has had flashes of brilliance in relief, but he also was on the mound Monday night when five runs scored to cost the Dodgers the game. For now, with Kuo gone and the Dodgers back to 11 pitchers, Billingsley is the long reliever.
Kuo made only two Major League appearances after a Minor League injury rehab assignment and had a 15.43 ERA after beginning the season on the disabled list with a shoulder strain. He was called up to provide a 12th pitcher, which the Dodgers feel is not currently necessary with two days off in the next week.
LaRoche fallout: Abreu's arrival figures to cost Andy LaRoche playing time, but LaRoche won't argue.
"He deserves to be up there," said LaRoche, who is hitting .233 with no homers since his promotion two weeks ago. "You can't keep him down the way he's hitting. If he helps the team win, everybody would rather have him in the lineup than me. I hope he doesn't send me back to Vegas, but if it happens, I've got to start producing more. That's the way the game goes. I'm excited to watch him."
Little said he might use LaRoche in left field to spell Luis Gonzalez, which would take playing time away from fourth outfielder Brady Clark.
Schmidt throwing hard: Coming off his impressive bullpen simulated game Sunday, Jason Schmidt was firing bullets in an equally encouraging bullpen session Tuesday. Schmidt is throwing much harder than at any time since he joined the club.
He is scheduled to face hitters on Friday for the first time since being disabled April 15 with shoulder bursitis. Schmidt will probably face hitters twice and require at least two rehab starts before he can return to the Dodgers rotation. Although the club resists providing a timetable, he's on pace to return by mid-June. Decreased velocity was a red flag leading up to Schmidt's placement on the disabled list after making three starts.
Coming up: In Wednesday night's series finale, Brad Penny (5-1, 2.54) opposes Milwaukee's Chris Capuano (5-2, 3.72) at 7:10 p.m. PT.
Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Stroke Care At Eisenhower
Eisenhower Medical Center is recognized nationally for excellence in stroke care. Eisenhower has been designated a Certified Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission for Primary Stroke Centers, and is the first hospital in Riverside and San Bernardino counties to earn the organization's Gold Seal of Approval ™, its highest level of certification. For six consecutive years, Eisenhower has been awarded the prestigious HealthGrades Stroke Care Excellence Award™, which is given to the top ten percent of hospitals in the United States that specialize in stroke, for six years in a row. Recently a group of Eisenhower physicians met to discuss advances in the treatment of stroke, and what's new at Eisenhower. Participants included Brian Herman, MD, Medical Director, Eisenhower Imaging Center; Euthym Kontaxis, MD, Medical Director, Eisenhower Tennity Emergency Department; and Eisenhower's Stroke Center Co-Director and Vascular Neurologist, Bishoy Labib, MD. Eisenhower Cardiologist Philip Shaver, MD, moderated the discussion.
Dr. Shaver: Stroke is an injury that occurs when diseased blood vessels or an injury to blood vessels block the supply of oxygen and other vital nutrients to the brain. There are two main types of stroke: those caused by a blockage in a blood vessel and those caused by bleeding within the brain.
There are approximately 700,000 strokes every year in the United States. Most of these are caused by blockage, rather than hemorrhages [bleeding]. Stroke is the leading cause of long-lasting injury, disability and death. Early treatment can reduce the brain damage that occurs because of stroke, so identifying stroke quickly in a patient is very important.
Dr. Kontaxis, stroke is often complex, and usually it's the emergency room [ER] doctor who diagnoses stroke. What particular signs do you look for when a person comes to the ER?
Dr. Kontaxis: There has been a lot of public education over the past few years, so we're getting people coming in with early signs of stroke. Generally, we look at speech impairment, unilateral [one-sided] weakness to an arm or a leg or both, a sudden onset of symptoms. Some people come in with acute dizziness or vertigo as an early sign of a stroke. If we're looking at a cerebral bleed, headache is the primary symptom for that type of stroke.
Dr. Shaver: The symptoms of a stroke may begin suddenly or develop over hours or days depending upon the type of stroke. Dr. Labib, what is a transient ischemic attack [TIA]?
Dr. Labib:Transient ischemic [decreased blood flow] attacks are episodes in which there are signs or symptoms of a stroke that last for a short time, between a few minutes and 24 hours. Typically, symptoms only last for less than an hour. TIAs are a warning sign of a developing thrombus [plaque]. It could present as loss of vision in one eye, double vision, one-sided weakness, onesided numbness, or a speech problem. A transient ischemic attack is actually a golden opportunity to prevent stroke — we take it very seriously. Ten to 20 percent of TIA patients will return within 90 days with a major stroke, and typically, 50 percent of these strokes will happen within two days. If I have a high-risk patient coming in with symptoms like these, I'm not going to let them go home. I will admit them and modify their risk factors appropriately.
Dr. Shaver: I often use the acronym FAST to help people remember the classic symptoms of stroke: Face — sudden weakness of the face, blurred, doubled, or decreased vision; Arm — sudden weakness or numbness of one or both arms; Speech — difficulty speaking, slurred or garbled speech. The "T" is for time, because time is of the essence in stroke treatment. The sooner treatment begins…the better the chances are for recovery.
Dr. Herman:I want to point out that two things we've talked about are actually revolutionary in stroke treatment. First, the fact that patients now come in quickly is a revolution, and the fact that TIA patients are now admitted and worked up with imaging of the vessels of the neck and brain – that's a revolution. Just six years ago, we sent TIA patients home. So, these are huge changes in stroke treatment and diagnosis.
Dr. Shaver: The treatment of a stroke depends upon the type of stroke, the time since the first stroke symptoms occurred, and the patient's underlying medical problems. For people who have an ischemic stroke, the goal of treatment is to restore blood flow to the affected area of the brain as quickly as possible. There are two main types of treatment for ischemic stroke: thrombolytic [clot dissolving] therapy to break up clots, and antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy, which is use of blood-thinners.
Dr. Labib: We have come a long way in our ability to treat acute stroke, particularly acute ischemic stroke where there is a thrombus or embolus [dislodged clot] in the artery.We need to act very quickly to treat these patients — we always say "time is brain."We would like to have the patient coming to the ER as soon as possible. Any delay in treatment means we're losing brain tissue.
The gold standard is to get an immediate CT [computed tomography] scan, which takes less than five minutes, and it gives us an idea if there is bleeding or not.We also have other modalities such as MRI [magnetic resonance imaging] and MRA [magnetic resonance angiography] of the brain and neck, diffusion perfusion studies to look at the extent of the stroke and to help with the treatment decision if we have time to do these tests.
Dr. Kontaxis: Imaging makes a big difference, particularly if we aren't sure about the onset of their symptoms."Door to CT time is 10 minutes. Read the imaging by 30 minutes. Dooe to therapy, 60 minutes is the goal."—-Dr. Kontaxis
Dr. Shaver: Once you witness the symptoms, that's when the clock starts.
Dr. Kontaxis:The imaging allows us to see the area of the brain affected by stroke, as well as to confirm the type of stroke [ischemic versus hemorrhagic]. The blood vessels that supply the brain can be imaged using CT and MRI scans. Ultrasound can also be used to discover blockage in blood vessels.
Dr. Herman: It is my belief and has been shown in many studies that intra-arterial thrombolysis is superior to intravenous thrombolysis. Our research at Eisenhower has shown that with devastated stroke patients who had the opportunity to be treated with intra-arterial thrombolysis, within three hours, 66 percent of these patients were living on their own, highly functional, with nearly normal lives. In fact, almost one-third of our patients were normal before leaving the hospital or even the surgical suite. Although it is also known that the accessibility of physicians who can perform intra-arterial thrombolysis is limited, we are fortunate at Eisenhower to have this capability to do this.
Dr. Shaver: You raise an interesting issue — the three-hour window after onset of symptoms. Hasn't that recommendation been changed to four and one-half hours?
Dr. Labib: ECASS III [the third European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study], came out last year indicating we can extend the window of IV [intravenous] thrombolytics to four and one-half hours. The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association approved an amendment expanding the window for IV tissue plasminogen activator [tPA], from three to four and one-half hours, but this is not FDA [Food and Drug Administration] approved yet. There are different protocols still under investigation.
Dr. Herman: Recanalization [opening the blocked vessel] rates for intra-arterial thrombolysis are far superior to intravenous thrombolysis…and that makes sense because we can see the clot and treat the clot directly.
Dr. Shaver: What are the other tools can you use besides intravenous lytic [cell dissolving] drugs to treat a clot? Can you administer lytic drugs locally at the obstructed arterial site or mechanically break up the thrombus?
Dr. Herman:Well, we have ultrasoundassisted thrombolysis, angioplasty, stenting, and clot retrieval devices.
Dr. Shaver: Eighty percent of strokes are ischemic, meaning that either a thrombus or embolus is blocking an artery. About 20 percent of strokes are hemorrhagic, and Dr. Kontaxis, you touched on the fact that this is someone who often has headache as part of their symptoms. The example everyone knows about is actress Natasha Richardson. Dr. Labib, is there some advice you could pass on to patients with head trauma? How about if they just have a concussion, should those people all come to the ER?
Dr. Labib: Concussion or brief loss of consciousness is always a very serious sign. Definitely, if someone loses consciousness, then the patient should be evaluated by a neurologist or go to the emergency room and get a CT scan to make sure there is no hemorrhage.
Dr. Shaver: I want to remind people that a stroke is a medical emergency, and just like with heart attacks, the place to go is not the doctor's office or clinic, it's the emergency room because that's where all the imaging is. What sets Eisenhower apart is that we have state-of-the-art imaging to get the answers quickly. We have a 24-hour stroke team. Dr. Labib, if you could just talk briefly about our certification as a stroke center. What did that involve?
Dr. Labib: A stroke center provides optimum care for stroke patients. It needs a multidisciplinary team. You need neurology, preferably vascular neurology, interventional radiology and neurosurgery specialties to be able to treat all kinds of strokes.We are the only hospital in a hundred mile radius to be stroke certified, and actually we have had patients being flown from surrounding cities that are a couple of hours away since we received the certification for stroke. We also have to focus on prevention and rehabilitation. Once a patient has had a stroke, they are at very high risk for having secondary strokes…hence, modifying their risk factors is very important.
Dr. Shaver: If someone has symptoms of stroke, don't let your family member drive you to the emergency room. Call 911…because time is of the essence. Am I correct in saying that the door to starting treatment time, getting the assessment by the ER doctor, activating the stroke team, getting the imaging study — our goal is to start treatment by 60 minutes from the time they get here?
Dr. Kontaxis:Yes. Door to CT time is 10 minutes. Read the imaging by 30 minutes. Door to therapy, 60 minutes is the goal.
Dr. Shaver: As a stroke center we do offer a number of options to patients, and the dedication of our physicians, who are on call 24/7, really needs to be recognized.
Dr. Kontaxis:There's no more inspirational experience than seeing somebody who had a huge deficit, talk and get up.
Dr. Shaver: What do you see as the future of treatment?
Dr. Herman: I believe that future studies will bear out that intra-arterial thrombolysis and the new clot removal tools are going to prove to be far superior to peripheral intravenous tPA…. When the treatment devices get to that point,we can just pull the clot out in a matter of minutes. I also want to make one other point about Eisenhower. Not only are we a stroke center and provide all the things we talked about, but there are many disease entities that mimic stroke: aneurysm ruptures, dissections, arteriovenous malformations and tumors. At Eisenhower,we can fix all of those things, and you need to go to a place, in that emergency situation, that can manage all of those problems.