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Special message from CEO Steve Brown
In January, Mount Nittany Health released its Annual Report to the community as we do each year, highlighting our accomplishments, growth over the last year, our utilization statistics, balance sheet and most importantly to all of us, our community benefit.
Core to our mission is keeping people well regardless of their ability to pay, and to that end, Mount Nittany Medical Center provided $4.7 million in free care to people who qualified. In addition, we provided about $2 million in education services, donations to Centre Volunteers in Medicine, as well as sponsorship of many other vital not-for-profit health and wellness organizations that fit within our mission to keep people healthy. I believe that, as we aim to be the region's most trusted health leader, we need to support those organizations that fulfill a community need leading to overall health and wellness.
To ensure that we can continue to lead in this important area, we have modernized and expanded a number of our facilities, finalized our community-based strategic plan, and grown to become a true health system. In addition, as has been our history, we have been prudent with our financial resources to the extent that both Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings again have affirmed our bond rating in the A category and our outlook as Stable, while a number of other companies in many industry sectors have been downgraded. You can be confident that we are making the right financial decisions now to positively impact access to healthcare in the future. To that end, you are seeing what may be perceived as a boom in growth over the past three years, a result of our solid financial planning in the past and our solid vision for the future. This also requires us to continue our history of being constantly mindful of our resources while ensuring that our community is best served.
With that said, our finances are impacted by a number of significant influences, including government regulations and the impending reductions in Medicare and Medicaid. On March 1, automatic cuts took effect, and these include, among other things, a 2 percent annual reduction in Medicare funding. Complete regulations for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act legislation have not all been written yet, but we are anticipating the impact and taking steps to prepare accordingly.
While physically growing and improving our facilities, we have also invested in a number of efficiencies and cost-saving measures to ensure that we are a viable healthcare leader for years to come, including the development of an electronic health record environment, improved supply chain management, executing a sophisticated employee wellness program, and providing a number of community education and wellness events to help people make the right decisions about their own health and wellness. All this is aimed at continuing to be the most trusted source for healthcare in our region.
As always, we are grateful for the opportunity to serve you and earn the trust you've placed in us as your healthcare provider. I look forward to a bright future, and would welcome your comments or questions about our finances and preparations for that future. As always, you may email me at email@example.com.
Warmest regards,
Steve Brown, FACHE
President and CEO
Mount Nittany Health


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By: Stefanie Wittler
Chattanooga, Tenn. (UTC/The Loop) – – The fashion police have hit UTC's campus. I spoke with students and a faculty member on their opinion of how people dress when they come to campus. Do students take pride in how they dress, or do they just do the "sniff test"?
As you walk around campus, you will see all types of fashion. Some students really dress up for class and others are just casual. So what really is the motive behind the choice of student's clothing?
Communication major, Jordan Cox stood out today in his bright turquoise shirt and matching tie. Cox said, "My mom always told me to look the best I can when I leave the house, so this is an everyday look for me." Cox also went on to say that he doesn't have a problem with students who dress causal for class.
To get a different perspective of campus attire, UTC Fine Art Center Box Office supervisor Sue Carroll said that she thinks the students should dress casual. "I would like to see the professors dress a little more professional. Sometimes its hard to tell them from the students", said Carroll.
So when it really comes down to it, choice of campus attire is all about personal preference. Whether you're rocking shorts and a tee, or making a fashion statement in a three piece suit, the main factor is that you're showing up for class and that's what really matters.

subset: commoncrawl


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Wednesday, 13 July 2011 12:40
Author shares Hillbilly TalesWritten by Admin
- font size decrease font size increase font size
Whittier resident and author Patricia Graham will read from her book, Hillbilly Tales from the Smoky Mountains, at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 15 at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.
The book includes several short stories based on the folklore of the Appalachian Mountains. The book offers hillbilly sayings and proverbs that go hand-in-hand with mountain medicine. Part two includes "The Return to Green Cove," a short but dramatic story written by one of the original descendants of the Crowe family, Ms. Verna Humphrey. A discussion and signing will follow the reading.
Published in Archived Reading Room


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MARBLE, Colo.—The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is looking into the possible embezzlement of more than $300,000 from the coffers of Marble.
Investigators have named the late Karen Mulhall as a suspect in the alleged crime. Mulhall was dismissed as the town clerk earlier this year.
According to the Glenwood Springs Post Independent (http://tinyurl.com/bjzytdz), Mulhall was found dead in Denver on Oct. 28. The circumstances have yet to be made public.
The investigation began after Alpine Bank contacted the town about financial irregularities in the town's bank account.
Information from: Post Independent, http://www.postindependent.com/


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The university says it is launching an investigation into the meeting, which was held by one of its senior lecturers.
H.M.'s Brain
May 9, 2014|
Scenes from the labs that study the unique organ
May 9, 2014|
Scenes from the labs that study the unique organ
January 1, 2014|
Some of the fantastical marine life depicted in a rare, 18th-century book
June 1, 2013|
Take a closer look at some of the statistics generated by The Scientist's Best Place to Work Industry 2013 survey.
April 3, 2013|
See the data from our 2013 survey of postdocs.
February 1, 2013|
Animals and plants come in a dizzying array of colors. Current research is cracking into the remarkable structures behind nature's artistic display.
September 1, 2012|
See some of the images brought up from early trips to the Galápagos Rift, where an ecosystem thrives around hydrothermal vents.
September 1, 2012|
Associate Professor in Molecular Cell & Developmental Biology at the University of Texas at Austin, John Wallingford, makes his living using cutting-edge microscopic techniques to watch developmental events unfold in real time.
August 1, 2012|
Topping this year's survey of academic researchers is the J. David Gladstone Institutes, a San Francisco-based nonprofit biomedical research organization with a focus on cardiovascular disease, virology and immunology, and neurodegenerative disorders
June 1, 2012|
Whether working for a pharmaceutical giant or a biotech start-up with a unique vision, researchers who responded to this year's Best Places to Work in Industry survey are translating society's most pressing scientific needs into a new generation of drugs, research tools, and cutting-edge innovations.
June 1, 2012|
In 1929 and 1930, Johns Hopkins Medical School surgeon Warfield Firor carried out a series of experiments to determine how long blood could flow between animals with joined circulatory systems. Without using any anti-coagulants, Firor attempted to es


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Cooking Demonstration: Cranberry Central
We planned to teach this class last year but Superstorm Sandy happened and we had to cancel. We're back and so are New Jersey cranberries, which are bountiful this time of year and we make very good use of them in this cooking demonstration. Explore some new recipes to add some sparkle to your holiday table with this very versatile fruit grown in the cranberry bogs of South Jersey.
Register by November 10
- 917 reads


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Sweat your way to more youthful skin
Exercise not only appears to keep skin younger, it may also even reverse skin ageing in people who start exercising late in life, according to surprising new research.
As many of us know from woeful experience, our skin changes as the years advance, resulting in wrinkles, crow's feet and sagging. This occurs because of changes within our layers of skin. After about age 40, most of us begin to experience a thickening of our stratum corneum, the final, protective, outer layer of the epidermis, itself the top layer of your skin.
The stratum corneum is the portion of the skin that you see and feel. Composed mostly of dead skin cells and some collagen, it gets drier, flakier and denser with age.
At the same time, the layer of skin beneath the epidermis, the dermis, begins to thin. It loses cells and elasticity, giving the skin a more translucent and often saggier appearance.
These changes are independent of any skin damage from the sun. They are solely the result of the passage of time.
But recently, researchers at McMaster University in Ontario began to wonder if such alterations were inevitable. Earlier studies at McMaster involving mice that were bred to age prematurely had shown that a steady regimen of exercise could stave off or even undo the signs of early ageing in these animals. When members of this breed of mice remained sedentary, they rapidly grew wisened, frail, ill, demented, and graying or bald. But if they were given access to running wheels, they maintained healthy brains, hearts, muscles, reproductive organs and fur far longer than their sedentary labmates. Their fur never even turned grey.
Of course, we humans long ago swapped our fur for naked skin. But if exercise could keep animals' outer layer from changing with age, it might, the researchers speculated, do the same for our skin.
To test that possibility, the scientists first gathered 29 local male and female volunteers ages 20 to 84. About half of the participants were active, performing at least three hours of moderate or vigorous physical activity every week, while the others were resolutely sedentary, exercising for less than an hour per week.
Then the researchers asked each volunteer to uncover a buttock.
''We wanted to examine skin that had not been frequently exposed to the sun,'' said Mark Tarnopolsky, a professor of pediatrics and exercise science at McMaster who oversaw the study, which was presented at the annual meeting of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine in New Orleans this month.
The scientists biopsied skin samples from each volunteer and examined them microscopically. When compared strictly by age, the skin samples overall aligned with what would be expected. Older volunteers generally had thicker outer layers of skin and significantly thinner inner layers.
But those results shifted noticeably when the researchers further subdivided their samples by exercise habits. They found that after age 40, the men and women who exercised frequently had markedly thinner, healthier stratum corneums and thicker dermis layers in their skin. Their skin was much closer in composition to that of the 20- and 30-year-olds than to that of others of their age, even if they were past age 65.But as the researchers realized, other factors, including diet, genes and lifestyle, might have influenced the differences in skin condition between the exercising and sedentary groups. It was impossible to know whether exercise by itself had affected people's skin or been incidental to lucky genetics and healthy lives.
So the researchers next set a group of sedentary volunteers to exercising, after first obtaining skin samples from their buttocks. The volunteers were aged at 65 or older and, at the study's start, had normal skin for their age. They began a fairly straightforward endurance training program, working out twice a week by jogging or cycling at a moderately strenuous pace, equivalent to at least 65 percent of their maximum aerobic capacity for 30 minutes. This continued for three months. At the end of that time, the researchers again biopsied the volunteers' skin.
But now the samples looked quite different, with outer and inner layers that looked very similar to those of 20- to 40-year-olds. ''I don't want to overhype the results, but, really, it was pretty remarkable to see,'' said Tarnopolsky, himself a middle-aged exerciser. Under a microscope, the volunteers' skin ''looked like that of a much younger person, and all that they had done differently was exercise''.
How exercise changes skin composition is not completely clear, but in a separate portion of the study, the researchers checked for alterations in the levels of certain substances created by working muscles. Called myokines, these substances are known to enter the bloodstream and jump-start changes in cells far from the muscles themselves. In this case, the scientists found greatly augmented levels of a myokine called IL-15 in the skin samples of volunteers after exercise. Their skin samples contained almost 50 per cent more IL-15 after they had been exercising than at the start of the study.
The researchers suspect that additional myokines and substances are also involved in the skin changes related to exercise, Tarnopolsky said, making it unlikely that any IL-15 pill, salve or injection will ever replicate the skin benefits of a workout.
Nor is there evidence that exercise reverses wrinkling and other damage from the sun, some of which many of us accumulate during outdoor exercise. Still, Tarnopolsky said, ''it is astonishing to consider all of the intricate ways in which exercise changes our bodies,'' including the skin beneath our shorts.
The New York Times
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text: Well, im obviously an HP fan. I have blonde hair and blue eyes and im 13 years old. I have played the piano for 10 years and still do. I ride horses and planning on buying one soon. I love to write stories and draw alot. I work by teaching piano lessons and giving riding lessons. Well anyway, I hope you enjoy my story(ies)!! x3


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Fischer 285MQ Barograph
Was $1,500 NOW $699.95
This is the barograph by Fischer, makers of the world's finest, most precise professional meteorological instruments since 1945. Preferred by art museums for its accuracy in detecting changes in temperature and humidity, key to the preservation of priceless works of art, this model is meticulously hand-crafted by engineers in Drebach, Germany, measuring barometric pressure between 955 and 1055 hPa using seven aneroid capsules. Operating between -22° F and 104° F, each capsule is made from two sheets of copper/beryllium alloy electron-welded together for an exact fit. Atmospheric pressure changes cause the capsules to expand or contract, and the polished brass linkages amplify the capsules' changes into movements of a brass stylus, which inscribes barometric pressure readings onto a paper graph affixed to a rotating cylinder. The cylinder is precisely calibrated using quartz watch movement, and provides an accurate seven-day history of pressure trends. The drum removes for replacing the paper graph (one year's supply included). Housed in a mahogany case with glass panels. Requires one AA battery. 13 1/4" L x 7 1/4" H x 7" D. (7 1/2 lbs.)
Lifetime Guarantee
The Authentic Museum Barograph comes with The Hammacher Schlemmer Lifetime Guarantee. If this product ever disappoints you, for any reason, you may return your Hammacher Schlemmer purchase for exchange, credit, or refund.
Should you have any questions, we are available seven days a week (8:00 am – midnight EST). Please call 1-800-321-1484 to speak with a specialist or email us at firstname.lastname@example.com to receive a response within three business hours or less.
Sale item quantities are limited — please order soon.
May we recommend:
COPYRIGHT © 2018 HAMMACHER SCHLEMMER & COMPANY, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. W109147 E. 57th ST • NEW YORK, NY • 10022 • 1-800-_321-1484


text:
Man charged after fatal collision in Catani
A Noble Park man, 27, has been charged with numerous offences following a fatal collision in Catani near Koo Wee Rup on Friday morning that claimed the lives of four people.
Jobandeep Gill was refused bail during a bedside remand hearing and charged with four counts of culpable driving causing death, four counts of dangerous driving causing death, one count of reckless conduct endangering life and one count of failing to stop at a stop sign.
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives allege the truck he was driving west along Caldermeade Road collided with a car around 8.55am.
A man, 37, a woman, 33, a girl, 6, and a boy, 2, all from Poowong, were in the car and died in the collision. A boy, 9, survived and is currently at the Royal Children's Hospital in a stable condition.
Police have confirmed they were members of the same family.
The car involved in the collision was travelling north along Heads Road at the time.
Gill will remain under police guard in hospital until he fronts the Melbourne Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
Should he be released from hospital earlier, the detectives will apply to have his court date brought forward.
The nine-year-old boy who survived will be traumatised for life, police say.Four bodies were recovered from the car, which burst into flames and was "almost instantly incinerated"."
This is an horrific scene," Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill said.
"We have a vehicle that is incinerated and we've got a number of corpses in that car."
The force of the crash pushed the car about 40 metres south along Caldermeade Road before the truck rolled on top of the car and both vehicles caught fire.
The young boy was ejected from the car on impact and "miraculously" survived the crash that killed everyone else inside the vehicle, police said.
Assistant Commissioner Hill said the boy was found wandering around the scene of the crash by a passer-by."He was the sole surviving occupant of the sedan and he is currently at the Royal Children's Hospital suffering superficial injuries," he said.
"No doubt he is struggling. No doubt he will be struggling for life.
"The boy is being assisted by police officers and Department of Human Services staff."
Gill is a sub-contractor for Pakenham-based trucking company Asixa.
Specialist police officers were at the scene trying to identify the incinerated corpses trapped in the car.
Assistant Commissioner Hill said it was the worst crash scene he had been called to in a long time.
"We haven't had a multiple fatality like this for some time on Victoria's roads," he said.
"This is something that our members and the broader community have got to come to terms with - we have lost a number of lives here because of the fact that someone has made a mistake."
Trucking company Asixa chief executive Simone Turner issued a short statement following the crash.
"We can confirm that one of our contracted vehicles was involved in a collision near Catani," she said.
"We are deeply saddened by the serious nature of initial reports of the incident. We are awaiting further details from police."
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text: I met his father yesterday at a softball game and he said that Alabama and several other big schools are recruiting him. I had not heard of him. Does anybody know how hard if any we are recruiting him. There is not much about him on recruitung sites. This is a private school so I know they don't get as much attention as public schools athletes.


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With several of the nation's top football recruits taking both official and unofficial visits last week, our experts at RecruitingNation made some major tweaks to our top 10 recruiting battles with five new entrants in the fold. The top two remain the same, however, as Robert Nkemdiche and Laremy Tunsil maintain their spots as the two most impactful players on the recruiting scene.
For the latest edition of #BlueChipBattles, click here.


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Results 1 to 3 of 3
Thread: Where to ground, if at all?
Where to ground, if at all?
I'm thinking of using a Stinger SGN12 Line Output Converter to to drop a pair of speaker level outputs from my HU (Clarion CMD6) to RCA level to feed the audio input of a RGB LED controller since all my HU RCA outputs will be feeding amps. The SGN12 has an "optional ground connection sometimes used to eliminate minor noise problems" according to the manual.
I have a dual battery setup with switch and VSR with one battery going to feed/ground only stereo components to help keep the noise down. The LED controller will be on the main battery & if I put the Stinger in line, it will be my only crossover point between the main and stereo circuits. I don't care about a little noise or sound quality of the signal going into the LED controller since it'll just be an amplitude signal, but...
Do you think the controller could feedback noise through its RCA level input, then the converter, then through the speaker level outputs of the HU, and then make its way to the HU RCA outputs connected to the amps? I'll probably try the converter ungrounded at first, but if I get noise going to the amps, should I connect the "optional" ground on the converter to the stereo or helm circuit? Thanks.
I do not KNOW, but would have to believe there will be no way for noise to move backwards through the radio to your RCA outputs as a result of what you describe.
If noise comes up after the work, it would be much more likely to come from the microcomputer in the LED controller, modulated directly onto the RCA cables.
If noise arose after your LED install I would pursue traditional noise fixes as outlined in other posts, (common power and ground for amps and radio). I do not think that the ground wire on the LOC would make any difference.
Thanks for the couple of pennies. That's why I posted - bunch of folks on here that know way more about this stuff than me. Just got a little paranoid when I realized that installing the LOC would potentially undo my work so far at keeping the stereo gear completely isolated and on common power and ground blocks. The LED controller will be several feet away from the stereo gear and is only rated at 12 amps max, so hopefully will stay noise free. I won't know if it's an issue until I finish the interior & can get to the stereo stuff, but at least I'll sleep better until then.


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I love going down on my wife after she cums like this. Fanfuckingtastic! Only she cums even more She has literally left a puddle on the blanket. It's awesome!
dam make my dick hard watching you due your pussy and i need to cum too so let go toghter
ya meto
wow propa hot shes really made me wet
luv to watch those jcies cum out have made many ladies squirt some never new they can doit the 2 3right after r the best especialy when u r licking that nector up thatsbest sex ever
Would like ti drink you juice
Damn I am wet feel like making myself squirt
Very sexy - I could keep her busy all day long! Yum! :)
Well let me just say as a woman we do cum like that ;)
what a babe she took a while to get there but when she did she let it go good closeup of her wet twat like to fuck her with my big dick and cum inside that beaut pussy
love to eat all her cream up.yummy
Great cum worth every drop................
Mm she's so pretty I could taste that lek
I want to lick ur cum I want taste it
she got a small and tight pussy! I want to fuck it!
i wanna eat that pussy soooo bad!!!!!!
i want you babe
Would love to taste her and tongue her tight arse.
i want to devour that hot, creamy goodness and lick it to orgasm again, then cream that sweet pie and do all over again.
i have to say - thats about how it happens, fellas... dont be so critical. save the bad attitude for somewhere else. this is a happy place :)
I want to fill a shot glass up with her pussy juices and savor the tasty treat.
Looks like the remants of a gangbang to me..
I would eat that pussy cum..
I want to fuck you so bad sexy your making me horny
I want the room with this fantastic view to masturbate too! Oh my how relaxing would be that! Nice video, nice close recordings.
eat this cunt and ass out
this what a am talking about
What an angel; cute, sexy, with a tight lil pussy that gets wet as SHIT. Damn, my fat,,hard cock would fuck her so nice & fit her pussy just right
das schmeckt echt lecker das weisse
love to eat out and fuck this babes cunt and fill her up with cum
Doyoufuc k
Hi your fucking videos are great
Sex time me an u
creamy suprise ! :)
Who is this?!
I would love to rub my pussy on hers!!
id swallow every drop of that juice .mmm yummy xx
Not rea;;y a squirt, but a sweet, wet juicy pussy just the same.
what's your name she is so fit i would love too chat her up sleep with her and have sex with her
when my wife gets home from i sometime kiss her on the couch get her and i naked then i make her cum so much its like a waterfall
the secret to cumming harder is self control, the longer you hold it in & the longer you stimulate the G-spot (until you really can't hold it in anymore) the more powerfull and long lasting the orgasm will be this takes allot of practice off-course the same applies to men... might i suggest everyone practice alot on themselves and perfect they're own technique..
Hot babe!
delicia de gozada
horny honry horny honry
i went it so bad!!
luv u kevvy
Its not fake Ive made girls do it.
woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow yum
those juices look deliciuos.
Suck my dick
god bless your pussy
I so agree with Not Fake, we girls get soaked like that.. unless you're lousy.
I would fuck her
Mein Schwanz ist schon ganz geil ;P
She looks enough like Ellen Page that I can pretend she IS Ellen Page.
So horny her pussy wants licking and fucking.
sexy but she barely squirted but it was great im cummed
hook me up
I want to drink all that juice
horrible shoes
I dated a squirter once who looked a lot like her. This girl is hotter, though.
Tout simplement delectable ! ;D
She has a look that is sweet & innocence ....but there is nothing innocent about her.
you have a very photogenic pussy.
whether the goo is real or staged she has the whole package from being hot to nice tits to a sweet nice tight pussy.Nice job sweet heart
My wife cums exactly like that almost every orgasm. We're both soaked after sex.
8:57 they skip a scene , they filled that pussy
like her legs an juicy pussy
Yeah, I agree it was probably staged - filling her vagina up before hitting record at the end. But hey, at least the porn directors are getting the message that we want to see female ejaculation.
man were can i find a girl like that
UH uh uh Mmmmmm UH uh uh Mmmm UH uh uh Mmmm etc....For the Entire 10 minute video Uh uh uh Mmmmmm LOL!
WOW! That is pretty damn goo. LOL =)
You fellas are morons if you think this fake crap is hot. Idiots.
that was load from the night before
like her nipples
there is a cutting 20sec before, just staged!
this girl is extremely hot.. would love to fuck her.
if you like me to sex lets doit you is my first sex ....
wow very lovely cream i wanna c that on my shaft
That's probably just the lube, dudes.
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text:
Global Warming Archive
How the cost of Water can be Decreased!
November 9, 2008
Water is becoming expensive: We all are aware that water shortage in the entire world is increasing day by, thanks to global warming. And as a result the prices of water are on all time rise and it is the common man who is facing the music. Every time in summers we witness scenes like


text:
Optimal management of blood glucose (blood sugar) following feeding is of importance for all individuals. This includes those individuals reporting to a clinic with elevated fasting blood glucose levels (e.g., pre-diabetics and diabetics), as well as athletes looking to optimize glucose disposal into skeletal muscle. While the former population seeks to regulate blood glucose for the purpose of disease management (i.e., mitigation of health problems and premature death), the latter population primarily seeks enhanced energy utilization and glycogen resynthesis during and following strenuous exercise. (Note: Glycogen is a storage form of carbohydrate and is widely used as an energy source during physical activity, in particular of moderate to high intensity—e.g., moderate to high intensity resistance and aerobic exercise).
While the combination of regular physical activity/exercise and well-managed dietary intake should indeed be the first consideration in optimal blood glucose control, adjuncts to these two therapies have been used with success. Specifically, oral hypoglycemic agents, including both pharmacologic (i.e., prescription drugs) and non-pharmacologic (i.e., dietary supplements), are commonly prescribed/recommended and used by individuals worldwide. In relation to the latter, a wide array of dietary supplements are available for the supposed regulation of fasting and postprandial (post-meal intake) blood glucose elevations. The majority of these products target the overweight, pre-diabetic/diabetic market, citing the claim of "supporting healthy blood sugar levels". While there do exist certain ingredients that have been reported in the scientific literature to have significant effects on blood glucose lowering (primarily in animals, with fewer data being derived directly from human subjects), one main problem remains; many dietary supplements contain such small amounts of the "active" efficacious ingredients, they most likely provide little, if any, benefit to the user. (Note: For more information pertaining to this topic of inferior dosages used within dietary supplements, see the Purus Labs White Paper for "Muscle Marinade").
Aside from the above issues (primarily enhancing glycogen synthesis), very few products currently focus on blood glucose disposal/management in athletes. This is surprising considering most athletes consume a high carbohydrate meal soon after the completion of their exercise training sessions with the goal of replacing depleted carbohydrate lost during the exercise session (i.e., skeletal muscle glycogen). While most young and healthy athletes have excellent glucose regulatory systems in place due to their training status and fitness level, it is possible that athletes consuming high carbohydrate meals may benefit from additional support in the form of novel glucose disposal agents. This is particularly true if the meals are comprised of simple, high glycemic carbohydrates, as is common for many post workout meals (whole food or meal replacement drinks).
This paper provides a brief overview of the process of glucose regulation and introduces a new dietary supplement focused on enhanced blood glucose uptake and nutrient delivery into muscle tissue. This product called SLINshot, developed and marketed by Purus Labs, may aid both athletes and non-athletes seeking enhanced blood glucose uptake via use of a natural, non-pharmacologic dietary supplement.
Although a significant body of evidence is not yet available pertaining to these findings in human subjects, use of SLINshot may lead to heightened blood glucose clearance post feeding (possibly promoting greater muscle glycogen storage), in addition to enhanced nutrient uptake into tissue (e.g., creatine). Data in support of these statements are presented later in this paper.
POST Workout Dietary Supplements and High Carbohydrate meals
Dietary Supplements (Meal Replacement Drinks and Bars)
The use of dietary supplements among the general population is rampant. This is certainly no different among athletes, who routinely use dietary supplements (an estimated 90% of all athletes) of one form or another (Erdman et al., 2007; Froiland et al., 2004). With regards to the athlete, one class of dietary supplement that receives a great deal of attention is the post workout drink or bar. These supplements (typically a powder mix, a "ready-to-drink" pre-mixed shake, or a meal replacement bar) serve the dual purpose of favorably impacting post exercise protein turnover and enhancing glycogen replacement in skeletal muscle. To achieve these goals, most products contain a combination of protein and carbohydrate of varying quantities, ratios, forms, etc.; these factors are dictated by the type of athlete and their overall objective pertaining to the post exercise meal (e.g., protein synthesis vs. glycogen synthesis). In general, most strength training athletes (e.g., bodybuilders) favor higher protein and lower carbohydrate ratios in the post workout drink, whereas most endurance trained athletes favor higher carbohydrate and lower protein ratios. Of course, this may differ based on individual tolerance to intake as well as overall goals. For example, many bodybuilders desire enhanced glycogen resynthesis as well as protein synthesis, because increased glycogen storage is often associated with a greater "muscle pump" and increased "muscle fullness". Likewise, many endurance athletes need additional protein along with their carbohydrate due to experiencing substantial protein breakdown and muscle damage from the excessive strain placed on both muscle and enzymatic systems during high volume training.
In regards to glucose disposal from the bloodstream into target tissue, and the subsequent storage of glucose as glycogen, it should be understood that insulin assists in activating this process. Specifically, insulin is secreted from the pancreatic beta cells in response to a post-feeding rise in blood glucose. Insulin then binds the insulin receptor and promotes a cascade of "signaling" events that ultimately allows for the "translocation" of glucose-4 transport protein (GLUT4) from an intracellular site to the cell surface. It is GLUT4 that is chiefly involved in glucose uptake into tissue when in the fed state (e.g., post exercise feeding). This increase in circulating insulin is often a goal of most post workout products. Hence, many products contain high glycemic carbohydrate sources that act to rapidly raise blood sugar and illicit an insulin spike. While most well-trained athletes tolerate such high intake of carbohydrate post exercise (due to a heightened state of insulin sensitivity observed post exercise as well as the increase in GLUT4 activity—topics discussed in a later section within this paper), some athletes may need additional support in terms of aiding glucose delivery into muscle tissue or simply want to amplify this process for enhanced recovery, improved athletic performance (as related to the enhanced glycogen storage), and possibly "nutrient partitioning" (assuming glucose is shuttled into skeletal muscle tissue in favor of adipose tissue—a topic often discussed within the bodybuilding literature but requiring confirmation through scientific study).
Aside from the post workout meal in athletes, many individuals (athletes and non-athletes) consuming large, simple, refined, or high glycemic carbohydrate meals may benefit from dietary support in the form of a glucose regulatory agent. While dietary supplement manufacturers and the mainstream media simply focus on lethargy, impaired focus, and potential body fat gain as the negative effects of acute elevations in blood glucose, detailed scientific study indicates that such acute elevations in blood glucose (particularly if not lowered within the clinically expected timeframe—see info below on the oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT]) may be harmful to overall health. Specifically, spikes in blood glucose noted as "postprandial hyperglycemia" may be associated with an increase in free radical production which can cause harm to cellular components such as lipids, proteins, and DNA (Note: This is particularly true in those with impaired glucose tolerance). While this discussion is far beyond the scope of this paper, the reader is referred to the following reviews on this topic (Fisher-Wellman and Bloomer, 2009; Tucker et al., 2008). The bottom line is, certain individuals can indeed tolerate a high carbohydrate load, transport the available glucose from the bloodstream into skeletal muscle, and not present any significant elevation in oxidized biomolecules in the process. In such a case (which is very likely the scenario for some), individuals may not need additional dietary support in the form of a glucose uptake-enhancing agent; however, some individuals are not so fortunate. While the ideal solution is to begin/continue with a program of structured and strenuous exercise coupled with a nutrient balanced diet aimed at blood glucose control (consisting of low glycemic, fiber-rich carbohydrate and complete protein sources), the simple reality is most people will not follow such recommendations. This includes many athletes. Therefore, dietary support in the form of an agent that enhances glucose uptake from the bloodstream into target tissue may be beneficial.
Adjuncts to Post Workout Dietary Supplements and Ancillary Uses of such Agents
As alluded to above, aside from the commonly marketed "protein and carbohydrate" mixes currently available, multiple adjuncts to this post workout mix are heavily marketed. These often include agents that supposedly stimulate protein synthesis and attenuate protein degradation via mechanisms ranging from hormone manipulation to stimulation of satellite cell proliferation. One additional class of dietary supplement not heavily marketed, but that PURUS LABS believes has significant potential as a post workout dietary supplement aid (in particular when consumed with a high glycemic carbohydrate) is that of glucose disposal/regulatory agents. These agents not only have utility in terms of post exercise dietary support, but also for daily dietary support to assist in the management of healthy blood glucose levels and nutrient partitioning (disposal of glucose into skeletal muscle rather than adipose tissue). This applies to both athletes and non-athletes alike. Although athletes may primarily use such an agent for the purpose of stimulating enhanced glycogen resynthesis following an acute exercise session, both athletes and non-athletes may use such an agent for purposes of controlling postprandial blood glucose at times unrelated to acute exercise. In this regard, regulating blood glucose may help to improve overall health and well-being (e.g., reduce the potential harmful effects of free radicals, improve energy and mood, reduce excess body fat accumulation, etc.). While mentioned briefly above, the following section provides more details related to the mechanism of action of such a glucose disposal/regulatory agent, as well as the application for use.
Glucose Disposal Agents
The Need
Data published in 2005 by the American Diabetes Association indicated that within the United States alone nearly 21 million individuals, or about 7% of the population, have diabetes while another 54 million Americans have pre-diabetes (ADA, 2005). This number increased to 23.6 million (7.8% of the population) diagnosed with diabetes and 57 million Americans diagnosed with pre-diabetes in 2007 (ADA website data; www.diabetes.org). The overall prevalence of both conditions is likely higher today in 2010, with more and more individuals being diagnosed with obesity, a co-morbid condition that has a strong association with type II diabetes (the most prevalent form of diabetes, accounting for approximately 95% of all diagnosed cases). Also important to note, there are an estimated 6 million undiagnosed individuals within the United States (ADA website data; www.diabetes.org). Clearly, a need exists to aid millions of individuals with blood glucose management. (Note: It should be understood that a diagnosis of pre-diabetes does not necessarily indicate the future diagnosis of diabetes; however, the incident rate is certainly higher).
Diabetes is a complex disease accompanied by both microvascular (e.g., neuropathy) and macrovascular (e.g., atherosclerosis) complications. These changes often lead to a significant loss in physical function (e.g., loss of eye site, amputations) in addition to nonfatal or fatal outcomes (e.g., stroke, heart attack). Therefore, attempts to control blood glucose through exercise, dietary intake, pharmacologic agents, and nutritional supplements should be of utmost importance for all with this condition. It should be understood that unlike many other chronic diseases, diabetes absolutely can be controlled through appropriate changes in lifestyle (dietary modification and physical exercise in particular). Individuals not seeking to modify lifestyle components in an attempt to control their blood glucose are doing themselves a great disservice.
Outside of the specific problems associated with poor blood glucose control, diabetes is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The link between the two disease states appears to be the production of free radical species (sometimes referred to as Reactive Oxygen Species [ROS]) and the ensuing condition known as oxidative stress (Baynes and Thorpe, 1999; Ceriello, 2005; Evans et al., 2002). As mentioned briefly in a previous section, free radicals can be generated with excessive hyperglycemia, often in response to acute intake of high glycemic carbohydrate meals. Oxidative stress occurs when the production of free radicals exceeds the body's antioxidant defense against this production (Valko et al., 2007). Individuals with poor blood glucose control are more susceptible to postprandial oxidative stress, partly due to the fact that they often experience prolonged periods of hyperglycemia following feeding (Miyazaki et al., 2007; Schindhelm et al., 2007; Serin et al., 2007). Such an elevation in blood glucose is directly linked to superoxide anion production (Bae et al., 2001), a potent radical which is known to react with other molecules causing further radical generation (Brownlee, 2005; Nishikawa et al., 2000). While this appears to be greater in pre-diabetics and diabetics compared to those with normal blood glucose levels, many individuals consuming frequent high glycemic carbohydrate meals may experience an increase in free radical production. This includes some athletes who purposefully consume such meals in an attempt to stimulate post workout glycogen resynthesis. Therefore, methods to control blood glucose following feeding may be important for all individuals.
Diabetes is most commonly diagnosed using either a fasting blood glucose test or an OGTT. A fasting glucose test involves only a single blood sample analysis with a normal value falling below 100mg·dL-1. A value between 100 and 125mg·dL-1 is indicative of "pre-diabetes" while a value =126mg·dL-1 is indicative of diabetes. An OGTT usually involves ingestion of a carbohydrate drink (dextrose) at a dosage of 75 grams (300 kilocalories). Blood samples are typically taken before and at 30 minute intervals for 2-3 hours following consumption. Blood glucose should rise after consumption and then lower towards the pre-intake value. The two hour post consumption time is typically viewed as the diagnostic measure. A normal blood glucose value at this time should be
Agents, Mechanisms of Action, and Effects
With the above understanding, several pharmacologic and non-phamacologic agents are available to aid in blood glucose clearance following feeding. While a detailed discussion of this topic is beyond the scope of this paper, it should be noted that common oral hypoglycemic agents such as Glucophage (generic: Metformin) are widely prescribed to diabetic patients and often used with success. Other non-pharmacologic agents have been studied in both animals and human subjects and used for years within Ayurvedic medicine. While scientific animal data are moderate to strong for some agents and anecdotal reports in humans are favorable for certain agents, few scientific data are available to support the use of glucose uptake-enhancing agents in human subjects. However, due to the increased need for and interest in natural, non-pharmacologic varieties of glucose disposal agents for both non-athletes and athletes, more research is now being done in this area of investigation.
The potential mechanisms of action of such agents can be multiple, including enhanced insulin secretion from the pancreatic beta cells, improved insulin-insulin receptor binding, enhanced post-receptor signaling, and superior GLUT4 translocation (movement) to the cell surface to allow for blood glucose to be taken into the cell (Interested readers are referred to the following article pertaining to this very complex process [Muoio and Newgard, 2008]). As stated earlier, it is important to remember that regular exercise training may be the single most important activity an individual can perform to facilitate an overall improvement in the above processes. This is because exercise (or more precisely, skeletal muscle contraction) promotes glucose uptake into cells in an insulin-independent manner (Merry and McConell, 2009). This is well-documented in numerous scientific investigations involving both animals and human subjects. Beyond exercise, optimal dietary intake and glucose regulatory agents may be components of non-pharmacologic treatments targeted at blood glucose control and enhanced glucose uptake into muscle tissue.
In terms of the overall effectiveness of these agents, many have been tested using the outcome measures of fasting blood glucose and OGTT, with evidence of effect coming from both animal and human studies. In these regards, drugs such as Glucophage (generic: Metformin) often result in a decrease in fasting blood glucose and OGTT values following chronic use, as well as a more rapid return of blood glucose towards pre-intake values when administered in a single dosage prior to an OGTT (e.g., lower area under the insulin and glucose curves). For example, in human trials in which subjects were administered Metformin for a period of several weeks, a decrease in the glucose area under the curve of 20-30% has been noted (Carlsen et al., 1998). Similar findings have been observed in animal models using a wide variety of herbal, non-pharmacologic agents.
Due to the multiple studies performed using both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic agents, no attempt is made here to review such studies. This area of investigation continues to expand and several candidate agents for blood glucose control may eventually be discovered and marketed to both healthy athletes and non-athletes for purposes of blood glucose disposal. This may have the dual focus of enhancing glycogen resynthesis following strenuous exercise as well as simply controlling blood glucose for overall health purposes. PURUS LABS has been following this area of research closely and believes the strongest candidate at the present time for consideration as a non-pharmacologic agent to enhance glucose and nutrient uptake into skeletal muscle is Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora. This is underscored by a recent article published based on work performed at the Botanical Research Center suggesting that a novel extract of Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora is a chief candidate of interest as a glucose disposal agent, as it may manifest a genotype-specific insulin-sensitizing phenotype (Zuberi, 2008). This product manufactured by PURUS LABS is called SLINshot and contains Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora as the exclusive ingredient, provided at the same per serving dosage believed to be effective in facilitating glucose (and creatine) clearance from the bloodstream, with the potential of increasing uptake into skeletal muscle (see section below for more information).
Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. Inodora
Description, Mechanism of Action, and Evidence for Effect
The ingredient known as Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora has been used for centuries in Russia and middle Asia as a digestive, diuretic and antipyretic herbal medicinal drug. Today, Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora is classified as a Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) material after removal of the harmful components of the essential oil (e.g., Estragol and Methyleugenol). This ingredient is widely studied for its blood glucose lowering effects, earning its position as a target candidate ingredient to be used in the treatment of metabolic syndrome (Cefalu et al., 2008a). Novel ethanol and aqueous extracts have been developed and these have shown promise with regards to blood glucose regulation (Ribnicky et al., 2006) and nutrient (i.e., creatine) transport (Jäger et al., 2008). Collectively, the clinical effects of Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora on carbohydrate metabolism may be secondary to enhancing insulin post receptor signaling (Wang et al., 2008). The polyphenolic compounds 6-demethoxycapillarisin and 2',4'-dihydroxy-4-methoxydihydrochalcone are believed to be responsible for much of the glucose-lowering activity of the Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora (Govorko et al., 2007).
In a comparison study conducted using genetically diabetic KK-A(gamma) mice, an alcoholic extract of Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora was reported to lower elevated blood glucose levels by 24%, while treatment with the antidiabetic drugs Troglitazone and Metformin (Glucophage) decreased blood glucose concentrations by 28% and 41%, respectively. Blood insulin concentrations were also reduced in the KK-A(gamma) mice by 33% with the Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora extract, 48% with Troglitazone, and 52% with Metformin (Ribnicky et al., 2006). Based on these data, there appears extraordinary potential for Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora as a natural agent involved in glucose clearance. This is particularly true if this agent is delivered along with a bioenhancer/solubilizer (Labrosol), as reported recently by Ribnicky and coworkers (2009).
Creatine Disposal
Although the majority of studies involving Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora have focused on aspects of blood glucose regulation, one interesting study having direct application to athletes involves co-ingestion of the dietary supplement creatine monohydrate. Creatine is a naturally occurring nitrogenous organic compound produced in relatively small amounts in the human body from the amino acids arginine, glycine, and methionine. Supplemental creatine likely represents the most widely used and studied sport supplement of all time, with the possible exceptions of caffeine and carbohydrate. Once creatine enters muscle tissue, it aids in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) resynthesis and can lead to high intensity exercise performance improvements. Although supplemental creatine is well-absorbed by many individuals, others are "non-responders" and may benefit from co-ingestion of a high carbohydrate feeding along with the creatine (Green et al., 1996). In this way, the carbohydrate stimulates an insulin response which is thought to activate creatine transporters to help facilitate creatine uptake into tissue. The concern here is that many athletes 1) do not use excess simple carbohydrate routinely during the day (e.g., pre-contest bodybuilders) or 2) do not want to consume an additional high glycemic carbohydrate meal outside of their post workout meal. Because many athletes ingest creatine more than one time per day, other methods of enhancing creatine uptake into muscle aside from carbohydrate ingestion are desired.
It has been reported that a dosage of 1000mg of Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora ingested 15 minutes prior to ingestion of the creatine monohydrate (at a dosage of 60mg/kg body mass) resulted in a significant reduction of plasma creatine levels at 60, 90 and 120 minutes following ingestion (Jäger et al., 2008; see Figure 1 for a graphical depiction of these findings). The investigators suggested that the effect of Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora is seen as comparable to that of glucose, a macronutrient that has been used in prior studies in an effort to stimulate creatine uptake into skeletal muscle (Green et al., 1996). While it is thought that the increased creatine clearance from the plasma reflects enhanced uptake into skeletal muscle, this was not determined in the study by Jäger and colleagues (2008). Therefore, admittedly, this is merely a hypothesis at the present time and needs confirmation through additional research. In a similar manner, although speculative at the present time, as with creatine, it is possible that the use of Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora might yield a similar effect on nutrient transport for other ingredients such as amino acids.
It is possible that the effect of Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora on creatine clearance is mediated by the insulinogenic action, in a similar manner as carbohydrate ingestion elevates insulin and allows for enhanced creatine uptake into skeletal muscle. Considering this, coupled with the fact that some individuals would prefer not to ingest high glycemic carbohydrates in order to facilitate hyperinsulinemia and subsequent creatine uptake, use of Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora appears logical. This effect on creatine clearance, coupled with the blood glucose lowering effect, is the dual rationale for selecting Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora as the exclusive ingredient to be used within PURUS LABS SLINshot.
Figure 1. The effects of a single dose (1000mg) of Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora on plasma creatine clearance.
Note: Average plasma creatine concentration following intake of creatine monohydrate (60 mg/kg body weight), preceded 15 minutes earlier by ingestion of 1000mg Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora (ADL), the equivalent of one serving of PURUS LABS SLINshot. Subjects were 11 young, healthy men.
Figure reproduced using data presented from Jäger et al. JISSN 2008, 5(Suppl 1):P4
Ethanol vs. Aqueous Extracts
Although several papers focused on Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora have been published using the ethanol extract of this ingredient, an aqueous extract has recently been developed and reported to provide even greater effects on glucose lowering (Walbroel et al., 2009). In this work, an OGGT was administered in a group of rats following oral ingestion of an aqueous or ethanol extract of Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora (at a dosage of only 6mg·kg-1). The diabetic drug Glibenclamide was used for comparison (at a dosage of 18mg·kg-1). The glucose area under the curve was similar but slightly lower for the aqueous extract as compared to both the ethanol extract and Glibenclamide. An additional experiment using dosages ranging from 1.5 to 60mg·kg-1 indicated that while the blood glucose peak was not as pronounced (approximately 200mg·dL-1 vs. 240mg·dL-1) and occurred at a later time following a 30 and 60mg·kg-1 dosage (30 minutes vs. 15 minutes post OGTT) compared to a 1.5 and 6mg·kg-1 dosage, the glucose area under the curve was similar. These data indicate that a dosage of Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora as low as 1.5mg·kg-1 may actually be effective at lowering blood glucose following an OGTT. While such findings are exciting to note, it is important to remember that these data are from animals and not humans; therefore, results may not be directly transferred. However, the text below describes some initial case study data obtained from human subjects using Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora in an attempt to aid in glucose disposal following an OGTT.
Introducing SLINshot Overview And Rationale For Use
Before we begin the discussion of PURUS LABS SLINshot it is important to understand that while other ingredients targeting glucose regulation appear promising in their own right, PURUS LABS has made the careful decision to use Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora exclusively within SLINshot. The reason for this decision is threefold. First, Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora has been used in several studies to date with results that all essentially parallel each other; that is, the studies support one another rather than refute each other. This is often not the case when studying nutritional ingredients. Second, when designing a dietary supplement PURUS LABS believes that not only do the appropriate ingredients need to be included within the product, but the correct and efficacious dosage of ingredient needs to be included. Each single serving of SLINshot contains 1000mg of Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora. If several ingredients were to be included within SLINshot simply to compete with other companies attempting to fill the label with ingredients, the dosage of each ingredient would need to be significantly lower than the believed effective dosage. This makes little scientific sense and is not something PURUS LABS will ever do. Alternatively, if all (or many) of the ingredients that appear to have some promise in terms of glucose regulation were included at the believed effective dosage, consumers would need to consume 10-12 capsules per serving rather than 2 capsules, and the per unit cost of the product would be 5-6 times higher. Again, when considering the potential benefit of doing this based on the currently available evidence for effect, it simply does not make sense. PURUS LABS believes the exclusive use of Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora within SLINshot will provide consumers with a scientifically sound, effective product at a reasonable intake level and cost. This dietary supplement may serve the dual purpose to allow for enhanced glucose and creatine uptake into tissue. Third, PURUS LABS has personally experimented with Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora (aqueous extract) and has observed the effects of this ingredient first hand. Of course, further well-controlled research is necessary to provide confirmation for the proposed effects in human subjects.
Preliminary Human Subject Findings
As mentioned earlier in the paper, the majority of work involving Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora has been conducted in animals. While findings from animals can often be interesting and sometimes translate to humans, this is not always the case. This is especially true considering the route of administration in many animal studies is not oral (like that for human dietary supplements), and the dosage of ingredient used in many animal studies is often far greater than most humans will want to consume or could afford to use. Fortunately, Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora has been delivered to animals via oral ingestion and at a dosage that is actually manageable in terms of translation to human daily ingested amounts. Moreover, Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora has been previously used by humans at an oral dosage of 1000mg, with favorable effects noted for creatine clearance from plasma (Jäger et al., 2008).
Considering the work of Jäger and colleagues (2008) using Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora to enhance creatine clearance from plasma, the effects of both 1000mg (equivalent to 1 serving of SLINshot) and 2000mg (equivalent to 2 servings of SLINshot) of Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora on blood glucose following an OGTT has been studied using a case analysis in an effort to generate pilot data to guide future research studies (unpublished data). The text below describes this work.
The Experiments Described
For data collected from experiments described here please refer to Table 1 and Figure 2. Two adult resistance trained men (Subject X: 225 pounds, 10% body fat; Subject Y: 180 pounds, 7% body fat) performed two OGTTs with and without experimental research grade SLINshot. Subject X used 1000mg (1 serving) of SLINshot and subject Y used 2000mg (2 servings) of SLINshot. The SLINshot was ingested 15 minutes prior to consuming 75 grams of dextrose solution (300 calories). This is standard procedure for a clinically administered OGTT. Blood samples were collected from subjects before ingesting the SLINshot (after a 10 minute quiet rest period) and at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes following ingestion of the dextrose solution. (Note: As opposed to a blood collection every 30 minutes and a duration of collection of 2-3 hours, often employed for an OGTT administered in a clinical setting, it was decided to obtain more frequent blood samples but to cease measurements at one hour post ingestion. This decision was based on prior work involving young, healthy subjects performing an OGTT—for which blood glucose more quickly returns to pre-meal values as compared to individuals with impaired glucose tolerance). During the 60 minute post ingestion period subjects remained relaxed and ingested no additional food or calorie containing beverages. Following blood sample collection, glucose was analyzed in serum using standard enzymatic procedures. Assays were performed in triplicate.
Table 1 provides values for each time point of sample collection for both placebo and SLINshot trials. The area under the curve (AUC) is also presented which uses a mathematical model to represent the "sum" over the course of the one hour post ingestion period. Percent difference values between placebo and SLINshot trials are included for each time point as well as for AUC. Figure 2 provides a graphical representation of the data. As can be seen, oral intake of SLINshot provides for blood glucose disposal effects in healthy men averaging 20.5%.
Table 1 and Figure 2. Effect of PURUS LABS SLINshot on blood glucose concentration following an OGTT.
Pertaining to the above, while only two subjects were used in this case study analysis, it cannot be concluded that all individuals will respond in the same manner. Clearly, additional research using a sample of 10-20 individuals is needed to provide further support for these initial findings. This is true for all herbal forms of glucose regulatory agents recommended for use in human subjects (Cefalu et al., 2008b). However, when collectively considering the evidence from both animals and humans (in relation to both glucose and creatine clearance), the results are indeed noteworthy.
It should be understood, as with all dietary supplements, individual results to treatment may vary. Therefore, individuals may require more or less than 1 serving of SLINshot in order to achieve the desired result (i.e., glucose or creatine clearance). Keep in mind that in much of the work related to Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora, test subjects/animals consumed 75 grams of research grade dextrose (a simple sugar), or the equivalent. Individuals not consuming such high amounts of carbohydrate (in particular simple sugar) may not require as much SLINshot in order to optimally manage blood glucose levels (or may not require any glucose disposal agent at all). However, SLINshot was developed with the idea that athletes would use this supplement along with their post-exercise carbohydrate meal which typically contains a significant amount of carbohydrate (often in the form of simple sugars). In this situation, it is recommended that SLINshot be used at 1000-2000mg (1-2 servings) depending on age, glucose tolerance, and overall health status. For example, subjects X and Y experienced similar effects of SLINshot despite two different dosages being used. As with all dietary supplements, experimentation by each individual is suggested. This applies to both athletes and non-athletes and should be considered relative to meals associated with exercise bouts as well as those outside of the context of acute exercise.
Conclusions and Practical Applications
Management of blood glucose following feeding is of importance for athletes and non-athletes. In relation to the former group, it is possible that post exercise feedings that contain high amounts of carbohydrate for purposes of glycogen replenishment may better be taken up into tissue via dietary support in the form of SLINshot (Artemisia Dracunculus L. var. inodora). Moreover, this ingredient may facilitate uptake of other nutrients commonly used by athletes (e.g., creatine). Collectively, the product SLINshot from PURUS LABS may be used as an adjunct to an already well-designed exercise and nutrition plan targeting optimal blood glucose regulation and/or glycogen supercompensation. Daily use of this product in conjunction with high carbohydrate meals, either post workout or at other times of the day as needed, may aid in heightened glucose clearance from the blood and uptake into tissue. This may not only improve glycogen replenishment in athletes seeking this outcome but may also maintain overall health as related to optimal blood glucose management (e.g., reduce the potential harmful effects of free radicals, improve energy and mood, reduce excess body fat accumulation, etc).
As with all nutritional supplements, potential users should consult their personal physician prior to using SLINshot. This especially applies to those individuals with known problems related to blood glucose regulation. In addition, potential users should review the product nutrition panel and label for information regarding the ingredient, dosing, and precautions for use.


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Battlefield 2: Modern Combat Cheats
Cheat: Unlock All Weapons
While playing, input this code to unlock all weapons: hold L2 + R2 and then enter Right, Right, Down, Up, Left, Left
Enter the following codes from the cheat codes menu, which can be found in
the setup menu.
Cheat: All Boxers
Start, X, O, Square, Square, R1, R1, Square, O, X, Start.
Cheat: Conversation Mode
Start, R1, X, O, Square, R1, R1, R1, Start.
Cheat: Intercontinental Mode
Start, X, X, X, O, O, O, Square, Square, Square, Start.
Cheat: Scrap-Yard Scene
Start, O, R1, O, R1, X, X, Start.
Cheat: Double Speed
Start, R1(ten times), Start.
Add cheats for this gameRate these cheats:


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(on my triumph sidecar rig). it tracks pretty well now at 65mph but in right turns the sidecar comes up too easily.
i checked camber with a level (which is magnetic and attaches to the disc brake nicely) and noted i have to tweak that.
right now, the bubble indicates 'lean in' which is exarcerbated when i sit on the bike.
the bubble should be displaced to the left (lean out) which should help right turn stability.
note: photo taken looking aft (front wheel, left side).
the rig should be level (bubble centered) when fully loaded.
i'm guessing this applies to beemer rigs also.


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PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. - Try as they hard as they did, the Miami Dolphins were unable to keep their worst-kept "secret" under wraps.
POLL: Do you like the new logo?
Dolphins CEO Mike Dee made it official Wednesday, saying that the logo that had been leaked on the Internet was indeed the real deal.Dolphins Logo Poll
Dolphins Hall of Fame coach Don Shula is showing his approval for the team's new look.
Shula tweeted, "Glad to see the new logo... has all the same colors from our great 70's & 80's teams. A new look for a new era. Go Dolphins!"
Over the weekend the logo was leaked via a Twitter account. Since then, various reports had confirmed that the leaked artwork was indeed the real deal.
Even one of the team's own players spilled the beans earlier Wednesday. Defensive End Jared Odrick tweeted out a picture of himself wearing a t-shirt with the new logo; an image that Dee also retweeted to his followers.
Also on Wednesday, the NFL.com website accidently posted the logo on their "Predict the Draft Pick" page. The page was quickly taken down.
Featuring a meaner and sleeker looking dolphin, the logo is similar to Miami's traditional look as the mammal is still flying through a sunburst. According to the Miami Herald, the team's new uniforms will also feature white facemasks.
The Dolphins will unveil their new uniforms on April 25, the first night of the NFL Draft.
Copyright 2013 by Local10.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Earl McRae, an institution in Canadian journalism, died this past week. It was reported that he passed away at his desk at the Ottawa Sun doing what he did best, writing. And if we should all be so lucky, to die doing what it is we love most, what we do best and are most respected for, well, that would be okay with me. Of course, that would mean I'd die streaming episodes of The West Wing, but whatevs. I dig Sorkin.
I grew up in Ottawa, and Earl McRae was the first newspaper columnist I can remember reading on a regular basis, certainly the first opinion not of my parents that I cared about. He was a sports writer then, with the Ottawa Citizen, and coming from a non-sports family he was my first adult entry into the sports world. His style was unique in that it was a gonzo approach to sports writing, not simply telling the reader the scores, who got injured, and adding a handful of clichéd quotes, but instead inserting himself into the narrative. It is a style that was not common then, certainly not common in Canada, and is underused, abused, and misused now (see: Simmons, Bill), filling column inches with ego at the expense of narrative.
At a very early age I was acutely aware of the politics of sport; how the little league coach's son got more at-bats than others, how the gym teacher's buddy's kid got the last spot on the high school basketball team, how what would later be affectionately labeled 'grit' and 'heart' and 'character' didn't garner the same respect in a sports world made up of 12-16 year olds. Earl McRae provided me with a template for participating in the world of sports without being tainted by it, but rather inspired and entertained. He was a gateway drug which led me to Hunter S. Thomson and beyond, and then eventually to the low-paying, low-reward world of CanLit in which I now toil.
For an all to brief period in the early 1990s Earl McRae had a call-in radio show on an Ottawa AM station. This was long before sports radio, before wall-to-wall minute-to-minute coverage of sport. It was on Sunday nights and I'd listen to it while not doing my job a local restaurant called The Cajun Attic. One week, after running into Earl McRae's father in line at a Harvey's in Ottawa's Westboro Village, Mr. McRae, upon his father's urging, dropped my name into conversation during his radio show. He gave me a shout-out, long before that was a part of the lexicon. It was the first time I had heard my name outside of the context of my own little life, and I loved it. It was a feeling that's difficult to describe, but it's the same feeling I get when I'm introduced to read, or spot a review of one of my books, or see my name on the line-up for a reading. It's some strange mix of pride and wonder, and it's that same combination that keeps me writing. Or part of it, anyway.
Westboro Village is where Earl McRae's legacy will live on, for it is there that he founded the Elvis Sighting Society along with Newport Pizzeria owner Moe Atallah. Part faith, part laugh, all in fun, the Elvis Sighting Society has raised countless dollars for Ottawa charities over the past 20 years or so. And I imagine that many a glass was raised to Mr. McRae over the past few days at the legendary local eatery, and will continue to be raised for years to come. The Elvis Sighting Society contends that Elvis Presley is still alive and well, and living in Tweed, Ontario, a small town of just under 6000, west of Ottawa. This contention was included in a short story from my collection, Distillery Songs, called "Emulsification." It was a subconscious inclusion, but a pleasant reminder of how random parts of our lives make it into writing. And now that Earl McRae has passed, it feels good that something of mine will forever include something of his. Below is "Emulsification," for Earl McRae. Thank you, sir.
Okay, there's a goddamn dead hooker named Crystal or Shelley or Raven or something duct taped to my couch and it's one twenty-four in the afternoon and my notoriously punctual parents will be here for dinner at five-thirty and wouldn't you know it I'm completely out of almonds and cumin, the former which I can do without but without the latter I might as well not even bother cooking, and then to compound my problems the bastards at Lapointe's gave me salmon filets instead of darns, the incompetent motherfucking fishmongering assholes. And I'm not even the sort who would normally pick up a goddamn hooker let alone a goddamn dead one, but it was Thursday yesterday and on Thursdays I like to watch CSI, the original not the Florida one or whatever, but it was pre-empted for some fucking Katie Couric special on teen sex, and, well, give me teen sex and two hours with Katie Couric and suddenly I'm at the kind of bar where a fat middle-aged man like myself might be able to get laid. But the place is full of other fat sorry men who are similarly disappointed in the pre-emption of CSI and similarly aroused by Katie Couric and teen sex and so it's just a sad room filled to the rim with drunkards getting drunker so when Raven came in and sat next to me I hardly noticed. Then she grabbed one of my smokes and normally a drunk would get a punch in the fucking head for filching a smoke in a bar like this but I'm all filled with the drink and Katie Couric fantasies, so I say hi and Crystal says hello and can I buy her a drink and of course I say sure 'cause every other drunk useless fuck in the place is jealous 'cause I've got the one woman in the joint that still has teeth and I buy her a rye and ginger and she sucks it back like it's the cure so I order two and three and four and five and ten more until I'm seeing sideways and she asks do I live close by and do I like to party, and by that I wonder if she means party like hors d'oeuvres and cocktails with fruit and conversation about rounds under par and politics and celebrities and maybe a game of Cranium but we'd need two more people but she flashes an eight-ball from her purse and I say ohhhhh, party, sure I like to party and ya I live close by so let me get the tab and the entire crooked room sneers and sways in a contemptuous envy as it sees me leave with her and I feel about nine and a half fucking feet tall.


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Opal Kelly adds QNX RTOS support to its FrontPanel/USB SDK
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The folks at Opal Kelly, a leading producer of powerful FPGA modules that provide essential device-to-computer interconnect, using USB or PCI Express, have just announced the expansion of their FrontPanel cross-platform SDK family to the QNX Neutrino 6.5.0 real-time operating system.
With QNX RTOS support, the guys and gals at Opal Kelly say that this continues to demonstrate their dedication to hardware platform design by supporting the languages and operating systems with which engineers are most comfortable.
The Opal Kelly FrontPanel API is now available for 13 OS/language combinations. In addition, there is a shared object (DLL) extending it to nearly any common development environment. FrontPanel/USB for QNX, combined with Opal Kelly USB-based FPGA integration modules, delivers engineering efficiency that significantly accelerates hardware platform design.
Opal Kelly originally developed QNX support in response to several customers requests for FPGA deployment in real-time embedded systems. When compared to custom in-house development of an integrated FPGA solution, Opal Kelly estimates a 6-12 man-month savings in engineering development time, and between $80K $200K in total development costs, not including maintenance and upgrades, over the lifetime of the product.
QNX Neutrino, the latest release of the QNX real-time operating system, was developed by QNX Software Systems Limited, a subsidiary of Research In Motion. (For more information on QNX, please visit www.qnx.com)
For download and release information on the latest version of the FrontPanel SDK with QNX, please contact email@example.com. Also available is the EVB1005, a 5-Mpixel image sensor module with complete software an evaluation product to introduce engineers to designing with the FrontPanel SDK.
The EVB1005 image sensor evaluation module.
About Opal Kelly
Opal Kelly, founded in 2004, offers a range of powerful, off-the-shelf, USB and PCI Express FPGA modules, including the easy-to-use Opal Kelly FrontPanel software interface and robust API. Opal Kelly products provide the essential device-to-computer interconnect for fast and efficient product prototyping, testing, development, and OEM integration. Development engineers, researchers, teachers, and serious hobbyists, worldwide, use Opal Kelly modules for a versatile and economical interconnect solution that shortens development time, fills expertise gaps, and dramatically accelerates time to market. For more information, or to purchase Opal Kelly products, please visit www.opalkelly.com
If you found this article to be of interest, visit Programmable Logic Designline where in addition to my Max's Cool Beans blogs you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to programmable logic devices of every flavor and size (FPGAs, CPLDs, CSSPs, PSoCs...).
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Trying to get some assistance in the installation of a BMW Motorrad Communication System in a new Schuberth C3 helmet.
After find some instructions on the Internet after finding nothing in the BMW package, I've removed the helmet liners but found that the cavity where you're supposed to insert the battery package is a bit too small, causing the helmet's inner shock absorbing material to bulge inward.
Is this normal??
Have to say I'm a bit irritated since the dealer wonÔÇÖt install this, even though I just dropped over a grand on the comm system and the C3 helmet.
Any assistance is greatly appreciated.


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LA Galaxy defender Bryan Gaul underwent a frustrating season in 2013 and will have to make up substantial ground if he is to get his career back on track next season.
In the latest "Year in Review" piece, I take a look at Gaul's season, which featured a training stint with Hammarby and loans to NASL sides Ft. Lauderdale Strikers and the Carolina Railhawks, as well as zero first team appearances for LA.
When I spoke to Gaul about his struggles in 2013, he offered a solution that could lead to greater success as he looks into year three of his professional career.
"I need to get a consistent spot," Gaul told LA Galaxy Insider of his frustrating season. "It's a curse being a utility guy because you bounce around different positions and never be solidified and consistent in one."
Where Gaul goes from here remains to be seen, but the 24-year-old is hopeful that he can stay with LA next year.
"I would love to stay in LA, but we'll see what happens. We spoke a little bit and everyone is going to find out in a couple of weeks," said Gaul. "I just want to bounce back and be in the 18 and be in the coaches' minds all season."
Thoughts on Gaul?
Share them below....


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Hughes a strike-thrower in first Twins action
New Minnesota righty K's four in two scoreless innings in intrasquad game
By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It was a successful Twins debut for right-hander Phil Hughes, even if it was just an intrasquad game against his teammates on Thursday at Hammond Stadium.
Hughes, who joined the club on a three-year, $24 million deal this offseason, threw two scoreless innings with four strikeouts -- including whiffs of top prospects Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano. Hughes, whose fastball was at about 91-92 mph, was pleased with the results, as he threw 20 of his 26 pitches for strikes.
"I was just trying to attack the zone," Hughes said. "It was good to see some live hitters for the first time, so that was a positive. ... To be able to be in a game setting and see some hitters and some swings was good. Throwing strikes and staying within my mechanics was the biggest thing."
Hughes added that one of his biggest goals this spring is to work on his curveball, as he's ditching his slider in favor of a cutter and a curve. He said he threw about seven to eight curveballs during his outing and will continue to mix in more this spring.
Hughes threw his slider a career-high 23.8 percent of the time last year while not throwing a cutter and using his curveball 8.6 percent of the time, according to data at Fangraphs.com.
Hughes said he'd like to get back to his success from 2010, when he was an All-Star and threw his cutter 16.1 percent of the time and his curveball 20.6 percent of time. Hughes said he didn't even start throwing his slider until late in the 2012 season, and will also mix in a few more changeups this season.
"I threw a lot of sliders last year, but I'm hoping to get away from that," said Hughes, who missed nearly all of Spring Training last year with a bulging disk in his back. "I'm just going with a little bit firmer cutter and get my curveball back on track and where it needs to be. It has the potential to be good, but last year it wasn't, so I had to figure it out on the fly, and it wasn't a recipe for good results. Now that I have a full Spring Training, if I can get that curveball where it needs to be, I can get back doing those things I've had success with."
Correia among pitchers with solid early results
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Kevin Correia threw two scoreless innings in Thursday's intrasquad game at Hammond Stadium, and the Twins right-hander said he was happy with the results.
Correia didn't allow a hit, striking out one and walking one, while throwing 23 pitches (13 for strikes).
"It was good," Correia said. "I've thrown to some live hitters, but it isn't the same as being in a game situation and trying to make some pitches. It was a good process in the step of getting ready."
Correia, who was the club's most consistent starter last season with a 4.18 ERA in 31 starts, added that his arm feels good and he isn't bothered by a sore neck that caused him to miss a bullpen session earlier in the week.
"At this point, you're just looking for command and the feel of being back out there and building arm strength," Correia said. "So I'm right where I expected and right where I want to be right now."
Fellow right-handers Vance Worley and Kyle Gibson, who are both competing for a spot in the rotation, also fared well on Thursday.
Worley allowed a run that was aided by an infield single to first baseman Kennys Vargas, and he struck out one over two innings, while Gibson threw two scoreless frames. Gibson allowed two hits and struck out two.
Ryan relays positive message in talk with Gardy
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Twins manager Ron Gardenhire spoke Wednesday night to general manager Terry Ryan for the first time since Ryan underwent surgery to remove a cancerous lump from his neck on Feb. 11.
Gardenhire said that Ryan told him that he's doing well and is still recovering from the surgery at his home. Ryan, 60, was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma earlier this month after a lump was found in a lymph node in his neck. He underwent surgery at the Mayo Clinic and was released from the hospital three days later.
"He's feeling really good," Gardenhire said. "He just doesn't want to get too goosey about it. He's going to do what the doctors say and all those things, but he is doing really good."
Gardenhire added that Ryan has not begun radiation treatment, as they need his neck to heal from the surgery. He also said it's tough for Ryan not to be down in Fort Myers with the rest of his staff for Spring Training.
"It's driving him crazy, but he's staying in touch with people," Gardenhire said. "That's the first time I've talked to him. I told him, 'I'm not going to mess with you and I'll leave you alone.' I fired him a text, and then he called me back last night about 10 o'clock. He sounded good, doing well, feeling good. Just waiting for them to tell him what the next step is and go from there."
Gardenhire added he's still not sure if Ryan will make it down to camp this spring, as it's too early to tell.
"Who knows," Gardenhire said. "But like I told him last night, and he knows it, it's about getting well. You get well and go from there. Don't try to rush anything. You don't need to do anything silly. Just get well."
Worth noting
• Catcher Josmil Pinto was cleared to play in Thursday's intrasquad game after being limited by a sore back this week. Pinto caught with right-hander Anthony Swarzak on the mound, and he walked in his lone plate appearance.
• Outfielder Wilkin Ramirez fared well in Thursday's game, going 2-for-4 with a three-run homer off right-hander Lester Oliveros. Second baseman James Beresford also had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Shortstop Danny Santana and right fielder Max Kepler also had two hits each.
• Sano, who suffered a strained elbow this offseason, made several nice plays at third base and had no issues throwing during Thursday's game. He went 0-for-2 at the plate with a strikeout while reaching on a throwing error by shortstop Danny Santana. Fellow top prospect Buxton went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and a walk.
Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Bollinger Beat, and follow him on Twitter @RhettBollinger. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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"Her own taste of music is so broad and so vastyou know, she lov es Latin songs and Latin rhythms, but then she loves cowboy music and yodeling and then she loves the playground songs. Ella's contributions steered children's music into an eclectic direction."Cathy Fink, on NPR
The folk music archives that form the wellspring of these Smithsonian recordings are truly incomparable. Encompassing a wide variety of styles, they reflect the heart, soul, and backbone of the American experience as well as indigenous music from around the world. Folkways' impeccable sound and documentation does these artists proud, setting their work off as the treasure it is.


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May 3, 2013 at 12:03 a.m.
Updated May 4, 2013 at 12:04 a.m.
A Victoria man was reindicted Thursday on child pornography-related charges.
Jason Terrence Leita, 37, was named in 17 counts of possession or promotion of child pornography.
Leita was indicted in January on eight counts of possession or promotion of child pornography after police suspected he was stealing his neighbor's Wi-Fi to commit the offense.
That case will be dismissed, Victoria County Criminal District Attorney Stephen Tyler said.
That's because this new indictment includes those charges plus nine others. It is also more specific about what each image depicts, Tyler said.
A person is presumed to be promoting child pornography if police discover more than six images on his or her computer.
It is a second-degree felony, and each indictment is punishable by two to 20 years in prison with a possible $10,000 fine.
Assistant district attorneys Johna Stallings and Pink Dickens will try the case.
Leita retained M.P. "Dexter" Eaves as his defense attorney for the January case, but Eaves could not be reached for comment Friday.
Leita is charged with exchanging the images with others on a site similar to Napster using his neighbor's Wi-Fi. He was arrested Aug. 1 by a joint task force made up of Victoria County Sheriff's Office deputies and Victoria Police Department officers.
What happened to Leita's neighbor is not unusual, said sheriff's Sgt. Daniel Simons, the task force commander.
He said more companies are making wireless routers that are already encryption enabled. That means a person must enter a password to access the Internet, he said.


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Just because I have not owned something does not mean I cannot have an opinion about it. I know many people that have purchased BMW gear and love it, while others have tried it and found that it did not last or work any better than lesser priced gear. Maybe I am just too practical and would rather spend the extra cash on other things that are more important to me.
When I bought my Belstaff gear, I could have purchased BMW gear for quite a substantially higher price. one of my friends did. I still use that same Belstaff gear, 30 years later. My friend replaced his BMW gear about 20 years ago....with Belstaff.
For your information, Belstaff was making motorcycle gear long before BMW ever did. They started making waterproof clothing in 1924 and have made gear specifically for motorcycling at that time. They have gone through many changes over the years, stopped selling to North America for a while, but they are still in business. Still making quality gear for reasonable prices.
When I bought my last Joe Rocket riding jacket, BMW had a similar one for about twice the price. I could not substantiate the extra cost when comparing the two. Both would do the exact same job and both were just as comfortable in the store and fit about the same. I saw no reason to pay the higher price. From my now 4 years with the Joe Rocket jacket, I see no wear on it other than it is now even more comfortable as it now seems to have formed to my body. I am certain that the BMW jacket would have done the same.
So, if all things are basically equal, I see no reason to pay 2-3 times the price just because it comes from the BMW store. Pricing for BMW stuff in Canada is really very crazy.
And the most comfortable gear I have is 30 year old leathers that I had custom made. Surprisingly, they still fit. The company that made them is still in business as well. If I ever feel I need to replace them, I will go back to Montreal and have another set made.


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Bought bike used recently and removed the tank to install farkle and found the tank connector it tough shape :
It was wrapped in electrical tape, holding the broken part of the connector and ty-wrap'd also. My question, is this connector available and are the any special tools needed to push pins out. I looked at Bob's fish but didn't recognize any of the connectors.


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Transverse Ranges > San Gabriel Mountains > Granite Mountain > Climber's Log
Granite Mountain Climber's Log
[ Sign the Climber's Log ]
|Monte Cristo Loop Clockwise
Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2016
|Rabbit Peak to Granite was tough but enjoyable, saw a herd of deer along the trail. Top must've been nice with the trees before the fire. 2nd peak of the loop clockwise.
|Posted Sep 10, 2016 5:47 pm
|Partial Loop
Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2016
|Did Rabbit, Granite and Round Top on a very hot day. Very nice loop but with direct sun on the entire route I ran low on water and decided to leave Iron # 3 for another day.
|Posted Jun 27, 2016 12:53 am
|four peak day
Date Climbed: Feb 13, 2016
|rabbit, granite, round top, iron
|Posted Apr 13, 2016 3:03 pm
|7.5 mile loop from Pacifico Station
Date Climbed: Jan 19, 2015
|Improvised loop from the fire station across from the entrance to Mt. Gleason road. Fire roads, cross country, and some trail led us to the top, where we enjoyed beautiful sunset views and lamented upon the still-visible devastation of the 2009 fire. Descended in the dark via fire roads and occasional steep cross country bridge between them. This was complicated by an astonishing amount of deadfall in the roads.
|Posted Jan 20, 2015 1:00 am
|From Pacifico
Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2013
|A loop hike including Iron # 3, Roundtop, Pacifico, Granite # 1, & Rabbit # 1. A little breeze helped to keep the temperature down a little. While the area is very dry and barren, the views are far-reaching.
|Posted Aug 12, 2013 2:46 pm
|Mill Creek Summit
Date Climbed: Apr 7, 2012
|Hiked the PCT to Pacifico Mountain and then came back the road to Granite Mountain. Great weather and nobody else on the trail!
|Posted Apr 9, 2012 10:01 am
|Bob Burd
|HPS peakbagging
Date Climbed: Mar 26, 2005
|Part of a 13 peak roundup in the San Gabriels, with Matthew. Trip Report
|Posted Jan 4, 2011 10:14 pm
|4 peak day
Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2008
|Bagged Round Top, Granite, Gleason and Pacifico today. Nice day!
|Posted Jul 10, 2009 1:19 pm
|Monte Cristo Loop
Date Climbed: Jan 10, 2009
|extremely windy day
|Posted Jan 26, 2009 9:57 pm
|Drive up
Date Climbed: Nov 8, 2008
|Well, almost a drive up. Takes about 20 minutes RT from the road. Nearly no views. Only HPSers are likely to be interested in this one.
|Posted Nov 10, 2008 4:25 pm
|Little 4
Date Climbed: Mar 1, 2008
|Part of a Little 4 loop with Bill Simpson's HPS group.
|Posted May 6, 2008 4:18 pm
|Monte Cristo Loop
Date Climbed: Apr 7, 2007
|Did the Monte Cristo Loop with an HPS group.
|Posted Apr 24, 2008 4:14 pm
|Nice wooded peak
Date Climbed: Jun 3, 2007
|Had a good time going to Pacifico, Round Top and then Granite. Saw a deer on Granite. Visited all of the contender outcrops on Granite. Saw some nice snowplant blooming. I really liked the summit area of Pacifico.
|Posted Jun 3, 2007 3:29 pm
|David Rosenberg
|Looped Twice
|Did this clockwise and counter-clockwise from Monte Cristo. Good winter training hike. Prefer counter-clockwise, love that firebreak up to Roundtop.
|Posted Mar 28, 2007 5:11 am
|CNC Dave
|Mill Creek summit
Date Climbed: Feb 11, 2007
|Went straight up from parking lot, thru plantation up to north side ridge. Cool and cloudy but no wind. Lots of big trees, beautiful place.
|Posted Feb 13, 2007 5:26 am
|4 peaks hike
Date Climbed: Jan 8, 2006
|The second of 4 peaks. Rabbit, Granite, Round Top and Iron #3. Windy day, but beautiful.
|Posted Feb 3, 2007 3:36 am
|Loop Trail
Date Climbed: Dec 2, 2006
|Nice day with a crisp breeze -- solo with Coco the dog. Hardest part of the hike was actually Rabbit as I waited to find a place to climb off the road that Coco could do. Picked the west slope with the thickest brush I've ever been through (including George Creek) -- cost us about 25 minutes of bushwacking time. The rest of the hike was reasonable.
|Posted Dec 4, 2006 5:58 pm
|Matthew Holliman
|Loop trail
Date Climbed: Mar 26, 2005
|Bob and I had ticked off 9 random HPS peaks around Red Box (plus another one that we mistakenly thought was on the list), when around 4pm he suggested we go and do this loop. I only found out afterwards that he was joking, but once I said yes, we had no choice but to go for it. It was a great ending to a surprisingly enjoyable day--perfect temperatures for hiking, and wonderful views of the Lancaster/Palmdale city lights.
|Posted Dec 1, 2006 2:55 am
|Augie Medina
|Part of the Loop
Date Climbed: Jan 8, 2006
|Did Granite along with Rabbit Peak #1, Round Top and Iron Mtn. #3. I thought the hardest part of the hike was the section from Rabbit to Granite.
|Posted Nov 27, 2006 7:26 pm
|Steve Larson
|Loop Trail
Date Climbed: Oct 29, 2006
|A nice fall day. Saw three deer hunters, but no one else.
|Posted Oct 30, 2006 4:28 am


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L'Original Design Team Puts on a Show
October 25, 2012
Cope Hall was a transformed space on the evening of October 19 - the lights were lowered and intimate spaces had been created with drapes and lighting. Chairs were carefully lined up in special red-carpeted areas. Boutiques were selling handmade accessories and clothing and the cool rich lighting contrasted to the deep pulsing rhythmns coming from the DJs sound system. As fashionable guests trickled in, the mood was being set for a VIP event - a show presented by The Royal Family L'Originale.
According to L'Originale, a recently revived Cheyney University fashion club, "Fashion is a lifestyle and we live it!" With a cast of 24 models, they shared that lifestyle magnificently. As the models changed between scenes, the audience was treated to a Spoken Word performance by Erica Irving wearing a fashionable mashup of skinny pants and tall boots. According to Irving, "These words are my fashion." Music predominated, with Jared Selby singing "Keeping You in My Prayers," Kara Craig's musical tribute for Breast Cancer Awareness and guest band PRIDEtheGlory.
The cast was introduced by host Nicole Walker, and things moved quickly as the designs by L'Originale Design Team hit the runway. With amazing variety each piece complimented the other, while having it's own personality. Designer Khaleel Salaam's GEEK Clothng Inc. had a cool energy, and the bespeckled models came across as very, very cool geeks. The crowd's applause indicated their enthusiastic approval. Under the banner of Zombie Flydnation, designers Charles Holmes, Yasin Nahl, Maurice Rainey and Najie embraced the past with graceful flowing styles. While in the spotlight, the designers took the opportunity to recognize the club's past president, Donzelle Tiller, who was seated in the crowd. The La Lettre Boursier's fashions by L'Originale Stylists took prep styles into new dimensions. Sweaters and shoes were a predominant element as the models flaunted handbags and weekend luggage with immense style.
Rather than the usual calvaclade of models, the show ended with a dramatic scene in which the models appeared in a still tableaux with purple and silver stagelights focused on them. One by one, each gracefully took one last turn on the runway until the last one left on stage was the founder of L'Originale, Jamal Morrison. As he took in the applause, he reminded the audience that "all styles, makeup and hair was done in house - we're going to give you something to talk about."


text: Hi; I am trying to remove my front wheel to change rubber. I have fashioned a wrench to turn the axel, loosened and removed pinch clamp bolts, unfastened calipers, jacked up bike so wheel is off the ground, but can't get axel out, I have turned it many, many times and can see the thread inside the axel housing near where octagon wrench fits. the spacer or bushing on the opposite side of the wrench side turns along with the bushing on the wrench side, but nothing seem to help. Any Ideas? the manual make it seem so easy. Thanks Woody