text:
Ketamine Hydrochloride and Best Pain Management in Treating Cancer Patients With Neuropathic Pain
|The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01316744
Recruitment Status : Unknown
Verified March 2011 by National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Recruitment status was: Recruiting
First Posted : March 16, 2011
Last Update Posted : May 13, 2011
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
RATIONALE: Ketamine hydrochloride may lessen neuropathic pain in patients with cancer. It is not yet known whether ketamine hydrochloride given together with the best pain management is more effective than a placebo given together with the best pain management in treating neuropathic pain in patients with cancer.
PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying ketamine hydrochloride given together with the best pain management to see how well it works compared with giving a placebo together with the best pain management in treating cancer patients with neuropathic pain.
|Condition or disease
|Drug: ketamine hydrochloride Other: pharmacogenomic studies Other: questionnaire administration Procedure: assessment of therapy complications Procedure: quality-of-life assessment
|Phase 3
- To determine whether ketamine hydrochloride given in addition to best standard pain management improves malignant neuropathic pain compared to best standard pain management alone in patients with cancer.
- To compare initial treatment benefit (at day 4 of assessment period of 16 days) using the sensory component of the McGill Short-Form Questionnaire.
- To compare difference in overall pain between the study arms based on the pain-intensity visual-analogue score (VAS).
- To compare difference in neuropathic pain between the study arms based on the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) pain scale.
- To assess worst pain score (index neuropathic site) between the two arms.
- To compare patient distress between the two arms based on NCCN Distress Thermometer.
- To assess the side effects and tolerability of trial drug.
- To assess the effect of intervention on quality of life scores (based on Euroqol thermometer), anxiety and depression (based on HADS), and opioid requirements.
OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.
- Stage 1 (Run-in Period): Opioid doses are optimized, under a defined schedule, for up to a maximum of 10 days to ensure that all patients are on an optimized and stable regimen* prior to randomization. Following the run-in-period, patients undergo reassessment. Patients who have improved pain scores (i.e., < 4/10 on the visual-analogue score in the past 24 hours or < 5 McGill Sensory Scale Score) are taken off the study. Patients whose scores have not improved continue on to Stage 2 of the study.
NOTE: *Stable regimen is defined as the same dose of controlled release and no more variation than 2 breakthrough opioid doses over the normal for that patient for a period of 48 hours.
Stage 2 (Titration Period): Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.
- Arm I: Patients receive oral ketamine hydrochloride 4 times a day. Doses are titrated until when analgesia is achieved or individual side effects appear, for up to 14 days.
- Arm II: Patients receive an oral placebo 4 times a day. Doses are titrated until when analgesia is achieved or individual side effects appear, for up to 14 days.
- Stage 3 (Assessment Period): Patients receive the trial medication (i.e., ketamine hydrochloride or placebo) at the fixed optimum dose (reached during the titration period) for 16 days.
Patients are allowed to receive breakthrough opioids at any time during the study.
Patients complete quality-of-life and pain-assessment questionnaires periodically. Some patients may undergo blood sample collection periodically for pharmacogenomics studies at a later date.
Peer Reviewed and Funded or Endorsed by Cancer Research UK.
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Estimated Enrollment :
|214 participants
|Primary Purpose:
|Supportive Care
|Official Title:
|A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial of Ketamine Versus Placebo in Conjunction With Best Pain Management in Neuropathic Pain in Cancer Patients
|Study Start Date :
|April 2009
|Estimated Primary Completion Date :
|October 2011
- Time to treatment failure
- Initial treatment benefit (at day 4 of assessment period of 16 days) using the sensory component of the McGill Short-Form Questionnaire
- Difference in overall pain between the study arms based on the visual-analogue score
- Difference in neuropathic pain between the study arms based on the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) pain scale
- Worst pain score (index neuropathic site) in the previous 24 hours (between the two arms) at study baseline and then during study assessment period
- Patient distress between the two arms based on NCCN Distress Thermometer
- Side effects and tolerability of trial drug
- Effect of the intervention on quality-of-life scores (based on Euroqol thermometer), anxiety and depression (based on HAD scale), and opioid requirements
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
- Histologically confirmed cancer
- Index neuropathic pain ≥ 4 on 0-10 (as defined by Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs) that is related to underlying malignancy or resulting from treatment received for this malignancy
- McGill Sensory Scale Score > 5
- Received a trial of an adjuvant analgesic (gabapentin or amitriptyline or both)
- Life expectancy ≥ 2 months
- Fertile patients must use effective contraception
- Able to comply with study procedures
- Diastolic blood pressure ≤ 100 mm Hg at screening
- No seizures in past 2 years
- Not actively hallucinating
- No cerebrovascular disease (strokes)
- No psychotic disorders or cognitive impairment
- See Disease Characteristics
- At least 6 weeks since prior and no concurrent chemotherapy or radiotherapy that is likely to affect neuropathic pain
- No change in tumoricidal treatment during the period of the study that is likely to alter pain during the course of the study
- No concurrent class I antiarrhythmic drugs
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01316744
|United Kingdom
|Royal Brompton Hospital
|London, England, United Kingdom, SW3 6NP
|Contact: Contact Person 44-207-886-6011 email@example.com
|Edinburgh Cancer Centre at Western General Hospital
|Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom, EH4 2XR
|Contact: Contact Person 44-131-777-3520 email@example.com
|Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre
|Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, G12 0YN
|Contact: Contact Person 44-141-301-7033 firstname.lastname@example.com
|Principal Investigator:
|Marie T. Fallon
|Edinburgh Cancer Centre at Western General Hospital
|Principal Investigator:
|Barry J.A. Laird, MD
|Edinburgh Cancer Centre at Western General Hospital
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01316744 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|First Posted:
|March 16, 2011 Key Record Dates
|Last Update Posted:
|May 13, 2011
|Last Verified:
|March 2011
Keywords provided by National Cancer Institute (NCI):
long-term effects secondary to cancer therapy in adults
anxiety disorder
unspecified adult solid tumor, protocol specific
accelerated phase chronic myelogenous leukemia
acute undifferentiated leukemia
adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia in remission
adult acute myeloid leukemia in remission
adult acute myeloid leukemia with 11q23 (MLL) abnormalities
adult acute myeloid leukemia with inv(16)(p13;q22)
adult acute myeloid leukemia with t(15;17)(q22;q12)
adult acute myeloid leukemia with t(16;16)(p13;q22)
adult acute myeloid leukemia with t(8;21)(q22;q22)
atypical chronic myeloid leukemia, BCR-ABL1 negative
blastic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia
chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia
mast cell leukemia
meningeal chronic myelogenous leukemia
progressive hairy cell leukemia, initial treatment
prolymphocytic leukemia
recurrent adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia
recurrent adult acute myeloid leukemia
recurrent adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma
refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia
refractory hairy cell leukemia
relapsing chronic myelogenous leukemia
secondary acute myeloid leukemia
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
Neuromuscular Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
Neurologic Manifestations
Signs and Symptoms
Sensory System Agents
Peripheral Nervous System Agents
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Anesthetics, Dissociative
Anesthetics, Intravenous
Anesthetics, General
Central Nervous System Depressants
Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
Excitatory Amino Acid Agents
Neurotransmitter Agents
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action


text:
Salicylic Acid by AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 21, 2017.
Dosage form: patch
Ingredients: SALICYLIC ACID 40mg
Labeler: AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation
NDC Code: 46122-526
Disclaimer: Most OTC drugs are not reviewed and approved by FDA, however they may be marketed if they comply with applicable regulations and policies. FDA has not evaluated whether this product complies.
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|Labeler - AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation (007914906)
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Further information
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subset: commoncrawl


text: Yuken Teruya skillfully cuts intricate trees and other shapes out of banal, everyday objects like dollar bills, toilet paper rolls, and cereal boxes. The artist completely transforms what usually amounts to trash into delicate, beautiful art. Really makes you reconsider which material objects are "special". Even the things we constantly overlook are full of creative (and even spiritual) potential. Teruya has a new piece in a recently opened group show at Denver's David B. Smith Gallery. (via)


text:
No catches, no fine print just unadulterated book loving, with your favourite books saved to your own digital bookshelf.
New members get entered into our monthly draw to win £100 to spend in your local bookshop Plus lots lots more…Find out more
All engrossing, pure escapist, nail-biting anxiety, mind bending terror and psychological twists. We're not sure why it's so appealing. Good though, isn't it! You might also like to browse our Crime and Mystery category.
White Knuckle Rides
Picture it. You're going on holiday. The bags are packed and the family is ready, you're at the gate, the plane is boarding, you've decided to start your brand new, especially purchased thriller right away. Suddenly, you're immersed into the corridors of intrigue, conspiracy, murder, espionage and you don't know who to trust. The plane has left without you. So has the family. You haven't even noticed. At least you have a good book … and the whole house to yourself for a week!
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text:
I felt the first two episodes were somewhat similar -
Episode three and four -
Moderators: SecondTalon, Moderators General, Prelates
Izawwlgood wrote:White Bear - Holy fuck that twist was hard to stomach.
Belial wrote:I am not even in the same country code as "the mood for this shit."
Izawwlgood wrote:Thoughts?
Izawwlgood wrote:Waldo - Kind of weak, I felt, though, yes, 'What if [digitaltechnology], but too much???!'
freezeblade wrote:This show is awesome, but I can only take a few episodes at a time, because it makes me depressed. Like, holy shit, some of the ones on the first season are just, oh man. I can't even.
Flumble wrote:Although, producing 12 episodes in one go, whereas the current 7 episodes took years to complete and were broadcast in runs of three, does beg the question whether they can hold up to expectations.
heuristically_alone wrote:Also I think white bearSpoiler:is a tourist attraction. Anyone can buy a ticket to participate. It's taking advantage of a criminal and turning it into a business, which probably sounds vetter than a jail cell which costs money. This makes money. Do they do this with criminals all over the country or just this one criminal?
Flumble wrote:The first episode is a test: can you stomach 60 minutes of cringy faked happiness and interaction? It turns out that if you have a people-rating app, everyone (above a 0.8) is going to act like a youtube vlogger in real life.
It's too bad it ends at the end and doesn't show the aftermath. I'd like to see whether our main character changes afterwards.
heuristically_alone wrote:I want to write a DnD campaign and play it by myself and DM it myself.
heuristically_alone wrote:I have been informed that this is called writing a book.
SecondTalon wrote:I've seen that one and the next two of that season, no others. Are the earlier seasons better and I just picked three ... mediocre episodes? Or is this them hitting their stride and I shouldn't bother?
cephalopod9 wrote:Is that based on anything in the show? ...that definitely doesn't add up monetarily
SecondTalon wrote:What if that one episode of Community, but serious and worse?
I've seen that one and the next two of that season, no others. Are the earlier seasons better and I just picked three ... mediocre episodes? Or is this them hitting their stride and I shouldn't bother?
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text:
Our business development funding programs are targeted toward projects that are likely to result in economic growth. Our goal is to help stimulate new business development and business expansions while retaining existing jobs and creating new jobs.
The Minnesota Investment Fund provides financing to help companies expand, add workers and retain high-quality jobs.
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Provides public infrastructure grants necessary for expanding or retaining jobs, increasing the tax base, or creating economic development opportunities.
Provides tax credits to businesses in the Border-Cities Enterprise Zone cities of Breckenridge, Dilworth, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, and Ortonville.
This program focuses on job creation and retention through the growth of new innovative businesses and organizations.
Available to communities for road and public infrastructure projects that create jobs and support economic development.


text:
The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) continues to drive change in the mortgage industry. The TILA-RESPA Integrated Mortgage Disclosure Regulation, released in November 2013, mandates a compliance date of August 1, 2015 for all lenders. The intricacies of the new disclosure forms and the trickle-down effect of the regulation create complexities across the mortgage value chain. It signifies a paradigm shift in the mortgage industry, from point of sale to servicing.
Lenders will need to update technology platforms, and redesign key aspects of their operations through new policies and procedures. They must immediately start work within their organizations—preparing for changes and addressing unintended consequences of the regulation.
In such a situation, finding the right partner will enable lenders to meet the demands of this game-changing regulation. Accenture Credit Services has the knowledge, experience and solutions to help mortgage originators ensure compliance.
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We serve more than 100 major credit institutions, helping to reengineer processes, optimize workforce strategies, implement better technology and streamline operations.
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text:
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Greek Goddesses, Kraftin' Kimmie Style!!
Good morning and welcome to day three of the Kraftin' Kimmie Sneak Peeks!! It's also time for our weekly challenge...this week's hostess is the lovely Nicole Aspinall who had created at fantastic Sketch for us to play along with!
Today's sneak peeks feature the newest stamps by Annie Rodrigue...this month, she has created some gorgeous Greek Goddesses!! Kimmie is also releasing a great set of Goddess Sentiments to coordinate with Annie's new stamps. For my card today, I inked up the beautiful Gaia. I paired her up with some various scraps of paper and added this fantastic sentiment by John Lennon which comes with Gaia.
Gaia was stamped on Neenah cardstock and coloured with my Copics.
Skin: E000, E00, E11, R20 Hair: E50, E31, E33, E37, E59 Shirt: BG0000, BG000, BG01, BG05, BG09, BV23 Skirt: E41, YG00, YG91, YG95, G99 (I know I used some greys to shade, but I forgot to record them! I believe I used some warm greys, and perhaps some BV29 and BV29) Globe: B000, B00, B02, B05, B07, B37, BV23, C7, G20, G21, G28, BV23...again, I used a few other colours for shading as well which I cannot remember. Sorry about that!! I did use a lot of tip to tip blending to try to create a smooth blend.
Here's Nicole's fantastic sketch:
If you play along with the Sketch challenge this week, you could be the lucky winner of Athena, the stamp Nicole used on her fabulous card! Just make sure to use a Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp to be eligible. You can check out the rest of the challenge/sneak peeks by the Krafty Girls over at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Blog!
SNEAK PEEK BLOG CANDY: Make sure to hop around and leave comments for all the Krafty Girls sharing sneak peeks today because Kimmie will be drawing two lucky winners who will each win three of the new Goddess stamps!!
We hope you can join us tomorrow for the release day blog hop!
29 comments:
- Brigitte said...
WOW, your card is absolutely fantastic and your colouring fantabulous!!!
- January 14, 2012 at 7:28 AM
- stampsilly71 said...
you did an awesome job coloring...WOWZA, your copic skills ROCK!
- January 14, 2012 at 8:18 AM
- Chrizette said...
Oh wow, I love your card, Melanie! And you have coloured the image beautifully. I just love the olive green - awesome! Definately has an old world feel, which I love.
Celestial Things
- January 14, 2012 at 9:03 AM
- Mary-Anne V said...
Beautiful card and love this stamp... thanks for sharing.
- January 14, 2012 at 9:37 AM
- wahixane77 said...
Your coloring is fabulous! Love the card and the sentiments are so great too! Olivia
- January 14, 2012 at 9:45 AM
- Cindi F said...
Wow! Your coloring always amazes me. I love the papers you paired with her.
- January 14, 2012 at 10:14 AM
- mackbrad said...
This is my favorite card of the day, awesome!!!
- January 14, 2012 at 10:55 AM
- Kelly Schelske said...
Gorgeous work Melanie!!
- January 14, 2012 at 11:01 AM
- Sweetpea said...
How do you do it?, Beautiful card, the colouring is amazing as always,the papers are fantastic too!. Well done. x
- January 14, 2012 at 11:02 AM
- Shanna Shands said...
Beautiful job. I always love looking at your work.
- January 14, 2012 at 11:39 AM
- Melinda said...
Wow! Your Gaia is awesome! I love the papers you used too, and how wonderfully they go with the earthy theme :)
Great quote for the sentiment as well!!! :D
- January 14, 2012 at 12:04 PM
Wonderful job as always Melanie. I hope I get a chance to learn some colouring tips from you next weekend in Guelph!
- January 14, 2012 at 12:19 PM
- Tanya said...
Oh my heck!!! What an absolutely amazing card! I love how deeply she is colored...the world she is holding just pops. Such a beautiful card. She's one of my favorites from the release...just love this release!
- January 14, 2012 at 12:24 PM
- Amy said...
Such a WOW card! Your coloring is always so inspiring and beautiful... I love everything about this! :)
- January 14, 2012 at 1:36 PM
- Sarah said...
gorgeous card! the colouring is fabulous!
- January 14, 2012 at 1:37 PM
- Patricia St Martin said...
Melanie, Stunning card. I just love your coloring as always. I do want to tell you I has problems leaving a comment so I went though Mozilla FireFox. Every time I clicked on comment before your page would freeze up????
Hugs, Patricia
- January 14, 2012 at 2:13 PM
- Rosa Witten said...
Just lovely Melanie. That shading is just awesome. I really like this with the JL quote. Just perfect!
- January 14, 2012 at 2:47 PM
- Marilyn said...
Aways gorgeous! When I look at your coloring I can almost feel the velvety softness!
- January 14, 2012 at 3:12 PM
- jan farnworth said...
very nice coloring your eyes go right to this very neat image.
- January 14, 2012 at 3:38 PM
- Sparkly Engineer said...
Your card is a masterpiece of color. The backgrounds you chose are just right for the image. Wonderful
- January 14, 2012 at 4:22 PM
- EELS said...
Fantastic choice of colours with this image.......love those papers and copic colouring.
- January 14, 2012 at 5:29 PM
- Tracey said...
Love this image and sentiment! Gorgeous card Melanie! Stunning colouring as always!
- January 14, 2012 at 6:57 PM
- hwscutie said...
Great card! Love the quote and all the colors you used.
- January 14, 2012 at 10:31 PM
- Annheidel said...
Stunning! Your coloring is amazing.
- January 14, 2012 at 11:02 PM
- Alyce said...
This is so amazing! It is absolutely gorgeous... love everything about it - great work!!! Thanks for sharing :)
- January 15, 2012 at 7:31 AM
- Brandi said...
Gorgeous card ~ Your coloring is amazing! :)
- January 15, 2012 at 9:41 AM
- Cheryl Valadez said...
Hi Melanie! Your cards always make me gasp when I see them. So much depth and texture. You are a wizard with the Copics! This creation is exquisite! Not only does her dress have a lovely satin feel to it, but the globe literally pops off the paper. Amazing! Hugz, Cheryl
- January 15, 2012 at 4:53 PM
- Linda said...
Your colouring is awesome!
- January 16, 2012 at 4:22 PM
- miatagal said...
Love the Greek Goddess card; your use of designer paper and the colour combo. The textures created by the diecuts is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing and the inspiration!!
- January 17, 2012 at 5:22 PM


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High school juniors and seniors interested in cattle and beef production have a chance to earn a scholarship. Krista Frazee with the Iowa Cattlemen's Foundation says scholarships will be awarded as part of the Beef Scholarship Extravaganza in December. Those wanting to participate will be tested in their skills and knowledge of specific cattle and beef issues.
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CHICAGO – If I'm Jerry Reinsdorf or John Paxson, one of the men running the Chicago Bulls and thus responsible for Derrick Rose's well-being, I'm picking up the phone sometime in the next two weeks for an advance ruling from the suits at NBA HQ in Olympic Tower.
The question: Is "DNP-precautionary move" an acceptable explanation in the box score for a player's absence? Which really means, can the Bulls hold out Rose in his return season from knee surgery as they see fit this season, without either the threat of hefty fines from the league or the need to frighten their fan base by stipulating to "soreness" concerns?
If NBA commissioner David Stern is OK with that, then Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau needs to channel his inner Gregg Popovich and start circling in red dates on the schedule when he thinks A) Rose would benefit most from a night off, and B) his team likely could muddle through without the All-Star point guard. Naturally, A is way more important than B if Chicago wants to position itself for a serious postseason run, regardless of W-L record, home-court advantage or playoff seed.
Then again, if Stern were to decree that only injuries, exhaustion or off-court personal matters are legitimate reasons to not have a player on the floor for a regular season game – Popovich's four-players-short charter flight to Miami last November put everyone on notice, after all – the Bulls still would have an out. They could play word games, citing "flu-like symptoms," "tendinitis" or various, vague "strains" for the official record, fooling no one and triggering repeated wink-a-thons from November through April.
What they don't want to do, though, is use that "soreness" explanation the way they did Saturday in holding Rose out of the preseason game against Washington in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Not now, not ever again if they can help it.
Given what the Bulls and their fans have gone through waiting for Rose to return from ACL surgery on his left knee – 75 weeks from his injury on April 28, 2012 to his first game action at Indiana nine days ago – anything even faintly resembling a setback or (gasp!) a shutdown would be borderline cruel. They need to at least feign being pro-active in spotting Rose time off when he needs it, rather than reacting to aches or pains after the fact and lapsing into another endless cycle of injuries in 2013-14.
Rose pronounced himself fine after Monday's practice and said, had it been up to him, he would have faced the Wizards Saturday in one of the NBA's high-profile global games. Thibodeau said Rose looked fine and that he expects both the point guard and center Joakim Noah (who has yet to play in the preseason) to face Detroit Wednesday at United Center.
Thibodeau cited multiple factors that played into the decision by the coaches, the team's medical staff, VP Paxson and GM Gar Forman to have Rose sit. And they did term it a "precautionary move."
"You're concerned about anything that would keep a player out," the coach told reporters Monday. "If he needs rest, he's going to get rest. If he needs to play, he'll play. He's responded well to the challenges that he's faced thus far. I didn't like the idea of flying all night [Chicago to Brazil], not well-rested, some soreness – I didn't want to take the chance of him being out there."
Still, given the limited coverage and means of communication with the Bulls out of country, the mere mention of "knee" and "soreness" in the same area code, never mind sentence or paragraph, sent tremors through Chicago's fan base and media. Some were nervous. Others were angry that what might be an expected two-steps-forward, one-back process didn't start back in March or April, by which time Rose was pronounced healthy by doctors.
Paxson brushed that aside Saturday, and Rose wasn't looking back much Monday either.
"Nervous, I can understand," he said of the fans' reaction. "But at the same time, I have to worry about myself and worry about my health. So as long as I'm healthy … and this is the preseason, to get all the wrinkles out. Regular season, I should be all right."
Most people are realistic enough to not expect the 2010-11 MVP version of Rose to be on display this season, start to finish. What they're hoping, though, is that no one is forced to rev up Rose Watch II, the endless daily monitoring and hand-wringing that wore out pretty much everyone last season.
Remember, even before he shredded his left ACL in the 2012 playoff opener, Rose had missed 27 of 66 games in the post-lockout season with assorted ailments. The Bulls were 32-7 when he played compared to 18-9 when he didn't, and then they went 45-37 last season while not having Rose around at all.
What Chicago wants from them and from Rose will come, if it comes at all, next spring. If they get to that point by spotting him some nights off along the way – Thibodeau says there's no plan to throttle back on back-to-back games, though that's a logical place to look – everyone will be happier and this comeback season will go down more smoothly.
Finally getting Rose back in front of a United Center crowd Wednesday night against Detroit will be exciting for them all. Not using him up or pushing too hard in occasional similar games over the next six months simply would be wise. Sixty games, give or take, would seem a reasonable target.
But if Rose's availability is reactive rather than pro-active (within the realistic bounds of sports injuries, anyway), one tedious season is going to stretch into two.


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All News Releases By Date
EPA Provides $300,000 in Grants and Loans to Clean Up Contaminated Properties in the Bronx; Funding will Help Create Over 150 Affordable Housing Units
Release Date: 08/15/2014
Contact Information: John Martin, (212) 637-3662, firstname.lastname@example.com
- (New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing a total of $300,000 in grants and low-interest loans to the City of New York to clean up abandoned and contaminated properties. The funding is being awarded under the EPA's brownfields program, which helps communities assess, clean up, and reuse properties at which moderate contamination threatens environmental quality and public health and can interfere with redevelopment.
"Cleaning up brownfields sites allows abandoned and contaminated sites to be cleaned up and revitalized as new parks, new housing and businesses that create jobs," said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. "This funding will protect the health of area residents, and will help revitalize neighborhoods."
Revolving loan funds supply funding for grant recipients to provide loans and sub-grants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites. When these loans are repaid, the loan amounts are then returned into the fund and re-loaned to other borrowers. This provides an ongoing source of capital within a community as the funds are provided to other grantees.
The City of New York will receive $300,000 in grants and low-interest loans to clean up sites being used for new housing in the Bronx. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development will use a $120,000 grant to construct a 57-unit affordable housing project on 491 E. 165th Street and 1052 Washington Avenue. This project that will result in 19 affordable units and 38 units of supportive housing. Supportive housing is a combination of affordable housing and support services designed to help individuals and families following a period of homelessness, hospitalization or incarceration, or for youth aging out of foster care. The South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation will use a $60,000 grant and a $120,000 low-interest loan to build an affordable housing project at 996 Washington Avenue that will result in 95 units to serve formerly homeless individuals.
There are an estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated sites in the United States. The EPA's Brownfields Program targets these sites to encourage redevelopment, and help to provide the opportunity for productive community use of contaminated properties. The EPA's brownfields investments overall have leveraged more than $20 billion in cleanup and redevelopment funding from public and private sources and on average, $17.79 is leveraged for every EPA Brownfields grant dollar spent. The funds have enabled the support of 90,000 jobs in cleanup, construction and redevelopment.
Information on the EPA's Brownfields Program, including funding opportunities, can be found at: http://epa.gov/brownfields.
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and Facebook at http://facebook.com/eparegion2.
Search this collection of releases | or search all news releases
View selected historical press releases from 1970 to 1998 in the EPA History website.


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My First Art Smock
by Crayola
This colorful, durable art smock measuring 16 1/2 in. length x 12 1/4 in. width is the perfect way to protect clothes while pre-schoolers paint, draw, scribble, splatter, and glue. The water-proof polyester wipes clean easily with a damp sponge so kids will be able to clean up and paint again and again.
For ages 24 months+
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Here are six recent movers that appear to have more upside.
Canadian Solar CSIQ, +1.38% a member of the very strong solar group, has been in a beautiful up channel over the last year. Even when I was concerned about the pullback a month ago, the stock held the 50-day moving average and then bounced.
It did reverse for a couple of sessions, but only to come right back up on Tuesday on a breakaway gap, up 3.35, or 8.3%, to 43.67 on 5.6 million shares. Wednesday's earnings release could impact price temporarily in either direction, but the chart indicates a move up shortly to mid-channel at 48.00-50.00.
Check out Harry's video analysis of this stock on the last page.


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Conferences in Arithmetic Geometry
This is a list of upcoming conferences in arithmetic geometry (broadly construed); please help me keep this current. (To prevent spam, one cannot autogenerate login accounts on the wiki; email me with a proposed username to receive a password.) An ideal complete entry includes a conference title, location, dates, and a web site, but incomplete entries (including responsibly sourced rumors!) can also be useful. I sort events primarily by start date, secondarily by end date; the date "January" comes between December 31 and January 1. Past conferences are periodically swept onto the separate list of past conferences.
Here are some other conference lists, with overlapping but distinct areas of focus. (I admit to swiping listings from all of these sources; the converse is encouraged!)
- Number Theory Web conferences page: more number theory, less algebraic geometry.
- Ravi Vakil's conference page: more algebraic geometry, less number theory.
- Sarah Whitehouse's conference page: topology. See also AlgTop-Conf and the Topology Atlas.
- Sage wiki: Sage computer algebra development conferences (on various themes).
- IACR: cryptology.
As in the previous lists, I have separated off long programs (two months or longer).
- Number theory, from Arithmetic statistics to Zeta elements, fall 2014-spring 2015, CRM, Montréal
- Thematic Program on Algebraic Geometry, April 1-June 30, IMPA, Rio de Janeiro
- Computational aspects of the Langlands program, September 9-December 4, ICERM, Providence
And now for the regular conference list.
- Explicit Methods in Number Theory, July 5-11, Oberwolfach
- Journées Arithmétiques, July 6-10, Debrecen
- Graduate student BOOTCAMP for the 2015 Algebraic Geometry Summer Research Institute, July 6-10, Univ. of Utah
- 2015 AMS Algebraic Geometry Summer Research Institute, July 12-31, Univ. of Utah
- Iwasawa 2015, July 13-17, King's College, London
- Lluís Santaló Summer School 2015,"Number theory and arithmetic geometry", July 13-17, Santander
- French-German Summer School: Galois Theory and Number Theory, July 18-24, Konstanz
- Pan Asian Number Theory, July 20-24, Tsinghua U.
- Computational representation theory in number theory (LMFDB workshop), July 27-31, Oregon State U., Corvallis
- Third Bucharest Number Theory Day, August 3, Bucharest
- SIAM Conference on Applied Algebraic Geometry, August 3-7, KAIST, Taejeon
- Students' Workshop on Tropical and Non-Archimedean Geometry, August 3-7, Regensburg
- Silvermania, August 11-15, Brown
- Illinois Number Theory Conference, August 13-14, Champaign-Urbana
- Lifting problems and Galois theory, August 16-21, BIRS, Banff
- Arithmetic of Euler Systems, August 22-30, Benasque
- Reductions of Shimura Varieties, August 23-29, Oberwolfach
- Non-archimedean analytic geometry: theory and practice, August 24-28, Papeete
- Mathematics of Cryptography, August 31-September 3, UC Irvine
- Computational Aspects of Algebraic Geometry, Automorphic Forms, and Number Theory, August 31-September 4, Tsinghua U.
- Summer school 2015: On perfectoid spaces, August 31-September 5, Bressanone (Brixen)
- Sage Days: Women in Sage, September 4-8, San Diego
- Analytic Number Theory and Diophantine Geometry, September 7-11, Hannover
- Boston University/Keio University Workshop, September 8-12, Boston U.
- AGNUBC: BC-Northeastern Algebraic Geometry Conference, September 12, Northeastern U., Boston
- PAlmetto Number Theory Series XXIV, September 12-13, Emory U., Atlanta
- The use of linear algebraic groups in geometry and number theory, September 13-18, BIRS, Banff
- D-modules and singularities, September 14-16, Padova
- p-adic Hodge theory and Iwasawa theory, September 14-18, Bielefeld
- LMS-CMI Summer School on Diophantine Equations, September 15-19, Hay-on-Wye, Wales
- Algebraic geometry (Arthur Ogus 70th), September 23-25, IHES, Bures-sur-Yvette
- ECC (Elliptic Curve Cryptography), September 23-25 (summer school), September 28-30 (workshop), Bordeaux
- Motives and Automorphic Forms, September 28-October 2, Oxford
- Modular forms and curves of low genus: computational aspects, September 28-October 2, ICERM, Providence
- Local-Global Principles and Their Obstructions, October 1-3, U. Penn., Philadelphia
- AGNES, October 2-4, Brown U., Providence
- Maine/Quebec Number Theory Conference, October 3-4, U. Maine, Orono
- The geometry, algebra and analysis of algebraic numbers, October 4-9, BIRS, Banff
- Young Women in Algebraic Geometry, October 5-7, Bonn
- Western Algebraic Geometry Symposium, October 17-18, U. Washington, Seattle
- Explicit methods for modularity of K3 surfaces and other higher weight motives, October 19-23, ICERM, Providence
- AMS Special Session: Recent Advances in Number Theory, October 24-25, CSU Fullerton
- Computational aspects of L-functions, November 9-13, ICERM, Providence
- Moduli Spaces and Arithmetic Geometry (Frans Oort 80th), November 9-13, Lorentz Center, Leiden
- Eisenstein Series on Kac-Moody Groups and Applications to Physics, November 12-20, KIAS, Seoul
- K3 surfaces and related topics, November 16-20, KIAS, Seoul
- Arithmetic Dynamics (RTG workshop), December 3-6, U. Michigan, Ann Arbor
- N^3-days III, December 4-5, Chalmers U., Göteborg, Sweden
- Bay Area Algebraic Number Theory and Arithmetic Geometry Day, December 5, UC Santa Cruz
- PAlmetto Number Theory Series XXV, December 5-6, Clemson U., Clemson
- The IUT theory of Shinichi Mochizuki, December 7-11, Oxford
- Algebraic Geometry, December 10-16, ISI, Bengaluru
- Non-Archimedean Geometry and Applications, December 13-19, Oberwolfach
- West Coast Number Theory Conference, December 15-19, Pacific Grove
As in previous years, I have separated off long programs (two months or longer).
- Complex, p-adic, and logarithmic Hodge theory and their applications, March 6-April 29, Simons Center for Geometry and Physics, Stony Brook
- Combinatorial Algebraic Geometry, July-December 2016, Fields Institute, Toronto
And here is the regular conference list.
- AMS-MAA Joint Meetings: special sessions on Arithmetic Dynamics, Higher Genus Curves, Number Theory and Cryptography, January 6-9, Seattle
- Geometric Methods and Langlands Functoriality in Positive Characteristic, January 11-15, CIRM, Luminy
- Atelier PARI/GP 2016, January 11-15, Institut Fourier, Grenoble
- Indo-French Program for Mathematics, January 11-24, Chennai
- Complex Algebraic Geometry, January 15-18, UCSD
- Lattices and Applications in Number Theory, January 17-23, MFO, Oberwolfach
- Arithmetic aspects of moduli spaces, January 25-29 (school), February 1-5 (workshop), EPFL, Lausanne
- Algebraic Geometry for Coding Theory and Cryptography, February 22-26, IPAM, Los Angeles
- L-Functions and Automorphic Forms, February 22-26, Heidelberg
- Recent developments in integral p-adic cohomology theories, February 29-March 3, Hausdorff Center, Bonn
- Automorphic Forms Workshop, March 7-10, Wake Forest U., Winston-Salem
- Arizona Winter School: Analytic Methods in Arithmetic Geometry, March 12-16, Tucson
- re:boot Number Theory 2016, March 17-20, Duke
- Sage Days: Explicit p-adic methods in number theory, March 20-24, Oxford
- 2016 British Mathematical Colloquium (number theory special session), March 21-24, Bristol
- L-Functions and Modular Forms Database, March 21-April 1, Bristol
- Dynamics and Graphs over Finite Fields: Algebraic, Number Theoretic and Algorithmic Aspects, March 29-April 2, CIRM, Luminy
- Algebraisation and Geometrisation in the Langlands Program, March 29-April 1, Bristol
- Arbeitsgemeinschaft: The Geometric Langlands Conjecture, April 3-9, MFO, Oberwolfach
- Explicit Methods in Number Theory (John Cremona 60th), April 4-8, Warwick
- AGNES, April 8-10 (tentative), Yale
- Diophantische Approximationen, April 10-16, MFO, Oberwolfach
- Moduli spaces and Modular forms, April 24-30, MFO, Oberwolfach
- Algebraic, Tropical, and Nonarchimedean Analytic Geometry of Moduli Spaces, May 1-6, Oaxaca
- Pacific Northwest Number Theory Conference, May 7-8, Corvallis
- Curves over Finite Fields, May 9-20, Utah Valley U.
- Local and Global Methods in Algebraic Geometry (Lawrence Ein 60th), May 12-15, UIC, Chicago
- The Galois theory of orbits in arithmetic dynamics, May 16-20, AIM, San Jose
- p-adic Langlands program and related topics, May 16-20, Indiana U., Bloomington
- Introduction to Relative Aspects in Representation Theory, Langlands Functoriality and Automorphic Forms, May 16-20, CIRM, Luminy
- Number theory and physics, May 23-25, IHP, Paris
- Relative Trace Formula, Periods, L-functions and Harmonic Analysis, May 23-27, CIRM, Luminy
- Cohomology of Arithmetic Groups (Joachim Schwermer 60th), June 6-10, MPIM, Bonn
- Benjamin Peirce Centennial Conference, June 10-12, Harvard
- L-functions and arithmetic (Karl Rubin 60th), June 13-16, Harvard
- Leuca2016 (Michel Waldschmidt 70th), June 13-17, Patù (Lecce), Italy
- Canadian Number Theory Association (CNTA XIV), June 16-18 (graduate summer school), June 20-24 (conference; special session on Richard Guy 100th), U. Calgary
- New Directions in Iwasawa Theory, June 26-July 1, Banff
- Algebraic K-theory and Motivic Cohomology, June 26-July 2, MFO, Oberwolfach
- Arithmetic and Low Dimensional Hyperbolic Space, June 27-July 1, İstanbul
- Algebraization theorems: from GAGA to foliations over number fields, July 4-8, Tatihou Island, France
- IUT summit, July 18-27, RIMS, Kyoto
- Whittaker Functions: Number Theory, Geometry and Physics, July 24-29, Banff
- Lattices and applications to cryptography and coding theory, August 1-12, Ho Chi Minh City
- Arithmetic Geometry, August 7-13, MFO, Oberwolfach
- Galois Representations and Automorphic Forms, August 14-20, Banach Center, Będlewo
- Motives and complex multiplication, August 15-19, Monte Verità, Switzerland.
- Mathematical Structures for Cryptography, August 22-26, Lorentz Center, Leiden
- Algorithmic Number Theory Symposium (ANTS XII), August 29-September 2, Kaiserslautern
- Higher dimensional algebraic geometry and characteristic p, September 12-16, CIRM, Luminy
- Women in Numbers Europe-2, September 25-October 2, Şirince
- Rational Points and Algebraic Geometry, September 26-30, CIRM, Luminy
- Definability and Decidability Problems in Number Theory, October 23-29, MFO, Oberwolfach
- Analytic Number Theory, November 6-12, MFO, Oberwolfach
As in previous years, I have separated off long programs (two months or longer).
- Analytic number theory, January 17-May 26, MSRI, Berkeley
And now, the regular conference list.
- Connections for Women: Analytic Number Theory, February 2-3, MSRI, Berkeley
- Introductory Workshop: Analytic Number Theory, February 6-10, MSRI, Berkeley
- Arizona Winter School, March 11-15 (projected), Tucson
- p-adic analytic geometry and differential equations, March 27-31, CIRM, Luminy
- Hodge theory, Stokes phenomenon, and applications, April 10-14, CIRM, Luminy
- Topical Workshop on Analytic Number Theory, May 1-5, MSRI, Berkeley
- Arithmetic Aspects of Explicit Moduli Problems, May 28-June 2, BIRS, Banff
- Arithmetic, Geometry, Cryptography, and Coding Theory, June 19-23, CIRM, Luminy
- Automorphic Forms and the Langlands Program (summer graduate school), July 24-August 7, MSRI, Berkeley
- p-adic Cohomology and Arithmetic Applications, October 1-6, BIRS, Banff
As in the previous lists, I plan to separate off long programs (two months or longer). But for now, only this listing.
- International Congress of Mathematicians, August 1-9 (dates updated; satellite conferences expected), Rio de Janeiro
Amazingly, there is already a listing here!
- Journées Arithmétiques, July 1-5, Istanbul


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deRaismes Bookshelf Bedroom
Like this entry? Favorite it below!
- Name:
- deRaismes
- Location:
- Washington, DC
- Division:
- United States
- What do you love about your bedroom?:
- I love my 'bedroom' because it feels like a separate room, even though I live in a studio. Plus, I have great views of beautiful sunrises and full moons.
- What are your tips for creating a beautiful, healthy and organized bedroom?:
- I don't have much space, so to make it feel bigger (or less cluttered), I use only white sheets/bedding.
- In modern homes, bedrooms have become more than just a place to sleep; they can be a retreat, a home office, a library, a relaxation zone. What are some ways you make the most of your bedroom?:
- I'm a student, so I do a lot of reading and writing in bed.


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While reviewing the Kyle Busch race replica truck I was able to meet up with Kyle Busch at Dover Downs International Raceway. I was psyched because he took time out of his busy schedule to sit down for a quick interview with me. Here's just some of what he had to say:
How long have you been into RC?
I've been involved in RC since I was a little kid. I remember messing around with RC cars in the neighborhood on the pavement and then we got into the dirt stuff and started racing off-road. Competitively, it's been a back-and-forth battle between me and my brother. He always had the newer, better stuff and I always had the hand-me-downs.
What is your favorite class of RC
My favorite class of RC racing is the short course stuff. Racing the Traxxas Slashes and being able to race the 2WD and the 4WD, that's fun for me. It's got that dirt background and you can kind of sling them around and bang them up a little bit.
What was it like racing in the Traxxas TORC series?
Racing in the full-size stuff was a blast. I loved racing in the Traxxas TORC series, it was really, really fun. I got good experience with it at Crandon, WI. I tested out there and had a pretty good session and then we went to the shorter courses in the Chicagoland Speedway infield. It was fun and gave me a whole new aspect of how those guys are and how they race.
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Complete Region I recaps available at http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org/regionI
FRISCO, Texas (July 5, 2013)– US Youth Soccer is proud to announce the 14 champions of the 2013 US Youth Soccer Region I (East) Championships presented by National Guard, and commend their success in the state and regional championships of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the country's most prestigious national youth soccer tournament. The field of 88 teams to advance to the National Championships is now complete. For a full list of qualifiers, click here.
2013 US Youth Soccer Region I (East) Champions:
* Under-17 Boys: PDA McGeough (NJ) to represent Region I, OBGC Rangers (MD) to represent National League
Regional Champions in the Under-13 through Under-19 age groups now advance to the third and final stage of the quest for the National Championship. These Region I Champions will join the 32 National League qualifying teams and the champions from Region II (Midwest), Region III (South), and Region IV (West) tournaments for the National Championships in Overland Park, Kan., July 23-28.
Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association was the most represented US Youth Soccer State Association with five championship teams advancing to Overland Park. Representing teams from New Jersey and Connecticut took home two titles, and Eastern New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York West, and Pennsylvania West will each send one team.
The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series is the country's oldest and most prestigious national youth soccer tournament, providing approximately 185,000 players on more than 10,000 teams from US Youth Soccer's 55 State Associations the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play.
The National Championships cap a yearlong series of competitions, US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, for boys and girls teams in multiple age groups as teams earn their way from the top teams in their state to the regional championship tournaments. US Youth Soccer State Champions, US Youth Soccer Regional League Champions and selected wildcard teams are eligible to compete in one of four US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. The champions in the Under-13 through Under-19 age groups from each regional event will converge in the finals in Overland Park, Kan.
The US Youth Soccer National Championships will consist of US Youth Soccer Regional Champions in the Under-13 through Under-19 Boys and Girls age groups as well as the US Youth Soccer National League qualifiers in the Under-15 through Under-18 Boys and Girls age groups to complete the field of 88 teams.
Daily reports and complete results from the US Youth Soccer National Championships are available on http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org/.


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Enable over-the-air installs
Let web users instantly download and install your app to their Android device.
Pull profile and social graph info
Show profile information, and relevant content and connections from circles.
Add Google+ sharing
Let visitors recommend and share your content, and prompt friends to take specific actions on your site.
See Plugins for more sharing options
+1 button
Let visitors quickly recommend your brand and your content.
Help your visitors find you on Google+ and let them follow you with a single click.
Embedded posts
Add public posts to your web pages so that visitors can +1, comment,
and follow the author.
Provide an easy way for people to share your content with their circles.
Follow button
Add a compact, flexible Google+ follow button to your site.
Customize the text and image that people see when your content is shared.


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Images have surfaced on the Interwebs of the Honda Urban SUV Concept set to be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in the next few days, and it continues the latest Honda design trends we as a staff have recently dubbed "interestingly horrifying."
Overall, the shape isn't bad, and I like the curve that runs from the rear door handles to the front doors. But the grille is kind of all over the place, a mess of horizontal vents, a chrome bar with the Honda logo on it, and as many headlights as possible. It looks like it's trying too hard to ape the NSX Concept's styling, and it doesn't really succeed.
The SUV will reportedly be based on the Honda Jazz (Honda Fit to us Yanks) platform and should compete with the Nissan Juke and upcoming Fiat 500X. None of those cars are great looking, so it should be in good company. Hopefully it will at least be fun to drive like the Juke is.
Photos credit Honda via Indian Autos Blog


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I've given up speaking in public, doing interviews, responding to people who want my help in some way, traveling around the country signing books, and several other things I don't enjoy about my career.
I no longer require the approval of others, no longer need to help everyone reach their goals, and no longer want to spend time self-promoting to sell print books in a dying industry. I've always believed advertising is worthless, and these days I see no need for extensive self-promotion.
After all, without doing any of the above-mention things, I made over $40,000 in January. All through self-publishing.
So I've finally reached a point where I can do what I want to do, maximizing my happiness, minimizing discomfort, without having to answer to anyone.
It's glorious.
That said, I'll be making what will likely be my final public appearance for a while, this weekend.
Love is Murder is a Chicago-based mystery writing convention taking place this weekend, February 4-6. at the Intercontinental O'Hare.
I'm doing a panel about ebooks, and it'll be the last time you can corner me one-on-one and personally pick my brain.
My panel is 11 to 12 on Saturday, and Saturday night I'm also going to be hosting a gameshow with the headliners, including F. Paul Wilson, Joseph Finder, Rhys Bowen, and other big shots. The game is called Stump the Stars, where I read sections from their books and see if they recognize them. When they don't, I publicly humiliate them. It's a fun time.
So if you're a writer in the Midwest, it's worth digging out of the snow to attend Love is Murder. Lots of good panels, the fine company of your peers, and I'm bringing a few bottles of expensive whiskey and I'm known to throw room parties.
Hope to see you there.
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
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Our Residential Grade
After 17 years of living the "sump pump worry" life, I can sleep better at night knowing we have a Generac Generator in place now. Adams Electric was great to work with. Don came out and explained the details very well. He used his ipad program to walk through specifics and figure out what size generator we would need based on our requirements. On the day of the install, the techs came out and did a great job. They spent time walking through the details when they were done as well as making sure that all of my needs were met when the back up generator was running. They left nothing behind but quality workmanship. If you are reading this and wondering whether you should have it done, I would encourage you to make it happen. I wish I would have done it 15 years ago. Thanks again Adams Electric for a job well done! Cheers!! MuskyU Silver Lake, WI


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Landmines For Motorists
Both studies, conducted by the Washington-based AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, evaluated habitual offenders. In one, researchers found that unlicensed drivers are five times more likely to be in fatal crashes than drivers with valid licenses.
The other study found that 40 percent of all drunken driving trips are made by habitual drunken drivers, and that more than half of all arrested drunken drivers are repeat offenders.
Foundation President Susan Pikrallidas said states need to reevaluate and improve enforcement of measures meant to keep habitual offenders off the road. For example, the study of unlicensed drivers found that two-thirds of drivers with suspended licenses continue to drive.
Pikrallidas also said states are doing a poor job of identifying chronic drinkers, who often return to the roadways untreated. The foundation's study found that there was only a 1 in 50 chance that a drunken driver would actually be arrested.
The drunken driving study also found that two-thirds of fatally injured drivers have alcohol levels twice the legal limit. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 17,448 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in 2001, accounting for 41 percent of all U.S. traffic deaths.
Pikrallidas said the AAA Foundation will use the studies to push for continued federal support for traffic safety programs at the state and local level.


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Way to go, Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries. Way to ruin Halloween for everyone. This shocking piece of news has sent me into a death spiral that only huge amounts of sobbing, drinking and sessions in an extreme fetal position can cure. I mean, how can I go out dressed as a slutty ghost/pirate/french maid tonight and grind up against random masked men with any gusto? I'll just be going through the motions, it's not even worth it. Now I'm questioning everything about my life. If two super rich people can't keep a commitment to the vows they recited at a beautiful, huge, multi millions dollar, made for TV, lavishly staged wedding then where's the hope for me? Am I doomed to a life of poverty and loneliness because no one cares about my every move? What if I only end up marrying just for love, have I failed? If I forgot to wear underwear out last night and no one was around to see it, did I really forget to wear underwear?
But in reality, I like the idea of Halloween more than the actual event. I love fall. I love gathering with friends, drinking cider and doing 'fall' activities. I love breaking out my hoodies. I love seeing pumpkins at the store. I even like seeing other people dressed up, but I'm too lazy to do it myself. I normally get struck by a brilliant costume idea the week after Halloween, and am never able to remember it the next year. I have since given up on the whole thing. Anyway, I don't have to wait for that one time of year to tell me it's 'OK' to dress slutty. I'll do it whenever I want! The bars are super crowded, and the chances of seeing two unattractive people, barely dressed, getting it on in the middle of the bar go up fifty percent. I still like to stop by for a drink to see what people are wearing, but it only reminds me of those elementary school costume parades that read more like a sad chain gang. I don't eat candy any time of year, and I don't want a candy corn martini, so unless you can trick or treat for ice cream or beer I'd prefer to make room for the others. So, by the time Halloween actually rolls around, all the excitement (and pumpkins) have rotted and I can't wait to get on with November. That means my birthday is right around the corner!
Please trust me, I don't hate Halloween. I don't even dislike it. I guess I just like all of fall better. I have really fond memories of the holiday as a kid, though I didn't always dress up and/or go trick or treating then either. It's just that by the time the 31st rolls around, the hype has gotten to me and it's not so great anymore. And now. Now, I'll be plagued with the visions of Kris Humphries quietly weeping into his pumpkin spiced latte as he carves a huge ass in his jack O'lantern wondering what went wrong… and why did he sign that damn prenup?
Have a terrific Halloween everyone! Whether you go all out or stay under your blanket!
None of these are me, or anyone I know.
*If you read this and think to yourself, 'wow, this girl really doesn't like Halloween', give it a few months. You'll see how much I really hate a holiday when New Years comes along.


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If you were a kid and this was your community centre, would you ever want to go home? The Sports and Leisure Centre in Saint-Cloud, France was opened over a year and half ago but I still can't get over the fantastic use of colour. Designed by KOZ Architectes, the environment-friendly building is a bold gem of architecture. Arch Daily called it a "little castle and cubist mountain" which is a pretty perfect description for a building that houses the imaginations of so many children. The colourful exterior glass is a palette of pure harmony. The thick stripes could have gone horribly wrong but, with fantastic colour selection, they seamlessly compliment each other like a perfectly organized crayon box. I love the night shots of the centre as the illuminated horizontal rooms "light up" numerous vertical swatches of colour. Inside the building, the architects repeated the same systematic colour system to create an easy navigation system for children and reflect a bold graffiti-like style. If I lived in Saint-Cloud, I would try to find an apartment with a direct view of this beautiful building. Oh and I might try out that climbing wall bathed in chartreuse light… More city councils need to follow the lead of Saint-Cloud and explore vibrant architecture for community centres and other public spaces as they really can become sources of city design pride and more imporantly, colourful castles of child-like wonder.
(photographs by stephan lucas and via arch daily)


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|Amy inspiration
Amy walked home through the cobbled roads after a long day of work. It was raining lightly, and the stones glistened in the silent glow of the few lanterns.
She'd seen her. She knew she had. She would recognise that gorgeous silhouette anywhere, with her dark long wispy eyelashes; and her beautiful curly hair.
Amy dove into the side-street she had seen her vanish in; frantic for her younger sister."Ingrid? Ingrid, come. Ingrid, please don't go!"
She looked back, a darling small smile on her face. "Amy, don't worry about me," she said. "Just go back home."
"But – Ingrid! You can't just go! You're part of the family. And – and you said you'd help. God knows I could need some right now."
Her face shone beautifully in the dusk; there were pools of starlight in her brown eyes. "Amy, I meant every word about helping you. And wait till you get back home – I just gave Edmund some money for food, and I gave the younger ones new shoes. Hand-me-downs from David's nephews and nieces."
Amy pulled her sister down on the side of the road. She looked at her carefully. She seemed happy; she smelled like lemon and lavender – fresh and cheerful – and she looked like an angel. Her hair was done in the latest fashion, with waves in all the right places, and her hairpins were decorated with beads. She wore a new dress – blue; with lace and with machine-made buttons.
She looked grand and old and glorious – it made Amy so jealous she almost wept. She wished she was Ingrid. Why did she have to fall in love with Lionel? Her heart ached for him; she loved him with her whole heart – but why did it have to be him? He was blind; penniless! He had warned her about her future. She had told him she didn't care; but now suddenly she did. She wanted to be Ingrid; to be beautiful and rich and apparently powerful enough to save their family from poverty and destruction.
"Oh Ingrid!" Amy cried. "Help me! Help us!"
Ingrid put her arm around Amy, and rubbed her shoulder. She reminded Amy of her mother when she had been in a good, motherly mood – it made her cry even more.
"I have good news," Ingrid whispered in Amy's ear. "But I can't know for sure quite yet."
"Tell me everything," Amy said. "And please – may it be a happy story."
Ingrid's eyes shone with tears. "Oh Amy, it is. I've never been happier."
"You were fourteen when you met him first. What was your first impression?"
"His looks," Ingrid smiled. "He was tall and handsome; just like the heroes in story-books. Straight and short hair – cut in a dashing style. His eyes were black and twinkled outrageously. No wonder I fell for him as soon as I looked up into them. They still make my stomach twirl, in the same way that his presence makes me feel giddy and cheerful, like I'm in a ball filled with little lights and feathers. He's so easy-going and kind and he always smiles – oh, my journey in getting to know him has been better than my wildest dreams."
"Oh, tosh," Amy said. "I've never heard you speak like that before, Ingrid. You sound like a poetry book!"
Ingrid flushed slightly. She looked down at her hands with a small smile around her lips.
Amy followed her glance and suddenly saw that her sister was wearing a ring."Oh Ingrid!" she gasped, grabbing her hand. "You're married!"
"Of course," Ingrid calmly said. "I would never do anything indecent. Where do you think I've been sleeping these past days?" She blushed bright red.
Then she looked at Amy and her voice turned back to how Amy was used to it. "Don't look at me like that, Amy. One day you'll know what that feels like, too."
She went all dreamy again, and started to talk like poetry book number two. "You'll find yourself yearning to see his face again whenever you're not with him; and you'll find yourself looking into a future where everything seems perfect."
"That's not how love works," Amy scoffed.
"Yes it is. Love is like an ironing board – it takes away all the creases and wrinkles."
Suddenly Amy was furious. She stood up and felt the blisters on her feet burn and the muscles in her legs ache; like they did so often. How could Ingrid say that?! Love wasn't anything like an ironing board. The last thing it did was smooth out wrinkles – it just made more wrinkles; it just made matters even more complicated.
"What's the matter?" Ingrid asked. She stood up and neatened her beautiful blue dress. No creases and wrinkles at all. Amy's dress was nothing but wrinkles – and hole – and soot – and sweat.
"Just, the way you described love," Amy said, angrily. "It's not true."
"It IS true."
"Don't be ridiculous. Love is an amazing thing, but it does not solve all problems. Quite the contrary, in most cases it just complicates matters."
"Well, if that's the case, it's not true love."
Amy thought about Lionel and thought her heart would almost burst with the love she held for him.
"If you say that again Ingrid, I will -"
Amy calmed herself. She shivered in the cold dusk air; hungry and tired to the bone. Ingrid could preach like that, couldn't she? About true love making life all rosy and gold – while she wore new dresses and slept with a rich husband who could see the world with his own eyes and walk without a stupid stick.
"I will give you an example, Ingrid," Amy said. "And then I will go home, because it's late, and tomorrow is an early morning. I can't sleep in my little featherbed with a handsome husband till the clock strikes nine like you can."
"What are you so angry about all of a sudden?!"
"I don't know! Sorry! Just – don't preach about love!"
"Give me the example then."
Amy breathed deeply. She suddenly realised she was trembling, and that her heart was beating very fast due to lack of sleep and proper meals.
"What if you fall in love with a blind war hero who cannot earn sufficient amount of money and who cannot earn the approval of your father? Either you don't marry him; and the love story would come to an end, or either you love each other so much that you are willing to face all the problems – creases and wrinkles, as you put it – the future might hold."
"Yes, love makes it all work," Ingrid insisted.
"No, it doesn't necessarily!" Amy sighed. "If I marry Lionel as well as playing mother number two for all my younger siblings, I will be facing more burdens than I am capable of facing. As much as I love them; sometimes one just is in hard situations."
"Lionel? Who is Lionel?"
It was quiet for a while. Some people were arguing inside a house. A baby's faded cry intermingled with their voices, and the wind played music around Amy's ears.
"Lionel is my fiancé. He's Erica's nephew. I met him when I stayed at her house. Erica is your stepmother."
"Yes, I know about Erica. But – but you never told me you had a beau!"
"You can't talk," Amy scoffed.
She didn't know why she was acting so spiteful against her sister. She was just sick of life; and of problems – she wanted to sleep and wear pretty clothes and kiss Lionel's face; and never lift a finger in labour again, but she knew she would never get that. It made her enormously jealous of her sister. So jealous, in fact, that she didn't even want to hear the whole story she had to tell.
But Ingrid sat her down and told her everything.
|Ingrid inspiration


text: Mickey Rourke started out with a promising acting career with memorable roles in "Diner," "Body Heat," and "Nine 1/2 Weeks." As time went on, Rourke earned a reputation as a difficult star, and the roles started to dry up. The comeback story of 2008 was Rourke's portrayal of washed-up Randy 'The Ram' Robinson in "The Wrestler," in which he earned an Oscar nomination and won a Golden Globe. Rourke is also known for his love of his dogs (he thanked them during his Globes acceptance speech) and his boxing prowess.


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Former Tech Instructor on Top at Fencing Championship, April 16, 2001
by George Zamora
LOS ALAMOS, N.M., April 16, 2001 -- Brad Baker, a former adjunct physics faculty member at New Mexico Tech, swept three men's fencing events and took first place overall at the 2001 New Mexico Division Fencing Championships, held last week at the Pueblo Complex in Los Alamos.
Baker, who describes himself as a "part-time Socorro resident," fenced at the competition as a member of the New Mexico Tech Fencing Club and won gold medals in épée, sabre, and foil. Baker currently resides in Colorado.
Other members of the Tech Fencing Club also fared well at the state championships: Jeff Kerns placed ninth in men's épée, second in men's sabre, and fourth in men's foil; while Dom Peterson finished fourth in men's épée, third in men's sabre, and third in men's foil.
The state fencing competition, which is sanctioned by the U.S. Fencing Association, provides qualifying competitors a path to the National Fencing Championships to be held in July in Sacramento, Calif.


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As we draw near the end of the eastern road swing for the Vancouver Canucks, there is one constant occurance that has come to my attention. The fan support in the east has strengthened for our beloved team, and surprisingly really showing up strong in the arenas away from home. In fact, many comments throughout the league about the growing support for the Canucks in eastern cities. So what triggers the surge of support?
Montreal had to be the one town that wouldn't sway their loyalties. The Bell Centre is a different beast from the other two arenas visited. Although I have noticed the pockets of Canucks fans seem bigger than those of previous visits. I have to say it is one arena where you know the undying love for the Habs will never be overshadowed of that of the visiting team. It was enough to propel les Canadiens to a shutout victory (2-0) over our Canucks.
In Ottawa, the pockets for Canucks supporters were evidently quite bigger than it has been in the past. I'd dare say the Canucks had about a third of the arena on their side. That's a significant number of supporters in the nation's capital. It was great to see a few westerners also make an eastern road swing trip to support the boys on Remembrance Day on their way to a 6-2 victory over the Senators. There was even a small bar meet-up (so I was told) after the game of Canucks fans. Unfortunately for me, being sick with the flu, I had to decline.
Now the most surprising surge of support for the Canucks was in the "Centre of the Universe, also known as, Toronto. I used to live in Toronto, both downtown and on the east side, and I've run into very few 'vocal' Canucks fans in the 416 (or 905 for you suburban people). Usually, the only time I see those fans are when the Canucks visit the Air Canada Centre and even then, they are more reserved. This year, the support for the Canucks in Leaf territory, was, for me, surprisingly stronger than I could have imagined. The support for the Canucks was crazily visible in the stands. Not just pockets of supporters but rows of Canucks fans. More than it has been in the last four years since they started doing the home and home once a year again. Canucks fans were yelling, "Lu!!!!" at the ACC. It was so evident that it couldn't even be masked on Hockey Night In Canada's broadcast of the game. I remember just last January, when the Canucks visited the ACC, and the out-right support for the team wasn't as vocal and in abundance. That was only 11 months ago! I'd dare say the Canucks had about 2000 fans on Saturday night, and that is a huge feat in Leaf Nation. I think only the Montreal Canadiens and the Canadian Sabres fans would be greater in numbers.
So the Canuck fan base is growing, but why? Could it be Luongo winning a gold medal for Canada at the Olympics, or the playmaking of the Sedins? Or could it be that they are a very good team, it makes the easterners realize they probably have the best chance of the Canadian teams to contend for the Stanley Cup. I'm not quite sure, and to be honest, I don't really care, but it's been nice to see Canuck Nation growing, especially in places it was once shunned.
On to Buffalo…
Justine Galo [tweetmeme]


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Downloading SFD Free iPod Manager 18.104.22.168
Download In Progress......Description:
iPod Manager is very easy to use tool to manage your iPod Device(Any Type), You will not need any other software with iPod Manager. With iPod Manager, you can Add, Edit, Delete Audio/Video Tracks to your iPod; Also you can copy tracks from iPod to your local hard drive. iPod Manager is compatible with other iPod programs like iTunes.


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ATLANTA—A jury has found a former educator not guilty in the first trial connected to a cheating scandal at Atlanta schools.
The verdict clearing Tamara Cotman was announced Friday. Cotman was a former area director for Atlanta Public Schools. She had been accused of trying to influence a witness.
Cotman is among 35 former administrators and teachers who faced criminal charges for allegedly changing students' answers on standardized tests.
The charges stem from a 2011 state investigation, which concluded that cheating occurred at 44 Atlanta schools so educators could avoid losing their jobs and earn bonuses.
Cotman's former boss, ex-superintendent Beverly Hall, was indicted and is fighting the charges against her.
Cotman stood trial before the other defendants because her attorney requested a speedy trial.


text: Milan is the administrative centre of the homonymous province and of the Lombardy province. It's the second largest Italian municipality by number of inhabitants (about 1,303,670), and first for its number of inhabitants in the metropolitan area (about 7,400,000).Milan is the economy and financial capital of the country, this is also due to its Italian stock exchange (Piazza Affari), and also due to being an attractive point for the registered offices of numerous multinational firms.The city of Milan is rich in monuments, churches and other places of interest for tourists. The most renowned monument in the city is without doubt the "Duomo". The building is dedicated to "Santa Maria Nascente" and is located in the homonymous square, in the city centre, and is one of the most famous and complex Gothic buildings in the world.Where the Duomo stands today, it used to be a very old Cathedral "Santa Maria Maggiore" and the Basilica of "Santa Tecla", the largest of the two. Inside the Duomo there is a memorial stone to commemorate the start of the works in 1386. Its façade is a mix of history of Italian architecture and sculpture, starting with the late Renaissance, through to Baroque and on to the pseudo-Gothic Napoleonic period. In this respect, it should be mentioned that the final "touch" in Gothic style was requested, in 1800, personally by Napoleon Bonaparte, who was crowned here as King of Italy.The Duomo spire has been topped by the golden Madonnina since 1774, and has become a symbol of the city apart from its original religious meaning. Sentences such as "in the shade of the Madoninna" refer specifically to the city of Milan.Further to the Madonnina del Duomo, another symbol of the city of Milan is the "Castello Sforzesco", which stands in the homonymous square. Built between 1358-1368, at the time of Galeazzo II Visconti, it is a defensive fortress, a ducal palace, a military barracks and also the seats of a number of museums and cultural institutions. It is the main civil monument of the Renaissance period in Milan, and is very interesting because of the multitude of traces left by each of the various eras.Among the museum exhibitions that it currently houses and are worthy of a visit we should mention the "Pinacoteca del Castello Sforzesco": a rich collection of paintings, works by Antonello da Messina, Andrea Mantegna, Canaletto, Correggio, Tiepolo and the unfinished Pietà Rondanini by Michelangelo.The city is also home to one of the most famous treasures in the world: Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper.The theatre season is one of the major events in Milan's high society life and houses opera, ballet, classical music concerts etc.. Theatres in Milan are spread everywhere throughout the city. "Brera" is the night district par excellence, and houses three of them; one of which the "Teatro della Scala", the best–known opera house in the world, known also as "La Scala". It is located in one of the city's two most visited and charming squares, the homonymous "Piazza della Scala" from which it takes its name.Nowadays, Milan is also one of the major university, publishing and broadcasting centres in Europe.


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Who is writing New Mexico's water regulations?
Updated on 5/22/13.
New Mexico environmental regulators under Republican governor Susana Martinez are overseeing attempts to roll back a suite of groundwater regulations. While the administration's argument for loosening rules on dairies, mines and oil and gas marches to the drumbeat of jobs, jobs, jobs, all they have to do is look in their own backyards to see the cost and grief water polluters run amuck eventually inflict on communities, and taxpayers.
Here's an example: the Chino copper mine near Silver City, New Mexico is one of the longest-operating mines in the West. The mine's current owner, Freeport-McMoRan, just started mining there again in 2011 and the company is on the hook to restore thousands of acres of heavy metal-contaminated groundwater.
Yet just recently, a newly proposed state rule to limit groundwater contamination from copper mines, known as the "copper pit rule", was inexplicably gutted in Santa Fe after a long stakeholder process. Water watchdog groups Amigos Bravos and the Gila River Information Project (GRIP) that participated in drafting the proposal to protect groundwater were baffled after their comments were essentially ignored in the final proposed rule.
The copper pit rule proposal was born out of a 2009 law passed by the New Mexico legislature to help give mining companies predictable water quality standards, rather than negotiating on a case-by-case basis, which is expensive for everyone involved. From January to August 2012, water quality advocates Amigos Bravos and the GRIP met with Freeport-McMoRan and the New Mexico Environment Department to negotiate a rule that met industry best practices. That included things like putting synthetic liners under new waste rock piles and tailing impoundments, to prevent pollution from leaching into groundwater.
When representatives from Amigos Bravos and GRIP left the advisory panel in August last year -- after nearly two dozen meetings -- they felt the proposed rule was reasonable. But when the final draft came back from the environment department in the fall of 2012 they were shocked, saying that it looked like someone had just hit "accept all" on changes proposed by the copper company.
No one is sure exactly who implemented what GRIP president Sally Smith calls a "blatant switcharoo," in the rule language, but there does appear to be conflict of interest within the New Mexico Environment Department. Their general counsel, Ryan Flynn, a Martinez appointee, worked for Modrall Sperling, a large law firm which has represented Freeport-McMoRanin past cases before the environment department, writes Laura Paskus in the Santa Fe Reporter. (Flynn, however, has never represented an mining company and says he recused himself from working on the copper rule for a year after joining the environment department.)
Fortunately for a state that gets 90 percent of its drinking water from groundwater, the New Mexico Attorney General's office isn't chock full of Martinez appointees. Attorney General Gary King, who was elected rather than appointed, thinks the draft rule violates state water quality law by allowing mines to discharge water that does not meet the drinking water standard. They are also concerned it could set a precedent for everyone from dairies to dry cleaners to pollute the water beneath them. The New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission will consider the regulation in April, and if the commission accepts the rule it could end up in appeals court.
Unlike Mexico City, which has drilled a mile below ground in order to secure new water sources even states in the Southwest aren't yet squeezing every drop of agua out of underground rock. But last year groundwater rescued farmers in the lower Rio Grande, just one reminder that we shouldn't take a single acre-foot for granted. As Mike Wireman, an EPA hydrologist, warned in a recent ProPublica story about how U.S. policy allows pollution of deep aquifers since no one thought it would ever be affordable to tap them: "Around the world people are increasingly doing things that 50 years ago nobody would have said they'd do."
Sarah Jane Keller is an intern at High Country News.
Image of the Chino copper mine near Silver City, New Mexico by Eric Guinther courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.


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Santa Cruz City Council weighs traffic fee revision, more desal spending
By J.M. Brown
Santa Cruz Sentinel, 11/24/12
SANTA CRUZ -- In an effort to boost the city's attractiveness among small business owners, the City Council on Tuesday will consider revising a traffic fee to lessen the financial burden.
The council's Competitive Task Force has recommended a number of changes to the traffic impact fee that developers of residential and commercial projects pay one time as a way to offset increased vehicle trips created by their plans. The fee can range from $64,200 for a restaurant of 1,500 gross square feet to $203,300 for a hotel with 50 rooms, according to a city report.
The proposed changes include exempting future nonresidential projects smaller than 1,000 gross square feet, establishing a five-year payment plan and eliminating a requirement to increase the fee annually. The fee also would be calculated based on trips during peak evening hours rather than daily trips, and a portion of the fee set aside for alternative transportation would be increased to fund neighborhood improvements near development sites.
Councilman David Terrazas, a member of the task force, said the changes would lead to an average 20 percent to 30 percent reduction in the fee. While revenue from the fee may decrease in coming years, Terrazas said he believes the move will pay off for the city through an increase in commerce.
"We are really trying to provide incentives by looking at fee structures to encourage new businesses in town," he said.
Also Tuesday, the council will consider extending the contract for desalination consultant Kennedy/Jenks for up to $390,000. The city has already spent $1.4 million for the firm's technical input on the project since 2008, according to city records.
In a report prepared for the council, Water Department Director Bill Kocher said the company has worked on a pilot desal plant and the preliminary design for the proposed full-scale facility. Kennedy/Jenks also played a role in developing an environmental analysis due this spring and helped to create public outreach materials.
Next year, Kocher said the company would work on ensuring the city's plans for disposing of the highly concentrated brine created when salt is removed from seawater match potential changes in state regulations. Kennedy/Jenks also will work on a plan to offset greenhouse gases created by the plant.
The Kennedy/Jenks contract was placed on the council's consent agenda of items expected not to be controversial, but desalination opponents quickly weighed in, urging the city to stop spending significant amounts on the project. The opponents note that 72 percent of voters approved a Nov. 6 ballot measure saying they wanted a future vote on the plant.
"That should indicate that the prospect for winning voter approval of desalination is far from a slam dunk," Santa Cruz Desal Alternatives wrote in an email sent to supporters Thursday. "Given that desal may never be approved, it seems prudent that the Santa Cruz City Council would make it a top priority to develop a Plan B for drought security."
If extension of the Kennedy/Jenks contract is approved, the city's desalination partner, Soquel Creek Water District, will share the cost. The two agencies have proposed building the plant as a way to guard against drought and reduce the use of freshwater sources to improve fish habitat and restore overdrafted aquifers.
Follow Sentinel reporter J.M. Brown on Twitter at Twitter.com/jmbrownreports
WHEN: 3 p.m. Tuesday
WHERE: Council Chamber, 809 Center St.


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In a June 25 Barnes & Noble Inc. conference call with stock analysts, then-CEO William Lynch explained in detail how the struggling retail chain would continue striving to please customers of its Nook Media digital media division—while also slashing Nook operating expenses that had ballooned into a $475 million loss for the fiscal year ended April 27 and nearly wiped out the company's earnings.
But for Lynch—who rose triumphantly to the CEO spot three years ago from his perch as head of BarnesandNoble.com, No. 27 in the 2013 Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide becoming the first e-commerce executive to lead a major retail chain—the plans outlined to the analysts turned out to be too little, too late. In a surprise move, the company announced yesterday that Lynch had resigned as both CEO and board director, effective immediately, and had been replaced by two executives who will share responsibilities for running the company and report to executive chairman Leonard Riggio.
For Lynch, the end came after an extended struggle with Riggio over how much to invest in the Nook business, which e-commerce veteran Lynch saw as key to the company's growth, says analyst David Stasser, who follows Barnes & Noble at Janney Capital Markets, the investment research division of financial services firm Janney Montgomery Scott LLC. "There had been a big difference of opinion between Mr. Riggio and Mr. Lynch on what the proper spending levels were for this division," Stasser says in a report issued yesterday. "The increased tension with Mr. Riggio was becoming more apparent as losses mounted, spending remained more robust than Mr. Riggio wanted it to be, and results were weak."
Nonetheless, in announcing Lynch's resignation yesterday, Riggio also thanked him for "helping to transform Barnes & Noble into a leading digital content provider" and for overseeing the development of the company's Nook e-readers and tablets.
"He saw the shift to digital coming in the industry, and worked to capitalize on it," Stasser says.
Lynch played up that record in the recent conference call. "We get extremely high ratings from our millions of customers using the Nook digital bookstore service, both on our Nook devices or those using our Nook third-party reading apps," Lynch told the analysts. "Our commitment to digital customers hasn't changed, and existing and new Nook customers can expect further improvements in the catalog of e-books, periodicals and education content and a best-in-class reading experience from us going forward."
He added that $222 million of the Nook loss in EBITDA (or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expenses, a measure analysts use to measure a company's ongoing financial health) was related to a one-time write-down of Nook e-reading device inventory, and that the company had launched a cost-cutting plan late last year that resulted in a 34% drop in Nook-related expenses. As the retailer proceeds with its plan to outsource production of e-readers, he added, "we will substantially shrink the losses in the Nook business."
But Lynch also faced multiple, formidable challenges that were tough to overcome, Stasser and others say, including weakening market demand for digital books, competition from Amazon and other retailers for both digital and paper books, and the costs of running large book stores often stocked with items like CDs and DVDs no longer in big demand by consumers.
"Put simply, the book superstore business is dead," says Paula Rosenblum, a former retail company executive who is a managing partner at research and advisory firm Retail Systems Research LLC. She and others say that even stronger sales of digital books and e-readers aren't enough to support most retail chains.
Candace Corlett, president of retail research and consulting firm WSL Strategic Retail, contends that the problems facing Barnes & Noble were already too much for Lynch to address with a more digitally focused strategy when he joined the company in 2010. "Lynch was doomed from the start," she says. "Barnes & Noble is saddled with large, beautiful stores in high-rent districts that are great for coffee and a browse, but not for buying books. Inventory is thin, limiting Barnes & Noble stores' advantage over online orders." The retailer's poor sales of e-readers compared with sales of Apple Inc. and Android devices hasn't helped store performance, she adds.
Corlett and other experts also contend that Barnes & Noble has been unable to match rival Amazon.com's deep discount book pricing strategy and ability to connect with online book buyers.
Amazon, No. 1 in the Top 500, reported a 12.2% year-over-year increase in worldwide media sales in 2012, to $19.94 billion from $17.77 billion. Among all retailers in the Top 500, combined sales in the books/music/video category rose 1.7% last year, to $43.23 billion from $42.52 billion in 2011.
By comparison, Barnes & Noble, which didn't break out online sales last year, reported a 5.9% drop in total combined sales for its Barnes & Noble store and online sales, to $4.568 billion in 2012 from $4.853 in 2011, and a 16.8% decrease in Nook segment sales (including devices and digital content) to $776 million from $933 million. The retailer's college division's combined bookstore and e-commerce sales rose 1.1% to $1.763 billion in 2012 from $1.744 billion in 2011.
Barnes & Noble "is in a tough spot—their core product line has been digitized and their key competitor operates with a break-even business model," says Sucharita Mulpuru, vice president and principal analyst for e-business and channel strategies at Forrester Research Inc. "How can anyone compete when your competitors are losing money selling the same thing you do?"
Adds Corlett, "Amazon online has so far out-paced Barnes & Noble with connectivity to shoppers, that it's hard to see B&N ever catching up in any channel, no matter who is CEO."
Lynch, however, left the company expressing more optimism. "There is a great executive team and board in place at Barnes & Noble, and I look forward to the many innovations the company will be bringing to its millions of physical and digital media customers in the future," he said in a press release announcing his resignation yesterday. Neither he nor the company explained more about such innovations.
The future operating format run by Lynch's successors, however, remains to be seen. Lynch has been replaced as a single CEO by a team of top executives, under chairman Riggio, running the Nook Media division, the Barnes & Noble retail store chain, and the company's college book stores and digital education products. With the board of directors continuing to consider a proposal by Riggio to buy out the retail chain, this week's restructuring of top management "could bring the company closer to a more formal break-up," Stasser says.
The company said yesterday it was "in the process of reviewing its current strategic plan and will provide an update when appropriate."


text:
Publications: Netto, Jeremy
Journal Article
Musk, G.C., Netto, J.D., Maker, G.L. and Trengove, R.D. (2012) Transplacental transfer of medetomidine and ketamine in pregnant ewes. Laboratory Animals, 46 (1). pp. 46-50.
Netto, J.D., Musk, G.C., Maker, G.L. and Trengove, R.D. (2011) Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of ketamine and medetomidine in ovine plasma. Biomedical Chromatography, 25 (12). pp. 1374-1380.
Conference Item
Netto, J., Keane, N., Mullaney, I., Nolan, D., Mallal, S. and Trengove, R. (2009) The alternate metabolism of abacavir and its role in immune-mediated hypersensitivity reactions in HIV infected individuals. In: 57th ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, 31 May - 4 June 2009, Philadelphia, USA.
Keane, N., Lucas, A., Netto, J., Almeida, C., Martin, A., Marriott, D., Kelleher, A., Phillips, E., Nolan, D. and Mallal, S. (2007) Use of the ELISpot assay to detect abacavir- and nevirapine-induced IFN-g responses in PBMC from HIV-infected patients with abacavir or nevirapine hypersensitivity reactions. In: 4th International AIDS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention, 22 - 25 July, Sydney, Australia.