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ASPCA, Where Were You When We Needed You?
At the inauguration of the Coliseum (the Flavian Amphitheater - 80 CE), 9,000 animals were slaughtered. Can we even get our 21st century heads around the mood of a people who would sit still through such butchery? It is hard to imagine. Here are some of the other animals sacrificed to the arena: bulls, hippopotamuses, crocodiles, panthers, tigers, leopards, giraffes, monkeys and ostriches. Not all were hunted; some were trained and taught to perform tricks. Others were made to fight each other, or attack criminals as a form of execution.
While the Greeks and Carthaginians saw elephants as tools for making war, the Romans found them more of a curiosity, putting them on display for the first several hundred years they knew about them. It wasn't until the first center BCE when the venationes got into full swing that they found more entertaining ways to use them. They were also revered and studied 'scientifically,' at least by a few.
"The elephant is the largest of them all, and in intelligence approaches the nearest to man. It understands the language of its country, it obeys commands, and it remembers all the duties which it has been taught. It is sensible alike of the pleasures of love and glory, and, to a degree that is rare among men even, possesses notions of honesty, prudence, and equity; it has a religious respect also for the stars, and a veneration for the sun and the moon." - Pliny, Natural History (VIII.1)
All right, perhaps the elder Pliny had quaffed one cup of spiced wine too many when he wrote the above, but there is something about this (usually) gentle giant that makes you want to give it a hug, isn't there? Too close for comfort? How about feed it a peanut through sturdy bars?
Do you recall the expression "pyrrhic victory," meaning both sides in a conflict suffer so badly that one can hardly be called a victor? Elephants were there when the phrase originated, wreaking havoc with Roman cavalry. One may wonder who was more terrified, the rider or the horse. This was back in 280 BCE when King Pyrrhus from the Greek city-state of Epirus invaded Italy to settle a complicated score involving most of Italy, even Carthage.
The excerpt I have included in this post is from the second book in The Bow of Heaven trilogy, A Mixture of Madness. While a fictionalized account, virtually everything in it has been documented, according to records that have come down to us from Seneca, Pliny the Elder, even Cicero. The incident with the elephants may have occurred in the much larger Circus Maximus, but I have moved it to Pompey's Theater which was, after all, the monument being dedicated. Also, the Circus was so large it is difficult to imagine the crowd being moved to any significant emotional outbreak, since for most of the audience, the action would have been taking place at a considerable distance. (By comparison, the stadium of Domitian in the picture below was half the size of the Circus Maximus.)
Theater of Pompey (dedicated 55 BCE) is in the foreground. The proscenium (with the multi-storied columns)
is to the right, the temple of Venus Victrix is at the top of the semicircular amphitheater.
Emperor Domitian's Odeon and Stadium are in the background (not built for another 125 years).
WARNING: read no further, minors, empaths or other beings weak of stomach. This excerpt is not for the squeamish.
The morning was filled with music and gymnastic competitions. When the great tragedian Clodius Aesopus took the stage, the raucous applause multiplied with such amplitude in the acoustically perfect bowl of the amphitheater that I was obliged to hold my hands to my ears. After several soliloquies, the aged actor spied his old friend, Cicero, and called upon him to ascend the stage. While this galled both consuls, there was little to be done about it without appearing ungenerous, so they were forced to endure an unscheduled performance by the orator. Cicero, like Aesopus, never missed an opportunity to perform, but he was gracious and blessedly brief, congratulating both Pompeius and Crassus (which visibly annoying the former) before taking his seat once again.
A small group of players took the stage and spent a moment tuning their instruments. The crowd grew quite. Then, from the opposite end of the stage, a woman of roughly forty years emerged from between the giant columns so quietly and unobtrusively that the audience, their attention drawn to the greater activity and noise of the musicians, did not notice her entrance. When at last a knot of those in the lower tiers saw her and recognized her, their enthusiasm swept up the curved rows until the entire amphitheater was on its feet. Galeria Copiola, the most famous of all the interlude dancers of the Roman theater, had been coaxed out of her six-year retirement by Pompeius. She had given up her art at the height of her abilities, having found that wealth, of which she had accumulated much, was preferable to fame, of which she had had enough. "Better to leave," she is reputed to have said, "to the cry of tears than the outrage of offended jeers." A lesson learned by far too few of the politicians who witnessed her final performance that day.
The interlude dancer provided entertainment while actors and stage hands prepared for the next act in the play, which was always a comedy, since dance and pantomime, especially of Copiola's sprightly energy, did not lend themselves to tragedy. This performer and her talent were so beloved that when she was on the bill, she packed the old wooden theaters regardless of the play being performed. While her performance this day was as memorable as the leaps and twirls of her teens, forgive me while I allow the lady Galeria to lapse back into her early retirement so that I may rush ahead to describe the day's finale.
Within moments after her final number, an army of stage hands began to appear between the tall columns at the back of the stage. Each pair of men carried a segment of iron fence, six feet wide by ten feet tall. Three vertical bars were topped by gold-painted spikes and weighted at the base with heavy iron plates. The workers quickly created a barrier about the entire circumference of the orchestra and stage, each segment linked to its neighbor by heavy bolts through each crosspiece. When it was done, Pompeius walked through an open section directly before us, crossed the semi-circle of the orchestra and climbed the stage. He stood inside the enclosure, dwarfed by a fifteen-foot tall statue of Venus draped in fine, green wool, the color of the goddess. The marble likeness smiled down upon him, peering over the bars that separated them.
Someone high up amongst the plebeians shouted, "Magnus, the great hunter, has captured himself!"
From the opposite side of the theater, someone else called, "At least the goddess knows on which side of the iron to stand!"
Pompeius, normally one for whom the dimmest star was more discernible than his own inchoate sense of humor, smiled and soldiered on. "On this the final day of dedication of my theater, what goddess better exemplifies the Roman spirit than Venus Victrix, embodiment of both beauty and victory. Today, I place upon the largest altar ever built in her honor a sacrifice of such proportions it will dwarf anything offering that has come before.
"The creature loxodonta africanus pharaoensis is no stranger to Romans. Our ancestors knew them, fought them, captured them, defeated them. King Pyrrhus brought them to our shores to wage war against us. Your ancestors have seen them but two or three times, always on display, docile, chained, paraded about like pets on their leashes." The crowd began to stir, and I, too, had the sinking premonition that there are times when the best seats in the house are those furthest from the stage.
"Today," Pompeius continued, "A story for your grandchildren. You will pass on to them the lesson first Epirus, then Carthage learned to their undoing: no army, no creature on earth is a match for Rome's indomitable legions! Never before have the monstrous beasts you are about to see fought so close to the city walls. Not until today! I give you … the African War Elephant!" A fanfare sounded while Pompeius crossed back to his seat. As his section of fence was bolted shut behind him, from the shadows of the proscenium, a small, dark and barefoot man, wearing nothing besides a loincloth and a willow switch backed onto the stage. He spoke foreign, halting words and gently tapped his branch on something lingering in the shadows.
"Quick, Ciro, fill my cup." Pompeius turned to dominus, noting how his wife clung to him. "Tertulla, there is absolutely nothing to fear. We rehearsed with bears yesterday, and no one received so much as a scratch."
Crassus said, eyeing the few feet between the iron bars and where they sat, "Bears? You might as well have practiced with puppies."
My lady did not look reassured, but even she, like the hushed crowd, was struck by the wonder of the animals being led into the light. The elephants were over ten feet tall at the shoulder, fifteen feet in length, with long, curving white tusks that flanked their drooping trunks. Their ears, thin and veined, were larger than the feathered fans that waved us cool in summer. It should have been the most terrifying site any of us had ever seen, yet their eyes looked out at us with benign intelligence and unutterable sadness. I thought I must be ascribing human feelings to the moist, black orbs which gazed at us, but when the creatures' trainer, having lined nine of the elephants up on the left side of the stage returned to lead the second group out, there was no mistaking the tears that stained his dusty cheeks. When all were assembled, he walked up and down the line of eighteen males, reaching up to pat their cheeks, soothing them with lies. As he passed, several of the animals blew gusts of air or raised their trunks to sniff at him.
"Do not they look ridiculous?" Pompeius asked. "They are as brainless as they are massive. I know, for I hunted them in Africa back when Sulla was dictator."
"They look vulnerable," Tertulla said, "but I see no sign of stupidity, nor any indication of aggression. They just stand there."
I could not restrain myself. I leaned forward to our host and said, "Aristotle has studied these creatures. He has called them 'the animal which surpasses all others in wit and mind.'"
"And fierceness," Pompeius said. "And fierceness."
As if having heard us, one of the animals let out a low grumble and swung his trunk to curl it about his neighbor's. Another down the line raised his snout and trumpeted, answered by an exclamation of astonishment that rose as one voice throughout the amphitheater. Many patricians seated in the front rows stood and clambered up the aisles to the laughter of those already seated high up. We held our ground. Pompeius rose to calm the people's fear. "To represent our brave legionaries in today's exhibition, behold the hunters of Gaetulia!"
Behind him, from each side of the stage, eight tall, olive-skinned men costumed in Roman military tunics, sandals and helmets entered the fabricated arena and lined up, their backs to the audience. Their shields were not Roman, but small and round, painted with designs of white and brown. If anyone looked ridiculous, it was they. There was one, nearest Pompeius on the other side of the bars whose bronze helmet bore the black and white plume of an ostrich feather. He, like all the others, balanced a long, smooth lance in his right hand, much different than our shield-piercing pilum. Ours were tipped with soft iron, meant to be thrown once to disrupt an enemy's line, bending upon impact lest they be hurled back at our own troops. These African weapons, with their flat, leaf-shaped spearheads were designed for deep penetration.
The gates through which the Gaetulians entered clanged shut, startling the animals. They brayed and bumped into each other, clearly becoming more agitated at the sight of what they had recognized as their assailants. Their trainer had retreated to the far right corner where Pompeius had stood before the statue of Venus. The little man leaned with his back against the bars, eyes closed, hands pressed together. I doubted his prayers would be heard.
Several of the animals took a step or two forward on the stage. Others made strange and unsettling sounds. "The people must see we are their masters," Pompeius said, pointing. "Kill them; start with that big one near the end." He turned to Crassus, pointing straight down through the iron fence. "I've had a store of weapons laid in against the wall. Fear not, the hunters will never run out of javelins."
The soldier with the ostrich plume said something to his men and stepped forward. He hefted his spear, calling out to his victim, motioning with his free hand. Stepping forward with his left foot, he threw the javelin with such speed and grace the spear cut the air as if it had been loosed from a bow. The point entered just below the animal's left eye, deftly skirting the armament of muscle and bone to rend the soft center of its life, killing it instantly. It's legs, lifeless pillars, buckled; the corpse crashed to the stage, snapping the spear with a stomach twisting crack as the creature hit the ground. On both sides of the fallen giant, the animals screamed and side-stepped away in terror. The elephant furthest to the right smashed into the fence with force enough to break several of the iron crosspieces, shoving the marble Venus into the column behind it. Her head broke and fell, then the rest toppled in a crash that sent the animals in a wild-eyed search for safety. The crushed trainer lay in a crumpled, lifeless heap, forever spared the sight of the carnage to come.
The audience's cheers were ecstatic.
Rather than charge and retaliate, the elephants appeared desperate to escape. Javelins were now being flung at them by all the hunters. Believing the place where they had entered the arena was the way to their salvation, they bunched about at the rear of the stage, crying out as they pressed against the bars, being wounded all the time in their flanks and legs. Their grunts and cries, pitiful wailing notes were pressed indelibly into every ear. Tertulla turned away. Our eyes met and I could see the water welling brightly in hers. The crowd grew silent, their jubilation extinguished.
Suddenly the elephants turned and rushed away from the rear of the stage, stampeding toward their executioners, stumbling over the bodies of those already dead or dying. At first we could not discern the reason why they reversed direction, but then we saw that men with torches had appeared at the rear of the theater, jabbing with their flames, denying the stars of this last day of celebration their exit.
"Madness!" Crassus shouted, grabbing his wife. "Stay here, Alexander. Be my witness." They were already up and moving. Truth to tell, had I wanted to flee, my legs would have betrayed me.
The Gaeulians circled round to the right. The elephants, only ten remaining now, ran headlong toward the curving fence, straight at us. Iron had never looked so flimsy. Pompeius crouched horrified, his hands clutching the wreath on his head. His guards and lictors huddled about him.
The animals' flanks were exposed, and the hunters loosed a barrage of javelins that thumped and tore into their thick hides. Instinctively fleeing from the source of these new wounds, the victims collided with their brothers, the entire herd smashing headlong into the barrier just beyond us. The fence folded outward over the first rows of seats like a jaw dropping. I saw two men knocked flat and bloody by the iron bars; there may have been more. These were not senators, who had already fled to higher ground, but fools looking for a better view.
Voices rose behind us, a new noise of protest. People were on their feet, demanding that Pompeius stop the killing. When their cries went unanswered, their shouts turned to curses. A cup of wine careened off my shoulder, splashing Magnus's back with scarlet.
One beast separated from his fellows and turned toward the hunters. Blood stained his hide black. His ears flared in defiance; he trumpeted with rage and stumbled forward, cutting off his attackers' retreat. He was driven to his knees, but reaching out with his trunk, snatched a shield from a screaming African and flung it into the stands. It arced high overhead, as if the animal had been trained to perform a trick. His head sank to the ground and the hunter drove his spear into the neck at the base of the elephant's skull. 25,000 groaned as one.
Only five of the original eighteen animals were left alive, all with mortal wounds. They gathered at the front of the orchestra, facing a stunned and horrified crowd, seeming to plead with them directly with raised trunks and cries of the most pitiful nature. The audience jeered the hunters and hurled curses down upon Pompeius. Many stormed from the theater, their tears mingling with vows never to return again. As the remaining elephants' strength gave out, they sank to their knees, their breathing rattled and labored, yet powerful enough to blow dust up to sparkle in the afternoon sun. The hunters approached, spears held high. Uncomprehended shouts of "cowards" and "barbarians" pelted them from above; the garbage flung down upon them was better understood. The chief Gaetulian shook his spear at the Romans, returned their epithets in his throaty tongue and ran to stab the nearest elephant for spite. As he raised his javelin, the animal rose up on his front legs, using the last of his strength in a final attempt to get away. The hunter with the ostrich plume moved in close enough to touch the beast and grabbed his spear with both hands for a killing thrust to the heart. But he was too late. The elephant moaned, one of the saddest sounds I have ever heard, and died. The hunter jerked back to avoid the rolling corpse, but he wasn't fast enough. One foot was caught by the dead animal as it rolled on its side. Off balance, the headman squealed and jabbered as he fell backwards, kicking with his free leg at the grey wall descending upon him. I could not hear the bones of his legs break, but I could see his eyes bulge like eggs as the lower part of him was squeezed up into the upper half. His countrymen rushed to his aid, pulling his arms to free him from an embrace with no release. He screeched at them until the wave of his jellied insides pushed their way out his mouth. Then he was silent. It was the first time I had heard the crowd cheer since that same man had killed the first elephant.
While this was happening, Pompeius left the theater under guard, without comment or apology. Eighteen elephants died that day, along with any hope that Pompeius' millions had bought the renewed love of the people he had so wished to purchase.
A gladiator crying for succor, running from his opponent would be jeered and reviled; but let the mirror of that same behavior be exhibited by these lumbering, implausible creatures and the empathy of the crowd is aroused. There is no logic to it, except perhaps this: the elephants could easily have overpowered the hunters and crushed them. That they appeared to spare them, offering their own lives instead, was seen as noble.
I shall never understand these Romans.


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How is your week going? Gosh...its sooooo boring this week, absolutely nothing is happening.
No awards, no fashion shows! No bellanaija?
Anyways, thanks for still checking up on me despite the slow updates.
I was flipping through a Nigerian wedding magazine and noted that some of the Nigerian-branded Wedding Dresses looked really good! I was impressed....
Have a look at some of my favourites and let me know what you think.
Also, are you one of those women who has completely planned out her wedding even without being engaged or having a bf? Dont be shy, share the details with us!
Have a fabulous day....Ciao!

subset: commoncrawl


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'Vehicular Assault' Collision in Des Moines Sends Five to Hospital Saturday
A speeding vehicle driven by a 19-year old man crashed into a car in Des Moines on Saturday, Nov. 10, sending all the passengers to local hospitals, and causing life-threatening injuries to the 25-year old female driver.
The 25-year old driver was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with potential life threatening injuries, along with two occupants – a 14-year old male and 14-year old female – with very serious injuries.
Two other occupants of the victim's vehicle were transported to St. Francis Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Des Moines Police say that around 3 p.m. on Saturday they responded to the two-vehicle collision which occurred in the intersection of S. 240 Street and 20th Ave South.
Investigators at the scene have determined the at-fault vehicle was driving at a high rate of speed traveling southbound on 20th Ave South, failed to stop for a stop sign, and struck the victim's vehicle, which was traveling eastbound on S 240th Street.
The 19-year old male at fault driver was transported to Highline Medical Center where he was treated and released into police custody. He was booked into SCORE Jail for Investigation of four (4) counts of vehicular assault pending further investigation.
The four other occupants of the at fault vehicle were not injured and are cooperating with the investigators.


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The Way of Wonder
Recognizing and celebrating our Condition of Irreducible Mystery.
"THE GREATEST OF ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF 20TH-CENTURY SCIENCE has been the discovery of human ignorance." Lewis Thomas, Lives of a Cell. "OUR IGNORANCE, OF COURSE, HAS ALWAYS BEEN WITH US, AND ALWAYS WILL BE. What is new is our awareness of it, our awakening to its fathomless dimensions, and it is this, more than anything else, that marks the coming of age of our species." Timothy Ferris, Coming of Age in the Milky Way.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
The Infantile Philosophy of "Oops!"
Quotation from Ken Wilber's,
"Sex, Ecology, Spirituality: The Spirit of Evolution."
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'Jungle Book' Ballet Features Local TalentSOCORRO, N.M. October 28, 2011 – The Jungle Book, en pointe, is coming to New Mexico Tech's Macey Center at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, and a number of Socorro children will be part of the Performing Arts Series presentation.
| The State Street Ballet brings another show to Socorro this year, 'The Jungle Book,' once again featuring local children in the ensemble cast.
The Jungle Book, in fact, was the final Disney film to receive Uncle Walt's personal care and attention before he died in December of 1966.
Told through dance, the Jungle Book is the story of orphaned boy Mowgli, saved by Raksha the She Wolf from a tiger attack, and then raised in the jungle of India by the wolf family. When it is decided by the jungle council that Mowgli needs to live with humans, he embarks on a journey with Bagheera the panther and Baloo, the lovable, happy-go-lucky bear. Through his adventures with jungle characters like the Monkey King Louie, the hypnotic snake Kaa, and the beautiful young girl Messua, he eventually realizes where he belongs and the value of friendship.
The Jungle Book marks the second PAS appearance by the State Street Ballet, which brought The Nutcracker to town in November 2010, according to PAS Director Ronna Kalish.
"We had such good feedback from The Nutcracker, that we're bringing the State Street Ballet back by popular demand," Kalish said.
"The children enjoyed performing alongside the professional dancers, and the special effects and costumes were truly captivating," she said.
Founded in 1994 as a nonprofit organization, the State Street Ballet remains dedicated to promoting original dance through public performances and educational outreach.
The company tours domestically and internationally, and boasts a 90 percent rebooking rate. The Jungle Book is one of its original touring productions.
The State Street Ballet is known for taking classic storylines and giving them a modern twist; that, along with digital technology, state-of-the-art sets, exciting choreography and lavish lighting make for an unforgettable performance.
"Plus," said Kalish, "children in the audience will be mesmerized by the professional dancers in their animal masks and colorful costumes, right down to the swishy tails."
"This performance is a delightful way to introduce youth to the beauty of ballet," she said. "The story is simple, but enchanting," Kalish continued, adding that everyone who sees the performance will leave with a smile on their face."
Tickets for the Jungle Book are $20 for adults, $18 for senior citizens 65 and over, and $10 for youths 17 and under.
Tickets are available at the Cashier's Office (second floor of Fidel Center), Brownbilt Shoes, Burrito Tyme drive-up or at the door.
Sponsors for the performance are Don and Rosie Tripp, Socorro Springs, Presbyterian Healthcare Services (Socorro General Hospital), Wells Fargo, the New Mexico Tech Student Association, New Mexico Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Best Western.
By Valerie Kimble/New Mexico Tech


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visit us in Downtown San Francisco
You haven't really done San Francisco 'til you've done the Starlight Room. 'Til you've sipped a Four-Three-Five Manhattan and watched the city lights twinkle from 21 floors up. 'Til you've dined with the divas at the Sunday's A Drag Brunch, featuring bites from our small-plates menu. 'Til you've danced like you've never danced before at this iconic nightclub inside the historic Kimpton Sir Francis Drake Hotel, where old-school glamour rubs elbows with present-day pizzazz. You want true San Francisco? We've got your table waiting with the best views of SF.


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Interpreting the chest X-ray in ICU can be difficult. Dr Dilshan Don guides us through some common issues.
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HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS — Mike D'Antoni won't get the chance to fix whatever ails the New York Knicks. He resigned as coach Wednesday and is being replaced on an interim basis by his assistant and former Hawks head coach Mike Woodson, as first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports and since confirmed by sources to NBA.com.
With rumors rampant and the Knicks falling out of the playoff mix with an ugly 0-for-March stretch — they've lost six straight games — something had to give. D'Antoni leaves in what was reportedly a mutual parting of the ways. But there were rumblings that D'Antoni had lost the respect of the players in his locker room in recent weeks.
The glow of Linsanity and Jeremy Lin's rise to fame was washed away in Carmelo Anthony's struggles and growing discomfort in a system that didn't feature the All-Star forward the way he was used to being featured. D'Antoni's departure marks a major mood swing for the Knicks, who just last month this time were the talk of the league and the global sports world with Lin as the centerpiece.
They won seven straight games, got back to .500 and did almost all of that with Anthony out injured. But they suffered losses in eight of their next 10 games and simply could not get Anthony, Lin, Amar'e Stoudemire and the rest of their key players on the same page.
TNT's David Aldridge weighs in with even more details on a rift between D'Antoni and Anthony that might have led to the "mutual parting of the ways":
A source with knowledge of the discussions says D'Antoni and Knicks chairman James Dolan mutually agreed to terminate D'Antoni's job with New York after the two met this morning.
D'Antoni, the source said, had been advocating that the Knicks attempt to trade Anthony to the New Jersey Nets for guard Deron Williams, a deal D'Antoni believed would be beneficial for both franchises. But Dolan categorically declined that request, and the "conflicting visions" between the owner and head coach about Anthony meant there was no way forward.
D'Antoni had hoped the Knicks' inspired and winning play with Lin as the centerpiece — while Anthony and Stoudemire were injured — would convince Dolan the Knicks could win without Anthony. Bringing Williams from the Nets would also have eases the burden on Lin, D'Antoni believed, allowing Lin to settle into a three-guard rotation.
D'Antoni asked for the meeting with Dolan after his relationship with Anthony had deteriorated sharply in recent days. He will be paid the remainder of the $6 million he's due in this fourth and final year of his $24 million contract.
Woodson has plenty of experience trying to turn around a struggling program. (He is, after all, the mastermind behind the Knicks' defensive renaissance this season, they went from 21st in defensive efficiency last season to 10th this season.)
He spent six years in Atlanta, using a star-friendly system that helped Joe Johnson and, later, Al Hoford earn multiple All-Star nods.
Woodson was criticized for his "Iso Joe" offense that relied almost exclusively on Johnson either making or creating plays in half-court sets, but he had great success with that style. The Hawks made three straight playoff appearances in his final three years with the team and rang up the fourth-best season in the franchise's Atlanta history with a 53-29 record in 2009-10.
"Woody's on the hot seat again," a league source said and then laughed. "That's just the way he likes it."
Woodson is also known as a defensive specialist, something the Knicks knew they needed in August when they hired Woodson to join D'Antoni's staff.
He proved in Atlanta that he was capable of working under duress, as the Hawks endured on- and off-the-court drama from the moment he took over until the day he found out his contract would not be renewed. Woodson's first Hawks team won just 13 games, the worst record in the league during the 2004-05 season.
The Hawks won 26, 30, 37, 47 and 53 games in the seasons after that, making it to the Eastern Conference semifinals in each of Woodson's last two seasons.
But whatever challenges he faced in Atlanta, he never faced the sort of attention and pressure he'll see now with the Knicks, even if only on an interim basis.
Our man Scott Howard-Cooper was in L.A. to see some of Woodson's former players on the Hawks take on the Clippers:
Joe Johnson: "I have no idea how he's going to do, but I'm sure he'll try to have those guys ready to go. They've got a lot of talent. Hopefully he can bring the best out of them."
Johnson, on dealing with the scrutiny in New York: "I'm sure he'll be able to handle it. I haven't talked to him in a while. But this is an opportunity for him. It's presented itself again. I'm sure he's going to want to make the most of it."
Zaza Pachulia: "You really can't compare Atlanta to New York. It's totally different with everything – the team, the city, the organization, media. Everything. One thing I can say it's every assistant coach's dream to become a head coach, so I'm sure he feels great about it."
Pachulia, on Woodson's prospects for success in New York: "I'm sure it's going to be hard. Especially taking over near the middle of the season and not having time to practice. It's tough. But I'm sure he's going to try his best."
UPDATE (11:45 p.m.): Finally, we have this from NBA.com correspondent Mike Slane, who hung around to talk to Knicks after their win over Portland on Wednesday:
Carmelo Anthony: "It was an unfortunate day. From a basketball standpoint, we had a lot of fun on the court. We responded well with our backs against the wall. Under the circumstances we put everything aside, played basketball and had fun. It was a good way to come out and get a 'W'. In life there are times change can be for the better. It is an unfortunate situation with coach Mike. He said he stepped down for the sake of the team. He felt like the team needed change. I wish it was under better circumstances but it is what it is."
Amar'e Stoudemire: "I'm always a guy that's going to listen to my coach and also implement whatever strategy for us to play towards that goal. They watch more film than we do. They study the game a lot more than we do. So they have a better sense of how to play the game. With that being said, with him being gone now, Mike Woodson is our coach and we have to have the same respect for him as we had for our previous coach."
Jeremy Lin: "For me, personally, I'm a little more emotional, losing a coach or anyone that was there for me the whole season. Obviously, him and the staff did a lot for me and did a lot for the team."
Steve Novak: "I was home and I was very unhappy. The opportunity he gave me and the coach that he is and more than anything the man that he is. It is going to be tough knowing that he is not going to be working with us the rest of the year."
Tyson Chandler: "Obviously, at the beginning when I found out the news about coach it was disappointing. I was excited about playing for him throughout the year. I understand that things don't always go the way you expect them to. I will always have respect for coach and I will always respect his decision."


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Sunday, August 15, 2010
Hectic Weekend
We just got back from a breathtaking wedding at the Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki. The wedding took place in the garden courtyard of the hotel under perfect azure skies. A wedding of a lifetime.
The reception was spectacular and elegant. I was happy to receive one of the twenty-five table centerpieces. It is so beautiful and stands a striking 3 feet tall. It is so huge that it dwarfs the lamps that sit next to it.
A close up of the vase, an art piece all by itself.
I anticipate the week ahead to be very busy as I prepare for my sons move into his college dorm. I'll be back soon. I promise.
Take care, everyone!
9 comments:
- Barb said...
What a beautiful center piece...lucky you!
- Sun Aug 15, 08:47:00 PM 2010
- Zlaty said...
So beautiful! Thanks for sharing with us!
- Sun Aug 15, 08:58:00 PM 2010
- Annette said...
Wow what a beautifull center piece!!!
- Mon Aug 16, 02:21:00 AM 2010
- Josh said...
Hi, hope it's OK to contact you here. We would love to include your blog on our giveaway search engine: Giveaway Scout (http://www.giveawayscout.com). Have a look and if interested, use our online form to add your blog (http://www.giveawayscout.com/addblog/ ). thanks, Josh
- Mon Aug 16, 08:30:00 AM 2010
- sweetiepie said...
Lettie, how lucky that you got to take the centerpiece home. It is beautiful.
Take care.
- Mon Aug 16, 09:11:00 AM 2010
- Gledwood said...
That vase looks well funky. I love blue flowers :-)
- Mon Aug 16, 03:19:00 PM 2010
- Bogdan Stelistul said...
Salut!!!My name is bogdan from Romania!!!
We can be friends ???
- Tue Aug 17, 10:27:00 PM 2010
- Magia da Inês said...
♥♥ Olá, amiga!
Que lindo! Que fofura!!! Que delicadeza!... seus trabalhos são encantadores. ♥♥
Bom fim de semana!...
♥ ...com tudo de bom!
♥ Itabira
Brasil ♥♥
- Sat Aug 21, 06:28:00 AM 2010
- Paulateje said...
Hola: Mi nombre es Paula y creo que tu blog es uno de los mas lindos que he visto,como tienes tiempo para hacer tantas cosas??.
Un saludo cariñoso parati desde Chile
- Mon Sep 13, 07:29:00 AM 2010


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The Australian-based photographer Steve Axford captures some mind-boggling fungi, including tropical mushrooms that had likely not been caught on film prior to these images. Compelled to adventure into obscure places left unexplored by most men, the artist documents strange organisms, many of which are found in his native area, the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. A number of species exhibited in his body of work exist in more temperate zones, like Tasmania and the state of Victoria.
Axford, a retired computer system designer and manager, hopes to marry science and art. His photographs, in addition to being beautiful, are useful in the identification and cataloging of species previously undocumented. Prior to Axford's efforts, the hairy mycena, a snowy white mushroom with a fuzzy cap and a translucent stem had not been spotted or archived in Australia. The same holds true for the blue leratiomyces, a plant native to New Caledonia and Lord Howe Island.
Seen here in striking detail are the most uncanny of fungi species, each enchanting in its own magical way. Some are bioluminescent, glowing an electric green in the night air; others are impossibly delicate, sprouting elegantly from moistened tree trucks. Unexpected colors spill into nature's canvas with the growth of purple, blue, pink, and bright red mushrooms. The artist explains that photography has gifted him with the opportunity to slow down and absorb the earthly wonders that surround him; in shooting these strange, spindly lifeforms, he gives us the opportunity to do the same. Take a look. (via Colossal)


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October 8, 2012 11:08:14 AM
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- The city of Jackson released more than 2.8 billion gallons of minimally treated sewage -- enough to fill four NFL stadiums -- into the Pearl River system over the last four years, the Environmental Protection Agency says.
Analysis of reports filed with the state Department of Environmental Quality indicate that Jackson bypassed treatment at its Savannah Street Wastewater Treatment Plant about one day in eight, according to The Clarion-Ledger (http://on.thec-l.com/Q4q9HD).
Such bypasses often occurred after a half-inch of rain or less, the newspaper reported.
The sewer system is old and failing. Safeguards no longer function properly because of years of neglect.
However, DEQ officials say health risks appear minimal. It has found bacteria levels too high for swimming or wading in the Pearl River only four times since 2009. Nine other water contact advisories -- eight of them in the last two years -- were issued for creeks.
Before diverting excess sewage, the city dilutes it with treated water, adds chlorine to kill bacteria, then dechlorinates the mixture so chemicals don't go into the river.
Sewage dumps can kill off fish or cause a spread of bacteria, but DEQ spokesman Robbie Wilbur said the metro area had only two mass fish kills since 2009. Nor has it found any increase in human digestive diseases that might be caused by raw sewage, he said.
Sometime this month, The Jackson City Council is expected to approve an agreement to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on sewer system upgrades and to pay the EPA a fine for violating the Clean Water Act.
Negotiations have been going on for two years. The consent decree would be the first of its kind in Mississippi, but similar agreements have become common around the country.
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1. Monday profile: Morris finds calling to medicine, Mississippi COLUMBUS & LOWNDES COUNTY
2. Winning: Love of baseball drives success for MSU head coach Chris Lemonis STARKVILLE & OKTIBBEHA COUNTY
3. County continues seeking easements for Blackjack Road project STARKVILLE & OKTIBBEHA COUNTY
4. Makerspace movement continues to thrive in Starkville STARKVILLE & OKTIBBEHA COUNTY
5. Lowndes County begins summer work program COLUMBUS & LOWNDES COUNTY


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Step into the shoes of one of two main characters and experience the world of Rieze Maxia through its ferocious dungeons, vibrant towns, and sprawling landscapes. Link up with comrades to execute powerful, combination attacks in exciting real-time battles! Customize character appearance and skill set to truly personalize the epic journey ahead!
1-4 players
HDTV screen resolution: 720p
Purchase or use of this item is subject to the PlayStation®Network Terms of Service and User Agreement and this item's use restrictions. This item has been sublicensed to you by Sony Computer Entertainment America. One-time license fee for downloads to up to 2 console systems that are associated with the purchasing account.
Tales of Xillia™ & ©2011 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.


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Fast Finish Decoupage
by Beacon
Create wonderful home decor and gift items! This decoupage medium dries fast to a crystal clear tack-free finish when adhering any sort of decorative paper to glass, wood, metal, terra cotta, plastic, cardboard, and more. Fast Finish is non-toxic, acid-free, and non-yellowing with no unpleasant odor.
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text:
Terrible Feelings Surrounding Letdown?
You might have something called Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex -D-Mer for short.
I stumbled across an article a couple of days ago and while I'm still reading about the condition, I didn't want to wait until I was more knowledgeable before sharing it here.
Just-Identified Breastfeeding Disorder Gives New Meaning to 'Letdown'," written in Babble's Strollerderby, speaks D-Mer, a negative visceral reaction surrounding the let-down reflex while nursing. It seems to have been begun being studied in 2008… that's the earliest studies I can find. (A list of the available studies is found on the D-Mer.org website.)
While the causes are still being explored and studied, it seems there's a glitch in the dopamine receptor and its regulation. This is the more scientific area I'll look at later.
It's the information that women aren't nuts if they feel these feelings during nursing that I want to get out right now.
Alia Macrina Heise writes in "Opening the Door to Breastfeeding's Best Kept Secret":
"The birth was a fairytale and my babymoon was like a dream. Then the babymoon came to an abrupt end as I started to find that just before my milk released, each and every time, I had an overwhelming sensation of guilt, dread and horror. I didn't have any pain, no physical problems, just a surge of negative emotions that hit me in the gut out of nowhere, only to fade away a few moments after my milk released from my breast. I felt great otherwise."
Michelle writes in "A Feeling of Dread – Michelle's Story":
"I asked myself if maybe it was postnatal depression, but that didn't sit right. I was actually elated to have birthed at home and to have had such a great experience. Maybe I was coming down from that high? I wasn't sure. At first the bad feelings were like an intuition, that something really bad was about to happen. There was nothing I could put my finger on, but I had been trying so hard to tune into my intuition over the final weeks of pregnancy and during labour, I thought I was somehow now psychic and that bad things were about to happen to me, the kids, my husband, the house. Once I even hobbled out of bed to check my older son, not really sure why, but so sure that something was wrong."
This is fascinating. And is a testament that even someone like me who reads nearly everything she can find on birth and nursing, there are still black holes of knowledge that need filling. I wrote in Facebook:
"It's when topics like this come up... a very, very important link in the birth process... that I've never heard of before that keeps me humble as all get out. You all see only a part of what I read on a daily basis and... for goodness sake,... I was a La Leche League leader for 10 years! I just cannot believe I've never heard of this.
And yes! When I take this new color to the breastfeeding spectrum and hold it up against the misunderstood or confusing situations I've seen over the last almost 3 decades, some of them make perfect sense. As Erin said, 'I never understood why some women said they hated breastfeeding... now I get it.'
And, beside the humbling aspects, this also serves as a GLARING reminder of the massive amounts of information still yet to be 'discovered' and named and studied... experiences women right next to us... or even ourselves... have no explanation for that, if we had the future knowledge, might change the entire relationship with our bodies/our breasts/our babies/our partners/our minds.
Just wow."
I hope this information resonates with any of you that might not have heard of D-Mer either.


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In-House Technology Challenges for Small Racing Retailers
You don't need a 24/7 IT person, but you do need an effective approach for managing your technology.
By Jane and Larry McGrath
How do you select, install, integrate and maintain the technology you need? How do you learn about and train employees to operate it? How do you handle your email, website, e-store and social media?
If you answered "by the seat of my pants," "in bits and pieces" or "as I have time" to any of these questions, you're not alone. Most small retailers tell us that unless there's a crisis—the computer crashes, a vendor won't accept phone orders any longer, email stops working—they expect technology to "run itself."
Unfortunately, no matter how sophisticated information technology (IT) becomes, it still needs a human to decide what to use, how to use it effectively and monitor its success.
Evaluate Your IT Needs
There is no one-size-fits-all technology package for racing retailers. Multiple factors, such as your knowledge and expertise, store size and location, products, and desire to operate online, make your needs unique.
To be sure technology makes your business life easier and more productive, evaluate what you have, decide what you need to add, and develop a plan for how to make it all work together for you.
Because, even if you decide to hire someone to manage and/or implement your IT plan, you have to be able to define what you need the technology to do and what you need the manager/implementer(s) to do.
In-Store Technology
Start your in-store review with your Point of Sale (POS) system. Does it do everything you need to provide great customer service? For example, does the basic POS system hardware (computer, monitor, cash drawer and receipt printer) and software efficiently handle customer-related tasks such as sales, returns, exchanges and quantity discounts? Is it reliable?
Do you need to add accessories such as a debit/credit card reader to improve service? What about adding a software module to handle unique functions such as promotional sales and manufacturer coupons?
Would it be cost effective to add specialized software such as CRM (Customer Relationship Management) or one of the popular inventory tracking systems? Collecting information with CRM, according to the editors of CRM magazine, "allows customer-facing employees in such areas as sales, customer support and marketing to make quick yet informed decisions on everything from cross-selling and upselling opportunities to target marketing strategies to competitive positioning tactics." But, they advise, you must know what information you want to collect and how to use it.
And if you're thinking of adding an inventory tracking component and more advanced technology like a bar code reader, Bob Parker of IDC Manufacturing Insights asked, "Do you have good part numbering and stocking locations? Do you have well-defined and understood processes for receiving, put away, pick, move and ship? Do you employ good control mechanisms like regular cycle counts?"
If these "fundamentals are right" and you have the volume to support it, it's worth looking into he said.
Is there other hardware and/or software that would make in-store operations more efficient and more cost effective?
Office Technology
How old is your office hardware? "Smart organizations set PC service lives at three or four years," said TechRepublic.com's Erik Eckel. The reason: Retaining PCs longer than that often results in repair and support costs that meet or exceed the price of new systems.
"Older and obsolete hardware is less efficient, increases downtime likelihood, feeds staff and customer frustration, endangers sales and threatens other lost opportunities," he added.
When evaluating your software, such as the operating system, office productivity applications, accounting programs, security tools, and utilities, the first question to ask: Is it properly licensed?
Next, do you use all the software you have loaded or is it just taking up space? And, do you use it effectively? For example, recent research shows that office staff understand less than 20 percent of the available features in the software they use. This means 80 percent of the features—which are designed to save time and increase productivity—aren't used.
Are the applications you use for functions such as word processing, bookkeeping, vendor collaboration and desktop publishing reliable? Do they make it easy to move information and data between and among programs?
Could a new application increase your efficiency? If so, could you save valuable hard drive space and money by taking advantage of the newer cloud-based software that resides on the Internet and is available on a subscription basis? For example, Microsoft (Office 365), Adobe (Creative Suite) and Intuit (Quickbooks) offer cloud-based software.
The advantages of cloud-based software are that it's kept current with automatic revisions, security updates and new features; using your security code, it can be accessed from any computer; you save cash flow by subscribing instead of paying an up-front purchase cost; off-site secure data storage is a good backup.
Would adding components to your POS system to handle office tasks such as tracking sales data, purchasing and receiving be cost effective? For example, QuickBooks Point of Sale, an adaptation for POS systems that run on Windows Vista/7/XP, allows you to track sales, customers and inventory easily and quickly.
"A common tech mistake businesses make," said TechRepublic.com's Eckel: "They fail to standardize hardware components and software applications, where possible. The result is a mishmash of components that complicate troubleshooting, repair and deployment, and require companies to support a variety of programs with different license terms and renewal dates. Incompatibilities often result." In other words, fragmented technology costs you money, time and valuable data.
A note to Microsoft Windows XP users: You will need to change your operating system by April 2014, when Microsoft ends its support for Windows XP. In addition, some older software won't work with the new operating system you adopt.
eCommerce & Social Media
"Creating and operating an ecommerce website or online store gets easier all the time," said David Mercer, of SEO Entrepreneur. But, it still takes tech capabilities, money and time.
If you're entering the ecommerce market, you'll probably need additional computer power and storage capacity. Will it be more cost effective and secure to use one of the many hosting companies or add to your hardware?
Can you add ecommerce capabilities to your existing website or would it be better to build the site from scratch? To help you decide, check out at least a couple of the most widely used shopping carts and ecommerce store builders, such as BigCommerce, Pinnacle Cart and Shopify.
Evaluating your needs for using social media—Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs—requires you to ask questions about how much time you have rather than hardware and software. Do you have time every day to interact in your virtual communities?
Just putting up a Facebook fan page, writing a blog or posting an occasional Tweet won't boost business if your followers don't believe you are interested in interacting with them. In fact, Matt Mullenweg, founder of the blogging platform Wordpress, lists "not participating in comments" as a surefire way to kill a community.
Develop an Implementation Plan
Once you have a handle on the technology you need to make the store successful in 2013, the question is: Who is going to make it happen?
Consider the risks and rewards of these options.
Option #1: You do it all.
Although you have a wide variety of responsibilities pulling you in many directions, if technology is your priority and interest, a good case can be made for you to be the IT person. For example, when you have a problem, you don't have to make a call and wait hours or days for a call-back or on-site visit. You know what to do and can get it done without a serious disruption in business. In addition, you don't have extra salaries or contract fees and you maintain control of sales and customer data.
However, it demands your constant attention and leaves little time for activities like selling, ordering and marketing.
There are free or low-cost solutions available that can help diminish some of the time demands. For example, a social media manager such as HootSuite allows you to manage all of your social network accounts on one site so you don't have to constantly monitor them. But, you still have to track down the "solution" and learn how to use and implement it.
Option #2: Hire specialists to help.
If you want to handle some technology pieces, but don't have the time or desire to do everything, assembling a team of specialists can be a good solution.
"Small businesses need knowledgeable, trusted technology partners who are proficient with current technologies and willing to help learn their industry's operations requirements," said TechRepublic.com's Eckel. The result, he added, "is almost always more cost-effective, more efficient, more profitable operations for the client."
Your hardware and software vendors can supply the names of "certified" product specialists in your geographic area. These specialists, in addition to extra training, have better access to technical support you might need.
Retailers who hire specialists admit that there is a tendency to try to "get by" with a minimal number, particularly when the budget is tight. But, they warn, insufficient staff will affect your ability to provide quality service and disrupt the store's ability to make money.
Option #3: Outsource.
If you and your employees don't have the time or skills to perform technology-related tasks, attempting to do them may take longer than necessary and take time away from what you and your staff do best, according to Michaele Curtis of Demand Media. "For example, for every half hour your salesman spends struggling with a computer/printer setup or installing new software, he may be losing a sale of your product or services," said Curtis.
That's why many retailers decide to outsource their technology needs to a local computer specialist, a vendor or a Managed Service Provider (MSP). Outsourcing allows you to turn over everything to those with superior technological capabilities so that you can focus on the business. And, consolidating all your services with one company, rather than several specialists, may save you time and money.
Nevertheless, outsourcing your technology is not a panacea. Anytime you give someone else responsibility for an aspect of your business, there is risk involved. For example: Will they do what they are supposed to do? Will their response time—for everything from routine questions to business-stopping computer crashes—be acceptable? Will your data be secure?
Technology has an increasingly important role in retail and the health of your business depends on your creating an effective way to manage it.
Unless there's a crisis—the computer crashes, a vendor stops accepting phone orders, email isn't working—many retailers expect technology to "run itself." Unfortunately, Information Technology (IT) still needs a human to decide what to use and how to use it effectively, as well as monitor its success. For racing retailers, multiple factors make your needs unique, including your knowledge and expertise, store size and location, products, and desire to operate online. An effective approach for managing your technology will take these factors into account, while also determining how to select, install, integrate and maintain the technology you need.


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Includes apps for iphone, and the droid!Free iPhone app Free Android App
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text: Hello all, I am planning to program an ISPConfig 3 plugin for creating customer form letters providing all access info and credentials. The challenge: When creating new customer accounts and/or webs, emails, databases etc. (for customers), I always have to create new passwords and store them manually, so I can provide my client with a letter containing all access data and credentials. I want a tool that can do this automatically. I know that no readable password information is stored by ISPConfig, so I developed the following concept: I will add a plugin to any editor of ISPConfig that writes credential information, encrypt it as securely as possible and then write it to the database. So the plugin will be able to create letters containing the credential info of a certain user or web. So far, I wish to implement the following features: - password storage with strong encryption - an individual password will be created during installation of plugin - creating PDF documents with customer information / credentials - simple document editor (this will only allow to switch on/off usage of certain information in the output document) - download/show document or send to customer via email - multilanguage support with language editor I'd love to get feedback from you all; what do you think of the plan; who would want / need such a tool, what features would you suggest! Please write! Kind regards, Tom


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The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has launched an investigation that will lead to the fourth update of its report on the economic effects of significant U.S. import restraints.
The investigation, The Economic Effects of Significant U.S. Import Restraints: Fourth Update, (Inv. No. 332-325) was requested by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in May 1992. That request called for an initial investigation and subsequent updates. The first report in response to this request was issued in November 1993. The first update was published in December 1995, the second update was published in May 1999, and the third update was published in June 2002. The current update will be delivered to the USTR in June 2004.
The ITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will examine the effects of import restraints on U.S. consumers, on the activities of U.S. firms, on the income and employment of U.S. workers, and on the net economic welfare of the United States. The study will look at the effects of major tariffs and non-tariff barriers, but will not include the effects of import restraints resulting from final antidumping or countervailing duty investigations, section 337 and section 406 investigations, or section 301 actions.
The ITC is seeking input for its investigation from all interested parties. A public hearing will be held in connection with this investigation on December 9, 2003. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on November 14, 2003, with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Hearing statements should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on January 10, 2004.
The ITC also welcomes written submissions for the record. Submissions (one original and 14 copies) should be addressed to the Secretary at the above address and should be submitted at the earliest practical date but no later than 5:15 p.m. on January 10, 2004. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection.
Further information on the scope of the investigation and appropriate submissions is available in the ITC's notice of investigation, dated August 15, 2003, which may be obtained from the ITC Internet server (www.usitc.gov) or by contacting the Secretary at the above address or at 202-205-1802.
ITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade, and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Senate Committee on Finance or the House Committee on Ways and Means. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the ITC submits its findings and analyses to the requestor. General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public, unless they are classified by the requestor for national security reasons.


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InformationWeek is part of the Informa Tech Division of Informa PLC
This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them.Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.
Feds Pull Plug On 'One Stop' Cloud Portal The General Services Administration plans to decommission Uncle Sam's Apps.gov site, which was supposed to make it easy for agencies to acquire software as a service.
IT Tools Help Turn Research Into Clinical Practice Federally sponsored apps aim to harness EHRs to jumpstart medical research in community practice.
Celtics, Nets Score With Unified Communications NBA teams' IT executives explain how and why they decided among on-premises, hybrid and hosted technology services.
SAS Acquires rPath Assets To Boost Cloud Services Analytic vendor SAS buys automation technologies, hires key staff to bolster its rapidly scalable cloud delivery capabilities.
Avoid Vague Social Media Policies Recent National Labor Relations Board decision reminds employers that employee speech related to terms of employment is protected.
Cisco Pledges SDN Openness With Cariden Cisco insists it's been "open" about software-defined networking and will stay that way after its latest acquisition.
Unlocked iPhone 5: Worth The Cost? Apple is now selling an unlocked version of the iPhone 5 starting at $649. Make sure you know the pros and cons involved in buying an off-contract device.
EHRs Can Thwart Prescription Drug Abuse, Says Study New government-sponsored report suggests embedding access to state-level substance abuse data in physician and pharmacy systems.
SMS Text Messaging Has 20th Birthday Monday Who invented texting? Who sent the first text and what did it say? Why 160 characters? These and more fun questions are answered on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the first short message service (SMS) text message.
National Archives Picks Google Apps For Government $7.2 million contract awarded to Unisys.
Hire A Data Science Team, Not A Data Scientist Assembling a group of talented people with diverse skills is the best way to meet your data science needs, says Deloitte director.
NASA Mars Mission: No Little Green Men -- Yet NASA debunks rumors of new evidence of life on Mars, but its Curiosity rover continues to make many smaller discoveries. Some of NASA's latest images raise interesting questions.
Safety, Technology, Anger And Hope America's patient safety record is a source of embarrassment that angers both clinicians and patients. The right IT tools can help mitigate the danger to life and limb.
Microsoft Defends Hiring Foreign Workers Microsoft says it has 34% more open engineering positions than this time last year, and can't fill them all domestically.
Dwolla Shakes Up Online Payments Online payment darling Dwolla adds three new services as it tries to speed up merchant and consumer acceptance of its electronic transactions.
Apple iTunes 11: Visual Tour Take a closer look at Apple iTunes 11 and see how the venerable music application and e-commerce interface has been redesigned for the better.
5 Ways Microsoft Can Save Windows 8 Microsoft's new OS holds plenty of potential, but so far consumers aren't loving the radically redesigned desktop. Microsoft should consider these changes.
Apple To Sell iPhone 5, iPad Mini In China Sales of Apple's latest tablets kick off December 7 in China, with the iPhone following December 14.
Microsoft Scroogled Site Challenges Google Shopping Honesty Are you getting Scroogled? What does that even mean? Microsoft wants you to believe Google Shopping is a rip-off and has dedicated Scroogled.com to explaining it all. (Hint: Bing is a much safer place to holiday shop.)
Gaza Ceasefire Doesn't Hold Online: New Anonymous Hack War of words and hacked websites continues, even as the Palestinian territories receive upgraded state status from the United Nations.
Unlocked iPhone 5 For Sale At Apple You can now buy an iPhone 5 from Apple with no carrier contract committment. There is no CDMA support and what LTE support they have is unclear. The phone should work on AT&T and T-Mobile, but perhaps not on Verizon and Sprint.
Ballmer: Hardware Key To Microsoft's Future Facing tablet pressure, Microsoft CEO tells shareholders that company needs to bring hardware and software together to speed up innovation.
Internet Explorer Ad Attacks Hard-Core IE Hate A new Microsoft ad for Internet Explorer entitled "Do you know this guy?" shows an IE-hating, "IE Sucks"-tweeting, basement-dwelling techno-geek finally moved -- a little -- by the progress made by Microsoft's web browser.
Amazon's Vogels Challenges IT: Rethink App Dev Amazon Web Services CTO says promised land of cloud computing requires a new generation of applications that follow different principles.
Google Counters Amazon's Storage Price Cuts Google cut storage prices by 20% at start of week, and then slashed another 10% in response to Amazon's price drops. Is there a storage price war going on in the cloud?
10 Essential Android Apps For Work, Home Do you use your own Android phone at work? These 10 apps go the distance between home and office.
GE Isn't Running An Industrial Internet Charity, Folks GE CEO Jeff Immelt expects strong revenue growth from new software products and services that tie machines to the Internet to allow better data analysis.
Microsoft Reveals Details of Intel-Based Surface The Surface tablet with Windows 8 Pro from Microsoft will look like the ARM-based Surface RT, only slightly thicker and heavier. On the other hand, unlike the RT, it will be able to run existing Windows apps. It will start at $899 and be available in January. These tablets are based on Intel Ivy Bridge chips, and so do not have the superior battery life of ARM or Intel Clover Trail systems.
911 Centers Not Ready For Mobile App Era Some of the latest public safety apps offer to let you send texts, photos and even videos to 911 centers. There's just one problem: They don't work. According to the National Emergency Number Association, 911 centers still live in the telephone era, not the Internet and smart phone era.
Big Data And Analytics Expertise: Beg, Borrow Or Steal? Demand for big data and analytics experts is on the rise, but it will take years for the supply to catch up. Here's how to cope.
Valley View: Windows Phone 8 Up Close Our most recent episode of Valley View took a deeper look at Windows Phone 8 with Microsoft's Greg Sullivan and checked out some intriguing startups. See all the highlights.
Semantic Databases: Destiny Or Distraction? Here's how to decide where flexible semantic technologies can replace more rigid relational systems.
Storage Virtualization Gets Real Four business scenarios illustrate how small and midsize companies can reduce costs, improve disaster recovery and more via storage virtualization.
T-Mobile May Score iPhone Next Week Is the time right for T-Mobile to launch the iPhone? At least one analyst thinks so.
Microsoft: Google Shoppers Get 'Scroogled' Microsoft says consumers should use Bing because Google Shopping's pay-to-play program skews results.
LinkedIn Launches Ads API LinkedIn Ads API opens the door for a new class -- and a new scale -- of B2B social advertising and marketing campaigns on the site.
Inspector General Slams Medicare Oversight Of EHR Program Office of Inspection General asserts that lack of prepayment audits of Meaningful Use leaves the Medicare program vulnerable to abuse.
Wireless Carrier Rankings: AT&T Vs. Verizon Verizon outscored its rivals in Consumers Reports' annual rankings of wireless network operators, but not in every category.
Do Patient Portals Ramp Up Cost Of Healthcare? Kaiser study finds patients who use portals more likely to use healthcare system, but long-term health benefits could outweigh greater use of services.
Microsoft's Windows 8 Numbers Meaningless Microsoft says it has sold more than 40 million Windows 8 licenses, but the information is worthless in absence of key data the company won't divulge.
Workday Posts Strong Start As Public Firm Workday post-IPO financial results exceed expectations and it sets lofty goals for market share gains against Oracle and SAP.
Windows Phone 7 Users To Get Cosmetic Update Users of Windows Phones prior to the new generation of devices will not be upgraded to the new operating system, Windows Phone 8. Instead, they will receive an update early next year that makes their OS look like Windows Phone 8, but not get any of the other new features.
Amazon Web Services Slashes Storage Prices At its first developers conference, Re:Invent, Amazon features customers like Netflix and NASDAQ and disses its software firm rivals.


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Veliparib, Cisplatin, and Gemcitabine Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Advanced Biliary, Pancreatic, Urothelial, or Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
|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: NCT01282333
Recruitment Status : Terminated
First Posted : January 25, 2011
Last Update Posted : July 2, 2013
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
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|Condition or disease
|Advanced Adult Primary Liver Cancer Localized Unresectable Adult Primary Liver Cancer Metastatic Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter Regional Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter Stage III Bladder Cancer Stage III Pancreatic Cancer Stage IIIA Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Stage IIIB Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Stage IV Bladder Cancer Stage IV Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder Unresectable Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer Unresectable Gallbladder Cancer
|Drug: gemcitabine hydrochloride Drug: veliparib Other: diagnostic laboratory biomarker analysis Other: pharmacological study Drug: cisplatin
|Phase 1
I. Determine the maximum-tolerated dose of veliparib (ABT-888) (days 1-12 of a 21-day schedule) in combination with cisplatin (day 3) and gemcitabine (days 3, 10) in patients with advanced, previously untreated carcinoma of the bile ducts, gallbladder or pancreas, non-small cell lung cancer, or transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder/urothelial tract.
I. Describe the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and other toxicities associated with veliparib in combination with cisplatin plus gemcitabine as assessed by CTCAE v4.0.
II. Determine the recommended phase 2 dose of veliparib (ABT-888) (RP2D) in combination with cisplatin plus gemcitabine.
III. Document anti-tumor activity of veliparib (ABT-888), cisplatin, and gemcitabine as assessed by RECIST 1.1.
IV. Determine the plasma pharmacokinetics of veliparib (ABT-888), cisplatin, and gemcitabine.
V. Determine the abundance of gemcitabine triphosphate in PBMCs following gemcitabine administration.
VI. Measure the abundance of DNA-platinum adducts in tumor tissue following cisplatin administration.
VII. Measure PARP enzymatic activity in PBMC and tumor tissue following study treatment.
VIII. Perform an exploratory correlation between abundance of BRCA and other proteins assessed by tumor immunohistochemistry and clinical response.
OUTLINE: This is a multicenter, dose-escalation study of veliparib and gemcitabine hydrochloride. Patients are stratified according to presence of suspected or known BRCA mutations (no vs yes).
Patients receive veliparib orally every 12 hours on days 1-12, gemcitabine hydrochloride IV over 30 minutes on days 3 and 10, and cisplatin IV over 60-120 minutes on day 3. Courses repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with suspected or known germline BRCA mutations may continue to receive single-agent veliparib continuously in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients may undergo blood, tumor tissue, and hair follicle sample collection periodically for pharmacokinetic and correlative studies.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for 4 weeks.
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Actual Enrollment :
|44 participants
|Intervention Model:
|Single Group Assignment
|None (Open Label)
|Primary Purpose:
|Official Title:
|Phase I Study of Veliparib (ABT-888) in Combination With Cisplatin Plus Gemcitabine in Advanced Biliary, Pancreatic, Urothelial, and Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
|Study Start Date :
|January 2011
|Actual Primary Completion Date :
|February 2013
Experimental: Treatment (veliparib, gemcitabine hydrochloride, cisplatin)
Patients receive veliparib orally every 12 hours on days 1-12, gemcitabine hydrochloride IV over 30 minutes on days 3 and 10, and cisplatin IV over 60-120 minutes on day 3. Courses repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with suspected or known germline BRCA mutations may continue to receive single-agent veliparib continuously in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients may undergo blood, tumor tissue, and hair follicle sample collection periodically for pharmacokinetic and correlative studies.
Drug: gemcitabine hydrochloride
Given IV
Other Names:
Drug: veliparib
Given orally
Other Name: ABT-888
Other: diagnostic laboratory biomarker analysis
Correlative studies
Other: pharmacological study
Correlative studies
Other Name: pharmacological studies
Drug: cisplatin
Given IV
Other Names:
- Maximum-tolerated dose of veliparib in combination with cisplatin and gemcitabine [ Time Frame: 21 days ]The maximum toxicity for each category of interest that are determined to be possibly, probably or definitely related to study treatment will be recorded for each patient and the summary results will be tabulated (according to CTCAE v4.0).
- Dose-limiting and other toxicities according to CTCAE v4.0 [ Time Frame: Up to 4 weeks post-treatment ]
- Recommended phase II dose [ Time Frame: Up to 4 weeks post-treatment ]
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:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed advanced biliary/pancreatic cancer, urothelial cancer, or non-small cell lung cancer that is metastatic or unresectable
- Patients with known CNS metastases should be excluded from this clinical trial
- ECOG performance status ≤ 2 (Karnofsky ≥ 60%)
- Life expectancy of greater than 12 weeks
- Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mcL
- Platelets ≥ 100,000/mcL
- Total bilirubin within normal institutional limits
- AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 times institutional upper limit of normal
- Creatinine within normal institutional limits OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min
- QTc interval on ECG ≤ 0.48 seconds by Bazett's calculation (≤ CTCAE v.4 grade 2)
- Not pregnant or nursing
- Women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation
- Patients must be able to swallow pills and have no significant impairment in gastrointestinal absorption
Patients with known or suspected germline mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 are eligible to participate
- Patients in study screening (primarily those with pancreatic cancer) who have a family history that is suspicious for BRCA1 or BRCA2 germline mutation should be assessed by the BRCAPRO computer program to quantitate the likelihood of harboring a deleterious BRCA mutation
- Patients found to have a BRCAPRO probability score of ≥ 20% should undergo formal full-sequence BRCA testing
- Patients in screening with a BRCAPRO probability of ≥ 20% who decline genetic testing are not eligible to participate in this trial due to the potential to confound safety assessment
No uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to:
- Ongoing or active infection
- Symptomatic congestive heart failure
- Unstable angina pectoris
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
- HIV-positive patients are eligible
- No active seizure or history of seizure disorder
- No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to veliparib (ABT-888) or other agents used in this study
- No peripheral neuropathy greater than grade1
- No prior systemic treatment
- No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy (neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or metastatic setting)
- At least 4 weeks since major surgery or radiation therapy
- Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents
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): NCT01282333
|United States, Massachusetts
|Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
|Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115
|United States, Pennsylvania
|Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center
|Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States, 17033-0850
|University of Pittsburgh
|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15232
|Principal Investigator:
|Leonard Appleman
|University of Pittsburgh
|Responsible Party:
|National Cancer Institute (NCI)
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01282333 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
U01CA099168 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract )
|First Posted:
|January 25, 2011 Key Record Dates
|Last Update Posted:
|July 2, 2013
|Last Verified:
|July 2013
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Lung Neoplasms
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung
Pancreatic Neoplasms
Urinary Bladder Neoplasms
Liver Neoplasms
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell
Gallbladder Neoplasms
Bile Duct Neoplasms
Kidney Neoplasms
Ureteral Neoplasms
Respiratory Tract Neoplasms
Thoracic Neoplasms
Neoplasms by Site
Lung Diseases
Respiratory Tract Diseases
Carcinoma, Bronchogenic
Bronchial Neoplasms
Digestive System Neoplasms
Endocrine Gland Neoplasms
Digestive System Diseases
Pancreatic Diseases
Endocrine System Diseases
Urologic Neoplasms
Urogenital Neoplasms
Urinary Bladder Diseases
Urologic Diseases
Liver Diseases


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'Dancing With The Stars' Producers Want Dolly Parton For Season 14
HollywoodLife.com has the exclusive scoop on which celeb recommended Dolly for the show — and which pro dancer she wants to be paired with!
Dolly Parton, please report to the dance floor! A Dancing with the Stars insider reveals to HollywoodLife.com that after Billy Ray Cyrus turned down the producers' offer for Miley Cyrus to join the show's 14th season, he suggested producers check with Dolly — and she's close to signing on the dotted line! "Dolly has sung on the show in the past, and made a great impression on the dancers and producers," our source tells us exclusively. "Discussions have started … and her request is to dance with Mark Ballas!"
Another singer with the Mirrorball Trophy in his sights is Gavin DeGraw! Our source confirms that Gavin has verbally committed to doing the show — as first reported by The Hollywood Reporter — but still has to sign an official contract. He has a few dates left on his current tour, but we're told they wouldn't interfere with the show's hectic filming schedule.
What do you think of Dolly and Gavin joining the show, HollywoodLifers? Which celebs would you like to see on Dancing with the Stars this season? Drop us a comment and tell us!


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Iron Maiden announce US & Canada tour for 2012
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Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 26 2009
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Topic: Iron Maiden announce US & Canada tour for 2012
Posted: February 15 2012 at 16:34
From the band Facebook Page
Iron Maiden announce "Maiden England World Tour" with extensive dates in North America this summer
Very Special Guest Alice Cooper to July 21, Coheed and Cambria after July 21.
Following the massively successful Final Frontier World Tour 2010-11, IRON MAIDEN are back on the road this summer with a series of Arena, Amphitheatre and Festival shows in the U.S.A. and Canada, opening in Charlotte, NC, U.S.A. on June 21, and finishing in Houston, TX, on Aug 18 (dates listed below), to be followed by further dates around the World in 2013. The MAIDEN ENGLAND WORLD TOUR will closely mirror, in terms of production and content, the original 1988 concert video of the same name, shot on the Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son Tour. This opening section of the World Tour is the bands most extensive visit to North America for many years and includes a number of cities the band have not played in a very long time, such as Charlotte, Atlanta, Buffalo, Indianapolis and Salt Lake City.
In most venues, tickets will go on sale on March 2 and 3 but watch this site or check local venue information for fuller details. Fan Club members should check out ironmaiden.com for exclusive first day ticket presales and contest to be First To The Barrier.
MAIDEN ENGLAND marks the third chapter in the History of Iron Maiden, a journey which began in 2004 with The Early Days DVD and subsequent 2005 Early Days Tour. Part Two followed in 2008 with the Live After Death DVD - the seminal 1984 concert recorded at Long Beach Arena (L.A) during the World Slavery Tour - and the band embarking on their groundbreaking Somewhere Back In Time World Tour 2008/9, which saw them play to over two million fans in almost 40 countries.
Comments vocalist Bruce Dickinson, We have great fun playing the History of Maiden Tours because it gives us an opportunity between new albums to go out and play songs from our earlier catalogue. Its always fantastic seeing the crowd reaction from a new generation of fans who have never experienced some of these tracks performed live before, and of course we know our longstanding fans will enjoy seeing the original Seventh Son Tour re-visited - with many other surprises! Our intention is to play about two thirds of the original track list of Maiden England (shown below*), including some songs we have not played live in a very,very long time, plus other favourites we just know the fans are going to want to hear! We always try to give our fans a great show musically, but we have always tried to make it as entertaining and memorable an experience as we can visually. And we all feel this show is going to do that splendidly! We can't wait to get started in Charlotte.
Iron Maiden are delighted to announce that the extraordinary and legendary Alice Cooper will be their Very Special Guest on all shows up to July 21. After that date, Special Guest will be Coheed and Cambria, the inspiring, cutting edge band from New York.
Iron Maiden continue to be actively dedicated to ensuring their fans always have full access to the best possible tickets in the fairest possible way. Manager Rod Smallwood comments:
We are trying to ensure that our fans get the tickets they want in the prime positions without paying over the odds to ticket scalpers. Maiden get infuriated with the way fans sometimes have to pay more than the ticket price to get good positions at our shows. So we will, wherever possible (Festivals excluded), with the assistance of the Promoters, arrange a paperless ticketing system at least for the front sections to try to eliminate as much of the ticket scalping and exchanges as we can. We put this into practice on our North American Tour in 2010; it worked well and we received many positive comments back from our fans, so we intend to increase this where feasible. With paperless ticketing, only those who actually pay initially for the tickets will get into the show so scalping is generally avoided (please see the comments from Ticketmaster below). We are also doing everything we can to avoid any drain of prime tickets going to the Secondary Ticketing sites which we feel make unfair profits from music fans.
As we consider all our fans to be VIPs, no tickets will be held specifically for VIP use. At some venues, the Promoter may provide the option for fans to pay extra for VIP Parking, early access, access to VIP Bar etc. But these will be purely optional for ticket holders only and will not be tied to ticket locations the ability to get the best tickets should be the same for everybody outside of the usual presales.
Finally, we are of course once again arranging exclusive ticket pre-sales for our fan club members so they can be quick off the mark for great tickets and will also continue to run the contest in appropriate venues for fan club members so they can be First To The Barrier prior to the show. We hope that these measures will help our fans as much as possible and ask that they keep checking for details on our website.
TICKETMASTER comments:
Where possible the North American Iron Maiden shows will operate a paperless ticket policy. Select tickets will be sold via Ticketmasters Paperless Ticket delivery, which means fans will not receive a physical concert ticket for their entry into the event. Buying paperless helps ensure fans have secure and convenient access to event tickets at the intended original sale price. On the day of show, concert goers just need to bring the credit card they used for the ticket purchase and a government-issued photo ID to the concert. All members of the ticket purchaser's party must be present at the same time to enter the venue. The venues ticket usher will swipe their credit card upon entry and present each person in their party with seat locator slips for quick access into the show. To purchase paperless tickets or for more information, fans should visit www.ticketmaster.com/
*Maiden England 1988 Longform Video VHS Tracklisting
Moonchild, The Evil That Men Do, The Prisoner, Still Life, Die With Your Boots On, Infinite Dreams, Killers, Can I Play With Madness, Heaven Can Wait, Wasted Years, The Clairvoyant, Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son, The Number Of The Beast, Hallowed Be Thy Name, Iron Maiden.
21st June - Charlotte, NC - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
23rd June - Atlanta, GA - Aarons Amphitheatre
26th June - Boston, MA - Comcast Center
27th June - Wantagh, NY - Jones Beach
29th June - Philadelphia, PI - Susquehanna Bank Center
30th June - Washington, DC - Jiffy Lube Live
2nd July - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
5th July - Chicago, IL - First Midwest Bank
8th July - Quebec, QC - Colisee Pepsi Arena
11th July - Montreal, QC - Bell Center
13th July - Toronto, ON - Molson Amphitheatre
14th July - Sarnia, ON - Bayfest
16th July - Buffalo, NY - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
18th July - Detroit, MI - DTE Music Theatre
19th July - Indianapolis, IN - Klipsch Music Centre
24th July - Winnipeg, MB - MTS Center
26th July - Calgary, AB - Scotiabank Saddledome
27th July - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
29th July - Vancouver, BC - Pacific Coliseum
30th July - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre
1st August - Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre
3rd August - San Francisco, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
6th August - Phoenix, AZ - Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion
9th August - Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
12th August - Albuquerque. NM - Hard Rock Pavilion
13th August - Denver, CO - Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
15th August - San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center
17th August - Dallas, TX - Gexa Energy Pavilion
18th August - Houston, TX - The Woodlands
(Please note there will be a few dates added within this period. Rest of world... we'll see you next year!)
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|Posted: February 15 2012 at 16:55
Damn, no Florida venues.
Crushed like a rose in the riverflow.
Garden of Dreams
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|Posted: February 15 2012 at 17:07
Since Seventh Son is my favorite maiden album, I might have go see them.
Just give it all an hour by the concrete lake.
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|Posted: February 15 2012 at 18:21
Finally someone posts about this tour! It's been hours. :P Seventh Son is my favorite Maiden album as well. This will be a MUST GO concert. Can't wait til July 30th. If they really do play Still Life, Seventh Son, and Heaven Can Wait, it will be so amazing. I had prett far seats when I went to see them for Final Frontier, I'm thinking about getting the closest seats possible this time. You have no idea how excited I am right now.
The future's uncertain and the end is always near. - Jim Morrison
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|Posted: February 15 2012 at 22:39
Damn ... no Alice Cooper for the Seattle area show. That would have been killer, Cooper and Maiden. Now I can just show up late and miss anything.
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|Posted: February 16 2012 at 17:18
Saw them at Final Frontiers tour where Bruce Dickenson complained they only played to 5000 people 20 years ago, yet hardly played any of their hits and Dickenson gabbed for about 20 minutes which could have had a few hits played
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|Posted: February 21 2012 at 14:32
We will probably be there........July 30th @ White River should be a great summer evening.
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|Posted: February 21 2012 at 15:43
My friend's getting tickets for me and a bunch of other guys. Hopefully going to see them this summer in Toronto! Molson's a great venue as well.
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|Posted: March 02 2012 at 11:11
Already purchased tickets on Wednesday after finding out the presale password. I shall be the closest I've ever been to the stage at a major concert. But I'm going to be almost all the way to the stage left. Oh well. Can't wait. Hopefully they play still life, and maybe even Alexander The Great. :P
The future's uncertain and the end is always near. - Jim Morrison
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|Posted: March 02 2012 at 21:54
Hmm, I'm doubtful they'd play either of those songs, but I certainly would love to see them do "Still Life"!
Frank Swarbrick
Belief is not Truth.
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|Posted: March 03 2012 at 11:31
They just about have to play Seventh Son since the tour will be based on the Seventh Son tour. I really hope they play Still Life as well. It's one of my personal favorites.
The future's uncertain and the end is always near. - Jim Morrison
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