text:
A Two Part Study (306A/306B) to Assess Droxidopa in Treatment of NOH in Patients With Parkinson's Disease (306A/306B)
|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: NCT01176240
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : August 5, 2010
Results First Posted : May 20, 2014
Last Update Posted : May 20, 2014
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- Study Results
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
|Tracking Information
|First Submitted Date ICMJE
|July 30, 2010
|First Posted Date ICMJE
|August 5, 2010
|Results First Submitted Date ICMJE
|March 18, 2014
|Results First Posted Date ICMJE
|May 20, 2014
|Last Update Posted Date
|May 20, 2014
|Study Start Date ICMJE
|June 2010
|Actual Primary Completion Date
|October 2012 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Current Primary Outcome Measures ICMJE
|Original Primary Outcome Measures ICMJE
|Efficacy [ Time Frame: Baseline to End of Study (approximately 8 Weeks) ]
The primary efficacy variable is the relative mean change in the Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire (OHQ) composite score from baseline to end of study (Approximately 8 weeks of treatment)
|Change History
|Complete list of historical versions of study NCT01176240 on ClinicalTrials.gov Archive Site
|Current Secondary Outcome Measures ICMJE
|Original Secondary Outcome Measures ICMJE
|Efficacy [ Time Frame: Baseline to End of Study (Approximately 8 weeks of treatment) ]
Baseline to end of study (Approximately 8 weeks): Relative mean change in OHSA composite and OHSA items 1 to 6 (symptom) and OHDAS composite and OHDAS items 1 to 4 (activity) scores; Relative mean change in Global assessment evaluations using the clinician-recorded and patient-recorded CGI-S scales; Change in standing blood pressure; Change in standing time. Global assessment of improvement of disease status using the clinician and patient-recorded CGI-I scales at end of study; Number of patients reporting falls as well as the total number of reported falls during the 8 week treatment period.
|Current Other Pre-specified Outcome Measures
|Not Provided
|Original Other Pre-specified Outcome Measures
|Not Provided
|Descriptive Information
|Brief Title ICMJE
|A Two Part Study (306A/306B) to Assess Droxidopa in Treatment of NOH in Patients With Parkinson's Disease
|Official Title ICMJE
|A Multi-center, Double-blind, Randomized, Parallel-Group, Placebo-Controlled Study to Assess the Clinical Effect of Droxidopa in the Treatment of Symptomatic Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension in Patients With Parkinson's Disease
|Brief Summary
This is a study to evaluate the effects of an investigational drug, Droxidopa, in participants with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH), associated with Parkinson's disease. Droxidopa is being studied to determine the effects on blood pressure changes upon standing up (orthostatic challenge). Symptoms and activity measurements, including patient reported falls, will be evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the study drug.
Symptoms of NOH may include any of the following:
The study duration is a maximum of approximately 14 weeks including up to 2 weeks for screening, up to 2 weeks for proper dose finding, followed by an 8 week treatment period and a follow-up visit after 2 weeks. A sufficient number of patients will be screened to allow approximately 211 randomized patients. An extension study is also available to continue treatment if determined appropriate by the study doctor. This Study is NCT01132326 sponsored by Chelsea Therapeutics and is enrolling by invitation only.
|Detailed Description
Systolic blood pressure is transiently and minimally decreased in healthy individuals upon standing. Normal physiologic feedback mechanisms work through neurally-mediated pathways to maintain the standing blood pressure, and thus maintain adequate cerebral perfusion. The compensatory mechanisms that regulate blood pressure upon standing are dysfunctional in subjects with orthostatic hypotension (OH), a condition that may lead to inadequate cerebral perfusion with accompanying symptoms of syncope, dizziness or lightheadedness, unsteadiness and blurred or impaired vision, among other symptoms.
Orthostatic hypotension may be a severely disabling condition which can seriously interfere with the quality of life of afflicted subjects. Currently available therapeutic options provide some symptomatic relief in a subset of subjects, but are relatively ineffective and are often accompanied by severe side effects that limit their usefulness. Support garments (tight-fitting leotard) may prove useful in some subjects, but is difficult to don without family or nursing assistance, especially for older subjects. Midodrine, fludrocortisone, methylphenidate, ephedrine, indomethacin and dihydroergotamine are among some of the pharmacological interventions that have been used to treat orthostatic hypotension, although only midodrine is specifically approved for this indication. The limitations of these currently available therapeutic options, and the incapacitating nature and often progressive downhill course of disease, point to the need for an improved therapeutic alternative.
Symptomatic OH in patients with Parkinson's disease is thought to be a consequence of norepinephrine depletion leading to low systolic blood pressure (SBP) and cerebral-hypoperfusion (reduced blood flow to the brain). Therapy with droxidopa results in increased levels of norepinephrine which should lead to improved SBP and cerebral perfusion thereby reducing the signs and symptoms of NOH. The present study will evaluate the clinical benefit in NOH patients with PD treated with droxidopa compared to those treated with placebo.
Participation in the study will last a maximum of 14 weeks consisting of a 2 week (maximum) screening/baseline period; a 2 week (maximum) double-blind dose titration; an 8 week double-blind placebo-controlled treatment period; and a 2 week follow-up period. An extension study is also available to continue treatment if determined appropriate by the study doctor. This Study is NCT01132326 sponsored by Chelsea Therapeutics and is enrolling by invitation only.
Droxidopa [also, known as L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine, L-threo-DOPS, or L-DOPS] is the International non-proprietary name (INN) for a synthetic amino acid precursor of norepinephrine (NE), which was originally developed by Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals Co., Limited, Japan. It has been approved for use in Japan since 1989. Droxidopa has been shown to improve symptoms of orthostatic hypotension that result from a variety of conditions including Shy Drager syndrome (Multiple System Atrophy), Pure Autonomic Failure, and Parkinson's disease. There are four stereoisomers of DOPS; however, only the L-threo-enantiomer (droxidopa) is biologically active. Stereoisomers and enantiomers are compounds that have the same chemical elements; however, they may react differently as the elements are positioned in different locations.
The exact mechanism of action of droxidopa in the treatment of symptomatic NOH has not been precisely defined; however, its NE replenishing properties with concomitant recovery of decreased noradrenergic activity are considered to be of major importance.
Droxidopa has been marketed in Japan since 1989. Data from clinical studies and post-marketing surveillance programs conducted in Japan show that the most commonly reported adverse drug reactions with droxidopa are increased blood pressure, nausea, and headache. In clinical studies, the prevalence and severity of droxidopa adverse effects appear to be similar to those reported by the placebo control arm.
|Study Type ICMJE
|Study Phase ICMJE
|Phase 3
|Study Design ICMJE
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Condition ICMJE
|Intervention ICMJE
|Study Arms ICMJE
|Publications *
* Includes publications given by the data provider as well as publications identified by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number) in Medline.
|Recruitment Information
|Recruitment Status ICMJE
|Actual Enrollment ICMJE
|Original Estimated Enrollment ICMJE
|Actual Study Completion Date ICMJE
|November 2012
|Actual Primary Completion Date
|October 2012 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Eligibility Criteria ICMJE
Inclusion criteria:
At their baseline visit (Visit 2), patients must demonstrate:
Exclusion Criteria:
|Sex/Gender ICMJE
|Ages ICMJE
|18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers ICMJE
|Contacts ICMJE
|Contact information is only displayed when the study is recruiting subjects
|Listed Location Countries ICMJE
|United States
|Removed Location Countries
|Administrative Information
|NCT Number ICMJE
|Other Study ID Numbers ICMJE
|Droxidopa NOH306 (306A / 306B)
|Has Data Monitoring Committee
|U.S. FDA-regulated Product
|Not Provided
|IPD Sharing Statement ICMJE
|Not Provided
|Responsible Party
|Chelsea Therapeutics
|Study Sponsor ICMJE
|Chelsea Therapeutics
|Collaborators ICMJE
|Not Provided
|Investigators ICMJE
|PRS Account
|Chelsea Therapeutics
|Verification Date
|April 2014
ICMJE Data element required by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors and the World Health Organization ICTRP


text:
(The location, serving in my pretending-brain as the pier in Never Let Me Go, Swamplandia!, and The Dead Marshes)
In October, I posted about Never Let Me Go and wanting to dress like the movie. Thankfully, this look (which I dubbed 'Sad Clones in Sweaters') of raggedy, piled-on clothing in mushy drab colors fit in really well with what the weather was doing all winter long. Of course, it's not really spring yet, somehow, and I'm donning the same thing for a few more days until the season decides that it's far too late into the year to be doing this sort of cold and moldy rain.
The upside of this, is that I can still dress like a Sad Clone and run around pier-esque areas reminiscent of various countrysides in movies.
And reenact movie posters.
This is only one version of the Sad Clone. I had lots of time this winter to come up with many, most involving the lumpiest most wonderfully hideous ill-shaped sweaters possible. I didn't wear one today, since it wasn't actually all that cold when not standing on a dock in the middle of the water and wind. I normally don't include the scarf pictured, it's a bit too full and healthy looking, but I didn't want to look like a total ruffian dragging a tatty scarf around Target.
It's also a bit of a shame that my hair isn't long and blowing around, but at least I have the blunt bangs.
I'm still getting that phantom hair thing a lot. It's not that I really took off all that much, length-wise only 4 or 5 inches, but it's enough that I still get that missing-the-step feeling when I go to control the stuff blowing about in the breeze (I still haven't gotten the hang of how to deal with bangs when it's windy).
I do suppose this is probably my last occasion to make my Sad Clone outfit post before next autumn. I'm dubiously eyeballing the weather reports for the next week, but there is no way we could steer into May without having warmth as a regular thing. If it doesn't happen soon, I might have to start dressing like it is, even if my legs and toes freeze.
Outfit details:
Jacket: Thrifted
Dress: J. Crew
Tights: No idea.
Boots: Hunter, zappos
Scarf: Mom's :)
As usual, John took my pictures.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A.P.C. Specials opened its doors last night and we totally called it—this is undoubtedly the illest new shop in the West Village. Of course the makers of our dearly beloved, go with everything jeans would throw the perfect opening party. The jean scene was hopping with man-about-town, Waris Ahluwalia, whose baubles are sold at the concept store, and other fashion favorites like Zac Posen and Wren's Melissa Coker. For a little A.P.C. sunshine on a dreary winter day, peep the party pics below!
All The Best Fashion Moments From The Orange Is The New Black...
The groundbreaking Netflix series Orange Is The New Black may officially be coming to an end with the seventh season now streaming, but don't worry,


text:
Angels rally, come back in ninth for walk-off win
ANAHEIM -- Kole Calhoun didn't see it. Tyler Skaggs didn't see it. Mike Scioscia pushed it aside.
But every Angel felt it.View Full Game Coverage
ANAHEIM -- Kole Calhoun didn't see it. Tyler Skaggs didn't see it. Mike Scioscia pushed it aside.
But every Angel felt it.View Full Game Coverage
After Seattle closer Fernando Rodney got Calhoun to fly out to deep center and end the eighth -- not ninth -- inning, Rodney reached back for one of his trademark imaginary arrows and shot it towards the Angels dugout.
The Angels got him back by tagging Rodney for two runs in the bottom of the ninth to win, 6-5, in walk-off fashion on Grant Green's single up the middle Sunday afternoon at Angel Stadium.
"Fernando's animated," Scioscia said. "Our guys noticed it."
The Angels (59-38) have now won seven of their last eight games while the Mariners (52-46) are 3-6 in their last nine. Los Angeles remains 1 1/2 games behind division-leading Oakland.
Mike Trout and Albert Pujols definitely noticed it.
After Trout drew a five-pitch walk, Pujols stepped in against Seattle's All-Star closer. Pujols watched two pitches before jumping on a 1-1 Rodney fastball and dumping it into right field for a double. Trout was running on the pitch and had already slid into second by the time the ball had landed.
"I heard the crowd go nuts so I knew he got a hit but I couldn't find it," Trout said.
Trout picked up third-base coach Gary DiSarcina waving him on and Trout raced in from second to knot the game at 5. While standing on second base, Pujols fired an arrow towards the Angels dugout. Trout sent one back.
"Rodney's Rodney," Trout said. "He's out there competing. We're out there competing against him.
"It's baseball, we're having fun. It was a pretty exciting inning."
Pujols said he shot the arrow at the Angels dugout and not Rodney. Rodney also had a different target.
"That was for the fans, because they booed me," said Rodney, who pitched for the Angels from 2010-11 and is far from beloved in Anaheim. "It's part of the game.
"I'm friends with everybody. Mike Scioscia is a great manager and a good person."
Skaggs, who started for the Angels and allowed five runs in 6 2/3 innings, called the action "ridiculous."
"It just goes to show you don't rile up our team because we got a lot of good players, a lot of good hitters," Skaggs said.
Green, whose single gave the Angels their second walk-off win in three days, said Rodney's reaction was poorly timed.
"He woke up our dugout," he said. "At the time, we were hitting well in the game but we didn't really have that key hit. He did it at the wrong time with Trout, Pujols and Josh [Hamilton] coming up."
Green stepped up with the bases loaded and two outs after Rodney had issued two intentional walks but coaxed a double-play ball from David Freese. He took a 1-2, 98-mph fastball up the middle to give the Angels their franchise-record 10th consecutive series win at home.
"I was looking fastball over the middle of the plate that I was able to barrel up and hit back up the middle," Green said.
Green's first career walk-off RBI capped quite the day for the 26-year-old, who made his first Major League start at shortstop, his natural position. He finished 1-for-5 with a strikeout.
"That's a tough place to hit," Scioscia said. "He tried to get a fastball by him, it was down and Grant put it in play hard up the middle. That's what we were hoping to do, put it in play. He had a tough day at the plate leading up to that but came up with the big hit."
Skaggs kept the Angels in the game but was hurt by two Seattle rallies. The Mariners scored three runs in the first inning and two in the seventh but sent just 15 batters to the plate in the five frames in between.
"I think I just turned it up a notch because I was kind of [ticked] off that I just gave up three runs in the first inning," Skaggs said. "I think I need to start going out there with that attitude."
The Mariners sent eight batters to the plate in the first as five consecutive registered a hit. Kyle Seager started the streak with a line-drive home run to right field and Corey Hart and Dustin Ackley capped it with RBI singles. Seattle was 3-for-4 with runners in scoring position in the inning.
"Just wasn't able to put guys away and it hurt him again in the seventh inning," Scioscia said. "His stuff was good. In between, he was terrific, you couldn't ask for much more than what Tyler was giving."
In the seventh, an RBI double from Mike Zunino brought in James Jones, who pinch-ran and foiled a double play with a hit-and-run. Zunino came in on Endy Chavez's single to left.
The comeback win was the Angels' 30th of the season and their sixth when trailing after eight innings.
"I think if you look at late-inning comebacks where we've come back and tied games and come back and grabbed leads late, I think we're certainly getting our share," Scioscia said.
The Angels trailed early but responded with a run in the first and two in the third to tie the game. They added a run in the seventh on Howie Kendrick's two-out single up the middle, scoring Hamilton.
Seattle starter Chris Young worked in and out of trouble for much of the afternoon, allowing three runs but stranding six Angels -- five in scoring position -- in his six innings.
"If you look up and we've got three runs on the board, we could have very easily had six," Scioscia said. "On the offensive end, I thought we were a little better early than maybe it showed."
But the Angels weren't out of arrows.
Matthew DeFranks is an associate reporter for MLB.com.


text:
Alex Lewin, author of Real food fermentation: preserving whole fresh food with live cultures in your home kitchen will talk about the origins of fermented foods and show you how to make sauerkraut. His book will teach you how to preserve your favorite foods and beverages. You'll also learn to ferment dairy into yogurt, kefir, creme fraiche, and butter. Alex studied cooking at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts and nutrition at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York.
Join us for all three DIY Fermentation Series programs:
- Make it! Sauerkraut October 8, 6-7:30
- Make it! Kimchi October 17, 6-7:30
- Make it! Pickles October 23, 6-7:30
Brought to you by the Business, Science & Technology department of the San Francisco Public Library.


text:
Globalization leads to at least US$ 200 billion being spent on 'perverse' subsidies that harm biodiversity habitats as well as economies. This subsidies funding is ten times more than conservation spending worldwide. Norman Myers describes the paradox.
It is several decades since it was realized that the planet is entering the opening phase of a mass extinction of species. Since then, thousands of scientists have written tens of thousands of books and articles on the issue, and activists—whether governments, international agencies or NGOs—have mobilized unprecedented efforts to stem the crisis. But while conservation resources —scientific skills, funding and the like, as well as measures such as protected areas —have increased greatly, the problems have increased even more greatly as leading habitats such as tropical forests have declined at ever-faster rates. The best efforts have hardly done more than slow the pace at which extinction is gathering momentum. This assessment is not defeatist. Rather, it is realistic, and it is necessary to keep a keen eye on the deteriorating situation. It is one thing to ask "How much better are we doing than before?" It is another thing to ask the ultimate question, "Are we doing enough?"
How much progress has been made, how far are conservation efforts falling short, and how much time is left before the extinction problem exceeds human reach and further efforts become no more than salvage affairs? How far is it true to say that conservationists have effectively been tackling symptoms of environmental problems, rather than getting to the sources of the problems—which include, for notable instance, those subsidies that are bad news both environmentally and economically, hence they are 'perverse'. Conservationists spend around US$ 20 billion a year, whereas perverse subsidies that serve, albeit inadvertently, to deplete biodiversity habitats total at least ten times as much. So long as we fail to tackle the mega- and meta-problem of perverse subsidies, conservationists will find themselves pushing an ever-bigger rock up an ever-steeper hill.
This implies the need for an expanded approach to the conservation challenge. Certainly, conservationists have worked long and hard to preserve biodiversity and have become exceedingly skilled at many of their tasks. But in addition to tackling problems, they might do more to tackle sources of problems: how to stifle problems before they ever develop? This means, for example, addressing those perverse subsidies which are destroying forests, expanding deserts, reducing water supplies, fostering grand-scale pollution, stimulating soil erosion, and even causing climate dislocation, among many other forms of biodepletion. If other developed countries were to follow the example of New Zealand and greatly reduce their agricultural subsidies, that would release several hundred billion dollars of unnecessary subsidies per year. Phasing out these subsidies would also go far in preventing further ecological injury to biodiversity habitats across millions of square kilometres.
What might it all cost? There is a variety of answers. Safeguarding 35 terrestrial biodiversity hotspots could be achieved for roughly US$ 3.5 billion over five years, an outlay that could possibly reduce the species extinction spasm by a whopping two fifths. Some 35–45% of the Earth's estimated 10 million species are confined to these hotspots, where they are severely threatened.
In terms of financial costs, the job could certainly be accomplished; nor would other factors be insurmountable. To stem global warming for instance (this ranking among the biggest sources of habitat loss in the eventual future), the technologies to replace fossil fuels are largely available (and with massive financial benefits in the long run). The main obstacles are political, such as the special interest groups that maintain perverse subsidies despite their many environmental (and economic) costs. What is needed is a political commitment to an effort on a scale of the Manhattan Project to produce the first atom bomb. One such effort was the Marshall Plan, with a bill of US$ 90 billion (in 2001 dollars), though it is questionable if Harry Truman and George Marshall could get their inspiring initiative accepted today in light of the many lobbyists who would militate in favour of their special interests to the detriment of the Plan. Note too a couple of other grand-scale projects in recent decades, with costs (in 2001 dollars) in the same order of magnitude: putting a man on the Moon, US$ 100 billion; and the Missile Defense System, US$ 150–240 billion. A third, though much smaller outlay was the Pathfinder probe to seek life forms (a few primitive slime moulds?) on Mars, at a cost of a mere US$ 240 million.
So the problem seems to devolve into a case of societal vision and the political will to translate the vision into action. Various communities in the past have mobilized the institutional chemistry to achieve successes of a size proportionately far more costly than what is required to counter the biotic crisis. Notable examples are the building of the Pyramids in Egypt and the Gothic cathedrals in Europe, both of which demanded the assignment of exceptionally large sections of contemporary economies and social capacities. Both were achieved through society-wide endeavour. Such an attempt could be made today, especially insofar as the long-term payoff would be far more enduring than the Pyramids and cathedrals have proved thus far. After all, if humankind fails to protect biodiversity at a time of unprecedented peril, the length of time it will take for evolution to come up with replacement species will be at least 1,000 times longer than the Pyramids have been in existence. Should this not inspire humankind to expand its sense of what is at stake, and do it at least as effectively as the religious rationales for the Pyramids and the Gothic cathedrals?
Norman Myers is a Professor at Oxford and Duke Universities; an independent scientist with a focus on Environment and Development. In the late 1980s he originated the biodiversity hotspots thesis which has mobilized US$ 850 million for conservation.


text:
To understand what is needed to achieve effective cleaning, it is helpful to have a basic knowledge of soap and detergent chemistry.
Water, the liquid commonly used for cleaning, has a property called surface tension. In the body of the water, each molecule is surrounded and attracted by other water molecules. However, at the surface, those molecules are surrounded by other water molecules only on the water side. A tension is created as the water molecules at the surface are pulled into the body of the water. This tension causes water to bead up on surfaces (glass, fabric), which slows wetting of the surface and inhibits the cleaning process. You can see surface tension at work by placing a drop of water onto a counter top. The drop will hold its shape and will not spread.
In the cleaning process, surface tension must be reduced so water can spread and wet surfaces. Chemicals that are able to do this effectively are called surface active agents, or surfactants. They are said to make water "wetter."
Surfactants perform other important functions in cleaning, such as loosening, emulsifying (dispersing in water) and holding soil in suspension until it can be rinsed away. Surfactants can also provide alkalinity, which is useful in removing acidic soils.
Surfactants are classified by their ionic (electrical charge) properties in water: anionic (negative charge), nonionic (no charge), cationic (positive charge) and amphoteric (either positive or negative charge).
Soap is an anionic surfactant. Other anionic as well as nonionic surfactants are the main ingredients in today's detergents. Now let's look closer at the chemistry of surfactants.
Soaps are water-soluble sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids. Soaps are made from fats and oils, or their fatty acids, by treating them chemically with a strong alkali.
First let's examine the composition of fats, oils and alkalis; then we'll review the soapmaking process.
The fats and oils used in soapmaking come from animal or plant sources. Each fat or oil is made up of a distinctive mixture of several different triglycerides.
In a triglyceride molecule, three fatty acid molecules are attached to one molecule of glycerine. There are many types of triglycerides; each type consists of its own particular combination of fatty acids.
Fatty acids are the components of fats and oils that are used in making soap. They are weak acids composed of two parts:
A carboxylic acid group consisting of one hydrogen (H) atom, two oxygen (O) atoms, and one carbon (C) atom, plus a hydrocarbon chain attached to the carboxylic acid group. Generally, it is made up of a long straight chain of carbon (C) atoms each carrying two hydrogen (H) atoms.
An alkali is a soluble salt of an alkali metal like sodium or potassium. Originally, the alkalis used in soapmaking were obtained from the ashes of plants, but they are now made commercially. Today, the term alkali describes a substance that chemically is a base (the opposite of an acid) and that reacts with and neutralizes an acid.
The common alkalis used in soapmaking are sodium hydroxide (NaOH), also called caustic soda; and potassium hydroxide (KOH), also called caustic potash.
Saponification of fats and oils is the most widely used soapmaking process. This method involves heating fats and oils and reacting them with a liquid alkali to produce soap and water (neat soap) plus glycerine.
The other major soapmaking process is the neutralization of fatty acids with an alkali. Fats and oils are hydrolyzed (split) with a high-pressure steam to yield crude fatty acids and glycerine. The fatty acids are then purified by distillation and neutralized with an alkali to produce soap and water (neat soap).
When the alkali is sodium hydroxide, a sodium soap is formed. Sodium soaps are "hard" soaps. When the alkali is potassium hydroxide, a potassium soap is formed. Potassium soaps are softer and are found in some liquid hand soaps and shaving creams.
The carboxylate end of the soap molecule is attracted to water. It is called the hydrophilic (water-loving) end. The hydrocarbon chain is attracted to oil and grease and repelled by water. It is known as the hydrophobic (water-hating) end.
How Water Hardness Affects Cleaning Action
Although soap is a good cleaning agent, its effectiveness is reduced when used in hard water. Hardness in water is caused by the presence of mineral salts – mostly those of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), but sometimes also iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn). The mineral salts react with soap to form an insoluble precipitate known as soap film or scum.
Soap film does not rinse away easily. It tends to remain behind and produces visible deposits on clothing and makes fabrics feel stiff. It also attaches to the insides of bathtubs, sinks and washing machines.
Some soap is used up by reacting with hard water minerals to form the film. This reduces the amount of soap available for cleaning. Even when clothes are washed in soft water, some hardness minerals are introduced by the soil on clothes. Soap molecules are not very versatile and cannot be adapted to today's variety of fibers, washing temperatures and water conditions.
3 Komentar
I know, hard water is a bummer. We found an easy water treatment solution. My husband got a Scalewatcher electronic descaler. Since then my psoriasis has disappeared, we no longer need to use skin moisturizer, hair is squeaky clean, no more hard water spots to clean. Also our water heater is heating up the water much faster than before, I guess it's gotten cleaned up inside. We got ours from http://www.AquaGenesisUSA.com because they support non-profits like Greenpeace and Oxfam.
Good luck!
Why are you using english??!!!
about a subjects, it takes a longer time to understand the subject in English!!
don't you know that english is hard??!
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI


text:
Since I'm a geo-baby, I thought I'd talk about what I love about being a geoscience student!
I originally studied classical literature, philosophy, math, and science at a liberal arts college. While that experience has deeply shaped me, the most important thing it taught me was what I really want to study – the world! Geology is the best way to study the world that I've found, so I happily switched majors!
Woo, rocks! My excitement face shortly after switching majors.I'm just getting into upper-division coursework, and I decided to take a geophysics major, so I have quite a challenge ahead of me! But I'm excited to have the opportunity to study so many cool things, for the following reasons:
1. Real facts.
2. Whiteboards > ChalkboardsThe movement of Mars, over 16 years, according to the folks before Kepler.The Earth revolves around the Sun.
Atoms exist.
The "heavenly spheres" are the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, and the thermosphere. Sometimes the magnetosphere and the galaxy come up. None of them play music, or have anything to do with the divine.
Chalk dust gets everywhere: in your nose, in your hair, on your pants. It may look hip and old-school, but it's kind of a pain.3. Arts & Crafts Time.
Whiteboards, on the other hand, only leave black smidges on your fingers.
Recently, I was talking to a computer science student about how much I like graphics. His response? "But I thought you were into, like, geology."
But the geosciences are filled with pretty pictures! There are nifty geologic maps and psychedelic polarized thin sections. There are colorful charts and graphic graphs. And, of course, the "reference photos."
Look at that rhyolite! Sunset for scale.4. Interesting lectures.
I love listening to people explain things I know nothing about! It's a great way to explore the field, learn more about the world, and make connections to things I'm studying. I'm most comfortable when I'm a little bit confused.5. Fancy equipment.
6. Fieldwork.
Or not so fancy equipment.I can't even properly pronounce magnetometer, but I've used one (briefly.) Seismometers are currently blowing my mind, and I'm really excited for the vibrating trucks while studying active seismology. I also love using fancy technology like remote sensing satellite data and excessive computing power. The toys are awesome.
Homework for a liberal arts major:7. The people are nice.
Homework for a geoscience major:
One of these will result in a Vitamin D deficiency.
The other will result in a cold beer.
Tough call, right?
Pretentious, me? Never.
Being pretentious is a prerequisite for a philosophy scholar. Sometimes, they're lovely, fascinating people. Frequently, they're mean as snakes, twice as funny looking, and think they're the coolest thing to wear tight pants.
Geologists are good-natured, helpful, and handy in a pinch. Also, they're generally gorgeous – the men are handsome and handy, the women are beautiful and highly competent. I think it's all that Vitamin D.8. The scope.
Plus, it's just tough to be pretentious while "examining the sagebrush."
From isotopic changes in the range of parts per billion, to the rise of immense mountain chains hundreds of kilometers long; from the earliest creation of the planet, to the future movements of continents; from the relatively slow movement of water through a watershed, to dramatic pyroclastic deposition over the course of a few minutes; from the glacial moraine in my parent's backyard, to Arizona-sized volcanoes on Mars – geology encompasses all of these.9. Real-life applications.
How is that not awesome, in the truest sense of the word?
I LOVE the thought that, someday, I'll be qualified to search for oil, reconstruct the tectonic history of the planet, understand hydrological changes in caves, analyze earthquakes to see the structure of the planet, make discoveries about cryovolcanism on Enceladus, or help predict volcanic eruptions.
Or even just be able to pick up a rock from the river, and know what it is, and where it's been. That'll be pretty cool too!
10. The fine line between "work" and "vacation."
Work:Exploring a'a lava at Craters of the Moon.
Doing cave monitoring for the BLM at Craters of the Moon.Vacation:
Learning about multi-colored lava underground near Mt. St. Helens.
Examining glacial geology and learning about Idaho geology at Redfish Lake.Bonus!
11. New things to learn. Everyday.
Today, I learned how to analyze stress and fracturing in rocks using a wacky thing called a "Mohr's Circle Diagram." Then I learned about constructing three-dimensional objects just using calculus. Then I learned how to make Java applets. Then I learned how to find different rock types via satellite. Then I came home and read about ocean islands and mantle plumes.
In one day. Who knows what crazy business we're going to learn tomorrow?
I'm sure it's going to be incredible.


text:
Manage all your WordPress sites with the MainWP Dashboard
Stop letting your sites manage you and start managing your sites.
Get started in minutes with 3 easy steps
Unlimited WordPress sites are always free
Unlimited WordPress Sites
Connect unlimited number of WordPress sites to your MainWP Dashboard.
1-Click Admin Access
Access all your WordPress sites from one place with a simple click.
Centralized Management
Manage all your WordPress sites from one centralized location.
Multiple Backup Solutions
Choose the best solution for managing your WordPress backups.
Plugins and Themes Management
Install, update, delete any plugin or theme on all your WordPress sites.
User Management
Manage all users from all your sites directly from your MainWP Dashboard.
Content Management
Managing content on all your WordPress sites is now as easy as can be.
Uptime Monitoring
Keep an eye on your sites and get instant notification if your sites go down.
Security and Vulnerability Checks
Scan all your WordPress sites for security issues and vulnerabilities.
Extend your MainWP Dashboard
Browse our catalog of MainWP Extensions for backups, marketing, SEO, maintenance, security, monitoring and other tools to help you build a better network. MainWP Extensions are WordPress plugins that seamlessly integrate with your MainWP Dashboard.Browse MainWP Extensions Pick Your Membership Plan
WordPress.org User Rating
Check it out!
WordPress.org 5 Star Reviews
Check it out!
Sites Managed with MainWP
Positive Support Feedback
Average Support First Response Time
MainWP, a WordPress Manager You Own!
As a self-hosted solution, you install the MainWP Dashboard plugin on your WordPress site and not on our private server.
Open Source
With fully auditable, open source code you can be sure we do not track or keep any information about your Child sites.
Some developers like to keep tight control of what is happening with their plugins but we have 100% respect for your privacy.
Are you sharing all the important information about your websites or your clients sites by voluntarily allowing others to gather and store that information on their servers?
If your WordPress management solution is run off a server you don't control then that is exactly what you are doing!
Do you really know what information they are gathering and storing? Are they gathering stats, keywords, profitable niches?
It is our belief that with WordPress management solutions that are hosted on the developer's servers (SaaS) or contain encrypted code that you can never truly know how that information is being used or even what information about your sites is being gathered and stored.
Ask yourself what happens to all that information if it is sold, if your management solution is sold or worse yet if your management company decides to exploit what they have gathered.
Join over 3000 other MainWP users discussing their experiences.
Created by MainWP users for MainWP users.Join the MainWP users group


text:
MacDropHide has been discontinued as its functionality has been replaced by Broomstick.
MacDropHide is a simple app that painlessly allows Mac users to hide the Dropbox menubar icon. MacDropHide works by taking Dropbox's icon files ("dropbox-box-icon-1.png", for instance), and renaming them to have ".hidden" on the end ("dropbox-box-icon-1.png.hidden", for instance). This means that when Dropbox goes looking for the icon files, it can't find them, and subsequently doesn't show anything in the menubar.
What's New in MacDropHide
- Small user interface changes that solves issues related to small screen sizes.
- Improved performance.
- Adds prompt for a voluntary donation.
Requirements for MacDropHide
- Mac OS X 10.5 or later
- Dropbox
*Previously available here


text:
Here's the Gay Coming Out That The X Factor Didn't Air
[There was a video here]
As previously mentioned, an aspiring X Factor contestant who didn't make it through the first round of auditions alleged that he was "bullied" into admitting that he was gay on the show. Don Philip, who sang with Britney Spears on her debut album, said he was "set up" to reveal his homosexuality onstage based on a pre-audition reveal and had subsequent thoughts of suicide.
In a statement, Fox denied knowing about his sexuality before he revealed it. The network's statement reads, in part:
The judges were not given any information at all about Mr. Philip prior to his audition. The personal information that Mr. Philip quickly volunteered at the start of his audition was a surprise to the judges, who asked what had happened during the past 10 years, as they were interested in Mr. Philip's career. While we understand his decision to discuss his personal life, Mr. Philip's sexual orientation was not something that any of the judges or producers felt was relevant to this audition.
Via ONTD's posting of a fan-shot video captured live in June, you can watch Philip's entire audition, in which L.A. Reid can be heard prying Philip's "secret" from him (the video above cuts right to that point, but Philip had already gone on for two minutes without mentioning his sexuality).
If for some reason The X Factor was squeamish about revealing Philip's sexuality, it had no such qualms with 34-year-old Jason Brock, who auditioned on last night's episode. He was out and flamboyant enough to be Liza-esque. He was good enough to halt the eye-rolling Simon Cowell had initially regarded him with. Brock is ten times the singer that Philip is. He's advancing based on talent, not because of or even despite his sexuality.


text:
The Collegiate Chorale to Present Works by Philip Glass and Osvaldo Golijov at Carnegie Hall, 2/27
The Collegiate Chorale announces the New York Premieres of two works by major composers: Symphony No. 7 "Toltec" by Philip Glass and Oceana by Osvaldo Golijov, featuring international jazz vocalist Biella Da Costa and the American Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 7pm at Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Avenue, NYC. The Collegiate Chorale's Music Director James Bagwell will conduct. Tickets are $20-115 and are available at www.carnegiehall.org.
In this pairing of contemporary choral compositions by Osvaldo Golijov and Philip Glass, The Chorale turns its attention towards Latin America with the New York premieres of Symphony No. 7 "Toltec" and Oceana. Composed in 2004, Symphony No. 7 - A Toltec Symphony is Philip Glass's personal homage to the ancient traditions and beliefs of the peoples of Mesoamerica, circa 700-1100 BCE. Although often cited for their accomplishments in mathematics, calendar making, building and architecture, Glass is concerned with Toltec personal spiritual development: "The Toltecs emphasized the relationship with the forces of the natural world (the sun, earth, water, fire and wind) in developing their own wisdom traditions." In his symphony, scored for full orchestra and large chorus, Glass does not use any of his trademark electric keyboard sounds, but instead explores musical textures and phrases within the realm of a strictly acoustic, natural world. In using pure, natural acoustic instruments, he gets closer spiritually to the natural world the Toltec culture worships. This musical exploration results in extended yet constantly changing harmonies, textures, and rhythms.
Commissioned by the Oregon Bach Festival in 1996, Golijov wrote Oceana in the spirit of a Bach cantata but with a Latin American musical style that features a jazz/pop vocalist, percussion, and guitars. Set to the poetry of Pablo Neruda, Oceana, in Golijov's words, is the "transmutation of passion into geometry". He describes his work such that "water and longing, light and hope, the immensity of South America's nature and pain, are here transmuted into pure musical symbols, which nevertheless should be more liquid than the sea and deeper than the yearning that they represent." Golijov juxtaposes rolling, cascading arcs of sound (giant rain sticks in the percussion, choral and orchestral writing that sweeps forward and back in extended phrases) and the unique sound of Brazilian jazz with the technical precision of classical oratorio and symphonic structure. The result is an astounding and exciting rush of sound, drama and emotion; waves of text overlapping waves of sound; jazz merging with classical; and cinematic cascades of texture upon texture. Popular Venezuelan Jazz vocalist and Golijov specialist Biella Da Costa joins The Chorale in the performance of this powerful musical work.
"The Chorale has been privileged to work with Philip Glass several times in the past few years, and so it is with great pleasure that we present the NY premiere of his Toltec Symphony," said James Bagwell, Music Director of The Collegiate Chorale. "Philip wrote this work in 2005, but it has not been heard in New York - we want to rectify that." He continued, "Osvaldo Golijov is a wonderful and deservedly celebrated composer of today. His music is evocative, powerful, and sensual; and an exciting, deeply satisfying amalgam of the musical styles of his own experience - Argentinian, Latin, Israeli, Hebrew, American, classical, and jazz. We are thrilled to be able to present the NY premiere of his beautiful work, Oceana."
Biella Da Costa is one of Venezuela's most acclaimed vocalists. She was awarded the grand national "Premio Nacional del Artista" for "Best New Artist and "Best Female Vocalist by La Casa del Artista of Venezuela. She studied with Francisco Kraus at The Conservatorio Jose Angel Lamas, with Yoshiko Miki and Hilda Breer at the Escuela de Opera de Caracas, and privately with Irene Ebersteins. During the nineties Biella performed with various rock and Latin bands in Caracas until becoming lead vocalist for Casablanca, a popular rock band. Later she discovered the local jazz scene and subsequently formed a jazz band. Since then, Biella has shared the stage with internationally renowned artists such as Eric Clapton, Ray Charles, Blood Sweat & Tears, Caetano Veloso, David Sanborn, Chuck Mangione and many others. Biella performs extensively in Latin America and has appeared in prestigious jazz festivals and venues throughout Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Holland, Spain, Russia, the United States and Canada. In Venezuela she has performed with the Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolivar on several occasions. Since November 2000 she has been performing Osvaldo Golijov's La Pasión Según San Marcos and, since 2006, Ayre and Oceana. Biella has numerous recordings to her credit, "El Sueño" with Casablanca, "Solo Jazz," "Jazz & Blues" and "Biella Da Costa en Navidad", which includes several Venezuelan and international Christmas songs. Biella is also featured on "Monk in The Sun," a tribute to Thelonious Monk released in the U.S. in which she sings Monk's celebrated ballad "Round Midnight." In 2009 she recorded Osvaldo Golijov's La Pasión Según San Marcos. Biella currently teaches at Unearte (Universidad Nacional Experimental de las Artes) in Caracas.
Tickets can be purchased by contacting The Chorale office at (646) 435-9465 or via their website: collegiatechorale.org. Single tickets for this concert start at $25. Tickets may also be purchased through the Carnegie Hall Box Office 60 days in advance of each concert and on Carnegie Charge at (212) 247-7800 or www.carnegiehall.org. Single tickets for all concerts, and for the Fall Gala and Spring Benefit, can be obtained by calling The Collegiate Chorale at (646) 202-9623.
The mission of The Collegiate Chorale, led by Music Director James Bagwell, is to enrich its audiences through innovative programming and exceptional performances of a broad range of vocal music featuring a premier choral ensemble. Founded in 1941 by the legendary conductor Robert Shaw, The Chorale has established a preeminent reputation for its interpretations of the traditional choral repertoire, vocal works by American composers, and rarely heard operas-in-concert, as well as for commissions and premieres of new works by today's most exciting creative artists. The many guest artists with whom The Chorale has performed in recent years include: Stephanie Blythe, Victoria Clark, Nathan Gunn, Thomas Hampson, Angela Meade, Kelli O'Hara, Eric Owens, Rene Papé, Bryn Terfel and Deborah Voigt. Last season's highlights included the critically acclaimed concert presentation of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado at Carnegie Hall. In addition to The Chorale's presentations, the chorus performed in five programs during the American Symphony Orchestra's 2011-12 season, sang with the Israel Philharmonic at the Salzburg Festival and in Israel in July 2012, and will return to Verbier in the summer of 2013.


text:
The San Francisco SPCA offers students a chance to experience a busy, modern, full-service general practice, a progressive model shelter and adoption center with a shelter medicine department and a high-quality, high-volume spay-neuter clinic—all under one roof!
We have a medical staff of 15 DVMs, including a board-certified veterinary behaviorist. Veterinary externs from all over the world gain valuable experience at the SF SPCA. We host internship rotations through VCA San Francisco Veterinary Specialists and other local internship programs.
Spay-Neuter Clinic
The SF SPCA S-N clinic hosts 3rd and 4th year students and veterinary interns. We provide opportunities for learning quality, high volume S-N techniques under the direct supervision of our surgical team. Externs from California veterinary schools are able to gain hands-on surgical experience. Our Community Cares Program provides experience with feral cat outreach, spay-neuter and treatment.
Veterinary Hospital and Emergency Services
Our Veterinary Hospital is open seven days per week. Interns/externs gain experience with treatment plans, client contact, gathering patient histories, surgical procedures, emergency services medicine, dentistry and diagnostics. Students are invited to participate in daily hospital rounds and continuing education events.
Shelter Medicine
The shelter medicine department never closes. After spending time with staff in our state-of- the-art shelter, you will understand proper husbandry, vaccine protocols, infectious disease prevention and treatment, environmental enrichment and adopter counseling. Depending on interest and experience, students may be asked to examine and diagnose shelter animals, and develop a treatment plan overseen by a staff veterinarian.
Other Opportunities
We maintain partnerships with various Bay Area rescue organizations. Spending time with organizations like SF Animal Care and Control or Vet SOS provides invaluable rescue organization experience for students.


text:
- World Trade Week 2014
- World Trade Month 2013
- World Trade Week 2012
- National Export Initiative Anniversary
International Trade Update
International Trade Update is published monthly by the Office of Public Affairs of the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration (ITA). To receive notification by e-mail when new issues are published, please subscribe.
September 2016
"International Trade Update" is published monthly by the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration.
For more information about the International Trade Administration, contact: Office of Public Affairs, International Trade Administration, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230. Tel. (202) 482-3809; on the Web: www.trade.gov.
The International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, manages this global trade site to provide access to ITA information on promoting trade and investment, strengthening the competitiveness of U.S. industry, and ensuring fair trade and compliance with trade laws and agreements. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. This site contains PDF documents. A PDF reader is available from Adobe Systems Incorporated.


text:
Our Best Match:
If I take all of my classes at the Fullerton campus, can I use the services at the Irvine campus?
CSUF students may make use of the services at the Irvine Campus even if all their classes are at the Fullerton campus.
You May Be Interested In:
- Are there academic advisors on the Irvine campus?
- How do I find classes offered at the Irvine campus?
- What are the hours for the Irvine campus buildings and services?
- Is there a map of the Irvine campus?
- Is there a library on the Irvine campus?
Didn't Find Your Answer?
Try searching our site or send us a message.
Are You Satisfied With Your Answer?


text:
I love flowers and I could not wait to put them to good use! Lol. I also made some and put them on several dies. Check them out!
with the matchbox die...
Thanks for looking!
Posted by Hearts That Love at 10:02 PM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: Anniversary, Birthday, Treat Bags, Wedding
Hi there! I still had the scallop flowers in mind as I created these milk cartons. Are they not yummy enough to eat? Spring is definitely in the air, and what better way to appreciate the season with vibrant colors. Using SU's mini milk carton die, I have these in (retired) Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquiose and Summer Sun. I also have used the scallop circle punch, two circles for each flower - plus the Boho Blossom punch for the center, and a mini brad to put them together. The leaves are from the Two Step Bird Punch. The sentiment "For You" is from SU's Vintage Label set and was punched out using the small oval punch.
Posted by Hearts That Love at 1:13 PM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: Friendship, Spring, Thank You, Treat Bags
Hi there! I was shopping inside a local craft store, looking for ribbons when these darling favor tins caught my eye. My brain went on overdrive.... lol! Imagine what you can do with these tins and how I wished Stampin' Up sold these things too.
I embellished them with Scallop Flowers in spring-y colors and adhered labels on each one. See below for instructions. Here are my tins after I altered them:
Posted by Hearts That Love at 10:31 AM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: Birthday, Easter, Friendship, Spring, Treat Bags
Hi there! I created a card that was inspired from Julia Bettencourt's post here. I had always loved tulips, and in different colors too! The tulips are punched out using the Two-step Bird Punch - you need the "wing" part. Three "wings" make one tulip. You can choose whichever color you like. I made tulips in melon mambo, so saffron, pumpkin pie, orchid opulence, tempting turquiose, and pink pirouette.
The stems were punched out using the Two-Step Bird Punch too. The grass is hand cut - a long piece of Old Olive and snipped to look like "grass".
Posted by Hearts That Love at 11:20 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Easter, Friendship, Mother's Day, Spring


text:
ABMGG Laboratory Fellowship Program:
Clinical Biochemical Training Overview
For More Information
Program Coordinators
- Gianna Guerrero
- Gianna.Guerrero@
- Phone: (415) 514-8983
- Fax: (415) 353-7602
- Miguel Marquez-Sanchez
- Miguel.Marquez-Sanchez@
- Phone: (415) 353-7331
- Fax: (415) 514-8928
- University of California, San Francisco
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
- 185 Berry Street, Suite 100
- Campus Box 0506
- San Francisco, CA 94107
Training in the Biochemical Genetics Laboratory consists of ongoing exposure to, and involvement with, laboratory testing, interpretation and reporting, with increasing levels of involvement and responsibility as the training period progresses. Trainees first observe testing performed by licensed technologists, and then perform parallel testing of patient samples. Following a period of detailed instruction on results interpretation (including amino acid, organic acid and acylcarnitine data) and practice with archived abnormal samples, trainees provide preliminary interpretations of patient runs, integrate results of multiple tests, and incorporate the clinical history into a final interpretation. These cases are then discussed in detail with the laboratory director at regular sign-out meetings and revisions to the trainee's interpretations are reviewed. The trainee is expected to learn the basic principles and implementation of each test, so as to fully appreciate the complexities and pitfalls that are part of biochemical testing. For select cases, trainees communicate laboratory results directly to clinical geneticists and/or other physicians and health care providers. Feedback for improving communication performance is discussed.
Training is focused in modules in the Stanford Biochemical laboratory including:
Module 1: GC/MS Methods (Organic Acids).
Each fellow is expected to process and /interpret cases during this training module. The fellow should document his/her roles in every case that he/she is involved.
Module 2: HPLC Methods (Amino Acid Analysis).
Each fellow is expected to process, analyze and interpret cases during this training module. The fellow should document his/her roles in every case that he/she is involved.
Module 3: Tandem Mass Spectrometry Methods (Acylcarnitines, Carnitine, Other Single Analytes).
Each fellow is expected to process, analyze and interpret cases during this training module. The fellow should document his/her roles in every case that he/she is involved.
Module 4: Other Biochemical Genetics Methods (Enzyme Assay, TLC Procedures).
Each fellow is expected to process, analyze and interpret cases during this training module. The fellow should document his/her roles in every case that he/she is involved.
(Insert Schedule Here)
Conferences & Clinics
In addition to laboratory activities, trainees attend the Biochemical Genetics Teaching Conference, the General Genetics Clinical Conference, and all other required seminars, conferences, and courses. Finally, trainees attend the Neurometabolic Clinic. In these clinics, trainees are assigned patients and are involved with the delivery of test results, either as full participants in the clinical diagnosis, treatment, and genetic counseling of patients and families [physician trainees], or as observers and discussion participants [PhD trainees].
Clinical Genetics Patient Conference
This conference is held weekly under the direction of Dr. Wynshaw-Boris and attended routinely by Drs. Jeng, Nussbaum, Packman, Rauen, and Slavotnek. The conference is a formal review of the patients evaluated that week in various Genetics Clinics and in-house consultations. The clinical fellows present the patients with the history and pertinent physical findings (including photographs when appropriate). Interesting cytogenetic and prenatal diagnosis results of the past week are also discussed, and the clinical fellow for the month is responsible for presenting and leading the discussion on recent inpatient consultations of note. The subsequent discussion is rigorous, and includes issues of differential diagnosis, disease biology, diagnostic testing, treatment, genetic counseling and basic science correlates. In this forum, the trainee gains experience in organizing and more formally presenting medical genetic information, in leading the interactive discussions that ensue, and in addressing the questions and problems that arise in these discussions. Over the years, this conference has been a hub for medical care providers interested in clinical genetics, from UCSF and nearby medical centers. Full and part-time members of the core clinical genetics faculty, physician and non-physician post-doctoral trainees, genetic counselors, interested graduate students, and medical students and house officers rotating through medical genetics all attend this conference. An additional half-hour each week is devoted to didactic presentations on topics or journal articles of particular interest to attendees. All attendees (residents, fellows, faculty, genetics counselors, and students) make presentations.
Biochemical Genetics Conference
This weekly conference is led by Dr. Packman and attended by all fellows and residents, genetic counselors of the Biochemical Genetics Service, genetic nutritionists, and members of the Medical Genetics faculty [including Dr. Tina Cowan]. All attendees contribute presentations including didactic lectures, journal club presentations, and case presentations with discussion of the biology, genetics, and medical aspects of the disorder. The conference schedules for the academic years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 are appended.
Genetics and Neurology Resident and Fellow Conference
This is a monthly conference attended by faculty, fellows and resident from Medical Genetics, including the laboratory specialties, and Pediatric Neurology. Trainees present a neurogenetic or neurometabolic topic of interest to the entire group, in the form of a didactic presentation, a journal club presentation, or a case presentation and discussion.
Additional Available Conferences & Seminars
NF/RAS Clinic Conference
Trainees in medical genetics attend the NF/RAS clinic, led by Dr. Kate Rauen. Dr. Rauen holds this conference, which discusses patients from that clinic that interfaces with the Cancer Risk Program, and meets every 2-3 months.
Trainees in medical genetics participate in biweekly tutorials in biochemical genetics, led by Dr. Packman. The format is interactive, and includes didactic presentations (by the trainees and by the preceptors), discussions of important topics or concepts, and journal club presentations.
Prenatal Diagnostic Meeting
This weekly meeting is led by Dr. Rauen, and is attended by faculty, residents and fellows of the Reproductive Genetics Group, genetic counselors, and medical genetics trainees during their Prenatal Diagnostic rotation. At this meeting, recent complicated cases are reviewed.
Fetal Treatment Meeting
Neonatologists, surgeons, radiologists, perinatologists, and geneticists attend this daily meeting. Medical genetics trainees who are in their Prenatal Diagnostic rotation may attend this meeting, at which complicated ultrasonographic findings are reviewed, and prenatal treatment options and protocols are discussed.
Seminars and Conferences of Subspecialty Rotations
Rotations in Cancer Genetics, Reproductive Genetics (Prenatal Diagnostics), Adult Nuerogenetics, Ophthalmology Genetics, Dermatology Genetics are required for physician trainees (Clinical Genetic Residents). Laboratory Subspecialty trainees may avail themselves of the clinical conferences and seminars held during these rotations. The frequency of these seminars and conferences varies with rotation, over one month per rotation.
Research Lectures and Seminar Series
Fellows avail themselves of the opportunity to attend regularly scheduled lecture and seminar series on campus. Of particular interest to those working in basic, human, and medical genetics are the weekly Seminars in Biomedical Science (sponsored by the Biomedical Sciences Program): the weekly Seminar series of the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics; the weekly Journal Club of the Program in Biological Sciences; the lecture series and the monthly seminars of the Institute for Human Genetics; the lecture series sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Institute; and the Monthly Pediatrics Faculty Research Conference.
Molecular Sign-Out Conference
This is a bi-weekly conference led by Farid Chehab, PhD and Linda Jeng, MD, PhD and is attended by residents and fellows from Pathology, Laboratory Medicine, and Medical Genetics including the Laboratory Specialties. Trainees give short presentations on laboratory techniques, disease entities or interesting cases during the course of case review and sign-out.
Clinical Biochemical Courses
Specialty Director
Tina Cowan, PhD, FACMG


text:
No Matter How Right-Wing Media Spin It, Millions Would Feel "Sharp Effects" Of GOP Budget
Right-wing media have responded to criticism of Rep. Paul Ryan's GOP budget plan by trying to reframe the plan as not actually calling for spending "cuts," but that it simply limits the rate of an increase in spending. But experts agree that Ryan's plan would indeed reduce funding to programs that assist millions of low- and middle-income Americans; as the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) has noted, Ryan's plan includes reductions in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding that alone would "necessitate ending assistance for millions of low-income families."
Right-Wing Media Reframe GOP Budget: "[F]or The Most Part, We're Not Talking About 'Cuts' At All; We're Talking About The Rate Of Increase In Spending"
WSJ's McGurn Defends Ryan Plan: "[F]or The Most Part, We're Not Talking About 'Cuts' At All; We're Talking About The Rate Of Increase In Spending." In his April 30 Wall Street Journal column titled, "Paul Ryan's Cross to Bear," William McGurn defended Ryan and his budget from criticism by the "religious left," writing:
At Georgetown he delivered a spirited defense of his budget. He did so notwithstanding attacks by various Catholic bishops and a letter from 90 Georgetown professors decrying his "continuing misuse of Catholic teaching to defend a budget plan that decimates food programs for struggling families, radically weakens protections for the elderly and sick, and gives more tax breaks to the wealthiest few."
Now, even a Georgetown professor ought to understand that, for the most part, we're not talking about "cuts" at all; we're talking about the rate of increase in spending. Under Mr. Obama, the increased spending would go to 4.5% a year. Mr. Ryan's "radical" reform proposes to keep it to 3%. [The Wall Street Journal, 4/30/12]
Marc Thiessen: "Ryan's Budget Can Only Be Viewed As A 'Cut' When Compared With The Unprecedented Levels Of Spending Unleashed By President Obama." In an April 25 Washington Post op-ed, former Bush speechwriter Marc Thiessen defended Ryan's budget from criticism by prominent Catholic bishops, suggesting that Ryan's budget was increasing spending when compared to President Bush's budget projections for 2012 and 2013 and that the plan "can only be viewed as a 'cut' when compared" to spending that President Obama has proposed. From the op-ed:
To put that into perspective, Jeff Rosen, a former official in the Bush administration's Office of Management and Budget, points out the final budgets submitted by President George W. Bush projected spending of $3.22 trillion in 2012 and $3.34 trillion in 2013. Ryan's budget, by contrast, calls for spending of $3.6 trillion in 2012 and $3.53 trillion in 2013. So Ryan's budget is higher than Bush's projections for 2012 and for 2013. In fact, since actual spending in 2008 was $2.98 trillion, Ryan's budget represents a 20 percent increase in spending in 2012 -- higher than inflation from 2008 to 2012. How is that cruel and heartless?
Ryan's budget can only be viewed as a "cut" when compared with the unprecedented levels of spending unleashed by President Obama, who has increased our national debt by more than $4 trillion in just 31 months -- a new land-speed record for fiscal profligacy. In criticizing Ryan's spending "cuts," Bishop Blaire is effectively arguing that these unsustainable spending increases under Barack Obama are the new floor for what constitutes "social justice." In this view, even a 20 percent increase in spending relative to 2008 is a violation of the "moral criteria" of the Catholic Church. That is ridiculous. [The Washington Post, 4/25/12]
Rove: Ryan Budget Is Only A Cut Because "[Obama] Wants To Increase Spending To $5.8 Trillion in 2022." In an April 11 Wall Street Journal op-ed, Karl Rove claimed that the Ryan budget could only be considered a "cut" when compared to the outlays called for by Obama's budget. From the column:
Take the House GOP budget plan. It increases federal outlays from roughly $3.6 trillion this year to nearly $4.9 trillion in 2022. In the AP speech the president called this a "cut" because he wants to increase spending to $5.8 trillion in 2022.
He warned that if the GOP's "cuts ... were to be spread out evenly across the budget," then "Alzheimer's and cancer and AIDS" research would be slashed, 10 million college students denied assistance, and "thousands" of researchers and teachers "could lose their jobs." But Republicans don't cut across the board. Instead, their focus is on waste, duplication, programs that do not work, and on reform. [The Wall Street Journal, 4/11/12]
But Experts Say Ryan's Plan Would Indeed Reduce Funding To Programs That Assist Millions Of Low- And Middle-Income Americans, As Well As Children
CBPP: Ryan Budget Would Triple Pell Grant Shortfall. An April 26 Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) report found that the Ryan budget triples the size of the projected Pell grant shortfall "even as it significantly cuts Pell benefits and eligibility." From the report:
Pell Grants are funded partly from "discretionary" money provided annually by the Appropriations Committees and partly from mandatory money -- funding provided outside the annual appropriations process. Discretionary funding supports the first $4,860 of the grant, while the remainder comes from mandatory funding. (Mandatory funding therefore currently covers $690 of the $5,550 maximum award per student.) Funding for this mandatory increment of the maximum award is open-ended, so there is no shortfall in this source of funding.
Discretionary appropriations for Pell were artificially low in 2009 through 2013 because Congress provided additional, large, but temporary pools of mandatory funding in those years to help cover the costs of the discretionary portion of the grant (the $4,860). Those pools of fixed mandatory money will mostly dry up soon, however, so Pell's discretionary funding needs will jump by $8 billion in 2014.
At the same time, the tight caps on non-defense discretionary funding (NDD) enacted as part of last year's Budget Control Act will constrain overall NDD funding -- the part of the budget that includes the discretionary portion of Pell Grants -- over each of the next nine years. There would be little or no problem meeting Pell's funding needs within the NDD caps if the discretionary funding level for Pell grants in 2012 merely rose over the next decade at the same rate as the NDD caps (virtually the same as expected inflation) if it weren't for the $8 billion increase needed for Pell Grants in 2014, which must then be maintained in subsequent years. But because of that needed increase, CBO estimates indicate that Pell's discretionary funding needs through 2022 are about $58 billion higher than the levels that would be provided if the 2012 Pell funding level simply rose modestly in tandem with the NDD caps.
[The Ryan budget] actually exacerbates the shortfall.
- The Ryan budget would both cut Pell benefits and eligibility and freeze the maximum grant at $5,550 per student per year, apparently on a permanent basis. Together, these changes would reduce the program's funding needs by roughly $50 billion over ten years, by making fewer lower-income students eligible for the grants and reducing the size of the grants for students who still can receive them.
- It would repeal the entire $101 billion in existing mandatory funding for Pell over the next ten years -- both the permanent, open-ended funding and the temporary pools of fixed funding.
In other words, the Ryan budget would increase the $58 billion Pell shortfall by $101 billion (by repealing all mandatory funding), while reducing Pell funding needs by approximately $50 billion (by cutting eligibility and benefits). That leaves a shortfall of $109 billion, all else being equal.
All else is not equal, however. The Ryan budget would cut overall NDD funding below the current caps by the stunning amount of almost $1.2 trillion over ten years. This represents an 8 percent cut in 2013 below the already tight NDD caps and a 22 percent cut in each subsequent year.
The Ryan budget does not explain which general areas (much less which programs) would absorb what share of these deep additional cuts, so we can't know exactly how much of these cuts would come from Pell Grants. But it is extremely unlikely that Pell Grants would not be cut significantly, along with other major NDD programs, given the magnitude of the $1.2 trillion funding reduction.
We can roughly estimate the effect on Pell Grants using the same method that we used to calculate the existing $58 billion Pell shortfall -- that is, by comparing the percentage increase or reduction in the NDD caps each year, if they are set at the levels the Ryan budget calls for, with CBO's estimate of the growth in Pell Grant funding needed under current law. We find that the Ryan plan's reductions in the NDD caps would expand the Pell shortfall by an additional $52 billion -- leaving the Ryan budget with a total Pell shortfall of $161 billion. [CBPP, 4/28/12]
CBPP: "Ryan Budget Would Slash SNAP Funding By $134 Billion Over Ten Years ... Which Would Necessitate Ending Assistance For Millions Of Low-Income Families." An April 18 CBPP report found that the Ryan budget plan would severely cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by "$133.5 billion -- more than 17 percent -- over the next ten years," cuts that would negatively affect "low-income families with children, seniors and people with disabilities." From the report:
The Ryan budget documents assert that Congress could achieve the required savings by capping federal funding for SNAP and "freeing states to come up with innovative approaches to delivering aid to those who truly need it," through a block grant. That description leaves the mistaken impression that the program is not serving a population that is overwhelmingly poor and that savings could be achieved without causing significant harm to millions of vulnerable Americans.
Unlike most means-tested benefit programs, which are restricted to particular categories of low-income individuals, SNAP is broadly available to almost all households with very low incomes. As a result, cutting SNAP would affect broad swaths of the low-income population. Currently, 46.5 million people receive SNAP assistance to help them buy food for their families. Census data show that in 2010 (the latest year for which these data are available), 46.2 million Americans lived below the poverty line, and 63 million lived below 130 percent of the poverty line, SNAP's gross income limit.
- The overwhelming majority of SNAP households are families with children, seniors, or people with disabilities. Almost three-quarters of SNAP participants are in families with children; more than one-quarter are in households that include senior citizens or people with disabilities.
- SNAP households have very low incomes. Eighty-five percent of SNAP households have incomes below the poverty line (about $23,050 for a family of four in 2012). Such households receive 93 percent of SNAP benefits. Two of every five SNAP households have incomes below half of the poverty line. (See Figure 3.) Such individuals and families have little flexibility in their monthly budgets to cope with deep reductions in food assistance.
- Low-wage workers rely on SNAP to boost their monthly income. Millions of Americans live in households whose earnings are not sufficient to meet basic needs. In 2010, some 37 million people (1 in 8 Americans) worked or lived in a working family with cash income below 130 percent of the poverty line (about $29,000 for a family of four). Low incomes like these -- which typically reflect low wages or limited work hours -- can leave families unable to afford necessities like food and housing on a reliable basis. SNAP benefits play a crucial role in boosting families' monthly income: a typical working mother with two children on SNAP earns $1,146 per month ($13,762 on an annual basis) and receives $375 per month in SNAP benefits. If the Ryan proposal were implemented via across-the-board cuts, this family's monthly benefits would be cut by $67 per month -- or 17 percent -- in fiscal year 2016. [CBPP, 4/18/12]
Krugman: Ryan Budget "Slashes Taxes For Corporations And The Rich While Drastically Cutting Food And Medical Aid To The Needy." In his April 1 New York Times column, Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman wrote:
[O]n Thursday Republicans in the House of Representatives passed what was surely the most fraudulent budget in American history.
When I say fraudulent, I mean just that. The trouble with the budget devised by Paul Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, isn't just its almost inconceivably cruel priorities, the way it slashes taxes for corporations and the rich while drastically cutting food and medical aid to the needy. Even aside from all that, the Ryan budget purports to reduce the deficit -- but the alleged deficit reduction depends on the completely unsupported assertion that trillions of dollars in revenue can be found by closing tax loopholes.[The New York Times, 4/1/12]
NEA: Ryan Budget Would Force About 200,000 Children Out Of Head Start Program In 2014. As The Huffington Post reported, the National Education Association (NEA) found that the projected cuts in the Ryan budget would force about 200,000 children out of Head Start in 2014, and affect more than 2 million children over the next decade:
The plan, proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who chairs the House Budget Committee, would eliminate slots for about 200,000 children in 2014, according to an analysis by the National Education Association. Over the next decade, the NEA estimates, more than two million children would lose opportunities to attend Head Start centers as a result of the cuts.
As it stands, only 30 percent of eligible children participate in the program, but children's advocates tend to argue that the program should be expanded, not diminished. [The Huffington Post, 3/29/12; NEA.org, 3/26/12]
CBPP: Ryan Gets 62 Percent Of His Budget Cuts From Programs For Lower-Income Americans. In a March 23 report, CBPP found:
House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's budget plan would get at least 62 percent of its $5.3 trillion in nondefense budget cuts over ten years (relative to a continuation of current policies) from programs that serve people of limited means.
Chairman Ryan's budget proposes $5.3 trillion in nondefense budget cuts (and about $200 billion in defense increases). The $5.3 trillion in cuts includes $1.2 trillion in cuts to nondefense discretionary programs; this $1.2 trillion in cuts is beyond the cuts needed to comply with the strict funding caps that the Budget Control Act established. Several hundred billion dollars of these additional cuts would very likely come from low-income programs.
Total cuts in low-income programs (including cuts in both discretionary and entitlement programs) appear likely to account for at least $3.3 trillion -- or 62 percent -- of Chairman Ryan's total budget cuts, and probably significantly more than that; as explained below, our assumptions regarding the size of the low-income cuts are conservative.
CBPP illustrated its findings with this graph:
CAP: Ryan Budget Would "Strip More Than $871 Billion From Public Investments In Education, Infrastructure, And Science And Technology." A Center for American Progress (CAP) report compared Ryan's projected outlays to 2010 outlays for education, infrastructure, and technology, concluding:
This year's proposed House budget walks back from the $1.4 trillion investment cuts Rep. Ryan proposed in 2011 but still cuts deep enough to damage our economy now and in the long run. Economists assess prospects for economic growth by looking at how investment per capita grows over time--the more capital goods, skills, and knowledge people have to work with, the more productive and creative they can be. At a minimum, investment should keep pace with population growth and inflation, and replace depreciated past investments as they get worn out and used up through normal use.
But compared to 2010 levels--before conservative cuts began to bite into public investments--Rep. Ryan's plan disinvests in America by cutting:
- Education and training investment per capita by 48 percent
- Transportation infrastructure investment per capita by 28 percent
- Science and technology R&D investment per capita by 24 percent
In total, the Ryan budget proposal would strip more than $871 billion from public investments in education, infrastructure, and science and technology--investments that create a foundation to support private investments and a more productive economy with greater opportunities and broader prosperity. The key to our long-term success and the competitiveness of our economy is to boost public and private investment from the low levels of the past decade. By disinvesting in the sources of productivity and competitiveness to pay for tax cuts for the already wealthy, the Ryan budget plan puts little value on America's economic future. [CAP, 3/20/12]
Economic Policy Institute: Ryan Budget Would Slow Down Job Creation
EPI: "Paul Ryan's Latest Budget Doesn't Just Fail To Address Job Creation, It Aggressively Slows Job Growth." The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) explained in a March 21 blog post:
Paul Ryan's latest budget doesn't just fail to address job creation, it aggressively slows job growth. Against a current policy baseline, the budget cuts discretionary programs by about $120 billion over the next two years and mandatory programs by $284 billion, sucking demand out of the economy when it most needs it and leading to job loss. Using a standard macroeconomic model that is consistent with that used by private- and public-sector forecasters, the shock to aggregate demand from near-term spending cuts would result in roughly 1.3 million jobs lost in 2013 and 2.8 million jobs lost in 2014, or 4.1 million jobs through 2014. [EPI, 3/21/12, emphasis original]


text:
Games Workshop
10" Big Horn Sheep Ram Head Plush Stuffed Animal Toy
100 Card Flip Xenoskin Deck Case, White
100ct Kaboom! Matte Trading Card Sleeves
10x Dice Counters White +1/+1 for Magic: The Gathering and other games / CCG MTG
10x Negative Dice Counters Black -1/-1 for Magic: The Gathering / CCG MTG
Galactic Toys provides the latest and largest selection of Toys, Action Figures, POP Vinyl, Statues, and much more. At Galactic Toys we stock thousands of products from Funko, DC, Marvel, Kotobukiya, Mattel, Hasbro, and many more. We also specialize in pop culture shows such as Arrow, Flash, Game of Thrones, Walking Dead, Batman, Attack on Titan, Dragonball Z, Star wars and much more.


text:
Successfully integrated additional QB run game concepts into an Oklahoma offensive arsenal that already included a potent passing game in 2013. Despite three different QBs seeing action over the course of the season, the Sooners registered an 11-2 campaign culminating with a 45-31 win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
Heupel navigated between QBs Trevor Knight and Blake Bell, who both came up big for the squad in 2013. Bell guided OU to road wins at Notre Dame (9/28/13) and at Oklahoma State (12/7/13), while Knight earned MVP honors in the Sugar Bowl, throwing for 348 yards, while tying a Sugar Bowl record with four TD passes.
Oklahoma finished the 2013 campaign with a +9 turnover differential and was +72 in points off turnovers in 2013, while also leading the Big 12 in time of possession (32:18).
OU ranked fifth in the nation in passing (336.5 ypg) and 12th in total offense (497.9 ypg) in 2012 as Landry Jones became the Big 12's all-time leader in passing yards and total offense.
In 2011, his OU unit finished fourth nationally in both total offense (512.3 ypg) and passing offense (349.4 ypg). Jones ranked third in the nation in total offense in 2011 after finishing second in the nation in passing yards in 2010 when he won the Sammy Baugh Award. Jones led all FBS freshman with 26 TDs after Sam Bradford was lost to injury in the 2009 season opener.
Tutored Bradford, who won the Heisman, Davey O'Brien and Sammy Baugh Awards, after throwing for 4,720 yards and 50 TDs with just eight INTs in 2008. Bradford led the nation in passing efficiency. He presided over the highest scoring offense ever and an NCAA-record string of five straight 60-point games.
In 2007, Bradford led the nation in passing efficiency (176.5) and set NCAA freshman record with 36 TD passes. He made four All-America freshman teams and was a finalist for the Manning Award.
Coached Paul Thompson, who, after finding out one day before fall camp that he would play QB, piloted OU to an 11-3 mark in 2006.
Coached tight ends at Arizona in 2005. The top two combined for 31 receptions for 346 yards and eight TDs. Brad Wood led the Wildcats with six touchdowns.
Helped Oklahoma to the 2004 (Sugar Bowl) and 2005 (Orange Bowl) national championship games as a G.A.
Founded The 14 Foundation, a non-profit organization that serves underprivileged children throughout Oklahoma.
In 2000, he was the 2000 Heisman Trophy runner-up, Walter Camp Award winner, Associated Press Player of the Year, 2000 and CBS Player of the Year, 2000.
Led OU to 2000 national championship.
OU's first consensus All-America quarterback, and first Oklahoma QB since 1971 to earn All-America honors.
Eighty percent winning percentage with a 20-5 mark.
Passed for 7,456 yards and 53 touchdowns in career.
Oklahoma career top three in passing yards, completions and touchdown passes despite playing just two seasons.
2001 NFL draft, sixth round, Miami Dolphins.
Trevor Knight (Oklahoma), 2014 Sugar Bowl MVP
Landry Jones (Oklahoma), 2010 Sammy Baugh Award Winner
Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), Rams, 2008 Heisman Trophy Winner, No. 1 NFL Draft Pick
Jason White (Oklahoma), 2003 Heisman Trophy Winner


text:
Related Artists
Related Albums
Related Articles
ange on 09/09/2013 at 02:05PM
Music for Video: Back to School
The colors outside are changing, and this collection of driving rock, electronic and experimental pop instrumentals are here to help tell stories of change and progress.
This is a Music for Video collection for tucking away your swimsuit, taking out a fresh pencil, and getting back to work. Click on the artist names to visit their page on the Free Music Archive. Many of them can be contacted there for more permissions, or to simply share a link to your new creations.
1. krackatoa (website, CC BY-NC-SA) - Starting a journey and looking cool doing it. This song title and album art refers to the story of Noah's ark, and the track appropriately evokes sonic waves and a sense of fulfilling one's destiny.
2. Los Amparito (website, CC BY-NC-SA) - The beginning of this song is an echo of chimes (perfect for a bumper), and then stereo dueling guitars take over. You won't get sick of this song no matter how many times you play it.
3. Fields of Ohio (website, CC BY-SA) - Steady driving drums begin this song and lock you in. Then faint voices emerge repeating something that sounds like, "tomorrow." Turn this on when you have homework to begin and want to fall into a productive trance.
4. Peter Gresser (website, CC0) - A funky jam that makes you want to pick up a joystick or leap on a treadmill. Licensed for the public domain via the Open Game Bundle, you can do whatever you'd like with this track including using it in your video games.
5. MrJuan (website, CC BY) - Giggle! This is a study break dance track for hip shaking and head nodding. Things are going well, and energy abounds.
6. Thiaz Itch (website, CC BY-NC-SA) - An intriguing flute kicks off this track and tells a story throughout. Many other instruments emerge, including a delightful güiro. This song is part of an album perfect for using in cartoons or animated shorts.


text:
Quick Ship Tear Drop Sail Sign - Single Side. Promote your message or event with dynamic color and attention grabbing motion. Responsive to the slightest breeze and sure to attract attention to your event or promotion. Promotes your message indoors as well as out. High-quality full-color, dye-sublimated single-sided graphic banner (reverse mirror image on the back). Includes: hardware, banner, scissor base and water ballast, and Soft Carry Case. Outdoor product. 1 year warranty on hardware. Banners used outdoors have a 90 day warranty. Finished graphic size: Visit website for graphic template.
Ordering Information
The minimum order for bulk personalization and customization of this item is 1 pieces. A free order proof with your logo or design on the product will be emailed before production begins.
Product Information
*Most orders are charged a production set-up fee.
**Purchased samples may include random imprint to evaluate imprint quality and location.
***Some logos, designs, and imprint methods may require additional charges. This may include additional run charges, set-up fees for extra colors, stitch counts and/or locations.
Why am I charged a set-up fee on most orders?
Imprinting and customization require special screens and plates for the imprinting and personalization process.
Do I get a proof before my order?
Yes, all orders recieve a FREE art proof in a PDF format for you to approve prior to production that comes from our art team.
What art formats do you accept?
We prefer high quality vector artwork in .eps, .ai (adobe illustrator), with fonts converted to outlines. We may also accept high resolution .jpg, .gif, .psd, or .pdf files. We can fix your art for free!
Are there extra charges for additional imprint colors?
Yes, in most cases unless it is digital and 4-color process printing, there are additional run charges and set-up charges.


text:
This blog is all about the trials of an amateur kitchen gardener in Bristol, UK. If to be lazy is to be immature, then to grow your own food is surely the peak of maturity? Time to 'man up' and live the Good Life
It's not all about the posts
Tuesday, 5 February 2013
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
The Hapless Kitchen Gardener
- Hapless gardener
- Bristol
- I only feel hapless because some people make it look easy to grow 10 ft marrows or a banquet of greens whereas my courgettes got nabbed by killer slugs and I only got one raspberry. So tips and stories from people less hapless than I are more than welcome. As a disclaimer though, none of my comments should be taken as expert advice on which you can rely! © Unless stated otherwise, and with the exception of guest content where that guest retains copyright, all photos and posts are the copyright of Tom Carpen and may not be used without permission.


text:
'via Blog this'
It doesn't make up for the fact that it still publishes Wente, but every now and then the Globe manages to do something worthwhile.
My only quibble with Martin, other than that he still hasn't appeared on the Tweeter, is that he doesn't quite go where he's obviously heading and use the F word. The propensity for control and domination is staring us right in the face.
Just take a look:
- Fetishizing the military
- A publicly funded propaganda machine, amplified by willingly braying transmitters at Stun Media
- Disdain for democratic accountability
- Obsessive message control
- Warrantless citizen surveillance
- Jails, jails and more jails
- Demonizing and smearing of opposition
Really, are these the hallmarks of a government that has its citizens' welfare at heart? Haven't we seen this movie before?
Related posts:
- The Sun's effect on our national conversation is obvious, but what about the Globe?
- Media culpa: George Monbiot's unedited letter to the Globe and Mail
- Why not just have the Americans write our legislation for us? - Peace, order and good government, eh?
- The capacity for critical thought - how do we build it?
- "Find new ways to protect Parliament?" WTF?


text:
The Oil and the Glory
Who has time to worry about OPEC?
Members of OPEC will agree to increase their official production today, but that won't do much to lower prices — the plenitude of energy-related stress across the globe underscores more than ever how power has dispersed out of OPEC's hands. It's not only the civil war in Libya, and the loss of its 1.4 million ...
Members of OPEC will agree to increase their official production today, but that won't do much to lower prices — the plenitude of energy-related stress across the globe underscores more than ever how power has dispersed out of OPEC's hands. It's not only the civil war in Libya, and the loss of its 1.4 million barrels a day of oil exports, or the chaos in Yemen. From the South China Sea to Alberta, Canada, tempers are flared over the control and movement of oil.
The Vietnamese, the Filipinos and the Japanese are vexed over unneighborly behavior by China, which most recently severed the seismic cables of an oil exploration ship, and fired at fishing trawlers in the South China Sea. For their part, some Chinese call their neighbors plunderers and the U.S. a hegemonist. For now, southeast Asia is more worried about U.S.-Chinese friction over these confrontations than winning the debate of the moment with Beijing, and so the Obama administration has relaxed its posture of last year, when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared the dispute a U.S. strategic interest. I exchanged emails on this with Bonnie Glaser, a China expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "I think that if Chinese intimidation of oil exploration activities continues, the U.S. will have to take a stronger stand — especially if Exxon is involved. But the Obama administration hopes it doesn't come to that," Glaser said.
Fighting continues in Sudan, this time in a contest over the breakaway south's oil, writes Jeffrey Gettleman at the New York Times. Southern Sudan is set to become independent next month, and Sudan President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has taken a hostage — the entire town of Abyei — as leverage in order to obtain more oil in the split-up. The south produces about 500,000 barrels of oil a day, and though there appears to be little chance of renewed full-out war as long as the south slices off some of that for the north, there is plenty of violence for now.
In western Pakistan, the Taliban yesterday again blew up U.S. fuel supply tankers destined for Afghanistan (pictured above). Such acts do not change the global picture, but illustrate the Taliban's understanding of the centrality of oil in running the war.
A more peaceful but still hardball struggle has gone on a long time between independent-minded Kurdistan and the central Iraqi government over control of natural gas in Kurdistan. There could be a deal yet as Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki relies on Kurdish political support, writes Tamsin Carlisle at the National, but not very soon. Meanwhile Canada is grappling with the U.S. over its desire to send the bitumen from its Alberta oil sands to Gulf of Mexico refineries.
And all this excludes the impact of natural disasters, such as we may see with the summer hurricane season. So what OPEC decides will help to bump prices one way or the other, but it may not be the main determinant even today.
Update: We are getting a jump in oil prices this morning after OPEC's announced decision to punt on Saudi's proposed increase in production, and keep output where it is. Traders are engaging in opportunistic buying. This should last for a day or two until the reality of an oil glut settles in again, along with the multitude of other factors influencing prices.