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This has been a whirlwind week. It started on Monday with my first baby shower, hosted by Brett's Aunt Marilyn.
Then on Tuesday, we spent most of the day at the hospital, where Brett had hernia surgery. As if that wasn't enough excitement for one day, I also had a baby shower that afternoon, hosted by my co-worker.
On Wednesday I had my 35 week check-up, which was uneventful but awesome, because I learned I haven't put on any more weight in the last two weeks. Thursday afternoon brought the delivery of our final piece of nursery furniture...the changing table. This was especially exciting since we had it special ordered, but RC Willey lost it the first time around and no one was sure if the re-order would arrive in time! Also on Thursday I had my first taste of false labor. I worked an extra long day and stopped by the grocery store on the way home, only to be interrupted with contractions. They were not at all pleasant, even though every book I've read says they are supposed to be pain-free. I made it home, and had to rest on the couch drinking water for half an hour before they subsided enough to allow me to make dinner. Kind of exciting though! Brett's brother and his family flew in from Arizona on Friday, so we've enjoyed getting to spend some time with them this weekend. We rounded out the week with a third and final baby shower on Saturday, this time hosted by my sisters-in-law at Brett's parents' house.
I'm so thankful for everyone that worked to put these showers together for me, because they were all so much fun, and we got lots of cute stuff for baby Chase. And many thanks to everyone who came, despite the April snowstorm! I plan to spend this week getting stuff organized in the nursery because at this point, I'm ready whenever Chase is! Anyway, the busy week is behind us, and Brett is recovering well from his surgery. Poor guy even shoveled snow in our driveway yesterday! Hopefully the spring snow is over and the warm weather will finally take it's place.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
one month from tomorrow...
This has been a whirlwind week. It started on Monday with my first baby shower, hosted by Brett's Aunt Marilyn.
Posted by Kari at 1:42 PM
5 comments:
- Katie said...
Way to rake it in. Glad B-rett is ok. Sounds like Chase is getting ready to make his way into this world!
- April 5, 2009 at 2:40 PM
- Brooke said...
How exciting! I can't wait to meet the little guy! It sounds like you have it all together! I would like to request a text picture message of the little guy when he gets here...If it's possible, please send me one!!! :-)
- April 5, 2009 at 4:37 PM
- Kristen said...
Yay for baby showers!! You look great by the way. : ) Glad the water helped. I can't believe Brett was out shoveling ( 1. because it's crazy that there was enough snow to actually shovel and 2. because he just had surgery!)
Well I think you both deserve some time to put up your feet and rest! Little Chase will be here before you know it : )
- April 6, 2009 at 12:59 PM
- Lizzy said...
looks like all the showers went well. what a busy week. seriously wish i could have been there! glad that tanei, lini, and sarah could go though.
you look fabulous! glad to hear brett is recoving well too. what a trooper with the shoveling, but tell that boy to take it easy!
- April 6, 2009 at 3:17 PM
- Deters said...
What a crazy week. I can't wait to see pictures of the nursery now. And of the baby too of course but that will probably be a little while still.
- April 6, 2009 at 8:11 PM


text: Download the Samsung firmware for the GALAXY S4 GT-I9500 with product code COL from Colombia. This firmware has version number PDA I9500UBUFNC1 and CSC I9500UWMFNC1. The operating system of this firmware is Android 4.4.2 , with build date Fri, 28 Feb 2014 12:23:39 +0000. Security patch date is N/A, with changelist 875187.

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text: In recent years, Mexico City has become an international epicentre for contemporary culture. The development within the business, creative, environmental, and luxury sectors has turned the Mexican capital into a global metropolitan force. Following its success in key cities around the world, and in honour of the spectacular cultural moment Mexico is going through, Liberatum…Read More


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What, no new Recycle Bin or short story this week? Well, truth be told all my varied multitasking has caught up with me and I haven't had time to devote to writing up a new post or reformatting old content. So no new creative writing content this week. For lack of anything better to do, you can always check out my appearance on FLOSS Weekly, where you can download the audio podcast or watch the captured live video stream. Lots of fun webcomics-meta stuff, as well as video footage of me making an idiot of myself in front of Leo Laporte.
That said, I'm not sure how motivated I am to continue posting these items. The original idea was to renew interest in this blog by providing regular new content. To that end, the idea has been largely unsuccessful. The blog hasn't seen any significant new traffic and nobody's posting any comments, positive or negative. With no apparently feedback, either numerically or verbally, I don't feel a whole lot of motivation to add anything else new. The only other catalyst for adding this content was to give me an outlet for non-GPF creative works, which is an itch that's been scratched sufficiently enough that it's no longer strong motivation.
If you've been enjoying the short stories and Recycle Bin entries—or even if you haven't—please drop me a line, either here in the comments or via the other usual channels (e-mail, Twitter, the GPF Forum, etc.). If I hear enough positive reinforcement, I'll probably be motivated to continue them. If I get mostly negative feedback (or none at all), I'll probably end it here and not bother with anything else.Tags: GPF, Recycle Bin, Webcomics, Writing


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Tag Archives: hope
Image: linkedin.com Geez Louise! Remember, we are America the Beautiful and Home of the Brave!! I read this quote and wanted to share it with all of you. Peace, love and diamonds! No matter what, we always have the … Continue reading
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The Master Singers of Eau Claire Wisconsin will premiere, "Circles of Motion" with text by Joy Harjo. The piece will premiere on March 18th at the Basilica of St. Mary's in Minneapolis, MN.
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Earlier Event: December 23"A Star's Light"- The Master Singers of Eau Claire
Later Event: May 16'At Night' Premiere


text:
MicroRNA-34a Is Induced via p53 during Cisplatin Nephrotoxicity and Contributes to Cell Survival
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MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that are produced endogenously and have emerged as important regulators in pathophysiological conditions such as development and tumorigenesis. Very little is known about the regulation of microRNAs in renal diseases, including acute kidney injury (AKI). In this study, we examined the regulation of microRNA-34a (miR-34a) in experimental models of cisplatin-induced AKI and nephrotoxicity. By Northern blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses, we detected an induction of miR-34a in vitro during cisplatin treatment of mouse proximal tubular cells and also in vivo during cisplatin nephrotoxicity in C57BL/6 mice. In cultured cells, miR-34a was induced within a few hours. In mice, miR-34a induction was detectable in renal tissues after 1 d of cisplatin treatment and increased to approximately four-fold of control at d 3. During cisplatin treatment, p53 was activated. Inhibition of p53 with pifithrin-α abrogated the induction of miR-34a during cisplatin treatment of proximal tubular cells. In vivo, miR-34a induction by cisplatin was abrogated in p53-deficient mice, a result that further confirms a role for p53 in miR-34a induction during cisplatin nephrotoxicity. Functionally, antagonism of miR-34a with specific antisense oligonucleotides increased cell death during cisplatin treatment. Collectively, the results suggest that miR-34a is induced via p53 during cisplatin nephrotoxicity and may play a cytoprotective role for cell survival.
Cisplatin, one of the most potent chemotherapy drugs, is also a well-documented nephrotoxin that induces acute kidney injury (AKI) in cancer patients. In kidneys, cisplatin accumulates in renal tubular cells, resulting in cell injury and death, contributing to the development of AKI (see [1,2] for reviews). Research during the last few years has identified several important signaling pathways that lead to tubular-cell apoptosis during cisplatin nephrotoxicity, including mitogen-activated protein kinase, p53 and others (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14).
p53 is activated early after cisplatin treatment of renal tubular cells in vitro and in animals in vivo (10,15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22). Pharmacological and genetic inhibition of p53 attenuates cisplatin-induced apoptosis in cultured tubular cells. An important finding was that cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity is partially but significantly ameliorated in p53-deficient mice (22). Our recent work has further demonstrated a DNA damage response mediated by ATR-Chk2 in p53 activation and tubular cell apoptosis during cisplatin nephrotoxicity (19). After being activated, p53 can induce the expression of proapoptotic genes, such as PUMA-α and PIDD, to induce cell injury and death (18,20). On the other hand, p53 may also activate mechanisms for cell survival. For example, p21, a cell-cycle regulator with antiapoptotic activity, is induced during cisplatin nephrotoxicity via both p53-dependent and -independent mechanisms (23). In addition, p53 may contribute to the activation of autophagy, a cytoprotective mechanism for cell survival (24). As a result, the balance between the prodeath and prosurvival factors may determine if a cell can survive or be lethally injured during cisplatin nephrotoxicity.
MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNA molecules of 19–25 nucleotides, which regulate posttranscriptional gene regulation (25, 26, 27, 28). MicroRNAs bind to the 3′-untranslated regions of targetgene mRNAs, resulting in stalling of protein synthesis or mRNA degradation. MicroRNAs have emerged as critical regulators of a variety of physiological as well as pathological conditions (25, 26, 27, 28). In kidneys, specific microRNAs are highly expressed and play critical roles in signaling of transforming growth factor β during diabetic nephropathy (29, 30, 31). Moreover, depletion of microRNAs in podocytes by ablating Dicer, a key enzyme for microRNA production, results in a rapid progression to end-stage kidney disease, an effect that further demonstrates the involvement of microRNAs in renal development and physiology (32, 33, 34). Despite these phenomenal findings, little is known about microRNA regulation in AKI, including injury from cisplatin nephrotoxicity.
In 2007, several studies identified microRNA-34a (miR-34a) as a key target gene of p53 that is activated during DNA damage, and study results demonstrated that miR-34a might contribute to the ensuing apoptosis (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40). Because p53 is activated during cisplatin nephrotoxicity and contributes to renal cell injury and death, we investigated miR-34a expression and its role in relevant experimental models. We showed that miR-34a is induced during cisplatin treatment of renal proximal tubular cells in vitro and mice in vivo and that miR-34a induction under these experimental conditions is p53 dependent. Interestingly, we further found evidence for a protective role of miR-34a against cisplatin-induced apoptosis in renal cells.
Materials and Methods
Cell and Special Reagents
The mouse proximal tubular cell (BUMPT-306) line was originally obtained from W Lieberthal and JH Shwartz at Boston University (41). The cells were cultured in DMEM with 10% fetal bovine serum and 0.6% glutamine. The antibodies used were from the following sources: anti-phospho p53 (Ser-15) antibodies from Cell Signaling Technology (Danvers, MA, USA), anti-p21 antibody from Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Santa Cruz, CA, USA), and anti-puma-α antibody from J Yu at the University of Pittsburgh. Cisplatin and pifithrin-α were purchased from Sigma (St. Louis, MO, USA). Locked-nucleic-acid (LNA) oligonucleotides were purchased from Exiqon, Vedbaek, Denmark.
Cisplatin Treatment of BUMPT Cells
Confluent BUMPT proximal tubular cells were treated with 40 µmol/L cisplatin. After incubation for indicated time periods, the cells were morphologically examined for apoptosis or lysed to collect lysate for caspase assay or immunoblot analysis.
Mouse Model of Cisplatin Nephrotoxicity
Wild-type and p53-deficient C57BL/6 mice (male, 8–10 wks old) were intraperitoneally injected with one dose (30 mg/kg body weight) of cisplatin as described previously (22,42). The control animals were injected with saline. To monitor renal injury, blood urea nitrogen levels were determined using the assay kit from Biotron Diagnostics (Hemet, CA, USA). Whole kidney tissues were collected for immunoblot analysis or RNA extraction. All animal experiments were performed according to a protocol approved by the institutional animal care and use committee of the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center.
Morphological Examination of Apoptosis and Measurement of Caspase Activity
Cells were stained with 10 µg/mL Hoechst 33342 to examine cellular and nuclear morphology by phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy as described previously (18,19). Typical apoptotic morphology was characterized by cellular shrinkage, formation of apoptotic bodies and nuclear condensation and fragmentation. Caspase activity was measured with an enzymatic assay by using the fluorogenic peptide DEVD.AFC, a substrate of executioner caspases including caspase-3, -6 and -7. Briefly, cells were lysed with 1% triton X-100 and the lysate was added to a caspase reaction mixture containing 50 µmol/L DEVD.AFC for 1 h of incubation. The fluorescence signal of AFC liberated by caspase activity was measured at excitation (360 nm) and emission (530 nm). Caspase activity was then calculated by using a standard curve of free AFC.
Analysis of mir-34a by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Total RNA was extracted using the mirVana kit (Ambion, Austin, TX, USA). For real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), 40 ng of total RNA was reverse-transcribed into cDNA by using the miRNA Reverse Transcription kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). Real-time PCR was carried out using the Taqman miRNA assay kit (Applied Biosystems), which included sequence-specific primers for cDNA synthesis and Taqman probes for realtime PCR. Quantification was done using ΔCt values.
Northern Blot Analysis of miR-34a
For Northern blot analysis, total RNA was extracted by using the mirVana kit (Ambion) and run on 15% acrylamide-bisacrylamide (19:1) gel containing 7 mol/L urea in Tris-borate-EDTA buffer. The RNA was then transferred on to Hybond membrane (Amersham, Uppsala, Sweden) at 200 mA for 1 h, followed by ultraviolet crosslinking. The membrane was dried at 80°C for 1 h, followed by prehybridization for 1 h in Ultra-Hyb-Oligo hybridization buffer (Ambion). The radiolabeled probe (complementary of the mature microRNA sequence) was added to the prehybridization buffer and incubated overnight at 37°C and then washed in 2 × standard saline citrate (Ambion) buffer (0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate [SDS]) and exposed to X-ray film at −70°C.
Transfection of LNA Oligonucleotides
BUMPT cells were plated at 50%–60% confluence. On the next day, the cells were transfected with 100 nmol/L of LNA oligonucleotides by use of Lipofectamine 2000 reagent. After an additional 1 d of culture, the cells were used for treatment.
Immunoblot Analysis
We followed a standard protocol of immunoblot analysis. Briefly, equal amounts of protein samples were loaded and resolved on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels. The proteins were then transferred onto a polyvinylidene-difluoride membrane, which was blocked with 5% bovine serum albumin and incubated in primary and secondary antibodies. The antigens on the blots were revealed by use of the ECL chemiluminescence kit from Pierce (Rockford, IL, USA).
Cisplatin-Induced Apoptosis and p53 Activation in BUMPT Cells
Induction of miR-34a during Cisplatin Treatment of BUMPT Cells
miR-34a Induction during Cisplatin Nephrotoxicity In Vivo
p53-Dependence of miR-34a Induction during Cisplatin Nephrotoxicity
Blockade of miR-34a Increases Cell Death during Cisplatin Treatment of BUMPT Cells
MicroRNAs have emerged as important regulators of various pathophysiological conditions (25, 26, 27, 28). By repressing gene expression, microRNAs regulate processes of cellular activity and homeostasis, including growth, proliferation, survival and death (25, 26, 27, 28). However, very little is known about the role and regulation of microRNAs in the development of renal diseases (29,44). The results of this study, in which we used in vitro cell culture as well as in vivo mouse models, demonstrated early miR-34a induction during cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. The induction of miR-34a was shown to be p53 dependent. Interestingly, our results also indicate that miR-34a induced during cisplatin nephrotoxicity may be a cytoprotective mechanism for cell survival.
A robust induction of miR-34a has been reported recently in response to DNA damage or genotoxic stress (35, 36, 37, 38, 39). Importantly, the results of these studies indicated that miR-34a is downstream of p53 and plays an important role in p53-mediated apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest. In experimental models of cisplatin nephrotoxicity, our recent work has revealed a rapid DNA damage response, which is centered on ATR and Chk2 (19). The activation of ATR and Chk2 leads to the phosphorylation and activation of p53, which induces the expression of genes that promote cell death by apoptosis (19). Such genes include PUMA-α and PIDD (18,20). Another interesting finding was that p53 might also induce the expression of genes that promote cell survival. For example, p21, a cell-cycle regulator with demonstrated antiapoptotic activity, is induced during cisplatin nephrotoxicity via both p53-dependent and -independent mechanisms (23). Our current results have demonstrated miR-34a induction during cisplatin nephrotoxicity. Notably, cisplatin induced miR-34a in both cultured proximal tubular (BUMPT) cells and renal tissues in C57BL/6 mice (see Figures 2 and 3). To our knowledge, this evidence is among the first reported for microRNA regulation in an experimental model of AKI. In this study, we observed miR-34a induction during cisplatin injury, and it was not clear whether and when miR-34a expression would return to the basal level. However, it is likely that the microRNA expression profile during renal recovery or regeneration is different from that of the injury phase.
We have further provided evidence that miR-34a induction by cisplatin is mediated by p53. We showed that in BUMPT cells, miR-34a induction by cisplatin was attenuated by pifithrin-α, a pharmacological inhibitor of p53 (Figure 4A). Furthermore, miR-34a induction during cisplatin nephrotoxicity was abrogated in p53-deficient mice (Figure 4C). In the in vivo model, 30 mg/kg cisplatin was used to induce kidney injury in C57/BL6 mice. This dose was also used by this and other laboratories in previous studies (22,42,43,45). It is noteworthy that cisplatin at 30 mg/kg induced apoptosis mainly in proximal and distal tubules in kidneys, and not in collecting tubules or glomeruli; some necrosis was induced and mainly localized in proximal tubules (42). Thus cisplatin at this dose does not induce widespread tissue damage, and the model is suitable for the study of cisplatin nephrotoxicity. These observations support the conclusion that miR-34a is a transcriptional target gene of p53. In fact, the promoter region of the miR-34a gene contains p53-binding sites (38). Thus, data suggest that binding of p53 to these sites may activate the transcription of miR-34a during cisplatin-induced injury in renal cells and tissues.
When miR-34a was first identified as a target gene of p53, it was shown to mediate the antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of p53 (35, 36, 37, 38, 39). For example, Raver-Shapira et al. showed that antagonism of miR-34a could block etoposide-induced apoptosis in U2OS cells (37). In human colon cancer cells, Tazawa et al. showed that expression of miR-34a led to complete suppression of cell proliferation and induced senescence-like phenotypes (39). However, our current results do not support a proapoptotic role for miR-34a in cisplatin-induced injury in BUMPT cells. We showed that blockade of miR-34a with LNA-modified antisense oligonucleotides increased apoptosis during cisplatin treatment of BUMPT cells (Figures 5B, C). In addition, blockade of miR-34a decreased long-term survival of the cells following cisplatin treatment (Figure 5D). Of note, in this experiment we measured the amount of total cell proteins recovered, which may not be an accurate indication of cell survival. However, the results were supported measurement results for cell death or apoptosis (Figure 5B, C). Together, the results suggest that miR-34a induction during cisplatin treatment of BUMPT cells is not proapoptotic, but instead is cytoprotective. This observation was unexpected. However, a very recent study by Kato et al. demonstrated in Caenorhabditis elegans that loss-of-function mutation of miR-34a sensitized somatic cells to radiation injury, suggesting a cytoprotective role for miR-34a in these cells (46). In addition, in mammalian cell lines with different levels of miR-34a, there seemed to be an inverse correlation between miR-34a expression and cellular radiosensitivity, that is, cells with low miR-34a were more sensitive to irradiation-induced injury and death (46). Together, these results and those from our current study support a cytoprotective role for miR-34a under certain experimental conditions. It is currently unclear why miR-34a has been found to be proapoptotic in some studies, but anti-apoptotic in others. We speculate that miR-34a has multiple target genes, and the role played by miR-34a depends on which genes are under its regulation or suppression under various experimental conditions.
MicroRNAs regulate diverse cellular processes by repressing target gene expression. However, target identification is one of the main challenges in understanding the functional role of specific microRNAs. A microRNA can have multiple targets and the target genes of a microRNA can change under different experimental conditions. Several target genes have been suggested for miR-34a, but most of the targets are related to cell-cycle regulation. For example, cyclin E, CDK4, CDK6 and CDC25C were shown to be repressed by miR-34a, resulting in cell-cycle arrest at G1 and G2 phases (35, 36, 37, 38, 39). In terms of the regulation of cell death, Bommer et al. showed that Bcl-2 is a direct target of miR-34a (40). However, regulation of Bcl-2, a well-established antiapoptotic gene, cannot explain the cytoprotective role of miR-34a observed in our study, because repression of Bcl-2 should sensitize the cells to cisplatin injury. In our study, expression of either miR-34a or anti-miR-34a did not change the expression of Bcl-2 in BUMPT cells (data not shown), ruling out Bcl-2 as a target gene of miR- 34a in these cells. We speculate that miR-34a induced during cisplatin nephrotoxicity may regulate or repress a proapoptotic gene(s), leading to death resistance and cell survival. Future studies should identify such gene(s) for a better understanding of the cytoprotective role of miR-34a.
In conclusion, this study has demonstrated the first evidence for microRNA regulation in an experimental model of AKI. miR-34a is induced via p53 during cisplatin nephrotoxicity and may play a cytoprotective role for cell survival.
The authors declare that they have no competing interests as defined by Molecular Medicine, or other interests that might be perceived to influence the results and discussion reported in this paper.
The study was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health and Department of Veterans Affairs. K Bhatt was supported by a predoctoral fellowship from the American Heart Association.
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Hi guys!
If you're a blogger, budding writer or established authors with a passion for travel, lifesytle or entertainment, you're invited to participate in the GuideGecko Writing Contest! The winners will get their titles published and showcased at the world's largest book fair in Frankfurt, Germany in October, 2009.
Good luck and have fun!


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Smartphone users planning a trip around the stunning Gower peninsula can download a special interactive app that guides them around this magnificent location – the UK's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The free app, entitled 'This Is Gower', is available through app stores for iOS (Apple) and Android devices – subject to minimum system requirements, i.e. you'll need a newish phone with some memory on it.
Developed by the Gower Landscape Partnership and Audio Trails Ltd., popular locations such as Worms Head and Arthur's Stone are included in the recently launched app as well as other less well-known spots, and will appeal to both visitors and locals alike.
Walking trails
As walking is the main way of accessing many of the peninsula's special places, the app features 15 easy-to-follow trails varying in length and theme for users to explore – from a quick jaunt to visit the remains of World War Two defences on Mumbles Hill, to a longer trek that looks into the industrial past of Penclawdd, or a wild ramble out to Whiteford National Nature Reserve.
Along the way you'll encounter over 80 places of interest that reveal stories about life on Gower; such as Iron Age forts, prehistoric caves, shipwrecks, collieries and copper works. App users will also be guided to spectacular views and nationally important nature reserves.
Using GPS, the app will also trigger audio clips and images of interesting sites as the app-user approaches them. You will be able to read fascinating stories, view enchanting photographs and hear directly from local people who share their expertise and passion for Gower and who have brought this app to life.
Fancy a 'jorum'?!
Should a Gower local offer you a 'jorum', don't be offended! 'Jorum' is Gower dialect for a large helping of tea (or beer – make sure you know which one!).
In the app there is a page and audio clips dedicated to this peculiar language that once flourished in the south of the peninsula, but which has now largely died out.
Other features
As well as being jam packed with fascinating anecdotes and archive images, additional features include the option for visitors to 'take a selfie' to create and send virtual postcards from their favourite Gower spot.
Real enthusiasts can set themselves the challenge of collecting 'badges' for all the places of interest…but the badges can only be 'won' by visiting each place. There is also the option to use the app in Welsh.


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(Image: The Icon in The Gulch)
Nashville High-rise Condos for Sale
Nashville has a number of upscale, high-rise condo buildings offering a wide array of features, amenities, and price points. Some of the city's most highly sought after condo buildings offer world-class amenities such as 24-hour concierge service, resort-style swimming pools, state-of-the-art fitness centers, incredible skyline views, on-site dining, exclusive parking, and much more. Many of these buildings are located within walking distance of Nashville's hottest locations and cater to individuals who want to be close to Nashville's exciting urban amenities, attractions, and nightlife and enjoy an upscale lifestyle!
Whether you're looking for Nashville high-rise condos for sale with top of the line appliances, a rooftop terrace, an exclusive parking garage, a swimming pool, a gym, an onsite dog park, or in close proximity to where all the action is, you're sure to find one of the high-rise condos for sale in Nashville that will be the perfect fit. Residents can enjoy all that Nashville has to offer living in one of these centrally located buildings. If you are wanting to experience urban living at its finest, check out some of these top Nashville high-rise condo buildings that are listed below:
The Icon in the Gulch – One of Nashville's most luxurious condo towers, the stylish Icon in the Gulch is the largest residential building in the city and has become one of the most sought-after condo projects in the Gulch. Completed in 2008, the Icon offers modern sophistication and is surrounded by high-end retailers and restaurants. The building includes both a tower and a mid-rise section, each offering condos featuring fantastic skyline views. The main lobby features a 20-foot ceiling, stained concrete floors, and eclectic works of art. The Icon tower includes one or two-bedroom condo floor plans, tall ceilings, large balconies, steel window frames, and stained concrete flooring accents. Amenities include controlled access parking, 24-hour concierge service, two fitness studios, yoga room, two pools, lounge with flat-screen TV, pool table and fireplaces, and outdoor fireplace and grills. Currently, Icon in the Gulch high-rise condos for sale in Nashville are listed from $308,900 - $1,899,000.
The Adelicia - One of the most desirable condo developments in Nashville, the Adelicia is located in Midtown between Music Row and the Scarritt-Bennett campus of Vanderbilt University. The 18-story complex has its own park with pond and seating, where residents can relax from the hustle and bustle of daily city life. The Adelicia includes 186 luxury condos and several brownstones at street level. Building Amenities include 24-hour concierge service, controlled access parking, a 3,000 square-foot fitness center, an Olympic-size lap pool, outdoor fireplaces and grills, and more. Currently, Adelicia condos for sale in Nashville are listed from $825,000 - $2,300,000.
The Twelve Twelve - Constructed in 2014, Twelve twelve is conveniently located in the Gulch neighborhood of Nashville. One of the newest high-rise condo buildings in the city, Twelve twelve is 23 stories high, with 286 luxurious condos featuring modern kitchen finishes, spacious open layouts, and floor-to-ceiling windows boasting incredible views. The building amenities list is long and includes 24/7 security, clubroom/party room, concierge conference, dog run/pet park, fitness center, outdoor lounge, pool, roof deck, spa / hot tub, and more. Currently, Twelve Twelve high-rise condos for sale in Nashville are listed from $399,900 - $2,300,000.
The Terrazzo – Towering above a financial center, business offices, shops, and restaurants, the Terrazzo community of 109 luxury condos offer stunning views of the city and surrounding hills. The mid-century modern designed Terrazzo building combines upscale finishes with luxury high-rise living in the heart of Music City, at 700 12th Avenue South. An iconic building gracing the city's skyline, Terrazzo is the first LEED-certified high rise in Nashville. With only 109 luxury condos, each has been meticulously appointed with high-end, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, custom cabinetry, open kitchen dining areas, hardwood floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows - offering stunning views of the Nashville skyline. The name itself means "terrace" in Italian, and there is at least one large terrace with each Terrazzo condo residence. Building amenities include a sixth-floor pool deck with great views, concierge service, fitness center, attended lobby, garage parking, dog walk, bicycle storage, wifi in common areas, and on-site retail. Currently, Terrazzo high-rise condos for sale in Nashville are listed from $375,000 - 2,600.000.
The Rhythm at Music Row – Located in the bustling Music Row District of Downtown Nashville, this 14 story luxury, resort-style condo building offers a unique, urban-living experience, with convenient shopping, restaurants, and nightlife nearby. Rhythm at Music Row features open concept floor plans, two amenity decks (five stories above street level), a fitness facility, a pool with underwater speakers, outdoor kitchens/grills, fitness studio, lounging area, private club room, secluded spa, lush landscaping, and more. This intimate community of 99 loft-style condo residences offers owners convenient access to luxurious amenities and close proximity to Downtown, Midtown and the Gulch within walking distance. Currently, Rhythm at Music Row high-rise condos for sale in Nashville are listed from $305,000 - $1,399,000.
The Viridian - One of Downtown Nashville's newest condo high-rises, the 31-story Viridian building overlooks the city's central business district, and features some of the best views of surrounding Nashville. Located just minutes from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Nashville entertainment and nightlife, Viridian is a very desirable residence for living and working downtown and enjoying the urban downtown lifestyle. This luxury building includes the choice of one and two-bedroom condos or a penthouse unit, with high ceilings and open floor plans. Condos feature granite countertops, floor-to-ceiling windows with fabulous views and outdoor terraces. Amenities include 24-hour concierge, controlled access building with secured & covered parking, fitness center, clubroom lounge, rooftop pool & terrace, theater area with plasma TV's, poolside grills, and social areas, and a grocery store on the main level. Viridian has one of the best rooftop pools in Downtown Nashville. Currently, Veridian high-rise condos for sale in Nashville are listed from $299,900 - $799,900.
The Encore – Located in the 'SoBro' district in downtown Nashville, just across from the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, the 20 story Encore building was the first high rise developed in this area of the city that now includes the Bridgestone Center, Music City Convention Center, and Country Music Hall of Fame. Encore offers one and two-bedroom condos featuring open floor plans, floor-to-ceiling windows, and each unit has its own balcony. Amenities include 24-hour concierge service, fitness center, billiards area, media room with stadium seating, community kitchen, outdoor lounge with a fireplace and grill, swimming pool and sundeck, and residential parking. The building also includes retail space on the ground level. Condo owners enjoy walkability to NFL, NHL, Country Music Hall of Fame, Music City Center, Ryman, the symphony, honky tonks, and more. Encore high-rise condos for sale in Nashville are listed from $265,000 - $749,000.
Nashville High-rise Condos for Sale
Explore our listings of Nashville high-rise condos for sale, which are updated daily, then connect with local Nashville real estate expert, Brian Patterson, to learn more about Nashville condos or to schedule a walkthrough. Brian can help you choose the best Nashville high-rise condos for sale that fit your lifestyle. Give Brain a call today to get started! 615-438-4941.
Work with Brian Patterson, Nashville REALTOR®
With over 25 years combined experience in real estate and the construction Industry, NashvilleREALTOR® - Brian Patterson has developed a reputation for being an agent who knows home construction and what to look for when buying or selling real estate. Brian offers in-depth knowledge of the local market and thoroughly enjoys helping his clients get into the right homes in the right neighborhoods that best meet their needs.
"The REALTOR® Who KNOWSConstruction!"
Over 25 years in the building and REAL ESTATE industries with the Knowledge you need to make the right decision!!
Brian brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the home buying or selling process and will be your trusted guide and advisor every step of the way. Work with Nashville REALTOR® - Brian Patterson for unmatched expertise! See what Brian's valued clients have to say about his services in the reviews below:
For more information on Nashville high-rise condos for sale, please give Brian Patterson a call today at 615-438-4941 or fill out the online contact form, and he will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have!
Brian Patterson
Associate Broker
RE/MAX Fine Homes
1624 Westgate Circle Suite 125
Brentwood, TN 37027
Cell: (Direct) 615.438.4941


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Earth Day 2016
At 6:30am, the Black Cat on Stevens Avenue opened its doors for morning coffee service. This is one of the small handful of businesses in the Deering Center. It is the coffee shop of my eye at the moment, for they serve Bam Bam baked goods, and Speckled Ax Wood-roasted coffee: goods from two great local businesses, here in Portland. Beyond their provisions, it is a neighborhood joint that truly feels supported by - and for - the ever growing affordable neighborhood located hardly five minutes off the peninsula. The tiny free library that runs on honor system. The window seats up front, and the sizable leather couch and cache of board games in the back. Electrical outlets exist for the work hours spent fueling on subtle cafe buzz from the local roasts and delightful din of small-talk and business meetings. These details speak volumes to the charm that is often dampened nowadays. In generalities, I am talking about the "harmony" of exposed brick, beams, and Edison bulbs most places deemed "full of character" maintain. (To be fair, I love a little coffee shop, built out by the hands and spirit of the owner who operates it, when the people, beans, and space are right.)
I throw open the door to the coffee shop as first patron of the day, at 6:30am. The barista makes a straight course immediately to the audio system in the back. At this point, the only sounds are airpots filling with backup coffee, and her footsteps at this early hour. Then, suddenly, music. "Purple Rain!" proclaims a middle aged woman. Her tone is bittersweet, careful, and confident. I didn't recognize the song, but I heard on the morning NPR program about Prince's death the night prior.
"You look sad," an elderly woman says to me, as she enters Lil's cafe in Kittery, ME. She pulls up in her bright red Chevy, tiny, and plated for the handicapped spot behind the juice bar. She says this to me as she slowly ambles into the only (cool) coffee shop in town - I have to assume, given the town is 100 yards long on the main drag. I am a little embarrassed. I tell her that's just my face while I'm concentrating. I pause. Maybe I should have a smile on while I concentrate. To which she quickly comes back and says, "Well…I guess it depends what you're thinking about!" We share a laugh as she exits the patio and into the cafe.
"That's what happens when you email first thing in the morning!" As she returns to her car.
She brings out a bright orange soda in a clear plastic soda cup and dumps it. She moves slowly.
She asks if I heard about Prince.
"I liked him but he wasn't one of my favorites. But you knew the tunes!" What was your favorite tune?" This woman is talkative: I like this, so early in the morning. I think I am an able match.
Yet I was about to lie. I listened to NPR's Morning Edition and heard a little bit of Prince cosmology from fans, scholars, experts, and the like. We heard about "When it Snows in April" being an uncharacteristic ballad in his catalogue. Or "Avalanche," for its dark and beautiful storytelling. Or "Sister" for it being the first glimpse of how dirty the singer really was.
So in favor of being true to myself (who was I trying to impress?) I offered honestly that I had no favorite tune, that I could maybe recognize the work, but never really delved into his catalogue. No one has ever really suggested I listen, and since I saw the Chapelle's Show episode, I can vaguely participate in conversation, with passable quotes and laughter.
Small moments of victory. Small moments like this coat what has become my last full week in Portland, ME before putting the rest of my apartment in storage, with a hard line to return at the end of summer for another year entrenched in "the way life should be."
Yesterday marked the last wheel-throwing pottery class taken consecutively for 16 weeks. A day marked by other small successes: making marketing collateral for the first shipments of Avocado Boards. Enjoying a big glass of Lambrusco at Drifter's Wife, sharing stories with the chef, Ben Jackson, as he plated offerings of cheese, malabi, coq au vin, and clams right before my mouth-watering eyes.
Drifter's Wife has become place for which I have become a stalwart supporter. Peter and Orenda Hale opened their natural wine shop last year, and through the winter, revitalized the front half of the store with a wine-bar-cum-kitchen. They made the flee from Brooklyn not long before setting up shop in the quickly growing East Bayside neighborhood, and there is much to be said about these folks who give me a place, the knowledge, and some conversation that become cornerstone to my week, every week.
So, being the final week of pottery, with the regular glass of wine after my three-block walk, it has been a momentous start to the weekend. It is Friday morning, and I sit outside a coffee shop in a tiny coastal town in Maine, at the New Hampshire state border. I and several others await the Creative Mornings Breakfast Lecture Series.
Today I will ship the first run of Avocado Boards (10 units sold in two days last Friday/Saturday), spend some time at the Open Bench Project photographing campers finishing a week-long arcade-building camp (I will share photos eventually). Tomorrow is the 2nd Annual Makers Fair at the Portland Public Library, where I will be attempting to share the story of the Avocado wares left, before heading to New York next week.
I will return monthly to Maine to continue my vested interest in the community and people met thus far, to attend to more woodworking at Open Bench Project and Haystack School of Crafts, and a handful of weddings.
Departing this park bench with a smile on, because of the kind woman who engaged me before her morning coffee. And this day fell on Earth Day. I rarely see sunrise anymore, except on the days like today, when it really seems to count.


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Six natural and lo-fi bottles every month… often the most interesting, exciting and intriguing wines many of which are exclusive to our wine club.
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We've lost! Quick! Eat the comics!: Graeme reviews some more books from the last two weeks./
Day six in the Big Brother house, and Good Lord, but my head is spinning from all the reviewin' going on here. Remember when we never used to post? Those were the days, my friend. THE AUTHORITY #2: Can we now finally start the "Grant Morrison needs a vacation, desperately" meme? This much-delayed second issue of his Wildstorm relaunch finally ships, and proves to be pretty much a disappointment all-round. The discovery that the Authority have somehow crossed over into "our world" is unconvincing (They all seem to deal with it very well, I must say. "Hey, there's our lives as a comic book! Let's make a joke about how much comic books cost these days!") and, at this point, a tired theme from Morrison that he's handled better in Animal Man, Doom Patrol and even The Filth, the dialogue is flat and uninspiring, and even Gene Ha's artwork is inconsistent and overly reliant on the colorist to fill-in the details. After what felt like a much more impressive first issue, this is a massive letdown, and considering that the title is now "on hiatus" until further notice, more proof that Morrison may have burned himself out for the moment. Crap.
FANTASTIC FOUR #543: Happy 45th Birthday, Fantastic Four! Shame that you have to celebrate it with such a depressing lead story that has to jump from one editorial edict ("Civil War has torn this family apart!") to another ("Black Panther and Storm are the newest members of the team!") even though both of them don't really say anything about the characters themselves. Much, much better are the back-up strips, with Paul Pope revealing a deep love for early '60s Marvel that I wouldn't have guessed, and Stan Lee firing on all cylinders - surprisingly, considering his "Stan Lee Meets" books - on a story (with awesome art by Nick Dragotta and Mike Allred) that shows off the absurdity, comedy and love that the series used to be full of. Good for the price, and if you ignore the main story, much better.
THE FLASH: FASTEST MAN ALIVE #9: Okay, sure, it's much better than what came before, but that's possibly the most backhanded compliment possible considering what had come before. At least now the characters seem to be back in character, and the book has a voice that's more recognizable as both Bart and a Flash book in general. That said, this is clearly a filler issue, a palate cleanser and attempt to make it up to the fans who'd stayed around by playing firmly to continuity and the DC faithful with guestshots and shout-outs to touchstones for Bart's particularly hardcore fanbase, more than a successful story in its own right. Okay, I guess, and if nothing else, a step in the right direction.
GREEN LANTERN #17: I really want to like this book. I love the character - He's a space cop with a magic wishing ring! What's not to love? - and like the writer and artist, so why do I end up feeling so uninvolved with the whole thing? For every right move (the Batman as Sinestro thing was funny and smart, for example), there just seems to be a lack of... I don't know, direction? momentum? in this series that I can't explain. A hesitant Eh, I guess.
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #6: Brad Meltzer is a massive fanboy, and that's the biggest problem with this book. He gets really excited in the small details of the story (How to fight Amazo, in depth. Because, really, we all want to know that Superman goes for the eyes while Batman goes for the legs. And we need to take three pages for that, don't we?) and sadly the larger plot gets lost in the process. The book reads as if it were written by a kid: "And then they fight and then they win because they win because that's what they do!" Weirdly enough, I don't think that Meltzer's at fault for this, though; he's a good enough writer to do better, but he's clearly not getting the editing he needs - the double-page spread of Amazo and Red Tornado looking sad is something that really should've been killed at script stage, instead of using it and adding pages (and cost) to the final book - or deserves. Okay, but it should be much, much better.
MARVEL ZOMBIES VS. ARMY OF DARKNESS #1: Yeah, I don't know. It's fun enough, I guess? But this joke stopped being funny about a year ago, and even John Layman's best attempts to keep the comedy coming fail to raise a smile. Eh.
SHAZAM!: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL #2: If anything, even better than the first issue. Jeff Smith shows that he can do something that's so wonderfully old-fashioned that it seems contemporary again, bringing a pitchperfect sense of wonder and menace (The Monster Society here manages to be scarier than 52's Sobek, perhaps because of the context they work in - or maybe just their go-for-broke "let's eat all the children" plan B) to the character and superheroics in general. I can't wait for the eventual collection, because if ever there would be a great book for kids who like superheroes to read, it'd be this one. Excellent.
Now that I've done all of this week's books, I can safely say that Shazam is the PICK OF THE WEEK, and Civil War: The Initiative is a sloppy, tossed-off PICK OF THE WEAK. Apparently, I've chosen what kind of superhero comic I'd rather read in the future.
Tomorrow: The last day of my week-of-posting, and Jeff Lester and I will have to fight over it.


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Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Izzie's first comupter aided drawing
I've been working on some logo designs, so I hooked up the WACOM tablet that my mom got me for my birthday years ago. Izzie saw me using it and was saying, "Mommy, Color" because you use a stylus to draw on the tablet and then it draws on your computer. She wanted to try. So, she climbed in my lap and I showed her how to do it. The look of total wonder and awesomeness that spread across her face when she saw the marks were appearing on the computer instead of her "paper" was beyond words. Oh and when I changed the colors for her, that was again, way too cool. I think we may have another graphic artist in the family!
By the way, Maddie was playing in the toy room with Daddy, but I'll let her try it out later!
Maddie got a shot at it today. She loved it just as much as Izzie. I have a feeling this is going to be a daily request from now on! Maybe I can find that computer art program I used as kid... anyone remember what it was called? Kid Pix maybe? I'll have to look it up.
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Ex-Arsenal and Liverpool star Kolo Toure believes Eric Bailly can become one of the best defenders in the world at Manchester United.
Bailly, 22, joined the Red Devils in a £22million deal from Villarreal last summer and has had a bright start to life at Old Trafford.
The Ivory Coast international has enjoyed an extraordinary rise in the last 18 months and Jose Mourinho had doubts about the defender's adaptation to the Premier League before he made his United debut.
However, Celtic star Toure believes Bailly has all the right credentials to become a world class defender and said working under Mourinho will help him.
'He's a really composed boy who knows what he's here for. He's here to play football and he's really enjoying his time in Manchester with his family,' said Toure.
'You can tell that just from the way he's playing. He's enjoying the games, enjoying the city and he's a really good boy. He's tall, technically very good, has brilliant vision and he's really calm.
'That calmness is the most powerful skill he's got. We are all proud of him. We knew before he came that he has great quality because he was playing with Villarreal. But it takes a lot to come to a big club like United and do what he's doing right now. He can be a big, big player for United.
'He can be the future for United. What he's doing right now is amazing and I think his future is really, really bright. He can be up there with the top defenders United have had.
'He's young and will learn from working with one of the best managers in the world. He can become one of the best defenders in the world.
MORE: Alexis Sanchez is 'walking on water' at Arsenal this season, says Laurent Koscielny


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This is our final blogpost for Chiang Mai- the knockout round. Actually, I have no idea if there are KO's in Muay Thai fights… I only know there are 5 rounds….
Anyway, after Phil left us in Chiang Mai, we spent most of our week at an Airbnb catching up on travel planning. We stayed just outside of the Old City (touristy area), across the street from the hospital and medical university. We love staying in places where we really feel like locals! We ventured out and found a nearby market so we could cook breakfast for ourselves. During our first trip to the market, we suddenly noticed that there was no traffic on the major road we were walking on, and that there were policemen in uniform standing in the street. It was kind of creepy at first, and then I noticed that there were some shopkeepers coming out of their shops and standing on the edge of the road. Jeff and I walked a few more blocks, and then we stopped and I asked someone what was going on. They told me that the princess was coming! So, we waited on the road with everyone else and got to see the Princess of Thailand! Well, we saw her motorcade…. and I'm not 100% certain which princess it was, but I think it was the eldest daughter of the late king (more on that in the next post). My assumption is pretty accurate because I saw her on the news later that day handing out diplomas for graduation! (Below: the main street without cars getting ready for the motorcade.)
We did see a lot of people in caps and gowns too!
Eating out is so cheap in Thailand, that we didn't ever bother to cook ourselves dinner, we just found a new restaurant or street vendor every night! Lots of pork, noodles and rice. We also averaged about 1 mango fruitshake a day and I tried green milk tea a few times. One of the best meals we had in Chiang Mai was at a restaurant called 'Rosy Cheeks,' and we had a pho-ritto (pic lower right corner). It combined Vietnamese pho with a burritto- amazing!
When we weren't shoving our faces with food, or planning our future adventures, we got some exercise in! CrossFit was a huge part of our lives in Virginia, but since we've been on the road we haven't made exercise a priority. Both of us have lost most of our muscle mass and the clothes we bought for this trip don't really fit anymore- we are really glad we both have belts to keep our pants up! I know, I know, this is not something that I should be complaining about…. My point was, we are extremely out of shape. So, I was a little nervous about dropping into a CrossFit gym. We hadn't been to one in 8 months, and I wasn't even sure if I would like it anymore.
Still drinking the kool aid friends, it's like riding a bicycle, but with soft baby hands that tear after 5 clean and jerks! Many thanks to CrossFit Chiang Mai for letting us hang out with you for a week!
Just a couple bonus images! We were in Chiang Mai for Chinese New Year and caught a show (we were hoping for dragon dancing, instead got 'Toddlers and Tiara's, Asian Edition), saw some more temples in town, and saw some sweet street art! Who doesn't love minions?


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Fishing & Boating News
News Categories:
It was a chilly day out on the water. But there were 31 Teams that braved the winds to fish the 3rd Anglers Quest team event of the year on Lake Livingston.
I would like to Thank ALL of the Fishermen who come out and support Anglers Quest. I know there are a lot of different tournaments out their for you to fish, and I appreciate you choosing to fish with me. Also a great Big Thank You goes out to all the sponsors: Crawford Technical Services, Custom Built Awards, Executive Security Integrators Inc., FishingWorld.com, Jasper County Development District #1, Kickapoo Bait & Tackle, Lake Houston Marina, Rayburn Country Resort, The Stump, Superior Paint Works, and Vincent Turf Farms. And a special thanks to Bill Cunningham for helping out with the weigh-in and especially Kathy Ferguson, without her help, I'd be lost.
See ya in the Weigh-In Line !!!!!
Phone:903-882-8877 or 903-882-8878 — Fax: 972-619-8776
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Dear Parents:
Spring is slowly arriving on Grounds while the semester is quickly coming to an end. I am writing with several year-end reminders as your student finishes up the academic year and prepares for the summer. Courses end Tuesday, May 1, followed by a Reading Day and the start of exams on May 3. Exams end on Friday, May 11. Please read on for additional information about upcoming activities that may involve your daughter or son.
Student Safety at the Foxfield Races
Scheduled this year for April 28, the Foxfield Races attract large numbers of students from UVA and other schools on the East Coast. The steeplechase races, held several miles from the Grounds, are not sponsored by UVA. While this can be a fun spring event, the excessive use of alcohol and related arrests are deeply concerning. If your student is going, please talk with them about safety and responsible behavior.
Students who are going to Foxfield are urged to plan ahead with regard to transportation, food, and safety. Uniformed law enforcement officers will be present on the roads leading to Foxfield and within the event grounds. In conjunction with a private public safety team, they will focus on providing a safe environment for all spectators, assisting individuals in need of help, and deterring and responding to illegal activity. Students have been receiving University messages encouraging them to:
- Know how to get to and from Foxfield safely. If a group is driving, one member should serve as the sober driver. Taxis, Uber, and Lyft also will be available.
- Use the buddy system while at the races. In a large crowd, it is easy to lose track of friends, and most students report problems with their cellphone service due to the location and number of attendees.
- Bring enough food and water for the day. Sunscreen is important as well.
Alcohol use: Students who are under 21 and drink alcohol are engaging in unlawful behavior. Students who are of legal age and choose to drink should follow Foxfield's alcohol policies. All students are urged to know the symptoms of an alcohol emergency and how to access medical services. This infographic provides more details.
Students received a safety-related message from University Dean of Students Allen Groves, and they will have a chance to participate in the "Savvy Fox Safety Pledge" campaign sponsored by UVA's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT) peer educators. During the races, UVA students can visit ADAPT's student tent for information as well as free food, water, and sunscreen.
UVAPay to Replace QuikPay Next Month
In mid-May, the University will retire QuikPay@UVA and launch UVAPay. Students and parents or other family members who have been designated as Authorized Payers will be able to use UVAPay to view student account activity, make payments, get account statements, and set up semester payment plans. As with QuikPay, students will be able to access UVAPay through SIS, and Authorized Payers will have their own log-in page.
For now, there's nothing you or your student needs to do. More information about UVAPay will be coming soon to students and their Authorized Payers. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Student Financial Services at email@example.com or 434-982-6000.
Hoos ReUse: An Easy Way for Students to Recycle and Benefit Others
On-Grounds Collection: May 2 through 12
Off-Grounds Collection: May 21 and 22
As students finish up the year and move out of their residence halls or apartments, they can donate their unwanted (but usable) furniture, appliances, nonperishable food, and clothing to local charities through the Hoos ReUse program. Two drives take place each year, one for students living on Grounds and the other for students living off Grounds. For complete details, including times and locations, please check the Hoos ReUse website.
Invitations from Student Academic Honor Societies
Students who meet certain criteria, including minimum grade point averages, often are invited to join national and international academic honor societies. If requested, the University provides honor societies with nonconfidential information regarding eligible students. No grades are ever divulged.
Deciding whether membership would be beneficial or desirable is something you and your student should jointly determine. Membership fees nearly always are required. All honoraries operate independently of the University, but membership in a limited number of honor societies is recorded as part of students' transcripts.
Most honor societies recognized by the University belong to the Association of College Honor Societies. To learn more, please see the ACHS website. If you have specific questions about honoraries with chapters at UVA, please write firstname.lastname@example.com.
Student Health: Summer Access and Hard-Waiver Requirement
Student Health remains open during the summer. If students are not enrolled in classes over the summer, they will pay $10 per visit per clinic for services. Otherwise, visits by enrolled students are covered by their payment of the comprehensive fee.
Please watch your mailbox in May for a postcard about the annual Health Insurance Hard-Waiver program requirement. Student Health will be sending out information to you and your student about the upcoming deadline that requires your attention.
Corks & Curls Available for Purchase
Corks & Curls, the University's longstanding yearbook, is available for purchase as a way to commemorate the 2017-2018 academic year. More information, including a link to purchase online, is available on the website.
Closing of Residence Halls
Students living in upperclass areas, except for the Lawn and Range, must move out of their residence halls by noon on Monday, May 21. Lawn and Range residents must move out by noon on Tuesday, May 22. For additional information regarding closing, please consult the Housing & Residence Life website.
Family Weekend: Oct. 26-28
Please be sure to mark your calendar for this year's Family Weekend. Fall Convocation, the Third-Year Ceremony, student housing fairs, and the football game against North Carolina will highlight the weekend along with numerous other events. Accommodations fill up quickly; please see the Family Weekend website for a list. Additional details about the Dome Room Dinners and other activities will be posted as they become available.
The final weeks of the semester are always a busy, exciting, and often stressful time for students. If I or a member of my team can assist you or your student, please let me know.
Warm regards,
Patricia M. Lampkin
Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer
Upcoming Dates
May 1: Spring classes end
May 3-11: Exams
May 2, 6, 9: Reading Days
May 2-12: Hoos ReUse (on Grounds)
May 18-20: Finals Weekend
May 19: Graduation Ceremony for College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
May 20: Graduation Ceremony for All Other Schools
May 21: Upperclass residence halls close at noon (with exception of Lawn and Range)
May 21-22: Hoos ReUse (off Grounds)
July 5-6: Summer Orientation begins
August 24-25: Move-In Days
August 28: Fall courses begin
October 6-9: Reading Days
October 13: Homecomings Weekend (UVA vs. Miami)
October 26-28: Family Weekend (UVA vs. North Carolina)
October 26: Third-Year Ceremony
October 26: Fall Convocation and Intermediate Honors (Third-Year Students)
November 21-25: Thanksgiving Break
December 7: Fall classes end
December 10-18: Exams
December 19-January 13: Winter Break
January 2-12: January Term
January 14: Spring classes begin
March 9-17: Spring Break
April 30: Spring classes end
May 17-19, 2019: Class of 2019 Finals Weekend
May 15-17, 2020: Class of 2020 Finals Weekend


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Generally, the term 'self employment' refers to someone working for themselves, however this can sometimes take on a number of different forms.
May be home or office based. It can be a scary and daunting option to start your own business and require significant financial investment in the initial stages. It may include:
This is similar to a small business owner or entrepreneur however they don't own the business exclusively. It may be with one or more partners.
A person who acts independently without being affiliated with an organisation and without a long-term commitment to one particular employer. Freelancers generally offer something tangible and work under contracts to a number of different clients (sometimes at any one time) to provide a specialist service, for example as designers, photographers, journalists. Freelancers will generally command a similar rate of pay as contractors. As well as the ability to use a specialist skill you must have the ability to market yourself to potential clients.
Contractors are also self employed but usually provide a specialist service in return for a fee. Contractors are usually used by organisations who want to acquire a specific skills set for a set period of time. For example 6 or 12 months. Contractors are usually employed by one organisation for a set period of time.
Consultants are also self employed although rather than offering something tangible, they offer professional and expert advice which is generally to management. They are experienced professionals and usually work in an advisory capacity. Consultants' fees are sometimes dependent on their experience in their chosen field with the most experienced consultants often commanding very high fees and being seen as experts.
Earn their income through investing in other businesses, projects or stock markets.
Once you've decided to work for yourself, the next thing to do is decide which business structure to adopt. For example, if you're becoming a small business owner do you want to be a sole trader or a limited company? Each business type has legal and tax implications such as:
This article was written by the career coaching experts at Renovo.


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Key Events & Deaths on this day in Northern Ireland Troubles
29th November
Monday 29 November 1971
An off duty British soldier was found shot dead in County Armagh.
Tueday 28 November 1972
Two members of the IRA were killed in a premature bomb explosion in the Bogside area of Derry. A RUC officer was killed in an IRA rocket attack in Fermanagh. A member of the bomb disposal team of the British Army was killed in Derry.
Friday 29 November 1974
Prevention of Terrorism Act The Labour government rushed through the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Bill. The new Act gave the police powers to detain people for up to seven days without any charge being brought against them. The Act also allowed the authorities to 'exclude' people from entering Britain.
[Although it was initially viewed as a temporary measure, the Prevention of Terrorism Act was to be renewed each year and made permanent by a Conservative government in 1988. Many critics of the Act claimed that it was mainly being used as a means of monitoring the movements of innocent Irish people. Indeed many thousands of, mainly Catholic, Irish people were screened under provisions in the act although never charged with any offences.]
Satruday 29 November 1975
Archibald Waller (23), then a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), was shot dead by fellow UVF members in an internal feud. The shooting occurred in the Shankill area of Belfast.
An airport employee was killed by a Loyalist bomb at Dublin airport.
Tuesday 29 November 1988
The European Court of Human Rights decided that, by detaining suspects for more than four days, Britain was in breach of the European Convention of Human Rights. This was one of a number of decisions by European courts that were decided against Britain.
Wednesday 29 November 1989
The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) shot and killed two Catholic men in Coagh, County Tyrone. One of the men was a member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
Thursday 29 November 1990
The Government announces a reshuffle of ministerial posts at the Northern Ireland Office (NIO).
Monday 29 November 1993
Sinn Féin (SF) publicly released a number of documents that provided details of the party's secret talks with the British government. Martin McGuinness, then Vice-President of Sinn Féin (SF), stated that the message of the 22 February 1993 was a fake and he accused the British of "counterfeiting their own documents to meet their current needs".
Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, speaking in the House of Commons gave the British version of the secret contacts with the Republican Movement.
[There were differences between the two sets of accounts. On 1 December 1993 Mayhew admitted there were 22 errors in the documents he had presented.] Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), was ordered to leave the Commons after he had accused Mayhew of telling a lie.
Wednesday 29 November 1995
Bill Clinton, then President of the United States of America (USA), arrived in London as a prelude to a visit to Northern Ireland. Clinton gave his support to John Major, then British Prime Minister, and John Bruton, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister).
Friday 29 November 1996
Robert Carswell replaced Brian Hutton as the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland. Peter Robinson, then deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), alleged that members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) had been targeting him in London.
Saturday 29 November 1997
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) held its annual conference in Portrush, County Antrim. Addressing the conference Ian Paisley, then leader of the DUP, said that David Trimble, then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), was guilty of "high treason".
Paisley also accused George Mitchell, then Chairman of the Stormont talks, of "working for the total destruction of Northern Ireland". The Friends of the Union held a meeting organised by Lord Cranborne, then Conservative leader in the House of Lords, at Hatfield House, Hertfordshire, England.
David Trimble, then leader of the UUP, Ian Paisley, then leader of the DUP, and Robert McCartney, then leader of the United Kingdom Unionist Party (UKUP), all attended the meeting. The Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) and the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) were not invited.
Sean O'Callaghan, a former Irish Republican Army (IRA) informer, also spoke at the meeting. David Andrews, then Irish Foreign Affairs Minister, gave an interview to Radio Ulster during which he said that cross-border bodies should have powers "not unlike a government". [Unionists criticised Andrews for the remarks which he later said were "misjudged".]
Monday 29 November 1999
Executive Appointed There was a meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly (NIA). Seamus Mallon, then deputy leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), was reinstated as Deputy First Minister Designate. The d'Hondt procedure for the appointment of ministers in a power-sharing Executive was triggered and 10 ministers appointed.
[This was the first time in 25 years that Northern Ireland had a power-sharing Executive.]
Remembering all innocent victims of the Troubles
Today is the anniversary of the death of the following people killed as a results of the conflict in Northern Ireland
"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die
– Thomas Campbell
To the innocent on the list – Your memory will live forever
– To the Paramilitaries –
There are many things worth living for, a few things worth dying for, but nothing worth killing for.
7 People lost their lives on the 29th November between 1971 – 1990
29 November 1971
Robert Benner, (25)
Status: British Army (BA),
Killed by: non-specific Republican group (REP)
Originally from Dundalk, County Louth. Off duty. Found shot, Teer, near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
29 November 1975
John Hayes, (38)
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
Airport Employee. Killed during bomb explosion in toilets of arrival lounge, Dublin Airport, County Dublin.
29 November 1975
Archibald Waller, (23)
Status: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot while sitting in parked car outside social club, Downing Street, Shankill, Belfast. Internal Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) feud.
29 November 1985
Gordon Hanna, (46)
Status: Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR),
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Off duty. Killed by booby trap bomb attached to his car outside his home, Harbour Drive, Kilkeel, County Down.
29 November 1989
Liam Ryan, (39)
Status: Irish Republican Army (IRA),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot during gun attack on Battery Bar, Moortown, near Coagh, County Tyrone.
29 November 1989
Michael Devlin, (33)
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot during gun attack on Battery Bar, Moortown, near Coagh, County Tyrone
29 November 1990
Raymond Robinson, (39)
Status: Civilian (Civ),
Killed by: Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
Shot at his workplace, a shop, Duncairn Gardens, Belfast.


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I have been studying the prophets this month which also happens to be the advent season. The season for Christians of waiting to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas. It is a season of hope and expectation that comes out of lament and distress. Lament and distress at the way things are in the world and in our hearts. But hope and expectation at the light which has come into the darkness. In studying the prophets during this season I have seen so many things that relate to the advent season. There is judgement upon wickedness and the hope of ultimate restoration. There is the lament of living in a broken world and the increasing darkness. And there are specific promises and prophecies fulfilled in the very details of the birth, life and death of Jesus. However if we are to understand all of these things we need to fit them within the overarching story of the advent season and of the prophets. Both are really telling the same story of a God unlike any other and his relentless love for a sinful people.
This story centers on the person of Jesus. The only way to understand this passage in Micah, and the overwhelming passages of God's judgement throughout the prophets upon his people and indeed the whole world because of their sinfulness is Jesus. Because in Jesus these two strands of judgement and salvation come together. They come together in the judgement of Jesus for the salvation of his people. How does God "tread our iniquities underfoot"? "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). Who is this he? According to the New Testament, this he is none other than Jesus. Coming upon a man who was confused by reading this passage, a member of the early church taught him its meaning. "Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus" (Acts 8:35).
Jesus accomplishes this by bearing the wrath and anger of God against our sin, in our place. He did this by dying the death we should have died on the cross (Romans 3:21-26). This is free and available to anyone and everyone who is trusting in Jesus and him alone. Leaning not on their on goodness to have a right relationship with God, but leaning on Jesus and his death to have a right relationship with God. And because of this Jesus, our great rescuer, God has "cast all our sins into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:19) never ever ever to see the light again. If you are trusting in Jesus, your sins, your transgressions against the Lord and his law, are gone forever. They will never be brought up from the depths to accuse you.
Now, that is good news. That is news to awaken us from our deep sorrow and lament to great joy. But, thats not all.
God has done all this in Jesus for his people so that he can be free to show his great delight in them. To rejoice over them with singing and shouts of gladness. Because of Jesus, dear Christian, you are not simply tolerated but passionately and exuberantly loved. You are rejoiced over as the object of his special love. Just as a child delights to run down the stairs on Christmas morning to see their presents, so our God runs in delight to see you. To love you.
If you are lamenting this advent season at the brokenness of our world and its injustices; lamenting at your own brokenness, sins and mistakes; and lamenting at what seems to be the silence of God in the midst of all these things, take courage and experience hope in the midst of your lament. Take courage and look away from the brokenness to the coming one who will right all wrongs. Take courage and lay aside your sin. Repent of it. Turn from it and run into the arms of Jesus who delights to take you in his arms and sing over you. Take courage and join me this advent season in reading the prophets and heeding their message by looking to Jesus, the rescuing one.


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Harry is the Founder of Doric and has been a Managing Director for 20 years. Under Harry's stewardship Doric has grown to become Western Australia's most professional and progressive general construction group. A leader in the industry, Doric has undertaken numerous successful major projects which encompass almost all areas of the construction industry, resources, infrastructure, defence and commercial construction sector.
Since becoming Non-Executive Chairman in 2009 his focus has been on strategic and governance issues.
In addition to his role at Doric he has made significant contributions to the broader community through leadership positions with a number of distinguished and high profile organisations.
These include Director of the International Board of the Chief Executive Global Organisation for eight years, headquartered in Washington USA; Chair of the Young Presidents' Organisation for Western Australia; President of the Australian Institute of Building, Chairman and Director of Business Excellence of Australia.
Harry holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Construction Management and Economics, UK, Australian Institute of Company Directors (Fellow) and Australian Institute of Building (Fellow)
Harry is the recipient of many awards and was truly honoured when the Governor General of Australia presented him and Demetra with a Special Recognition Award for their contribution to the community and business in 2004.


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Asplenium lobulatum
Fiji: Viti Levu
Hawai'i Islands: Hawai'i, Kaua'i, Lana'i, Maui, Moloka'i, O'ahu
Samoa: Savai'i, 'Upolu
local names: –
Asplenium lobulatum
Fiji: Viti Levu
Hawai'i Islands: Hawai'i, Kaua'i, Lana'i, Maui, Moloka'i, O'ahu
Samoa: Savai'i, 'Upolu
local names: –
Elatostema samoense
Samoa: Savai'i, Tutuila, 'Upolu
local name: –
The Samoan flora contains about 12 to 14 species from this genus, which all are endemic to the islands.
The genus, however, appears to be in need of a revision.
Samoan Cornelian (Deudorix doris)
The adult has a wingspan of about 3 cm, the forewings are black with the so-called cell fiery red colored, the hindwings are of the same red color for about a third of their area.
The males appear to be much commoner than females, but these may just hide in the forest canopy, where they are quite difficult to observe. [1]
The caterpillars are thought to feed on fruits of native tree species including Elaeocarpus spp. and Hernandia spp.. [2]
[1] G. H. E. Hopkins: Insects of Samoa and other Samoan terrestrial Arthropoda. Part III. Lepidoptera, Fasc. 1. Butterflies of Samoa and some neighboring island-groups. London 1927
[2] Brian Patrick; Hamish Patrick: Butterflies of the South Pacific. Otago University Press 2012
female and male
Depictions from: 'G. H. E. Hopkins: Insects of Samoa and other Samoan terrestrial Arthropoda. Part III. Lepidoptera, Fasc. 1. Butterflies of Samoa and some neighboring island-groups. London 1927'
(public domain)
Astronidium pickeringii
Fiji: Ovalau
Samoa: Olosega, Ta'u, Tutuila, 'Upolu
local names: –
[1] J. F. Maxwell; J. F. Veldkamp: Notes on the Astronieae (Melastomataceae) – II. Astronidium, Beccarianthus. Blumea 35: 115-165. 1990
Mosaic Orobophana Snail (Orobophana musiva)
This species was described in 1847, it is found in Fiji, in Samoa, and obviously in Tuvalu as well.
The Mosaic Orobophana Snail is found under decaying vegetation at low elevations, very often near the coast.
It is a very small species, the shells reach heights of only about 0,2 cm, they vary in color from several shades of yellow and orange to reddish-brown.
[1] Robert H. Cowie; Rebecca J. Rundell: The land snails of a small tropical island, Aunu'u, American Samoa. Pacific Science 56(2): 143-147. 2002
Acacia simplex
Fiji: Beqa, Fulaga, Katafaga, Komo, Lakeba, Leleuvia, Makaluva, Matuku, Moturiki, Naigani, Nayau, Nukulau, Nukulevu, Ovalau, Rabi, Taveuni, Totoya, Vanua Balavu, Vanua Levu, Viti Levu, Yacata, Yanucalailai
Samoa: Savai'i, 'Upolu
Tonga: 'Ata, 'Eua, Fafa, Makaha'a, Malinoa, Manima, Maninita, Monuafe, Motutapu, Nuku, Oneata, Onevai, Onevao, Pangaimotu, Tau, Tongatapu, Tufaka, 'Uiha, 'Uta Vava'u
Wallis & Futuna: Futuna, 'Uvea
local names:
tatagia – Fiji
tataqia – Fiji
[1] Albert C. Smith: Flora Vitiensis Nova: A new flora of Fiji (Spermatophytes only). Vol. 3. Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii 1985
Cinnamomum elegans
Samoa: Savai'i, 'Upolu
local names: –
Sorrowful Damselfly (Pacificagrion dolorosa)
The Sorrowful Damselfly was described in the year 1953 on the basis of a male, that had been collected on the island of 'Upolu, Samoa.
The species is almost unknown.
The Sorrowful Damselfly was not found during recent field studies, however, the exatct locality appears to be only insufficiently known. [2]
There obviously is at least one other, not yet described species on the island of Tutuila. [1][2]
[1] Milen Marinov; Warren Chin; Eric Edwards; Brian Patrick; Hamish Patrick: A revised and updated Odonata checklist of Samoa (Insecta: Odonata). Faunistic Studies in South-East Asian and Pacific Island Odonata 5: 1-21. 2013
[2] Milen Marinov; Mark Schmaedick; Dan Polhemus; Rebecca L. Stirnemann; Fialelei Enoka; Pulemagafa Siaifoi Fa'aumu; Moeumu Uili: Faunistic and taxonomic investigations on the Odonata fauna of the Samoan archipelago with particular focus on taxonomic ambiguities in the "Ischnurine complex". Journal of the International Dragonfly Fund 91: 1-56. 2015
Photo: The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
(under creative commons license (4.0))
edited: 23.08.2017
Peperomia pallida
Austral Islands: Raivavae, Rapa, Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai
Cook Islands: 'Atiu, Mangaia, Ma'uke, Miti'aro, Rarotonga
Marquesas: Fatu Hiva, Hiva Oa, Nuku Hiva, Tahuata, Ua Huka, Ua Pou
Samoa: Savai'i, Tutuila, 'Upolu
Society Islands: Bora Bora, Huahine, Maupiti, Me'eti'a, Mo'orea, Ra'iatea, Taha'a, Tahiti
Tonga: Niuatoputapu, Tafahi, 'Uta Vava'u
Tuamotu Archipelago: Anaa, Makatea, Niau
Wallis & Futuna: Alofi, Futuna
local names: –
There are some forms of hybrid origin, Peperomia x abscondita and Peperomia pallida x societatis J. W. Moore.
Large Ostodes Snail (Ostodes exasperatus)
This species was described in 1978.
The species is known from the islands of Savai'i and 'Upolu, however, these two populations differ from each other in so far that the males from 'Upolu are larger than the females, while the situation is reversed in Savai'i.
The shells reach a height of about 0,9 to 1,3 cm and a width of up to 1,3 cm. [1][2]
[1] E. L. Girardi: The Samoan land snail genus Ostodes (Mollusca: Prosobranchia: Poteriidae). The Veliger 20(3): 191-246. 1978
[2] Robert H. Cowie: Catalog of the nonmarine snails and slugs of the Samoan Islands. Bishop Museum Bulletin in Zoology 3. 1998


text: Share: Comments Print July 30, 2009 at 11:01 PM Locker talk Posted by Jon Fisch As I mentioned in the previous post, I had a chance to talk a little bit today with Jake Locker. The primary reason was to get some feature stuff for a story that will run in a little while as a preview of the kickoff of the start of practice. We did the interview today in part because this was the last day a lot of the players are going to be around until the start of practice Aug. 10. The players will take next week off as their final rest period before the grind of training camp and the season. Along with getting some some last little R-and-R, what Locker also hopes will happen between now and the start of practice is a resolution to his negotiations with the Los Angeles Angels, who selected him in the 10th round of the Major League Baseball Draft in June. If Locker signs, it is solely so that the Angels have his rights should he decide to play baseball at some point — they would hold those rights for six years if he signs by Aug. 17. But he has stated from the start it would not interfere with his UW football career. Locker's father, Scott, has been handling the negotiations as it would be an NCAA violation for Locker to hire an agent — if he signs, he will have to give up his football scholarship and will be a walk-on, but will maintain eligibility in football. "Just kind of still waiting," Locker said of the negotiations. "My intention was to get something done before camp started, and it still is, so we've got about a week here to finish it up." Locker, though, said he is staying out of the details and doesn't really know what is holding things up. "I don't know how it all works," he said. "I'm just kind of going with the flow." He said, however, that he anticipates something will get done. "But if it doesn't, I'll just go back to life as it was," he said. And that, obviously, is filled mostly with preparing for this season. Locker said he thinks it's been a good summer with the team doing conditioning workouts almost daily and voluntary seven-on-seven drills twice a week. "There's been good numbers showing up this year," he said. "A lot of guys working hard and doing well." Locker said his thumb, which he injured in the fourth game last year against Stanford, has held up fine all summer and he's hoping he will enter the season in better physical shape than he did last year. Locker said that he intentionally tried to take it a lot easier this summer than he did last year, when along with fulfilling football duties, he also held a job helping care for two young boys as well as playing in 10 baseball games for the Bellingham Bells. Locker acknowledged today that all of that took a little toll on him physically. "I just kind of felt like my body got a little worn down going into camp," he said. "I just felt like I didn't feel as good as I could have, and then I (injured) my hamstring (early in camp). So this summer I just wanted to work out and play football and hang out and see how good of a year I could and go from there." About the only thing Locker did this summer outside of hanging around UW was working as a counselor for a few days at a Super 7 QB Retreat run by Steve Clarkson, the QB guru whose students include Nick Montana. Locker said he got to know Montana a little bit at the camp, as well as during Montana's visit to UW. 'He's a great kid," Locker said. "I really like him. He's very respectful and just an all-around good kid. You can tell he was raised in a good family situation and he was a great guy to be around. I'm looking forward to him coming up here and being able to work with him." Comments