text:
BALTIMORE – The top-seeded UMBC women's soccer team continued its Cinderella story by scoring a pair of first half goals and shutting out No. 4 Hartford, 2-0, in America East Championship Semifinal action on Sunday afternoon at Retriever Soccer Park. The victory was the Retrievers' first-ever America East Championship victory and advances UMBC to the league finals set for Saturday, Nov. 9 versus No. 2 Stony Brook.
The America East Women's Soccer Fans' Choice Player of the Year Alexa Quaranta (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall) opened the scoring for the Retrievers and junior back Morgan Taylor (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) added her first collegiate goal to give UMBC a two-goal first half lead. Senior goalkeeper Lauren Kadet (Oakville, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas) added her fifth shutout of the season to give UMBC its highest win total in program history (12-5-2), while Hartford concludes its 2013 campaign with an 11-6-3 record.
Quaranta put UMBC out in front 12:44 into the contest with her team-leading eighth goal of the season. Sophomore back Nikki Boretti (Crofton, Md./Archbishop Spalding) tapped a free kick over to Quaranta, who blasted a shot inside the far left post to give the Retrievers a 1-0 lead.
The Retrievers, who only connected on four scores in the first half prior to Sunday, struck for the second time in the opening half on a long ball from Taylor, that was knocked down by the Hartford netminder inside the net, resulting in Taylor's first collegiate goal.
UMBC looked to add further insurance with nine minutes to go in the first, as a cross from freshman midfielder Meg Kowalski (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) was sent just a little too high for junior midfielder Lilly Rydon (Stirling, South Australia/Concordia College), keeping the score 2-0 at the break.
Quaranta had a chance to give UMBC a three-goal lead, as a centering pass from senior Stephanie Smith (Severna Park, Md./Archbishop Spalding) gave Quaranta an open look at the net from five yards out, but the second-year forward sent her shot just left of the post in the 59th minute.
Hartford put the pressure on the Retrievers in the second half, resulting in back-to-back scoring opportunities for the Hawks. Junior midfielder Stephanie Santos launched a free kick into the crowd in front of the net, allowing freshman back Caitlin Smallfield a shot attempt that soared high.
The Hawks followed up with a corner kick in the 65th minute that gave its leading scorer and the league's Striker of the Year Chanel Johnson a shot in the box, but Kadet came up with one of her four saves on the afternoon to keep Hartford off the board.
Quaranta gave UMBC another opportunity, gathering a ball and slipping a pass through a pair of Hartford defenders for Smith, but Smith was unable to place a shot on net, sending her attempt off the mark with 13:40 to go in the contest.
The Retrievers would hold Hartford to just two more shot attempts in the contest to capture their seventh victory in their last eight chances.
UMBC will make the program's fifth appearance in a conference tournament championship game when it hosts No. 2 Stony Brook on Saturday, Nov. 9. The Retrievers will look for their first-ever league tournament title and a trip to its first NCAA tournament. First kick is set for 7 p.m. at Retriever Soccer Park.
-Alexa Quaranta's eight goals on the season are the most for a Retriever since Jessica Young scored 12 in 2005. Quaranta also entered the top-10 in UMBC's single-season shots list, tying for fourth with 59 shots on the year.
-Lauren Kadet took sole possession of fifth place on UMBC's single-season shutout list, blanking 10 opponents in her career.
-UMBC women's soccer is 9-9 all-time in advancing the conference tournament games.


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ROCHESTER — The woman accused of participating in a robbery in which another woman was assaulted and had a gun pointed at her earlier this month remains jailed after waiving her probable cause hearing Monday.
Sandra Jean Fallon, 25, of 18B Atkinson St. in Dover, and Jacob Nyberg, 22, of 10 Pleasant Street, Rochester, are both being held on $25,000 cash only bail after being charged with robbery, a Class A felony, in connection with an incident in the area of Granite Street on Feb. 14.
According to a police affidavit, the victim was sent to the hospital for various injuries after an assault by Nyberg and Fallon, which ended with the suspects stealing the victim's purse.
The victim reported the incident began when Fallon and Nyberg gave her a ride to the store, and then drove back to Granite Street. Fallon then took a turn onto Davy Anne Lock Lane, pulled over, and accused the victim of "ripping her off for $8,000," according to the affidavit. Fallon then allegedly began punching the victim in the face, trying to get her purse, and Nyberg allegedly pointed a gun at the victim's face. The victim reported hearing a gun cock.
Nyberg also allegedly struck the victim in the face with the gun, and said to give him everything in her purse or he was going to "blow her head off," according to the victim's affidavit.
Fallon and Nyberg then allegedly pulled the victim out of the car, and Fallon was putting her hand over the victim's mouth, threatening to kill her if she wouldn't keep quiet. Fallon's other hand was squeezing the victim's throat, and the two suspects were able to get the victim's purse, the affidavit states.
Police say that after the incident, the two suspects fled in the area, but were later located at Fallon's home in Dover. Fallon was arrested for a warrant relating to another incident, while Nyberg provided a statement to police and admitted to using a gun to rob the victim, according to the affidavit. He said that Fallon gave him the gun, and that she had stolen the gun from a neighbor.
Nyberg was arrested later in the day, after an arrest warrant was drafted for the robbery charge.
On Monday, Fallon waived her probable cause hearing, and her case was bound over to the Strafford County Superior Court, where a grand jury will consider indicting her.
During Monday's hearing, public defender Alex Roth argued to have Fallon be on house arrest, with frequent drug testing and GPS monitoring, rather than be held on cash bail.
Assistant County Attorney Dorothy Walch, however, stated Fallon is a "threat to the community," and requested that bail remain at $25,000 cash only.
Walch said that Fallon's previous convictions include criminal mischief in 2006, stalking in 2011, and three counts of simple assault in 2012.
"She does not seem to have a lack of violence under her belt," she said.
Walch also noted that the gun, which Fallon allegedly stole from a neighbor years ago, has not yet been recovered. She said that after the violent incident, Fallon had also called her mother, and told her to find a black bag, containing the victim's stolen purse, and "make it disappear."
Roth, however, said that he's not aware of Fallon using a gun in the alleged robbery.
"I don't believe Ms. Fallon ever had a gun, or was involved with a gun. That was an allegation," he said.
Judge Daniel Cappiello ordered bail for Fallon remain at $25,000 cash only.
In addition to the robbery charge, Fallon on Monday also waived a probable cause hearing on two other felony charges — issuing bad checks and theft by deception. She had an outstanding arrest warrant for those charges when she was arrested on the robbery charge.
Nyberg's probable cause hearing on the robbery charge is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Rochester Circuit Court.

subset: commoncrawl


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CALGARY — Sick of rebellion, the PCs rolled in the rhetorical tanks on Monday, signalling an end to the Wildrose Autumn.
Speaker Gene Zwozdesky, after being very lenient with opposition questions for many days, suddenly slammed shut the turret around his throne.
He refused to allow any Wildrose questions at all about Premier Alison Redford's role in the awarding of a tobacco litigation contract.
Wildrose MLAs conferred and then walked out of the chamber en masse, a rare statement of protest in Alberta.
Four MLAs later trickled back in to ask their scheduled questions on other issues.
Later, the rest returned to hear Zwozdesky's ruling on whether the premier lied to the house about her role in the tobacco contract.
By that time, the outcome was as inevitable as Calgary's Grey Cup loss after 30 minutes of preliminary pummeling and tenderizing.
Redford was not guilty of misleading the legislature about her role in awarding a contract to a legal consortium that includes her ex-husband's law firm.
On a technical level, Zwozdesky's decision had been made at least plausible by the cross-my-heart testimony of PC ministers who say she wasn't involved.
Falling back on the allegedly genteel traditions of the legislature, he chose to believe that their verbal assertions counterbalance documented evidence from Wildrose.
He'd also "found" a government news release that said the final deal was signed June 21, 2010 — a fact that was never really in doubt.
What was unexpected, though, was the brutal shutdown of Wildrose questions on all aspects of this issue, pending his ruling.
OK, a rule is a rule. A privilege point is out of order until the Speaker makes a decision.
But then, Zwozdesky interpreted his own warning to include any mention of tobacco.
He even refused to hear demands for details of the contract, a point that had nothing to do with the Wildrose allegation that Redford misled the house about the decision.
And then, after cutting off virtually every Wildrose question, Zwozdesky allowed a couple of similar ones from the NDP and Liberals.
That's when the Wildrosers decided to take off.
"That really did it," said Wildrose house leader and MLA Rob Anderson. "When we saw he was allowing them to ask what we were forbidden to ask, there was no point in sticking around."
But really, anybody who's surprised by all this hasn't paid attention to the Alberta legislature for the past, oh, 40 years.
Zwozdesky is a PC who was elected Speaker by his party's huge legislature majority.
For many weeks, to the surprise of grumbling Tory MLAs, he had been quite lenient with the opposition.
Then real trouble erupted; first with information about the health-region expenses of the premier's sister, and then with the more serious tobacco allegations.
And before our eyes, the new Speaker who seemed like a jovial debate-club moderator suddenly became Ken Kowalski's bigger, badder brother.
Zwozdesky went against all his more lenient instincts — and precedents — time after time.
And that entitles Albertans to ask: Why this clampdown?
Why now?
Wildrose is "outraged" etc., as you'd expect. But behind all that, the new official Opposition is also quite pleased with itself.
The Wildrosers feel the sudden arrival of the tank corps bolsters their argument that the PCs are scandal-heavy, dictatorial and frightened.
"We never expected to convince Gene Zwozdesky," said Anderson, "but we hope we gave Albertans further proof that this government can't be trusted."
The fiercest political rebellion in Alberta's modern history may be stalled for now, but both sides know it's far from over.
Don Braid's column appears regularly in the email@example.com


text:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
6 medium onions, thinly sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons fresh thyme, picked and chopped, or poultry seasoning
1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
1/2 cup dry sherry
6 cups beef stock
4 thick slices crusty bread, toasted
2 1/2 cups shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese
Heat a deep pot over medium to medium high heat. Work next to the stove to slice onions. Add oil and butter to the pot. Add onions to the pot as you slice them. When all the onions are in the pot, season with salt and pepper and 1 teaspoon fresh thyme. Cook onions 15 to 18 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender, sweet and caramel colored. Add bay leaf and sherry to the pot and deglaze the pan drippings. Add 6 cups stock and cover pot to bring soup up to a quick boil.
Arrange 4 small, deep soup bowls or crocks on a cookie sheet. Preheat broiler to high. Once soup reaches a boil, ladle it into bowls. Float toasted crusty bread on soup and cover each bowl with a mound of cheese. Sprinkle remaining fresh thyme on cheese and place cookie sheet, with soup bowls on it, under hot broiler until cheese melts and bubbles.
Serves 4.
From www.foodnetwork.com, courtesy of Rachel Ray.


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AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, in his latest incarnation as a gay Austrian fashion reporter, jet skied through a canal into Amsterdam's red light district on Friday to open a brothel full of men in thongs ahead of the Dutch premiere of 'Bruno'.
"For too long, guys coming here from around the world have been forced to have sex with women," Cohen said, standing in front of a pink-lit brothel building in the Dutch capital as surprised tourists and stag party goers looked on.
"It gives me great pleasure to declare Amsterdam's pink light district officially open for business," he said, as about a dozen men emerged from behind curtains at the windows of a three-storey brothel.
Cohen, hoping to replicate the success of his 2006 hit movie "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," was wearing a cut-away suit which revealed his own red thong. In "Bruno," Cohen is a gay fashion reporter seeking stardom in America.
After declaring the pink brothel open, Cohen left in a black car while the men left their rooms, put on white robes and waved goodbye to crowds. The real prostitutes, who had hidden from the flashing cameras, reopened their curtains to wait for their next clients in their red-lit windows.
Reporting by Catherine Hornby, editing by Paul Casciato


text:
Are you confused about health insurance reform? Unsure about your benefits under the new California health exchange?
When open enrollment beings Oct. 1, NBC4 will host certified counselors in our newsroom to answer your questions.
Under the Affordable Care Act, all Americans will be required to have health insurance by 2014, or pay a penalty.
More 4 You: Covered California: Complete Coverage | How to Avoid Health Care Scams
Of the 7 million uninsured Californians, some 5.3 million will qualify for coverage under Covered California. About half of those will be eligible for government subsidies to defray the cost of health insurance.
That includes individuals making less than $46,000 a year, and families of four making less than $94, 000 a year.
And Southern California is the largest market of residents who quality for subsidies.
In Los Angeles, there are seven insurers from which to choose. In Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, there are six insurers to choose from.
All plans have four levels of coverage: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze.
What is the best choice for you or your family? That's where NBC4 comes in.
Certified counselors will be on hand from 12 to 7 p.m. Tuesday to answer your questions and help you make an informed decision.
Call 855-NBC-LA4U (855-622-5248) to speak with an expert.
And watch the NBC4 News at 5 and 6 p.m. Tuesday, when we'll have the executive director of Covered California – the Golden State's iteration of the Affordable Care Act – in the studio to answer your questions live.
You can also ask your questions via social media, on the NBCLA Facebook page or on Twitter, using the hastag #coveredca4you.
Stay tuned as we provide clear, practical analysis of how the people of Southern California will fare under Covered California health plans.


text:
AREV MANOUKIAN – Nuit Blanche
"Nuit Blanche explores a fleeting moment between two strangers, revealing their brief connection in a hyper real fantasy."
The amazing short film has been directed by Arev Manoukian, who also was editor, director of photography as well as producer with Stephanie Swedlove.
Actors: Michael Coughlan and Megan Lindley. Visual effects: Marc-André Gray. Music: Samuel Bisson.Also tagged Andre Chlebak, Arev Manoukian, bw, car accident, Dan Levy, glass shards, kiss, Marc-Andre Gray, Megan Lindley, Michael Coughlan, Nuit Blanche, Pat Lau, Samuel Bisson, slow motion, smoke, spacetime loop, Stephanie Swedlove, water


text:
Black widow spiders (Latrodectus mactans) are found throughout the Western Hemisphere. A female black
widow is much more likely to deliver more venom than a male spider.
Female black widows are long-legged, shiny, coal-black spiders with an
orange, red, or yellow hourglass shape on the underside. The female black widow
is usually about
1.5 in. (3.8 cm) long, but may
be smaller.
Black widow spiders tend to
bite defensively when their webs are disturbed. Black widow spiders are
frequently found in low-lying webs in garages, barbecue grills, around swimming
pools, and in wood piles. Bites to babies and children may be more serious than
bites to adults. Signs and symptoms of a black widow bite include:
In some cases, severe symptoms appear within 30 to 60
minutes. These include:
A doctor should be contacted immediately when a person is
bitten by a black widow spider.
Last Revised:
October 14, 2011
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


text:
Department of Revenue News Release
February 11, 2010Jefferson City License Office Awarded to Incumbent Agent
JEFFERSON CITY - License & Verification Services LLC has been named as the agent for the Jefferson City Motor Vehicle and License Office. The winning proposal was chosen as part of a reformed, competitive bidding process for all of Missouri's local license offices.
"One of the first reforms I initiated when I became Governor was to terminate the old patronage system of awarding local license offices," Gov. Jay Nixon said. "Under this new system, any person or group is allowed to bid, and the winner is chosen using a fair point system that rewards ideas for good customer service and fiscal efficiency."
License & Verification Services LLC is associated with the current agent, Gary Wilbers, and Dana Wilbers, both of Jefferson City. Mr. Wilbers has been the agent since 2005. The winning bid was one of six submitted for the office, which is located at 1617 Southridge Dr.
According to figures from both Fiscal Year 2008 and FY 2009, the Jefferson City office is the third largest in the state in terms of transactions and processing fees for the agent. In FY 2009, the estimated number of transactions was 173,728, and it generated about $577,500 in processing fees.
Details about changes in office operations, if any, will be announced by the agent.
Bidders have the option of returning a portion of an office's revenues to the state. Using processing fee numbers from FY 2008, the estimated amount of money that will be returned to the state in the first contract year from the 181 offices that have been awarded so far under the new bidding process is $1,094,446.
Although Gov. Nixon authorized the Missouri Department of Revenue to implement the new bidding system in January of 2009, it didn't become part of state law until legislation was signed by the Governor this past summer. The new law was overwhelmingly approved by both Republican and Democratic members of the Missouri Legislature.
Of the 181 offices awarded so far, 101 have gone to incumbents, groups associated with incumbent agents or interim agents. Eighty of the offices have been awarded to new agents. There are 183 offices statewide. The two offices that have not completed the bidding process are Greenfield and Linn. Ten offices initially awarded are in the re-bidding process, and the winning proposals for those offices will be named within the coming weeks.
Alana M. Barragán-Scott, director of the Missouri Department of Revenue, said the new bidding process is going well.
"The teams that review the office proposals have been impressed with the quality of the bids," she said. "Some proposals include longer office hours, some include better office locations and others have good ideas to improve customer service during peak operating hours. I believe the reformed bidding process has been a success for Missouri citizens."
All local license offices provide services that are overseen by the Department of Revenue, but each office is operated by an independent contractor. Transactions that are conducted at these offices include the issuance and renewal of driver licenses, issuance of titles for motor vehicles, and the issuance and renewal of registration for motor vehicles, boats and outboard motors.
To follow the Missouri Department of Revenue on Twitter, go to http://twitter.com/MoRevenue. If you don't already have a Twitter account, you'll have to create one before you can follow the Missouri Department of Revenue.


text:
Apple's problem is it doesn't know how to grow its business. Not with respect to the huge chunk of money sitting in its various bank accounts ($137 billion). In that sense Apple is the story of American capitalism gone wrong.
The company has become an accumulation machine and reflects the problems of the American economy - hugely innovative and successful but paralyzed in the face of the 21st century's investment needs.
Last week's report from Bain and Co shows that the sheer level of capital accumulation is now a fundamental of the global economy. Though there is growth in underlying GDP around the world, the growth of financial assets is much faster.
But the irony in this is that the majority of assets still reside in the US and Europe. They are not finding their way to investment projects in emerging markets and are tending instead to inflate asset prices.
There are two clear lessons just from that report - American and European companies are under-serving real economic growth, and we will pay for that neglect in the long term. And investment horizons need to be longer term anyway - there is so much cash to burn that the time is ideal for long imaginative projects..
Companies like Apple, Google, Philips need to be evolving new paradigms in new economies not just trying to sell them on high margin devices or new ad mechanisms. Apple in fact needs to being painting a picture of itself as the post-device company, as Google might well do with Project Glass.
But this is Samsung's CEO on Jan 2, 2013 having climbed to the top of the tree in smartphones.
"Forget about the past and start anew," Lee exhorted employees in his New Year's address on Jan. 2. "We must search out new businesses that Samsung's survival depends on."
What would a post-iPhone Apple look like? If you are an investor you have a right to know.
Anything that needs a liberating interface could be an Apple product or service. And the real economic needs of the growing world do not fit into the palm of your hand.
It needs to engage in whatever this crazy, chaotic, fast changing world wants of it because for as long as Americans sit back and congratulate themselves on their innovativeness, China will mop up the loyalties and markets of emerging market after emerging market. Apple has a role to play in imagining how these economies will benefit from its ingenuity. And time is tight.
News that China's trade in goods now exceeds that of the United States is no surprise but it comes with some reassuring qualifiers. Add in services and the USA is still top. The US economy is still twice the size of the Chinese and per capita income is five times that of China's.
The problem though is that nobody outside of the USA is looking for caveats when they observe the relative decline of American power. It feels like a result.
Yet, the USA still has the best and richest tech companies - yes, look at Apple and Google, just ahead of Samsung and likely to be overwhelmed by the new generation of Chinese tech companies that enter new markets with a development agenda as well as a product to sell.
The problem for America is not knowing how to use these great companies and their gifts, brains, and resource in strategic ways for the US economy. The problem for Apple is strangling itself with its device-focus and its inability to graft a development role onto its bank account.
Of course it is their market-given right not to spend its money but I am 100% sure that the US economy cannot prosper if its best companies hoard cash on this scale and I am as sure that competitor regions are happy to see them idle that cash away.
The cash hoards in fact are beyond imagination - can you conceive of how to spend $137 billion? Here is the crux of it, I think. Apple, like America, cannot conceive of its responsibilities in the wider world.
America and its companies lack a capitalist-driven agenda to participate in the great economic battles taking place in Africa and India and maybe that's because they can skim decent margins on devices in China. According to The Guardian:
Three years ago China surpassed the United States as Africa's biggest trading partner. Bilateral trade grew from $10.6bn (£6.67bn) in 2000 to $160bn in 2011, according to Chinese state media and Chinese investment totals $13bn. China says it has also provided tens of millions of dollars in food aid. The new $200m headquarters of the Africa Union in Addis Ababa was a gift from China as a "symbol of deepening relations".
Mid-2012 Hillary Clinton toured Africa and assured her hosts the US would stand up for human rights, a statement seen as a swipe against China.
"America will stand up for democracy and universal human rights even when it might be easier to look the other way and keep the resources flowing."
Well ok, you might say but where is America's agenda for accelerating balanced development, for securing water for all or for promoting clean air, for involving its companies in the real economic needs of the day rather than selling to high end device markets?
It's hard to escape the impression that in America the rest of the world is perceived as a potential labor force either for building devices cheaply or for importing as brains who might then become entrepreneurs who rescue the American economy.
This implicit narrative of America's place in the world is reflected in comments about Apple. It's only responsibility is is customers and fashioning products that delight them. Give me a break. A cash pile of $137 billion carries huge responsibilities especially if your culture lies at the intersection of technology and the liberal arts.
And what about the other side of the coin - America entrepreneurs settling in Africa or India and building new companies there that promote an American cultural ideal?


text:
Join Hawaiian cultural practitioners as they share "Mo`olelo" or traditional stories about places, objects and cultural practices. Listen to their stories, chants and participate in a hands-on activity, depending on the topic of the week. Call the office during the week of your visit to get more information, 808-886-8811.
Event Calendar
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Earlier Event: January 25Petroglyph Tour
Later Event: January 25Ben Kaili


text:
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
All by myself
Andrew must have saw this coming...
I came home to find these on the coffee table:
How cute is he?
30 comments:
- Hillary said...
I love it!
I don't live with a partner who cooks (though I really wish I did) but I do live with a partner who is an AV ninja. We have a ridiculously sweet home theatre system which took me years to figure out. Not that I've actually figured out how to do much more than turn it on & off, but still. I'm getting there. Soon I'll be able to change the channel ALL BY MYSELF!
- January 27, 2009 at 7:17 PM
- Ashley D said...
omg that is the cutest thing ever!
- January 27, 2009 at 7:19 PM
- alyssa said...
haha, that's so funny and cuuuute! :)
- January 27, 2009 at 7:20 PM
- Gwen said...
That is hilarious! You got a good one!
- January 27, 2009 at 7:26 PM
That's awesome! :)
- January 27, 2009 at 7:29 PM
- ria said...
where can i find an andrew?
- January 27, 2009 at 7:45 PM
- Angela said...
You know what would be nice? Figure out how to configure the comcast remote so that it works for the tv, too!
- January 27, 2009 at 8:40 PM
- Angela said...
This is absolutely awesome! You have a great guy. Josh wouldn't do that (cuz he wouldn't think of it), but I can totally relate to getting used to having a partner who cooks! Last time he left for more than 3 days I lived on oreos and chips/creamcheese (cream cheese is the GREATEST chip dip ever, probably because it's the most fattening). It was sad.
- January 27, 2009 at 8:44 PM
- Katelin said...
haha so cute.
- January 27, 2009 at 8:56 PM
- Tam said...
I get a lecture every time I ask (for the millionth time mind you) how to use the frickin' remotes. I STILL have no idea how to watch a DVD and I'm alone MOST nights.
Yay for Andrew. What a sweetie pie!
- January 27, 2009 at 9:19 PM
- Deutlich said...
That? Is incredibly amusing.
- January 27, 2009 at 9:48 PM
- Lauren said...
Oh how funny! You've got a good man. :)
- January 27, 2009 at 9:59 PM
- Jossie Posie said...
Awww Mermanda!! You guys are too cute...I love that he signed them with a heart!
- January 27, 2009 at 11:15 PM
- Alexis M. said...
My guy also cooks, but we might be sharing those duties as we both love it.
The remotes are adorable, how sweet and thoughtful...and funny!
- January 28, 2009 at 1:10 AM
Haha! That is so sweet and thoughtful! :)
- January 28, 2009 at 8:35 AM
- Kyla Bea said...
lol! Oh my gosh, that's so sweet!
As long as those weren't on all of your appliances, that is ; )
- January 28, 2009 at 9:40 AM
- The Dutchess of Kickball said...
Aw that is so sweet! My bf wants to buy me an $80 uberremote. It has a touch screen and everything. It literally asks you want you want to do, watch a movie, watch tv, etc.
- January 28, 2009 at 10:43 AM
- Elle Bee said...
This is amazing, I love it. Good thinking, Andrew!
- January 28, 2009 at 11:06 AM
- Meghan said...
k, That's reaaaaly cute and is making me smile :)
- January 28, 2009 at 12:31 PM
- Rae said...
Aww :) I've said it before and I'll say it again: you two are adorable!!
- January 28, 2009 at 1:42 PM
- your wishcake. said...
That's freaking adorable.
And helpful, too. :)
- January 28, 2009 at 1:57 PM
- jessica maria said...
hahahahaha! i need to do that for my roommate!
- January 28, 2009 at 2:38 PM
- MAH said...
Too funny - my husband had to me a manual the first time I was alone at his house... Seriously - why can't TV's have ONE remote?! Crazy confusing for this girl!
- January 28, 2009 at 5:47 PM
- *~kristen~* said...
i'm going to add to the chorus of "awww!"-s. this is so cute. i'm pretty good with the tech stuff... but i would want my dream guy to be just as helpful. and the cooking? that's an added bonus. :)
- January 28, 2009 at 6:38 PM
- Maxie said...
aww adorable!
- January 28, 2009 at 7:59 PM
- alexa - cleveland's a plum said...
HAHAH! love it.
- January 28, 2009 at 9:36 PM
That is the CUTEST thing I've ever seen!
- January 28, 2009 at 10:24 PM
- Sarah said...
That is so adorable! what a sweetie!
- January 29, 2009 at 12:08 AM
- Renee said...
That's awesome :D I leave notes like that for my other half (though, usually covered in silly stick people and not helpful hints - but they count right?)
- February 3, 2009 at 1:31 AM
- sarah marie p said...
Awww those notes are too cute/hilarious! Love it!
- February 3, 2009 at 8:24 PM


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text:
The FTC recently announced that it has finalized the amendments to the Federal Cooling-Off Rule, (aka Door-to-Door Sales Rule). The amended Rule will go into effect on March 13. When the proposed amendment was published, there was some anticipation on the part of the direct selling industry that sellers would be granted some relief from the Rule.
For those not familiar, the Rule requires that customers (including new distributors or consultants) be given two copies of the 3-day Notice of Right to Cancel whenever a purchase transaction for consumer goods or services takes place at a location other than the seller's place of business. While there are some possible exemptions, for the most part the rule covered many transactions between distributors and their customers and between distributors and their newly recruited distributors.
The major exemption that has been in place since the Rule was originally enacted (in 1972) was a $25 threshold requirement. If the purchase amount was less than $25, the Rule did not apply and there was no requirement to provide the customer with two copies of the Notice of Right to Cancel.
When the FTC initially proposed the amendment, the threshold was raised to $130, which would have accounted for inflation since 1972. This change would have been a relief to many direct sellers with lower cost items and kit prices.
Ultimately, the FTC left the $25 threshold in place for transactions that occur at the buyer's residence. For transactions that take place at other locations but are otherwise subject to the Rule, the threshold was raised to $130.
For many direct sellers, nothing has changed. A company cannot print separate contracts, order forms or sales receipts for different sales locations. Because a company will not always know the actual location of a sales transaction, the better course will be to include the Notice of Right to Cancel on all order forms, receipts, and purchase agreements. For additional information, please feel free to contact our office.


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Why are organ, tissue and eye donations needed?
There is a severe shortage of organs for life-saving transplants. In addition to those New Yorkers waiting for organ transplants, many more are helped by tissue donation such as skin for burn victims or eye donations for sight-restoring cornea transplants. Without these surgeries, they will die or remain disabled. Transplants give people a chance to resume full, productive lives.
Who can become a donor?
People of all ages may be able to become an organ, eye and tissue donor. Your medical condition at the time of death will decide what organs and tissues can be donated and/or used. Do not rule yourself out.
Who can join the New York State Donate Life Registry and how do I sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor?
In New York State, anyone 16 years of age or older can join the confidential, secure New York State Donate Life Registry. Effective February 14, 2017 young adults aged 16 and 17 years old can enroll in the New York State Donate Life Registry giving their consent to donation of their organs upon their death. Parents and guardians of 16 and 17 year olds may revoke the consent of minors to donate their organs if they die before reaching 18.You can join the registry at any time through the fully online New York State Donate Life Registry or when you obtain or renew a driver permit, license or non-driver identification (ID) card. Additionally, you can join the registry through the New York Health Care Exchange and when registering to vote. You can also sign up through the New York State Health Department's web site, http://www.nyhealth.gov/donatelife or on your voter registration form. Signing the back of your license does not enroll you in the New York State Donate Life Registry.
What happens when I join the Donate Life Registry?
Signing up for the New York State Donate Life Registry documents your gift, meaning that you are giving your legal consent to donate organs, eyes and tissues after death. Registry information is kept private and can only be accessed for the purpose of identifying potential organ, eye and tissue donors at the time of death. Once you sign up, you will not need to carry a wallet card. Signing up for the registry is enough.
When I sign up, do I need to carry a wallet card to indicate my status as a donor?
No, New York State does not issue donor wallet cards. Signing up in the New York State Donate Life Registry is enough.
I have already joined the New York State Life Pass it On Registry – should I sign up for the New York State Donate Life Registry? What is the difference?
To ensure that your decision to be an organ, tissue and eye donor is honored, you must sign up for the New York State Donate Life Registry. If you joined the Life Pass it On intent registry, your name is not automatically switched to the New York State Donate Life consent registry.
The Life Pass It on Registry was created in 1999 and records someone's wish to be an organ and tissue donor. This is called an intent registry. Intent registries require next of kin's consent for donation to proceed in the event of the potential donor's death.
In 2006, a new law created the Donate Life Registry: a registry that records a person's own legal consent to organ, tissue and eye donation upon his or her death. If you are signed up in this new registry, your family will be informed of your decision and given information about the donation process, but their consent is not required to proceed with donation.
Do I have to tell my family about my decision to donate?
It is strongly encouraged that you inform your family of your decision to donate. This may help when we tell your family of your decision.
How does the donation process begin?
Hospitals are required to alert their federally designated organ procurement organization of all deaths. If you die outside of the hospital, your wish to donate may still be honored only if your family immediately notifies the coroner or funeral home.
If I join the New York State Donate Life Registry, will medical care be compromised?
No. Donation is only an option after all efforts to save the patient have failed and the patient has died. Saving the patient's life is the health care provider's main concern.
What will happen to my donated organs and tissues?
When someone dies, the local organ procurement organization, tissue bank or eye bank matches those donor's organs, eyes and tissues, as specified in the registry, with people waiting for transplants. Patients who receive your donation will be matched based upon many factors including: blood type, severity of illness and other medical criteria. Factors, such as race, gender, age and income are not considered when deciding who receives a transplant.
I am given the choice to donate for transplant and/or research. What does "research" mean?
"Research" means making recovered organs, eyes and tissues that are not able to be transplanted offered to doctors and scientists to help cure diseases. If "transplantation and research" is selected, first priority is finding a suitable recipient before research is considered.
Is the registry used for whole body donation?
No. Joining the New York State Donate Life Registry does not grant permission for your body to be donated to medical schools. Organ, eye and tissue donation for transplant or research is not the same as willed whole body donation. These Willed whole body programs are usually associated with teaching hospitals at major universities, and planning for this must be done in advance directly with the institutions. Individuals can also contact the Association of Medical Schools of New York at 212-218-4610.
Can my body be donated for the study of science after donation of organs and tissue?
Each medical school has its own guidelines about accepting body donations. Not all schools will accept body donations after organ, eye and/or tissue donation. If you are interested in willed whole body donation, check with the academic institutions you wish to support. They can answer specific questions about organ and tissue donation and pre-arrange the donation of your body for the advancement of science.
Can I specify who receives my donation?
You are allowed to direct a donation to an individual by name. If the organ is a suitable match for a person who is waiting for a transplant, they can receive the transplant as a gift. You cannot restrict a donation on the basis of age, gender, race or ethnicity.
How can I make changes to my information or withdraw from the Donate Life Registry?
If you need to make changes to your information or you decide you do not want to become an organ, tissue and eye donor and you want your name taken off the Donate Life Registry, write to: The New York State Donate Life Registry, New York State Department of Health, 433 River Street, Hedley Park Place, Suite 303, 6th Floor, Troy, New York 12180.
I want the Donor Heart Symbol added to (or removed from) my DMV driver's license or ID How do I get a new one?
In order to get the heart symbol added to or removed from your ID, you will need to order a new one. Please complete an MV-44 at the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV). You can download this form or go to your local DMV office.
When must organs be recovered?
Organs, eyes and tissues must be recovered as soon as possible after death.
If I donate my organs, eyes and tissues can I still have an open casket viewing?
Donation does not affect the funeral arrangements or viewing.
Is there any cost to my estate or family for donating my organs, eyes and tissues
No, there are no costs to your estate or family for you to be a donor.
If I donate, does New York State take care of my remains?
After the donation has taken place, families are responsible for funeral or burial arrangements.
What does my religion say about organ and tissue donation?
All major religions approve of organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation, and even encourage it. They believe it is the most significant gift one human being can give to another. If you have questions or concerns, you should discuss them with your religious or spiritual leader. For specific religious viewpoints, please visit http://www.donatelifeny.org/just-for-you/religious-leaders-amp-clergy/religious-viewpoints/ .
If I am registered as a donor in New York, but die in another State, what happens?
Hospitals in all states are required to alert their federally designated Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) of every death. Therefore, if one dies in another state, that state's OPO will contact the OPO of the person's home state to check if he or she has joined the Donate Life registry. If so, New York laws apply, but the donation will take place in the state in which the person has died.
Can I join more than one state registry?
Yes, anyone who spends a portion of time in New York State who would like to be an organ, eye and tissue donor should join the New York State Donate Life Registry, even if his or her home address is not in New York State.


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This information is produced and provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The information in this topic may have changed since it was written. For the most current information, contact the National Cancer Institute via the Internet web site at http://cancer.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER.
The PDQ childhood brain tumor treatment summaries are organized primarily according to the World Health Organization classification of nervous system tumors.[1,2] For a full description of the classification of nervous system tumors and a link to the corresponding treatment summary for each type of brain tumor, refer to the PDQ summary on Childhood Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors Treatment Overview.
Dramatic improvements in survival have been achieved for children and adolescents with cancer. Between 1975 and 2002, childhood cancer mortality has decreased by more than 50%.[3] Childhood and adolescent cancer survivors require close follow-up because cancer therapy side effects may persist or develop months or years after treatment. (Refer to the PDQ summary on Late Effects of Treatment for Childhood Cancer for specific information about the incidence, type, and monitoring of late effects in childhood and adolescent cancer survivors.)
Primary brain tumors are a diverse group of diseases that together constitute the most common solid tumor of childhood. Brain tumors are classified according to histology, but tumor location and extent of spread are important factors that affect treatment and prognosis. Immunohistochemical analysis, cytogenetic and molecular genetic findings, and measures of mitotic activity are increasingly used in tumor diagnosis and classification.
Incidence and Presentation
Craniopharyngiomas are relatively rare pediatric tumors, accounting for about 6% of all intracranial tumors in children.[1,2,3] They are believed to be congenital in origin, arising from ectodermal remnants, Rathke cleft, or other embryonal epithelium in the sellar and/or parasellar area. No predisposing factors have been identified.
Because craniopharyngiomas occur in the region of the pituitary gland, endocrine function and growth may be affected. Additionally, the close proximity of the tumor to the optic nerves and chiasm may result in vision problems. Some patients present with obstructive hydrocephalus due to tumor obstruction of the third ventricle. Extremely rarely, the tumor may predominate in the posterior fossa with presenting symptoms of headache, diplopia, ataxia, and hearing loss.[4]
Long-term survival for children with craniopharyngioma is generally very good. Regardless of the treatment modality, long-term survival is approximately 85% in children [2,3] with 5- and 10-year overall survival rates greater than 90%.[5,6,7]
Craniopharyngiomas are histologically benign and do not metastasize to remote brain locations or to areas outside the sellar region except by direct extension. They may be invasive, however, and may recur locally. They may be classified as adamantinomatous or squamous papillary, with the former being the predominant form in children.[1] They are typically composed of both a solid portion with an abundance of calcification, and a cystic component which is filled with a dark, oily fluid. Recent evidence suggests that adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas are locally more aggressive with a significantly higher rate of recurrence compared with the squamous papillary subtype.[2]
The results of imaging studies (computerized tomography scans and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] scans) are often diagnostic for childhood craniopharyngiomas, with most demonstrating intratumoral calcifications and a solid and cystic component. The most common location is suprasellar, with an intrasellar portion. Craniopharyngiomas without calcification may be confused with other tumor types, such as germinoma or hypothalamic/chiasmatic astrocytoma, and biopsy may be required.[1] MRI of the spinal axis is not routinely performed.
Apart from imaging, patients often undergo formal visual examination including visual field evaluation and endocrine testing.
There is no generally applied staging system for childhood craniopharyngiomas. Patients are classified as having newly diagnosed or recurrent disease.
Note: Some citations in the text of this section are followed by a level of evidence. The PDQ Editorial Boards use a formal ranking system to help the reader judge the strength of evidence linked to the reported results of a therapeutic strategy. (Refer to the PDQ summary on Levels of Evidence for more information.)
There is no consensus as to the optimal treatment of newly diagnosed craniopharyngioma. Little data exist to compare the different modalities in terms of recurrence rate or quality of life. For this reason, treatment is individualized.
Radical Surgery
Because these tumors are histologically benign, it may be possible to remove all the visible tumor resulting in long-term disease control.[1][Level of evidence: 3iA]; [2][Level of evidence: 3iiiB]; [3][Level of evidence: 3iiiC] A 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate of about 65% has been reported.[4] Many surgical approaches have been described, and the route should be determined by the size, location, and extension of the tumor. A transsphenoidal approach may be possible in some small tumors located entirely within the sella,[5][Level of evidence: 3iiiC] but this is not usually possible in children, in which case a craniotomy is usually required.
Gross total resection is technically challenging because the tumor is surrounded by vital structures, including the optic nerves and chiasm, the carotid artery and its branches, the hypothalamus, and the third cranial nerve. The tumor may be adherent to these structures, which may cause complications, and may limit the ability to remove the entire tumor. The surgeon often has limited visibility in the region of the hypothalamus and in the sella, and portions of the mass may be left in these areas, accounting for some recurrences. Almost all craniopharyngiomas have an attachment to the pituitary stalk, and of the patients who undergo radical surgery, virtually all will require life-long pituitary hormone replacement with multiple medications.[2,6]
Complications of radical surgery include the need for hormone replacement, obesity (which can be life threatening),[7] severe behavioral problems, blindness, seizures, spinal fluid leak, false aneurysms, and difficulty with eye movements. Rare complications include death from intraoperative hemorrhage, hypothalamic damage, or stroke.
If the surgeon feels that tumor remains, or if postoperative imaging reveals residual craniopharyngioma that was not resected, radiation therapy may be recommended to prevent early progression.[8][Level of evidence: 3iiiDiii] Periodic surveillance magnetic resonance imaging is performed for several years after radical surgery because of the possibility of tumor recurrence.
Surgery with Cyst Drainage
For large cystic craniopharyngiomas, particularly in children younger than 3 years and in those with recurrent cystic tumor after initial surgery, stereotactic or open implantation of an intracystic catheter with a subcutaneous reservoir may be a valuable alternative treatment option. The benefits of this procedure include temporary relief of fluid pressure by serial drainage, and in some cases, for intracystic instillation of sclerosing agents as a means to prolong the interval to or obviate the need for radiation. This procedure may also be helpful in allowing the surgeon to perform a two-staged approach, whereby first the cyst is drained by the implanted catheter to relieve pressure and complicating symptoms, followed by tumor resection.[9]
Limited Surgery and Radiation Therapy
The goal of limited surgery is to establish a diagnosis, drain any cysts, and decompress the optic nerves. No attempt is made to remove tumor from the pituitary stalk or hypothalamus in an effort to minimize certain late effects associated with radical surgery. The surgical procedure is followed by radiation therapy, with a 5-year PFS rate of about 70% [4,10] and 10-year overall survival rates higher than 90%.[11][Level of evidence: 3iiA] Conventional radiation is fractionated external-beam radiation with a recommended dose of 54 Gy to 55 Gy in 1.8 Gy fractions.[12] Surgical complications are less likely than with radical surgery. Complications of radiation include loss of pituitary hormonal function, cognitive dysfunction, development of late strokes and vascular malformations, delayed blindness, development of second tumors, and, rarely, malignant transformation of the primary tumor within the radiation field.[13,14] Newer radiation technologies such as intensity-modulated proton therapy may reduce scatter whole-brain and whole-body irradiation and result in the sparing of normal tissues. It is unknown whether such technologies result in decreased late effects from irradiation.[15,16] Tumor progression remains a possibility, and it is usually not possible to repeat the radiation dose. In selected cases, stereotactic radiation therapy can be delivered as a single large dose of radiation to a very small field.[17][Level of evidence: 3iC] Proximity of the craniopharyngioma to vital structures, particularly the optic nerves, limits this to very small tumors that are in the sella.[18][Level of evidence: 3iiiDiii]
Intracavitary Radiation Therapy and/or Chemotherapy
Some craniopharyngiomas with a large cystic component may be treated by stereotaxic delivery of P-32 or other radioactive compounds.[19,20]; [21][Level of evidence: 3iiiDiii] Nonradioactive agents such as bleomycin and interferon-alpha have also been used.[22,23,24]; [25][Level of evidence: 2C] These strategies have been found to be useful in certain cases and are with low reported risk of complications. However, none have shown efficacy against solid portions of the tumor.
Recurrence of craniopharyngioma occurs in approximately 35% of patients regardless of primary therapy.[1] Management is determined in large part by prior therapy. Repeat attempts at gross total resection are difficult and long-term disease control is less often achieved.[2][Level of evidence: 3iiiDi] Complications are more frequent than with initial surgery.[3][Level of evidence: 3iiiDi] External-beam radiation therapy is an option if this has not been previously employed, including consideration of radiosurgery in selected circumstances.[4][Level of evidence: 3iiiDiii] Cystic recurrences may be treated with intracavitary instillation of radioactive P-32, bleomycin,[5][Level of evidence: 3iiiDiii] or interferon-alpha,[6][Level of evidence: 3iiiB] and a reservoir may be placed to permit intermittent outpatient aspiration. Chemotherapy is generally not utilized.
Quality-of-life issues are important in this group of patients, and are difficult to assess due to various treatment modalities. Whereas intelligence quotient is usually maintained, behavioral issues and memory deficits attributed to the frontal lobe and hypothalamus are common.[1] Other common problems include visual loss, obesity (which can be life threatening), and the almost universal need for life-long endocrine replacement with multiple pituitary hormones.[2,3,4][Level of evidence: 3iiiC] Vasculopathies and secondary tumors may also result from local irradiation.[5] A recent report indicated that adults on long-term growth hormone replacement secondary to childhood craniopharyngioma involving the hypothalamus were at increased cardiovascular risk.[6]
Refer to the PDQ summary on Late Effects of Treatment for Childhood Cancer for specific information about the incidence, type, and monitoring of late effects in childhood and adolescent cancer survivors.
The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above.
Treatment Options for Newly Diagnosed Childhood Craniopharyngioma
Revised text to state that the surgical procedure is followed by radiation therapy, with a 5-year progression-free survival rate of about 70% and 10-year overall survival rates higher than 90% (cited Schoenfeld et al. as reference 11 and level of evidence 3iiA).
This summary is written and maintained by the PDQ Pediatric Treatment Editorial Board, which is editorially independent of NCI. The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or NIH. More information about summary policies and the role of the PDQ Editorial Boards in maintaining the PDQ summaries can be found on the About This PDQ Summary and PDQ NCI's Comprehensive Cancer Database pages.
Purpose of This Summary
This PDQ cancer information summary for health professionals provides comprehensive, peer-reviewed, evidence-based information about the treatment of childhood craniopharyngioma. It is intended as a resource to inform and assist clinicians who care for cancer patients. It does not provide formal guidelines or recommendations for making health care decisions.
Reviewers and Updates
This summary is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary by the PDQ Pediatric Treatment Editorial Board, which is editorially independent of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Board members review recently published articles each month to determine whether an article should:
Changes to the summaries are made through a consensus process in which Board members evaluate the strength of the evidence in the published articles and determine how the article should be included in the summary.
The lead reviewers for Childhood Craniopharyngioma Treatment are:
Any comments or questions about the summary content should be submitted to Cancer.gov through the Web site's Contact Form. Do not contact the individual Board Members with questions or comments about the summaries. Board members will not respond to individual inquiries.
Levels of Evidence
Some of the reference citations in this summary are accompanied by a level-of-evidence designation. These designations are intended to help readers assess the strength of the evidence supporting the use of specific interventions or approaches. The PDQ Pediatric Treatment Editorial Board uses a formal evidence ranking system in developing its level-of-evidence designations.
Permission to Use This Summary
PDQ is a registered trademark. Although the content of PDQ documents can be used freely as text, it cannot be identified as an NCI PDQ cancer information summary unless it is presented in its entirety and is regularly updated. However, an author would be permitted to write a sentence such as "NCI's PDQ cancer information summary about breast cancer prevention states the risks succinctly: [include excerpt from the summary]."
The preferred citation for this PDQ summary is:
National Cancer Institute: PDQ® Childhood Craniopharyngioma Treatment. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Date last modified <MM/DD/YYYY>. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/child-cranio/healthprofessional. Accessed <MM/DD/YYYY>.
Images in this summary are used with permission of the author(s), artist, and/or publisher for use within the PDQ summaries only. Permission to use images outside the context of PDQ information must be obtained from the owner(s) and cannot be granted by the National Cancer Institute. Information about using the illustrations in this summary, along with many other cancer-related images, is available in Visuals Online, a collection of over 2,000 scientific images.
Based on the strength of the available evidence, treatment options may be described as either "standard" or "under clinical evaluation." These classifications should not be used as a basis for insurance reimbursement determinations. More information on insurance coverage is available on Cancer.gov on the Coping with Cancer: Financial, Insurance, and Legal Information page.
Contact Us
More information about contacting us or receiving help with the Cancer.gov Web site can be found on our Contact Us for Help page. Questions can also be submitted to Cancer.gov through the Web site's Contact Form.
Call 1-800-4-CANCER
For more information, U.S. residents may call the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Cancer Information Service toll-free at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time. A trained Cancer Information Specialist is available to answer your questions.
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The NCI's LiveHelp® online chat service provides Internet users with the ability to chat online with an Information Specialist. The service is available from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday. Information Specialists can help Internet users find information on NCI Web sites and answer questions about cancer.
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For more information from the NCI, please write to this address:
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The NCI Web site provides online access to information on cancer, clinical trials, and other Web sites and organizations that offer support and resources for cancer patients and their families. For a quick search, use the search box in the upper right corner of each Web page. The results for a wide range of search terms will include a list of "Best Bets," editorially chosen Web pages that are most closely related to the search term entered.
There are also many other places to get materials and information about cancer treatment and services. Hospitals in your area may have information about local and regional agencies that have information on finances, getting to and from treatment, receiving care at home, and dealing with problems related to cancer treatment.
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The NCI has booklets and other materials for patients, health professionals, and the public. These publications discuss types of cancer, methods of cancer treatment, coping with cancer, and clinical trials. Some publications provide information on tests for cancer, cancer causes and prevention, cancer statistics, and NCI research activities. NCI materials on these and other topics may be ordered online or printed directly from the NCI Publications Locator. These materials can also be ordered by telephone from the Cancer Information Service toll-free at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
Last Revised: 2013-01-23
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James Lipton
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James Lipton is an actor, academic, author, choreographer, interviewer, scriptwriter, and is a producer for stage and television projects. He is most known for creating and hosting the noted and popular TV series Inside the Actors Studio (1994), where successful and prominent actors discuss their craft for the benefit of acting students. James ... See full bio »
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This apparent softness will no doubt irritate fans of Jawbreaker and Heathers, as the proceedings go all gentle on us pretty quickly. That being said, there are some genuinely funny moments in the film, and plus the colourful outfits worn by The Plastics (an exclusive clique for popular girls) were excessively skimpy and an absolute pleasure to bask in.
video uploaded by that1foo18


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Home | About Shari | Shari's Blog | Contact Me
Cruise Holidays Land and Sea
firstname.lastname@example.com | (919) 747-9996
Cruises are all about stress-free relaxation, exciting ports of call and entertaining activities, topped off with delicious cuisine. Now, imagine all that plus attentive butler service, spacious accommodations with deluxe furnishings, and perhaps your own baby grand piano, too.
Believe it or not, these are just some of the services and amenities available to suite passengers aboard today's cruise ships. Even if you are already taking a cruise on a premium or luxury cruise line, suites take the level of comfort and luxury one step further for a memorable cruise experience.
Here's an example of what you might expect in your cruise ship suite. For starters, you might have 24-hour, European-style butler service. Your butler will help you unpack your luggage and transfer your belongings to a spacious, walk-in closet. Upon your request, your butler will deliver a meal, an espresso or cappuccino, or a board game directly to your suite. Daily newspaper delivery, shoeshine service, afternoon tea and evening hors d'oeuvres can all be part of your butler service.
While the personal attention of a butler is sweet, suites have other attractions. These include expansive views through floor-to ceiling windows or sliding glass doors and sitting areas with entertainment centers. Some suites have dining areas with adjoining butler's pantries, private Internet stations and verandas equipped with whirlpools. The highest-end suites may include marble master baths with whirlpool tubs, king sized beds in the master bedroom, baby grand pianos, exercise equipment, motorized draperies, a security system, wrap-around verandas with wet bars, and more.
While the amenities are wonderful, some cruise passengers book suites simply because they enjoy the spaciousness of the accommodations. Suites can range from a couple hundred square feet to well over one thousand square feet. Expansive private verandas add to the roomy feel.
Luxury items in your suite may also include oversized, 100-percent cotton bath towels; plush bathrobes; personalized stationery; and a welcoming bottle of champagne. Suite passengers also typically receive priority check-in and luggage delivery, preferred seating in the ship's dining room, and the opportunity to book an in-suite massage.
While one of the benefits of cruising is the fact that you can visit new destinations, you may find yourself staying in, simply enjoying "the suite life." Ask Cruise Holidays how we can help you plan the perfect cruise vacation with a luxurious suite.


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Five years ago, most motorists viewed hybrid cars somewhere between unknown commodity and contraption. Today vehicles powered by a combination of gasoline and electricity are all the rage. Like any new technology, until you get your hands on it—in this case, on the steering wheel—it's hard to wrap your mind around it.
Having a tough time separating hybrid truth from reality? You're not alone. The warp-speed adoption of hybrids into popular culture—and into hundreds of thousands of American driveways—has produced more than a little confusion and misinformation. Most industry analysts predict the continued growth of gas-electric vehicles, with estimates ranging from 600,000 to 800,000 hybrid sales in the United States by 2013, so this is a good time to debunk the 10 most prevalent myths about hybrid cars.
1. You need to plug in a hybrid car.
As soon as the word "electricity" is spoken, you think of plugs, cords, and wall sockets. But today's hybrid cars don't need to be plugged in. Auto engineers have developed an ingenious system known as regenerative braking. (Actually, they borrowed the concept from locomotive technology.) Energy usually lost when a vehicle is slowing down or stopping is reclaimed and routed to the hybrid's rechargeable batteries. The gas engine is also used to transfer energy to the batteries. The process is automatic, so no special requirements are placed on the driver.
Ironically, while car companies used to spend time and money explaining that hybrids need not be plugged in, a growing number of the major automakers are now introducing plug-in hybrids and pure electric cars. The ability to plug a hybrid into the electric grid overnight to charge a larger set of batteries would mean that most city driving could be done without burning a single drop of gasoline.
2. Hybrid batteries need to be replaced.
Worries about an expensive replacement of a hybrid car's batteries continue to nag many potential buyers. Those worries are unfounded. By keeping the charge between 40 percent and 60 percent—never fully charged, yet never fully drained—carmakers have greatly extended the longevity of nickel metal hydride batteries.
The standard warranty on hybrid batteries and other components is between 80,000 and 100,000 miles, depending on the manufacturer and your location. But that doesn't mean the batteries will die at 100,000 miles. The U.S. Department of Energy stopped its tests of hybrid battery packs—when the capacity remained almost like new—after 160,000 miles. A taxi driver in Vancouver drove his Toyota Prius more than 200,000 miles in 25 months, and after that time and mileage the batteries remained strong.
3. Hybrids are a new phenomenon.
In 1900, American car companies produced steam, electric, and gasoline cars in almost equal numbers. It wasn't long before enterprising engineers figured out that multiple sources of power could be combined. A young Ferdinand Porsche produced the first known hybrid gas-electric prototypes…in 1900. In 1905 American engineer H. Piper filed the first patent for a gas-electric hybrid vehicle.
4. People buy hybrids only to save money on gas.
Hybrid cars top the list of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the road. Going farther on a gallon of gas—and thus reducing a car owner's tab at the pump—is a logical advantage of a hybrid car. But car shoppers seldom buy based purely on a logical economic equation. Besides, as critics of hybrid technology frequently point out, those savings seldom add up to the extra cost of buying a hybrid over a comparable conventional vehicle.
So, if it's not to save money, why are more and more shoppers going hybrid? Many reasons: To minimize their impact on the environment, to help reduce the world's addiction to oil, and to earn technology bragging rights.
5. Hybrids are expensive.
Hybrids are currently available in 25 different models ranging in price from $22,000 to $103,000. The most efficient models—the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius—are available well below $30,000. By the middle of this decade, more than 50 models are expected. By that point, hybrids will represent the full range of sizes, shapes, and costs.
Rechargeable batteries, electric motors, and sophisticated computer controls do add to the cost of producing a hybrid car. However, as production numbers increase, economies of scale are expected to reduce those costs. Toyota plans to offer hybrid versions of all its most popular models and thus cut in half the incremental cost of hybrids.
6. Hybrids are small and underpowered.
The Lexus Rx400h and Toyota Highlander Hybrid share the same 270 horsepower system. The Lexus GS 450h hybrid sedan exceeds 300 horsepower and will go from 0 to 60 mph in less than six seconds.
These vehicles prove that adding an electric motor and batteries to the drivetrain does not intrinsically mean diminished performance. Combining a gasoline engine and electric motors gives engineers more control to emphasize fuel parsimony or speed, urban driving or highway cruising, large vehicles or small.
7. Only liberals buy hybrids.
The list of celebrity hybrid drivers is long. They zip around Hollywood in their Priuses and appear on talk shows extolling the virtues of hybrid vehicles. These celebrities, and other early adopters of hybrid technology, were primarily motivated by the environmental benefits. As a result, they created an easy target for naysayers to brand all hybrid drivers as tree-huggers.
In the ensuing years, Americans of all political stripes have become more aware of the economic and political costs of oil dependency. Conservative pundits claim that our petrodollars end up in the hands of repressive Middle East regimes and their patrons. As a result, we fund both sides of the war on terror. In addition, autoworkers have grown more interested in fuel-saving technologies, recognizing that they bear the brunt of Detroit's reluctance to abandon once-profitable SUVs.
8. Hybrids pose a threat to first responders.
Now that hundreds more hybrid cars take to our roads each day, some critics have wondered if public safety agencies should be concerned about all those high-voltage battery packs zipping along at freeway speeds. Yes and no.
A first responder is often in a mad race to save the lives of accident victims. In that rush, the responder has to make dozens of rapid technical decisions about how to safely remove the passengers from the vehicle. Adding the complication of unfamiliar hybrid technology can slow things down. So, it's the worry about potential dangers—primarily when and where to cut power—rather than the system itself that can cause a problem.
Turns out that a good amount of training—and, in case of fire, lots of water—should be most of what a first responder needs upon arriving at an accident involving a hybrid. Firefighters have coped with advancing automotive technologies for years, and they will skillfully deal with hybrid cars.
See our list of other unfounded health risks posed by hybrids.
9. Hybrids will solve all our transportation, energy, and environmental problems.
The hybrid car market is ramping up. Hybrid sales in the US grew exponentially, from 9,500 in 2000 to 350,000 in 2007.
The numbers are encouraging but must be viewed in the context of the overall car market. The 350,000 hybrid car sales in 2007 represent only 2.5 percent of the 17 million new cars sold last year. If every new hybrid driver doubled fuel economy from 20 mpg to 40 mpg for 40 miles of daily driving—an optimistic estimate—then a gallon per hybrid car would be saved every day. That's a whopping 350,000 gallons per day saved by hybrid car drivers. But we've only reduced our daily US consumption from 400 million gallons to 399,650,000 gallons. Hybrid cars can only be viewed as a partial solution.
10. Hybrid technology is only a fad.
Hybrid technology is often pitted against fuel cells, diesel engines, pure electric cars and/or hydrogen as the silver bullet approach to sustainable mobility. Sustainable mobility advocates don't see these approaches as an either-or proposition. It's all of the above.
The ability for automotive engineers to combine systems and fuels in a single hybrid vehicle gives great flexibility in finding the greatest efficiencies at the lowest cost.


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Thanks for visiting our website. If you want to connect with your audience through the power of film you've come to the right place.
For 24 years our clients have trusted us to tell their stories, by creating fresh ideas or by simply asking the right questions. Along the way we've opened a few eyes and changed the way audiences think and feel.
Take a look around to see how we could help bring your project to life.
We're 60-odd people now. Some are still with us from the very beginning, and some are younger than The Edge itself. It makes us a diverse bunch, but we all share the same love of making films.
We reckon we have around 869 years of film-making experience, which means we can bring a lot of experience and knowledge to your production. And some of us can speak a bit of Afrikaans, Arabic, French, German, Greek, Italian, Mandarin, Russian, Saho, Scouse and Spanish.


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A Ukrainian church in Sydney has been desecrated with racial slurs in an attack the NSW government has labelled vicious and abhorrent.
Members of the Ukrainian community woke on Saturday morning to find the St Andrew's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Lidcombe covered in spray paint. Among the vandalism is a swastika symbol and the message ''traitors fascists''.
Father Simon Ckuj said the church partly commemorated Ukrainians who fought against Nazism in World War Two.''This act completely defiles the memory of those who died fighting fascism,'' the parish priest said on Saturday.
Despite the offensive crime, the church says it will pray for the graffiti artists at a Sunday morning service.
NSW Communities Minister Victor Dominello said the attack highlighted the need for strong racial vilification laws,
The attack on Friday night on the Lidcombe church was being investigated by NSW Police and was "completely unacceptable", Mr Dominello said.
"To use an international racial dispute to vilify a community in Sydney is abhorrent. The use of swastikas as a means of denigrating and attacking any community in NSW is utterly offensive."
Peter Shmigel, of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, said the act trashed the principals of a multicultural and democratic Australia.''There is no room for people like those who attacked our church to import their foreign conflicts to Australia and Sydney, where our community has made a positive contribution for 65 years,'' he said in a statement.
The church says the graffiti, translated to English, also reads ''burn in hell for the sins of Poroshenko'', referring to the President of Ukraine.
NSW Community Relations Commission chairman Vic Alhadeff said it was "deeply disappointing that some have seen fit to import overseas conflicts and hatreds into our country".
Mr Alhadeff said it was more than an act of vandalism and was clearly designed to vilify the Ukrainian Australian community.
"This incident again reminds us why we need to have strong laws to protect people and communities in NSW from racial vilification," he said.
The Abbott government's plan to change the Commonwealth racial discrimination law, and weaken protections against offensive, insulting or intimidating actions, has been highly controversial and opposed by Mr Alhadeff and the NSW government.
A NSW parliamentary inquiry has meanwhile recommended state racial vilification laws be toughened, to make it easier to prosecute criminal offences. The Baird government has delayed its response on the issue.
Mr Dominello urged anyone with information about the attack to come forward to police.
Mr Alhadeff said the attack, which involved property damage and racism, could possibly lead to criminal charges under the NSW vilification law.
However there had been no successful prosecutions under the NSW law, and this was why the NSW government was examining the need for changes, he said.
If the words painted on the church had been made on social media, it would fall under section 18C of the Commonwealth law "which is why the removal of 18C is undesirable", he said.
With AAP


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Commissioner Charlie McCreevy's speech about the Community patent has provoked differing responses.
Heise Online accentuates the positive, reporting that the Commissioner noted the urgency of the need to create the CP and drew attention to the fact the 'patchwork quilt' network of different patent systems across Europe puts Europe at a competitive disadvantage, compared to the US and Japan.
However, the Register notes that the Commissioner acknowledged concerns about the CP that he described as 'legitimate', namely
'cost of litigation under the EPLA, the impact of the rules of procedure which we have yet to see, the independence of the EPLA judges from the EPO.'The IPKat reckons that the ultimate test will be the market: if/when the CP comes online, if business doesn't like it, business won't use it.


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BOSTON, Mass. – Led by Kailyn Burke's (Franklin, Mass.) 17 save and first career shutout women's ice hockey got back in the win column as they defeated New England College by the final of 4-0 Saturday afternoon in an ECAC East contest in the Clark Athletic Center Ice Arena.
With the victory, UMass ended a three-game skid and improved their overall record to 3-6-1, 3-4-1 in the ECAC East. For the Pilgrims they fell to 3-2-3, 2-2-2 in the conference.
The Beacons wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as junior Sarahanne Cavolo (Roxbury, N.H.) broke the scoreless draw just 19 seconds into the first period. Cavolo would later score her second goal of the game and third in less than 24 hours to give the Beacons a 2-0 lead midway through the third period. Assisting on both goals was sophomore Dylan Caron (Burrillville, R.I.).
Caron would also record a goal in Saturday's win, an empty-netter, at 18:44 in the third to put the final nail in the coffin for the Pilgrims. Kelsey MacIsaac (Durham, N.H.) continued her strong play, as she netted UMB's third goal of the day on the power-play off of an Alli Greenberg (Stoughton, Mass.) assist at 14:03.
For Burke her career first performance was solid from start to finish. In the first period, the sophomore netminder made a combined eight stops, while over the final two finals she recorded an additional nine saves to lead UMB to the conference win.
Her NEC counterpart, Lauren Hopps made a total of 26 saves and faced and extremely fast paced Beacons offense.
Despite suffering the tough one-goal loss to Castleton State College yesterday, the Beacons showed a tremendous energy in Saturday's showdown. Looking like a completely new squad UMB came out firing from the opening whistle and never looked back. The Cavolo goal would hold-up for almost 30 minutes of play.
As a team the Beacons limited the Pilgrims chances and were charged with only one penalty all afternoon. Burke did a great job of commanding the Beacons backline, and with stop after stop was able to keep UMass in control of the scoreboard until the breakout third period.
Women's Hockey will take the huge win into the Christmas break and will return to the ice on January 3 when they host the 6th Annual Codfish Bowl Tournament. The Beacons will face Stevenson University (Md.) at 4 p.m. in the first day of the two-day tournament.


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Getting Tested for HIV
It is estimated that 1 in 5 individuals infected with HIV do not even know that they have it. How is that possible? Not everyone gets tested, routinely or at all. Most people infected with HIV do not show any signs or symptoms, especially early in the infection. Some people do not return for the test results, assuming that they would be contacted if they tested positive. Some people do not think they are at risk for becoming infected. Whether you have had 1 sexual partner or over 1000, you could be at risk for acquiring HIV. If you have ever shared a needle (whether for injecting drugs or getting tattoos), knowingly or not, you could be at risk.
There are several different tests available, and you should be aware of which one is being performed. You should also have a basic understanding of how these tests are done and what the results mean.
General Principles
All HIV testing in the United States is confidential, meaning that your name is used as an identifier for the sample but your name will not be shared with anyone without your consent. Some testing sites offer anonymous testing, meaning that you do not even have to provide your name. You get an identifying number which is used to obtain the test results.
Based on the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that anyone who is sexually active between the ages of 13 and 64 should be tested, nearly all health insurance companies provide complete coverage for HIV testing. Some centers offer free testing, which is highly advantageous to those without health insurance as well as to those who do not wish to use their health insurance. You should know in advance if the testing is free or if it will be billed to your health insurance.
The Test Itself
The test is broken down into 2 stages: screening test and confirmatory test. Both tests look for antibodies to HIV, not for the virus itself. The screening test is a preliminary test used to determine if there may be antibodies present in the sample. If a screening test is positive, then a confirmatory test is used to determine if the antibodies are specific to HIV. If the screening test is negative, then no further testing is done.
Since the test is looking for antibodies to HIV, your body needs to generate those antibodies. Your immune system is continually surveying your body attempting to find foreign pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria. Once a foreign invader has been identified, the immune system kicks into high gear to attempt to control and eradicate the invaders. One way it does this is through antibodies. Antibodies are proteins in your body that coat the invader and signal other parts of your immune system to destroy the invader. Your immune system retains a memory of these antibodies so it may be able to fight them again in the future. The length of time it takes for the immune system to generate these antibodies depends on the invader. For HIV, the length of time could be 2-6 weeks, or even longer in some people. Consequently, a test looking for antibodies to HIV may not be able to detect them early on in infection.
If there is concern for acute infection—that you may have become infected with HIV within the past 6 weeks—then a different type of testing needs to be performed as the antibody test will likely be negative (since your immune system has not had sufficient time to make the antibodies to HIV). This test is called a "viral load," which is looking specifically for the amount of HIV in the blood.
Types of Tests Available
With advances in scientific research, the waiting time for results of HIV antibody testing can be as short as 20 minutes. These are called "rapid" tests. These tests are only screening tests. They are available only in certain locations. If the rapid test is positive, a separate confirmatory test needs to be conducted. The confirmatory test can take 3 days up to 2 weeks, depending on the lab performing the test.
The rapid test can be performed on either blood or oral fluid. Many testing sites have chosen to test blood because of better accuracy of test results. The blood testing is often done on a finger prick, using a small sterile lancet such as that used in testing blood sugar. If the rapid test is negative, no further testing is performed at that time. If the rapid test is positive, then a separate blood sample must be obtained to be analyzed for the confirmatory test.
Conventional antibody testing utilizes blood samples only. This test is sent to a lab where they will perform the screening test first and then automatically do the confirmatory test if the screening test is positive. If the screening test is negative, then the confirmatory test is not done. The advantage to this type of testing is that it only requires getting stuck once with a needle.
There is a home sample collection kit available at certain pharmacies. The only one licensed by the FDA is the Home Access HIV-1 Test System. The kit contains the necessary equipment for you to conduct your own finger-prick, place drops of your blood on a testing card, and then submit the card to a licensed laboratory for analysis. You are identified only by a specific number attached to the collection kit. You can call in for the results and speak with a counselor live before testing and after receiving the results. It takes at least 3 days for the results to become available. Things to remember about using this testing method: your blood is perishable, so the package with your testing card needs to be received by the lab within a specific timeframe; you are responsible for acquiring the blood for testing; the package may get lost; it may cost more money than other testing options; and, if positive, it is recommended to obtain a separate confirmatory test.
The viral load testing can only be performed on a blood sample, and results may take up to 2 weeks to return. This test is not used for routine screening; it is only used if there is a high suspicion for acute infection (see above).
As previously mentioned, one main limitation is the accuracy of the test result in relation to the time of exposure. If there has been a possible exposure within the past 6 weeks, then antibody testing may be negative. This would be an example of a "false negative" test result, meaning that you are infected but the antibody test was negative. In general, the current tests available have an accuracy of approximately 99.6-100% in detecting antibodies outside of the period of recent infection. The test also detects a certain concentration of antibodies in the sample; some people may take longer than 6 weeks in order to make enough antibodies to be detected. There also are very rare instances of "false positive" test results. The "false positive" test results may detect antibodies to an invader that is similar to HIV but not actually HIV. There also could be an error in the testing itself, whether performed by the testing counselor or the lab personnel. Another possible cause is participation in an HIV vaccine trial; if you have been in one of these trials, then you should not have rapid or conventional antibody testing done.
Interpretation of Results and Follow-Up
Negative. This means that the test did not detect antibodies to HIV, known as HIV-negative. If you have had any recent potential exposure, then it is recommended to be retested about 6-12 weeks later. If you have not had any possible recent exposure, then routine screening is recommended based on your overall risks (e.g., sexual partners, encounters with needles).
Positive. Not all positives are the same! If the rapid test is positive, this does not necessarily mean you are infected with HIV. A confirmatory test, which may take a few days, needs to be conducted to determine if you have antibodies to the virus. If the confirmatory test is negative, then it is recommended to repeat testing in about 6 weeks. If the confirmatory test is positive, this means that you have antibodies to HIV, known as HIV-positive. Other tests—like the viral load—would then be performed to determine if you are infected with HIV. No test can determine when you became infected; there may be ways to estimate the timeframe of infection, but it may be difficult to pinpoint an exact time.


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Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a serious infection of the female reproductive system that can develop from an untreated sexually transmitted disease (STD). In most cases, it occurs when bacteria from the STD in the vagina or cervix move into the uterus and upper genital tract. The most common organisms that lead to PID are gonorrhea and chlamydia, both of which are highly contagious STDs.
Untreated PID can damage the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and uterus, which can lead to chronic pelvic pain and serious damage to the reproductive system. PID is the most common, preventable cause of infertility, and can also lead to ectopic pregnancies.
The good news is that when PID causes symptoms, it can be diagnosed and treated with antibiotics. The essential part is to detect it before it leads to serious health problems. However, since symptoms can be mild, many cases of PID are unrecognized and, therefore, may be untreated if people aren't screened for STDs. So women who are sexually active should take precautions to keep from contracting STDs, and eventually PID, and be screened for STDs regularly.
Signs and symptoms of PID can range from mild to severe, and can appear weeks after exposure to an STD. Sometimes, there are no symptoms at all.
When symptoms of PID occur, they may include:
If your daughter complains of any symptoms associated with PID, she should see her doctor as soon as possible. You should be especially alert to these symptoms if she has had PID before because they may signal a repeat infection.
The STDs that can lead to PID are very contagious. All sexual partners of someone who is diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea should be notified and treated with antibiotics, even if they have no signs or symptoms.
If PID is not treated or goes unrecognized, it can continue to spread through a girl's reproductive organs. Untreated PID may lead to long-term reproductive problems, including:
Because STDs can lead to PID, the best way to prevent it is to abstain from having sex (abstinence). Sexual contact with more than one partner or with someone who has more than one partner increases the risk of contracting any STD.
When properly and consistently used, condoms decrease the risk of STDs. Latex condoms provide greater protection than natural-membrane condoms. The female condom, made of polyurethane, is also considered effective against STDs.
Although birth control pills offer no protection against STDs, they may provide some protection against PID by causing the body to create thicker cervical mucus, making it more difficult for bacteria to reach the upper genital tract.
Using douche can actually increase a female's risk of contracting STDs and developing PID because it can change the natural flora of the vagina and flush bacteria higher into the genital tract.
A teen who is being treated for PID also should be tested for other STDs, and should have time alone with the doctor to openly discuss things like sexual activity. Not all teens will be comfortable talking with parents about these issues. But it's important to encourage them to talk to a trusted adult who can provide the facts.
PID can be treated with antibiotics, which kill the bacteria that cause the disease. If damage has already occurred in the reproductive organs, antibiotics will not be able to reverse it but will stop further spread of the infection. In some cases, girls with PID do have to be hospitalized, particularly if they develop a high fever, severe nausea, and vomiting; if they need intravenous (IV) antibiotics; if they are pregnant; or if the diagnosis is uncertain.
In trying to diagnose PID, the doctor will likely ask questions about your daughter's medical history, method of birth control, and her sexual activity and that of her partner. The doctor may then perform a pelvic exam to find out if her reproductive organs are tender or swollen and to identify the location of the infection.
It's not always easy to diagnose PID. Some other conditions, like appendicitis, can cause symptoms similar to PID. During the pelvic exam, the doctor may take samples to look for the germs that cause gonorrhea and chlamydia infections. Blood tests also may be done. Other tests may be required to determine whether the fallopian tubes are swollen or if an abscess (collection of pus) is present.
Prompt treatment of PID and follow-up care can cure the infection and help prevent complications. Rest can help your daughter recover. Hot baths and heating pads applied to the lower back and abdomen can help relieve discomfort.
Your daughter should finish all medicines as prescribed because the PID infection may continue even after the symptoms disappear. To prevent re-infection, her partner also should be examined and treated. It's important to abstain from sex until treatment of both partners is completed and the doctor determines that the infection is gone.
If your teen is thinking of becoming sexually active or already has started having sex, it's important to discuss it. Make sure your teen knows how STDs can be spread (during anal, oral, or vaginal sex) and that these infections often don't have symptoms, so a partner might have an STD without knowing it.
It can be difficult to talk about STDs, but just as with any other medical issue, teens need this information to stay safe and healthy. Provide the facts, and let your child know where you stand.
It's also important that all teens have regular full physical exams — which can include screening for STDs. Your teen may want to see a gynecologist or a specialist in adolescent medicine to talk about sexual health issues. Community health organizations and sexual counseling centers in your local area also may be able to offer some guidance.
Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: January 2014
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The information on this Website is for general informational purposes only and SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, evaluation or care from your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. If you have a medical problem or a health-related question, consult your physician or call Health On-Call at 336-716-2255 or 1-800-446-2255.


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I can't believe those Hasbro chickenshits whimped out and didn't "attempt" to explain the 500 number they labeled this thing with. That likely means that they knew they were SO far off from 500 that they just glossed over it altogether (as their reactions at the C3 Q&A would suggest). Whimps. I'm gonna grill 'em on this down at SDCC next month, and hold their dumb butts accountable for false advertising! Quote from: knashdx on June 23, 2005, 01:49 PMDarth_Anton - Where was this?Van Nuys TRU, in SoCal.
Darth_Anton - Where was this?
Does anyone who's purchased this at TRU have the SKN# by any chance?
For some reason where I live(winter haven,florida) with all the Targets , Wal-marts and toys R us near me. I still cannot find one on the shelfs. I might just have to purchase one off line.
That is an awsome story Pete!
I usd to work TRU in the late 80s and that's true, we put stuff aside to buy all the time. though back then, there wasn't an 'ebay' to sell stuff one.
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Ever since we started down this path of food restrictions, there are certain things with which we have "done without" in the food department. Some of these things, we have managed to "replace"- bread, stuffing, cookies.
One of the things that really irritated me was the lack of truly easy gluten, dairy, egg and nut free pie crusts. The majority of pie crusts which were gluten and dairy free seemed to be based on nuts or contain eggs in some way.
Some years ago, I came across a recipe for rice based tortillas. I entered it into a recipe database website I was intending to use for menu and grocery planning where my friend, Lisa, stumbled upon it. She simplified the recipe, decreasing the number of flours from five to two, and mentioned that she might try using it as a pie crust as it was nice and pliable and easily handled. I recently asked her how that had worked out and she said it hadn't been great- it was tough. I thought perhaps I knew the problem and so I set about to test my theory. I have since used the recipe to make jelly tarts, turkey pot pie and pumpkin pie. Soon, in preparation for the holiday season, I will be using it again to make butter tarts- a treat served during the holidays in my family which has been sorely missed and now will no longer be.
Tortilla turned Pie Crust:
1/2 cup white rice flour
1/2 cup tapioca starch
1/4 cup potato starch
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp xanthan gum
1 tsp baking powder
Mix together well.
Cut in:
1/2 cup Crisco
until mixture resembles fine crumbs.
Mix in 1.5 tablespoons of water. Form into a ball, cover with plastic wrap (or leave in bowl and cover with a towel) and chill for 1/2 hour before rolling out between 2 sheets of wax paper.
Makes one double crust.
A Guide for the Newly Gluten Free
2 months ago


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Police are looking for a New Jersey hitchhiker who broke into a woman's home and stabbed her before stealing her car keys and taking off in her car.
Colts Neck police say they received a call about a hitchhiker on Route 34 just after midnight Saturday.
A few minutes later, a 41-year-old woman called 911 and said a man had tried to break into her car, and when she went outside to confront him, he attacked her, forcing himself into her home, where he stabbed her multiple times.
He then made off with her car, which was found less than an hour later, abandoned in a shopping center in Aberdeen.
Police have sent an email to residents in the area, warning them the woman was randomly attacked.
The victim is in critical but stable condition.