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The Iraqi military's offensive in Basra was supposed to demonstrate the power of the central government in Baghdad. Instead it has proven the continuing relevance of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Sadr's militia, the Mahdi Army, stood its ground in several days of heavy fighting with Iraqi soldiers backed up by American and British air power. But perhaps more important than the manner in which the militia fought is the manner in which it stopped fighting. On Sunday Sadr issued a call for members of the Mahdi Army to stop appearing in the streets with their weapons and to cease attacks on government installations. Within a day, the fighting had mostly ceased. It was an ominous answer to a question posed for months by U.S. military observes: Is Sadr still the leader of a unified movement and military force? The answer appears to be yes.
In the view of many American troops and officers, the Mahdi Army had splintered irretrievably into a collection of independent operators and criminal gangs. Now, however, the conclusion of the conflict in Basra shows that when Sadr speaks, the militia listens.
That apparent authority is in marked contrast to the weakness of Iraq's Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki. He traveled south to Basra with his security ministers to supervise the operation personally. After a few days of intense fighting he extended his previously announced deadline for surrender and offered militants cash in exchange for their weapons. Yet in the cease-fire announcement the militia explicitly reserved the right to hold onto its weapons. And the very fact of the cease-fire flies in the face of Maliki's proclamation that there would be no negotiations. It is Maliki, and not Sadr, who now appears militarily weak and unable to control elements of his own political coalition.
Sadr, in fact, finds himself in a perfect position: both in politics and out of it, part of the establishment and yet anti-establishment. Despite the fighting, he never pulled his allies out of the government or withdrew his support from Maliki in Parliament, which he could have done. Nor did he demand that all his followers leave Parliament and work outside the current political system. He has kept his hand in as a hedge.
Sadr has proven increasingly adept at politics. Last summer, he ordered his hand-picked ministers out of Maliki's cabinet after the Prime Minister refused to demand a timetable for withdrawal of U.S. troops. To the public, it looked like he was taking a principled stand against the occupation. But the boycott did nothing to dilute his influence in the government. All the ministries his party once headed are still staffed to the gills with his followers, who continue to create jobs for other loyalists and operate Sadr's growing political machine. Sadr is, in addition to being a military force, a source of political patronage.
He can now play the victim card, arguing that Maliki and the Americans had attacked him and his loyalists, even while allowing the militias of his Shi'ite rivals to prosper as well as the U.S.-paid Sunni militias that are now being integrated into the Iraqi police and army. He can reasonably argue that he is the one true Iraqi patriot, the Iraqi leader the Americans fear most. How else to explain the attack on his Mahdi Army while he was observing a unilateral cease-fire? Furthermore, like Hizballah in Lebanon after the Israeli invasion in 2006, the Mahdi Army can claim a victory by simply surviving an assault by an Iraqi government backed by the Americans. That is significant street cred.
Strategically, Sadr called a cease-fire at the right time: practically synchronized to get the maximum political benefit while preserving his military capabilities. Again, it is a lesson he learned from recent experience. In 2004 Sadr's militia was severely damaged in fighting with American soldiers and Marines. In the process, however, Sadr became a symbol of Shi'ite resistance to the U.S. military occupation and parlayed that reputation into a seat at the political table. And so now, just when it appeared that he might be marginalized again, the Iraqi government has burnished Sadr's image as a leader who defies the United States and an Iraqi government that refuses to eject U.S. troops.
He clearly plans to preserve both his political and military personas. He was smart to declare a unilateral cease-fire last August. That allowed the Maliki government and the Americans to do the dirty work of clearing Sadr's militia of unsavory and unpopular criminal elements. But then the coalition began to round up more and more legitimate Sadr lieutenants, perhaps precipitating some of last week's confrontation in Baghdad. One of Sadr's principal demands when he met with the delegation of Shi'ite political leaders to discuss the new cease-fire was that more of his forces be released under the amnesty law. This was to appease his disgruntled followers whose brothers and uncles are the ones behind bars and who feel they have taken an unfair brunt of the surge while former Sunni insurgents are getting paychecks in the Concerned Local Citizens units. Like any good politician, he has to prove he can deliver the goods to his followers even if he has to go to war for it. With reporting by Brian Bennett, Bobby Ghosh, Abigail Hauslohner and Mark Kukis


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Continuing the occasional series on Greek cheeses, we can take a look at the hard, salty yellow Greek cheese called Kefalotyri (or Kefalotiri).
It is made from sheep or goat's milk and the colour varies between yellow and white depending on the mixture of milk used. It is a hard cheese and can be used to make Saganaki or is very often used as grated cheese.
It takes around three months to ripen and has always been a very popular cheese. More mature Kefalotyri can also be eaten as a meze with ouzo.
Image: Wikipedia Commons

subset: commoncrawl


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Possible Duplicate:
how can I use bash as my login shell when my sysadmin refuses to let me change it
Say I have rwx permissions to a directory (my home directory). Can I install a shell (e.g. zsh) on some path on under my home directory, and use it?
In other words, can I install a shell bypassing the system administrator?


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This past weekend, we went to a little get together with some friends. We have all been friends a loooong time. Friends who've known each other since we were all single people. Before the kids. Before the hips started to spread and the boobs headed south. We used to be the kind of people who would close down the bars. Now we think we're rebels when we close down the zoo at 6pm. It always cracks me up when we get together, how much all of our lives have changed. Now, we are all somebody's mom, somebody's wife. The conversations all used to revolve around "us" and where we got our hair cut, what kind of new makeup we were wearing, who was running a big sale on bikinis. (I think we'd all rather die now than show our stretch marked stomachs and c-section scars in bikinis!) Now it's all about our kids. Who's pregnant. Who's kid is sitting up. Who's kid has reflux and which store is running a special on diapers. It's a different life. We do occasionally sit back and laugh at ourselves and wonder how in the world we all became so monumentally uncool. In stark contrast, our husbands haven't changed at all. They still sit around and talk about what will happen when they hit the big time and become rock stars (like that's ever going to happen!)
Even though we don't all get together all that often, I love it when we do. I always come home realizing that I am not the worst mother in the world and everyone else is just like me! There is something cathartic about all sharing our shortcomings as mothers that makes us feel united and boosts our self esteem. Because learning that you are not the only mom who totally loses it every now and then, is a little comforting. Here are some things I learned from our little moms get together.
*We all hate the mom who does the count to three thing. As in... "You better get your clothes put on by the time I count to three! One... Two... Two and a half... Don't test me on this... Two and three quarters...Don't make me say three..." Yep- she bugs the crap out of us.
* We are all guilty of throwing our kids the elbow when they won't get in the carseat. You know, when they get completely stiff and just slide out the bottom of the seat when they don't want to get in? We all admit to giving them a good elbow right in the hip to bend them into submission so you can strap those little rascals in. (And no- this does not hurt them- just forces them to fold in half like a greeting card!)
* We are all much nicer in public than in private. When our kids stand up in the front of the cart while we're checking out at the grocery and the freaked out old lady behind you starts screaming, "Miss! Miss! Your baby is about to jump out of the cart!" We will scoop him up and hug him and say, "Oh sweetie! Be careful! You'll hurt yourself!" and then you love all over him. However- when you get to the car you start going all psycho on him and say, "Don't you ever do that again. You hear me!" Because we are all secretly thinking that if they actually do jump out of the car that they will make us look bad and we will totally lose face in front of the whole grocery store!
* Us stay-at-home moms are all guilty of yapping our husband's heads off from the moment they come in the door because we are starved for adult conversation.
* About 50% of the time we would be more than happy to cash in our stay-at-home mom status for a job where no one would drool, poop, wipe boogers or puke on you.
* We all go to bed feeling guilty that we are not doing a good job raising our kids.
* We are all delusional to think that at 5:00 when the significant other comes home that we will actually be able to turn the children over to him and we can have a moment to just breathe or go to the bathroom in peace. It somehow never works out this way and we think to our selves that maybe said significant other would have been just as useful if they had stayed at work. Somehow, though, we develop amnesia about this and the next day we conjure up the grand delusion all over again. I am going to call it the 4 pm delusion.
* The other thing that happens at 4pm is the great clean up. It is this mad rush to make the place look at least somewhat tidy and organized before the spouse comes home. That way said spouse will think you worked hard and were efficient all day. (Never tell him you bribed the children with candy to get them to pitch in!)
* We all say that we are going to get together more often. Somehow it never happens because the reality is that it is a whole lot of effort to peel of one's sweatsuit ensemble, shower, fix hair, scrub and dress dirty children, find clean underwear in the massive pile of laundry, pack up the diaper bag and actually drive across town to get together. Shew- it makes me tired just thinking about it.
* We will almost all admit to not really liking babies. It sounds bad, but I like children way better when they are toddlers and a little bit more independent. I am not a fan of walking around with a baby attached to all various parts of my body all day long. My mom told me when I was in high school that she liked me so much better as a school aged kid than when I was a baby. At the time, I let that hurt my feelings and now I totally get it.
* We all agree that we respect our moms so much more now that we have our own children.
* Not one of us would trade any of our kids for all the gold and riches in the world. However, being tempted with our pre-baby bodies, pre-baby sleep and social schedules and pre-baby sex lives may make us consider a barter.
* We all agree that talking about the challenges of motherhood are taboo and somehow make you seem like you love your children less. That is just complete bull to me. I love my kids more than anything but will be the first to admit that they will completely be the death of me.
All in all, though, being a part of the 'mom club' is probably my favorite club I've ever been in. But some days it sure would be nice if I could find someone else to be the president of this club and I could just be a household member at-large!
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text: OpenJournals Publishing http://www.openjournals.net firstname.lastname@example.com http://www.ojvr.org 0030-2465 The use of a ratmodel to evaluate the in vivo toxicity and wound healing activity of selected Combretum and Terminalia (Combretaceae) species extracts Wound healing is a fundamental response to tissue injury and several natural products have been shown to accelerate the healing process. The present study was undertaken to determine the safety and efficacy of the topical treatment of acetone leaf extracts of Combretum imberbe, Combretum nelsonii, Combretum albopuntactum and Terminalia sericea based on their in vitro antimicrobial activity. Four circular full-thickness skin wounds were made on the backs of eight anaesthetised Wistar rats using aseptic techniques. The treatments were administrated topically using 10% and 20% concentrations of each extract in aqueous cream in separate treatments. Indications of erythema, exudate, crust formation, swelling and ulceration were used to determine the wound healing process. All of the wounds closed completely within 17 days. Throughout the experiment, a subcutaneous probe was used to determine that the body temperature and body weight of the rats were within the normal range. C. imberbe and C. nelsonii extracts accelerated wound healing, but there was no significant difference in wound contraction using 10% and 20% concentrations of the extracts in cream. The results also showed the potential usefulness of this model to measure accelerating wound healing. The extracts could perhaps overcome defects associated with healing failure in chronic wounds and prevent secondary bacterial and fungal infections. 1Peter Masoko 1Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Phytomedicine Programme, University of Pretoria, South Africa 1Jacobus N. Eloff 1Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Phytomedicine Programme, University of Pretoria, South Africa 2Jackie Picard 2Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa Kobus firstname.lastname@example.com Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Phytomedicine Programme, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa 277110.4102/ojvr.v77i1.2 © 2010.The Authors. Licensee: OpenJournals Publishing. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License. 04 Nov.2009 28 Aug.2010 30 Sept. 2010 Masoko, P., Eloff, J.N., Picard, J., 2010, The use of a rat model to evaluate the in vivo toxicity and wound healing activity of selected Combretum and Terminalia (Combretaceae) species extracts,Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 77(1):Art. #2, 7 pages. DOI: 10.4102/ojvr.v77i1.2 Introduction The wound healing process involves a highly coordinated cascade of cellular and immunological responses over a period of time. The first phase (also known as the coagulation phase) occurs immediately after the traumatic injury and serves to seal the wound with a fibrin and platelet plug and to initiate the inflammatory process. Cytokines produced by the platelets cause leukocytes from the blood circulation to amass at the site of injury. The predominant cell type in the first three days after injury is neutrophils, which phagocytose microbes and foreign debris. Thereafter, activated macrophages at the wound site assist in wound repair by the release of proteases for wound debridement and by the phagocytosis of microbes, cell debris and damaged neutrophils. Together with other cells, macrophages in the area produce various cytokines, chemokines and growth factors, which, in turn, cause the influx and activation of more macrophages, as well as the stimulation of the adaptive immune response (Waldorf & Fewkes 1995). Granulation tissue forms 2–3 days after the injury and consists predominantly of fibroblasts. Immediately following the injury and during granulation, keratinocytes migrate into the matrix and proliferate under the influence of growth factors produced by macrophages, keratinocytes and fibroblasts; while, at the same time, neovasculisation occurs. In the second week after the injury, the wound contracts as a result of the activity of adapted fibroblasts known as myofibroblasts. Collagen production and remodelling continues with scar formation (Tsirogianni, Moutsopoulous & Moutsoupoulos 2006). Injuries are common in humans, especially in environments where there is a high prevalence of violent acts and accidents. Owing to poor or delayed wound management, these wounds often become infected with either commensal or environmental microorganisms, or both. Infected wounds heal more slowly, re-epithelialisation is more prolonged and there is a risk of systemic infection (Priya et al. 2002). People in rural areas in South Africa often use medicinal plants for the initial treatment of wounds as they are easily accessible and cheap. In these areas, the most common way to treat wounds with such plants is by using a decoction of one or more of the plants as a wash. This is followed by the application of a powder made from the plants directly onto the wound, after which the wound is covered by a bandage. The plant material is sometimes carbonised before pounding into a powder. An emulsion of a powder prepared from various parts of the plant and oil from the seeds of Lannea microcarpa (Anacardiaceae), or butter of Butyrospermum parkii (Sapotaceae) can also be used, as well as juice obtained by squeezing or heating the plant leaves or roots. These treatments are usually repeated every day until the wounds are healed. Bandages most often consist of whole, fresh leaves, or a strip of cotton cloth (Inngjerdingen et al. 2004). The process of wound healing is promoted by several plant products (Suguma, Chandrakasan & Joseph 1999), which contain active principles such as triterpenes, alkaloids, flavonoids (Sharma et al. 1990) and biomolecules (Chithra, Sajithlal & Chandraksan 1995). These agents usually influence one or more phases of the healing processes. To date, the wound healing properties of two tropical plants, Centella asiatica (Suguma, Sivakumar & Chandrakasan 1996) and Terminalia chebula (Suguma, Surjeet & Chandrakasan 2002), have been demonstrated in rat models. Many species of the Combretaceae family that are widely distributed in Africa are used in traditional medicine for treating a myriad of conditions including, pneumonia, syphilis, abdominal pains, conjunctivitis, diarrhoea, leprosy, scorpion stings and mumps (Hutchings et al. 1996). Some species of this plant family are also used for wound healing, for example, Hutchings et al. (1996) have reported that the Vhavenda people of northern South Africa use the leaves of Terminalia sericea for the treatment of wounds and menorrhagia, while the bark of this species is used to treat wounds and the roots for diarrhoea, infertility and venereal diseases (Mabogo 1990). Mabogo (1990) has reported that the roots of Combretum molle are used by the Vhavenda for wound healing, while, in Ghana the leaves of this species are used for wound dressing. Other plant species within the Combretaceae family that are used for medicinal purposes include Combretum kraussii, the leaves of which have been used to treat wounds (Hutchings et al. 1996) and Combretum micranthum, the leaves and fruits of which can be used for the topical treatment of wounds (Iwu 1993; Oliver-Bever 1986). Van Wyk et al. (1997) have also reported that T. sericea and C. kraussii are used for the topical treatment of wounds. Acetone extracts of Combretum imberbe, Combretum nelsonii, Combretum albopuntactum and T. sericea have antibacterial properties that work against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli (Eloff 1999). In earlier studies, we found that Combretum and Terminalia extracts demonstrated remarkable activity against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Microsporum canis, Sporothrix schenckii and Aspergillus fumigatus, having a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) as low as 0.02 mg/mL and 0.04 mg/mL, respectively (Masoko, Picard & Eloff 2005, 2007). Acetone extracts of these plants were found to be non-toxic in in vitro studies in the tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay (MTT assay) using Vero monkey kidney cells and the brine shrimp mortality assay (Masoko 2006; Mosmann 1983). This study was conducted by applying the extracts of C. imberbe, C. nelsonii, C. albopuntactum and T. sericea to wounds created in Wistar rats to determine if these extracts induced any skin irritation, damage or other negative effects. Materials and methods This research was approved by the Research and Animal Use and Care Committee of the University of Pretoria, South Africa (VI 010/05 approval number). Plant collection Leaves were collected in the summer of 2003 from four species of trees of the Combretaceae family in the Lowveld National Botanical Gardens in Nelspruit, South Africa. Voucher specimens in the garden herbarium and tree labels verified the identity of the plants. The selection of the species was based on their high antifungal activity which had been demonstrated in previous in vitro studies (Masoko et al. 2005, 2007) and low in vitro toxicity (Masoko, 2006). Leaves were collected from the four species belonging to different sections of the genus (Carr 1988), C. imberbe Wawra (Hypocrateropsis Engl. & Diels), C. nelsonii Duemmer (Angustimarginata Engl. & Diels), C. albopunctactum Suesseng (Ciliatipetala Engl. & Diels) and T. sericea Burch ex DC (Psidioides). Plant storageLeaves were separated from the stems and dried at room temperature. Most scientists have tended to use dried material because there are fewer problems associated with the large-scale extraction of dried plants rather than fresh plant material (Eloff 1998a). The dried plants were milled to a fine powder in a Macsalab mill (Model 200 LAB; Eriez, Bramley, South Africa) and stored at room temperature in closed containers in the dark until used. Extraction procedure The dried leaves of each species were individually extracted by treating 500 g of finely ground plant material with 5 L of acetone (technical grade; Merck, Johannesburg, South Africa) in big glass containers (Eloff 1998b). The containers and contents were vigorously shaken for 3 h – 5 h in a Labotec model 20.2 shaking machine at high speed. The particulate matter was allowed to sediment and the supernatant was filtered and evaporated using a rotavaporator (R-114; Büchi, New Castle, USA) and decanted into pre-weighed labelled beakers. The process was repeated three times to exhaustively extract the plant material, after which the extracts were combined. The solvent was removed under a stream of air in a fume cupboard at room temperature. The extract was then weighed to quantify the extraction efficiency. Preparation of extract Each dried extract was ground to a fine powder with a pestle in a mortar and mixed with an aqueous cream – obtained from Reitzer Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd (Sandton, South Africa) – consisting of distilled water, white petroleum jelly, mineral oil, emulsifying wax and phenoxyethanol to a concentration of either 10% (1 g extract per 10 g cream) or 20% (2 g extract per 10 g cream) and kept at 4 °C until used. Selection of rats Ten healthy male Wistar rats weighing 150 g – 200 g were used. The test was conducted using a single gender in order to reducing variability and to minimise the numbers required (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 2000). At the commencement of the study, each rat was 8–12 weeks old and the weight variation of animals used did not exceed ± 20% of the mean weight of all previously dosed animals (Anon. 2001). Housing and feeding conditions The rats were kept at the University of Pretoria Biomedical Research Centre and housed in separate cages at a temperature of 22 °C (± 2 °C) and relative humidity (50% – 60%) in a light–dark cycle of 12 hours. They were fed a conventional rodent diet obtained from Epol (Pty) Ltd (Randburg, South Africa) and had an unlimited supply of drinking water. Environmental enrichment, for example, bedding (wood wool), was provided to keep the rats occupied. Previous work suggests that the provision of enrichment items, such as wood wool, gives laboratory rats the opportunity to perform exploratory and gnawing activities. This can be used to improve their well-being and to distract them from tampering with dressings (Zhu et al. 2006). Preparation of animals The cages of the rats were labelled from one to eight for identification purposes. The rats were kept in their cages for at least five days prior to commencement of the experiment to allow for acclimatisation to the laboratory conditions (Spielmann et al. 1999) and they were handled daily during this period. They were not immunosuppressed. Wound creation The hair on the back of each of the rats was removed with electrical clippers and bare areas were disinfected using a solution of 0.5% chlorhexidine in 70% alcohol, which was allowed to dry after application. The rats were anaesthetised with isoflurane (0.01 μg/kg – 0.05 μg/kg). Four evenly spaced wounds were made in the skin within the bare area using a punch to obtain biopsies with a diameter of 6 mm (Simosen, Petersen & Groth 2002). The whole process was carried out in a biosafety class II cabinet to limit infection. A temperature probe (microchip; Identipet, Johannesburg, South Africa) was injected subcutaneously into the rump of each rat, so that the body temperature could be routinely monitored during the course of the experiment without unduly disturbing the animal. Topical application of aqueous creams The treatments were applied on separate lesions (A, B, C and D) three times a week as follows: A, no treatment, B, cream only, C and D were 10% and 20% of crude extract, respectively. These lesions were randomly selected and two rats were selected for each plant (i.e. eight rats in total were used). To avoid interference by the rat of mixing of treatment a dressing was applied. Observations A blind study was done and the observations for each rat were recorded separately. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at 09:00, each rat was taken out of its cage, anaesthetised with isoflurane, its wound dressing removed and various parameters were measured, including their weight and body temperature; the latter was read electronically via an electronic reader. The lesions on each rat were rated using the following parameters, (1) the presence and type of exudate, (2) erythema, (3) swelling, (4) ulceration and (5) crust formation. The scoring criteria are shown in table 1. Each lesion diameter was also measured in millimeters in the vertical and horizontal planes using the electronic digital calipers. The wounds were then cleaned using clean cotton wool and the treatments were reapplied, after which the wounds were re-dressed and the rat allowed to recover and placed in his cage. The rats were observed individually at least once during the first 30 minutes after treatment and then periodically during the next 24 hours, with special attention being given during the first 4 hours of this period. All the rats were observed daily for any indication of illness and interference with the wound dressing. Clinical signs of disease, included changes in the skin and fur, diarrhoea, lethargy, sleep, weight loss and coma were also checked. Provision was made for the early termination of those rats that were either ill or interfered excessively with the wound dressings. All the rats were euthanised by carbon dioxide inhalation when their wound had fully contracted and upon evidence of scar formation. At necropsy, a pathologist examined the liver, heart, lungs, intestines, lymph nodes and kidneys of the rats for gross abnormalities. ResultsWith the exception of Rat 1, no rat in this study lost weight. Rat 1 was observed to have lost weight on Day 3, but by Day 5 its weight was once again within the normal range (Figure 1). The rats' temperatures were also within the expected values of 35 °C – 37 °C (Figure 2), except for Rat 1 and Rat 5, which were elevated. Rat 5's temperature returned to normal on Day 5, while Rat 1's temperature was elevated on Day 5, but had returned to normal by Day 8. The two measurements of each lesion at a 90° angle were multiplied to obtain an approximation of the area in square-millimetres and these values were converted to percentages of the original size. Since the results of the two rats which were treated the same were practically identical, the averages of these measurements were used. To find out if treatment accelerated wound healing, the wound sizes were compared to that of the untreated wound. Combretum imberbe extracts (Figure 3a) healed the wound faster than their control, followed by C. nelsonii (Figure 3b). The controls healed faster than the 10% concentration of C. albopunctactum, but slower than the 20% extract of this species (Figure 3c). The 10% concentration and the 20% concentration of the T. sericea extracts, in cream, produced almost similar results and were slightly better than the untreated wound (Figure 3d). The resultant healing was also quantified on the basis of erythema (Figure 4), exudate (Figure 5) and crust formation (Figure 6). DiscussionHerbal products are usually perceived as 'safe' and are often applied to wounds without any in vitro or in vivo toxicity tests being done. This, however, cannot be assumed in all cases. For example, Jatropha curcas L (Euphorbiaceae) was found to have esterases and lipases (Staubmann et al. 1999) and it also has disinfectant, antiparasitic (Fagbenro-Beyioku, Oyibo & Anuforom 1998), antiviral (Matsuse et al. 1999) and molluscicidal activities (Liu et al. 1997). Jathropa curcas was, however, found to be toxic (Makkar, Becker & Schmook 1998). This study was designed using simple in vivo method to determine any adverse effects, as well as to compare the relative effectiveness of acetone leaf extracts of C. nelsonii, C. imberbe, C. albopunctactum and T. sericea on wound healing activity. The in vitro cytotoxicity of acetone extracts of these four species was evaluated on Artemia salina nauplii and Vero monkey kidney cells. The Vero cells were a more sensitive indicator of toxicity (Masoko 2006). At a concentration of 25%, the acetone had no adverse effects on the fungi tested, or on A. salina nauplii and Vero kidney cells. The results on brine shrimps indicated that the four leaf extracts had LC50 values above 20 μg/mL, which is the recommended cut-off point for detecting cytotoxic activity (Geran et al. 1972). The podophyllotoxin toxin standard had LC50 of 7 µg/mL. In the MTT assay, C. imberbe extract had the highest LC50 of 168.6 µg/mL and C. nelsonii had the lowest (75.7 µg/mL) The LC50 for C. albopunctactum and T. sericea were 102.9 µg/mL and 121.7 µg/mL, respectively (Masoko 2006). An LD50 of 30 µg/mL was considered to be non-toxic according to the criteria of the American National Cancer Institute (Suffness & Pezzuto 1990). Although, in practice, local treatments are usually repeated every day until the wounds are healed, it was decided to treat the rats every second day to minimise effects associated with handling and the continuous use of anaesthetics. It was also thought that the plant extracts would retain their antimicrobial activity over that period. Wound contamination was unlikely as the wounds were covered with an occlusive dressing. We found that the rats neither showed any sign of irritation to any of the treatments, including the aqueous cream control, nor did the wounds swell or exhibit noticeable pus formation or ulceration. The wounds were completely healed after 17 days and remained so when the rats were euthanised on Day 21. The created wounds, as well as the contraction and healing of them are depicted in Figure 7. With the exception of Rat 1 and Rat 5, which had transient weight loss and an elevated body temperature, none of the rats showed any signs of clinical disease. It was also not certain whether the illness in these two rats was due to the wound manipulations or a clinical manifestation of interstitial pneumonia that was endemic in these two rats and which was observed at necropsy. We found that the extracts of C. imberbe and C. nelsonii were superior in their wound healing abilities. The wound treated with the C. imberbe extracts (Figure 3a) closed more rapidly than that of the cream and untreated control. In fact, wound closure was slowest in the untreated control. On Day 12, an apparent increase in wound size of the controls was noted. This was due to the fact that there was a marked crust formation, making it difficult to measure the wound edges. All the wounds were healed by Day 17. The same healing pattern occurred with C. nelsonii (Figure 3b), with the exception that the wound size increased on Day 8, rather than Day 5. In the cases of C. albopunctactum (Figure 3c) and T. sericea (Figure 3d), there was little difference in the contraction of the wounds in comparison to the controls, indicating that these two plants had little or no effect on wound contraction. The use of the 20% concentration extracts is recommended because these have a better antifungal effect (Masoko et al. 2005) and the 10% extract of T. sericea was found to have a slightly negative effect on wound healing on Day 5. All the extracts, especially C. imberbe (data not shown) were slightly better in reducing the erythema (Figure 4) of the wounds, in comparison to the controls. The exudates were slightly more prominent with the extracts (Figure 5). This could be as a result of the difficulty to distinguish between exudates and extract remnants. There was essentially no noticeable difference in crust formation between the different treatments (Figure 6). The most prominent group of biologically active compounds isolated from C. imberbe are the triterpenes (Angeh 2005). Asiaticoside is the most abundant triterpene glycoside, which is effective in wound healing and apparently acts by enhancing the induction of antioxidant levels at an early stage of wound healing (Shukla et al. 1999). In other studies, we isolated three biologically active triterpenes: terminolic, asiatic and arjunolic acids from C. nelsonii (Masoko 2006). Wound healing activity may be attributable, in part, to triterpene-rich fractions within the plant extracts we used. However, extracts from the whole plant may have better wound healing properties than a single active ingredient, possibly due to other unidentified active compounds which act synergistically (Williamson 2001). Wound contraction begins almost concurrently with collagen synthesis. The rate of contraction depends on the degree of tissue laxity and shape of the wound, with loose skin wounds and square wounds healing the fastest. Thus, rat skin, being loose, tends to heal faster than human skin, with wound contraction significantly contributing to wound closure (Stipcevic, Piljac & Piljac 2006). Consequently, wound contraction, which is usually more rapid than epithelisation, causes a decrease in the overall healing time of rat wounds (Cross et al. 2005). Although rats are not ideal for studying the efficacy of therapy on wound healing in humans due to the differences in the skin structure, they can still be used as a model for wound healing because laboratory rats are inbred and thus there is little variation in their wound healing due to genetic differences, allowing only few animals to be used (Reed et al. 1996). Laboratory rats are also relatively cheap and easy to handle and their use usually attracts less ethical objections than other animals such as pigs etc. There are also advantages in the use of rats as a research model, such as the availability of a broad knowledge based on rat wound healing and they are well established as wound models (Kimuro et al. 2005; Nayak et al. 2005; Sumitra, Manikandan & Suguna 2005). Products which have been found to improve wound healing in rats have also done so in humans. Victor-Vega et al. (2002) compared wound healing on rats and humans and found, through their experiments, that the adenosine A2A receptor antagonist significantly accelerated wound closure when applied topically. This effect was even more remarkable when compared to the recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor administered locally. Although a pig's skin structure closely resembles that of humans, pigs were not used for practical reasons. The housing, feed and care of pigs is more expensive than other models and the psychological well-being of the pigs must be addressed by providing them with conspecific visual interaction, various toys and hand-fed treats, under professional supervision. These forms of enrichment serve to lower the distress that may otherwise be experienced and potentially confound the experimental results (Fries et al. 2005), but would be too time-consuming. Conclusion Our data indicate that the tested plant extracts had no adverse effects on wound healing in rats and, in fact, the acetone extracts of C. imberbe and C. nelsonii appeared to promote wound healing. This is remarkable as there was no evidence of wound infection during the trials. Although the mechanism of wound healing is unclear, our data indicate that further investigation of the Combretaceae family may be useful in this regard. Taken in conjunction with the data collected in this study and the in vitro antifungal activity of selected species, we suggest that the four selected species will also have an antifungal activity on infected wounds. We are currently assessing the effect of four selected species on rats infected with Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Microsporum canis and Sporothrix schenckii. We would like to acknowledge the National Research Foundation for their provision of funding, 'Mr Rudi Kotze and Mr Johan Hurter, who allowed us to collect plant material from the Lowveld National Botanical Garden, and Mr N.P. Selahle, who helped with the care of the rats and the experiment. Angeh, J., 2005, 'Isolation and characterization of antibacterial compounds present in members of Combretum section, Hypocrateropsis', PhD thesis, Department of Paraclinical Sciences University of Pretoria. Anon., 2001, Guidance document on using in vitro data to estimate in vivo starting doses for acute toxicity. NIH publication number 01–4500. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park. Carr, J.D., 1988, Combretaceae in southern Africa, Tree Society of southern Africa, Johannesburg. Chithra, P., Sajithlal G.B. & Chandraksan, G., 1998, 'Influence of Aloe vera on the healing of dermal wounds in diabetic rats', Journal of Ethnopharmacology 59, 195–201. Cross, S.E., Naylor, I.L., Coleman, R.A. & Teo, T., 1995, 'An experimental model to investigate the dynamics of wound contraction', British Journal of Plastic Surgery 48, 189–197. Eloff, J.N., 1998a, 'Conservation of Medicinal Plants: Selecting Medicinal Plants for research and gene banking', Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Garden 71, 209–222, in R.P. Adams & J.E. Adams, Conservation of plants Genes III: Conservation and utilisation of African plants, Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis. Eloff, J.N., 1998b, 'Which extractant should be used for the screening and isolation of antimicrobial components from plants?', Journal of Ethnopharmacology 60, 1–8. Eloff, J.N., 1999, 'The antibacterial activity of 27 southern African members of the Combretaceae', South African Journal of Science 95, 148–152. Fagbenro-Beyioku, F.A., Oyibo, W.A & Anuforom, B.C., 1998, 'Disinfectant/antiparasitic activities of Jatropha curcas L', East African Medicinal Journal 75, 508–511. Fries R.B., Wallace, W.A., Roy, S., Kuppusamy, P., Bergdall, V., Gordillo, G.M. et al., 2005, 'Dermal excisional wound healing in pigs following treatment with topically applied pure oxygen', Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 579, 172–181. Geran, R.I., Greenberg N.H., Macdonald, M.M., Schumacher A.M. & Abbott, B.J., 1972, 'Protocols for screening chemical agents and natural products against animal tumors and other biological systems', Cancer Chemotherapy Reports 3, 1–17. Hutchings, A., Scott, A.H., Lewis, G. & Cunningham, A., 1996, Zulu Medicinal Plants, An Inventory, University of Natal Press: Pietermaritzburg. Inngjerdingen, K., Nergard, C.S., Diallo, D., Mounkoro, P.P. & Paulsen, B.S., 2004, 'An ethnopharmacological survey of plants used for wound healing in Dogonland, Mali, West Africa', Journal of Ethnopharmacology 92, 233–244. Iwu, M.M., 1993, Handbook of African Medicinal Plants, CRC Press, Florida, USA. Kimura, A., Ogata, H., Yazawa, M., Watanabe, N., Mori, T. & Nakajima, T., 2005, 'The effects of platelet-rich plasma on cutaneous incisional wound healing in rats', Journal of Dermatological Science 40, 205–208. Kudi, A.C., Umoh, J.U., Eduvie, L.O. & Gefu, J., 1999, 'Screening of some Nigerian plants for antibacterial activity', Journal of Ethnopharmacology 67, 225–228. Liu, S.Y., Sporer, F., Wink, M., Jourdane, J., Henning, R., Li, Y.L. et al., 1997, 'Antraquinones in Rheum palmatum and Rumex dentatus (Polygonaceae), phorbol esters in Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) with molluscicidal activity against the schistosome vector snails, Oncomelania, Biomphalaria and Bulinus', Tropical Medicine and International Health 2, 179–188. Mabogo, D.E.N., 1990, 'The ethnobotany of the Vhavenda', MSc thesis, Department of Botany University of Pretoria. Makkar, H.P., Becker K. & Schmook B., 1998, 'Edible provenances of Jatropha curcas L. From Quintana Roo state of Mexico. The effect of roasting an antinutrient and toxic factors in seed', Plant Foods for Human Nutrition 52, 31–36. Matsuse, I.T., Lim, Y.A., Hattori, M., Corream, M. & Gupta M.P., 1999, 'A searh for anti-viral properties in Panamaniam plants. The effect on HIV and its essential enzymes', Journal of Ethnopharmacology 64, 15–22. Martini, N., Katerere, D.R.P., Eloff, J.N., 2004a, 'Antibacterial flavonoids isolated from Combretum erythrophyllum (Burch) Sond (Combretaceae)', South African Journal of Botany 70, 310–312. Martini, N., Katerere, D.R.P. & Eloff, J.N., 2004b, 'Biological activity of five antibacterial flavonoids isolated from Combretum erythrophyllum (Combretaceae)', Journal of Ethnopharmacology 93, 207–212. Masoko, P., 2006, 'Characterisation of antifungal compounds isolated from Terminalia and Combretum species (Combretaceae)', PhD thesis, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, University of Pretoria. Masoko, P. & Eloff, J.N., 2005, 'The diversity of antifungal compounds of six South African Terminalia species (Combretaceae) determined by bioautography', African Journal of Biotechnology 4, 1425–1431. Masoko, P., Picard, J. & Eloff, J.N., 2005, 'Antifungal activities of six South African Terminalia species (Combretaceae)', Journal of Ethnopharmacology 99, 301–308. Masoko, P., Picard, J. & Eloff, J.N., 2007, 'The antifungal activity of twenty-four South African Combretum species (Combretaceae)', South African Journal of Botany 73, 173–183. Mcmanus, J.K.A. & Mowry, R.W., 1965, Staining Methods,Histologic and Histochemical. Harper 7 Raw, London. Mosmann, T., 1983, 'Rapid colorimetric assay for cellular growth and survival: Application to proliferation and cytotoxicity assays', Journal Immunology Methods 65, 55–63. Nayak, B.S., Vinutha, B., Geetha, B. & Sudha, B., 2005, 'Experimental evaluation of Pentas lanceolata flowers for wound healing activity in rats', Fitoterapia 76, 671–675. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2000, 'Revised draft guidance document on the recognition, assessment and use of clinical signs as humane endpoints for experimental animals used in safety evaluation', Report of the international workshop on in vitro methods for assessing acute systematic toxicity, NIH publication number 01–4499, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park. Oliver-Bever, B., 1986, Medicinal Plants In Tropical West Africa, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Priya, K.S., Gnanamani, A., Radhakrishnan, N. & Babu, M., 2002, 'Healing potential of Datura alba on burn wounds in albino rats', Journal of Ethnopharmacology 83, 193–199. Reed, M.J., Penn, P.E., Li, Y., Birnbaum, R., Vernon, R.B., Johnson, T.S. et al., 1996, 'Enhanced cell proliferation and biosynthesis mediate improved wound repair in refed, caloric-restricted mice', Mechanisms Ageing Development 89, 21–43. Simonsen, L., Petersen, M.B. & Groth, L., 1992, 'In vivo skin penetration of salicylic compounds in hairless rats', European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 17, 95–104. Sharma, S.P., Aithal, K.S., Srinivasan, K.K., Udupa, A.L., Kumar V. & Kulkarni, D.R., 1990, 'Anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities of the crude alcoholic extracts and flavanoids of Vitex leucoxylon', Fitoterapia 61, 263–265. Shukla, A., Rasik, A.M., Jain, G.K., Shankar, R., Kulshrestha, D.K. & Dhawan B.N., 1999, 'In vitro and in vivo wound healing activity of asiaticoside isolated from Centella asiatica', Journal of Ethnopharmacology 65, 1–11. Spielmann, H.E., Genschow, M., Leibsch, M. & Halle, W., 1999, 'Determination of the starting dose for acute oral toxicity. LD50 testing the up and down procedures from cytotoxicity data', Alternatives to Laboratory Animals 27, 957–966. Staubmann, R., Ncube, I., Gubitz, G.M., Steiner W. & Read, J.S., 1999, 'Esterase and lipase activity in Jatropha curcas L. seeds', Journal of Biotechnology 75, 117–126. Stipcevic, T., Piljac, A. & Piljac G., 2006, 'Enhanced healing of full-thickness burn wounds using di-rhamnolipid', Burns 32, 24–34. Sumitra, M., Manikandan, P. & Suguna, L., 2005, 'Efficacy of Butea monosperma on wound healing in rats', The International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology 37, 566–573. Suguma L., Chandrakasan G & Joseph K.T., 1999, 'Influence of honey on biochemical and biophysical parameters of wounds in rats', Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition 14, 91–99. Suguma L., Sivakumar P. & Chandrakasan G., 1996, 'Effects of Centella asiatica extract on dermal wound healing in rats', Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 34, 1208–1211. Suguma, L., Surjeet, S. & Chandrakasan, G., 2002, 'Influence of Terminalia chebula on dermal wound healing in rats', Phytotherapy Research 16, 223–227. Tsirogianni, A.K., Moutsopoulos N.M. & Moutsopoulos H.M., 2006, 'Wound healing: Immunological aspects', Injury 37, 5–12. Van Wyk, B-E., Van Oudtshoorn, B. & Gericke, N., 1997, Medicinal Plants of South Africa, Briza Publications, Pretoria. Victor-Vega, C., Desai, A., Montesinos, M.C. & B.N. Cronstein, 2002, 'Adenosine A2A receptor agonists promote more rapid wound healing than recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor (Becaplermin gel)', Inflammation 26, 19–24. Waldorf, H. & Fewkes, J., 1995, 'Wound healing', Advances in Dermatology 1, 77. Williamson, E.M., 2001, 'Synergy and other interactions in phytomedicines'. Phytomedicine 8, 401–409. Zhu S-W., Yee, B.K., Nyffeler, M., Winblad, B., Feldon, J. & Mohammed, A.H., 2006, 'Influence of differential housing on emotional behaviour and neurotrophin levels in mice', Behavioral Brain Research 169, 10–20.


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We are thrilled to share that The George Washington International Law Review will be accepting online subscription payments in the coming months. Stay tuned!
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Diseñadores de todas las partes del mundo están proponiendo diseños creativos a blprice1980 en la categoría de diseño logotipo - custom.
Looking for best website design for a GAINERS INC., a mass and muscle building program in the works. Also looking for best design for our logo.
GAINERS Inc. or http://www.gainersinc.com
Desired Color Scheme:
No set color scheme
Accepted File Formats:
html, css including all layers, possibly photoshop
GAINERS Inc., a body mass building program that I have in the works is looking for a website to dry test our product. Website needs to look professional and differentiate us as a legitimate body building company rather than just a lone individual trying to make a quick buck.
We are looking for designs that stray away from generic muscle building sites such as....
We will be using the winner as our actual website and will be looking to update it from time to time. Also need an easy and noticable "PURCHASE PROGRAM" on header page, but nothing cheasy.
Also looking for a logo for GAINERS Inc. Needs to be eye catching as well and doesnt necesarily have to involve "muscles".
This contest was originally listed in multiple categories:
- Logo Design
- Web Page Design (Coded)
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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REVenturesLLC needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 44 designs submitted by 7 freelance designers.
The "Divine Do-Over"
The "Divine Do-Over" brings childhood enthusiasm and wonder back into an adult life. We work with people that are financially distress or who have health related issues due to illness or injury. Together, we uncover the way a person perceive things and identify what they can control. We determine what is holding people back, and then unlock your potential. In other words, we work to identify a person's passion, brainstorm on ways to monetize that passion, and then implement a plan to assist people in achieving their personal and business goals. I work with a "community of influence" meaning I have a community of people that can provide services while I work on the individual to build (or re-build) prosperity in the five "dimensions of life" - Body, Mind, Spirit, Relationships, & Finance.
Finally, I am also endeavoring on starting a "Speaking" program to bring my philosophy of life to the masses.
My target audience:
People who are financially distressed (i.e., facing foreclosure or bankruptcy) due to a loss of a job, illness or injury, death of the major money contributor to the household, etc.
People who just can't make ends meet (too much month at the end of their money). Someone who has an entrepreneurial spirit.
People who just don't know what they want to be when they grow up, or someone sick and tired of Corporate America and wants a change. The middle age person who is facing the threat of a reorganization (loss of their middle class/income job).
Young adults who are just getting started - I want to assist them in building a good foundation.
I'm looking for a logo that is simple, joyful, and playfull. I want to continue with the blueish theme of my personal website: http://VincentROrlando.com. Click on the "Blog" link to better understand more about my philosophy. Or, you can visit my FanPage: http://www.facebook.com/DivineDoOver.
I do not want the logo to look like a monogram. I played with the idea of childhood play or victory (winning) similar to the logo used at: http://www.paidtoplay.tv/.
I also played with a phoenix rising from the flame. Perhaps 2 or 3 flames with Divine Do-Over rising from the smoke or embedded in the flames.
A rebirth (metamorphesis) like a butterfly.
I'm open to any design ideas so be creative
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Under Francis' spell: "The Joy of the Gospel"
My roots began deep in Roman Catholicism. My earliest memory is standing next to my mom on a pew, with three fingers in my mouth, during the candlelit, hushed moments of a novena to Mother Mary.
My mom's name was Dolores, which I learned is a name for Mary, the Mother of Sorrows. After Catholic grade school, I entered on 13 years of seminary prep to become a priest. After ordination I spent more years studying ministry and became a seminary prof for 17 years, including six in Denver at the late St. Thomas Seminary. After leaving the priesthood (another story, another column), I worked in nonprofits for 20 years, and spiritually I'm now an Irish Catholic Episcopalian, with Jewish and Quaker tendencies. There's about eight of us.
This history is to say that I have read lots of papal and church documents in my day, but I have never read anything quite like "The Joy of the Gospel" by Pope Francis. None like this.
He calls it an exhortation instead of an encyclical; it's more personal and pastoral than doctrinal and doctrinaire. The 288 paragraphs still have enough pious gobbledegook to pass muster with the cardinals-in-waiting, but this message is meant to engage new minds and attract new hearts. He often writes in the first person, an inviting "I" instead of the distancing, literal Papal "We." And what he says is thrilling.
A blunt, refreshing beginning: "The great danger in today's world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience."
Those following Jesus need to evangelize in the face of this with a certain fierce joy: "an evangelizer must never look like someone who has just come back from a funeral!"
We are to go into our world not in a great rush, but to slow down and listen to others. This is not a church of my childhood, "An Army of youth 'neath the standard of Truth, fighting for Christ our Lord" as a popular hymn went. We are more humble, while no less steely.
"I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security. I do not want a Church concerned with being at the center and which then ends being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures." Notice the "I;" elsewhere he talks about when he was in Argentina, very personally. He remains one of us, while asked to lead.


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The CD-IU201S USB to 30-pin interface cable enables you to connect an iPhone® 4S or iPhone® 4 to compatible DVD Receiver models for the ability to display and control compatible iOS apps on the touchscreen though AppRadio Mode. You also get full, direct, and adapter-free iPod® control. The direct digital connection assures you get the utmost audio and video quality from your the media stored on your iPod® or iPhone®.
The CD-IU201S is required for AppRadio Mode functionality and also enables audio and video playback from your iPhone® 4S or iPhone® 4.
The CD-IU201S is compatible with the following DVD Receiver models:


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My Long-Anticipated Nostril Piercing
I've been into piercing from the time I was 12. I was fascinated by helix piercings (which had just started coming on the mainstream scene) and I wanted one very badly. Eventually I did get one, and since then I've been (not so) patiently awaiting my next piercing. So what would it be? I looked at lip rings for a few years, then decided they'd look silly on me. I never really thought about piercing my nose, until my stepmother suggested it to me the day after my high school graduation. I gave the matter some thought, and ultimately decided it was what I wanted.
I come from a very Jewish family background. My father is a Conservative Jewish rabbi and my mother, who divorced my father a while back, is currently a rabbinical student. My father is remarried to one of the coolest stepparents ever. My stepmom supported my decision to get my nose pierced; after all, she was the one who suggested it. I was very worried that my father wouldn't approve, but he said that once I turned 18 there was nothing he could do to stop me. My mother, on the other hand, was very much against this. She had her own bad experience with piercing; during her mid-life crisis she had gone and pierced her belly button on impulse. She was afraid that I was doing this upon my own impulses. So she collaborated with my other two parental units and they decided that I could get my nose pierced once I was 18, but I would have to earn it. This would mean doing all my chores without forgetting for two weeks and taking responsibility for planning my future; I can't live with my parents forever. It took a while, but finally, I had shown that I was responsible enough to handle such an adult privelege. My aunt flew in from Texas for Passover, and she herself is a piercing person like me, so it was decided that she would take me.
The date was March 26, 2010. I had a good day at work and I was ready to have a great rest of the afternoon. My aunt took me and my little four-year-old brother over to McDonald's for some lunch (for those of you who say it's not kosher, I don't eat kosher outside the house), and then it was time. The original place we were going to go to was called Body Designs. We spent a good 20 minutes trying to find it, only to find that they were no longer in business. Luckily, with the help of my aunt's iPhone, we found a piercing place less than a mile from where we were at the time. We went to a place called Utopia, which is not only a piercing place, but it also sells a lot of cool clothes and shoes and accessories. So I filled out my papers, showed my ID, picked out a pretty amethyst stud, and we were all legit. After a bit, the piercer took me back into the room where the action was going to happen.
I walked into a room with a padded bench-type thing that you'd find in a doctor's office. It had paper covering it with baby's foot and handprints. Immediately, I remarked, "Oh boy, just like being in a doctor's office." The piercer replied, "Yeah, only you're getting something you actually want." With that, I sat up on the bench and had him clean and mark my nostril. I chose the right side. I was a little nervous about the process, but the piercer had me close my eyes. He stuck a receiving tube up my nose and then pushed the needle through in 1, 2, 3...And you know what? It hurt. But it definitely wasn't unbearable. It's just like getting a shot in the nose. Not too bad. The piercer sent me home with a big packet of sea salt and instructions on how to clean my piercing. I could not stop admiring it on the way home. I was so happy.
So right now, my nose is just a tad sore. It was worse a few hours ago. I'm preparing to take a shower and then go through with my first cleaning. If you want a nostril piercing, I definitely recommend it if you want one. It hurts a little bit more than a helix piercing, but it's really not so bad. Right now, I'm wondering about how my new piercing will be received by my friends and workplaces when I go out into the world with it. I work in a preschool, and I'm sure the kids will ask questions. Most of my friends are pretty cool with this sort of thing, but when I show up at the synagogue like this for services, I might not get the best reaction out of the congregants. But I doubt anything like this will cost my father his job. All that matters is that I'm comfortable with it and that I like it. And I pierce my body for me and no one else. And that's the way it should be. I am happy and excited and this is only the first chapter in my body modification saga. Stay tuned for more stories in the future.
submitted by: xMagicMasochistx
on: 12 May 2010
in Nostril Piercings
Artist: Allen
Studio: Utopia
Location: Hicksville, NY


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In 1971, it was founded as UCC, the university Computer Center.
In 1988, it was established as an Institute of Computer Science and Technology (ICST). On July 1, 1998, the Institute was
changed to the University of Computer Studies, Yangon(UCSY).
The University of Computer Studies,Yangon (UCSY) is one of the higher institutions under the Ministry of Education.
UCSY is to conduct teaching and research in various branches of computer science, computer technology, and information technology.
To meet the growing need for general and advanced computer education in Myanmar, the university currently offers both undergraduate and
postgraduate degrees. Its language of instruction is English.
Our Missions are to produce more experts who have the practical ability to invent,install, experiment with, and apply computer hardware and
software with a view to making Myanmar a modern and developed nation and to train Information Technology (IT) professionals for Myanmar.
The main purposes of the university are:
Bachelor degrees were started in 1986 but Master degrees were offered in 1973. In May 2001, the Ph.D. program was started. For all study programs, each academic year is divided into two terms. Each term has 18 weeks for teaching and practical. Examinations are conducted during the end of each term. Clear attendance, tutorials and practical, class assignments are taken into account as components of the assessment.


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With AT&T's exclusive hold on the iPhone ending with the iPhone 4, it only makes sense that more carriers will want to get on board with the smartphone here in America. And it sounds like Sprint may be joining the fun with the next model.
Rumor has it that Sprint will join Verizon and AT&T in offering up Apple's phone with the release of the next model. In addition to vague rumblings, BTIG Research analyst Walter Piecyk has raised Sprint's stock rating from "sell" to "neutral," presumably because they're about to get the hottest phone out there.
We should know soon enough, as Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 5 at an event next month and release it soon after.
Via TFTS
For the latest tech stories, follow us on Twitter at @dvice
Copyright DVICE - DVICE


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Governor's small business forum Thursday in Glenwood Springs
The Small Business Development Center network of Colorado will be hosting the Governor's Small Business Advisory Council Community Forum on Thursday at the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs from 2-3:30 p.m. The forum is an opportunity for entrepreneurs and small business owners to meet the council directly and discuss the top five barriers to small business success and brainstorm solutions. Similar meetings will be conducted throughout the state, after which the gathered information will be reported directly to the governor's office. Directly following the forum, attendees are encouraged to head to Meier Skis, located at 7800 Highway 82, Suite 111 in Glenwood Springs, to enjoy wine, beer and a tour of the facility to see how its handcrafted skis are produced. Attendees will also get a sneak peak at Something Independent's latest installment of its Founders Series featuring Meier Skis.
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.


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father's day ideas for elementary students
DGreetings offers Messages, Cards, Greetings, Quotes, Gift ideas for sharing & sending here are all most popular free ideas for father's day at your church. We cover messages & cards in English & Hindi, Business Greetings and many more history of father s day. Belts and ties are the coin of the realm for Father s Day, but they don t have to fly right off the store rack straight into the gift box history of father s day festival as seen today is not even a hundred years old. Add your own personality to thanks to the hard work and struggle of ms sonora louise. Father s Day father s day crafts, cards, gifts, songs, poems, coloring, worksheets and other activities for children to do with dad. Father s Day is a day to honour all the fathers for everything they did for their children [father s day index] dltk s crafts for kids father s day worksheets. This is an occasion to express gratitude towards your dad kids will enjoy learning with the father s. Father s Day over at make it your own they have two great last minute father s day ideas that are free to print. The time when the whole world unites to honor fatherhood and fathers, and the online world, which is a reflection of the real one, is no anomaly the first is a magazine sleeve to slip around dad s favorite. Whether your dad is a gardener or a griller these gifts will suit him Father s Day Crafts Kids Can Make How to Make Printable Father s Day Cards and Gifts for Father s Day Finding some good ideas for homemade gifts for men is not always easy 40+ craft ideas for him! ideal for birthday's, father's day & christmas. But we hope you will find something you like in our selection of Father s Day crafts march 31, 2012 father's day certificates (sb4934) printable certificates for children to present to their dad or guardian on father's day. Oh no! You need a gift for Dad pronto! Click and get an instant application for his iPhone, the ideal gift for the kind of dude who likes practical gifts children fill in 'presented to. Some of top 25 father s day gift ideas score greatest son ever status with these father s day gifts ~fathers day plans~:hammer: what are everyones plans for father s day? we are hosting a father s day family barbeque. Father s Day Crafts for Kids: Ideas for Easy to Make Father s Day Gifts for Dad with Arts & Crafts Projects & Activities for Children, Teen, and Preschoolers Father s Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society we are going to have bbq ribs,hot dogs,burgers. In Catholic Europe, it has been what day does father s day fall on in 2017? when is fathers day 2017? when does canada and the usa celebrate fathers day? when does australia and new zealand. Use this page to plan your Sunday School or Children's Church lesson for Father's Day Here are all most popular free ideas for father's day at your church


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One of the most memorable and hospitable cities to run in, Barcelona's streets, parks and trails are as welcoming as her inhabitants. While Barcelona is the largest city on the Mediterranean Sea, it is also an intimate and intricate place with subtle beauty that seems to mix perfectly with its more audacious architecture.
To see Gaudi's masterpiece, the fantastical Sagrada Família in person is one thing, but to gain a sense of the city by running amongst her streets and people is something that won't fail to leave a lasting impression. We've found you three unforgettable runs in Barcelona; a short, wondrous route, a path that will want to make you want to become a local, and finally a trail with some climb, some wildness and some views! These runs are experiences of discovery, now all you have to do is choose one!
Link to Movescount route here
Up for some visual wonders? We hope so! You are now in the heart of the city. Follow Passeig de Gracia from the Metro station, warm up slow as you'll begin to be spoiled with sights. Turn right on Av. Diagonal until Carrer de Provença, follow this until you see the Sagrada Família. We understand if you just want to take a few moments (or hours) here, the surrounding parks provide a brilliant perspective to Gaudi's masterpiece. You can loop around behind it and back along Carrer de Mallorca. Left towards the sea at Passeig de Sant Joan, and straight to the Arc de Triomf. Boom! You're done! (Hopefully you didn't miss La Pedrera, Casa Batlló, Casa de les Puntxes – of course you didn't because we've marked them on the route as POIs!)
Starting Point Note:
This route is easily accessed by Metro as it starts at the Passeig de Gracia station. Begin northwest (away from the sea).
Finishing Point Note:
Your end point is the Arc de Triomf, sublime. Your après-run is well-situated, continue past the arc to the Parc de la Ciutadella. Its beautiful grounds and fountains are the perfect place to relax, do some stretching, and wonder amongst the sculptures and monuments. Also, if you happen to be into comics, a block before the end of the route, along the Passeig Sant Joan @ Carrer Ali Bei, you'll find a number of shops dedicated only to comics. Grab a coffee and enjoy!
Link to Movescount route here
This is truly the local's route, Barcelona Beach is one of best you'll see in a city anywhere in the world. This track is well-lit, safe and runnable throughout the year. It can get busy (because it's beautiful) with non-runners in the afternoon, especially in summer so get out there early in the morning to have your path, and your view of the Mediterranean Sea, clear.
The route is an out and back, running parallel to the shoreline, the track is smooth, flat and fast. With an invigorating breeze off the sea, you might be inclined to do some impromptu tempo work. The turn-around is at El Parc del Forum, the city's most popular spot for outdoor concerts and events. As you're headed back, run a little past your starting point and you'll find that this straight-forward run has a sweet ending. You'll see a main-stay of the beach's skyline, "the Sail" as the locals call it (W Hotel Barcelona). You are now in one of the most fascinating parts of the city, La Barceloneta, a neighbourhood which was first inhabited by solely by fisherman, is today full of renewed energy and home to countless restaurants and charming little bars.
Starting Point Note:
Taking the Metro to Cuitadella/Vila Olimpica station will place you within a block of the track (Av. del Litoral) which runs along Barcelona Beach (Passeig Maritim del Port Olimpic). You can begin your route anywhere along this path, but we've started near Parc del Port Olimpic, so head left as you walk from the Metro station.
Finishing Point Note/Alternative:
On the route we've shown you how to return to the start after a short visit of La Barceloneta, another option is to end here, as it is home to all sorts of activities, entertainment and fun you can find rentals for SUP, and the best paella in town, head to Kaiku (Placa del Mar 1, open for lunch and dinner), then stroll back to the start/finish.
Link to Movescount route here
Now you're in for a treat. While the other routes were in the heart of the city, this one will make you earn the best views of the city! This route climbs to the top of el Tibidabo (512 m), starting from a famous trail called "Carretera de les Aigues" – this is also the name of the train station (FGC not Metro) that will bring you to the starting point from the city centre in only 15 minutes. The path starts as gravel and some pavement, and eases you into the run with the first 3–4 km relatively flat. Then you climb. The part of the trail that goes up and and down the mountain is in a loop. Syncing this route and tracking your progress on your Suunto GPS watch is important as the twists and turns are significant.
At the top you'll find one of the oldest amusement parks in the world, with a classic old ferris wheel and carousel, as well as the beautiful Sacred Heart church. The best views of the city and the sea are from here, whether you're on of the rides or not. If your quads want to stop here, its possible to have a meal a catch a bus back down, then grab a train back to the centre.
Run during the week for the smallest crowds on the trails and at the top!
Starting Point Note:
Take an FGC (schedules at fgc.cat) train from the centre (Catalunya Station) to the Carretera de les Aigues stop. The trail begins immediately from there heading east (or left as you face the sea). It is generally safe to run at all hours, but if you're going out early in the morning or later in the evening, bring a headlamp with you as it will be dark on the trails.
Finishing Point Note:
Your finish is at Av. Tibidabo (@Paaseig de la Bonanova). The train can take you right back to Catalunya Station.
Discover new routes with heatmaps. Heatmaps show the tracks frequently used by the Suunto Movescount community all over the globe, based on millions of Moves. You can plan your own route with the help of rich, topographic maps, transfer it to your compatible Suunto watch and start exploring. See how it looks here.
With Suunto Ambit3, Suunto Traverse or Suunto Spartan watches, you can add these routes directly to your device and track your progress.
Did you know that you can earn Finnair Plus points by running this summer? 10 million points are available. Learn more at finnair.com/beactive
Main image: ©Senai Aksoi/Shutterstock.com


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People who love Camden State Park in southwestern Minnesota got a chance to find out about plans for the park and offer their suggestions at an open house given by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) at the Marshall-Lyon County Library on Tuesday evening (Oct. 9).
Plans for the park include improvements in trails and facilities and restoring the natural prairie ecosystem, the Marshall Independent reported.
"We're planting native grasses," said Molly Tranel Nelson, regional resource specialist with the DNR office in New Ulm. "This fall we had the combine out harvesting grass on the native reserve and seeding."
Native grass seed is harvested at a specific time of year and used to re-seed other parts of the park 25 to 50 acres at a time. The goal is to establish the native grass and wildlife species and encourage colonization by snakes, small mammals and provide better cover for deer.
The fire that burned about 80 acres in Camden on Monday was actually beneficial to this effort, according to Park Manager Bill Dinesen.
"It burned some of the restored prairie field and some wooded ravines with a native woodland community: burr oak, sugar maple and basswood," Dinesen said. "That's an area we'd regularly burn, there was no environmental damage. Burr oak is one of the few trees that can withstand prairie fire."
The DNR continues to work on expanding restored areas in the park that were formerly farmed and planted with imported species such as brome grass.
Other plans include repairing or rerouting horse and biking trails damaged by erosion.
"The trails have taken a lot of damage in the last few years of storms," said Curt Timmerman, member of the Friends of Camden. "The bridge on the Jones Millbank trail was washed out in September 2010 and a bridge by the horse camp. And for years we've been trying to get the pool restored with good bottom, get it dredged and cleaned out."
Some ideas being considered include introducing bison to the park to help maintain the natural native prairie cover and help preserve the herd of genetically pure bison in Blue Mound State Park.
"We've discovered the Blue Mound herd is genetically pure with no cattle genetics," said Alex Watson, regional naturalist. "Partnered with the Minnesota Zoo, we want to repopulate other parks and establish other herds. Camden is a proposed site."
Anyone interested who did not come to the open house will have an opportunity to submit their suggestions through the comment page of the Camden State Park section of the DNR website, according to Colin Kelly, principal planner of the DNR Parks and Trails Division.


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It's all about the Benjamin. Music and fashion genius Andre Benjamin aka Andre 3000 debuts his new Benjamin Bixby clothing collection in this full page editorial in the November issue of Paper. The collection is inspired by "the early 1900s collegiate football" and the iconic style of the Duke of Windsor.
Jarret Scantlebury and Shaun Ross are both promising newcomers and are represented by New York City-based Djamee Models. Jarret Scantlebury is currently seen modeling the latest wrestling singlets for Asics.
The striking Shaun Ross—more photos here—has a fascinating story. "[W]ith his pale skin and light green eyes and with hair a color his agency describes as 'brond,' he is decidedly singular, " says New York Times fashion writer Guy Trebay in a recent profile. "It is possible Mr. Ross is not the first male fashion model with albinism, but he is the sole example that even those with long memories of the industry recall."


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Not all acoustic guitars are the same. There are a lot of differences and characteristics that set each and every guitar apart from the other. Some of these characteristics are really obvious, but some are more nuanced and require a bit more attention.
When you make a serious financial investment, such as buying a guitar, it's important to make an educated buying decision.
The purpose of this guide is to give you a comprehensive overview of the things you should consider when buying an acoustic guitar or determining the quality of one.
My name is Brett and I'm a musician, songwriter, and a bit of a web geek. I love helping others learn and grow as musicians. My hope is that Guitar Friendly would be a website that helps you become a better guitar player.
If you so dare, I also have a ukulele lesson website that helps you learn how to play ukulele.
Click here to learn more about me.
Please feel free to get in touch at anytime.
Copyright © 2008-2011 Guitar Friendly · All Rights Reserved


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Chemo brain causes changes in memory and concentration. It can also affect the ability to think clearly and put thought into action. Some people notice these kinds of changes during and after cancer treatment.
These problems were first noticed by women who had treatment for breast cancer. They had changes in memory and concentration, which they linked to their chemotherapy treatment. This is why it is called 'chemo brain' or chemo-fog.
Although it is commonly used, the term 'chemo brain' can be misleading. Research shows that changes in memory and concentration can also happen in people with cancer who have never had chemotherapy. Your doctor may call these problems cancer-related cognitive changes (CRCC), mild cognitive impairment or cognitive dysfunction. The word 'cognitive' refers to thinking or the way we process information. Impairment or dysfunction means that something isn't working properly.
It's not clear which treatments may cause symptoms of chemo brain. Sometimes they may be caused by the cancer itself or by emotions such as anxiety and depression. The effects of chemo brain are usually temporary. But while they last, the symptoms can be frustrating and interfere with your normal activities. They may delay some people from going back to work, school or to social events.


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1. Open fridge
2. Take out apple
3. Eat apple
4. Did I eat 10 apples yet?
4a. No, repeat 3
4b. Yes, close fridge and go relax now I am full.
3 - 4 would be a loop. How would we do that in Assembly? I will show you how using Assembly and using MASM "High Level" syntax
The CPU has an instruction for loops called loop, it has two requirement - a label to loop to and a counter, the ecx (Extended Count register) register is the counter for the loop instruction.
You would put the iteration count in ecx and loop will decrement ecx till it equals 0 then exit the loop.
Print* are debug macros included in the MASM32 package that will "print" to a debug window or the RadASM IDE output window.
This will print "Yummy Apple!" 10 times, exit the loop then print "I ate 10 apples, now I am full"
mov ecx, 10 EatRedApple: PrintText "Yummy Apple!" loop EatRedApple PrintText "I ate 10 apples, I am full now"
Another way to do a loop is:
mov ecx, 10 EatBlueApple: PrintText "A blue Apple?!?!" dec ecx test ecx, ecx jnz EatBlueApple PrintText "UGH, I ate 10 blue Apples YUCK"
What we are doing is
1. Setting our counter to 10
2. Doing something
3. Decreasing our counter - dec
4. Testing to see if the zero flag is set - test (test does a bit-wise logical AND on the source and destination WITHOUT
5. If zero flag is not set jump back to EatBlueApple - jnz = Jump if not zero
5a. If zero flag is set, then leave loop
Yet another loop:
mov ecx, 10 EatGreenApple: PrintText "Green Apple, tart but yummy" dec ecx jnz EatGreenApple PrintText "I ate 10 green apples, I have a tummy ache now"
This one is a little bit more optimized than the BlueApple loop, if we are decreasing our counter then when our counter is zero, the zero flag gets set so we don't have to compare/test for zero.
Incrementing counter loop:
xor ecx, ecx RottenApple: PrintText "Oh no, not rotten Apples!" inc ecx cmp ecx, 10 jne RottenApple PrintText "Please no more rotten apples!"
We compare (cmp) our counter to 10 and if it is not 10 repeat RottenApple. jne = Jump if Not Equal. What cmp does in the CPU is subtract (SUB) the second operand from the first and sets ONLY the FLAGS registers.
Whereas the SUB instruction modifies the first operand.
So, this is what will happen:
dest > source then Carry Flag = 0 Zero Flag = 0
dest = source then Carry Flag = 0 Zero Flag = 1
dest < source then Carry Flag = 1 Zero Flag = 0
dest = source then Carry Flag = 0 Zero Flag = 1
dest < source then Carry Flag = 1 Zero Flag = 0
This is for unsigned numbers, signed numbers is a bit different.
Not to confuse you anymore than you are with Assembly, BUT... knowing what flags are set you can use different mnumonics with different encodings/sizes and for code readability.
So in the RottenApple, you could replace jne (Jump if Not Equal) with:
jnz (Jump if zero flag != 0) and have the same results.
So, what about using MASM and its High Level stuff? Ok, we will use 2 - a .while/.endw loop and a .repeat/.until loop. MASM has many HLL macros that make coding easier and cleaner looking, but I
wouldn't use them in speed critical loops, instead I would manually code a loop.
GreenApple loop with counter going 1 to 10 xor ecx, ecx inc ecx .while ecx <= 10 PrintText "Another apple" inc ecx .endw
We will start the counter @ 1. Sure we could
mov ecx, 1
but that is 5 bytes, while
xor ecx, ecx inc ecx
is only 3 bytes
So, we first set our starting index, check to see if our counter is at its max (10), if not, do something (printtext), increase our counter then jump to the beginning.
Another way is to use a .repeat/.until going 0 to 10
xor ecx, ecx .repeat PrintText "Ah jeesh another apple?" inc ecx .until ecx == 10
A .while loop checks the condition at the beginning of the loop, while a .repeat/.until checks the condition at the end of the loop.
Can I "nest" loops? No, why would you want to do that? haha Of course you can!
xor ecx, ecx .repeat PrintText "Eating Apple" .while dwGreenApple <= I_AM_FULL .if dwGreenApple <=6 PrintText "Yum, green apple" .else PrintText "No more apples please" .endif inc dwGreenApple .endw inc ecx .until ecx == I_AM_FULL
Those are all "simple" loops, they can get more complicated but using the HL syntax of MASM, it makes life easier.
Wait, wait... what is that .if/.else/.endif? Next tut folks, next tut :-)


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By Staff Sgt. Matthew E. Winstead, U.S. Army Alaska Public AffairsMay 21, 2012
KAHILTNA GLACIER BASE CAMP, Alaska (May 21, 2012) -- Crowning a vast glacier and surrounded by other peaks of impressive magnitude rises Mount McKinley, also known as Denali (a Koyukon Athabaskan word meaning "The High One").
It is the third most prominent amongst the Seven Summits of the world.
The mountain has a history of claiming the lives of unprepared climbers and offers some of the most treacherous terrain and harshest climates on the planet.
It's exactly the kind of challenge a team of U.S. Army Alaska mountaineering experts is looking for.
Six members of the Army's Northern Warfare Training Center cadre landed on the Kahiltna Glacier May 17 to begin a 14-to-20-day climb to the summit.
The NWTC trains Soldiers to fight and win in a variety of unforgiving environments. Its Black Rapids Training Center near Delta Junction, Alaska, offers courses in extreme cold weather operations and military mountaineering.
The NWTC team was shuttled in courtesy of two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crews from A Company, 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Brigade, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade.
Even though this is a mission the U.S. Army hasn't attempted since before the events of 9-11, the climbers are no strangers to mountaineering.
The NWTC instructors specialize in maneuvering on treacherous terrain in arctic conditions and say they're ready for anything the mountain has to throw at them.
The team consists of five active-duty Soldiers and one Army civilian, each fully equipped with a tailored packing list of sustainment supplies and climbing gear.
"We've made sure to plan for everything from weather to altitude sickness," said Maj. Gary McDonald, commandant of the NWTC, based at Black Rapids Training Area, Alaska. "We'll be moving in rope teams to help mitigate the danger from potentially falling into hidden crevasses and adhering to strict rest/movement plan."
People typically experience altitude sickness at an elevation around 17,000 feet above ground level. Bodily functions begin to operate abnormally due to several factors, chiefly the lessened air pressure and reduced concentration of oxygen at the higher elevations, McDonald explained.
Some of the signs of altitude sickness can include altered mental states, a reduced ability to absorb nutrients, vertigo and decreased awareness along with a general feeling of being unwell, McDonald said.
With so many risk factors, this is no small mission for the members of NWTC.
They have planned meticulously for months to make everything happen safely and for some members of the team it is the opportunity of a life time.
"I've wanted to climb this thing for the last four years," Sgt. Jacob Collins, an NWTC instructor said. "I attended the mountaineering course back in 2007 as a (private first class) and I sorta fell in love with it. Ever since then, this mountain has been on my to-do list."
In addition to meeting the personal goals of some of the team members, the climb is providing the consummate professionals of NWTC the perfect opportunity to hone their skills as they deal with conditions and travel methods most amateur climbers wouldn't consider.
"Most of our early movements at the lower elevations will be done at night," Staff Sgt. Brian Bailey said. "Nighttime provides us more protection from the heat and solar radiation reflected off the snow and ice and it also hardens the soft spots, allowing us to cross over them with less risk of falling through and into a crevasse. There'll also be less traffic from other climbers to deal with, as the other climbers tend to travel during the day."
Mount McKinley currently has an estimated 200 additional climbers on it at various levels, according to Denali National Park Service officials.
Steven Decker, a training specialist with NWTC and the team member with the longest tenure at the NWTC described the climb as a culminating training event using every technique and method taught at the schoolhouse.
"This is a capstone training event, similar to a unit going down to [The National Training Center] or [Joint Readiness Training Center] in the lower 48." Decker said. "A climb of this magnitude refines critical skills helps establish a greater confidence in the methods we teach."
In addition to his current service as an Army civilian, Decker was previously assigned to NWTC as a Soldier.
McDonald said training in such extreme conditions makes Soldiers more adaptable to any terrain and conditions.
"What we do here makes us better as a fighting force," he said. "Our Army might not always need to fight on terrain as harsh this, but having the ability and confident members who can make fighting on normal terrain that much easier."
McDonald pointed out the vivid similarities between areas of the Black Rapids Glacier, where NWTC is located, and the mountainous regions of northern Afghanistan.
"There are photos of the mountains of Afghanistan that are completely indistinguishable from the landscape we have available here in Alaska," he said. "The terrain matches, the vegetation matches. The comparison is uncanny. The training benefits of such areas are invaluable and need to be used more than they currently are."
In addition to summiting McKinley, the team has offered to assist in rescue missions conducted by the Denali National Park Service in their immediate area during the climb.
"While making it to the summit is a goal, it's not the only goal we have in climbing the mountain," McDonald said. "The park service has agreed to contact us in the event they receive word of a needed rescue in our immediate area, if that happens we'll render any assistance that we can. While that may render our attempt to summit the mountain unsuccessful, we will do whatever we can to help out in those situations."
The climbing team is currently making its way up Denali and rest at several camps along the way.
At the 17,000-ft. camp, the elevation is expected to begin affecting the climbers.
They are expecting the last leg of the climb to be the most strenuous and will have to conserve their resources for the climb down, where most fatalities traditionally occur.
"Just because you make it to the top doesn't mean you're done. You still gotta climb back down," team member Sgt. Tony MacDougall said.


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Imagine being at a school where you look up and see, not a ceiling, but a canopy of leaves and branches high above you.
Or being told you can shout all you want - just shout out into the forest. Where you can climb trees, use a saw or pocket knife to cut wood, fashion your own seesaw out of a rope and logs, and watch the lifecycle of bugs and birds in real time.
That's what it's like for children at a "forest kindergarten," where I spent a serene morning one day last week when I visited Germany.
The way into the forest was magical, with birds singing everywhere. The trees were high, stately, and utterly humbling. I really felt as though there is practically no better way to spend your days as a child than this.
I was in Europe because I got a book deal (hence the recent silence on this blog - I have been busy!) to write a book about parenting around the world. I went to Germany and also visited Finland, where I met friends, spoke with children of all ages, and was able to speak at length with many teachers. I also enjoyed the food (berries! bread! porridge!) and the beautiful Nordic summer sunlight.
Visiting schools gave me a fresh perspective on how different children live all around the world. For instance, the primary school students I spoke with in Finland told me that they have only four hours of school on Fridays, and that they get a LOT of recess.
I enjoyed seeing the children's artwork as well. Below are a few pictures of primary school art from the schools I visited in both Germany and Finland. I love the birch tree representations below - they bring back memories of the beautiful birches I saw in Finland.
I took my two little girls with me on this trip, and while my schedule was really busy, we had time to take long walks.
If you have something to share about what life is like for parents and children where you live, let me know via email or a comment - I'd really love to hear from you!