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Mom offers $50!! (CARING FOR AN HIV/AIDS PATIENT AT HOME)
First I'd like to say your website is Godsend! Second, my daughter bought a few outfits at the mall, she pulled one of the pants out and noticed there was some redish stain. If it was blood from an HIV infected person, would this pose a risk? She just had surgery on her leg and so she was an open wound where the pants would touch. She had the pants for about 12 hours before she took them out of the bag. Should I just wash them in my washer, will it be safe and efficient to "kill" the virus if any?
When someone that has HIV and bleeds on sheets or whatever, and live at home with other family members, what is usually the advice to clean it? Just in the washer and dryer as usual?
And is it safe to wash the pants in my washer and proceed to wash my other kids' clothes, or can I even wash other clothes along with these pants?
$50 is being sent your way! Thank you so much!
A "Godsend?" Well, I doubt the higher powers really sent me here to talk about sex, but OK, if you say so.
Your daughter's HIV risk is nonexistent. HIV doesn't survive very long at all outside the body. It's perfectly safe to wash the stained pants in your washer, the purpose being to get the stain out, as there wouldn't be any live virus to "kill!"
Regarding caring for an HIV/AIDS patient at home, yes, sheets can be washed (use detergent with bleach) and dried without any risk of transmission. I'll reprint some information below regarding caring for an HIV/AIDS patient at home.
Thank you for your donation to The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation (www.concertedeffort.org). It's warmly appreciated.
Dr. Bob
Concerns Careing from HIV patient (CARING FOR AN HIV/AIDS PATIENT AT HOME) Sep 8, 2008
I recently started caring from my brother who has Full blown AIDS with Cryptococcus meningitis. I wasnt paranoid about it until my toddler covered herself over with his throw and suddenly got a rash on both her arms and face. She had been inside all day. I used Benadryl and it went away. What is this? Should I be worried about hepatitis or something? Should I take her to the doctor? Also, I gave him a pedicure that same day without wearing gloves because there were no apparent open wounds on his feet and legs nor did I have any open wounds. I did not use a razor but he had all this yucky build up on his feet which took me two hours to clean off. Then, I got diarrhea. Should I be worried. I want to help him but I want my family and me to be safe.
Response from Dr. Frascino
We don't use the term "Full Blown AIDS" anymore, because in reality there is no such thing as "Partially Blown AIDS." I'm delighted you are caring for your brother in his time of need. I wish all AIDS patients had loving family members to care for them and love them.
Your fears about transmission are unwarranted. I can't diagnose the cause of your toddler's rash over the Internet, but I can tell you with great certainty that it was not HIV related. Likewise, your pedicure concerns are unwarranted. I'll repost below some information from the archives that discusses precautions when caring for an HIV/AIDS patient at home.
Be well. Please give your brother a hug from me.
Dr. Bob
HIV - AIDS Transmission Aug 24, 2008
Hi, my mom is infected by HIV, i help her appllying pain releif ointment on her back bone, i see the blood scratches on her body.. is there any chance that it is transmitted to me. Please help i am in big delima.
Response from Dr. Frascino
I'm very pleased you are helping your mom. You can care for her without worry of acquiring HIV by following some very basic precautions. (See below.) Give your mom a big hug from me, OK?
Dr. Bob
What You Need to Know About HIV and AIDS
If you are going to be caring for someone with HIV infection, you need to understand the basic facts about HIV and AIDS. AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). People who are infected with HIV can look and feel healthy and may not know for years that they are infected. However, they can infect other people no matter how healthy they seem. HIV slowly wipes out parts of the body's immune system; then the HIV-infected person gets sick because the body can't fight off diseases. Some of these diseases can kill them. Signs of HIV infection are like those of many other common illnesses, such as swollen glands, tiring easily, losing weight, fever, or diarrhea. Different people have different symptoms.
HIV is in people's blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and breast milk. The only way to tell if someone is infected with HIV is with a blood test.
There is no vaccine to prevent HIV infection and no cure for AIDS. There are treatments that can keep infected people healthy longer and prevent diseases that people with AIDS often get. Research is ongoing.
HIV slowly makes an infected person sicker and sicker. Diseases and infections will cause serious illness, but people often get better -- until the next illness. Sometimes, HIV can damage the brain and cause changes in feelings and moods, even make it hard to think clearly. Someone with AIDS can feel fine in the morning and be very sick in the afternoon. It can seem like riding a roller coaster, slowly climbing up to feeling good, then plunging down into another illness.
How HIV is Spread
The most common ways HIV is spread are: By having unprotected anal, vaginal, or oral sex with one who is infected with HIV
By sharing needles or syringes ("works") with someone who is infected with HIV
From mothers to their babies before the baby is born, during birth, or through breast-feeding. Taking the drug AZT during pregnancy can reduce the changes of infecting the baby by two-thirds, but will not prevent all babies from becoming infected with HIV.
Earlier in the AIDS epidemic some people became infected through blood transfusions, blood products (such as clotting factors given to people with hemophilia), or organ or tissue transplants. This has been very rare in the United States since 1985, when the test for HIV was licensed. Since then, all donated blood and donors of organs or tissue are tested for HIV. Health care workers, such as nurses, risk getting infected if they are stuck with a needle containing infected blood or splashed with infected blood in the eyes, nose, mouth, or on open cuts or sores. In a few cases, a person sharing a house with a person with HIV infection or taking care of a person with AIDS has become infected themselves. These infections may have been caused by sharing a razor, getting blood from the infected person into open cuts or sores, or some other way of having contact with blood from the infected person. If you are taking care of a person with HIV infection, carefully follow the steps on protecting yourself from infection discussed later.
How HIV is NOT Spread
You don't get HIV from the air, food, water, insects, animals, dishes, knives, forks, spoons, toilet seats, or anything else that doesn't involve blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or breast milk. You don't get HIV from feces, nasal fluid, saliva, sweat, tears, urine, or vomit, unless these have blood mixed in them. You can help people with HIV eat, dress, even bathe, without becoming infected yourself, as long as you follow the steps described later in the section on "Protecting Yourself" later in this brochure. You do get other germs from many of the things listed above, so do use common sense.
Protect Yourself
A person who has AIDS may sometimes have infections that can make you sick. You can protect yourself, however. Talk to the doctor or nurse to find out what germs can infect you and other people in the house. This is very important if you have HIV infection yourself. For example, diarrhea can be caused by several different germs. Wear disposable gloves if you have to clean up after or help a person with diarrhea and wash your hands carefully after you take the gloves off. Do not use disposable gloves more than one time.
Another cause of diarrhea is the cryptosporidiosis parasite. It is spread from the feces of one person or animal to another person or animal, often by contaminated water, raw food, or food that isn't cooked well enough. Again, wash your hands after using the bathroom and before fixing food. You can check with your local health department to see if cryptosporidiosis is in the water. If you hear that the water in your community may have cryptosporidiosis parasites, boil your drinking water for at least 1 minute to kill the parasite, then let the water cool before drinking. You may want to buy bottled (distilled) water for cooking and drinking if the cryptosporidiosis parasite or other organisms that might make a person with HIV infection sick could be in the tap water.
If the person with AIDS has a cough that lasts longer than a week, the doctor should check them for TB. If they do have TB, then you and everybody else living in the house should be checked for TB infection, even if you aren't coughing. If you are infected with TB germs, you can take medicine that will prevent you from developing TB.
If the person with AIDS gets yellow jaundice (a sign of acute hepatitis) or has chronic hepatitis B infection, you and everybody else living in the house and any people the person with AIDS has had sex with should talk to their doctor to see if anyone needs to take medicine to prevent hepatitis. All children should get hepatitis B vaccine whether or not they are around a person with AIDS.
If the person with AIDS has fever blisters or cold sores (herpes simplex) around the mouth or nose, don't kiss or touch the sores. If you have to touch the sores to help the person, wear gloves and wash your hands carefully as soon as you take the gloves off. This is especially important if you have eczema (allergic skin) since the herpes simplex virus can cause severe skin disease in people with eczema. Throw the used gloves away; never use disposable gloves more than once.
Many persons with or without AIDS are infected with a virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV), which can be spread in urine or saliva. Wash your hands after touching urine or saliva from a person with AIDS. This is especially important for someone who may be pregnant because a pregnant woman infected with CMV can also infect her unborn child. CMV causes birth defects such as deafness.
Remember, to protect yourself and the person with AIDS from these diseases and others, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water before and after giving care, when handling food, after taking gloves of, and after going to the bathroom.
Because the virus that causes AIDS is in the blood of infected persons, blood or other body fluids (such as bloody feces) that have blood in them could infect you. You can protect yourself by following some some simple steps. Wear gloves if you have to touch semen, vaginal fluid, cuts or sores on the person with AIDS, or blood or body fluids that may have blood in them. Wear gloves to give care to the mouth, rectum, or genitals of the person with AIDS. Wear gloves to change diapers or sanitary pads or to empty bedpans or urinals. If you have any cuts, sores, rashes, or breaks in your skin, cover them with a bandage. If the cuts or sores are on your hands, use bandages and gloves. Wear gloves to clean up urine, feces, or vomit to avoid all the germs, HIV and other kinds, that might be there. There are two types of gloves you can use. Use disposable, hospital-type latex or vinyl gloves to take care of the person with AIDS if there is any blood you might touch. Use these gloves one time, then throw them away. Do not use latex gloves more than one time even if they are marked "reusable." You can buy hospital-type gloves by the box at most drug stores, along with urinals, bedpans, and many other medical supplies. Many insurance companies and Medicaid will pay for these gloves if the doctor writes a prescription for them. For cleaning blood or bloody fluids from floors, bed, etc., you can use household rubber gloves, which are sold at any drug or grocery store. These gloves can be cleaned and reused. Clean them with hot, soapy water and with a mixture of bleach and water (about 1/4 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water). Be sure not to use gloves that are peeling, cracked, or have holes in them. Don't use the rubber gloves to take care of a person with AIDS; they are too thick and bulky.
To take gloves off, peel them down by turning them inside out. This will keep the wet side on the inside, away from your skin and other people. When you take the gloves off, wash your hands with soap and water right away. If there is a lot of blood, you can wear an apron or smock to keep your clothes from getting bloody. (If the person with AIDS is bleeding a lot or very often, call the doctor or nurse.) Clean up spilled blood as soon as you can. Put on gloves, wipe up the blood with paper towels or rags, put the used paper towels or rags in plastic bags to get rid of later, then wash the area where the blood was with a mix of bleach and water.
Since HIV can be in semen, vaginal fluid, or breast milk just as it can be in blood, you should be as careful with these fluids as you are with blood.
If you get blood, semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk, or other body fluid that might have blood in it in your eyes, nose, or mouth, immediately pour as much water as possible over where you got splashed, then call the doctor, explain what happened, and ask what else you should do.
Needles and Syringes
A person with AIDS may need needles and syringes to take medicine for diseases caused by AIDS or for diabetes, hemophilia, or other illnesses. If you have to handle these needles and syringes, you must be careful not to stick yourself. That is one way you could get infected with HIV. Use a needle and syringe only one time. Do not put caps back on needles. Do not take needles off syringes. Do not break or bend needles. If a needle falls off a syringe, use something like tweezers or pliers to pick it up; do not use your fingers. Touch needles and syringes only by the barrel of the syringe. Hold the sharp end away from yourself.
Put the used needle and syringe in a puncture-proof container. The doctor, nurse, or an AIDS service organization can give you a special container. If you don't have one, use a puncture-proof container with a plastic top, such as a coffee can. Keep a container in any room where needles and syringes are used. Put it well out of the reach of children or visitors, but in a place you can easily and quickly put the needle and syringe after they are used. When the container gets nearly full, seal it and get a new container. Ask the doctor or nurse how to get rid of the container with the used needles and syringes.
If you get stuck with a needle used on the person with AIDS, don't panic. The chances are very good (better than 99%) that you will not be infected. However, you need to act quickly to get medical care. Put the needle in the used needle container, then wash where you stuck yourself as soon as you can, using warm, soapy water. Right after washing, call the doctor or the emergency room of a hospital, no matter what time it is, explain what happened, and ask what else you should do. Your doctor may want you to take medicine, such as AZT. If you are going to take AZT, you should begin taking it as soon as possible, certainly within a few hours of the needlestick.
Flush all liquid waste (urine, vomit, etc.) that has blood in it down the toilet. Be careful not to splash anything when you are pouring liquids into the toilet. Toilet paper and tissues with blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or breast milk may also be flushed down the toilet. Paper towels, sanitary pads and tampons, wound dressings and bandages, diapers, and other items with blood, semen, or vaginal fluid on them cannot be flushed should be put in plastic bags. Put the items in the bag, then close and seal the bag. Ask the doctor, nurse, or local health department about how to get rid of things with blood, urine, vomit, semen, vaginal fluid, or breast milk on them. If you can't have plastic bags handy, wrap the materials in enough newspaper to stop any leaks. Wear gloves when handling anything with blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or breast milk on it.


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We have started our 1:1 iPad trial at Jakarta World Academy. Up until this time at Jakarta World Academy, I have been using my iPad with various classes and the mobile set of iPod Touches. Yesterday I got to teach with the iPads in K2. In this trial program the students were issued with an iPad each which they can take home. What I want to learn about is how we can build a system for these children to archive their work easily (probably at this stage by emailing the teacher) and to use these devices effectively in all learning areas.
Wow factors
The iPads have such a large tactile interface which make them perfect for younger learners. What I saw yesterday was a lot of interaction between learners and a lot of fast modelling. Yes the iPod Touch have that touch interface but the screen is small and you really need to hold the iPod in your hand to be able to use it successfully. This can make it hard to look on as the screen must face the user so that they can be accurate with their input. With the iPads what I saw was the child could have the iPad in from of them and the teacher was able to tap and guide without moving the device. This gave the child greater ownership as they could seamlessly have the activity modelled without having to hand the device over.
The second thing that I noticed was how easy it is to cater for differentiation. There are only 6 students in this class but each child was able to work on an activity suited to their level with complete engagement at the same time. Yes I know that this happens in the non-technology classroom - but the level on constant engagement was very intense as the children moved through the task at a pace suited to their own needs.
Yesterday we used many Maths Apps but Lobster Diver was particularly popular. Lobster Diver is a free app and can be found here Lobster Diver

subset: commoncrawl


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Rules of the Forum
We really did not want to post this ---but newbies get banned and then e-mail us and say "I didn't know". So here we go with the boring stuff---most is common sense.
Adding language rule
Forum Rules
1. No Child Porn--- this means no real Pictures of anyone under 18---clothed or not.
A good guide is, if when you look at a person in an image and even for a second have concerns that they are under 18 DO NOT USE THAT IMAGE.
2. No Beastiality.....Real Pictures are not allowed, But Cartoon Images will be.
3. You must be 18 years old to be a member---do not represent yourself as being a minor ---even in a role playing post, AND YOUR BIRTHDATE MUST APPEAR IN YOUR PROFILE AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION OR YOU WILL BE BANNED AND ASSUMED UNDERAGE UNTIL IT IS.
4. Only 1 User Account Per Member...If you are found to have Multiple you will be contacted and extra accounts deleted.
5. Posts of Toon and 3D---Subjects must look like they are at least 13
6. Stories---ALL Characters in Regular Erotic Stories that have sexual activities can be 14-15 or older, but no Younger than 14..This will mean that they are of High school age, not elementary or Jr. High...We will allow ages under that only as an Introduction, Narrative, Prologue Etc. as long as that Character is not involved in a sexual situation.
All Stories of Forced Sex, or Death by Sex, Etc. MUST be 18 regardless.
If you are not the Author of a Story you are submitting, you MUST include the Authors Name so that the Proper credit is given...DO NOT post stories that Authors make Money from without their written Permission.
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"Hotlinking": Applies ONLY to pictures. When you click on a picture and it takes you to a different site, that's a "hotlink." You don't know where you are going, what the picture contains, or whether it's a legitimate picture. For instance, by clicking on the picture, you could be downloading a virus or Trojan horse to your computer. Additionally, if the picture is taken down by the other site, it leaves debris behind that clogs up our server.
10. No images are to be posted with other peoples personal contact information on them such as instant messenger or email addys. The same would apply to contact information in other posts as well, only information pertaining to YOUR own personal contact information is allowed to be posted.
11. Personal threats of bodily harm will not be tolerated.
12. Moderators reserve the right to move any thread to the appropriate forum. Also remove, edit or close any thread as they deem necessary.
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Links to "youtube" and "myspace" are ok if adult in nature and not spam.
14. All posts, stories, chat must be in English. If we can not read your text we can not moderate it. Any text that the moderators can not read my be removed.
15. Rules are subject to change as the need arises.
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Dexter, KS
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It's not quite May, but I have officially begun my search for the perfect popcorn movie. That's what we call the big box-office bruisers that swagger through our summers because expectations are strangely both high — and low. A quick fix of fun and a one-liner to co-opt — "I'll be back..." — if we're lucky. A dismal Saturday night if we're not.
The creative heights these films set out to climb may be different than the dramatic and emotional peaks scaled by more serious fare in the fall. But it is not enough to just flex a few muscles or rest on special effects. Whether it's another round with old familiar Spidey or a newly imagined Hercules, these flicks are supposed to go for popcorn greatness.
What qualifies as a popcorn movie? Any film whose primary mission is to entertain (any thinking, crying or reflecting is just an add-on). Do they open only in the summer? No, they can land in theaters from January to December, but they must have popcorn soul. Here are a few of the mandatory ingredients, the butter and salt necessary to make ordinary popcorn unforgettable.
Delicious characters: Whether superheroes, sci-fi thrillers or horror chillers, on some level even the best fantasy and froth needs to make us care. Who wasn't rooting for Sigourney Weaver's sweat-soaked Ripley fighting an other-worldly creature in 1979's "Alien" or touched by that tentative other alien in Steven Spielberg's "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" in '82? On the other hand, when "Van Helsing" stormed through Transylvania in 2004 trying to take down all manner of monsters including the Wolf Man, Dracula and Frankenstein's freak, I just wanted it to be over — everyone was irritating. In 2012 "Magic Mike" revealed so much more than Matthew McConaughey and Channing Tatum's impressive six-packs, while 1995's "Showgirls" proved that getting naked is never enough.
A villain worth buying: For heroes to be super, they need to have an adversary with an interesting criminal mind; the more complex, the more compelling. Ones that stay with you long after the house lights come up, like the late Heath Ledger's terribly tortured Joker in 2008's "The Dark Knight" or Anthony Hopkins' Dr. Hannibal Lecter, so delectably chilling in 1991's "The Silence of the Lambs." Perhaps no one did it better than a terrifying Jack Nicholson in 1980's "The Shining," although the steel jaws in "Jaws" did keep a great many people out of the ocean in summer '75. It's why I can't wait to see Angelina Jolie in "Maleficent."
The right actor in the right role: The very funny Ryan Reynolds was so out of his element in green tights and goggles in 2011's "Green Lantern" it was laughable for all the wrong reasons. The black bondage wear didn't suit Halle Berry in 2004's "Catwoman" any better than the cape did George Clooney in 1997's "Batman & Robin." On the flip side, Christian Bale fit "The Dark Knight" to a T, while Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto were spot-on as a next-generation Kirk and Spock in 2009's "Star Trek." It is never about the clothes, of course. But if the characters are a bad fit, the tights don't help.
Effects that make my day: Movies are inherently a visual medium, and the big screen gives filmmakers a big canvas. But to take my breath away it takes a special effect. In recent times, few have succeeded better than James Cameron's "Avatar" in 2009 with its Pandora paradise and its beautiful beings, although the outer space of Alfonso Cuarón's "Gravity" came close. It seems each summer brings at least one standout, like the liquid silver of 1999's "Matrix" or the shape-shifting alien soldier in "Predator." Less awe-inspiring, to say the least, was 2010's "Piranha 3D," followed in 2012 by "Piranha 3DD," which as the titles suggest were as much the breasts above the water as beasties below.
Make me laugh until I cry: Every summer needs a strong comedy streak. But it's a thin line between funny and factitious. While there was a certain charm to "Ted's" (2012) foul-mouthed stuffed bear working out his issues with his best friend played by Mark Wahlberg, the chain-smoking in 1986's "Howard the Duck," waddling through Cleveland, was nothing but a very long, very bad joke. "Airplane's" silliness soared in 1980, "Soul Plane's" attempt to parody the parody in 2004 dived. The heights reached by the seminal rock 'n' roll spoof in 1984's "This Is Spinal Tap" hit rock bottom with 2009's cavemen in "Year One." Maybe Seth MacFarlane, who worked such magic with "Ted," will do it again this summer with "A Million Ways to Die in the West."
Surprise me: One summer craving at the top of my list is for something, anything fresh. It can take any number of forms, I'm not picky; like the way 1996's "Scream" mixed that first funny/frightening cocktail or Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow hoodwinking his way into our hearts in 2003's "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." And that trio of badly behaving boys we were introduced to in 2009's "The Hangover" would not have carried the summer without an unforgettable cameo by Mike Tyson, or his tiger, or that chicken, or that tooth. Which is why the completely unsurprising "The Hangover Part II" and the completely annoying "The Hangover Part III" gave bad sequels a bad name. Meanwhile, the all-time classic surprise may be 1999's "The Sixth Sense" — I really did not see that coming.
Do I want a second helping: It is rare in movies, but some do improve over the years. Francis Ford Coppola upped the stakes brilliantly in 1974's "The Godfather: Part II," which if anything improved on a classic. After the pure invention of director George Lucas' 1977 "Star Wars," the next chapter, 1980's "The Empire Strikes Back," directed by Irvin Kershner, was a stunner. More "Wars" followed, some better than others, but none have surpassed "Empire." Just this spring, "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" proved it could sharpen its storytelling. Hopefully it's a summer trend, since there are so many in the queue, including "Spider-Man 2," "22 Jump Street," "How to Train Your Dragon 2," "Planes: Fire & Rescue," "Transformers: Age of Extinction" and "The Expendables 3," to name a few.
Don't disappoint me: Sometimes a movie's title will be such a good tease, it makes the let's-see list right away. The test is whether you come out satisfied or feeling like you were taken, as opposed to "Taken." Take 2006's "Snakes on a Plane." Please. The idea sounded so promising, the reality turned out to be nothing but snakes on a plane, no interesting slithering, just a boring wait for the next snake to drop. Among the summer's contenders: "Nothing Bad Can Happen," which of course means something bad will; "Let's Be Cops," which suggests good mayhem might be in the offing; and "Two Night Stand," either a laugh riot or a case of someone not learning from their mistakes, that would be me I'm talking about. Like most moviegoers, I don't forgive a bait-and-switch. I expect even silly movies to deliver on their promises.
Now pass me the popcorn please.


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This is the login panel
The Government Affairs Committee (GAC) and Midwives-Political Action Committee (Midwives-PAC) seek three Student Representatives for a minimum one-year term starting at the 2014 ACNM Annual Meeting. Applicants do not need prior legislative or policy experience. Attendance at the 2014 Annual Meeting is strongly preferred. This position is a great way to learn about the legislative process, work collaboratively with other midwives and student midwives to advance midwifery, and have fun along the way. Please send an email of interest and resume to [email protected] by Friday, May 2, 2014. ACNM membership is required.
Role of ACNM Midwives-PAC/GAC Student Representative
Job Description


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Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland is engaged to wed again – the rocker has proposed to photographer Jamie Wachtel.
Weiland, who has been married twice before, has confirmed the happy news to Rolling Stone, revealing he met Wachtel while shooting videos for his Christmas album, "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," in 2011.
He says, "I am incredibly happy. She is incredibly beautiful in every aspect of the word. Lovely, smart, passionate. And she loves my kids and I love her son.
"We're getting married in the spring, and our families will be living together. … She's the greatest thing that's happened to me in a long, long time."
And Weiland tells the publication he became attracted to the photographer when she helped to calm his nerves on the video set: "I was kind of nervous because one of the songs ('I'll Be Home for Christmas') was a tribute to war veterans from World War II on to today. So I'm in this vintage World War II dress outfit, and she was taking stills of me.
"I was leaning against this fireplace, and she's like, 'You might want to tuck in your belly a little bit'. It was around the holidays – it was after Thanksgiving, and you know how that tends to be. I was kind of caught off guard, and I started laughing and she started laughing. And I don't know… something magical happened."
Weiland split from his second wife, model Mary Forsburg, in 2007. The couple was married for seven years.


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Over the past decade, records show about 60 percent of the $165 million generated by the CRAs — $100 million — was diverted from county and hospital district funds.
DELAND — Volusia County Council members aren't likely to reach a speedy consensus — or find simple answers — to their questions about what to do with the special taxing districts known as Community Redevelopment Areas.
A three-hour workshop Thursday in council chambers in DeLand only served to demonstrate how complicated the issues are — and how many differing opinions there are about CRAs.
Several representatives from Volusia cities weighed in, describing CRAs as a tool for helping boost the tax base in blighted areas. County officials agreed. But with 15 CRAs already on the books and cities lining up to add more, they're also concerned about the costs. Over the past decade, records show about 60 percent of the $165 million generated by the CRAs — $100 million — was diverted from county and hospital district funds.
"The whole fiscal environment has changed for everyone," County Manager Jim Dinneen said.
Dinneen said he intends to bring up the issue again at the council's Feb. 28 meeting. He's looking for direction from the council — which includes four new members — on how to govern existing CRAs as well as an approach to new applications. Deltona, Orange City, Edgewater, New Smyrna Beach and DeBary are in various stages of discussions over CRA proposals.
Opinions from the council were as varied as the county's cities.
New Councilman Doug Daniels, an attorney who has worked with developers on projects within CRAs, said he was a strong supporter, calling CRAs the best economic development tool available to cities and the county.
"It's a tool we really do need to use, but we need to use it in an intelligent manner," he said.
Representatives from the cities echoed Daniels' sentiment. Glenn Storch, another attorney who has worked on CRA projects, said they give confidence to developers that local governments are committed to improving an area. He credited the CRA in New Smyrna Beach with cleaning up the Flagler Avenue area.
"It (the blight) was like a virus where the blight was spreading into the residential areas and around it," Storch said, adding, "If we don't invest in our urban core areas ... we'll produce sprawl and more blight in urban areas."
Council members may feel limited on what they can do with existing CRAs. Many of the districts have borrowed against anticipated revenues to pay for major projects, such as Daytona Beach's Main Street CRA, which paid to support the Ocean Walk project and the expansion of the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort.
Councilwoman Pat Northey raised the idea of limiting which tax funds could be used by CRAs, including those earmarked for hospital districts, mosquito control and the Volusia Forever and ECHO programs, supporting land preservation purchases and parks and cultural projects.
"We've delegated a lot of money and a lot of authority away," Northey said, adding later, "We can't continue giving."
Volusia County Chair Jason Davis spoke of the need for fiscal restraint. "We can't just keep adding on and adding on," he said. "I'm not a big fan of CRAs, never have been. But I'm not so closed-minded that I'm going to say we should get rid of them all."


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Feb. 18, 2006
LONG BEACH, Calif. - UC Santa Barbara captured both the men's and women's swimming and diving championships at the 2006 Big West championship meet concluded today at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach. The Gaucho men recorded 821.0 points to beat out second place UC Davis which had 733.0 points. UCSB women edged out a tough UC Davis squad, with the Gauchos scored 785.0 points to the Aggies 756.0.
Individual event winners for UCSB on the men's side today included junior Pat Cary and sophomore Brooks Felton. Cary stormed to victory in the 200 fly with a time of 1:45.58 while Felton won the 1,650 freestyle in 15:36.78. Both Gaucho swimmers won two events at this year's championships.
Bradley Matsumoto, Patrick Ota, Scott Lindberg, and Grant Hurst won the 400 free relay, 3:00.38. Brent Nolan took second to Felton in the 1650, 15:43.29. Grant Hurst placed second in the 100 free, 45.58. Bradley Matsumoto and Curtis Bauer took fifth and sixth, 46.37 and 46.42 in that event. T.K. Erwin and Myles Peck finished third and fourth in the 200 back, 1:47.95 and 1:48.12, respectively.
On the women's side, two freshmen emerged victorious for the Gauchos. Jessica Cruzat took home top honors in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:59.78. Freeman swam the 200 breaststroke in 2:15.88 for her second individual title of the meet to go with two first place finishes in relay events. Jenisse Demeulenaere, Jessica Cruzat, Jen Schwalb and Nadia Dwidar won the 400 freestyle relay, 3:24.88.
Jen Cook finished second to Freeman in the 200 breast with a time of 2:18.66. Ashley Yamahata took second in the 1650 event with a time of 17:20.89. Jenisse Demeulenaere finished second in the 100 free, 51.47 and Nadia Dwidar was just behind her finishing fourth, 51.56. Jen Schwalb and Erin Yamamoto took third and fourth in the 200 fly, 2:01.98 and 2:02.46. Danielle Taylor took fourth in the 200 back, 2:05.98 and teammate Alissa Hollowell took seventh, 2:11.93.
The Big West Women's Freshman of the Year went to UC Santa Barbara's Katy Freeman. UCSB's Gregg Wilson got the nod as Big West Men's and Women's Coach of the Year to round out top honors.
Final team results are as follows:
UC Santa Barbara - 785.0; UC Davis - 756.0; UC Irvine - 722.5; Pacific - 615.0; Cal Poly- 249.5; Cal State Northridge - 247.0
UC Santa Barbara - 821.0; UC Davis - 733.0; UC Irvine - 644.5; Pacific - 615.0; Cal Poly- 293.0; Cal State Northridge - 292.5


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The United States has a military presence in two thirds of countries around the world. A group of 12 have had enough and initiate a terror ultimatum called the Blacklist - a deadly countdown of escalating terrorist attacks on U.S. interests. Sam Fisher is the leader of the newly formed 4th Echelon unit: a clandestine unit that answers solely to the President of the United States. Sam and his team must hunt down these terrorists by any means necessary, and stop the Blacklist countdown before it reaches zero.
The United States has a military presence in two-thirds of countries around the world. Some of them have had enough. A group of terrorists calling themselves The Engineers initiate a terror ultimatum called the Blacklist - a deadly countdown of escalating attacks on US interests at home and abroad.
Sam is back in his ops suit and goggles, and he's more lethal and agile than ever. Granted the freedom to do whatever it takes to stop the Blacklist, Sam flies from exotic locales to US cities as he races against the clock to find out who's behind this devastating threat.
Sam Fisher knows exactly what he was made to be: a multimillion-dollar weapon developed by the US government to do what few others can do. Long before Third Echelon tapped him to be the first Splinter Cell agent, Sam was operating behind enemy lines, in situations where traditional rules of engagement didn't apply. From Panama and the Persian Gulf to Bolivia, Columbia, Yugoslavia, and Kosovo, Fisher carried out missions which most American citizens would be horrified to learn about, should the US Government ever admit they occurred. A former Navy SEAL, Sam belonged to an elite brotherhood of warriors ready to sacrifice their lives in defense of America's freedoms. Combat, espionage, and constant training have defined his adult life. His tactical experience has become part of his instinct.
Now, however, he stands alone, having rejected what his service had become and the mandates of those giving him orders. Having sacrificed everything for his country - his marriage, his daughter, his reputation, and his best friend - he finished his last assignment and walked away, a human weapon gone rogue. And the funny thing is, he almost didn't become a soldier at all.
Equal parts brilliant and reckless (not on purpose - he just doesn't think), Charlie has been getting himself in and out of trouble as a hacker since he was twelve. Far from a solitary introvert, Charlie enjoys a healthy social life and has a natural self-deprecating charm that he uses to defuse tension or make light of those who take things (and themselves too seriously).
Owing to his youth and focus on tech, Charlie hasn't suffered many consequences in the real world so he's pretty cavalier about the trouble he gets in. It's hard to worry when you've been able to talk or tech your way out of any problem you've run into. It's all just a game and Charlie always wins... well almost always. And when he doesn't, well, Charlie will grow into a key member of the Fourth Echelon team but he's got a lot to learn, including how to be calm under fire and how to keep focus when all breaks loose (especially when it just might be his fault).
Anna Grímsdóttir (known as "Grim" to her friends in the NSA) is the technical operations manager at Third Echelon. Her role is to provide Sam Fisher with technical support in the field, as well as to analyze and interpret much of the electronic data. A skilled hacker, Grímsdóttir normally tries to remotely hack into an objective computer system before Fisher is inserted, or when not possible does it direct from Fisher's OPSAT connection to a computer terminal.
Victor "Vic" Anthony Christopher Coste is one of Sam Fisher's oldest friends. The two served together on SEAL Team Two in Iraq during the Gulf War in 1991. During their time in Iraq, Coste single-handedly rescued Sam from a hostage situation after he was captured by Iraqi forces during a disastrous mission. After leaving the Navy, Coste later became a private security consultant. He served as Sam's contact in Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction®, giving him vital information and equipment during certain missions. Near the end of the game, Coste reunited Sam with his daughter Sarah. In Conviction, Coste also served as the game's narrator, retelling the story in a Black Arrow PMC interrogation room. The player also took control of Victor during a flashback to the mission where he saved Sam. Following Conviction, Vic and Sam are working together for Vic's PMC, Paladin 9, taking contracts they believe in, as opposed to blindly following orders. That is, until the first Blacklist attack, where Vic is horrifically injured by a grenade when trying to protect Sam.
A remote-pilotable flying drone that fires Sticky Shocker darts. Its rotors can be heard by hostiles if you fly too close.
Use the Tri-Rotor to: Scout out areas and Mark hostiles, or attract enemies. Upgrade to gain the ability Self-Destruct and emit sonar pulses
Sonar is unavailable in Perfectionist or near Drone Operators. Drone Operators cannot jam the Tri-Rotor's main video frequency.
Use it to create an opening to slip through patrols, or lure hostiles into a trap. This tiny speaker can be thrown onto walls and surfaces to distract guards from their posts.
Sticks to walls and delivers a localized electromagnetic pulse, disabling lights and Security Systems nearby. Use it to create Shadow paths to hide from hostiles, or target Power Boxes near laser trip wires to shut them down. Hostiles are unaffected by the pulse, but will investigate when they see lights shutting off.
A remote camera that can be thrown onto walls or other surfaces to offer a second set of eyes. Use it to watch your own back, or scout from new vantage points. Once upgraded, the camera can also Self-Destruct to stun or kill nearby hostiles.
VISION MODES: Goggles let you see things you otherwise can't. By default, your Goggles offer Night Vision mode, so you can see clearly while hidden in the shadows. Buy more advanced goggles to add Sonar Vision mode. SONAR VISION: Sonar goggles periodically emit a supersonic pulse to detect hostiles behind walls. They can also detect Mines and Security Systems. Upgrade your Sonar Goggles to increase their range and sensitivity. On Perfectionist difficulty, Sonar Goggles cannot see through walls.
Splinter Cell Blacklist builds on the stealth roots of the franchise, while exploring new directions to embrace the realms of action and adventure. Players can define their personal play styles and be rewarded for those choices.Ghost players want to remain undetected.Assault players rely on instincts and firepower to deal with a situation.Panther players strike lethally from the shadows in the most efficient and silent way.
Through the use of the Stategic Mission Interface (SMI), the lines between the Single-Player campaign and CO-OP are blurred as the narrative between Sam and Briggs is deepened. Earn in-game currency and unlock additional weapons or gadgets via specialized missions assigned by members of the Fourth Echelon.
Spies vs. Mercs is a unique multiplayer experience that innovates from the roots of the Splinter Cell franchise.On one end, you have a team of agile, stealthy Spies looking to infiltrate a location and hack terminals to gather information, all while remaining undetected. On the other end, you have a team of heavily armed and powerful Mercs that must defend their terminals and stop the Spies from gathering the data by any means necessary.Each team has different abilities and tools that they must leverage to outsmart their opponents, setting the tone for big rivalries and very fun competitive gameplay.
If you are a fan of Tom Clancy series, check out all the latest The Division games and accessories available for the Xbox One, PS4, and PC.
Pro Price


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Fridays!: Free again, fun always
Fridays after 5 is a staple of Charlottesville life. It's grown from year to year and many charities that benefit from its proceeds hope it will continue forever. While it stumbled a little last year, with the $3-$5 admission charge and many rained-out nights, this looks like a year of redemption.
Two early-season rain-outs raised fears about the event's viability, but by the end of June, organizers announced that they felt confident that the new amphitheater on this site run by developer/band manager Coran Capshaw would welcome it back.
Meanwhile, the sun has shone on much of this year's schedule including popular local groups such as King Wilkie, Corey Harris & The 5x5, Terri Allard, Big Ray & The Kool Kats, and Monticello Road– who played Friday, August 27.
One of the younger local bands, Monticello Road has come a long way from its standard frat-rock cover band beginnings. The musicians blend pop rock acoustic fun with the confidence and coordination of a group seasoned by touring.
At the east end of the Mall on Friday, the boys commanded the audience's attention without being overbearing or annoying. (The spectacular weather didn't hurt!)
Despite bigger crowds, heavier traffic, and scarcer and scarcer parking, Fridays gives every indication of continuing to be a cornerstone of the downtown scene for the foreseeable future. There are still a few Fridays left to get in on the action.
See you there!
Dance machines!
You have to get by Jennifer Foronjy if you want to drink beer.
Fridays in all its glory
Fridays nestles in our little 'ville like a baby in his mama's arm.
Kyle Rannigan rocks! Charlottesville approves!
Monticello Road spans the arc of the downtown amphitheater.


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The Eyes Have It
It was nearly three centuries ago that the first glasses that wrapped around the temples were introduced. Fortunately, we've come a long way from those early days when individual prescriptions didn't exist, women only wore glasses in private and most glasses were bought from traveling caravans. In contrast, eyeglasses and sunglasses today are some of the most coveted, statement-making accessories. Eyewear design is no longer focused primarily on function, but on fashion too. Of course that doesn't mean there weren't stylish spectacles in the past. Here's a look at how they've evolved over the last century.
Turn of the Century: 1900-1920
In the early part of the century, several styles of eyewear, worn by both sexes, were popular. Hailing from France, pince-nez (literally meaning "to pinch the nose") spectacles were probably one of the silliest and most uncomfortable styles of eyeglasses to ever be worn. Sitting at the bridge of the nose without temples and made mostly of wire or horn (though some early versions were curiously crafted in leather), they balanced precariously on the face. To prevent them from frequently popping off, eyeglass makers devised some creative options like attaching neck chains and wire ear-loops to prevent them from crashing to the ground. Teddy Roosevelt popularized pince-nez glasses in America.
The lorgnette — or what we refer to today as "opera glasses" — was another style that was widely used among fashionable women and the high-society set. The lorgnette has duo lenses (one for each eye) and is mounted on a long handle (see middle image). Decorative handles were popular, featuring etched metals, carved horn and encrusted jewels. The lorgnette was deemed acceptable for women because they merely held the accessory to the face, rather than obscuring the face with actual spectacles. (God forbid!)
Circular-lensed wire spectacles were the most popular style, featuring temples that curved securely behind the ear. This lightweight version of the eyeglass (although not particularly pretty) was the future of things to come.
Also rather noteworthy was the development of lenses that were capable of absorbing harmful UV and infrared light in 1913.
The 1920s through the 1930s
The round lens retained its popularity through this period but was fashioned out of sturdier metal and celluloid, a fine, expensive plastic that is no longer in production due to its delicacy, flammability and inability to last.
The introduction of new materials began to surface in this period: Real silver and 12k-gold plating and gold filling made their debut in an effort to jazz up the look and feel of metal, wire-framed eyeglasses. Tortoise shell was extremely popular for its natural beauty and flattering shades and markings against the face. However, these specs were thick and heavy and tended to be uncomfortable.
The first Ray-Ban Aviators were developed in the '30s at the request of US Air Force pilots who complained of headaches and altitude sickness due to the extreme glare of the sun while flying. Ray-Ban invented the green-hued lenses, known as polarization, cutting glare and relieving the symptoms of pilots and sun-seekers everywhere. They were released for sale to the public in 1937.
The 1940s through the 1950s
The biggest trend in eyewear in the 1940s was surely the "browline." Introduced in 1947 and combining both metal and plastic, the top section of the frame is made in plastic, giving them their distinctive, signature faux eyebrow look. The browline was so popular after the second World War that it made up 50 percent of all eyeglass sales moving right into the 1950s.
Frames became more fashionable. A huge variety of colors in plastics were available and lenses became larger and rounder — even rectangular. It was clear that women and men desired variety and fun in their choice of eyewear.
The major statement in the '50s was the cat eye. Whether for optical or sun-shading purposes, the cat eye was the most popular style of the decade, coming in a variety of colors, sizes and decorations. Some were even covered in rhinestones, pearls, or plastic flowers, moving into the realm of fantastical. Marilyn Monroe was a huge fan of the cat eye, wearing them in her films and in real life. This marked a real moment of glamour in the world of eyewear.
Heavy black-rimmed glasses (also known as G-man specs) were also popular with the literary, beat and art crowd and reflected the look of the influential film noir style. In 1952, Ray-Ban introduced the iconic Wayfarer, a plastic framed mid-century modern style with a more masculine feel, made even cooler by James Dean.
The 1960s through the 1970s
The '60s were dominated by two major style forces: the Mods and the Flower Children. The former was a highly stylized look that gave way to bold, clean geometric shapes, strong black and white with bright pops of color and a newfound sense of futurism. High fashion became synonymous with oversized bug-eye glasses and oddly shaped frames that seemed a cross between a visor and some device worn to protect your eyes while on your spaceship.
Designers like Paco Rabanne, Pierre Cardin and Andres Courreges were the champions of the mod style and were fearless arbiters of futurism in all its wacky guises. One of the most iconic accessories from the 1960s is a pair of glasses (not really meant for seeing or sun) from Courreges. Dubbed "The Eskimo," these oversized, stark-white plastic frames feature a single horizontal slit that runs across its opaque lenses. This is mod at its best (or worst depending on how you look at it).
Jackie Kennedy Onassis was a huge fan of the bug-eye look and was frequently photographed wearing the supersized black frames. Her popularity and influential style had a major effect on women in America at that time and helped to solidify this look as mysterious and chic as she was.
At the opposite end of the spectrum were the Flower Children. Free loving hippies took cues from John Lennon, Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin. Rimless round glasses, oversized, rainbow colored and shaded lenses from lemon and psychedelic pink to trippy turquoise were just the tip of the style iceberg. Oversized, fantastical glasses a la Elton John and his disco-fever friends meant the more extravagant and theatrical, the better.
The 1980s through the 1990s
The decade of excess gave way to advanced design, higher-quality frames and materials, invisible bifocals and lighter weight eyewear. Innovator and French eyewear designer Alain Mikli set the tone with his funky oblong and trapezoidal shapes, mismatched, bi-color frames and, everyone's favorite, the wraparound. The New Wave devotees wouldn't have been caught dead without their darkly cool, slightly bizarre eyewear. It was a key element in the look. Provocateur Grace Jones popularized wraparounds as the perfect accent to her immaculate androgynous visage.
Ray-Ban's Wayfarers made a resurgence among the hottest celebrities and musicians in the '80s, like Madonna, Debbie Harry, and, most notably, Tom Cruise in Risky Business who put Wayfarers back on the sartorial map in 1983.
The 1980s also ushered in a keen interest in wearing vintage clothing, accessories and, of course, eyewear. Suddenly it was cool again to wear rhinestone encrusted cat-eye glasses, Rockabilly metal frames from the '50s and weird mod shaped frames from the '60s. This newfound interest in vintage has not waned since. Vintage eyewear is not only continually sought after but also highly collectible and can fetch prices in the thousands.
Contrasting the variety of styles from the previous decade, the '90s ushered in a much more minimal, serious fashion, which included eyewear. Simple, black shades, sporty shapes and the return of the round frame were all popular.
The 2000s and Beyond
Unlike any decade we have lived through (or read about in history books), the 21st Century has been a mish-mash of styles and trends that don't speak clearly of one key, overarching look but more of an acceptance of personal style. Major fashion magazines are no longer the authority they once were. Fashion, style, trends and mini-trends exist from the street up and are documented (and sometimes started) by style-lovers, bloggers and photographers.
There are more eyewear brands than ever before, and every designer that has accessory collections also includes sunglasses and optical frames. Big, powerhouse brands like Chanel, Prada, Versace, Calvin Klein and Gucci all invest highly in their eyewear collections with wild new styles, innovative materials and loads of advertising. And they're making regular appearances on the red carpet now too. Finally, eyeglasses are not only OK to wear, they're actually desirable.


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Sen. John Cornyn is the owner of a shiny new Pinterest account.
In response to Barack Obama's speech where he said, "If you've got a business, you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen," Sen. John Cornyn took to Pinterest to promote Texas entrepreneurs who built their own businesses.
In a new campaign called "I built this", which debuted online Wednesday, Cornyn is letting Texas citizens who have built up businesses tell their stories.
The Pinterest account, as well as a section on Cornyn's home website, currently feature 5 stories from Texas citizens who helped Texas earn the #1 ranking as the best state for business in the country by CNBC.
Cornyn said, when creating the site, "the reason why businesses and job creators are coming to Texas from all over the country is because in Texas we always ask the question, 'how can we make it easier for you to start your business and grow that business?'
The San Antonio Republican has been a social media pioneer (along with Houston congressman John Culberson) among Texas lawmakers. While many members of Congress rely on their staff to update social media sites, Cornyn handles much of his own traffic, even sending direct messages to some Twitter followers. He also was one of the first elected officials to do a Facebook town hall live chat.
When asked about his Pinterest account, Cornyn said that he considers Pinterest an additional medium to communicate with his constituents, and even more so, allow his constituents to be heard.
"Texans know – but the president doesn't understand – the recipe for success is limiting government intervention, keeping taxes low and reducing harmful regulations that threaten innovation."
Here are the links to Cornyn's "I built this" Pinterest and Website.


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It seems there's news of another open education resource (OER) initiative every other day. All show promise at providing students with quality material at little or no cost. Now, Rice University has launched its OpenStaxCollege program to make the process easier for students and faculty.
"We realized that if the open ed movement was ever going to go mainstream, it needed to cross this chasm, and it needed to evolve in a way that isn't just focused on sharing," said Richard Baraniuk, the Rice professor who founded the open education initiative Connexion, in Campus Technology. "There needs to be a focus on creating quality, turnkey, adoptable solutions."
The answer to Baraniuk is free materials written by professional content developers, that go through peer and classroom review, and include ancillary items such as PowerPoint presentations, tests, and homework keys. Faculty using the materials are urged to report errors they can be constantly updated and can customize the information to suit their needs.
"The problem is that there's not enough open ed recourses in people's hands yet," he said. "We first need to get books into people's hands; then we can get faculty on board with customizing their books. Ultimately, we'll be moving from a world of better access and cheaper materials to a world of vastly improved learning outcomes."


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Fans, Friends & Alumni Compliance Information
Are you a Representative of Duke Athletics Interest?
You are a Representative of Duke Athletics Interest (also known as a "Booster") if ANY of the following apply:
- You have participated in promoting the collegiate athletics program
- You have made financial contributions to the athletics department or booster organization
- You have assisted or have been requested to assist in the recruitment of prospects
- You have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student athletes or their families
- You are a former student or fan of Duke University
- Once you have been identified as a Representative of Duke Athletics Interest, you retain that identity indefinitely.
Prospective Student Athlete or "Prospect"
A prospect is a student who has started the ninth grade. A student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospect if the institution provides the individual with financial assistance or other benefits not provided to prospective students generally. In addition, the individual remains a prospect until he/she has enrolled in full-time classes.
Any face to face encounter with a prospect or a prospect's parents or relatives in which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of greeting.
Any solicitation of a prospect or a prospect's relatives for the purpose of securing the prospect's enrollment and ultimate participation in Duke's athletic program.
General Rule: Only coaches and authorized athletic staff members may participate in recruiting activities.
DON'T call or write letters to a prospect. You may have a telephone conversation with a prospect ONLY IF the prospect initiates the phone call and the conversation is unrelated to recruiting. Refer all athletic program questions to the athletic staff.
DON'T initiate contact with a prospect or a prospect's parents or relatives. You may be cordial to a prospect if incidental contact occurs, but immediately remove yourself from any further contact.
DON'T visit a prospect's educational institution to pick up film, video or transcripts pertaining to eligibility or athletic ability. You may observe a prospects athletic contest, provided there is no contact with the prospect or the prospect's parents or relatives.
DON'T contact a prospects coach, principal, or counselor in an attempt to evaluate the prospect. You may notify the Duke coaching staff of outstanding prospects in the area.
General Rule: Any Representative of Duke Athletics Interest shall not be involved in the giving or offering of extra benefits to an enrolled student-athlete, prospect or the prospects relatives or friends.
DON'T provide gifts of clothing or equipment, cash or like items, loans or cosigning of loans, transportation, any tangible items or merchandise, free or reduced cost services, rentals or purchases, or free or reduced cost housing to an enrolled student-athlete, prospect or the prospect's relatives or friends. You may provide an occasional home meal a maximum of one time per school term per athlete. Transportation may ONLY be provided by a resident of the host's home.
DON'T arrange employment for an enrolled student athlete, prospect or a prospect's relatives. You may notify the Athletic Department of possible job opportunities for enrolled student athletes or prospects.
DON'T sponsor or arrange an award banquet for a high-school, preparatory school, or two-year college. You may attend a public high school, preparatory school or two year college award banquet. No contact should be made with any prospects at the events.


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Roman Catholic priests have been told to inject 'scandal' into their sermons by a senior official from the Vatican.
Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi said priests needed to liven up their often 'dull' sermons with the scandalous parts from the Bible.
Cardinal Ravasi, the Vatican's most senior cultural officer, added that if priests did not change their ways sermons risked becoming 'irrelevant'.
The cardinal was speaking at an event in Rome where he said that social networking sites such as Twitter were a good way to spread the word of God.
His Eminence said that priests should remember that congregations were 'the children of the television and the internet'.
The 69-year-old, who some believe is a candidate to become the next Pope said: 'The advent of televised and computerised information requires us to be compelling and trenchant, to cut to the heart of the matter, resort to narratives and colour.'
'We need to remember that communicating faith doesn't just take place through sermons. It can be achieved through the 140 characters of a Twitter message.'
The Cardinal added that the Bible was 'crowded with stories, symbols and images.'
Ravasi was made a cardinal but Pope Bendict XVI in November 2010 and is currently the President of the Pontifical Council for Culture.
He also writes a blog for the Italian financial newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore.


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The following publications have been scanned from high-resolution 35mm film and are being made available to our users on an "as-is" basis, in collaboration with the John G. Wolbach Library at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The complete list of publications that we plan to make available online as part of this project is described in our Historical Literature Project page. Currently many of the digitized publications have not been yet been properly paginated, so the only possible navigation is by viewing the scanned microfilm frames sequentially rather than being able to go to a specific page number.
Please consider helping us improve access to this valuable collection. We have set up an interface allowing volunteers to enter pagination information and bibliographic metadata which will make this literature readily available to everybody through ADS's search engine and article browsing interfaces. We invite all users to take a look at the existing interface and consider signing up as a volunteer. Funding for this project was provided in part by the Atherton Seidell Fund of the Smithsonian Institution.
You are also welcome to browse the scanned publications using a simple page-turning interface. To do so, please click on the selected publication volumes listed below. The coloring of the links denotes whether the publication has been paginated (blue) or not (red).
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Volume key: paginated not paginated


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Latest content added for Digital Library Collection: Texas Fashion Collectionhttps://digital.library.unt.edu/explore/collections/TXFC/browse/?sort=creator&fq=str_year:1941&q=&t=fulltext&display=brief2015-09-02T11:34:03-05:00UNT LibrariesThis is a custom feed for browsing Digital Library Collection: Texas Fashion CollectionSkirt Suit2014-04-18T05:08:10-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc283687/

Black wool two-piece skirt suit. A) Jacket. Just below hip-length, with center front opening with three hook-and-eye closures. Faux tie of same fabric at waist. Slight collar, and v-neckline. Thin orange/red inset line across front and up to shoulders. Long sleeves with inset orange/red panels along length of sleeves, with cording detailing and zipper closures at cuffs. Slit pockets just below waist. Designer's label: "Adrian / Original" B) Skirt of matching black wool. Street length. Possibly a replacement for the original skirt.
Calotte2012-11-05T12:51:51-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc114795/

Hat of beige netting. The hat is styled as a calotte (also spelled "calot"), with low, domed crown made of layers of beige net ruffles, with hemmed edges. Designer's label inside: "Florence ... / Dallas".
Skirt Suit2010-12-20T11:16:33-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc30048/

Two-piece suit of beige worsted wool gabardine of tropical weight. The jacket is medium-length and semi-fitted, with a roll collar having wide pointed revers. It has tuck-over wide padded shoulders and long, narrow sleeves. There are slight vertical gathers at waistline, starting at sides and running around back. The center front opening has three large plated metal buttons shaped as trumpet flowers. The jacket is lined in peach crepe. The matching skirt is mid-length, with a narrow waistband that laps over and secures with two hook-and-eye closures. Skirt has four inverted pleats beginning 41.5 cm below waistband and extending down 30 cm. to bottom of skirt, two at front, two at back. Side zipper closure, top of which is where waistband secures. Skirt is unlined, and has no labels. There are three labels in the coat: Designer's label at inside left: "Forstmann / 100% Virgin Wool / © F.W. Co." Retailer's label at inside back collar: "Sanger's / Dallas" Coat and Suit Industry National Recovery Board label inside right side at seam "135776".
D'Orsay Pumps2015-05-06T16:58:37-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc503738/

Evening pumps of black suede and rhinestones. Designed as D'Orsay pumps with rounded toes and cut-away sides. The toebox is of openwork with peep-toe, set with tiny multicolored rhinestones bordering the cut-outs. The sides of the heels similarly decorated. The ankle straps with small gilt metal rectangular buckles set with matching stones. Thick, modified Parisian heel covered with black suede. Stamped in right shoe: "Frank Brothers / Footwear inc. / New York" Stamped in left shoe: "Sophistecrat"
Evening Shoes2015-05-06T16:58:37-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc503814/

Pair of evening shoes of cream satin and gold leather trim. Designed as modified heeled sandals, the shoes have a rounded, open toe, and toe-box formed of four rounded "petals" of satin that rise up from the sides and join at top of toe-box. The "petals" are edged in gold leather, and have cut-outs between. Open sides, and straps around ankles and instep secured by small rectangular gold-colored buckles set with small rhinestones. Wide strap at back of heel. Satin covered heel is a modified boulevard heel, with rounded sides, slight waist, and curved front. Designer's stamp, left and right shoe: "Nancy Haggerty / Shoes Inc / New York" Handwritten in both shoes: "820X - Gold / 4 1/2 C / X6297"
Calotte Hat2012-11-05T12:51:51-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc114855/

Calotte style hat of black velvet and felt. Rim of velvet bows surrounding pointed cap supported by scalloped brim. Elastic band for securing hat to wearer's head. Designer's label: "Madame Suzy / 5, Rue de la Paix / Paris" Label below designer's label: "Made in France"
Suit2015-02-05T21:59:29-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc499030/

Late day three-piece suit of black velvet. a) Jacket in modified bolero style with squared bottom corners. Long sleeves with 5" wide cuffs of heavy, white, open cut lace. Lined in cream satin. Combined designer/retailer label at center back neckline: "Neiman-Marcus Dallas / Traina-Norell" b) Blouse of white linen. Sleeveless. Collar of 6-1/2" wide lace matching cuffs of jacket. Tie of black ribbed silk attaches to collar with hook & loops. Center front opening with 5 small, circular white pearl buttons and tailored buttonholes reinforced with a snap at the neckline and a hook & eye at the waistline. Half-inch pin tucked front. c) Skirt of black velvet. Slight A-line with a 4" purple silk satin cummerbund waistband. Waistband is reinforced with boning and black grosgrain petersham. Center back zipper with hook & eye. Lined in black silk crepe.
Evening Gown2015-09-02T11:34:03-05:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc701363/

Evening gown of rose pink silk. Full-length, sleeveless, with sweetheart neckline and thin satin cord double-straps at each shoulder. Bodice with fan-shaped radiating seaming from center line outwards over each cup, but not meeting at center point - left side starting higher than right. Raised waist, into which skirt is gathered. From sides, towards front, and down along sides of front is "fin" of same fabric, which extends out, with slight "ruffle" effect to edge. Center back zipper closure. Part-lined in very pale peach/pink fabric (bust, upper abdomen, etc. Retailer's label inside skirt at side seam, partly printed, partly hand-written: "Bergdorf-Goodman / Fifth Ave., New York / Mrs. R. Lloyd / Date: 10/13/41 No. 17313"
Hat2012-11-05T12:51:51-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc114905/

Hat of blue felt with upturned brim covered in white straw. Large domed crown covered in blue net. Unlined. Retailer's label on inside hatband: "Made to Order Hat / Bergdorf / Goodman / Fifth Ave. at 58th St."
Hat2012-11-05T12:51:51-06:00https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc114921/

Picture style hat of loose weave natural colored straw. Crown and brim trimmed with brown bugle beads and jewels. Yellow chenille band forming triangles at sides for securing hat to wearer's head. Unlined with yellow grosgrain headband.


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Last week, I received an inquiry from a Christian theologian interested in showing that "the postures of Yoga" (asana) are directly tied to Hinduism and thus, cannot be easily incorporated into daily life by Christians. While the origin of yoga is undoubtedly tied to the Hindu sacred texts, the Vedas and Upanishads, I struggled with his idea of researching asana divorced from yoga in its entirety.
As we at the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) have repeatedly said, asana alone is not yoga. It is but one of the eight limbs of yoga, albeit the most well-known and the limb through which most people begin to explore yoga. But to attempt to draw conclusions on the theistic nature of yoga by examining only posture is problematic. If posture alone is religious, then what is difference between a headstand in gymnastics and shirshasana in yoga practice? If it's only about posture, then are all gymnasts who do headstands also doing something religious?
A cursory exploration of the sacred yoga texts, particularly Patanjali's much-revered Yoga Sutra, will easily demonstrate that more important than the posture itself is the intention behind it. It is the intention – on and off the mat – that determines whether a practice is yoga or not. If the intention is to purely reap physical health from posture – strength, flexibility, stress reduction – then the asana practice is not theistic and thus, not yoga.
But it's important to step back for a moment to look at the bigger picture and examine what the reason is for all the postures as they relate to Hindu practice and philosophy? In Hindu scripture, "asana" is primarily used to be mean "seat," and more importantly, a seat for meditation on the Divine. The postures in yoga were developed with the intention that by their regular practice, the individual will remain healthy and fit enough to sit comfortably for extended periods and meditate on the Divine. The average person cannot suddenly sit down one day and start meditating. Our bodies have not been trained to sit still for even a few minutes, and as many of us have undoubtedly experienced, various limbs begin to fall asleep within minutes. Second, our mind has not been trained toconcentrate (Patanjali differentiates between concentration – dharana – and meditation – dhyana). Anyone who has closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on a mantra or any single object can attest to the difficulty of staying focused. The mind has a tendency to constantly wander, jumping from one thought to the next because we have not spent time training it to concentrate.
In Ashtanga yoga (as taught by Pattabhi Jois), which is what I practice, the body is trained through the various asanas and the mind is trained through focus on the breath combined with drishti (or gaze). The postures keep us engaged in the practice. By focusing our gaze at the the tip of our nose, for example, we no longer pay attention to what is happening on the neighboring mat and thereby, enhance our ability to focus on our own breath. Slowly, the body opens up, and the power to concentration strengthens.
Naturally, that begs the question, why do we need to concentrate? Because concentration, or being present, allows us to focus inwards on our Divine self. As we further develop this focus, we find that we can focus on making our every thought, word, and action selfless and thus, worthy offerings to the Divine that resides in us all.But therein lies what I see as the fundamental disconnect with the teachings of yoga and exclusivist traditions that insist on acceptance or belief in a particular, external, and patriarchal God.
Yoga is one of the six schools of Hindu thought, and Hinduism is a pluralistic tradition. Hinduism, and thus yoga, teach that ALL beings can reach union with the Divine, regardless of which name one chooses to call God, be it Shiva, Jesus, or Allah, because the Divine is One and within each of us. It is not the religion or God an individual professes to that matters. It is her karma that matters. And by karma, I mean the combination of one's thoughts, actions, and intention behind actions. Part and parcel of karma is being in the present and focusing on the task at hand without worrying about the future result or reminiscing about the past. The past is gone, and we cannot change it or relive it. The future is out of our control. It is only our present actions and thoughts that we can control. Yet, most of us are motivated by or attached to the future intended results of our actions. In Ashtanga yoga, the combination of posture, breath, and gaze teaches us how to be in the present. And when we commit to its regular practice over a long period of time, we notice that we are better able to focus on the present throughout our day, even when we are not on the yoga mat.
Karma also simplistically refers to a metaphysical principle of cause and effect; our thoughts and actions produce appropriate and corresponding outcomes. And these outcomes may span over lifetimes. How else can we explain why "bad" things happen to "good" people? Thus, along with a genuine belief in karma comes the corollary concept of reincarnation of the soul. Both are absolutely necessary, not only to fully understand the eight limbs of yoga, but to truly benefit from the intended purpose of asana.
The point of yoga is to help us reach such a stage in our spiritual development, which has occurred over countless births in various physical bodies, where our actions no longer accrue new karma, or corresponding outcomes that must be experienced. Thus, we are freed from the need to experience those outcomes, and freed from this continuous cycle of birth and death. This freedom from reincarnation, also known as moksha, is open to all, regardless of religion, race, gender, or sexual preference.
Thus, in yoga there are no "saved" or "condemned" people. There are only individuals at various stages in their journey toward moksha. And, just as importantly, there is no one single path to moksha because we are all inherently different in nature. What works for me may not work for you. Hinduism recognizes that and because of its universal and pluralistic nature, anyone, regardless of their professed religion, can practice asana without converting to Hinduism. However, the intended purpose of asana in the practice of yoga — to prepare the mind and body for samadhi, and ultimately, moksha — may place some practitioners in a metaphysical or religious quandary.
I just ran across these stunning images of Holy Men by photographer Joey L. The initial set of images are of Indian sadhus living in the holy city of Varanasi…and they are absolutely breathtaking.
The following piece was written by my friend Raman Khanna, who is also a member of the Hindu American Foundation's Executive Council.
"Hinduism was invented recently."
"The word Hindu is problematic."
"It's not accurate to speak of Hinduism, only Hinduisms."
More than a decade has passed since I majored in religion as an undergraduate, but these phrases, conventional wisdom then, remain conventional wisdom today. When I was on a Hinduism panel in November with two professors of South Asian studies, the issue of the "construction of a Hindu identity in the United States" came up again in a question from an audience member. Conventional wisdom, often wrong, may seem merely annoying, but in this case is frequently deployed to declare Hindu identity somehow flawed and illegitimate. As a proud Hindu-American, though, I see the issue quite differently through the prism of both comparative study and common sense.
First, the reality is that all identities are "constructed." The very term "America" derives from that of an Italian explorer whose name was Latinized and placed on a popular map. Moreover, the idea of "America" has encompassed, since its inception, more than mere hoary notions of democratic representation, but also massive land grabs from indigenous people and the enslavement of an entire race. Yet the "American" identity is one of the strongest in existence in the hearts of its proudest adherents, of which I consider myself one.
Second, this "construction" of identity is a feature, not a bug, of the human experience and a key means for achieving security and survival. The American Revolution consisted of Northern industrialists and Southern slaveholding landowners making common cause against the British. Despite this devil's bargain that perpetuated oppression, birthed civil war, and papered over still extant political fissures, the resulting "American" polity became, and has remained, one of the most impregnable in the world.
Third, identities exist or persist only as and when they speak to larger realities. Despite the real differences that led to a bloody civil war and persist in racial and regional divisions, America's genesis was based on a very real commitment to republican representation and progressive enfranchisement that have served as a common touchstone and inspired not just its citizens, but the world.
Finally, construction is not a one-time process, but rather an ongoing one. What it meant to be American in the 1700s, before our nation existed, to the 1950s, when an entire race was disenfranchised, is quite different from today, and will be different again in 2043 when whites are a plurality rather than an absolute majority of the U.S. population.
"Hindu" is different, of course, from "America;" layers of this identity extend thousands of years into the past rather than hundreds — from the Vedic people and their intricate, elaborate hymns to the tribal cultures they encountered and with whom they fused along the way. But if one assumes that the Hindu identity was first constructed at some point in the past, "Hinduism" is quite similar to America. The identification of rarified Gods of preservation, dissolution, and energy onto local village deities was a source of unity and defense for both the individual tribes and their urban descendants, and ultimately a wellspring from which Lokamanya Tilak and later Mahatma Gandhi could launch their respective attempts to unite India against the British. What it means to be Hindu has likewise changed with Puranic Hinduism, with Bhakti, with the Vedantic revivals and reinterpretations of the last 200 years, and with a rich diaspora and, increasingly, Hindus of non-Indian extraction (such as the first Hindu elected to the House of Representatives).
Beyond these high level overviews, let me end on a more personal anecdote. When my mother, a proud Punjabi, felt a calling to teach her children and her community's children about the crown jewels of our traditions–from the Bhagavad Gita to Yoga to Vedic chanting and to major religious holidays — she didn't just turn to other Punjabis or even North Indians in our community. She turned instead to Hindus she had known at temple, at the various Diwali functions the community had put on, and social functions in our sleepy Ohio town. The response was overwhelming from Hindus of all language and community groups represented in my small town. Whether they celebrated Pongal or Holi, identified with Shankara or Satya Sai Baba, or drew strength from the Ramcharitmanas or the Kamban Ramayana, they saw the fundamental value of the enterprise and came together around it. The entire process of creating this Hindu school can indeed be called "constructed", but there was clearly already a foundation for it. And as Hindus came and went over the years, the influence of each changed in slight ways which components of Hindu school were or were not emphasized.
So, my advice to students and academics alike is this: don't sweat the "constructed" part of identity, in the case of Hinduism or otherwise. All identities are constructed, whether in the modern day or in the distant past. This is perfectly natural and indeed essential to survival, and identities will only persist if they respect underlying realities. And identities can, should, and do transform over time. The Hindu identity, like the American one, is no different, and there is no reason to be either suspicious or ashamed of this.
Principled opposition is expected when litigating issues in the public square, and the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) , for which I serve as the Senior Director, has at times faced stiff opposition from the right and left of the ideological spectrum in response to various positions, reports, and statements released by HAF. Recently, in our campaign to oppose what we believe to be a Hinduphobic, Anti-India Resolution, (H. Res. 417), an ostensible coalition calling itself the Coalition Against Genocide, and made up of far fewer member organizations than it claims, struck again. It has lodged some pretty inflammatory allegations against HAF — calling us "Hindu Supremacists" and trying to link HAF with the Hindutva movement in India. While those of us amongst the old guard at HAF are used to ad hominems from time to time, I was especially touched by the reaction shared by Nicholas O'Connell, a member of of our Executive Council, who will soon join the master's program in South Asian Studies with a concentration in History at Columbia University, has been a long-time blogger , and is really the next generation of HAF's leadership. So, I share his thoughts with you.
The Coalition Against Genocide (CAG) recently authored a report, in which they seek to associate the Hindu American Foundation with various Hindu Nationalist organizations, and furthermore brand us with the unflattering label of "Hindutva supremacist." The accusations are serious, but thankfully easy to refute. We take our commitments to uphold pluralism, defend human rights, and maintain our political independence very seriously, and our track record speaks for itself. However, since this is not the first time the CAG has come forward with such allegations, their claims warrant a detailed examination.
According to the CAG, the fact that some of HAF's leadership was involved with Vishwa Hindu Parishad America affiliated groups during high school and college is evidence that we are a Sangh Parivar front group with a narrow, Hindutva perspective. They allege that we make an effort to "eliminate the voices of the oppressed majority within Hinduism- Dalits and women" and conceive of Hinduism as "a political rather than a religious identity where India becomes the 'natural' and exclusive home of Hindus." This Hindutva supremacism is what allegedly inspires much of our activism, particularly our challenge of the portrayal of the Aryan Invasion in California textbooks.
Hindutva Affiliation: Firstly, it is true that a few HAF leaders participated in VHPA affiliated student groups during high school and college. This is not surprising, considering that the vast majority of well-organized, national Hindu student organizations that existed in the 1970's and 1980's had VHPA affiliation. This speaks more to the dearth of active Hindu groups in the United States at that time, than to the present ideological orientation of our organization. I had the opportunity to attend more rigorous philosophically oriented Hindu camps in rural Pennsylvania, for example, but those opportunities simply did not exist 25 years ago. Some HAF leaders were indeed among the thousands of teens who attended VHPA affiliated summer camps, and volunteered in their affiliated student groups, but CAG's conclusion that as a result HAF promotes "Hindu supremacism" is truly strange. HAF's current team spans both the political and religious spectrum, most of whom have a distaste for Indian politics of any sort, and none of whom espouse Hindutva politics. Never have my colleagues pressured me ideologically, and such pressure would certainly be seen as bizarre and unacceptable by our staff.
I personally find left and right wing politics to be equally distasteful, but I do have strong sympathy for reform oriented Hindu movement such as Arya and Brahmo Samaj. Spiritually, I find the most meaning in schools such as Samkhya, Tantra, and the Naastikas, which are all minority viewpoints in current Hindu discourse. On my website I frequently offer critiques of traditional Hindu gender roles, and write on such subjects as Lokayata(materialism) and Muslim feminism. Given my spiritual and political stances, I, along with most of my colleagues, would probably be purged from an organization which actually promoted "Hindutva supremacy."
Caste and Women: The CAG asserts that in the eyes of HAF, Dalits are "not seen as deserving of any defense." A simple search of our website will turn up multiple statements advocating for Dalit access rights to Hindu temples, a statement commending the U.S. Congress for drawing attention to the plight of Dalits, and multiple statements by Hindu religious figures condemning of caste discrimination. Pravrajika Vrajaprana perhaps put it best in her observation that, "It is a tragic irony that Hinduism, whose scriptures contain soaring evocations of the unity of existence and the oneness of all life, should also have been the locus of caste-based discrimination…The Hindu traditions assert that the divine dwells within the heart of every being. Knowing this to be true, those in the Hindu traditions should join together to remove the stain of this long-standing injustice."
Similarly, a simple search of our website will turn up articles advocating the empowerment of women, and condemnations of misogynistic violence. Claims that we are an anti-Dalit and anti-women organization are made all the more absurd by the medical aid which the HAF has provided to Pakistani Hindu refugees, whose female population is notoriously vulnerable to rape, and the vast majority of whom are Dalits.
Aryan Invasion Skepticism: The authors of the CAG report assert that HAF's effort to contest the dominance of Aryan Invasion theory in public school textbooks must be fundamentally rooted in Hindu Nationalist ideology. The claim seems to be divorced from the intellectual history of the Aryan Invasion concept. To take a notable example of how the CAG narrative misses the mark, the highly respected Dalit activist, and Buddhist leader, B.R. Ambedkar, was an early opponent of the Aryan Invasion theory. In fact, Ambedkar's primary opponents were Hindu Nationalists who sought to glorify their Aryan ancestors as a race of heroic conquerors. Ambedkar undercut Brahmin and Kshatriya supremacism by arguing for the common genetic lineage of all Indians.
While the final answer to the Aryan puzzle may be yet to come, in the scholarly community Aryan Invasion theory has already evolved from a narrative centering on warfare and subjugation, to several different competing theories of Aryan Migration. In light of modern genetic research, Aryan Migration theory also has to contend with the possibility of Indigenous Aryans. The notion that our efforts to compel public schools to present the full range of scholarly opinion on Bronze Age Indian history constitutes "Hindutva supremacism" seems ludicrous.
HAF has already put out a report exposing CAG's affiliations with violent groups. It is true that many leaders of the Coalition Against Genocide have advocated violence, either in the name of proletarian revolution, or jihad. However, in my estimation it is likely that many members of CAG's constituent groups are genuinely concerned with social justice, and the alleviation of oppression of minorities. I would encourage those individuals to actually read some of HAF's material and determine for yourselves if we are truly your enemy.


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Now, I haven't read The Help (although my wife's book group did, and there was apparently discussion aplenty.) But what interested me in the piece was that Stockett soldiered on through three and a half years of years of rejections--60 in total--before hitting lucky number 61.
Here's what Stockett wrote in a piece for Yahoo!
By rejection number 45, I was truly neurotic. It was all I could think about—revising the book, making it better, getting an agent, getting it published. I insisted on rewriting the last chapter an hour before I was due at the hospital to give birth to my daughter. I would not go to the hospital until I'd typed The End. I was still poring over my research in my hospital room when the nurse looked at me like I wasn't human and said in a New Jersey accent, "Put the book down, you nut job—you're crowning."All I can say is good for Kathryn Stockett. May those of you (us!) who are querying be blessed with a similar perseverance--or, at the very least, a Comfort Inn around the corner.
It got worse. I started lying to my husband. It was as if I were having an affair—with 10 black maids and a skinny white girl. After my daughter was born, I began sneaking off to hotels on the weekends to get in a few hours of writing. I'm off to the Poconos! Off on a girls' weekend! I'd say. Meanwhile, I'd be at the Comfort Inn around the corner. It was an awful way to act, but—for God's sake—I could not make myself give up.
In the end, I received 60 rejections forThe Help. But letter number 61 was the one that accepted me. After my five years of writing and three and a half years of rejection, an agent named Susan Ramer took pity on me. What if I had given up at 15? Or 40? Or even 60? Three weeks later, Susan sold The Help to Amy Einhorn Books.
The point is, I can't tell you how to succeed. But I can tell you how not to: Give in to the shame of being rejected and put your manuscript—or painting, song, voice, dance moves, [insert passion here]—in the coffin that is your bedside drawer and close it for good. I guarantee you that it won't take you anywhere. Or you could do what this writer did: Give in to your obsession instead.
What do you think? Could you handle 60 rejections of your beloved novel?


text: Time to go west again and to Pearl Liang near Paddington station. http://london.pm.org/pipermail/london.pm-announce/2009-June/000152.html London.pm dim sum camp is a social event where we meet up every Thursday at 1pm at a different Chinese restaurant, spend about an hour (and about £10 cash) eating tasty dim sum (steamed and fried dumplings), then go our separate ways. Pearl Liang 8 Sheldon Square London W2 6EZ Paddington Station Tube Station http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=W26EZ http://london.randomness.org.uk/wiki.cgi?Pearl_Liang%2C_W2_6EZ http://www.pearlliang.co.uk/ It's quite hard to find: be sure to check "Getting here" on the link above. See you there!


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