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"Wanted: Fast-growing company with smart CEO, interested in millions of dollars of investment capital." For an entrepreneur, can there be a sweeter combination of words in the English language? These days, that sentence or some variation of it seems to pop up everywhere. You can hardly open a newspaper or flip on the financial news without hearing about another larger-than-large private equity deal. Get together with a group of business owners, and it won't be long before you're hearing stories about unsolicited phone calls from would-be investors or millions closed on by a once-bootstrapping entrepreneur.
In the third quarter of 2006 alone, investors put $6.2 billion in nearly 800 deals, according to a recent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association. Private equity investors, which include angel investors, venture capital firms, buyout firms, and others, either take a public company private or acquire all or part of a privately held company, hoping to make a profit when the company either goes public or is otherwise sold at some point down the road. Names you know, such as the Four Seasons (NYSE:FS), Outback Steakhouse (NYSE:OSI), Hertz (NYSE:HTZ), Neiman Marcus, and Dunkin' Donuts, have recently closed major private equity deals, as have hundreds of smaller companies that don't grab the spotlight. It surely is an exciting--maybe even an exuberant--time to be an entrepreneur.
And that should make you sit back, take a deep breath, and raise at least one skeptical eyebrow. For while it seems that there could be no downside to this, the road to your private equity deal is not without perils. Seek this kind of an investment when you shouldn't, or choose the wrong investor, or botch the negotiation, and it could cost you a really bad five or seven or nine years--or even everything you've worked so hard to build.
It has become a cliché to liken the private equity investment to a marriage. A good one is really, really good and a bad one can be ruinous, financially and emotionally. Like a marriage, a lot of the story is written at the very beginning--during the courtship phase or, in industry speak, pre-money. You're wooing the investor, and the investor, in search of deals, is also wooing you. "I don't think there's any doubt about it--it's a dance," says Alex Temel, partner at law firm Proskauer Rose in Boston and a specialist in private equity deals. "It's a dance that starts when you first meet the investor and lasts until the sale on the back end." As much as possible, you want to lead the dance and exit the floor with a flourish and a smile--and a nice deal for you and your company in your back pocket.
Unfortunately, entrepreneurs often walk away from these encounters feeling spun dizzy. Why? Many entrepreneurs are simply unprepared for their dealings with private equity investors, says Rick Rickertsen, managing partner at Pine Creek Partners, a private equity firm in Washington, D.C., and author of Sell Your Business Your Way. They plunge into pitfalls that could be easily avoided. Here then, the eight most common blunders that entrepreneurs make the first time they consider taking on a private equity investor--and some tips for steering clear of them:
1. You Move Too Fast
Lawrence Ng founded his Los Angeles-based Internet advertising company, Oversee.net, in 2000, at the age of 21, with $10,000 of funding courtesy of his and his partner's credit cards. Two years later, his company was profitable and growing, and the private equity investors came calling.
Ng still remembers the first time he had a serious encounter with a potential equity investor. It started with a phone call from an analyst, quickly proceeded to a second call, and then a meeting. The investors were saying all the right things, Ng recalls: "'We are experts in this space, we've taken so many companies public, we see ourselves as partners, not as hands-on managers.' It all sounded very nice." It went from nice to exciting when the investor put a value for Oversee on the table. "Here's this professionally managed investment group saying, 'We believe in you, and we feel you can be valued at this.' It felt like, 'Wow, I've been validated." Ng won't say how much "this" was. But he will say that his reaction was "Holy wow!"
There's something profoundly satisfying when you hear that the company you've slaved over not only has been worth the effort but also is only at the start of its potential profitability. The problem: The excitement this can generate might short-circuit your brain and cause you to have fantasies about how you'll spend all that money before you even leave the meeting. At the very least, you might convince yourself to overlook potential downsides of the deal in your rush to move your company to the next level.
Avoid this pitfall by not being in such a huge rush to get a deal done. Take as much time as you need to reflect, to bounce the details off your most trusted advisers and fellow entrepreneurs, and to otherwise deeply research the deal. (More on how to best do all of this in a moment.) Although Ng was sorely tempted by the first deal he was offered, he did the right thing: He took time to think about it. After a cooling-off period, he decided that his company had more room to grow, and he could get a higher valuation if he waited before taking on investors. He passed on the proposal and has yet to take on investors.
Indeed, it's a red flag when a potential investor doesn't encourage you to take the time to deeply consider an offer. Kirsten Osolind, CEO of Re:Invention, a public relations firm in Chicago, was approached by a potential investor during the summer of 2006. Osolind had recently shifted her company's client base from small companies to large ones and learned that big clients tended to pay their bills more slowly. This had created a cash-flow crunch and made her more receptive than she might otherwise have been to an offer of an investment.
During their initial conversations and quite apart from the deal that they were discussing, the investor, who ran an investment bank in the Midwest, recommended her own personal business coach to Osolind. "It was in a very offhanded way. She said she'd seen her before and that she was really wonderful," Osolind recalls. Osolind was looking for an adviser and made an appointment with the coach. She was sitting in the coach's nicely appointed downtown Chicago office, and they started to discuss Osolind's situation. Then the coach did something startling. "She suggested quite strongly that I execute the contract with the private equity investor, without doing any further due diligence," she says. The coach even picked up her phone to call Osolind's would-be investor.
Osolind realized she was experiencing a bizarre high-pressure tactic and immediately walked out of the office, called the investor, and called the deal off. "I laughed really hard and had a couple of drinks that evening," she says. Osolind decided to revamp her billing procedure, and soon her company had solved its cash-flow problems, sans investors. Reflecting on it now, she says, "Not all investors care about your interests as an entrepreneur, and some will do whatever it takes to close a deal. They'll prey on your cash-flow crisis, they'll prey on your lack of confidence. You have to find the strength to walk away."
While you're not likely to experience such strenuous bulldozing, you will feel the pressure of the rush to close--from yourself and from your investor. Just knowing that will happen in advance will help you prepare for it.
2. You don't know what you want
The offer in front of Darrell Pittard, CEO of MagnetBank, was $100 million in funding. Pittard had intended to raise only $50 million, and this was the first offer he'd received, so you'd think he'd be thrilled. After all, he'd already shepherded his Salt Lake City-based industrial bank through its start-up phase and was looking to open more locations and expand his lending operations. Wouldn't more cash on hand--perhaps, even, a more aggressive expansion plan--be a good thing?
This particular investor, a wealthy individual, had owned a bank and offered more than just his funding. "It would have been very easy to take his money," says Pittard. But before he'd set out to find investors, Pittard had given a lot of thought to what, exactly, he was looking for. And for him, the right investor was a group of smaller ones. He didn't want any single private equity investor to have more than a 20 percent stake in the company. This investor wanted 80 percent. "We'd be the hired help," Pittard says. "Working for him would be no different than working for IBM." In the end, he talked to 35 more potential investors before settling on six different ones who offered what he was looking for.
On the other hand, a similar offer in front of Christopher York, CEO of InfuScience, a Gurnee, Illinois-based company that provides intravenous medication services to patients, would have been just right. York preferred to give up more equity--even majority control--to a single investor, get one chunk of change, and get back to work. He recently raised $50 million in private equity, and it came from a single investor, who took a stake of more than 60 percent. Sure, he's giving up his majority control, but the money and the guidance and contacts that come with it make it worthwhile, in his view. "I have a friend in the middle of building a company, and he goes and raises $2 million here, $2 million there; his entire life revolves around talking to investors and raising money," York says. "I raise money once, and then I spend the rest of my time recruiting people, meeting with customers, running my company."
The first step to a good deal is figuring out what it looks like well in advance. After all, you can be sure that serious investors will sort out what an ideal investment looks like for them. Without a detailed picture in mind, you're already a step behind in the dance.
You may be like York and prefer one big kahuna. Or you may be more like Pittard, who likes his investors diluted. Either way, what really matters, and what sets York and Pittard apart from many entrepreneurs, is that they gave lots of thought to what they were looking for--before they'd even cleared their throat in a conversation with a potential investor.
What factors should you consider as you create your ideal investor profile? Tackle the basics first. How much money do you want? How much equity are you comfortable giving up? How quickly is your company growing? How long do you expect the investors to stick around? When you get all of this sorted out, stick with it, advises Alex Temel. He mentions one client he has been advising for seven years. "He told me he wanted to make $200 million when he sold his company," Temel says. Now the $200 million is on the table, and the CEO is dithering. After all, if he can get $200 million, perhaps he can get $300 million? Perhaps. But as often as not, Temel says, deals fall apart when an entrepreneur changes the terms in midstream. "Pick a number and stick with it," he says.
3. You're not ready to cede control
Dean Stoecker wanted to expand SRC, his business-intelligence software firm based in Orange, California, into a $100 million powerhouse. To get there, he figured he needed to invest between $12 million and $15 million to fund new sales and marketing initiatives, and he set about the task of raising the money through private equity investors. The fun part, he says, was figuring out how he'd spend all the money he was raising. But actually talking to the investors? "It was horrible," he says. "I was very turned off to the VCs and to their approach to business." He felt that he was talking to "young whippersnapper M.B.A.'s who know a ton about money but not a lot about the entrepreneurial spirit." When investors mentioned exactly how involved they planned to be in managing the company, his blood ran cold.
He aborted the plan. "This is not us," he recalls telling his partners. "We'll no longer be able to spend our Monday-morning team meetings talking about all the great things we did last week and plan to do this week. We'll be talking about burn rates." He envisioned spending his time managing the investors instead of running the business. "We will hate these guys," he said. Instead, the company decided to plow its profits back into growth, and "we continue to grow quite well," Stoecker says--about 20 percent a year.
Stoecker may have been able to grow faster with outside investors, but given his goals, he probably was right to abandon his pursuit of outside capital. Although private equity investors vary in their level of managerial involvement with a company--some are more hands off than others--it's definitely not going to be zero. "If all you want is money, there are cheaper ways of getting it, like going to a bank," says Walter Kortschak, managing partner at Summit Partners, a private equity firm with offices in Boston, Palo Alto, California, and London. The key question to consider, he says, is this: "Is this about you, or is it about the company?" If, like many entrepreneurs, you have a hard time separating one from the other, then private equity probably is not the way to go.
Sort out in advance exactly how much control you're willing to give up. Are you willing to hear that a key colleague who helped build your company is not the right person to take you the rest of the way? Management is one of the first things equity investors take a hard look at, and they often seek to bring in their own people. How important is the quality of connections to potential clients or companies to acquire that the private equity investor brings to the table? How often would you prefer to communicate with them?
4. You're not ready for due diligence
Allen Gray knew he needed investors. His business, BMC Products in Chicago, made tubular components for automobiles, such as spare-tire holders, as well as tubular office furniture. The business was growing fast and Gray and his 120 employees were having a tough time keeping up with the demand. An infusion of capital not only would put some cash in Gray's pocket but would also give his company the means to keep growing. A business broker hooked him up with a potential investor, which Gray describes as "a good-size private equity firm in the East that was interested in getting into the home office business and the auto aftermarket business." The investor soon delivered a letter of intent, for an amount in the multiple millions and 80 percent equity. "I'm a guy who grew up delivering newspapers and worked my way through college. When I saw a piece of paper with that many zeros on it, I got very excited," he says. "Being a multimillionaire sounded very good to me."
The offer was nonbinding, and the investor started conducting due diligence. Due diligence, of course, is the term that investors use to refer to checking out every aspect of your business--a serious vetting to give them the confidence level that you're a good investment. It's not a lot of fun, says Kortschak: "I've never seen an entrepreneur conclude that the diligence process was not thorough, or think, 'Boy, that was super easy and super efficient."
In Gray's case, due diligence, which was supposed to take 90 days, stretched out for almost seven months. The investor always had at least one person on Gray's premises, researching and asking questions, and often sent teams of two and three people. They wanted loads of data. They wanted to interview key customers. Gray spent a lot of time working with the investor and less time managing his company. "Bottom line is I took myself off my business, and I didn't have a strong management team that could fill in for me," he says. "Costs got out of line, orders didn't ship on time, and I started losing money."
As the business suffered, the would-be investor kept lowering its price. Finally, at the end of seven months, Gray called off the deal. Several months later, he struck a deal with another buyer at just over 10 percent of the initial offer. "It really ate me up," says Gray, now an investment banker who spends quite a bit of his time brokering private equity deals. "I built a successful manufacturing company from nothing, and I made a total shambles of selling it to a private equity group. I lost everything."
Obviously, a reputable investor doesn't want your company to be ruined by the due diligence process. "The last thing anyone wants is for the process to consume the entrepreneur to the point that the business gets impacted," says Kortschak. On the other hand, even in the best of circumstances, handling the details of due diligence is going to take time out of your week--you need a good management team that can pick up the slack. "You're going to get distracted," says Gray.
There's another type of depth you want to have in a deal: multiple offers on the table. Since Gray had just one interested buyer, he could not credibly threaten to go elsewhere. Says Gray: "One buyer is no buyers."
5. You skimp on advisers
Spend as much time selecting the right lawyer (or investment banker, or whomever will be acting as intermediary for you) as you'd spend on anything else. "Don't hire your cousin, the lawyer," Rick Rickertsen says. You don't necessarily need someone from a huge law firm, but you do want someone with solid experience in the size of deal you're trying to make. That someone is most probably not the lawyer you've worked with on other matters. As with any other important hire, ask for references and check them.
And once you find great advisers? Keep on top of them. "Don't let your lawyers run the process," says Alex Temel. "Make decisions about what's important to you and have your service provider implement that." Sure, this is time consuming, but you want to make sure that your lawyer isn't wasting time arguing over points that are really not that important to you. "Look, at the end of the day it's your deal, and it might be the biggest one you ever make," says Rickertsen. There are plenty of times that CEOs need to learn to trust and delegate. This is not one of them.
6. You don't acknowledge your weaknesses
Once you've found an investor you feel good about, you'll want to pull out all the stops and make the best case for your company. But don't get carried away. "Entrepreneurs think the investor wants to see a perfect company and try to position their company as perfect or nearly perfect," says Rickertsen. "Investors know that all companies have challenges, and saying that there aren't any almost always gets the business plan thrown in the trash can." If you have a strong competitor, a major contract that isn't going well, or the threat of a potential lawsuit, fess up early, he advises. The investor will find out in due diligence, and then you've got a credibility issue, which can be the end of the deal. "I've seen a number of deals crater because the investor doesn't believe the founder can be trusted," says Temel.
Of course, it can be difficult to acknowledge weakness, and you'll want to do so with some finesse. You definitely want to lead with your strengths, says Temel. "It's like dating--you meet someone at the bar--you don't tell them about your parents right away." Adds Rickertsen: "Put your best foot forward, lay out the selling points for your business, and then be accurate about your weaknesses, and explain what you're doing to address them."
7. You don't do your homework
All investors perform due diligence on potential deals. But few entrepreneurs return the favor. "Entrepreneurs do a lousy job researching their investors," says Rickertsen. To be sure, most investors aren't out to do you wrong, but it's up to you to make sure that you aren't dealing with someone who will seem crazy on closer examination or otherwise be a bad fit for your company.
Investigating a would-be investor is not particularly difficult. Talk to other CEOs the investor has worked with. Rickertsen suggests you speak to at least three of them--including people running companies currently in the investor's portfolio and those who have moved on. Any reputable investor should provide you with names and contact information. Ron Norelli, chairman of the Norelli Group, a private equity and financial advisory firm in Charlotte, North Carolina, suggests you talk to CEOs whose companies the investor has held for the whole cycle--from initial investment through sale, merger, or IPO. Ask the same questions you'd ask a potential employee.
Next, Rickertsen suggests, ask the investors how they'd handle things when times get tough. "Find out what their definition of failure is. If you miss your plan by 15 percent, what will you be hearing from them?" It's not a fun subject, to be sure. "Some people are uncomfortable with having those hard conversations in advance," he says. "But it's just a mistake in the long term not to."
8. You ignore the importance of chemistry
When Christopher york sought funding for his company, he met with half a dozen potential investors. He was seeking the right financial terms, of course, but York was also looking for something else: someone that he wouldn't mind spending a lot of time with. "It's one of the most important things to figure out: Can I get along with this person?" he says.
While you're sussing out your private equity investor, don't overlook a very important indicator: your gut. While the private equity investor is trying to figure out what you're about, "the entrepreneur also has to be asking, are these the people I want to deal with, and for five, seven, nine years?" says Norelli. After all, these are people you'll be talking to on a monthly, if not weekly, basis. If you don't like them, your life is not going to be pleasant.
This is perhaps the most subjective part of choosing the right investor. A deal can look great on paper, but if the investor gives you the willies, you probably should find another deal to pursue. As in romance, it's hard to say what will create that "click." Obviously, everyone has different tastes and preferences. In retrospect, York thinks that communication style is what helped create the needed chemistry with his investor. "I'm the kind of person who isn't overly formal, and I wanted to make sure that I wasn't dealing with a bunch of stodgy investors," he says. He got that too-formal feeling from the investors he rejected and went the people he felt the most comfortable with.
Contributing editor Alison Stein Wellner also writes in this issue about CEOs who hate making sales calls.


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Right now, somewhere in Malaysia, a red skirt is being tailored to fit Sir Richard Branson.
On May 12, Branson will join Air Asia Group CEO Tony Fernandes on a flight from Perth, Australia to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The six-hour trip is a special one, as it's finally the moment Sir Richard makes good on a bet he lost to Fernandes in late 2010, over whose Formula One race team would be ranked higher.
Spoiler alert: Fernandes' Lotus Racing team won over over that of Virgin, and the plans to install Branson as a flight attendant on an Air Asia X flight began.
The event has been delayed many times, but finally seats are now for sale from $399 AUD ($420 USD) on the special, one-way flight, and may be purchased online. Be sure to book AirAsia X's flight D7 237 on Sunday, May 12.
For your money, Air Asia X promises that "the charity flight will also be filled with fun games and activities for the guests," while Branson will be committed to carrying out the responsibilities of a flight attendant, including offering coffee, tea and other food and beverages to guests.
No word on if he'll be performing the safety drill as well!
As it's a bet between billionaires, it wouldn't be right to pocket the money just to have a laugh. So, $100 from each seat and 10% of all inflight sales onboard will be donated by AirAsia X to the Starlight Children's Foundation in Australia, a charity which provides care and support for seriously ill children.
This flight will mark Branson's second time wearing a skirt, as it was only earlier this week he donned a traditional Scottish kilt for the launch of Virgin Atlantic's "Little Red" flights from London to Edinburgh. For the Air Asia X event, however, the skirt requires shaved legs and red high heels.
Looks like we need to update our guide to the wacky costumes of Sir Richard Branson pretty soon...

subset: commoncrawl


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For the record, it's worth noting that Russia's swift seizure of Crimea confounds and contradicts one of the hopeful axioms of conventional wisdom. The presumption — rarely stated openly but widely believed — has been that the growing economic interdependence of nations reduces traditional geopolitical conflicts. Globalization deters war. Countries have too much to lose to risk conflicts that will antagonize trading partners and international investors. The tendency is to "work things out" rather than threaten these vital relationships.
This vision of a world pacified by economic self-interest is largely an American one. It projects U.S. optimism onto the rest of the world. Americans' obsession with "getting ahead" defines us. It provides a common denominator for inclusion. The shared striving for economic success mutes differences of religion, region, race and ethnicity, where conflicts and contrasts are more unyielding. We can all join the rush for riches without sacrificing the exclusionary aspects of our personal identities. What worked for us can work for everyone. It is easier to settle economic disputes than more stubborn disagreements stemming from heritage, history and values.
Up to a point, the past half-century has vindicated this vision. Its greatest achievement is the European Union, which started as "the common market" and demonstrated that economic integration can muzzle the animosities of centuries of war. "Our story is of enemies making peace," as one E.U. official says. Conflicts along national lines haven't disappeared, but they have moved from battlefields to bureaucracies.
The end of the Cold War gave the vision another boost. The competition between capitalism and communism was settled. The American money chase seemed to go global. Cross-border trade and investment increased rapidly. The emergence of middle classes in some countries (South Korea, Brazil, India, China) provided strong constituencies for economic development. Although conflicts didn't vanish, they seemed to originate increasingly from non-state actors (al-Qaeda), regions (Africa) and countries (Afghanistan) at the fringes of the global economy.
This economic ideology was uplifting. For some countries, it rationalized reduced military budgets. But in annexing Crimea, Russia defied the norms of this new world order. Russia resorted to military power, not diplomacy. It disregarded the threat to its economic interests and the economic interests of its trading and investment partners. It flaunted its nationalism.
We're relearning an old lesson: History, culture, geography, religion and pride often trump economics. The nation-state remains, reminds Harvard political scientist Jeffry Frieden, author of "Global Capitalism: Its Fall and Rise in the Twentieth Century." It defines its interests on its terms. Vladimir Putin, not illogically, sees Russia threatened on its borders by an U.S.-led coalition that, Frieden says, "is hostile in the sense that most people in the West would like to see Putin's regime go — it's authoritarian; it frustrates our interests."
Globalization could never swamp everything else. Economics is not omnipotent. One blow to this mythology was the 2008-09 financial crisis. Markets promote prosperity and deliver benefits, but they also stir instability and impose costs. The world may be flat, as columnist Thomas Friedman argued in his 2005 book, in that modern societies compete and cooperate in a large global system. But the world remains round in the sense that traditional geopolitical conflicts, aspirations and pressures often dictate events. (Think Iran.)
What's left is a messy mix of old and new. Countries pursue their goals in ways that involve, but are not limited to, their economic interests. (Think China and, yes, the United States.) Global economic integration has run ahead of political integration, and the divergence is a source of instability. Putin surely knew that his move against Crimea would have adverse repercussions — and they have. Writes one Financial Times commentator:
"Russian companies and banks have withdrawn billions of dollars of deposits from U.S. and European banks, fearful that the money could be seized or frozen in the event of tough sanctions. Likewise, Western institutions have been busy minimizing their exposure to Russian banks and industrial companies."
The financial turmoil has (so far) been limited and localized. The same can be said of the sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union to deter further Russian moves against Ukraine. These have been tempered for understandable reasons. As diplomatic levers, the tools of globalization are a double-edged sword. Mutually beneficial economic transactions, if reversed abruptly or forcefully, can become mutually destructive.
All this could change in a flash. Crises are inherently hard to predict and subject to miscalculation. Whatever happens, we've been given a harsh refresher course in realpolitik.
Read more from Robert Samuelson's archive.


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ShyKatya video. All videos (2)ShyKatya webcam
ShyKatya webcam
I love dance and music of 80-s. I love learning myself and world around. Description: style girl. Sweet in a soul, shy and funny. I don`t do full nude. Please appreciate my moral principles. I am open to talk, tease and dance for you!


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Not too long ago F. and I celebrated our 3rd year anniversary. He surprised me by booking a table at one of my all time favourite restaurants, El Bahia. Although every restaurant outing is a Food Allergy Blog occasion for me I decided to not bring my camera along as it was a special day and I didn't want to ruin the mood by asking TOO many questions about food intolerances ie: More questions than I need to ask and pulling out my massive camera and telling F. 'Don't touch it yet'..'one more minute...just a second'...
However, I will delightedly tell you about the side line of the Dairy Free wonder that occurred...
I'm always Dairy Free.. no matter what test or diet or trial that I'm doing, I am ALWAYS Dairy Free because it is a genuine food allergy as opposed to an intolerance or suspected culprit. So of course I explained to the waiter my requirements and at first he proudly said that I can eat anything on the menu because 'we don't use any type of Dairy ingredient!'...obviously my warning lights went off and my doubtful face appeared... 'Not even in the desserts? the ice cream? butter?...hidden ingredients?...etc etc etc ??' and he confirmed NO! None at all, well except for the ice cream and desserts of course!
But then it all took a big turn around because after ordering he came back to us to apologize and say that the Bastilla dishes (made with filo pastry) were brushed with butter... he was very very sorry and got us to change our order... I went with Kobiza (Fresh Leaf spinach reduced in a coriander, garlic and lemon base) to start and the Fish Tagine (Catch of the Day - Cod - marinated in sharmoulah and served with vegetables in a spicy tomato sauce) which was Amazingly beautiful!...So tender...So flavourful... and my Vegetarian F. went for a starter of Makoda (a blend of mashed potato, fresh spinach, parsley and coriander on a fruity tomato sauce) and the Vegetarian Cous Cous (A selection of fresh vegetables traditionally flavoured and served on a bed of cous cous).. And this is where the waiter went beyond the normal: He also advised against it when F. ordered a side of pita bread with his couscous dish because supposedly the two different forms of wheat can cause indigestion and bloating (who knew?!) And when serving F's cous cous dish he said that actually there is Milk/Butter in the cous cous and so as tempting as it may be, I should not take a taste! I thanked him so much! No waiter has EVER advised me against trying somebody else's dish when I hadn't asked about it - It was the cherry on top for me!
All in all the anniversary meal was very lovely and became one of the meals that I will remember forever because after we finished eating the main course F. doubly surprised me by asking me to marry him!!! ...Or rather, if I would 'like' to marry him ;) Of course the answer was a tearful yes! Supposedly, he had been carrying the ring around in his pocket for two weeks looking for the right time - swoon! -
The moral of this little story is that even though the waiter was wrong at first and I was doubtful, he did make a complete turn around and helped me beyond the average all while continuing to be helpful and friendly and making a lot of jokes ie: when it came to dessert he held a menu up between me and F. so that I couldn't see and therefore wouldn't get tempted by the amazing dessert F. ordered... only temporarily of course, but very funny! I comforted myself with yum yum yummy Moroccan Coffee (Traditionally brewed with five spices - ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper, cinnamon and sweetened with sugar) :)
I know that some of you will think that that's not good enough, and that he should have known those details beforehand but I say that yes, he should have, but now he does, he did take it seriously and was obviously in full communication with the chef. And I can tell you and pre-warn you that the couscous and the filo and all the desserts definitely contain Dairy. And remember that if something sounds too good to be true - ie: Dairy free filo pasty in a restaurant - it probably is so order something else.
And now F. and I have begun the Food Allergy Friendly Venue search!! and Cake Maker Search!! All Extremely Exciting!!!
El Bahia Moroccan Restaurant
Location: 37 Wicklow St
Dublin 2
Tel: 01 677 0213
web: www.elbahia.com
Opening Times:
Lunch (During Summer) - Fri - Sun 12:00 - 15:00
Dinner - Mon - Sun 17:00 to late


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Strike up The Band!
Location:Lounge # 1, Ray Twinney Complex -100 Eagle St. West, Newmarket, ON
Start date:October 1, 2016
End date:October 7, 2018
Time:07:45 PM – 09:45 PM
Website:Visit website
Did you play a band instrument in high school, college or university but haven't played for a while?
Or are you a high school musician who would like to add to your musical experiences?
The Newmarket Citizens' Band (NCB) welcomes anyone teen aged and older who plays a band instrument to come out to a rehearsal anytime. There are no auditions or waiting lists! We practice every Tuesday evening from 7:45 - 9:45 PM at Lounge # 1, Ray Twinney Complex, 100 Eagle Street West, Newmarket. For more information go to our website http://newmarketcitizensband.ca/index.html


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A Washington County 4-H member has received a state award. Lauren Carter, daughter of John and Kim Carter has been given the state 4-H Citizenship Project award. These project awards are the highest achievement a 4-H'er can receive.
Carter is one of 50 Iowa 4-H'ers who have earned a state project award. She has been a member of 4-H for seven years and has completed projects on communications, swine, visual arts, beef, 4-H history and family heritage.
Carter says that 4-H has taught her the skills that she can use throughout her life and has taught her how to be responsible and keep accurate records. She adds that she has been able to improve valuable communication, citizenship and leadership skills that will be useful throughout her life.
Carter has been the president, vice president and secretary of her 4-H club and also participates in the Washington County 4-H County Council.


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If you can't remember the last time you turned on your stove top range hood, you're not alone. Most people don't realize the significance of the hood range when it comes to indoor air quality. It is usually only turned on to eliminate the smell of something burning, if at all. The New York Times recently ran an article on the importance of this often neglected household item, claiming that microwave and range hoods should be used every time cooking occurs.
While cooking on the stove, particles of grease, smoke and food enter the air. Unless they are eliminated, these particles settle on things in the home, leaving a grimy residue on furniture and often damaging your wood or countertop finish. Foods prepared in the microwave release the same particles, which, if left alone, will re-circulate into future meals and alter their taste. Gas stovetop ranges also release nitrogen dioxide into the air, which has been known to cause respiratory problems, including asthma.
Such harmful irritants may easily be reduced or eliminated via a microwave filter or hood range filter. Â Filters Fast carries filters for both ducted and re-circulating range hoods. Ducted range hoods filter the particles through a ventilation system that releases the air outside the home. Re-circulating, or non-ducted range hoods, filter the particles through charcoal and grease filters and then vent the cleaned air back into the space of your home. These are usually installed underneath cabinets or a microwave.
It is important to change the filter often, at least every three to four months, in order to prevent strain on the unit and maximize its performance and life span. The grease filter must be removed and cleaned regularly. Filters Fast carries microwave and hood range filters for GE, Whirpool, Broan and Samsung models..


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Dr. Harry Boonstra, who is a visiting research fellow at the Van Raalte Institute of Hope College, will present the address "The Dutch Equation: The RCA-CRC Controversy over Freemasonry, 1867-1885" on Monday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m. in the Fried-Hemenway Auditorium of the Martha Miller Center for Global Communication.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
Boonstra began his career as library director and English instructor at Trinity Christian College from 1964 to 1971, served for two years with Wycliffe Bible Translators as an editor and teacher, was an associate professor of English at Covenant College from 1975 to 1977, was director of libraries at Hope College from 1977 to 1984, and concluded as theological librarian at Calvin College and Seminary from 1989 to 1999.
He was associate editor of "Reformed Worship" for 10 years and, since 2002, has been associate editor of "Origins." He is the author of "Our School: Calvin College and the Christian Reformed Church" (2001) and co-author of "Pillar Church in the Van Raalte Era" (2003). He has also published articles on a wide variety of topics and has translated books by Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck (2007).
Boonstra is a 1951 emigrant from Oldehove, the Netherlands. A graduate of Calvin College, he earned an M.A. in English from NorthwesternUniversity, an M.L.S. from the University of Chicago, a Ph.D. in English from LoyolaUniversity, Chicago, and an M.Div. from Western Theological Seminary.
The Van Raalte Institute, located in the Theil Research Center at 9 E. 10th St., specializes in scholarly research and writing on immigration and the contributions of the Dutch and their descendants in the United States. The institute is also dedicated to the study of the history of all the people who have comprised the community of Holland throughout its history. Each year the institute invites applications from qualified scholars for a fellowship offered through its Visiting Research Fellows Program; up to two such fellowships are awarded each academic year. Dr. Boonstra is the fifth recipient of this award.
The Martha Miller Center for Global Communication is located at 257 Columbia. Ave., at the corner of Columbia Avenue and 10th Street.


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Accenture and Huawei have come together to develop and market innovative solutions to address customer requirements in both the communications service providers and enterprise information and communications technology (ICT) markets. We combined capabilities to introduce the Enterprise Private Cloud solution and the Business Support Systems (BSS) solution designed to help simplify technology selection and delivery, with flexible commercial models designed to reduce total cost of ownership.
On the Web: www.huawei.com
Listen to a message from William Xu, Executive Director of the Board, Chief Strategy Marketing Officer, Huawei, and Gianfranco Casati, Group Chief Executive, Growth Markets, Accenture:


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Broadcast Rights for ESL Matches
With ESL TV there is a TV stations that is dealing either in large part or completely with electronic sports and is broadcasting matches live on IPTV. Electronic Sports League and ESL TV have entered an exclusive media cooperation agreement. In the course of this agreement, we present you with information about how to deal with different forms of coverage, especially on topics like HLTV or Waaagh-TV.
- Way of broadcasting (Ingame-TV / Voicestream / Videostream)
- Short introduction of the applicant
- Viewing figures / reach of the medium (Minimum, Average, Maximum)
- Broadcast concept (Content of the broadcast etc.)
- Desired Game
- Desired League
- Desired Time Range


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Sweet Peet D looks at the ways GM, Nissan and Renault could unite on specific products, including an engine-manufaturing alliance much like Hyundai, DCX and Mitsu's GEMA, as well as some platform-sharing. And in the Autoextremist's eyes, that's all they're gonna get out of Ghosn, York and Kerkorian's talks with Wagoner. Or, all they should get. In his eyes, this is nothing short of a hostile bid, with York as the conductor and Kerkorian the cash behind the operation. Peet thinks GM can and will resist the attack, also going so far as to only allow Kerkorian to have a rep on the board that isn't Jerry York.
A scenario that GM can live with is a scenario that won't sit well with Kerkorian-York [Autoextremist]
The Three Amigos of Ego: Autoextremist on the Renault-Nissan-GM Deal [Internal]


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Gov. Rick Perry says the Women's Health Program is not going away despite the scrap with the federal government over the state decision to cut out Planned Parenthood.
"'We'll find the money," Perry said. "The state is committed to this program… This program's not going away."
Perry, who spoke to reporters after an event at state GOP headquarters with Democrat-turned-Republican Rep. J.M. Lozano, didn't specify where the money would come from, but noted the state has a multi-billion-dollar budget.


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With the kids holidays, I decided to take my two cousins to Jinny Rainbow, who has two concessions where I live, located in Selfridges.
Jinny Rainbow is essentially a way to get a glitter tattoo that can last up to 7 days on the skin – you pick a design (or you can mix a few) and the Jinny lady applies the glitter in the color of your choice to make up the design. Its painless to do – its stuck on with some body glue which is safe for the skin.
So off we went on Saturday….
You may recognise the little one as Megan, star of You Tube – she chose a butterfly design with pink glitter…
The stencil is sticky so you put this on the skin, the apply the glue – take the stencil off and tap on the glitter.
Here, the lady is tapping the glitter on top of the glue:
I'm not sure if the price changes if a few colours are used, as Megan chose just one shade. She was happy with her butterfly and it took about 3 minutes in all.
The older teenager, who is 14 and tattoo obsessed chose a dove design and black glitter. Once again very quick and easy, took minutes. They tend to have a lot of shades to choose from, "Which shade of black do you want?"
The result:
Megan's tattoo:
I had a really quick design done too:
Overall, the girls loved the experience as little girls do. It gives them a bit of independence, choosing their own design and glitter colors.
I thought it was cute and quite good fun too – I mean, its probably harder for a 20-something woman to justify going to have a glitter tattoo for no reason (like a night out, party or wedding) but if I was 9 I would be demanding glitter tattoos everyday (yeah, I was easy to raise).
It was super super quick – all three of us done in about 15 minutes. Although with a more complicated design it would take longer. Next time I'd like to try more than one shade of glitter to see what kind of design I end up with.
You can take this home! I thought it was a nice idea, £30 for 4 glitters of your choice (if you pick on the counter) 6 stencils and glue. (Buy online here).
The small tattoos (like the ones we had) start at £5. But If you are the size of Peter Kay and cover yourself from head to toe like a disco ball then its going to cost more, obviously.
Long Lasting?
It can last up to 7 days depending on what you do (if you swim a lot etc. it will fade quicker). On me its pretty much faded after 3 days. On Faye (with the black dove) it had all gone by the end of day 2 – Faye does have dry skin and eczema so I had a feeling it wouldn't last so long on her. Meg's tattoo is still going quite strong. We all shower daily (ahem) so if you shower less (double ahem) it will last longer.
Overall, it was a nice experience, super quick and totally recommended for young 'uns. I would consider it again if I had a suitable event but I am actually tempted by a kit to play about with as I could use it in various make up looks, as you do.
Their website is here if you want to peruse.


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Mid-America Christian University Department of Public Safety operates 24 hours a day, which provides the MACU community with around the clock service and protection. Police and/or Public Safety Officers patrol the university on a regular basis.
In an effort to continue to provide a safe atmosphere for all students, faculty, and staff, MACU has launched several initiatives recently:
Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
(University Administrative tasks, see University Inclement Weather Policy)
The protocol for tornado "watches" and "warnings" shall be generally the same as that for severe thunderstorms. However, personnel need to be aware that warning periods may be shorter and, obviously, that damage may be more severe. MACU University will be alerted to any possible Tornado warning by the public sirens of Oklahoma City, internal University email, and the MACU Police Department Audible Alert System.
If a tornado warning has been issued and you are inside:
If a tornado warning has been issued and you are outside:
If you are involved in or witness any vehicular accident on campus, the following steps should be taken:
If you are involved in or witness a workplace accident on campus, the following steps should be taken:
Upon receiving a bomb-threat call:
Suspicious Letters and Packages
Be aware that letters and packages may also pose threats, not only from bombs, but also from biological agents such as ricin. If you receive a letter or a package whose external appearance is somehow suspect—for example, it has a powdery residue or oily stains or discolorations on it, or the postmark city is different from the return address city, follow these steps:
If you become aware only after opening it that the letter or package may pose a threat, follow steps 2-6 above.
Civil Disturbance or Demonstration
Most campus demonstrations, whether they are marches, meetings, pickets or rallies, are peaceful and non-obstructive. However, in the event that they are not, or in the event that disruptive demonstrations in the community spill over to the campus, the procedures outlined below shall be followed. The statutory authority for these procedures is what stipulates that it is unlawful for any person to willfully or unnecessarily interfere with or disturb in any way or in any place the students of any school or college in the state. Additionally, this statute indicates that it is unlawful for any person to enter, except on business, any such school or college premises without the permission of the principal or president.
There are two sensory indicators of earthquakes: sound and motion. Both vary widely. Depending on your distance from the center of the quake, you may not notice any sound. Or you may notice sounds that resemble anything from a rifle shot to rumbling thunder. Motion may obviously range from a very minor shake to a catastrophic shifting of the earth. The most earthquakes in Oklahoma are very minor and require no emergency procedures; however, more severe earthquakes have occurred in the area and remain potential threats. Should you experience any significant shaking of a building or the earth, the following procedures should be followed.
Each emergency first aid situation is unique; therefore, the steps you should take in response to these situations may vary, as may the order of the steps. What does not vary, however, is that all injuries and illnesses requiring medical attention must be reported to the MACU Police Department. While it is impossible to address every conceivable injury or illness, the following procedures generally apply.
Fire Drills and Emergency Evacuations
To help assure your safety, all University buildings have clearly marked and illuminated emergency exit signs which indicate evacuation routes. In some buildings, these signs remain illuminated at all times; in other buildings, they become illuminated when a fire alarm is activated or the power is disrupted. The University regularly tests the lighting in these signs to assure that it is adequate day and night. Additionally, buildings have emergency lighting systems which provide illumination for a short period of time sufficient to permit evacuation. In order to acquaint everyone with the sound of the fire alarm and the exit routes to be followed, the MACU Police Department conducts unannounced fire drills on a regular basis. It is each employee's responsibility to make sure he/she knows the proper evacuation routes. Additionally, faculty members and supervisors assume the role of monitors/coordinators for their students and subordinates during such drills or actual emergencies. Therefore, faculty members/supervisors should:
Additional Note: Student Life will obtain information from disabled students regarding their preference for method of evacuation—e.g., with or without wheelchairs during an evacuation and will include that information on the faculty notification form. The instructor will identify a primary and alternate student/employee to assist the disabled person during an emergency. Instructors should designate these primary and alternate students during the first class period.
Supervisors should designate these employees as staff changes. Additionally, instructors should assign students with disabilities to seats nearest to the door to expedite their evacuation, if this does not interfere with their academic programs.
The following steps should be followed if a gas leak is suspected:
Pandemic influenza is a global disease outbreak. Three pandemics have occurred in 1918, 1957, and 1968 with the most deadly occurring in 1918 killing approximately 50 million people worldwide. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the human population, begins to cause serious illness, and then spreads easily person-to-person worldwide. In the event of pandemic influenza, the University will play a key role in protecting students' and employees' health and safety as well as limiting the negative impact to the academic mission and the business infrastructure. The University's strategies that delay or reduce the impact of a pandemic (also called non-pharmaceutical interventions) may help reduce the spread of disease until a vaccine is available.
The State has adopted the World Health Organization's structure for monitoring Pandemic Influenza. The structure is divided into three distinct periods (Inter-pandemic, Pandemic Alert, and Pandemic) and 6 phases.
Phase 1: No new influenza virus subtypes have been detected in humans. An influenza virus subtype that has caused human infection may be present in animals. If present in animals, the risk of human infection or disease is considered to be low.
Phase 2: No new influenza virus subtypes have been detected in humans. However, a circulating animal influenza virus subtype poses a substantial risk of human disease.
Phase 3: Human infection(s) with a new subtype but no human-to-human spread, or at most rare instances of spread to a close contact.
Phase 4: Small cluster(s) with limited human-to-human transmission but spread is highly localized, suggesting that the virus is not well adapted to humans.
Phase 5: Larger cluster(s) but human-to-human spread still localized, suggesting that the virus is becoming increasingly better adapted to humans but may not yet be fully transmissible (substantial pandemic risk).
Phase 6: Pandemic: increased and sustained transmission in general population.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a Pandemic Severity Index (PSI) (Table 1) that uses hurricane categories as a model to help the public gauge the severity of a pandemic. The PSI is divided into five categories with 1 being the least severe and 5 being the most severe and is based on the total U.S. population. The CDC has also developed a mitigation strategy table (Table 2) for implementation of interventions to reduce transmission of illness in the community.
All pandemic influenza action plans will be updated and reviewed by department heads and directors by April 15 and July 1 of each year, and placed on the appropriate MACU web page. All pandemic influenza supplies and equipment shall be in place and, if appropriate, tested by May 15. Pandemic action plans shall address the following:
Response actions of essential personnel concerning personnel assignments, course delivery, student support infrastructure, business activities, communications, and all other University functions will be made using Tables 1 and 2 as a guide in implementing departmental business continuity plans.
The MACU Police Department or other University designee is to monitor the implementation and enforcement of the Catastrophic Health Emergency Powers Act.
Once Oklahoma Department of Health has declared pandemic influenza is no longer a threat in the local area, the recovery period begins, and the following actions will be taken.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a Pandemic Severity Index (PSI) (Table 1) that uses hurricane categories as a model to help the public gauge the severity of a pandemic. The PSI is divided into five categories with 1 being the least severe and 5 being the most severe and is based on the total U.S. population.
The CDC has also developed a mitigation strategy (Table 2) for implementation of interventions to reduce transmission of illness in the community.
Procedures for responding to power and water outages are divided into two sections: Individual Response and Institutional Response:
If you are on the first floor and have sufficient daylight to continue working safely, you should do so. If you do not have sufficient daylight to continue working safely, or if you are instructed to do so by the MACU Police Department, move to an exit with natural light or to an outside location, weather permitting.
A psychological crisis might manifest itself on campus in a number of ways, including, among other possibilities, threats against others, threats against oneself, emotional breakdowns, and alcohol or drug abuse. If you witness a psychological crisis, the most important thing to remember is that the University has on-staff expertise, as well as access to additional community resources, to help resolve a crisis situation. Therefore, your primary responsibility is not to attempt to serve as a crisis counselor; rather, it is simply to notify the proper authorities so that appropriate professionals can address the situation as quickly as possible. The essential steps for dealing with a psychological crisis on campus shall include the following:
Workplace violence is a term that has generally been used to describe threatening behavior, acts of violence, or property damage perpetrated by employees. However, the term is not limited to threats or acts committed by employees. It may properly describe threats or acts committed by a host of others when those threats or acts occur on campus or off-campus at University-sponsored events. Those others include, but are not necessarily limited to, students; vendors; visitors; spouses/friends of students, staff, and faculty; and criminals. Also included in this definition are the actual or implied verbal and non-verbal threats, harassment, intimidation, and disruptive behavior that may lead to physical harm or property damage.
Shootings and other violent acts are unpredictable, and your immediate response depends on the situation you face. The following guidelines are based on the best practices established by law enforcement experts.
If it is possible to do so safely, exit the building immediately when you become aware of an incident, moving away from the immediate path of danger, and take the following steps:
If you are directly involved in an incident and exiting the building is not possible, take the following actions:
When instructed by the MACU Police Department to initiate a "Lockdown" of the campus or specific building(s), the following procedure is to be implemented.
In the event of a police emergency, e.g. "Active Shooter", it may become necessary to "Lockdown" a building or buildings on campus to protect occupants and minimize the overall exposure to danger.
A "Lockdown" is the temporary sheltering technique, e.g. 30 minutes to several hours, utilized to limit civilian exposure to an "Active Shooter" or similar dangerous incident. When alerted, occupants of any building within the subject area will lock or secure, to the best of their ability, all doors and windows not allowing entry to anyone until the "all clear" has been sounded by the MACU Police Department. This procedure converts any building into a large "Safe Room."
MACU PD is responsible for:
If the risk assessment determines the need to secure a building or buildings to protect the campus community and to prevent an escalation of the emergency, the Chief of the MACU PD or designee will give the order to "Lockdown" specific areas or the entire campus.
Notice that a "Lockdown" has been issued will be broadcast over the ALERT system and by other appropriate means, by the MACU PD, with assistance from the Information Technology division.
If preceding an order to "Lockdown" you hear gunshots in or around your building or once the notice to "Lockdown" have been issued by the MACU PD take the following action:
If you are instructed to evacuate a given building or buildings, please refer to the University's Emergency Response Plan for instructions on evacuation.
In case of medical or other emergency a MACU PD entry team supervisor must be in direct contact with a University staff or faculty member from the affected building, prior to entering any building after the "Lockdown" has been declared. The team supervisor and the faculty/staff member will establish:
An individual or organization responsible for the coordination of any special event must be familiar with and include the following information as part of their event planning:
Annually, members of the MACU PD and Faculty/Staff members shall participate in training on the University's "Lockdown" procedure. Faculty/Staff members will be required to review their specific building plans.
Building staff are to receive a copy of the University's Lockdown procedure and the plan for their specific building. The distribution of these plans is to coincide with the annual training. Distribution of the plans is the responsibility of the MACU PD.
MACU's Emergency Alert System (EAS) is used to communicate vital information to students and employees as quickly as possible before, during and after a campus emergency. The EAS consists of an audible announcement broadcast into the main building, student center and dorm courtyards.
Also, should an incident occur, a message with important information, will be published in banner form on the University website.
MACU Main Campus:
3500 S.W 119th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73170
University Offices:
(405) 691-3800
College of Arts and Sciences Admissions:
(405) 692-3281
College of Adult and Graduate Studies Admissions:
(888) 888-2341
Adult and Graduate Student Services:
(877) 569-3198


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Search the Community Services Directory below, give us a call at 972-237-8000 (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.), or use an online form or mobile app to request service or report an issue to city staff.
City of Grand Prairie Mailing Address: P.O. Box 534045, Grand Prairie, TX 75053
Section 8 Housing
- Divisions:Alphabetical, City Services & Programs
- Phone:(972) 237-8176
Return to full list >>
View Housing & Neighborhood Services Web Page for more information.


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A new book by Dr. James Herrick of the Hope College communication faculty examines the role of science and science fiction in inspiring alternative spiritualities in post-Christian Western culture.
His book "Scientific Mythologies: How Science and Science Fiction Forge New Religious Beliefs" was published in May by InterVarsity Press.
Herrick, who is the Guy Vander Jagt Professor of Communication at Hope, sees themes consistent in science fiction that he feels have developed a significance beyond storytelling and inform a new religious outlook. He notes that the image of a limitless God who created humankind in his image and has shared his message openly is becoming supplanted by concepts such as advanced alien beings who have knowledge with which to benefit humanity, or even the idea that humanity itself can progress to a more advanced level as represented by such beings.
"My purpose in this book is to explore the various ways in which the Western world's present spiritual needs are being addressed by a new mythology, an emerging canon of transcendent stories that provides meaning to our lives and that organizes and directs our individual and social decisions," Herrick writes in the book's introduction.
"Such observations might be of minor significance were it not for the fact that our mythologies - the narratives by means of which we make sense of our existence - have a way of shaping who we are and what we are becoming," he writes. "If we trivialize mythic tales of alien encounters, space exploration and human evolution as 'merely' entertainment, if we dismiss all such stories as inconsequential cultural fluff, then we may find ourselves responding to these powerful narratives in another form - as public policies, social agendas and proselytizing religious movements."
Although sci fi imagery and ideas have become plentiful in the age of film and television, Herrick notes that the concepts are not new. For example, the 17th-century French author Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle - who was a religious skeptic --considered the possibility of life on other planets in his 1686 work "Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds."
Herrick has found that ideas and outlook of science fiction have become and continue to become manifest in real life in a variety of ways. He cites, for example, contemporary scientists interested in space exploration who identify science fiction films as having inspired their decision to pursue their career focus. An example of direct religious impact, he notes, is the Heaven's Gate cult, members of which committed suicide in 1997 believing that their souls would be freed to board a space ship.
Herrick explored the shift in Western spirituality previously in the 2003 book "The Making of the New Spirituality: The Eclipse of the Western Religious Tradition." In "Scientific Mythologies" he shares a concern that he also expresses in that volume: that the new religious view ultimately, and incorrectly, places spiritual power in the hands of an elect few - those believed to have the knowledge for which others must seek. The approach, he feels, echoes the ancient Gnostics who believed only an elect few worthy of spiritual salvation, and runs counter to the universality of Christianity.
"The idea of a secret spiritual knowledge, whether revealed by aliens or someone in contact with them, leaves the power of the secret in the hands of the one or the few who control that knowledge necessary to enlightenment, indeed, to salvation," he writes. "This kind of power can be, and often has been, highly dangerous."
"The God of the Bible offers an alternative: entering earthly existence as a person, reaffirming the value both of Earth and of the human, his 'secrets' are shared in simple stories told for the benefit of the ordinary many, and often misunderstood or ignored by the powerful few," he writes. "The return to gnosis robs the world of the exquisite openness of the Christian notion of the gospel as good news."
Herrick has been a member of the Hope faculty since 1984 and is past chair of the department. His research and teaching specialties are rhetoric and argumentation.
His other books are "The Radical Rhetoric of the English Deists: The Discourse of Skepticism, 1680-1750," "The History and Theory of Rhetoric: An Introduction," "Argumentation: Understanding and Shaping Arguments," and "Critical Thinking: The Analysis of Arguments." He has also had numerous articles appear in scholarly and popular publications in addition to presenting several papers at professional conventions, and wrote entries for both the "New Dictionary of National Biography" and "The International Encyclopedia of Censorship."
"The Making of the New Spirituality" was named a 2004 "Gold Medallion Book Award Finalist" by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and was cited as one of "Ten Books Every Preacher Should Read" in "Preaching" magazine's 2004 survey of the year's best books for preachers.
Herrick is an active member of the National Communication Association. His extensive professional involvement includes having served as a founding member of the editorial boards of three professional journals: "Review of Communication," which is the electronic journal of the National Communication Association; the Baylor University Press Rhetoric and Religion series; and, most recently, the "American Communication Journal."


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May 27, 2009
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - This weekend North Carolina A&T State University will host the NCAA East Regional Track and Field Championship on Irwin Belk Track. Friday will be a day of preliminary heats, and those who qualify will continue to the finals on Saturday. Sophomore Kate Grace (Los Angeles, Calif.) will be competing in the 800-meter run, hoping to go to Nationals yet again.
The top five finishers from each of the four regions (East, Mid East, West, and Midwest) will automatically continue to the NCAA Nationals on June 10-13 in Fayetteville, Ark. Last year Grace was selected as an at-large bid for Nationals; seven to 10 runners were given at-large bids after those Regional competitors who finished between sixth and 12th place were placed into a pool, and those who had performed the best throughout the season were chosen. Grace had finished in sixth place at the Regionals in Tallahassee, Fla. and had a season best of 2:06.12, which she ran in the preliminary heat at Regionals (her personal best going into the event was 2:06.32).
Grace has had a stellar record in the 800-meter run. After competing at Nationals last June, and finishing 24th in 2:09.47, she had an amazing indoor season this past winter. Grace first set the school record at the Heptagonal Championships (2:07.83), which she won, and then went on to break her own record at the ECAC Championships (2:06.41). Grace then smashed that record at the NCAA Indoor Championships in March, when she ran 2:04.72 in the preliminary heat. She earned All-American honors for her eighth-place finish in the finals, with a time of 2:07.77.
In the outdoor season, Grace has continued to perform at high levels of competition. She was named first-team All-Ivy for her first-place finish at the Heptagonal Championships in 2:09.01 on May 10, and then went on the next weekend to earn All-East honors for her first place finish at ECAC Championships at Princeton. Grace finished in 2:08.44 in the finals, but ran faster in the preliminary heat, in which she finished second in 2:06.75, her fastest time of the season.
Grace has a history of running slower on the second day of hard competition, though she has been working to improve on this. Last year at Regionals she ran 1.36 seconds slower in the finals than she did in the preliminary round; this year at indoor ECACs she ran 2.68 seconds slower in the finals, and at outdoor ECACs she finished 1.69 seconds slower on the second day of competition. Grace has been training hard, though, and she also has a history of still running significantly faster on both days of Championship competition against other nationally-ranked athletes than earlier in the season.
Grace will run in a preliminary heat of the 800-meter run at 7:20 p.m. on Friday. Penn junior Anna Aagenes, whom Grace has just barely beat throughout the season, will run in the same heat. If Grace advances to the finals, she will run at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday.
A complete schedule of events and live results can be found here. Results will also be posted on YaleBulldogs.com at the end of the day.
Report by Kyle Eichner '12, Yale Sports Publicity


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"[Y]ou shall hallow the 50th year and you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you: you shall return, every one of you, to your property and everyone of you to your family." - Leviticus 25:10
God called ancient Israel to honor a time of Jubilee every 50 years. During the Jubilee year, debts were forgiven and land that had been sold to repay debts was returned to the original owners. "[W]hat was sold shall remain with the purchaser until the year of jubilee; in the jubilee it shall be released, and the property shall be returned" (Lev. 25: 28).
During the past 30 years, developing countries have borrowed large sums of money from international lending institutions, governments of industrialized countries, and commercial banks. In many cases, these investments failed to create the economic development and revenue that planners envisioned. Nonetheless, developing countries continue to repay these debts. For many years, debt repayments from developing countries to the global North have exceeded the flow of new investments, loans and grants to developing countries. Debt relief - Jubilee - has become an important aspect of justice for countries in the global South.
The United Church of Christ has joined with other faith communities and organizations to call on governments to cancel the debts of poor countries and restore just economic relations between nations. The UCC's General Synod XXVI passed a resolution calling on the United Church of Christ to recognize 2007 as a "Sabbath Year" and urged local congregations to become "Jubilee Congregations." Prior to this, in 1999, General Synod XXII passed a resolution calling for Ending the Stranglehold of Global Debt on Impoverished Nations.
The UCC is a member of the Jubilee USA Network, an alliance of more than 75 religious denominations and faith communities, human rights, environmental, labor, and community groups working for the definitive cancellation of crushing debts to fight poverty and injustice around the world.
Each year, Jubilee USA and our worldwide Jubilee partners come together to pray, worship and act in one global voice to further the participation of the most vulnerable in the international financial system.
There are so many ways you can participate in Jubilee Sunday.
Learn more about Jubliee Sunday and access congregational resources via our parnters at Jubilee USA.
Rev. Michael NeurothPolicy Advocate for International Issues100 Maryland Avenue, NEWashington, District of Columbia firstname.lastname@example.com


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Merry Christmas from K.C.C!
22nd December 2016
On behalf of all staff and children at Kampala Children's Centre, we would like to thank you for all care, thoughts and support given to our special children throughout 2016.
We are deeply thankful to have shared our journey with you and look forward to all that 2017 holds
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a very blessed New Year.
With all our love and blessings,
Arnold, Josephine and the K.C.C Team
Sign up to our email mailing list to receive regular updates on KCC
Destiny Africa School Of Music
28th February 2017
Celebrating A Bright Future
31st January 2017
Merry Christmas from K.C.C!
22nd December 2016
Light Up Their Smile This Christmas!
30th November 2016
Thank You Manchester United!
31st October 2016
School Books Arrive At The Centre!
30th September 2016
A BIG Thank You!
28th July 2016
Destiny Africa Cross the Channel
30th June 2016
Destiny Africa Take Europe
31st May 2016
Your invited to our Gala Performance & Dinner!
28th March 2016
A letter from the Director
29th February 2016
Can you help drive Destiny Africa?
11th February 2016
Are you ready for 2016?
28th January 2016
Your Point of Contact
27th January 2016
Wishing you a blessed Christmas from K.C.C
21st December 2015
Shine A Light
7th December 2015
Destiny Africa are back in town!
16th November 2015
Give hope this Christmas
13th November 2015
Celebrating in Style
30th October 2015
Save our number!
23rd October 2015
Thank you for your patience
6th October 2015
Alfred and Joshua Graduate!
30th September 2015
We have been busy bees…
31st August 2015
K.C.C Fundraisers!
1st July 2015
21st May 2015
Get Ready To Celebrate!
21st May 2015
Lets reach the charts!
9th April 2015
Happy Easter!
1st April 2015
Let the countdown begin
11th March 2015
Happy Mothers Day
2nd March 2015
I Am Loved 2015 Tour
10th February 2015
KCC 10th Anniversary Celebrations- Please Join Us!
29th January 2015
Hope and Wellness Medical Centre is under way
16th January 2015
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
18th December 2014
Striding All The Way
28th November 2014
Come and join the celebrations!
30th October 2014
Hustle and bustle!
24th September 2014
1st July 2014
Treated like royalty
1st May 2014
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1st April 2014
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1st March 2014
February KCC newsletter
1st February 2014
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30th January 2014
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6th January 2014
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12th November 2013
September News!
4th October 2013
David's achievements!
16th August 2013
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16th August 2013
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24th June 2013
Alex's Story
19th June 2013
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This is a sample registry
Kalena & Richard
Kalena Jackson and Richard Brose's Honeymoon Registry
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
|This is a sample registry
"Well Wishes" From Our Family & Friends
|"Have a great honeymoon."
- Roberto Iraheta
|"Congrats and enjoy the honeymoon."
- Michael and Rebecca
|"We are so happy for you both, best of luck and wishes from the Soto family."
- Larry, Carlota, &Adele
|"Enjoy a good bottle of red with one of your dinners! Congrats!"
- Philip Dirlam
|"We love you and send wishes for a wonderful honeymoon and life together."
- Grandpapapa &Auntie Lin
|"Hope you two have a wonderful time, enjoy every minute!"
- Work mom
|"Enjoy your lunch!"
- VytronUS
|"Congratulations you two! Looks like you are going to have an awesome honeymoon, and most importantly, a delicious morning breakfast in bed! Really, what could be better?!"
- Kristian &Sarah Lyssand
|"Have fun on your trip! Be safe and don't take any wooden nickels."
- Love,Auntie Niece and Auntie Mae Mae
|"I hope you have an amazing time in BC! Enjoy your decadent strawberry and champagne welcome ;)"
- Kristi &Clint Nunes
|"Enjoy your couples massage! I hope you are have a wonderful time on your honeymoon!"
- Mallory and Paul
Thank You for visiting our honeymoon bridal registry and wedding website. We decided to use this honeymoon bridal registry to allow us to pre plan all the wonderful things we want to do on our dream honeymoon. If you have any questions about how our honeymoon bridal registry works, please contact a honeymoon registry specialist at 858-433-1506 and they can help with our wedding registry list. Again, Thank You so much for using our honeymoon bridal registry and wedding website. Most of all, thank you for being part of our wedding and helping us have the romantic honeymoon and wedding we've always imagined.
This is a sample registry
Items cannot be purchased from a sample registry.
If you're looking for a specific couple please search for them here.


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Saving for your own retirement and your child's future college expenses can be a challenge for many parents. With the cost of college on the rise, parents and prospective students are looking to retirement accounts, such as an individual retirement account (IRA), to pay for school. If you're facing big tuition bills, you're generally able to take a taxable distribution, penalty-free, from your IRA before you reach 59.5 as long as you use the funds for qualified higher education expenses.
If you're considering using an IRA to pay for higher education expenses, here are five IRA withdrawal rules you need to know:
The distribution must be used for qualified expenses.
Typically, withdrawals before age 59.5 would result in a 10 percent early distribution penalty in addition to any regular income tax due. Circumstances such as a down payment on a first home or higher education expenses are exceptions. The portion of the distribution used for qualified higher education expenses is exempt from the 10 percent early distribution penalty. You'll still pay income tax on the portion of the distribution that would otherwise have been subject to income tax, however you'll avoid the 10 percent additional tax on early IRA distributions.
To be eligible to use this distribution for higher education, the expenses must be for yourself, your spouse, your child or your grandchild. With these funds, you can pay for books, tuition and other qualified education expenses as long as the student is enrolled more than half-time at an eligible institution, as defined by the Department of Education.
Roth IRAs and traditional IRAs follow different guidelines.
A traditional IRA is funded by pre-tax dollars, while a Roth IRA is funded by post-tax dollars. Both traditional and Roth IRAs allow you to withdraw money for qualified higher education expenses before 59.9 without incurring the 10 percent early withdrawal penalty.
The amount of your IRA withdrawal cannot exceed the amount of your qualifying expenses. When money is withdrawn from the account to pay for college-related expenses, the entire amount withdrawn is then subject to income tax. Any withdrawal of funds over the amount for qualified higher education expenses is subject to a 10 percent penalty.
Withdrawals on the principal on a Roth IRA held for at least five years are tax-free if the earnings are not withdrawn. If the account holder is over 59.5, withdrawal of both earnings and principal are entirely tax-free.
You can roll a 401(k) into an IRA to pay for school.
If you're interested in using an IRA to pay for qualified educational expenses, you can take money from your existing 401(k) and deposit it into an IRA. However, once you receive the check from cashing in your 401(k), those funds must be deposited into the IRA within 60 days to avoid paying penalties.
An IRA withdrawal might affect financial aid.
Money held in retirement accounts, such as an IRA, are exempt from being evaluated on the FAFSA for financial aid. However, when you withdraw funds from an IRA account to use towards qualified education expenses, the funds count as income the following year which could impact your financial aid.
You need to file taxes on your distribution.
When you file taxes, you'll need to fill out a form, usually Form 5329, to report your distribution and note your exception.


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UK Prosecutors Finally Acknowledge The Need For A Real Discussion About Free Speech Online
from the he-said-what??? dept
As Tim Cushing rightly noted earlier this week, the UK's "Free Speech" laws are more about the many things you can't say. As if to back up that view, in the last few days, there's been yet another case of somebody being arrested there for "an offensive Facebook page."
At this point, you might have written off the UK and its laws as a hopeless case, and made a mental note not to say anything rude if you ever go there. If so, you would probably assume that a new statement about social media prosecutions in a post from the UK's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), on the official blog of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), is just more of the same. Amazingly, it's not.
It relates to yet another, earlier, case where "a homophobic message" was posted to Twitter. Surprisingly, perhaps, given the UK's track record here, the authorities decided not to prosecute the person involved. The new blog post explains this decision, offering a series of eminently sensible reasons why it would have been inappropriate in the circumstances:
This was, in essence, a one-off offensive Twitter message, intended for family and friends, which made its way into the public domain. It was not intended to reach Mr Daley or Mr Waterfield [the subjects of the message], it was not part of a campaign, it was not intended to incite others and Mr Thomas [the sender] removed it reasonably swiftly and has expressed remorse.
Not content with this unexpected outbreak of good sense, the UK's DPP goes on to make some general observations that are equally notable:
This case is one of a growing number involving the use of social media that the CPS has had to consider. There are likely to be many more. The recent increase in the use of social media has been profound. It is estimated that on Twitter alone there are 340 million messages sent daily. And the context in which this interactive social media dialogue takes place is quite different to the context in which other communications take place. Access to social media is ubiquitous and instantaneous. Banter, jokes and offensive comment are commonplace and often spontaneous. Communications intended for a few may reach millions.
Well, indeed. And thus:
To ensure that CPS decision-making in these difficult cases is clear and consistent, I intend to issue guidelines on social media cases for prosecutors. These will assist them in deciding whether criminal charges should be brought in the cases that arise for their consideration. In the first instance, the CPS will draft interim guidelines. There will then be a wide public consultation before final guidelines are published. As part of that process, I intend to hold a series of roundtable meetings with campaigners, media lawyers, academics, social media experts and law enforcement bodies to ensure that the guidelines are as fully informed as possible.
He concludes with words that echo what many people in the UK have been thinking for last few years:
In my view, the time has come for an informed debate about the boundaries of free speech in an age of social media.
Pity it hasn't happened sooner, but better late then never....
Follow me @glynmoody on Twitter or identi.ca, and on Google+
Filed Under: free speech, social media, uk


text: Copper turbo to passenger header gasket. Helps prevent a common leak area. These Copper exhaust gaskets have a unique O-ring seal around the exhaust port for a tight, leak-proof seal. Made with solid annealed copper, they help even out heat flow between the head and header flange to minimize warping. They'll conform to rough or damaged surfaces to maintain a good seal, and keep header bolts tight.


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Heavy alcohol consumption, specifically three or more glasses of liquor a day, is associated with an increased risk of death from pancreatic cancer, according to a report in the March 14 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
"Alcoholic beverage consumption – a modifiable lifestyle factor – is causally related to several cancers, including oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver, colorectum and female breast," the authors write as background information in the article. "Heavy alcohol consumption causes acute and chronic pancreatitis but has never been linked definitively to pancreatic cancer."
Using data from the Cancer Prevention Study II (CPS-II), Susan M. Gapstur, Ph.D., M.P.H., and colleagues from the American Cancer Society, Atlanta, examined the association between alcohol intake and pancreatic cancer. The CPS-II is a long-term prospective study of U.S. adults 30 years and older. Initial data on alcohol consumption was gathered in 1982, and based on follow-up through 2006, there were 6,847 pancreatic cancer deaths among one million participants.
Of the million participants (453,770 men and 576,697 women), 45.7 percent of men and 62.5 percent of women were non-drinkers. The analyses of men only and of men and women combined showed statistically significant increased risk of pancreatic cancer death for consumption of three drinks per day and four or more drinks per day, whereas for women only the estimated risk of death from pancreatic cancer was statistically significant for consumption of four or more drinks per day.
Compared with non-drinkers, consuming three or more drinks of liquor per day was associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer death in the total study population, and consumption of two or more drinks of liquor per day was associated with an increased risk in both never smokers and in those who had ever smoked. This association was observed for liquor consumption but not for beer or wine.
In never smokers, there was a 36 percent higher risk of pancreatic cancer death associated with consuming three or more drinks a day compared with non-drinkers for men and women combined. In those who had ever smoked, there was a 16 percent higher risk of death from pancreatic cancer after adjustment for smoking history and other variables.
"Findings from the prospective study presented herein strongly support the hypothesis that alcohol consumption, in particular heavy intake, also is an independent risk factor for pancreatic cancer, the fourth most common cause of cancer mortality [death] in the United States," the authors conclude.
Arch Intern Med. 2011;171[5]:444-451.


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Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington pleads not guilty to assaulting ex-girlfriend
PHOENIX – Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, who authorities have said is the mother of his baby daughter.
A Maricopa County Superior Court spokesman says Washington entered the plea Monday.
Washington is charged with aggravated assault and criminal trespass. He has been free since he posted $2,400 bond after being arrested May 3.
Phoenix police have said Washington's ex-girlfriend claimed he grabbed her by the throat and shoved her to the ground following an argument at her apartment.
Washington led the Cardinals with 134 tackles and nine sacks last season. He signed a six-year contract extension in September.
He was suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.


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Stay tuned to this blog in advance of Father's Day on June 21, because we're going to hit you with can't-miss gift ideas for Dad.
You didn't forget, right?
Let's start with this Nordstrom-exclusive Tie Bar Style Box. Recommended for dads who wear suits. One way to refresh your look if you're a suit-wearer is to buy a new suit. Another way is to give new life to an already-owned suit, by styling it with fresh accessories. That's what this Tie Bar Style Box accomplishes in one fell swoop.
Give Dad this lavender-toned box of socks, pocket squares, neckties and a bow tie, and tell him to wear it with anything blue. And brown shoes.
Let's take a closer look inside the box, shall we?
Shop: Tie Bar


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American bobsledder Bill Schuffenhauer was arrested, after allegedly assaulting his fiancée. It's another sad episode in the life of a man who always seems to find trouble.
Though scheduled to race tomorrow in the 4-man bobsleigh, that is in doubt after Schuffenhauer was detained and released late Wednesday night following an incident at his accommodations in Whistler. It's not the first time he's run afoul of the law, in a life filled with setbacks.
Schuffenhauer grew up on the streets of Salt Lake City, sometimes literally. His parents were drug addicts, and he drifted from foster home to foster home, with intermittent bouts of homelessness. He had his run-ins with the law, stealing to buy food, he says.
He overcame a lot to become a nationally ranked decathalete at Weber State University, and eventually made the switch to bobsleigh. As pushman, he won a silver medal at the 2002 Games, and became a local hero.
That's when he met Ruthann Savage. The two moved in together in 2004, and things went downward quickly. Bobsleigh isn't a lucrative sport, and Savage had to support the two on her nurse's salary. After the Torino games, Schuffenhauer quit bobsledding and became a salesmen for Wells Fargo. But he soon got the itch to compete again, at precisely the wrong time.
He quit his job in 2008, planning to rejoin the US team and resume his part-time job with Home Depot's Olympic program. But because of the economy, Home Depot did away with the program. Savage's savings were gone, and credit cards maxed out. The two lost their home.
The two, with Schuffenhauer's young son, moved into a small apartment in Ogden. But the money problems persisted. He couldn't afford a ring when he proposed to Savage, three months ago. And he didn't have the money to fly them in to watch him compete.
That's why it was so heartwarming when sponsor Proctor & Gamble surprised him by bringing Savage and 4-year-old Corben to Vancouver this week.
Like some kind of Greek tragedy, his life story makes his arrest for assault all the more heartbreaking. Bobsledders don't get famous; it's just not that kind of a sport. But someone whose backstory we should have all known is now going to have his face in the papers for all the wrong reasons.
U.S. Olympic athlete arrested after alleged assault in Whistler [The Province]
Utah bobsledder gets Olympic surprise - his family [Salt Lake Tribune]
Bobsledder Bill Schuffenhauer goes from life of street crime to shot at Olympic gold [The Survivors Club]


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Good Listener & Up Front : Vik Gupta
Fund: Panorama Capital
Posted by Anonymous on 2008-01-15
We recently pitched our plan to Vik. I found Vik to be an extremely good listener. He was able to quickly understand our pitch and grasp our value proposition and differentiation. He had an outstanding capability to grasp the larger picture without allowing details to clutter his views. He was genuine and frank about his feedback. He gave us great input in regards to our strengths and weaknesses. Initially he comes across as a "big picture" person but he is able to identify the key details and digs deeper to understand them fully. He created a relaxed environment allowing us to present our case in a thorough manner.PRIVATE: Members Only


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LOS ANGELES (AP) Norman Powell scored a career-high 27 points, Jordan Adams added 25 and No. 13 UCLA routed James Madison 100-70 on Thursday night in regional play of the Legends Classic.
Adams had 21 points in the season opener against Indiana State and 26 points against UC Irvine on Tuesday, making him the first freshman in school history to score 20-plus points in his first three games. He made all seven of his free throws, extending his streak to 23 in a row.
The Bruins (3-0) next play Georgetown on Monday in Brooklyn, N.Y., as part of the Legends Classic. They will then face either No. 1 Indiana or Georgia on Tuesday.
Rayshawn Goins led James Madison with 24 points, one off his career best. The Dukes fell to 0-4 against top-25 teams in season openers.
Larry Drew II had a career-high 12 assists and freshman Kyle Anderson grabbed 12 rebounds playing with a bone contusion on his right wrist that he sustained against Irvine.
The scoreboard operator at new Pauley Pavilion had to shrink the numbers on the digital board to fit triple digits once the Bruins topped 100 points on a layup by Tony Parker with 1:21 to play.
Adams scored 16 points in the first half when UCLA shot 68 percent and led 63-29. The Bruins were 6 of 7 from 3-point range and made 11 of 13 free throws while holding James Madison to 34 percent field-goal shooting. The Dukes didn't reach double digits until 10 minutes into the game when they trailed by 16 points.
The only suspense in the second half was whether Adams could keep his free-throw shooting streak intact. With 3 1/2 minutes to go, one of his attempts bounced on the front of the rim before going in and he sank his last one before heading to the bench shortly after.
UCLA scored at will against the Dukes, who never made a dent in their huge deficit. A.J. Davis was the only other player in double figures with 16 for James Madison. The Bruins' bench outscored the Dukes' reserves, 48-18, and UCLA owned a commanding 44-34 edge in the paint.
UCLA guard Tyler Lamb missed his second straight game because of a swollen left knee.
Shabazz Muhammad sat out his third straight game as the star recruit awaits the outcome of UCLA's appeal to the NCAA regarding its decision to rule him ineligible for violating amateurism rules. The appeal is expected to be heard Friday


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research into Vocal Reconstruction
Where can I find research into Vocal Reconstruction after a Larynjectomy with Bilateral Gland Excision ?.
Vocal Rehabilitation after total laryngectomy consists of three traditional options. The first, and probably most common method at this time, is tracheoesophageal voice. This voice is accomplished by surgically creating a hole in the back wall of the trachea (stoma) which communicates with the esophagus (swallowing passage). A plastic, one-way valve prosthesis (Blom-Singer Prosthesis or Provox Prosthesis) is then placed in this hole. The prosthesis will allow air to pass into the throat. The throat tissues will then vibrate producing a sound. As the sound passes through your mouth you then shape it into words with your tongue, teeth, and lips. This usually produces a low pitched voice. This is usually not a problem for male patients. However, occasionally, female patients may be mistaken for men on the telephone.
The second method of rehabilitating the voice after total laryngectomy is by using an electrolarynx. This is a hand held device that is applied to the neck or cheek or occasionally placed in the mouth. Since it vibrates, it produces a sound. You then speak like normal to produce words. This gives a mechanical voice that is very effective when the patient is properly trained in its use. Some don't like it simply because it is a mechanical sound.
The third method of voice rehabilitation after total laryngectomy is esophageal speech. This technique requires patients to swallow air into their esophagus (swallowing passage). Then regurgitate the air. You are essentially burping air on demand. As the air comes up it vibrates the throat tissues causing a sound to be produced. You then form words with you mouth like usual. The major drawback for this method is that only about 25% of patients who undergo a total laryngectomy will actually be fluent in this technique.
The common thread throughout these three techniques of voice rehabilitation is that you need a vibratory source. That is essentially what the vocal cords are – a sound generator.
There is another technique which is still experimental. Laryngeal transplantation is currently being studied by Dr. Marshall Strome at the Cleveland Clinic. He has successfully performed this operation on a human being. This operation is not be considered to be a good option for patients with a cancer diagnosis. The medications necessary to keep your immune system from rejecting the transplanted organ would put you at risk for developing another cancer. As technology progresses this technique may be available to cancer patients in the future.
Keith Wilson, M.D.; Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology; College of Medicine; University of Cincinnati Medical Center
For more information:
Go to the Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders health topic.