text:
Cisco Systems' US$6.9 billion acquisition of Scientific Atlanta has just been completed, and the newly energized Cisco has laid out a vision of the future that sees the company playing a crucial role in the nascent IPTV market. According to Cisco, the IPTV puzzle has five pieces: the connected home, the network, the headend, the video control infrastructure, and "Operational Support Systems" (OSS). With its acquisition of Scientific Atlanta, Cisco is set to provide most of these pieces itself, which means that the combined company stands to rake in some serious cash from the current network buildout boom.
For instance, consider the first puzzle piece, the connected home. Though Cisco is not a brand name that often appears in the living room, the company's Linksys division is a popular consumer brand that will allow Cisco to offer home networking products. Scientific Atlanta is one of the largest makers of set-top boxes in the world, which means that Cisco can now provide both the home network and the interface to the television—and can integrate the two in innovative ways. As for the second piece, the network, this is Cisco's bread-and-butter, and they are already a dominant supplier of networking gear such as industrial-strength routers and switches. In the headend (where video is received, processed, and encoded), Scientific Atlanta is already a powerful force, and the marriage of their video expertise to Cisco's networking skill is like a marriage made in heaven for IPTV deployments. For the last piece of the puzzle, OSS, Cisco will partner with consulting firms to provide support and systems integration services, which means that they can offer a complete end-to-end solution for companies wanting to jump into the IPTV pool.
The move comes as major US telecom companies are rolling out massive new IP networks to support IPTV and other IP-based services such as VoIP and data. Cisco wants to offer these companies all the technology that they need in order to deploy this "triple play." Dan Scheinman, Cisco's senior vice president of corporate development, says that the purchase of Scientific Atlanta is simply one more sign that divergent networks are being consolidated, and that IP has won the day.
"To service providers, we'll be able to build networks which will allow them to maximize their assets and allow them to deliver video, Internet, and voice services to customers efficiently and effectively by using a single, IP-based network infrastructure, rather than having to run multiple separate networks for each type of communications service. For consumers, we hope to create home networking technology that makes it possible for people to get the content they want--voice, data, or video--where they want, on the device they want."
Unfortunately for Cisco, consumers aren't yet sure that they want their IPTV; in fact, they aren't even sure what IPTV is. A new study by Accenture found that 46 percent of people in the US and Western Europe don't know what the term "IPTV" means, and many of those who think that they do know believe that IPTV means they'll soon be watching less advertisements. Unfortunately, they will not. Cisco and the telcos have a big job in front of them as they seek to educate consumers about IPTV and overcome ingrained skepticism toward receiving HD-quality video over a phone line. (If you're one of these consumers, have no fear; look for our own IPTV primer next week.)


text:
Total Home Comfort with Bruce Inc. HVAC
"At Bruce Inc. we offer complete heating, cooling and indoor air quality services, designed specifically for your home. We are dedicated to upholding the highest level of service and installation in the heating and air conditioning industry. Regardless of the season or the temperature outside, our goal is to make your home a more comfortable place to live."
With the summer heat upon us the question of air conditioner maintenance is back on your mind. Bruce Inc. wants to be your air conditioning company, and it starts with providing you with answers to your HVAC questions. Give them a call and allow them to show you just why they are the only HVAC company you will ever need.
"From air conditioner repair to heat pump installation we are ready to serve you."
Bruce Inc. offers superior installation, maintenance and service for your heating, ventilation, air conditioning or commercial systems with their NATE-certified technicians. NATE is North America Technician Excellence. Bruce Inc. technicians have been tested and certified that they have the knowledge in the HVAC industry by passing NATE certification tests.
Founded: 2002
Bruce Inc. was founded in 2002 by Ron Bruce after owning and operating Campbell & Bruce Refrigeration, Inc. for 20 years. The establishment of Bruce Inc. has allowed Ron to develop more personalized customer service and build a team that is experienced and professional. Ron appreciates the expertise and dedication of his employees and strives to develop long term relationships with each customer.
Bruce Inc. is a family-owned company that delivers a complete range of products to ensure your total home comfort.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Car Forums / Audi / Audi A4
Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Meet your fellow owners in our Owners Clubs
Audi A4 Maintenance and Repair
wilner californiaPosts: 34i have the same problem as yours every year i'm always replacing the battery with a new one. this auto repair center that i always have my battery replace suggested to see an auto electrical shop to diagnos what causes the battery drains. the techician here suggested that i could test the alternator by pulling out the positive post when the engine is running so i did and yes the engine still running when i pulled out the clamp from the positive post, that means no problem with the alternator. so there is really something that causing the battery drains everyday from the engine. i have a 1999 a4 2.8 quattro v6. mr wahenika, please help me what the technician found out when you have your audi brought to the electrical shop. thank you very much.0
A technician told you to do that? GEESH! Please, don't EVER try to test an alternator that way. You could cause severe damage to the ECM, the alternator and who knows what else. VERY bad advice!0
I think I have similar problem, but can only read the response not the question in post 2210. Mine started fine three times on a cold day, then after sitting overnight the engine starts but then stops running after 1 or 2 seconds. Changing the FPR does not look difficult, if this is the problem. But how does the fuel get pressurized again before starting with the new FPR installed?0
The pump pressurizes it.0
OK. I was able to read post 2209 and my problem seems a little different. When I turn the key the engine revs right up but then stops after the initial rev. I try pumping the gas right away but the result is the same, the engine just cuts out. Have tried it 8-10 times and same happens each time. I just bought the car and it ran fine when I test drove it and picked it up. Sat overnight in the cold and now does not start past the initial rev when I turn the key. Does that sound like it could be the fuel pressure regulator? I appreciate the input!0
Do you think it's related to releasing the ignition key? What I mean is, does the stalling coincide with taking your hand off the key or start button?0
I turned the key all the way forward and the engine starts, and when I released the key back to the run position, the engine stops. Then I turned the key all the way forward and kept it in the start position (did not release it back to run position) and the engine started up, then stopped and the engine continued to crank but would not start up again.0
Might be good to borrow a scan tool if you can. The possibilities here are numerous.
I wonder what would happen if you sprayed some starting fluid into the air cleaner, if it would start right up again? It would be good to know at least if the engine is losing fuel or losing spark. If it would start repeatedly each time you sprayed starting fluid, then you'd pretty much suspect a fuel cutoff.
I suppose you could buy one of those very inexpensive spark testers and have someone crank the car over when it isn't starting.0
The mystery may be solved. I spoke to the seller that I just bought the car from. He thinks the problem is that I first tried to start it the next morning with the black plastic key instead of the metal key. He thinks the key needs to be re-programmed. Does that sound reasonable? I guess there is lots for me to learn.0
that doesn't really make sense to me, but do you have another key to try?0
ziggy25a Posts: 24mercops, while much of your message is correct, I need to point out some significant inaccuracies there. No, it is rare that ANY OEM parts are patented, or trademarked. A patent for an alternator? A windshield? No. For a new drug, for a then new type of coating for cooking pans (Teflon)? Yes, those are novel inventions which are patented.
To better illustrate, I will ask you to post any patent number (patent information is public and is searchable on google) for any Audi windshield. Can you post a single lawsuit that Audi has ever filed again another windshield maker to protect their "patent"? The answers to both will be no, because there is no patent or trademark involved with their windshields.
A trademark has more to do typically with a logo or slogan. The Audi rings are a trademark for example. The Audi windshield is certainly not a trademark.
What is true is that aftermarket products vary in quality. I personally have had 4 windshields replaced in my various cars history, and I can say that all of them were aftermarket non OEM glass. I would challenge anyone to notice ANY difference. Might one of them be 1 millimeter wider? Sure, no question. Would that make any significant difference to a consumer? No. Could there be some aftermarket brands that are substandard? Sure, I suppose so. In my experience, the only difference I noticed on one was the amount of tinting at the top of windshield being slightly different. Not better or worse, just different.
If you want to tell me that an Audi alternator has better electronic components, and higher quality bearings, than aftermarket brands. Sure, that is probably true. But for automotive glass? This is glass, we are talking, there is little technology here.0
dnvnduelas Posts: 1Hello everybody, I am shopping around for Audi A4 Avants ranging from the 2005-2008 models. I was wondering if anybody has any experience with these cars, in terms of maintenance and upkeep? I've been told by somebody that these cars require a certain service every 30000 miles, other than just an oil change, that is very pricy. Could anybody give me some insight? I would greatly appreciate any help you can offer.0
Here's a complete Audi maintenance schedule for 2005 models:
2005 Audi A4 Maintenance
Sounds like you are referring to the 35,000 mile checkup.
Audis do tend to be a bit maintenance intensive. I suppose if you went to the dealer for this 35,000 mile check, it would be pricey, but perhaps less so at a good independent shop. You might take this list to an indy shop you are thinking of using and get a quote.0
rebuiltaudi Posts: 1Pretty sure that it sounds like you may be leaking from your clutch slave cylinder, it should be sticking out of the top of your transmission and facing the engine, with a perpendicular bleeder valve.0
I thought of that but he (the original poster with the problem) said his brake pedal goes to the floor.0
eddie650 Posts: 26
I have a 2005 Audi A4 Cabriolet with about 103,000 miles and was wondering when the main pulley gets replaced. I was told that it was the pulley that was causing an engine noise I hear, but I was told it didn't need to be replaced yet. It's a growl type noise and sounds worse for some reason when I am turning out of or into my garage and when I have the car in "Drive".0


text:
Locksmith html website template added to Buylandingpagedesign.com
Emergency locksmith services html website template design added to Buylandingpagedesign.com
Promote your emergency locksmith services online by creating a website online and exposing your services. Locksmith html website templates includes html website templates for residential locksmith services, 24 hours emergency locksmith services, car keys replacement locksmith services, automotive locksmith services etc.
You can check all our locksmith services html website template designs here: https://www.buylandingpagedesign.com/html-website-template/locksmith/ and locksmith services responsive html website templates here: https://www.buylandingpagedesign.com/responsive-website-template/locksmith/
Locksmith services html website template "Index/Main" page preview
Locksmith services html website template "inner" page preview
Purchase static html website template | Purchase responsive html website template


text:
Undergraduate Degrees, Majors and Concentrations
ELIT3130 - British Literature 1789-Presen
Summer 2019
British literature from 1789 examines the historical growth, philosophical premises, and literary techniques of important writers in British and Commonwealth literature from the late 18th century to the modern era. Students read a wide range of literature, including fiction, drama, essays, poetry, journals, and autobiographies. The course focuses on historical development with emphasis on significant schools and movements such as Romanticism, Victorian writers, and Modernism. Students investigate print, internet resources, and electronic databases and write literary research essays in MLA format.
Prerequisites: COSK2220 and any ELIT course
3 Credits
Schedule Book for All Active and Available Future Terms, Course starting with ELIT3130
No Courses Found


text:
WASHINGTON – An Alexandria high school is getting a boost from an alum who happens to be a celebrity.
Charles "Chip" Esten, who plays Deacon Claybourne on the ABC show "Nashville," returned to his hometown this weekend to play at a fundraiser for his alma mater T.C. Williams High School.
Esten played for the nearly 200 school supporters, family, friends and fans of "Nashville" at the May 3 fundraiser event at the Durant Center in Alexandria, Va.
"Most of the people here have had to listen to me play music over the years, so now it's funny they were nice enough to cough-up for the charity and listen to it again," Esten says.
All the proceeds from the event, which was $150 a ticket, benefit the Alexandria Scholarship Fund. The fund raises money for local high school students to help them afford the college.
"We're not telling the kids that we're going to get them into college, we're saying if you get in, we're going to help you get through," says Dwight Dunton, vice chairman of the Board of Trustees for the scholarship fund.
And the financial support is not just for high school seniors. Scholarship winners can re-apply each collegiate year so they can afford to earn their bachelors degree.
During the evening's performance, Esten played a few songs from the show, as well as some of his own music. And he had no problem admitting to the crowd that he was the class clown and a bit of a show-off during his high school days in Alexandria.
"My teachers always loved me the year after I was in their class. I'd be walking down the hall and they'd be like, 'Chip, how are you doing?' I'd be like, 'What? Are you talking to me?' When I was somebody else's problem, we got along great," he says.
After high school, Esten went to William and Mary where he met his college sweetheart, Patty. They were soon married and moved to L.A. His wife and three children live in California while he works in Nashville.
"It's really exciting. It's the role of a lifetime. It's multiple dreams come true in as much as I get to do the music and I get to do the acting as well. We just really have a great time down there," Esten says.
See Esten in a clip from 'Nashville' here:
He drove up from Nashville to perform in Alexandria and help raise money for the scholarship fund. Working with his sister Cathy Puskar, who chairs the scholarship fund board, Esten says he's happy to help his alma mater, even though he hasn't been back in a while.
"Man, it's going to be hard for me because you know the high school that you grew up and out of is the one that's in your heart and your memory. I know it's going to be beautiful, but it's going to be somebody else's beautiful high school," Esten says.
The evening raised $22,000 for the scholarship fund, according to the fund's board of trustees.
Follow @WTOP and @WTOPliving on Twitter.


text:
It looks like your browser is out of date.
To use all features of KLM.com safely, we recommend that you update your browser, or that you choose a different one. Continuing with this version may result in parts of the website not being displayed properly, if at all. Also, the security of your personal information is better safeguarded with an updated browser.
Like a good balance between nature and city life? Then book flights to Johannesburg and you'll experience a vibrant South African metropolis as well as the stunning surroundings. In this financial heart of South Africa, you can get to know the turbulent history of the country in the Nelson Mandela National Museum and the Apartheid Museum. In the evening you can enjoy the city's exuberant nightlife. Once you've seen enough of the city, head out to the Johannesburg Zoo or on a multi-day safari to the impressive Kruger Park.
One of the main reasons to visit this country is the beautiful nature. The world-famous Kruger National Park, where you'll stand face to face with lions, zebras and elephants, is easily reached from Johannesburg. Johannesburg is the ideal destination for a city break or the perfect start of an inspiring tour of South Africa. Experience it for yourself: book a flight to Johannesburg now!
Read more
Read less


text:
Dell 40GB 7200RPM SATA2 8MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Hard drive, Dell 0DC072.
* We have limited quantity of 0DC072 in stock. Our inventory changes constantly and quantities listed are based on available stock. This item comes with our 100% Money-Back Guarantee.
I purchased a battery for my Gateway cx2610 laptop from Code Micro. I was very happy with the produ...
Jason G.
Great NorthWeb
Our department needed two discontinued drive modules for our servers. Code Micro delivered on time. ...
Mark E.
Citi Corp


text:
Let's look back at the week that was in Microsoft news. Here were the top stories:
Inside "MinWin": the Windows 7 kernel slims down: Back in 2003, Microsoft assembled a team of engineers to rethink the lowest levels of Windows, so that the OS could be more easily slimmed down and secured to run in servers and embedded applications. That project, called "MinWin," has now started to bear fruit. Ars takes a look inside MinWin.
Windows 7 tool violates GPL; Microsoft will open source it: After pulling the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool from its servers over reports that it might violate the GNU General Public License (GPL), Microsoft has decided to go open source with the tool.
Microsoft counters Windows 7 FUD in blog posts: In the first two weeks of November, Microsoft has already dealt with two separate FUD-related stories by publishing counter blog post.
Microsoft: Azure to go live in January, for pay in February: The Azure platform will have its first paying customers in February 2010, marking Microsoft's entry into the commercial cloud computing market.
Office 2010 beta now available: After arriving on MSDN and TechNet, the public betas for Office 2010, Project 2010, Visio 2010, and SharePoint Server 2010 have arrived. Download links inside.
New SMB flaw can crash Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 remotely: Microsoft has confirmed reports of a new vulnerability that affects both Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
Microsoft Surface SDK now available to all: The Microsoft Surface Software Development Kit (SDK) Workstation Edition is now available to anyone who wants to develop on the device.
Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 coming November 24: Microsoft has announced that Windows Home Server (WHS) Power Pack 3 (PP3) will be available in all shipping languages on November 24, 2009.
Silverlight 4 beta arrives for developers: Silverlight beta 4 (build 4.0.41108.0) has been released. This version is primarily for developers, but anyone can download it.
Windows Marketplace for Mobile arrives for all 6.x users: The Windows Marketplace for Mobile is now available for devices running Windows Mobile 6.0 and Windows Mobile 6.1, in addition to Windows Mobile 6.5.
You can follow Microsoft news at Ars by using the Microsoft tab at the top of the page, our RSS feed, or Twitter.


text:
SOMERSWORTH — The Somersworth High School volleyball team picked up its biggest win of the season with a four-game Division II victory over Milford on Friday.
The Hilltoppers (4-6) won the match by scores of 24-26, 25-17, 25-17, 25-20. Milford is now 8-2.
Shadai Gosselin had a big match for Somersworth with 13 kills and 24 digs. Lexi Strong added 19 digs, while middles Vanessa Smith (five kills, nine blocks) and Keely Fitzgerald (five kills, four blocks) also played well. Miranda Gagnon and Darian Walsh combined for 24 assists.
Somersworth hosts Coe-Brown Monday.
@Subhead:Coe-Brown 3, Portsmouth 0
NORTHWOOD — The Coe-Brown volleyball team swept past Portsmouth Friday in Division II action.
The Bears (7-3) won by game scores of 25-16, 25-12, 25-15.
Abbie Ahern served 11 for 11 with four aces, while Liz Peabody had seven kills, Debbie Peabody added 17 digs, and Sadie Steffen served 19 for 19 with two aces.
Coe-Brown visits Somersworth Monday. Portsmouth is 5-4.
@Subhead:St. Thomas 3, Kingswood 0
WOLFEBORO — The St. Thomas Aquinas volleyball team stayed atop the Division II standings with Friday's 3-0 win at Kingswood.
The Saints (8-0) won by game scores of 25-11, 25-19 and 25-5.
Cecilia Chrisom led STA with nine kills, Regina Mastrobattista added eight kills, Ku'uipo Hoover had 14 assists and Maria Chrisom added 10 digs.
Kingswood coach Mike Christy was going for his 100th career win, but will have to wait for that chance on Monday home against Kennett. Casey Sargent led the Knights with 10 assists, Emily Rumery, Autumn Wilber, and Allie Campbell each had 2 kills. Taylor Durand led the defense with 10 digs.
St. Thomas visits Milford Monday.
@Subhead:Farmington 3, Sunapee 0
SUNAPEE — Unbeaten Farmington stayed that way in the Division III volleyball ranks with Friday's 3-0 win at Sunapee (3-6).
The Tigers (8-0) won by game scores of 25-16, 25-10 and 27-25.
Marissa Peart had nine kills, nine digs and six aces, while Kelsey Gregoire added eight kills.
Farmington hosts Moultonborough Monday in a rematch of the 2011 D-III final.
@Rail tease type:GIRLS SOCCER
@Subhead:Sanford 4, Noble 1
NORTH BERWICK, Maine — The Noble girls soccer team slipped to 1-9 with Friday's 4-1 loss to Sanford (9-1).
Gabby Reil netted the lone Knight goal, set up by a corner kick by Nicole Lanoie.
Shaylee Ashburn had 15 saves in goal for Noble, while Danielle Logan played well on defense.
The Knights play at Scarborough Tuesday.
@Subhead:Marshwood 2, Biddeford 1
SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — Alli Schoff and Lydia St. Pierre (from Abby Hyson) each scored to help lift the Marshwood girls soccer team to a 2-1 win over Biddeford.
@Subhead:Berwick 3, Newton Country Day 0
NEWTON, Mass. — The Berwick Academy girls soccer team improved to 6-1 with Friday's 3-0 win at Newton Country Day School.
Scoring for BA were Georgia Barlow (2 assists), Aimee Briand and Brooke Downey (assist). Caitlyn Winders and Eliza Hazen combined to earn their fifth shutout of the season in goal.
Cora Ordway, Molly Lapointe, Emily Borkowski, Maddie Balas, Kaitlyn Wurzer, Emma Brin and Erica Van Dissel played well on defense.
BA visits Dana Hall Wednesday.
@Rail tease type:BOYS SOCCER
@Subhead:Somersworth 6, Kingswood 0
WOLFEBORO — The Somersworth boys soccer team defeated Kingswood, 6-0, in Division III action Friday.
In the first half, Zach Campbell had a hat trick and Bastian Demecheleer scored on a penalty kick. In the second half, Martin Kostal and Zach Hamilton each scored on a breakaway.
Somersworth (4-6), winners of three straight, play at Sanborn Tuesday.
@Rail tease type:FIELD HOCKEY
@Subhead:Traip 0, Waynflete 0
KITTERY, Maine — The Traip Academy field hockey team played Waynflete to a 0-0 tie in a game that was called at halftime due to unsafe playing conditions because of a steady rain.
Traip (5-4-1) had five shots on goal to one for Waynflete (6-3-2).
Traip plays at Waynflete Monday.
High school roundup: 'Toppers net big win over Milford
SOMERSWORTH — The Somersworth High School volleyball team picked up its biggest win of the season with a four-game Division II victory over Milford on Friday.


text:
Rosiglitazone Controversy - ADOPT Rosi and Shatter Your DREAMs?
Ryan Bradley, ND, MPH June, 2007
Our knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine treatments in diabetes is limited and we need to learn more. This much I am the first to admit.
Yet, when the New England Journal of Medicine article publishes research finding Avandia® (rosiglitazone, GlaxoSmithKline) may actually increase the risk of heart attack and cardiovascular-related death (1), I get frustrated and a little angry. The study combined the results of several recent studies and found that people with diabetes taking rosiglitazone have an average 43% increased risk of heart attack and a strong trend suggesting higher chance of death from cardiovascular causes. Diabetes itself increases risk of heart disease, heart attack and heart-related death, and now I read FDA-approved "treatments" further increases the risk. The FDA continues to use tax dollars to prematurely approve medications without adequate safety testing and monitoring while drug companies continue to aggressively market medications as "advances" in treatment.
The recent findings about rosiglitazone have raised significant questions about the competency of the FDA, the marketing ease of drug companies and the impact both of these factors have on the advice your doctors give you for your diabetes care.
I hope this article helps clarify some of the context surrounding the current controversy- and helps you ask your doctors for sound recommendations.
What is PPAR Anyway?
Rosiglitazone is an example of a relatively new class of medications used in the "treatment" of diabetes called thiazolidinediones (TZDs) or PPAR-gamma agonists. PPAR is an abbreviation for: Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptors. When substances (both endogenous and exogenous) bind to these receptors it triggers numerous biochemical changes - including changes in gene expression. When genes are read in the body it sends a message to the machinery to make more proteins; every protein has a specific function - some functions include enzymes, hormones and structural building blocks. In the case of PPAR-gamma, agents that bind these receptors (like the TZDs) trigger changes in gene expression leading to the creation of enzymes that help regulate insulin sensitivity, inflammation and improve glucose breakdown (metabolism). TZD-class medications, like rosiglitazone, act as true "insulin sensitizers" and do help reduce blood sugar substantially (2).
ADOPT Rosiglitazone?
A very large, recent clinical trial called the ADOPT trial was the first clinical study to compare three oral medications for diabetes against each other, i.e. a "head-to-head" study (2). There have long been concerns in the medical community that some medications may "exhaust the insulin-producing beta cells" of the pancreas and which oral medication to be used in the treatment of diabetes has been unknown.
The ADOPT trial randomized participants into three groups: one group received metformin, one group received glyburide, and the third group received rosiglitazone. The participants were followed for a median time of four years. The study endpoints included time to treatment failure (treatment failure was defined as how long after the drug was started did fasting blood sugar rise over a certain level), side effects and cardiovascular events (including heart attack, stroke and congestive heart failure).
In my opinion, the main findings of the ADOPT trial was that all drugs fail. The amount of time it takes the drug to fail however was different - with five year failure rates being 15%, 21% and 34% for rosiglitazone, metformin and glyburide respectively.
The other findings were that patients on glyburide, although the medication fails at a higher rate, seem to have a lower rate of cardiovascular events than people on the other two medications (rosiglitazone and metformin had similar rates), however people on glyburide had more episodes of hypoglycemia than either of the other two medications. Also, those people taking rosiglitazone had higher rates of lower leg swelling and weight gain, while women taking rosiglitazone also had a higher rate of fractures.
Because it appears to last longer than other medications, some companies began using this study as rationale for using rosiglitazone as the first medication to prescribe for someone with new diabetes, despite the negative consequences of rosiglitazone.
Whose DREAM?
Another recent trial called the DREAM (Diabetes REduction Assessment with ramipril and rosiglitazone Medication) trial also studied rosiglitazone, but studied it for the prevention of diabetes in people with pre-diabetes (3). In this study, people with mild elevations in their fasting or post-meal blood sugar (elevations that put them at high risk for developing diabetes) were randomized to receive either rosiglitazone or placebo for three years. The study endpoint was the number of people in each group who went on to develop diabetes. The results of the DREAM trial showed the people who received rosiglitazone had a 60% reduced risk of developing diabetes compared to those who received a placebo. However, once again, the rosiglitazone had increased weight gain and in this study had significantly higher rates of developing congestive heart failure (even though they did not develop diabetes).
The results of this study were widely praised because no medication has ever demonstrated similar preventive actions for diabetes, though diet and lifestyle change have demonstrated similar protective benefits - the Diabetes Prevention Program study showing a 58% reduction in diabetes from lifestyle changes (4).
So What Should I Do Now? Are There Natural PPAR Agents?
These two studies, ADOPT and DREAM, were being used to aggressively market rosiglitazone as a good first line option of the treatment of diabetes, and although never formally marketed for the treatment of diabetes, many drug company representatives were conveniently sliding the results of the DREAM trial into their conversations with doctors. The recent New England Journal of Medicine study finding increased heart attack risk (1), casts significant doubt in my mind regarding the safe use of rosiglitazone in the treatment of diabetes - and completely eliminates the possibility that I would ever recommend this medication for diabetes prevention (rosiglitazone has never been FDA approved for preventing diabetes).
There may be natural PPAR-gamma agents. Preliminary test-tube research has suggested several herbs and nutrients have PPAR-gamma activity including mulberry, Korean ginseng, phytanic acid (a breakdown product of chlorophyll from vegetables), conjugated linoleic acid, banaba, tumeric and licorice (5,6,7,8). However, only a few of these natural products have been studied in patients with diabetes, and therefore cannot be recommended as a substitute therapy. In fact, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been tested in clinical studies in patients with diabetes and was actually found to worsen insulin sensitivity (9). More research is needed to determine the effectiveness of these products in diabetes.
Therefore I recommend the following:
If you are on rosiglitazone, it is appropriate for you to ask your doctor about alternative treatments, i.e. other medications. If your doctor dismisses your question, you should find another doctor because you deserve to get a straight, informed answer.
If you are not on rosiglitazone, until we know more about its safety I discourage people from starting it.
Other options for treatment include:
Focus on changing elements of your diet and exercise program that need to be reinvigorated. I think this recent study gives another lesson - you can only trust yourself to take care of your health. Diet and exercise remain as effective as medications and even insulin. Eat lots of vegetables; eliminate white, carbohydrate dense foods (bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, refined sugar); and exercise every day.
Other oral medications that have not been shown to cause the same safety issues. These medications include metformin and medications like glyburide, which can be used at least short term for improvements in blood sugar with confidence (though not necessarily without any side effects).
Consider talking with your doctor about starting insulin. Although insulin is often seem as a last resort, early use of insulin has advantages. Often one injection per day can help people lower their blood sugar to a healthy range and avoid using multiple oral medications. Also insulin needles are so thin now they really do not hurt.
People with diabetes need effective treatments to lower blood sugar and reduce risk of complications, and yet seemingly safe, less expensive, natural therapies do not seem to get adequate research funding from the National Institutes of Health or many private research foundations. Fortunately, Diabetes Action grants research dollars to researchers studying promising therapies because of its true commitment to people with diabetes and their families - and a true commitment to eliminate bias in medical research for the benefit of people affected by diabetes. This commitment deserves your support.
Although many promising treatments remain to be studied in more depth in diabetes, several treatments are always effective at lowering blood sugar and reducing cardiovascular risk: exercise; following a healthy, vegetable-rich, carbohydrate limited diet; managing stress, and loosing weight when needed.
- Nissen and Wolski, New Eng J Med, 2007
- Kahn et al., New Eng J Med, 2006
- DREAM Study Group, Lancet, 2006
- Diabetes Prevention Program Study Group, New Eng J Med, 2002
- Park et al. Life Sciences, 2005
- McCarty et al. Medical Hypotheses, 2001
- Chintharlapalli et al. Mol Cancer Ther, 2007
- Cheng et al. Chin Med J, 2007
- Moloney et al. Am J Clin Nutr, 2004


text:
A comfortable retirement was once a certainty for many people.
Now the retirement equation has changed: You will likely work longer and live longer, and also deal with the uncertainty of having enough savings.
Even those who have been diligent about saving have cause to be nervous.
Sure, they started early and set goals along the way, and even came up with an informed and realistic magic number to work toward.
But now, in the wake of the Great Recession, many analysts say that your 401(k), or IRA, or both, may not be enough. With all the stock market volatility of the past 12 years — including what some call the "Lost Decade" — there's been growing interest in a guaranteed-income stream for retirement.
That's given new life to annuities, a financial product that many consumers have traditionally found complex and expensive at best, and dubious at worst.
Annuities today, however, are not what they once were, other than the fact that the basic concept is that an insurance company agrees to pay you an annual return — fixed, variable or otherwise — on your investment for as long as you live.
More companies are offering annuity options in their 401(k) plans and the government recently made it easier to convert money in such plans to an annuity. Still, many consumers remain uninterested.
So where do you stand on annuities?


text:
Oh, It Sends a Message Alright
The label on this says it's a "message cookie":
Now, I'm just ballparking here, but I think the message might be something along the lines of:
Gee, at this point, why not just cut to the chase?"The Message Cookie: When you hate enough to actually spend money on more clearly expressing your hatred."
Remember, E.M., if you're ever offered a poo-spotted football cake, the proper response is: "Thanks, but I think I'll pass."- Related Wreckage: Graduate! Celebrate! "Decorate!"


text:
Real Estate Capital Partners and Covington Realty Partners LLC to develop $41.7 million, 194-unit The Vanguard at Waterfront Square
November 27, 2013 - Front Section
Covington and RECAP, through its RECAP Metropolitan Opportunity Fund III, LP, acquired the 1.65 acre site at 800 Ocean Ave., previously used as a parking lot, from Eurovest Development for $4.85 million. The total estimated project cost is approximately $41.7 million.
The Vanguard will be the first project to be developed as part of the Waterfront Sq. TOD (transit-oriented development) master plan. The master development plan includes 900 residences in addition to offices, hotels and retail and over five acres of public plazas and open space planned as well as access to the Revere Beach oceanfront. The project is located adjacent to the Wonderland MBTA Subway station (Blue Line), which provides rail service to downtown Boston and Logan Airport (4.2 miles from the project).The Vanguard will provide residents with a unique opportunity to live right on the Atlantic Ocean and commute to downtown Boston in less than 20 minutes.
The Vanguard will comprise two elevator buildings with a total of 144,443 s/f including a clubhouse complex. An outdoor pool will offer unobstructed ocean views. The 194 apartments, with an average of 725 s/f, will comprise 142 one-bedroom units, 47 two-bedroom units, and five residences with three bedrooms.
"We are very excited to have the opportunity to invest in a unique project like Vanguard at Waterfront Sq.," said Jorge Rojas, assistant vice president, RECAP. "We believe it will add to the vibrancy of Revere Beach and trigger subsequent phases of the Waterfront Sq. TOD master plan. This will be the first rental multifamily property constructed within the master plan area."
Covington is currently partnering with RECAP on another apartment development, The Vanguard Crossing, located in University City in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition, the company's principals partnered with RECAP on two previous development projects that have successfully gone through the entire investment cycle. For this project, Covington is teaming up with Minco, an experienced Boston developer that is assisting with permitting and approvals.
Founded in 1989, RECAP is a U.S. real estate investment advisor that strives to create superior risk adjusted returns by investing in U.S. real estate. Since its inception, the company has invested in approximately $10 billion of U.S. real estate on behalf of high net worth families and institutions. These investments, comprising over 260 properties in 32 states, include existing and to-be-built residential, office, industrial, retail, and mixed-use properties totaling over 14.5 million s/f of commercial space and 50,000 multifamily residential units. RECAP's investment strategies include core and value-add acquisitions, joint venture developments, and separate accounts. RECAP's senior management team develops the company's investment strategy, oversees the investment/disposition process, and manages a staff of more than 60 professionals with offices in New York, Dallas, San Francisco, and suburban Washington, DC.
Covington Realty Partners LLC is a diversified Chicago-headquartered real estate investment, development, and management company and sponsor of IRC 1031 tax- deferred property offerings. Covington has acquired over $3 billion of real estate assets throughout the US. Its management team has developed and constructed 89 multifamily residential communities totaling 16,000 rental units valued at $2 billion with $200 million in its development pipeline. In addition, Covington currently owns and/or manages over 2.7 million s/f of retail and commercial property throughout the U.S.


text:
Conrad468 needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 53 designs submitted by 22 freelance designers.
A logo is needed for a new internet marketing company, iActive Marketing.
iActive Marketing
A logo is needed for a new internet marketing company. There is currently no website. A website contest will be launched shortly after the completion of this site. I am open to all color schemes. Colors such as orange, green, black, white, silver are colors that interest me even though all should not be used at the same time.
I am open to suggestions.
If anyone can code/design a site as well, please let me know.
Open for suggestions. Obviously the name iActive Marketing. The style should not be boring ("Active")
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
#441 – Beamon February 12, 2008 at 12:00 am
There was a period of time where it seemed that every movie or school assembly or concert I went to had some jerk with a laser pointer being a jerk. Fortunately it has been awhile since the last time I have seen that happen. Now I mostly see them used to torture cats and dogs.
I've had a few questions about the cover for book #2. No that is not the final cover. 🙂 I'm still working on the finished version. It will probably be done this weekend. Meanwhile, head on over to the store and join the pre-order party!


text:
A lot of Tier 13 information has been released in the past few weeks, including the appearance of the Druid Tier 13 armor and its set bonuses.
The Druid set is called Deep Earth Vestments and here's what it looks like:
Image from MMO-Champion
I don't hate them. That might not sound like high praise, but considering the negative reactions I had to Tiers 10-12 when they were first released, this is a step in the right direction. I tend to dislike the armor sets at first, and then grow to like them over time. This one I actually kind of liked right away. I'm happy we're making a return to robes instead of pants. Slightly less happy about the return to WWE sized belts though. The mushrooms give the set a nice, earthy feel and phosphorescence is fun!
The new set does give me a bit of a recycled vibe though.
I see a lot of similarities between this new set and the Alliance Tier 9 set. The helms are the same size and shape and both cover the eyes (no bird beak on 13 though, thankfully). The robes have the same cut and style, similar patterns and the colours are almost identical (except one has glowy purple accents and one has glowy blue accents).
Anyway, I think it's attractive enough. Not the best tier set I've ever seen, but definitely not the worst.
The set bonuses were also released recently. Here's what resto Druids have to look forward to:
2P — After using Innervate, the mana cost of your healing spells is reduced by 25% for 15 sec.
I think this is a neat bonus. Depending on the spells you use while this is active you could be saving around 10-12k mana over that 15 seconds. This isn't too bad, but I don't think it's quite as strong as our current 2T12 bonus. Heartfire currently gives me about 5200 mana per minute. Since we can only benefit from the 2T13 bonus every 3 minutes, I suspect it will be slightly weaker.
However, one thing I really like about this bonus is that it will make us look at one of our spells differently. Giving Innervate that extra bonus will add a bit of complexity to the spell which I think is great.
4P — Your Rejuvenation and Regrowth spells have a 10% chance to Timeslip and have double the normal duration.
I'm not too thrilled about this bonus. It could be useful in certain situations – a 24 second Rejuvenation on a fight with constant AoE damage would be great – but on fights without that I think this bonus will generate more overhealing than effective healing. How useful this will be will really depend on the nature of the fights in Tier 13. If people are often below full health it could be handy but if everyone is getting topped up quickly or not taking damage often it won't be great.
So how about them tanks?
There is something else non-druid I'd like to talk about for a second. That is the tank 4-piece bonuses. Here they are if you haven't seen them yet:
DK – Your Vampiric Blood ability also affects all party and raid members for 50% of the effect it has on you.
Druid – Frenzied Regeneration also affects all raid and party members.
Paladin – Reduces the cooldown of Divine Guardian by 60 sec and increases the radius of its effect by 70 yards.
Warrior – Your Shield Wall ability now grants 50% of its effect to all party and raid members.
What the what? Raid wall for warriors? Extra healing bonuses from the tanks?
These bonuses sound awesome, but overpowered. They also seem completely out of whack when compared to anyone else's set bonuses. What's a little extra damage or healing output compared to a new raid-wide cooldown? If the bonuses stay as-is I would feel like a completely selfish jerk if I ever rolled against a tank on a piece of tier loot. And considering that all of the tier gear will now only be obtainable in raids, that's a lot of passing I'm going to be doing. It's not all about gear, but making the bonuses for one specific role so much more powerful than everyone elses seems a little odd.
What do you think of the Tier 13 previews?


text:
Builders Edge window and door accents add decorative architectural detail to gables or windows. Colors coordinate with Builders Edge shutters, gable vents, and exterior molding. All accents are available in 18 versatile colors or a separate paintable option (color code 030). All Builders Edge products, with the exception of paintable, are maintenance-free and U.V. stabilized with color molded through so they won't scratch, flake or fade. All Builders Edge products include a limited lifetime warranty and are proudly made in the USA.
- Header size represents the bottom width of the header and should be the width of your window frame
- Each header includes a keystone for optional application
- Headers can be cut down for custom sizing; all cuts would be hidden with the keystone
- Cannot be painted
- Surface mount on any surface including wood, vinyl, fiber cement, aluminum, stucco, brick and hardboard
- Can be cut in center for special sizing in the field, keystone would be used to cover the cut
- Available in 18 maintenance-free accent colors or a separate paintable option
- Made in the USA


text:
Youth Sports For Kids 18 months – 10 years
Our program introduces youth sports as a fun social way to get regular exercise while having lots of fun. We develop and encourage the importance of teamwork and skills development for kids through our training curriculum's. We hire and train our coaches with our curriculum's proven games so every class is pre-planned and guaranteed to engage your child. Our coaches are professionally trained. We do NOT have volunteer coaches. Our classes are age appropriate and we keep our Instructor/Student ratio to 10:1. You will not see 20-30 kids in the class at the same time and we keep the class ages within 1 year.
We teach 2-10 year old soccer, 2-8 year old baseball, 3-8 year old basketball.
Register NOW to get the class time and location of your choice. Our session classes are filling very quickly so register NOW! Our fees are prorated each week so you can join a class, even if you have missed the start date! And we don't charge you a higher price for late registration. All Classes are held in our indoor centers so you don't have to worry about re-scheduling and we are in a controlled environment which is better for the player's development. Kids 3 years and up, play scrimmage games the last 15 minutes of the classes. Premier youth coaches are professional, paid coaches who follow a proven curriculum and go through back ground checks. Our training programs include kids soccer, kids baseball, and kids basketball.


text:
GLaDOS, the menacing AI from Valve's awesome Portal franchise, guest stars and shakes up the Defense Grid world. Players will battle not only alien hordes, but the deviousness of GLaDOS as she tests the player's skills and changes all of the rules that you have come to know. Can you protect the cores in spite of her intrusive testing?
Only registered members can share their thoughts. So come on! Join the community today (totally free - or sign in with your social account on the right) and join in the conversation.


text:
Obamacare's many birth-control suits
War on women — meet war on religious employers.
The first battle played out in the voting booth.
Story Continued Below
The second is unfolding in the courts — and the Supreme Court may eventually weigh in on questions about constitutionally protected religious freedom, the public good and whether secular corporations can be, as one judge put it, the "alter ego" of their religious owners.
Dozens of lawsuits have been filed in protest of the Obama administration's policy that most employers include no-cost coverage of FDA-approved prescription contraceptives in health plans.
Churches and some — not all — religious organizations are exempt. But more than three dozen for-profit and nonprofit organizations have gone to court, citing religious objections to the birth control coverage rule, which itself is part of the women's health provisions in the controversial health law. The suits only affect this section of the law and wouldn't affect the rest of Obamacare — except by keeping some of the opponents all fired up.
Here's a rundown on who is suing — and the big legal issues at stake.
For-profit companies have challenged the provision on religious liberty grounds.
In three cases so far, district court judges in Colorado, Michigan and Washington, D.C., have issued preliminary injunctions. That doesn't overturn the law, or spell out a complete legal victory. But the injunctions temporarily halt enforcement for a specific company — and recognize the plaintiff is raising legitimate questions that deserve a day in court. These involved an HVAC company, a seller of outdoor power equipment and a Bible publisher.
But not all the judges have agreed. Plaintiffs in Oklahoma have been denied a preliminary injunction. And one district court judge in Missouri last month dismissed not just the request for a temporary injunction but the whole case.
Religious groups
The second category of plaintiffs are religiously affiliated entities — schools, universities and dioceses. This week, the Supreme Court gave the go-ahead for the 4th Circuit to reconsider a broad challenge to several parts of the health law, including the contraception rules, brought by Liberty University.
But some of these suits have been tossed out as "unripe" or denied an injunction because they are temporarily exempt from the contraception coverage rule. That's because the Obama administration gave itself until next August to refine the exemption policy. Churches and some religious organizations already are exempt. But so far, a compromise has not been reached for religiously affiliated employers, who say they may still have to indirectly pay for coverage. But the courts say it's premature for them to weigh in.
Here's a look at some of the legal issues in the cases so far.
Can a business exercise religion?
The government argues: absolutely not. A for-profit company can't exercise religion — and therefore, the contraception rule presents no "substantial burden" on religious exercise.


text:
Bob Casale, the guitarist for New Wave hitmakers Devo, died yesterday (Feb. 17) at the age of 61. The news was broken by his older brother Gerald, who played bass and keyboards in the group.
The Casales formed Devo at Kent State University near Akron, Ohio around 1973 with the Mothersbaugh brothers (Mark, Jim and Bob — who was known as "Bob 1″ while Casale was "Bob 2.") Jim Mothersbaugh left in 1976 and was replaced by Alan Myers, who died in June 2013.
Devo gained traction with the release of their 1978 debut, largely on the strength of a stilted, synthed-up take on the Rolling Stones' (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction,' which angered purists and delighted iconoclasts. Their image, which saw them perform in matching jumpsuits and terraced, plastic hats called "energy domes," was an extension of their art school background.
While they only had one Top 20 hit, 'Whip It,' other songs like 'Girl U Want,' 'Working in the Coal Mine' and 'Through Being Cool' were modern rock and college radio staples for years. By the end of the '80s, their commercial peak had been long in the distance and the group broke up.
Devo reunited in 1995, periodically recording one-off songs for soundtracks and touring. Their 2010 album 'Something for Everybody' was hailed as a solid return to form.
Mark Mothersbaugh told Cleveland.com that the news has understandably hit him hard. "This is so sudden and tragic… He was the nicest guy in the band. He had the best personality. He had the longest fuse. He was a problem solver."
Gerald Casale wrote the following tribute to his sibling on the group's Facebook page:
Very sad news to report today.
Bob Casale of Devo. Born: July 14th, 1952. Deceased: February 17th, 2014
As an original member of Devo, Bob Casale was there in the trenches with me from the beginning. He was my level-headed brother, a solid performer and talented audio engineer, always giving more than he got. He was excited about the possibility of Mark Mothersbaugh allowing Devo to play shows again. His sudden death from conditions that lead to heart failure came as a total shock to us all.
Gerald Casale, Devo founder.


text:
Tyler Mayfield will be installed as assistant professor of Hebrew Bible/ Old Testament at the Opening Convocation of the 160th fall Semester at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Mayfield will also give an address entitled, "Raising Cain." Convocation will take place in the Frank H. and Fannie W. Caldwell Chapel at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 5, 2013. The public is invited to attend.
"The story of Cain and Abel sizzles with firsts—the first sacrificial worship, the first murder, the first mention of 'sin' and 'blood,' first chosen occupations, the first promise of divine protection," said Mayfield. "In addition, the story of these two brothers sharpens our focus on human difference and how we might respond to those who represent the Other. In our pluralistic world, one challenge for ministers and the Church is to respond constructively and appreciatively to God's diverse world. We may be different, but we are all Eve's children."
Mayfield joined the Louisville Seminary faculty in 2012. In January, he will co-lead the Seminary's Middle East travel seminar to Israel and Palestine.
"Tyler Mayfield is an extraordinarily gifted teacher and scholar," said Dean Sue Garrett. "In his courses, his preaching and his writing, he opens the ancient world of the scriptures and shows us just how relevant and enriching for the life and work of the church critical biblical study can be."
Mayfield earned his MAR in Bible at Yale Divinity School and his PhD in Hebrew Bible at Claremont Graduate University. As a doctoral student, he worked as a research associate at the Ancient Biblical Manuscript Center at the Claremont School of Theology. His undergraduate work in psychology and religious studies was completed at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala.
In July 2010, he joined the faculty of Union Theological Seminary in New York, where he served as a post-doctoral fellow and Instructor in Biblical Languages. He also served as a lecturer at the University of California, Riverside, where he taught Christian Bible, the Hebrew Bible, and Jesus and the Gospels, and at the Claremont School of Theology, where he taught prophetic literature as a member of the adjunct faculty.


text:
This was the first live chat I've helped plan and participated in. Although I got bumped from my afternoon slot to the end of the night by Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, I did succeed in getting him to comment on my review of the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. Here was the chat line up:
10 am to 10:30 am: Kamau Bell, comedian
10:30 am to 11 am: Nick Baumann, Mother Jones
11 am to 11:30 am: Dave Levinthal, Center for Responsive Politics
11:30 am to 12 noon: Craig Newmark, Craigslist
12 noon to 12:30 pm: Staci Kramer, PaidContent
12:30 pm to 1 pm: Paul Blumenthal, Sunlight Foundation
5 pm to 5:30 pm: Anthony Calabrese, MediaShift data viz
5:30 pm to 6 pm: JD Lasica, SocialMedia.biz
6 pm to 6:30 pm: Steven Davy, MediaShift
6:30 pm to 7 pm: Corbin Hiar, MediaShift
7 pm to 7:30 pm: Heather Gold, Subvert.com
Click here to see what we had to say.


text:
"How can you describe a Force?" asked her friend Sam Ward after she was drowned. "How can you write a life of Margaret?"
If writing a biography of Margaret Fuller was difficult at the moment of her premature death in 1850, it has become no easier in the decades since. Fuller, who has been described as "the mysterious, presiding ghost of American transcendentalism," has faded rather quietly into the shadows of history – an ironic fate for a woman who was known for being anything but quiet during her life.
But Fuller may now be getting a bit more of the respect that she deserves. Award-wining biographer John Matteson has published The Lives of Margaret Fuller, a thorough, sympathetic examination of one of the more unusual figures of the 19th-century American intelligentsia – a woman who worked shoulder-to-shoulder with period geniuses such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Amos Bronson Alcott; who alternately irritated and fascinated literary greats like Nathaniel Hawthone and Edgar Allan Poe; and who enjoyed rare pleasures such as a chance to drift down the Concord River with Henry David Thoreau.
Perhaps one of the biggest challenges in writing about Fuller is defining who she was and the contribution that she made. She was certainly a bright light and energizing presence of her time. A brilliant "conversationalist" (a calling perhaps best understood today as a type of interactive lecturer), Fuller was a figure of passion and conviction. Inspired by both the American transcendentalists and the German romantics, Fuller believed ardently in the individual integrity and potential perfection of each being. She advocated forcefully for the rights of women, abolitionism, and education and prison reform. She visited Sing Sing prison and took an active interest in the welfare of prostitutes – not exactly everyday activities for a woman of her time and place.
Although Fuller was also a prolific writer – she was an editor for The Dial (the influential publication that Emerson called his "antidote to narrowness); the acclaimed author of "Woman in the Nineteenth Century" (sometimes called the first serious work of American feminism); a columnist hired by Horace Greeley to work as the first literary editor at the New York Tribune; and one of American journalism's first foreign correspondents – she is rarely read today. (Even in her time, some readers struggled to embrace her work. One unkind wag noted that the transcendentalists "read Dante in the original Italian, Hegel in the original German ... and perhaps the hardest task of all, Margaret Fuller in the original English.")
But Fuller's life, fortunately, is greater than the sum of her words. A born-and-bred New Englander, she was profoundly influenced by her rather bumptious father Timothy – later a US congressman – who homeschooled young Margaret so rigorously that Matteson calls her "in her time, the best read woman in America and the one most renowned for her intelligence."
Matteson, who won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize in biography for "Eden's Outcasts," his examination of the lives of Louisa May Alcott and her father Amos Bronson, presents Fuller with insight and nuance. In her own words, Fuller was an "odd and unpleasant girl" whose brilliance won her more rejection than acceptance. As a young woman, she became an earnest if often graceless seeker of truth, and Matteson is respectful as he chronicles her breakthroughs and her struggles as she urgently pursues both philosophical truths and personal acceptance.
"Fuller was both gifted and giving," writes Matteson, "but she could be arrogant, irritable, and condescending.... She was capable of both stoicism and self-pity, of sublime insight and naive self-delusion. She could inspire. She could infuriate. She seldom soothed."
In a dramatic final coda to her life, Fuller traveled to Italy, met with revolutionary leader Giuseppe Mazzini, and was caught up in the drama of that country's Risorgimento. She also met a young Italian nobleman – Giovanni Ossoli – became pregnant with his child, and eventually married him.
While traveling back to the US in 1850, the boat carrying Fuller, Ossoli, and their young child, Angelino, was shipwrecked a short distance from New York's Fire Island. Almost all the other passengers were saved but Fuller and her family drowned. (It is a horrendous bit of irony that Fuller had long nursed a nightmarish fear of drowning.)
Lost along with Fuller was a manuscript that she was bringing to New York to publish as a history of the Risorgimento. Might it have been her greatest work? Some who knew her say yes. We will never know.
Matterson divides his book into chapters with titles like: "Prodigy"; "Apostle": "Ecstatic Editor"; "Seeker of Utopia"; "Internationalist"; and "Revolutionary". He certainly proves his point that Fuller led many lives, crammed into 40 short years. And yet, underneath them all, in many ways, she remains always the same. Her earnestness, her striving, her brilliance, her passion, and even her awkwardness unite the different phases of Fuller's life and make her the unique creature that Matteson's biography proves her to be.
Marjorie Kehe is the Monitor's Books editor.


text:
Go ahead Mayor Finizio, fire the police chief
For her new lawsuit against the city, New London Police Chief Margaret Ackley apparently did some lawyer shopping, not using the local attorney who has represented her so far in her long campaign to be compensated for the fact that one of the previous city councilors didn't like her.
I might have looked for a new lawyer, too, if I were her, after her last one sent out an email to friends pleading with them to vote "no" in an online poll on theday.com that asked whether the police chief should be fired.
That doesn't seem like professional lawyering.
Ackley's new lawyer, Leon Rosenblatt of West Hartford, actually told a reporter asking about Ackley's lawsuit that New London is dysfunctional and that you couldn't "make up" the things that happen here.
It is interesting Rosenblatt would choose to insult New London, since he seems to have a front row seat to so many other Connecticut communities that he characterizes in his lawsuits as dysfunctional.
Indeed, Rosenblatt seems to be the go-to lawyer for disgruntled or fired municipal executives in the state.
He has represented individuals who held or hold the following jobs: personnel director of the New Britain Board of Education, chief of emergency medical services in Stratford, assistant chief of police in Hartford, chief executive officer of the East Hartford Housing Authority, the acting police chief in Middletown, the superintendent of schools in Oxford and executive director of the Bristol Housing Authority.
If you want to read about dysfunction and stuff you can't make up, just peruse some of the complaints in Rosenblatt's lawsuits, which string out long tales of political intrigue, from mere backstabbing or promoting friends and demoting enemies to actual corruption.
Here in New London, Rosenblatt is making a pretty simple claim: Mayor Finizio didn't make good on the contract he signed that would have paid the chief for accrued comp time and the $25,000 she claims she is due because former City Councilor Michael Buscetto didn't like her. (A retired judge found no substance to her claim that the councilor harassed and intimidated her.)
Of course, even casual readers of New London news know that the reason Finizio didn't make good on the contract payments is because city councilors balked.
Naturally, the chief knew then the contract terms were not ratified. If that was intolerable, that would be have been a good time to leave. But, alas, she didn't. She stayed on to sue.
Mayor Finizio has proven himself capable, even enthusiastic, in getting rid of the city's police dogs. Why not get rid of the chief, the person responsible for the terrible decline of the department she has led since 2009?
I know it's hard to fire a police chief, because of a 1983 state law that says you have to show "just cause." But when you add up Chief Ackley's miserable performance, I think most reasonable people would find cause.
Who doesn't remember when Ackley allowed Matthew Chew's murder to be officially characterized for days as "drug related" even though police knew full well that it was random and that the killers were on the loose?
I also remember clearly the night Ackley chose to stay at City Hall to work on a cushy departure settlement for herself with city councilors at the same time city police officers were still on the street investigating a shooting in which an unarmed man was shot by an officer.
It is the chief who has made a move to litigate her employment contract, or lack of one. As long as the city is going to have to go to court over the issue, why not fire her and litigate that directly?
The city might win.
And I can pretty much guarantee the mayor it will be about the most popular thing he's done since taking office, win or lose.
This is the opinion of David Collins
Stories that may interest you
Stormy Daniels keeps her clothes on at Mohegan Sun
The porn star turned stand-up comic roasted President Donald Trump in a gig Wednesday at Comix Roadhouse.
Lewandowski, House Democrats spar at 1st impeachment hearing
EPA to revoke California's power to set stricter auto emissions standards
GOP leaders want special session to correct 'badly written' meal tax law


text:
A Virtual Based Tutorial For New Nursing Professionals
This research study presents the implementation of a virtual tutorial system for new Nursing professionals during their work placements, which is positively evaluated by the participants in terms of motivation, academic support, etc. Following this pilot experience, one can highlight the need and importance of continuing with the program so that it continues to respond to their needs in terms of student help and support. Similarly, the initiative aims to serve as a starting point for institutionalizing a virtualprogram of work placements for new nursing professionals, i.e. within the context of public health professionals.
New nursing professionals; ICTs on-line; tutoring; mentoring emotional support; educational technology.


text:
Global biopharmaceutical company AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) reported its fourth-quarter earnings results before the opening bell this morning and pointed to an increasingly difficult environment due to generic competition.
For the quarter, AbbVie delivered worldwide revenue of $5.11 billion, representing a 1.8% decline that includes a negative 0.7% effect for currency translation. Profit for the quarter shrank to a diluted $0.70 per share from $0.98 in the year-ago period as operating profits were negatively affected in the U.S. by the introduction of generic drugs.
The most important pipeline product to AbbVie is Humira, which contributed 59.5% of AbbVie's $5.11 billion in sales this quarter, and finished the year as the best-selling drug in the world with $10.66 billion in revenue. International sales of Humira rose by 8.2% while revenue in the U.S. pushed higher by 18.1%. Total Humira sales increased 13.4% for the quarter.
Within the remainder of AbbVie's product line, Synagis, AndroGel, Kaletra, and Lupron -- which delivered between $209 million and $314 million in revenue for the quarter -- all saw reported sales decline, with AndroGel's 20.9% decline being the steepest.
Looking toward 2014, AbbVie forecasts revenue of approximately $19 billion, which doesn't include any positive impact from the potential approval and launch of its hepatitis C direct-acting antiviral combo drug, and projects earnings per share to range between $3 and $3.10 on an adjusted basis.


text:
Roadside Assistance
Renew Membership
Store Locator
Shop AAA
Please make sure you provide the
Year, Make, Model, Trim,
of your vehicle.
Please make sure you provide a valid U.S. Zip Code Location.
2017 chevrolet silverado%201500
Oxygen Sensor Replacement Repair
Change Location
Change Vehicle
Start New Estimate
Oxygen Sensor Replacement
AAA Member Estimate Summary
$151.05 - $248.20*
Estimate including parts, labor and Member Discount
Join AAA
Repair Estimate Summary
$154.58 - $253.00*
Repair Estimate including parts and labor only
Your Estimate Includes
$119.32 - $205.08
$35.26 - $47.91
*Contact a local AAA Approved Auto Repair facility for a specific price estimate.
Member benefits disclaimer:
1. All repairs are guaranteed by the AAA Approved Auto Repair facility for 24 months or 24,000 miles, whichever occurs first, under normal operating conditions, unless otherwise stated in writing. Other restrictions may apply. See facility for details.
2. Members save a minimum of 10% on labor (up to $50) at AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities if the discount is requested. Cannot be combined with any other discount or coupon. Valid AAA membership card must be presented at the facility at time of service.
Repair Cost Estimator Legal Disclaimer:
Estimated pricing is based on the estimated time for the repair, the estimated range of labor rates based on the region in which the repair will take place, and the estimated range of price of the base parts needed for the repair. Estimated price is customized for your vehicle make, model, year and trim, but does not include diagnostic charges, taxes, disposal or environmental fees, oil or other fluid costs, or other ancillary parts that may be needed for the repair. Vehicle repair costs may vary from vehicle to vehicle. Actual repair costs will vary based upon labor rates, time required for repair, actual parts used, your vehicle condition or other circumstances pertinent to your particular repair job.
Repair Cost Estimator is to be used for informational purposes only and is only intended to serve as a general guide. AAA does not take any responsibility for automotive service decisions or automotive work decided upon as a result of using Repair Cost Estimator. Always consult a certified automotive mechanic before making important automotive repair and service decisions. Use our Approved Auto Repair Facility Locator to locate service shops and mechanics near you. AAA is not responsible for errors or omissions.
Click to View Map
AAA Approved Auto Repair Facilities
This facility is not a AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility. It is a AAA owned and operated facility.
AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility*
This facility offers priority battery health diagnostic services to AAA members and if necessary, install a new AAA battery with 72 month pro-rated warranty including 3-year free replacement at exclusive member pricing.
A NAPA AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility*
Takes Online Appointments
Provides AAA Discount
*The certification mark, as used by authorized persons, certifies that such persons have met the certifier's standards as to quality of customer service, facility appearance, staff qualifications and training, community reputation, scope of service and repairs and insurance.
Current Location:
AutoNation Honda Dulles
21715 Auto World Dr.
Sterling, VA, 20166
Revtech Performance Llc
21606 Cedar Ln
Sterling, VA, 20166
AutoNation Toyota Leesburg
1 Cardinal Park Dr SE
Leesburg, VA, 20175
Dulles Shell Service Center
45410 Holiday Drive
Sterling, VA, 20166
Loudoun Auto Repair
308 Parker Ct. SE
Leesburg, VA, 20175
Search More Facilities
Auto Repair Articles
Total Articles
View All
Average Annual Cost of New Vehicle Ownership
AAA analysis each year helps drivers better understand the true cost of car ownership. Knowing what it really costs to own, operate and maintain a vehicle helps consumers make wiser choices when buying a new ride.
View Article
What is fact and what is fiction?
AAA's automotive experts provide answers to the most common myths & what is fact when it comes to your car!
Watch Video
AAA urges drivers to act on Takata airbag recall
AAA urges you to take the vehicle to have the defective airbag inflators repaired at no cost. If left unchanged, defective airbags can injure or kill drivers and passengers.
View Article
Vehicle Escape Tools
Don't take chances in an emergency. Keep a car escape tool close at hand in your vehicle and make sure it will work on the type of window glass your car has.
View Article
AAA's Tips for Your Next Road Trip
June 21st is the official start of summer and road trip season! Watch David Bennett and Julie Hall on their recent Facebook Live episode discuss all things related to getting ready for your next road trip.
Watch Video
How Long Do Car Batteries Last
There is no simple answer, but based on decades of industry experience, we know that three key factors affect the life of a car battery: time, heat and vibration.
View Article
Diesel Fuel Additives Resolve Drivability Issues
Diesel engine vehicles generally run more efficiently than their gasoline engine counterparts, however the nature of diesel fuel could cause some drivability problems.
View Article
Maintenance Reminder Systems
Many newer vehicles have maintenance reminder systems that display alerts when it is time for an oil change and other needed services.
View Article


text:
Peel and Re-close Packaging System Available for Thermoform Packaging Applications
Printpack's Re-Seal It peel and re-close packaging system combines patented label technology with high performance barrier films for thermoform packaging applications. The Re-Seal It system can easily be integrated with thermoform packaging machinery; where it makes a fine perforation in the film and then places a label exactly over the perforation. No part of the film is removed; the opening flap of the film sticks to the back of the label. Simply peel back the label to open the package; simply swipe to re-close.
Re-Seal It labels can be made in different sizes and shapes to fit most package designs. The FDA/USDA certified Re-Seal It package performs exceptionally well in vacuum and gas flushed food applications. It also retains its performance properties after high pressure processing. The proprietary adhesive on the label functions effectively with meats, cheeses, and other wet/fatty foodstuffs.


text: In December, when I presented at the Allen County Public Library, the good folks there asked me to sit down with their video cameras and answer some questions about reading, books, my early library use and where we might be going. The conversation just went up at YouTube. I am honored to be a part of their ongoing "Conversations" series that also includes Stephen Abram and ACPL Director Jeff Krull. Thanks ACPL!


text:
Interactive Lab
New Physics at the Intermediate Scale:
Laser Cooling
Note: Units 4 through 9 make use of this interactive lab to demonstrate concepts relevant to physics on the atomic scale.
Electrons in an atom occupy discrete energy levels. When a photon hits the atom, if it has precisely the energy that corresponds to the difference between two electron energy levels, the atom will absorb the photon—and an electron in the lower level will jump to the higher level. When this happens, the atom gets a push in the direction the photon was travelling. When the electron drops back to the lower level, the atom re-emits the photon, and it gets another push, but in a random direction. Absorbing and re-emitting photons many times per second, the net result is that the atoms are pushed away from the source of light. In this lab, we manipulate a sample of fast-moving Ytterbium (Yb) atoms with a laser to prepare them to be captured in a trap.