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We hypothesized that early intervention with an auto bilevel device would improve treatment adherence compared to CPAP among OSA patients with a poor initial experience with lab-based CPAP titration.
Patients with a poor initial CPAP experience were recruited for this parallel group, randomized, double-blind, controlled pilot study. After an in-lab titration, patients were randomized with either an auto-bilevel device or CPAP. Treatment adherence and functioning were assessed at 90 days.
We enrolled 51 subjects, with 47 completing the protocol. Groups were equally matched for gender, age, education, and OSA severity. There was no significant difference in the proportion of compliant subjects (≥ 4 h/night) between the auto bilevel and CPAP groups (62% vs. 54%; p = 0.624) after 90 days of use. Functional outcomes significantly improved in both groups during treatment use (p < 0.001) but did not differ between groups.
There was no statistically significant difference in adherence between the auto bilevel and CPAP groups in this study. Patients with a poor initial CPAP exposure may still achieve an acceptable long-term clinical outcome. Both groups demonstrated comparably significant improvements in functional outcomes, sleepiness, and fatigue complaints over the treatment period.
NCT00635206 ClinicalTrials.gov
Powell ED; Gay PC; Ojile JM; Litinski M; Malhotra A. A pilot study assessing adherence to auto-bilevel following a poor initial encounter with CPAP. J Clin Sleep Med 2012;8(1):43-47.
Despite the well-established consequences of OSA, treatment is challenging due to suboptimal adherence or variable efficacy of established therapies. Given the fact that some patients tolerate CPAP poorly, clinicians frequently expend considerable efforts to improve CPAP usage. Up to 50% of patients who are recommended treatment with nasal CPAP are not using the therapy a year later.1
A commentary on this article appears in this issue on page 49.
The individual long-term pattern of CPAP therapy usage is likely due to multiple factors, such as severity of OSA, amount of pressure applied, perceived benefit, and the ability to use the therapy. However, a key factor in long term compliance is the timing of good usage patterns. Several studies have indicated that the critical window to determine long-term usage occurs within the first month of usage, possibly sooner.2,3 Other data have suggested that variables such as sleep efficiency during in-lab CPAP titration may predict treatment adherence.4 Since perceived benefit is prognostic regarding long-term CPAP adherence, patients who are initially intolerant of CPAP may be a group in whom early intervention has benefit.
Bilevel or auto-titration devices have been used to improve patient comfort in those with treatment intolerance related to expiratory pressure discomfort. However, the vast majority of trials using these devices show no clinically important usage benefit over standard CPAP therapy,5–8 despite some preference for the adjustable pressure devices versus standard CPAP.
Current Knowledge/Study Rationale: Despite the challenges by clinicians to maintain adequate treatment adherence, nasal CPAP therapy continues to be the primary treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). CPAP adherence is likely related to multiple factors, such as disease severity, nasal symptoms, and pressure discomfort. It is unclear if early intervention with an auto-bilevel device would improve adherence after a poor initial in-lab encounter with CPAP.
Study Impact: Comparable and overall compliant adherence rates between the auto-bilevel and CPAP groups limited the effect size and clinical significance interpretation of this pilot study. However, poor initial experiences to PAP therapy can still lead to positive treatment outcomes through use of various device types and appropriate support.
In concert with addressing pressure discomfort related to standard therapy, some clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of flexible bilevel positive airway pressure. A randomized trial demonstrated equivalent adherence compared with standard CPAP in the initial treatment of OSA, as well as comparable efficacy.9 Another large study assessing existing non-adherent users after more than 9 months of therapy and an additional 2 weeks of standard interventions demonstrated significantly greater adherence rates using a flexible bilevel pressure device compared to standard CPAP therapy.10
Based on the notion that early treatment usage predicts sustained adherence, we sought to determine whether an alternative flow delivery device would be better tolerated than standard nasal CPAP. We performed a randomized controlled pilot study to test the hypothesis that early intervention with an alternative device (auto-titrating, bilevel, and pressure flexing) would improve therapy outcomes as compared with standard CPAP among OSA patients with a poor initial experience with lab-based CPAP titration. More specifically, our primary hypothesis was to test if a greater proportion of participants were adherent to treatment (at h of usage for all nights) in the auto-bilevel group compared to the CPAP group after 90 days of treatment.
Potential participants were adult patients (ages 21-75 yr) referred for diagnostic evaluation of OSA at the participating sleep centers. Eligible patients had a confirmed OSA diagnosis (baseline apnea/hypopnea index [AHI] ≥ 15/h) by either full-night diagnostic polysomnography (PSG) or split-night PSG, and had to have had a suboptimal facility-based attended CPAP titration according to standard clinical protocol with ≥ 3 h of attempted titration data. To be classified as a suboptimal titration, one of the following clinical criteria had to be met: (1) poor sleep efficiency index (SEI) ≤ 70% during titration period; (2) ≥ 20 arousals/h (excluding leg movement related arousals); (3) CPAP titration aborted by the patient; or (4) persistent sleep disruption despite therapeutic CPAP therapy and low probability of CPAP compliance in the judgment of the reviewing physician. In order to represent "real world" clinical practice, clinical PSG recordings were independently scored at each facility according to established criteria11 by blinded experienced registered technologists and reviewed/verified by investigators at each site.
Exclusion criteria included major uncontrolled medical or psychiatric conditions; prior CPAP or bilevel use; chronic respiratory failure or insufficiency; surgery on the upper airway, nose, sinus, or middle ear within 90 days of participation; the presence of any untreated and diagnosable non-OSA sleep disorder (e.g., restless legs syndrome, insomnia); current shift workers; known history of alcohol or drug abuse within the past 3 years; chronic nightly hypnotic use for < 3 months; and periodic limb movement (PLM) arousal index ≥ 10/h. Also excluded were patients who refused to consider further interventions to standard CPAP or unwilling to return within 90 days, those for whom PAP therapy was otherwise medically complicated or contraindicated, and who had a diagnosis of complex sleep apnea or persistent central apneas during clinical CPAP titration. Three fully accredited sleep facilities enrolled participants in the trial, one located in the northeast (Site A), and 2 located in the Midwestern United States (Sites B and C). The study was approved by participating sites' institutional review boards, and all participants provided informed consent prior to initiation of any study procedures.
Following a suboptimal CPAP titration, patients underwent a screening visit to determine subject eligibility and obtain informed consent. Demographic data, vital signs, and current medications were recorded. One week after screening, participants were randomly assigned to either standard CPAP or automatically titrated auto-bilevel nasal positive pressure (auto-bilevel; Auto BiFlex, Respironics, Inc.) and underwent a full-night titration (Baseline Study Visit). Due to the small sample size and to maintain balanced group placement, a restricted randomization procedure (Urn randomization)12 was used for treatment group placement using the variables of gender, age, diagnostic AHI, and education.
All-night titration PSG was performed using standard parameters of electrooculogram, electroencephalogram (C4A1/C3A2, O2A1/O1A2), submental and anterior tibialis electromyogram, electrocardiogram, snoring microphone, airflow as measured by internal pressure transducer from bilevel device, respiratory effort, and oxygen saturation. Each participant was required to have ≥ 6 h of time in bed during the research titration. The CPAP group was titrated according to standard clinical practice of titration, with an optimal pressure determined once an AHI < 5/h during supine REM sleep was achieved. The auto-bilevel group was initiated and maintained with a comfort setting of 3, maximum inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) of 25 cm H2O, maximum pressure support of 8 cm H2O, and an expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) of 4 cm H2O (EPAP = 6 cm H2O for patients who required ≥ 10 cm H2O support on CPAP). All study PSG data were scored manually by blinded registered technologists. Sleep stages and arousals were analyzed per established criteria.11 Apneas were defined as a cessation of airflow ≥ 10 sec. Hypopneas were defined as a reduction in airflow ≥ 30% compared to baseline, lasting ≥ 10 sec, and associated with an oxygen desaturation ≥ 4%.
Following titration PSG and determination of optimal pressure settings for each group, all participants received their devices for usage in the home for the next 90 days. The participant, investigator, respiratory therapist, and research staff were all blinded to the therapy group. To maintain the blind, the display screen on the device was blinded to therapy settings. Education and counseling were standardized to all participants to optimize compliance to therapy, which included verification of proper mask fit. Participants were permitted to change masks during the trial if mask comfort was determined as a tolerance issue as per standard of care. Heated humidification was allowed to be used and adjusted as needed. Patients returned at days 30 and 90 for follow-up visits.
Adherence data were monitored via each device?'s compliance tracking capabilities. These data were continuously collected over the entire 90-day home trial period, but were downloaded around days 7, 30, and 90. Data were reported as minutes of therapy usage per night.
Subjective estimates of daytime functioning and the functional impact of sleepiness were assessed at baseline and the follow-up visits at 30 and 90 days. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)13 and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS)14 were used to assess subjective estimates of sleepiness and fatigue, respectively. The Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ)15 was used to assess impact on daily living as a result of sleepiness.
To assess the primary endpoint and other results related to CPAP usage data, an adherent patient was operationally defined as average therapy usage ≥ 4 h/night during the defined treatment period. Our primary hypothesis was that across 90 days, the proportion of participants adherent with therapy would significantly differ between the CPAP and auto-bilevel groups. To our knowledge, this is the first trial to investigate the impact of therapy pressure variations on adherence in a population of patients who experienced in-lab titration failures. Thus, the study was not powered to any endpoint, as it represented a pilot study to determine primary endpoint effect sizes and statistical power for potential future trials. Proportions of overall adherence at 90 days were compared using a χ2 test. To account for dropouts, the primary endpoint was analyzed on an intent-to-treat basis. Secondary assessments included a comparison of cumulative adherence data between the groups by day up to day 90 as well as at average usage for the first 7 days and first 30 days to account for an early pattern of use. These assessments were each compared using a χ2 test. Remaining subjective estimates of daytime functioning and FOSQ scores were compared from baseline to each follow-up visit using repeated-measures ANOVA. Demographic, clinical, PSG data, and baseline measures were also reported and compared using a t-test. All data are reported as mean ± standard deviation (SD), unless otherwise noted. For all statistical analyses, the α level was set to 0.05. All data analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows v. 17 (SPSS, Inc, Chicago, IL).
A total of 51 patients completing clinical polysomnography with CPAP was assessed for study eligibility and consented to study participation. In regards to meeting suboptimal titration inclusion criteria, 3 patients aborted their titration, one was enrolled due to persistent arousals despite therapeutic CPAP, and the remaining 47 patients had poor SEI, increased arousal index, or met multiple suboptimal titration criteria. Two patients were excluded for not meeting study inclusion/exclusion criteria, and one patient withdrew at the baseline visit. A total of 48 participants were randomized into the trial, 26 into the auto-bilevel group and 22 into the CPAP group. A total of 48 participants were analyzed for the primary endpoint on an intent-to-treat basis. All secondary analyses were performed using the 47 participants who completed all study visits. There were no significant differences in enrollment nor group placement among the 3 study sites (Enrollment: Site A: 19, Site B: 10, Site C: 19, χ2 = 1.382, p = 0.501), but there was a significant difference in compliance proportions among the sites (χ2 = 6.469, p = 0.039).
Table 1 shows the demographic data for the 2 study groups. There were an equal proportion of males in each group (81% males auto-bilevel group, 73% males CPAP group). The 2 groups also did not differ according to age, education, neck circumference, OSA severity, or baseline subjective measures. There was a significant difference in BMI between the groups (34.9 kg/m2 auto-bilevel group vs. 31.0 kg/m2 CPAP group, p < 0.05); however, subsequent ANCOVA analysis demonstrated that BMI did not significantly co-vary with compliance data. In summary, the typical participant was a middle-aged male, college educated, with an elevated BMI, who had severe sleep apnea and a mild degree of daytime functioning impairment based on the FOSQ.
Demographic and baseline measures for the auto bilevel group (N = 26) and the CPAP group (N = 22)*
a Values given as means (SD), unless otherwise indicated.
{ label (or @symbol) needed for fn } NS, not significant; ESS, Epworth Sleepiness Scale; FSS, Fatigue Severity Scale; FOSQ, Functional Outcomes Sleep Questionnaire; TAT Titration = time, in days, between in-lab titration failure and baseline study visit titration.
(more ...)
One randomized participant discontinued the study early (auto-bilevel Group). One participant in the CPAP group used therapy the first night and failed for the remainder of the study but completed all study visits. There was no significant difference in the proportion of adherent users between the treatment groups over the 90 day treatment period (χ2 = 0.240, p = 0.624), although a slightly higher percentage of participants met adherent criteria in the auto-bilevel group (62% vs. 54%). Of note, the cumulative average usage for both groups over the entire 90 days would be considered as adherent (284.7 min/night auto-bilevel group vs. 255.1 min/night CPAP group). A goal of this pilot trial was to collect data on a small sample of participants to determine statistical power for a larger trial. Post hoc sample size estimation using average usage/day in each group would require a sample size of 426 participants to detect a 30-min significant difference in treatment adherence. Given the comparable and overall compliant adherence rates between the groups, effect size estimates were relatively small (d = 0.260), limiting a clinically significant interpretation of this pilot data.
To consider whether long-term treatment adherence could be determined within the first 30 days of usage, the proportion of adherent users by group was assessed for the first 7 days and first 30 days of therapy. Adherence rates were comparable between the groups during the first 7 days of treatment (31% auto-bilevel group vs. 32% CPAP group; χ2 = 0.006, p = 0.938). Although there was still no significant difference in adherence rates, a larger difference was observed over the first 30 days of therapy (73% auto-bilevel group vs. 59% CPAP group; χ2 = 1.049, p = 0.306). Refer to Table 2 for adherence data during the treatment period.
Compliance data during the treatment period*
* Values given as means (SD), unless otherwise indicated. NS, not significant.
Means and SD for each measure and visit are shown in Table 3. Subjective estimates of daytime functioning as measured by the ESS were significantly improved at the day 30 visit compared to baseline for the entire sample (F = 13.147, p < 0.01), whereas the FSS was most improved at the day 90 visit (F = 21.968, p < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences between groups over the treatment period. Global FOSQ scores also significantly improved from baseline to the day 90 visit for the entire sample (F = 25.805, p < 0.001); however, there once again were no significant differences between groups over the treatment period. Of note, participants in the auto-bilevel group demonstrated a larger improvement in global FOSQ scores throughout the treatment period and a much more rapid increase by day 30 visit than the CPAP group.
Subjective measure outcomes for the auto bilevel and CPAP group for each visit*
† ESS, FSS, and FOSQ scores significantly changed from baseline (p < 0.001), but no interaction by group.
{ label (or @symbol) needed for fn } ESS, Epworth Sleepiness Scale; FSS, Fatigue Severity Scale; FOSQ, Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire.
Our findings suggest that intervening with the auto-bilevel device immediately after a poor initial laboratory exposure instead of standard CPAP did not result in significantly improved adherence rates over the entire treatment period. Both groups demonstrated comparable improved daytime functioning and functional outcomes during the course of treatment.
Despite efforts to compare the auto-bilevel device to standard CPAP in a population susceptible to poor treatment adherence, both groups were surprisingly adherent on average during the treatment period (284.7 vs. 255.1 min use/night). High adherence rates across the sample have been reported in other studies which have attempted to initiate a comparison of devices at the beginning of therapy.9,16 Based on our experiences as well as previous report,4 we had anticipated fairly poor adherence among patients who had a poor initial CPAP experience. The cumulative benefit of participating in the trial may have improved population adherence rates by providing intense support and maintenance of the therapy, along with proper mask adjustments and humidification. Such findings may be important clinically, since the outcome of patients with poor initial CPAP adherence is quite good regardless of the therapy provided.
There were potential limitations to our study. As this was a pilot study, the sample size was limited and not powered to assess a significant difference between the treatment groups. Significant variance in compliance rates in the CPAP group likely contributed to a small effect size of the primary endpoint. As with all multicenter trials, there is a risk of population differences within the sample. Groups were equally randomized to groups by site, but there were minor differences in compliance rates by site. Even though education and support procedures throughout the study were consistent among the sites, there could have been differences in referral patterns and patient populations to each center.
A primary goal of our pilot study was to determine the benefit of both intervening immediately after a poor initial encounter with CPAP during in-lab titration and an alternative pressure delivery device to make a positive impact on treatment adherence. Although aspects of our methodology were novel and could have been a factor related to our limited effect size, we felt it necessary to explore the potential of early intervention given our clinical experiences. It could also be argued that our selection criteria to identify those patients having a suboptimal initial exposure to CPAP were not ideal and perhaps other parameters should have been used. In addition, it is well documented that treatment adherence may be determined within the first 30 days of use—maybe as few as three days.2,3 Data also exist supporting poor sleep efficiency during in-lab CPAP titration as a factor impacting adherence.4 Previous studies have attempted to either demonstrate improvement in adherence by early interventions or the use of variable pressure devices. Other studies attempting to utilize novel therapies at initiation of treatment have also failed to demonstrate clinically significant improvements in adherence rates compared to CPAP9,17; despite some preference differences, most studies using bilevel devices also fail to demonstrate different clinically significant usage patterns.5–8 Comparable to these studies, our study failed to demonstrate a significant improvement in adherence rates, regardless of improved daytime functioning and functional outcomes.
These results may not be generalizeable to all populations who experience tolerance difficulties with CPAP. In fact, a previous study has demonstrated that an auto-bilevel device can improve compliance in those who have already demonstrated longer term failure using CPAP.10 Without prior established adherence patterns, one night of experience during titration may not fully determine these patterns in the population chosen. However, groups were comparable according to typical predictive variables such as age, OSA severity, and sleepiness measures at baseline.
In conclusion, the use of an auto-bilevel device after a poor initial encounter with CPAP resulted in nonsignificant and only marginally improved adherence rates compared to standard CPAP therapy, although the entire sample demonstrated favorable adherence rates. The auto bilevel device was just as efficacious as CPAP therapy in improving functional abilities. Further work is needed to understand the true benefits (if any) of multiple interventions to improve treatment adherence (e.g., auto-bilevel, humidification, mask comfort, and education) and who may benefit the most with this type of device for treatment of their OSA. Patients with a poor initial experience with CPAP are still good candidates for PAP therapy with appropriate support.
This study was supported by a grant from Phillips Respironics. Dr. Powell has received research support from Philips Respironics, Inc, Fisher – Paykel Healthcare, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals Dr. Malhotra has received consulting and/or research support from NIH, AHA, Philips, Medtronic, Apnex, SHC, SGS, Apnicure, Galleon, Pfizer, Merck, Cephalon, and Sepracor. Dr. Litinski has received research support from the American Sleep Medicine Foundation. Dr. Gay has received research support from Philips Respironics, Inc. Dr. Ojile has indicated no financial conflicts of interest.
The authors are grateful to the clinical research coordinators and technical staff at each of the participating facilities. The authors thank Dr. Mark Muehlbach for his critical review of the manuscript. This work was performed at Clayton Sleep Institute, St. Louis, MO, Sleep Health Centers affiliated with Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, and the Mayo Center for Sleep Medicine, Rochester, MN.
Stepnowsky C, Moore P, authors. Nasal CPAP treatment for obstructive sleep apnea: developing a new perspective on dosing strategies and compliance. J Psychosom Res. 2003;54:599–605. [PubMed]
Weaver TE, Kribbs NB, Pack AI, et al., authors. Night-to-night variability in CPAP use over the first three months of treatment. Sleep. 1997;20:278–83. [PubMed]
Budhiraja R, Parthasarathy S, Drake CL, et al., authors. Early CPAP use identifies subsequent adherence to CPAP therapy. Sleep. 2007;30:320–4. [PubMed]
Drake CL, Day R, Hudgel D, et al., authors. Sleep during titration predicts continuous positive airway pressure compliance. Sleep. 2003;26:308–11. [PubMed]
Randerath WJ, Schraeder O, Galetke W, et al., authors. Autoadjusting CPAP therapy based on impedance efficacy, compliance, and acceptance. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2001;163:652–57. [PubMed]
Aloia MS, Stanchina M, Arnedt JT, et al., authors. Treatment adherence and outcomes in flexible vs standard continuous positive airway pressure therapy. Chest. 2005;127:2085–93. [PubMed Central][PubMed]
To KW, Chan WC, Choo KL, et al., authors. A randomized cross-over study of auto-continuous positive airway pressure versus fixed-continuous positive airway pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. Respirology. 2008;13:79–86. [PubMed]
Smith I, Lasserson TJ, authors. Pressure modification for improving usage of continuous positive airway pressure machines in adults with obstructive sleep apnoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;4:CD003531[PubMed]
Gay PC, Herold DL, Olson EJ, authors. A randomized, double-blind clinical trial comparing continuous positive airway pressure with a novel bi-level pressure system for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Sleep. 2003;26:864–9. [PubMed]
Ballard RD, Gay PC, Strollo PJ, authors. Interventions to improve compliance in sleep apnea patients previously non-complaint with continuous positive airway pressure. J Clin Sleep Med. 2007;3:706–12. [PubMed Central][PubMed]
Iber C, Ancoli-Israel S, Chesson A, Quan SF, authors. The AASM manual for the scoring of sleep and associated events: rules, terminology, and technical specifications. 2007. 1st ed. Westchester, IL: American Academy of Sleep Medicine;
Matthews EE, Cook PF, Tereda M, et al., authors. Randomizing research participants: promoting balance and concealment in small samples. Res Nurs Health. 2010;33:243–53. [PubMed]
Johns MW, author. Reliability and factor analysis of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Sleep. 1992;15:376–81. [PubMed]
Krupp LB, LaRocca NG, et al., authors. The fatigue severity scale. Application to patients with multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Arch Neurol. 1989;46:1121–3. [PubMed]
Weaver TE, Laizner AM, Evans LK, et al., authors. An instrument to measure functional status outcomes for disorders of excessive sleepiness. Sleep. 1997;20:835–43. [PubMed]
Stepnowsky CJ Jr, Marler MR, Ancoli-Israel S, authors. Determinants of nasal CPAP compliance. Sleep Med. 2002;3:239–47. [PubMed]
Hudgel DW, Fung C, authors. A long-term randomized, cross-over comparison of auto-titrating and standard nasal continuous airway pressure. Sleep. 2000;23:1–4


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Electronic for Electric Valve Positioning
Lead Free* Models Available
The WATTS ACV Electronic Control Valve is designed to be electrically positioned to control flow, pressure, level or temperature for water applications. It is a throttling valve controlled by two 2-way solenoids installed in the pilot control system. By alternately energizing the solenoids, the valve can be "positioned" to maintain a desired value. The valve also has provisions for manual operation in the event of power outage.
The Electronic Control Valve is normally interfaced with SCADA systems or a Programmable Logic Controller that compares a Process Variable (PV) to a desired setpoint, and energizes the solenoid pilots to throttle the valve open or closed until the PV reaches the desired setpoint.
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January 24, 2008
Today's Comic
Child abuse is hard work.
January 28, 2008
Seriously, throwing a 60 or so pound kid for about an hour or two tires you out more than I expected - and that was only part of my job on Saturday.
I was in a student film playing Captain Hook... sort of. It's a re-imagining of the origin of Peter Pan, and I played the man who would be Captain Hook. There aren't any particularly clear photos of me in costume, but all the children on set assured me I was very creepy. The parents seemed more unnerved, though.
Considering parts of the script, I understand why. A lot of people have asked (after they say the "I'm away filler) if they could see it. I'll ask the director if I can post it later, but it probably won't be done for a few months (there's going to be rotoscoped animation that'll provide the actual pirate costumes). But I have to admit I'm a little hesitant to put this film online. It will pretty much end and chances I have of getting sex in the future - and any woman excited by this is someone I want to avoid.
I've had enough of sticking it in the crazy for my lifetime, thank you.
Oh - there MAY be a new con notification this week. I'm waiting to hear details on the matter. I've already accepted, but said con is "crossing T's and dotting I's." If they say yes, it'll be a local con - just a half hour or so outside of Boston, and I
be running a
Bunnies & Burrows
game - Third Edition GURPS. If you've never played before, don't worry - I try to make it easy on new people.
That's really it. I need to go get a pencil sharpener so I can give you all more comics today. Whee! -
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The 29 year old, in his first full season on the Challenge Tour, was a relative unknown on the tour until last week, when he competed for the title at the Finnish Challenge before earning a share of third place.
But the Stockholm man continued that hot streak of form and, on an incredible third day at the Olso venue, only just made the cut on the mark in the morning - following an overnight rain delay - before going out later that day and firing a course-record ten under par 62 which included a hole in one.
Fahrbring had admitted that he suffered nerves in the final group in Finland a week ago but when it came to the crunch in Norway, he came out with all guns blazing as he eagled the first hole to throw down the gauntlet to his competitors.
He never let up after that and four more birdies, including three in a row from the tenth, took him to a 19 under par total and earned him a career-changing victory, one which has sealed him a spot in the limited-field Rolex Trophy in two weeks' time.
"It feels surreal," said Fahrbring. "I've been in a bubble the last 36 holes. I never thought I could win out here to be honest so this is the best feeling in the world for me.
"Surprisingly I was really calm out there. I got nervous maybe at the 16th tee but it's been a great week. I did not expect to play this well, I was actually quite tired going into this tournament and maybe not feeling that motivated. But maybe that was key for me to just relax and go out and play golf."
The Swede played with his friend and compatriot Pontus Widegren in the final group and Fahrbring admits that was a big help in keeping him relaxed throughout the day.
"We said to each other on the putting green, 'let's just go out there and have a good time today, this is going to be so much fun', so that helped. He started off great, was four under through five, so then I knew I had to keep up. There was sort of a friendly battle going on between us."
As a 29 year old playing his maiden season on the Challenge Tour, Fahrbring's is a rare story of battling against the odds, and the clock, to rise to the higher echelons of professional golf and he revealed that he once considered giving up on The European Tour dream.
"I was battling it out on the Nordic Golf League for a few years and I almost gave up at one point," he said. "I told myself, I need to change something or else just quit.
"I was so scared of hitting shots and failing. That was the turning point for me and ever since then I have taken small steps each year, getting better and better so I've been working towards this for the past three years."
Widegren, meanwhile, was disappointed not to claim a first professional title in just his fifth Challenge Tour start but delighted to see his playing partner go on to victory.
"It was a lot of fun today," said the 22 year old, who finished with a 16 under par total. "We said at one point during the round that it didn't feel like the last group in a big event. It was more like playing with one of your buddies, so it was a great atmosphere.
"He just played very well, very solid, didn't miss much and made some key putts. I struggled a little bit with taking my opportunities and I made a few bogeys but I was happy to make a birdie at the 18th to take tied second place.
"I'm disappointed not to win when I came so close but to have a week like this this early in my pro career is huge."
American Daniel Im joined Widegren in second place as he finished with back to back birdies to clinch the best finish of his Challenge Tour career thanks to a five under par 67.
Another Swede, Johan Carlsson, signed for the best round of the day - a seven under 65 - to clinch outright fourth place on 15 under par.


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Jennifer Lopez Winter 2012 TCA Pictures
Jennifer Lopez and Ryan Seacrest Gear Up For Idol and Talk Fashion
Jennifer Lopez joined Steven Tyler, Randy Jackson, Ryan Seacrest, and their producers for yesterday's American Idol panel at the Television Critics Association Fox press day. When Jennifer was asked what dress she was wearing, Ryan was quick to interject saying the right question is, "Who are you wearing?" though she still couldn't remember the answer. Earlier in the morning, the Fox executive panel addressed the stories about Ryan leaving the show, but he was there with a smile on his face alongside the three judges. Ryan also spoke to the rumors, saying he can't imagine leaving Idol. Ryan is fresh off a St. Barts vacation with bikini-clad girlfriend Julianne Hough and has a perfect tan to kick off award season red carpets this week.
Jennifer, Steven, and Randy weren't afraid to throw a few punches at the other singing reality competition shows out there, especially The Voice. The Fox president in charge of American Idol even called out The Voice for having Kelly Clarkson on as a coach this season, saying, "It's a compliment to Idol because we have created the superstar. We're not hiring a lot of people from The Voice to be on our show." Check out the 10 best quotes from American Idol's TCA panel on Buzz.


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After I posted about the newly revealed sign at the corner of Howard Road and Lytton Road (address number 17 Lytton Road), someone put me in touch with a very nice lady called Rosemary who lived for 74 years at number 74 Lytton Road. I had a chat with Rosemary about the shop and unfortunately she didn't remember Reg Pratt, but she was able to tell me a few other interesting things about it.
When Rosemary was a child (from the 1930s onwards), the shop was occupied by Miss Inman who was a draper and haberdasher, selling baby wear, hooks and tapes, ladies' jumpers etc. This tallies with what I was able to find out by looking at Leicester directories from 1908 and 1916, when the shop was a drapers owned by Mr Robert Stoke and Miss Nellie Lamb respectively, and then in the 1928 Kelly's Directory Miss Mary A Inman.
After Miss Inman retired, the shop was bought by a lady who ran it as a very nice grocers. Her husband was a postman and nearing retirement, when something awful was discovered. He had been taking parcels and registered letters meant for delivery, and hiding them in the shed at the bottom of his garden at number 17 Lytton Road. None of them were opened, so the man hadn't been gaining from his crime, but nevertheless it was a serious matter and he had to leave the Post Office and also lost his pension. It was a great scandal in Clarendon Park and the couple left the area soon after.
Rosemary remembers that an Asian family took over the premises and kept them as a grocers, very well run. The husband left to become a religious leader in his faith. It became at some point a computer shop for students, and after this a clothes recycling shop that no one ever seemed to go in.
I am still wondering about Reg Pratt. The only mentions of him I can find is are 1959, when he first appeared in the Phone Book (though he may have been there before that, but without a telephone), Kelly's Directory of 1960 as I mentioned in my previous post, and the Phone Book of 1960. So perhaps it was a very short-lived business, in which case it's no wonder Rosemary can't remember it. I'm going to look into all of this in more detail at the record office – in the meantime, if you know any more about it do let me know. Thanks, Simon, for putting me in touch with Rosemary. Elizabeth


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And knowing is half the battle! *lip locks with moondazed*
That's because our minds can do things our bodies sometimes can't.
I only wish men were as orally fixated! Instead they worry about the fact that they can't pleasure a small mare *giggle*
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Jianxin You, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Microbiology
Department: Microbiology
Graduate Group Affiliations
Contact information
Department of Microbiology
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
201C Johnson Pavilion
3610 Hamilton Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6076
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
201C Johnson Pavilion
3610 Hamilton Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6076
Office: 215-573-6781
Fax: 215-898-9557
Fax: 215-898-9557
Education:Permanent link
M.S. (Advisor: Robert Gundersen)
University of Maine, 1996.
Ph.D. (Advisor: Cecile M. Pickart)
Johns Hopkins, 2001.
Postdoc (Advisor: Peter M. Howley)
Harvard Medical School, 2006.
M.S. (Advisor: Robert Gundersen)
University of Maine, 1996.
Ph.D. (Advisor: Cecile M. Pickart)
Johns Hopkins, 2001.
Postdoc (Advisor: Peter M. Howley)
Harvard Medical School, 2006.
Description of Research ExpertiseResearch Interests
Human papillomaviruses, Merkel cell polyomavirus, virus-host interaction during viral persistent latent infection and tumorigenesis
Key words: DNA tumor viruses, Host targets, Persistent viral latent infection, Viral oncogenesis, Tumor virology, Bromodomain protein BRD4 and cancer
Research Summary
About 15% of cancers worldwide are caused by viral infection. Research in my lab investigates two oncogenic DNA tumor viruses: human papillomavirus (HPV) and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV). We are also studying the functional regulation of BRD4, which is not only an important host target for HPV and MCV but also a critical therapeutic target for a large number of cancers. Our overall research goal is to understand how the molecular interplay between the tumorigenic DNA viruses and their host targets leads to cancers.
MCV Infection and Merkel Cell Carcinoma: MCV is a novel human polyomavirus recently discovered in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a highly aggressive form of skin cancer. Clonal integration of MCV into the host genome has been observed in ~80% of MCC. MCV is also an abundant virus frequently shed from healthy human skin. However, the mechanisms for MCV-induced oncogenesis and many aspects of the MCV life cycle remain poorly understood. Our recent studies offered novel insights to elucidate the life cycle and oncogenic mechanism of this newly discovered DNA tumor virus. To uncover MCV oncogenic mechanism, we will determine the origin cells for MCC tumors and investigate how MCV infection drives the oncogenic progression. Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, immunosuppression, and advancing age are the most important risk factors for MCV-associated MCC skin cancers. Building on our previous finding that host DNA damage response factors contribute to MCV replication, we will investigate the role of UV and ionizing radiation in promoting MCV-induced skin cancer. MCV-associated MCC predominately occurs in elderly and immunocompromised patients. Using MCV as a model system, we will also examine how DNA viruses modulate host immune response to achieve latent infection and how abrogation of this process leads to viral induced oncogenesis.
Development of new antiviral strategies to abrogate HPV-host interaction during latent infection: High-risk HPV infection is the primary risk factor for cervical, anogenital, and head and neck cancers. Currently available HPV vaccines protect against up to four major types of cancer-causing HPV strains. However, the vaccines do not protect against the other over 140 HPV types and are not useful for those people who are already infected. Alternative approaches are therefore needed for curing ongoing HPV infections. This is particularly important because high-risk HPVs need to persistently infect host cells for years or even decades in order to accumulate substantial cytogenetic changes for developing invasive tumors. HPVs establish persistent infection by maintaining their genomes as episomes in infected cells. Our previous work identified BRD4 as the long sought-after receptor, which tethers the viral E2 protein/episome complex to mitotic chromosomes in latently infected cells thereby ensuring the faithful partitioning of viral episomes to daughter cells during mitosis. The HPV E2 interaction with BRD4 has been proven by us and many others to be important for HPVs to establish persistent infection in the host cells as well as for many aspects of the HPV life cycle. This HPV and host interaction has therefore become an attractive antiviral target. Using functional assays such as MAPPIT and BiFC to recapitulate the E2-Brd4 interaction in live cells, we will screen for drugs to inhibit the HPV-host interaction mediated by E2 and BRD4. The goal of this project is to develop affordable and effective new antiviral drugs to cure persisting HPV infections that are not protected by the HPV vaccines.
Regulation of BRD4 function and cancer: BRD4 is an epigenetic reader that plays a central role in transcriptional regulation, cellular growth control, and cell cycle progression. Dysregulation of BRD4 function has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a large number of cancers including acute myeloid leukemia, multiple myeloma, Burkitt's lymphoma, diffuse large B cell lymphoma, breast cancer, colon cancer, and ovarian carcinoma. BRD4 is also the target of translocation t(15;19), which results in the formation of BRD4-NUT fusion oncogene that accounts for the highly lethal transforming activity of NUT midline carcinoma (NMC). Although BRD4 has emerged as a key cancer therapeutic target, the mechanisms that regulate BRD4 function have not been elucidated. How alteration of BRD4 function leads to cancer also remains largely unknown. We reported that BRD4 preferentially occupies pluripotency genes in embryonic and cancer stem cells to regulate their transcription. Others also showed that BRD4 disproportionately enriches at a subset of key oncogenic genes and selectively stimulates their expression to drive cancer cell proliferation. Together, these findings support that BRD4 is not a universal epigenetic reader but rather a gene-specific transcription regulator. Our future studies will investigate the important questions regarding the mechanistic regulation of BRD4 function during cancer development. We will elucidate the upstream cellular signaling pathways that regulate BRD4 transcription function. We will also investigate the molecular mechanisms that control its gene-specific chromatin targeting. Using oncogenic DNA tumor viruses and cancer-associated genetic mutations as molecular probes, we will investigate how dysfunction of this important epigenetic reader lead to human cancers. Together, these studies will open the opportunities for developing effective treatment approaches for BRD4-associted cancers.
Rotation Projects:
Depending on the interests of the student, there are several possible projects in the areas described above. Prospective students are encouraged to contact Dr. You to discuss possible rotation projects.
Lab personnel:
Ranran Wang, Ph.D., Research scientist
Wei Liu, Ph.D., Research scientist
Nathan A. Krump, CAMB Ph.D. Student
Kelly Yang, Undergraduate Researcher
Srinidhi Shanmugasundaram, Undergraduate Researcher
Flora Ho, Undergraduate Researcher
Meghan Perez, Undergraduate Researcher
Valerie Linck, MVP, rotaion student
Selected PublicationsKrump Nathan A, You Jianxin: Molecular mechanisms of viral oncogenesis in humans. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 16(11): 684-698, 2018
Liu Wei, Krump Nathan A, MacDonald Margo, You Jianxin: Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection of Animal Dermal Fibroblasts. J. Virol. 92(4), Feb 2018.
Wang R, Cao XJ, Kulej K, Liu W, Ma T, MacDonald M, Chiang CM, Garcia BA, You J.: Uncovering BRD4 hyperphosphorylation associated with cellular transformation in NUT midline carcinoma. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Jun 2017 Notes: pii: 201703071. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1703071114. [Epub ahead of print]
Liu W, Yang R, Payne AS, Schowalter RM, Spurgeon ME, Lambert PF, Xu X, Buck CB, You J.: Identifying the Target Cells and Mechanisms of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection. Cell Host Microbe. May 2016 Notes: pii: S1931-3128(16)30160-3. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2016.04.024.[Epub ahead of print]
Shanmugasundaram S, You J: Targeting Persistent Human Papillomavirus Infection. Viruses 9: 8, Aug 2017 Notes: pii: E229. doi: 10.3390/v9080229.
Liu Wei, MacDonald Margo, You Jianxin: Merkel cell polyomavirus infection and Merkel cell carcinoma. Curr. Opin. Virol. 20: 20-27, Aug 2016.
Tsang SH, Wang R, Nakamaru-Ogiso E, Knight SA, Buck CB, You J.: The Oncogenic Small Tumor Antigen of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Is an Iron-Sulfur Cluster Protein That Enhances Viral DNA Replication. J. Virol. 90(3): 1544-1556, Feb 2016 Notes: Chosen as a JVI Spotlight Feature article.
Li J, Diaz J, Wang X, Tsang SH, You J. : Phosphorylation of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Large T Antigen at Serine 816 by ATM Kinase Induces Apoptosis in Host Cells. J. Biol. Chem. 290(3): 1874-84, Jan 2015.
Wang R, Liu W, Helfer CM, Bradner JE, Hornick JL, Janicki SM, French CA, You J: Activation of SOX2 expression by BRD4-NUT oncogenic fusion drives the cellular transformation in NUT midline carcinoma. Cancer Research 74(12): 3332-43, Jun 2014.
Wang X, Li J, Schowalter RM, Jiao J, Buck CB, You J: Bromodomain protein Brd4 plays a key role in Merkel cell polyomavirus DNA replication. PLoS Pathogens 8(11): e1003021, Nov 2012.
You J, Croyle JL, Nishimura A, Ozato K, Howley PM: Interaction of the bovine papillomavirus E2 protein with Brd4 tethers the viral DNA to host mitotic chromosomes. Cell 117(3): 349-60, Apr 2004.
Liu W, Stein P, Cheng X, Yang W, Shao NY, Morrisey EE, Schultz RM, You J.: BRD4 regulates Nanog expression in mouse embryonic stem cells and preimplantation embryos. Cell Death Differ. 21(12): 1950-60, Dec 2014.
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Last updated: 01/17/2019
The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
Last updated: 01/17/2019
The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania


text:
Inside Outer Space
Physicist Luke Keller helped design the camera that is probing farther and deeper into our universe.
By Keith Davis
It was just past five o'clock on the morning of May 26 when associate professor of physics Luke Keller watched the chopped-and-channeled Boeing 747 finally touch down at NASA's Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in California.
"I was so excited," Keller says. "I literally had goose bumps."
Mounted in a nonpressurized compartment in the jumbo jet's fuselage was a telescope nearly 10 feet in diameter and weighing the equivalent of two school buses. Known as SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy), the 17-ton telescope was returning from its first mission, a six-hour flight that, if things went as planned, would bring back galactic images recorded at wavelengths beyond the capabilities of ground-based observatories and satellite-based telescopes.
"When I was starting a post-doc at Cornell in 1999, I joined a team of scientists and engineers in designing FORCAST, the infrared camera system that is now installed on the SOFIA telescope," Keller says. "We fully expected to use our instrument by 2001. But the logistics and technical details of modifying the aircraft, making sure sensitive instruments work in turbulent flying conditions, reaching consensus with the various collaborating agencies, and bringing the aircraft into compliance with safety regulations have made for a gigantic undertaking. When I saw the plane landing in California last May, those goose bumps were worth waiting for."
The excitement hardly diminished when Terry Herter, the Cornell University astronomy professor and leader of the FORCAST team, disembarked from the aircraft and handed Keller the thumb drive containing the data from the first flight. A coinvestigator on Herter's Cornell-based team and the key contributor to designing FORCAST's optics, Keller joined Herter and his FORCAST colleagues in processing the data and producing its first images. The effort took all of the next day, but Keller and his colleagues were beyond complaining about the extra work.
"After 11 years on the SOFIA project — and I was one of the more recent additions to the FORCAST team — it was truly a thrill to see those first images taking shape on our computers," Keller says. "The delays have been disappointing, but we're excited to finally be using SOFIA for astronomy."
Indeed, successfully recording never-before-seen images of Jupiter and the galaxy M82 prompted NASA's Astrophysics Division director Jon Morse to say, "With this flight, SOFIA begins a 20-year journey that will enable a wide variety of astronomical science observations not possible from other Earth- and space-borne observations. This first flight is a milestone achievement."
Because the 747's payload allows large and heavy instruments on board, SOFIA can capture images that space telescopes cannot. Several things make these images unique.One, FORCAST recorded the images at an altitude high in the Earth's troposphere, where there was almost no water vapor to distort them. And, the images were taken using the infrared area of the spectrum instead of visible light.
"Infrared images are the only way to remotely look deep into the atmosphere of Jupiter or the very center of the M82 galaxy," he explains, distinguishing infrared from visible light images that show only the surface details of objects — the "tip of the iceberg," as he puts it. "Infrared light images show us what lies beneath."
Being able to image astronomical objects and environments at different infrared wavelengths enables Keller and his colleagues to analyze physical characteristics such as temperature and chemical composition. Warm objects or regions in space that would look completely dark in visible light are visible on the infrared images, thus allowing scientists to watch dynamic processes taking place.
"SOFIA is going to give us key insights into the processes that form stars in the Milky Way, our home galaxy, as well as the processes that influence the formation and evolution of planets in star systems beyond our solar system," says Keller.
A monumental undertaking, SOFIA is a collaboration of NASA; the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt, the German agency that designed and built the telescope; and teams of scientists and engineers at more than 30 universities, laboratories, and research centers. Six of Keller's students also made contributions.
With the aircraft and the equipment having passed muster, Keller spent October and November in California with the in-flight science team, gathering and processing data from FORCAST. He also flew several astronomical missions on board the aircraft.
Over the next 20 years, additional instruments will be successively installed on the telescope, each one designed to investigate targeted infrared wavelengths using the latest technology. In addition, SOFIA's management team, through its education and public outreach program, will invite educators and journalists on board, with the aim of giving teachers, students, and the general public a firsthand look at how scientific research is conducted. Eventually it will serve as a hands-on educational and training facility for future scientists.
"Astronomers and physicists are constantly looking for better ways to view space and learn about our environment beyond Earth's atmosphere," Keller says. "With SOFIA now in operation, we are going to see the universe in detail never before possible."
Learn more about SOFIA here.
Listen to an interview with Luke.
Read his blog on the project.
1 Comment
good job


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Friday, February 10, 2012
He became House Minority Leader in January 2009 after the original "Bonusgate" indictments shamed H. William DeWeese out of the post.
Although Eachus was overlooked in Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Corbett's original investigation, Corbett soon became embarrassed when evidence of Eachus' complicity was leaked to the media, and became became part of the official court record.
As part of the Corbett campaign's massive two-year attempt to cover his ass, Eachus was cordially invited to testify to a grand jury. Such invitations are regarded as a harbingers of impending indictment, and indeed, Eachus' fellow invitees, H. William DeWeese and Steve Stetler, were indicted.
Eachus was not, and we're still wondering what it means.
Possibilities include:
a) Corbett never intended to indict Eachus, who potentially was much more valuable to the future Governor as a grateful and indebted Democratic Leader than as a defendant, and the invitation to testify was a ruse intended to deflect questions about the the incriminating evidence Corbett never intended to reveal.
b) Corbett did intend to indict Eachus, but someone or something deterred him.
Any guesses?
61 comments:
Any guesses?
Maybe Eachus is under federal investigation? In any event, this slow motion investigation should finally indict Eachus.
- February 10, 2012 at 4:14 PM
Not a guess, but an observation: Unlike self important Bill DeWeese, Todd Eachus knew enough to keep his head down, shut up and maintain a very low profile. btw, Bill: just keep talking, pal. I predict a new six year contract for you!
- February 10, 2012 at 6:02 PM
The OAG seems to be putting less and less effort into all this - after the big publicity payoff, it was a whole lot of work. AG Kelly should really consider if its at all fair to have invested thousands of staff hours in investigating House Ds, but letting the very same infractions go for both sides of the Senate, and Eachus too.
- February 11, 2012 at 9:48 AM
If Feese had more counts, and Feese was involved in a much, much more expensive crime (like $10 million), and Feese actually obstructed justice, which AG Corbett said was the worst of all, how come he got 4 years and Veon got 6? If Feese gets 4, and Veon gets 6, the two disgraced former Speakers should get more.
- February 11, 2012 at 9:50 AM
Increasingly, the corruption scandal is viewed more as a judicial concern than a legislative one, but it was legislative misconduct that made prosecutors' track record possible.
Twenty-one of the 25 people arrested — all connected to the House Democratic and Republican caucuses — were convicted or have pleaded guilty. Only two were acquitted.
Charges against another were dropped. One defendant, ex-Rep. Stephen Stetler of York County, is awaiting trial.
Former House Democratic whip Mike Veon is serving a six- to 14-year prison term — the harshest sentence imposed so far.
He faces a separate trial next week on charges of misusing grant money distributed to a nonprofit he ran in his former Beaver County district.
The attorney general's office has not officially closed the investigation, but more than two years have passed since the last arrests.
Unfinished business appears to consist mainly of the sentencing of three Democratic defendants, including DeWeese, and the seven GOP defendants who pleaded guilty, who include former House Speaker John Perzel of Philadelphia.
Would-be government reformers had hoped that the investigation launched in 2007 would be a launch pad for at least some of statutory changes they championed, such as legislative term limits, campaign contribution limits and a ban on gifts from lobbyists, but none came close to winning majority support.
In 2010, a grand jury that investigated the corruption scandal issued a scathing report that labeled the Legislature "irretrievably broken" and called for sweeping changes, but few of its proposals were adopted.
It is clear now that Grand Jury was used by Corbett to become Governor, nothing else.
"By and large, our Legislature is pro-choice on corruption," charged Tim Potts, a co-founder of Democracy Rising PA.
Besides the mandatory training to help legislators and staffers recognize the line between public service and electioneering, the Legislature has done little to reinforce the lessons of the scandal.
The AG just wants it to end to avoid the mistake of letting Computers be changed in the middle of the probe, so not one senator would indicted except for Orie.
Officials insist that the experience has fostered at least subliminal improvements in the ethical culture at the Capitol.
But Corbett handling of the Sandusky Child Predator investigation is unforgivable in an attempt to save his wlwction.
When it is all over both the
AG and Governor may be in Democratic Hands.
- February 11, 2012 at 1:46 PM
Worse Majority Leaders Democrats ever had and everyone Eachus brought in are some of the poor patronage employees ever hired.
Most will go sooner or later when Mr. Shrugs is replaced!
- February 11, 2012 at 7:24 PM
Worse Majority Leaders Democrats ever had and everyone Eachus brought in are some of the poor patronage employees ever hired.
Most will go sooner or later when Mr. Shrugs is replaced!
- February 11, 2012 at 7:25 PM
Soon, an awkward situation, difficult mishap and unforeseen event that will disrupt Governor Tom Corbett's normal course of things and this inopportune occurrence resulting from a small disagreement will be rather embarrassing.
One must see this terrifying secret before it's too late...
- February 12, 2012 at 3:26 AM
The Hypocracy of the Republican Party and it's AG/Governor Corbett is finally coming to public light. The Republican mottos - "do as I say, not as I do" and "I'll say anything to get elected and won't let the truth get in the way of a good campaign stratedy" - are coming back to bite them. People are finally starting to call them out, even the Republican Controlled Tribune Review recently noted Corbetts campaign against the Spector Library Grant and then approved the grant funding while cutting funding for basic education which results in local school taxes being increased. And the Republican controlled legislature supported his hypocritical agenda buy approving his first budget without any republican party house or senate objection. Look at the so called "conservative" or "fiscal responsible" members like Turzai, Reese, Kreiger, Evankovich, Dunbar, Ellis, Pyle, and Reed (only to mention a few). And not to mention that they all accept the perks and pay raises. This is an election year, let us not forget! Vote these bums out.
- February 12, 2012 at 12:07 PM
"Most will go sooner or later when Mr. Shrugs is replaced!"
Ahahaha...best nickname ever...Frankie Shrugs!
- February 12, 2012 at 12:16 PM
- February 12, 2012 at 2:53 PM
If you believe Corbett that the investigation continues and they'll go after anyone who did wrong, wherever the evidence leads, than Eachus will go yet. And so will Mike Long.
- February 12, 2012 at 2:54 PM
When will Manzo be sentenced? Didn't he pleade guilty over 2 years ago? As the architect of bonuses, he'll spend a long time in state prison.
- February 12, 2012 at 2:56 PM
Yes Todd brought in Susan who is "one of the chief of staff" who is now punch drunk with power. Making sure to keep all her crew nicely paid with made up job titles and many have received nice pay bumps. It's funny also just how may people Todd gave the to hire while there were to be no job hires from the out side. Let's see a few. We have Mrs. Pheonix in HR who was Zane phoenix sister who was Todds right hand man when he was leader then we have Shawn Migarro in HR who is also related to someone in HR and Todd did them a favored then the you have the Biggica brother and sister Todd hired. I find it interesting that Todd did work for their dad (Russ) who is a lobbyist. Just all interedting. I just hope something happens to him as well. He is just as guilty as the rest. If not for bonusgate. Maybe for cash for kids or the cargo airport. Something. He is scum.
- February 12, 2012 at 6:42 PM
The great judge Lewis needs to look out a little for his fellow R's. I mean his daughter is running for state rep. and the GOP are giving all their support behind her. Interesting..
- February 12, 2012 at 8:20 PM
Anonymous said...
When will Manzo be sentenced? Didn't he pleade guilty over 2 years ago? As the architect of bonuses, he'll spend a long time in state prison. February 12, 2012 2:56 PM
Awaiting Sentencing.
- February 12, 2012 at 11:25 PM
Part of the Appeal Process is if the AG withheld notes.
In some accounts that are currently being verified, Eachus's Outside Counsel Chris Casey and In House Counsel both urged the Indictment of Bill DeWeese so Eachus could remove him from Democratic Leadership.
Although these notes were alleged taken, they never were turned over, under Brady Case precedents this is extreme Prosecutors Misconduct charge that current US Supreme Court is looking to advance on Appeal to correct the many Wrongful Convictions happening throughout the US.
It will be interesting to watch these events come to an unraveling???
- February 13, 2012 at 12:19 AM
So you got what you want
What a nasty ambition!
Set me up, pull me down
Then exploit my condition
I should have guessed, woman
That if pressed, woman
You're on nobody's side but your own
And you're behaving
Like a mere woman
It's so clear, woman --
It's your sex!
Once they start getting old and getting worried
They let fly, take it out
On the one who supports them --
That's you I'm talking about
Who'd ever think it?
Such a squalid little ending
Watching you descending
Just as far as you can go
I'm learning things I didn't want to know
Who'd ever guess it?
This would be the situation --
One more observation --
How'd we ever get this far
Before you showed me what you really are?
You'll be lost without me
To abuse like you're used to
Go away! Just get out! Be someone else's parasite!
I'm not the kind to be vindictive
Holding some childish grudge
How could I be? I'm in the spotlight
Half of the world my judge
All I demand is those I work for
Those I give all my skills
All my time and pain
Those that I entertain
Give me the same compassion in return
But the fools never learn!
- February 13, 2012 at 1:03 AM
Today one of the defendants in the Sandusky case, which OAG really didn't investigate at all for years as it spent tens of thousands of hours investigating Mike Veon, filed an action to be dismissed because their indictment was based on testimony from the late Joe Paterno. The OAG says they "thought about" getting a deposition from Paterno (the 85 year old coach in failing health for past couple of years, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer), but didn't do it. Since the defense never got to cross examine him, his grand jury transcript, which was read into the record at preliminary hearing, is not admissable. If the AG loses that case because of this oversight, it reenergizes the issue of the poor underinvestigation in the Sandusky case. But hey, isn't that what happened regarding Eachus, Smith, McCall, Senate Rs and Ds, Mike Long and others?
- February 14, 2012 at 10:45 AM
Message to AG Kelly: Now would be a great time to go after Eachus, and the Senate. For the sake of justice, do it.
- February 14, 2012 at 10:46 AM
Message to AG Kelly: Now would be a great time to go after Eachus, and the Senate. For the sake of justice, do it.
February 14, 2012 10:46 AM
AND FORMER AG - GOV. CORBETT TOO! MAYBE SPEAKER "I'll use the DeWeese I didn't know defense" SMITH TOO! AND LET US NOT FORGET LEADERS TURZAI AND REED FOR USING THE ILLEGALLY BEGOTTEN TAXPAYER PAID FOR CAMPAIGN PROGRAM - "Computergate".
- February 14, 2012 at 12:32 PM
Corbett should be charged with Obstruction of Justice and destroying Evidence when Corbett personally allow the Republican Senators to change the computers.
Mike Long, Todd Nyquist, and Drew Crompton should be before a Grand Jury too!
But after Stetler, it will all come to and end, watch and see!
- February 14, 2012 at 1:50 PM
If it does end with Stetler, what a shame. In the name of justice keep at it.
- February 14, 2012 at 4:15 PM
I wonder if the perjuror - Nancy Thompson - will be called to testify again in the BIG trial?
- February 15, 2012 at 4:52 PM
The Brady Case Prevents The Prosecution From Destroying Notes, If The Notes Were Insignificant Then Why Destroy Them, Veon's Attorneys Should Immediate Move For A Ruling On Appeal And Go Directly To The Supreme Court.
When This Is All Over All Of Corbett's Attorney Generals Assistants Will Be Where Assistant Us Attorneys Are Now, Right Before The Justice System Themselves And One Already Committed Suicide.
All Of The Convictions Will Be Overturned And Vacated, And The Assistant Paoag Will Be Hiring Attorneys And Declaring Bankruptcy.
- February 16, 2012 at 2:01 AM
Some wrongful convictions are caused by honest mistakes. But in far too many cases, the very people who are responsible for ensuring truth and justice — law enforcement officials and prosecutors — lose sight of these obligations and instead focus solely on securing convictions.
The cases of wrongful convictions uncovered by DNA testing are filled with evidence of negligence, fraud or misconduct by prosecutors or police departments.
Common forms of misconduct by law enforcement officials include:
• Employing suggestion when conducting identification procedures
• Coercing false confessions
• Lying or intentionally misleading jurors about their observations
• Failing to turn over exculpatory evidence to prosecutors
• Providing incentives to secure unreliable evidence from informants
Common forms of misconduct by prosecutors include:
• Withholding exculpatory evidence from defense
• Deliberately mishandling, mistreating or destroying evidence
• Allowing witnesses they know or should know are not truthful to testify
• Pressuring defense witnesses not to testify
• Relying on fraudulent forensic experts
• Making misleading arguments that overstate the probative value of testimony
Necessary Oversight:
We need to find solutions to fix these problems.
One way to put checks on the enormous power of prosecutors and law enforcement officials would be to establish criminal justice reform commissions.
The other way is to hold prosecutors and their investigators to crimes without absolute immunity and prosecutes those that crossed the line.
- February 16, 2012 at 2:08 AM
The Justice Project's Recommendations to Ensure Prosecutorial Accountability
States should require that prosecutors' offices adopt and enforce clearly defined official policies and procedures.
States should require open-file discovery in criminal cases.
States should require that prosecutors document all agreements with witnesses and jailhouse informants concerning conferment of benefits of any kind.
States should require trial and appellate judges to report all cases of prosecutorial misconduct, including cases where the misconduct is ruled to be harmless error.
States should establish a prosecutor review board with the power to investigate allegations of misconduct and impose sanctions.
States should require that prosecutors participate in training and continuing education programs.
- February 16, 2012 at 2:10 AM
ABA Model Rules, ABA Criminal Justice Standards, Criminal Justice Standards, actual innocence, ethics, ethical obligations, innocent, innocence, innocence commission, prosecutor, prosecution, prosecution function, prosecution ethics, prosecutorial misconduct, transparency, wrongful convictions.
Prosecutorial misconduct is one of the leading causes, or contributing causes, of wrongful convictions.
This paper contends that prosecutorial misconduct is not chiefly the result of isolated instances of unprincipled choices or the failure of character on the part of some prosecutors.
Rather, prosecutorial misconduct is largely the result of three institutional conditions: vague ethics rules that provide ambiguous guidance to prosecutors; vast discretionary authority with little or no transparency; and inadequate remedies for prosecutor misconduct.
These three conditions create perverse incentives for prosecutors to engage in, rather than refrain from, prosecutorial misconduct.
- February 16, 2012 at 2:13 AM
Website Source:
- February 16, 2012 at 2:28 AM
B. Sanctioning Prosecutors Directly
Ordering a particular form of relief, such as dismissal of an indictment, may
be a practical necessity in a selective prosecution case, because there appears to
be no reasonable alternative for such a serious constitutional violation.
Dismissal of charges, however, should not be available simply to deter
prosecutorial misconduct. Courts should not rely on granting a particular
defendant relief to serve as a check on future prosecutorial actions in other cases
except to the extent necessary to vindicate a specific constitutional protection
breached by the prosecutorial misconduct. If a court's goal is to send a message
to prosecutors, the message should not be communicated by granting a
defendant relief without consideration of the harm that the misconduct caused to
the defendant. The constitutional protections belong to individuals, not to courts
for use as a means to police the conduct of prosecutors. While deterrence of
misconduct may be an appealing rationale for dismissing a case, no
constitutional basis exists for employing a remedy to address an institutional
problem that did not result in an unfair proceeding or an unsupported verdict.437
- February 16, 2012 at 2:35 AM
Is it just me, or has Jeff Foreman added another pound of skin to his turkey neck?
- February 24, 2012 at 10:29 AM
I honestly cannot believe Angela Bertugli is still employed by the House democratric caucus. She has testified at the grand jury, at the Bonusgate Trial, and now at the Big Trial that she spent her first 4 months on the House payroll doing grad school homework, that she was hired because she was having sex with Mike Manzo and that she got bonuses, presumably for good performance at the task for which she was hired? Note that after the scandal broke Bill DeWeese didn't fire her, Todd Eachus didn't fire her, and now Frank Dermody didn't fire her. After staffers testified they did political work on state time, hid it, and knowingly got bonuses for political work, they were not fired, did not have to forfeirt their bonuses and in many cases got promotions. After the legal Counsel got caught with boxes of evidence he never turned over implkicvating DeWeese, deWeese got indicted but the legal counsel remained. How can this be? This represents millions in wasted and corrupt expenditure of taxpayer dollars. here is Gene Stilp, Eric Epstein and the media?
- February 25, 2012 at 10:15 AM
The "unpunished" staffers who testified under oath they stole time, conspired to hid corruption, participated in the bonus scheme, or gave sex for hiring or promotions, should all have had to pay back what the took or the bonuses they got, and certainly those most responsible should be gone - but the Dem Caucus still hasn't done anything about it. In fact look at the jobs Tom Andrews, Bob Caton, Angela Bertugli, Karen Steiner, Paul Parsells, and on and on, have, it's crazy. But the press has expressed no interest at all. As they have no interest in any kind of investigation of the State Senate, especially the most obvious offenders in the GOP Senate caucus. Obviously they buy in to the idea Mike Veon deserves a second prosecution rather than going after the biggest bonus recepients and the most public political operatives on public time.
- February 25, 2012 at 10:29 AM
Now that a story has appeared questioning if Corbett still knows what is going on in the grand jury, which would be improper, it raises question whether the new AG continues to investigate the Senate, where the biggest bonuses were given to the most obviously political staffers at the highest levels who seemingly were most publicly doing political work out of state offices, I think even advertising their state phones to accept calls for paid political consulting work. Has the investigation gone on to all 4 caucuses wherever the evidence leads, or was there simply no evidence the Senate GOP caucus did anything wrong?
- February 25, 2012 at 12:13 PM
That Manzo/Mistress story is just outrageous. I don't care who he sleeps with, but I don't want to pay for it. He must pay back not just his bonuses, but the ones he awarded to both his wife and his mistress, and every cent of state pay his state employed mistress got. I don't want to pay his pension, or his state paid mistressespension. If she testifies she was hired and paid (not to mention bonused) to sleep with him any time the state paid to bring her to Harrisburg, or him to Pittsburgh, shouldn't he be charged with running a prostitution operation too?
- February 25, 2012 at 12:17 PM
Shame on Leader Dermody and the whole House Democratic caucus for not cleaning up the staff. These are people paid for with state taxpayer dollars.
- February 25, 2012 at 12:18 PM
The most surprising "where the evidence" leads testimony never investigated was the under oath statement by an AG called felon/witness that the very illegal acts he did for Veon was the same things he was doing for House Speaker McCall for more than a year after Veon left the House. The very same illegal activity, except continuing even after the investigation was well known, provable in the very same investigative manner the charges Veon and that defendant were convicted of were proven. But Veon is in jail for 6 years and McCall serves as a high paid appointee to, for goodness sake, the Gaming Control Board that regulates casinos.
- February 25, 2012 at 3:17 PM
Feds are now investigating the Penn State Trustees and Second Mile, providing "Hush Money" to the victims, under AG Corbett and crack PAOAG Staff and Investigators.
Once the Trustees and Second Mile contributions come under the Federal Grand Jury and match up to AG Tom Corbett's For Governor Campaign groups and listing and are granted Immunity Governor tom and some at the PAOAG may be under investigation and arrested sooner than they think too.
In any event, Corbett smells like a rotten fish either way rather for his past deeds of breaking the law to become Governor...
Corbett inability to win a second term.
Not a good thing to be happening just when the Presidential Pennsylvania Primary will be here on April 24 and the candidates for President on the Republican side will have to talk about Tome Corbett's complicity.
I do not see revenge coming, I see a rescanning coming, and it is heading right for the Center of the Republican Party and will take off Corbett's Head and some Judges in Dauphin County.
- February 26, 2012 at 5:31 AM
Hats off to the Pitt BOT ...
They met on Friday, and were very critical of the budget that Gov. Corbett proposed. They passed a resolution indicating:
"To take such steps as are necessary to protect the overall quality and strength of the university in the face of a proposed escalation in the withdrawal of state support."
The proposal also stated:
"the apparent lack of support for public higher education within the current [state] administration."
State Education Secretary Ronald Tomalis, attended Friday's meeting as a nonvoting member of Pitt's board. After the resolution was passed, he asked to address the board. He said he took "great exception" to the characterization and said his boss and the administration do in fact support higher education.
Trustee John Pelusi Jr. appeared to take issue with Mr. Tomalis' assessment of the state's treatment of higher education. "The math doesn't add up with no disrespect to the secretary," Mr. Pelusi said.
I doubt the passage of the resolution will do much by itself. However, it's nice to see the Pitt BOT call the Governor and his administration on their proposal.
A link to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article about this is below.
Tom Corbett may be under investigation before he gets a chance to run again.
- February 26, 2012 at 5:37 AM
Latest from Ganim on Feds probe, BOT, and the Corbett Reply:
Corbett now trying to backtrack on his earlier statements about the Second Mile not being investigated.
Link: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/02/post_318.html
Gov. Tom Corbett, who has been pretty guarded in what he says about the ongoing state grand jury investigation, recently said something different, according to two State College reporters.
Corbett is constantly reminding inquiring minds that he's bound by secrecy rules and can't discuss or divulge a lot of what he knows about the child sex abuse investigation he started three years ago when he was state attorney general.
But this month, when Corbett unveiled his budget plan for this year, he did a round of television interviews where he discussed some aspects of the scandal that has engulfed Penn State and Sandusky's statewide children's charity.
In at least two of those interviews, reporters say, Corbett made statements that The Second Mile is not under investigation.
How does Corbett know that?
Grand juries are conducted in secret, and law-enforcement officials — police, prosecutors and investigators — are barred by law from talking about it.
The television reports — from WJAC and WTAJ, both serving State College — use the present tense to describe Corbett's comment. Both reporters said Friday that they stand by their reports as accurate.
Corbett's spokesman, Kevin Harley, angrily denied that the governor was talking about the current investigation.
In any event, Corbett has some explaining to do and now before a Federal Grand Jury????
- February 26, 2012 at 5:41 AM
The bigger trouble for the Office of the Attorney General is more at issue than a computer glitch releasing the grand jury presentment prematurely is the shoddy quality of the document itself and the reckless intent with which it was written.
This article is, I think, referring to what the University was told in relation to Gricar's 1998 investigation.
Schultz is on the record as saying that he had been informed of the investigation.
I believe that the feds now want to know what was told, who was told, and when.
Seems more likely to me than seemingly honest people with good track records all of a sudden deciding to cover up for a pedophile. I would like to know the truth and how Corbett helped them cover the truth.
The backpedaling by spokespersons for both Corbett and Kelly confirm the seriousness of his statement that SM was not under investigation. He screwed up.
His statements were in the present tense to 2 different media outlets. Please give them the courage to press the matter.
IF he meant the past tense, it doesn't really matter to me since SM was the obvious focal point all along. JS was working through SM in both 2002 and 2008. He retired from PSU in 1999. SM should have been the starting point. If stuff later led them to PSU, so be it.
Corbett is a bad, bad guy. He needs to go!!
- February 26, 2012 at 5:55 AM
From the article:
"Grand juries are conducted in secret, and law-enforcement officials -- police, prosecutors and investigators -- are barred by law from talking about it."..
"And, abiding by grand jury secrecy rules, Linda Kelly, whom Corbett appointed to take his place after winning the election, isn't giving her predecessor any kind of updates, Frederiksen said.
"Definitely not."
"Linda Kelly does not discuss investigations with anyone outside the attorney general's office," he said.
Yet, SOMEHOW, the grand jury presentment report, with creative writing and inflammatory but unproven charges, made it into the public??
Corbett and Kelly under oath before a Federal Grand Jury will crumble together.
Also, believe Feds should investigate Gricar's disappearance.
Yesterdays news about Fed Investigation was not good for The Second Mile, the Second Mile Board and Second Mile executives, the Penn State BOT, Graham Spanier and Gary Schultz.
It is really not good news for Governor Corbett or Linda Kelly.
I think we'll find out Curley was simply caught in the middle and as it relates to Joe, I don't think yesterdays news means much for PSU but on the relationship on why Corbett acted the
way he did.
It does, however, indicate to me how laughable it was to pin this on a football coach when the president and VP in charge of campus police had as much or more information than the football coach.
If, as I suspect, it turns out some BOT members had knowledge and have been lying?
And Corbett allowed it in exchange for campaign contributions.
It makes they're actions 1000 times worse.
If those same people were purchasing the silence of victims?
I don't even want to think of the consequences, but Corbett is in real trouble now.
If Joe could speak from the grave here with his notes, to let the world know the true story, it would be apocalyptic for Corbett.
- February 26, 2012 at 6:05 AM
The Freeh Investigation isnt an "investigation" at all, but a COVER-UP.....
The "real" reason this investigation is being conducted isnt to uncover the truth, but to "bury" the truth.
The way you go about such an undertaking is to hire a PROFESSIONAL to do an investigation under the SMOKE AND MIRROR illusion that an an actual and full-fledged investigation is taking place.
It paints the picture that the University is doing the "right" thing. But, its all an illusion.
The true nature of the Freeh inveatigation isnt to uncover the truth and bring it to light.
Its to uncover the truth and BURY it - ONCE AND FOR ALL.
Freeh and the University are covering all their tracks and burning all evidence so that NO EVIDENCE ever again sees the light of day.
From the beginning I said it was to give the impression of an investigation, but the guy was hired by the BOT.
It is only one step removed from the BOT hiring the Clinton mouthpiece. They are paying for a service.
People are too smart to buy what the BOT or Linda Kelly and Tom Corbett is selling.
- February 26, 2012 at 6:10 AM
The Freeh report was never going to be fine. An august body that hires an investigator to investigate themselves is never the way to go. Ever. They must have thought that we were all idiots when they did this.
Then to throw in the condition that the BOT gets to review the report before it's release, and it's obvious this whole thing was a charade. The question is, what were they afraid he was going to find?
Freeh is pouring gasoline all over Old Main as we speak. The feds had better hurry.
The FEDS need to up their gametime is of the essence.
Oh boy, I absolutely think there is so much truth to this.
The Freeh investigation is an absolute joke and the Sandusky thing is EVERYTHING but a PSU football scandal.
It's far reaching and will include politics and Gonna get ugly folks...
- February 26, 2012 at 6:20 AM
They seem to be following the money trail to see if 2nd Mile families (with abused sons)were paid to stay quiet by BOT individuals and money to Corbutt.
I wonder if Tommy Corbutt will get a commission from Freeh for "recommending" him for the job.
Corbutt could probably use a few extra bucks to supplement the "contributions" from the natural gas industry and the Second Mile.
Therefore, by God, it will be done. And perhaps it was immediately necessary to say "Hey we're on this. Heads are gonna roll."
- February 26, 2012 at 6:26 AM
"If Joe could speak from the grave here with his notes, to let the world know the true story, it would be apocalyptic for Corbett."
Joe had a chance to speak when he was alive - and didn't...he cared more for his precious program than for innocent children...be assured that his soul is burning in hell...next to his buddy Bishop Bevalaqua.
- February 26, 2012 at 10:07 AM
I'm confused on something, maybe Casablanca can assist. What is the schedule for the Stetler trial, and the sentencing of DeWeese (the guy actually in charge), of Manzo (the guy who testified he was the mastermind of bonuses) and Perzel?
- February 27, 2012 at 8:25 AM
Former Sen. Gerald LaValle, who was co-director of the Beaver Initiative for Growth with ex-Rep. Mike Veon, will testify today for the prosecution in Veon's second corruption trial.
LaValle, a senator from 1990 through 2008, testified at a 2009 preliminary hearing that he was in essence a figurehead for the non-profit, which was controlled by Veon.
- February 27, 2012 at 1:30 PM
- Signor Ferrari said...
What is the schedule for the Stetler trial, and the sentencing of DeWeese (the guy actually in charge), of Manzo (the guy who testified he was the mastermind of bonuses) and Perzel?
Stetler's trial is scheduled to begin the first week in April.
The last notation on Manzo's docket indicated sentencing would take place 120 days from Feb. 17. 2011. Obviously, that date has come and gone with no explanation.
DeWeese's sentencing date is April 24, Primary Election Day.
Perzel's sentencing date is March 21.
- February 27, 2012 at 1:53 PM
Interesting, Former Part-time Jail Guard, Teacher, Commissioner, and Senator Gerry LaValle knew nothing what Mike Veon was doing.
Gerry also knew nothing his Convicted Wife was doing by stealing Pensions from her own relatives at United Way as the State Grants kept her salary above $120,000..
Yet, his son was paid big money to transfer Real Estate to B.I.G.
Gerry never was a Full Time Senator the theme he ran on when doing nothing for the County.
Yet, he knows so much for the Prosecutors?
- February 28, 2012 at 8:02 AM
- March 5, 2012 at 10:45 AM
Sad for Mike. It's about time for OAG to concentrate on Senate.
- March 5, 2012 at 11:26 AM
Another stellar performance by the "Dream Team"...Veon would have been better off with a PD!
- March 5, 2012 at 12:17 PM
After Orie, Governor Corbett may be the next public official going down on corruption charges.
"This is definitely the first step," Levinson said. "The first thing that happens is the prosecution sends out a subpoena for all the documents they can find and then start in on key witnesses."
The state grand jury continues to meet on the Sandusky case, a spokesperson for the attorney general's office said, even after two presentments have led to multiple charges against Sandusky.
Because grand juries meet in secret, prosecutors cannot talk about what topics they are exploring.
Yet, Tom Corbett is being investigated by Federal investigators on revealing secret aspects of tee Sandusky Grand Jury to Penn State Trustees and Second Mile Contributors to his Campaign.
However, Corbett said publicly there is no indication The Second Mile is under investigation, which is no longer the case.
Corbett also publicly defended his decision to accept more than $25,000 in campaign donations from current members of the Second Mile board while running for governor.
- March 5, 2012 at 2:45 PM
Corbett said they'd go wherever the evidence leads. Let's see if that's so. How about Senate indescretions?
- March 5, 2012 at 5:18 PM
Still wondering how the House Democrats can keep on staff that publicly testified to deeply implicate themselves, including in the bonus scheme, with no punishment, no bonus pay backs, nothing. Dermody should now answer for that.
- March 5, 2012 at 5:20 PM
Today a story sources Sam Rohrer as saying Gov. Corbett threatened state jobs if Republican State Committee members didn't vote to endorse the Gov's preferred candidate for US Senate. Is that true? Because if it is, isn't that a violation of law, a conflict of interest, misue of his state office? Let's see if Sam Rohrer is brave and upright enough to follow through to enforce the law.
- March 5, 2012 at 10:59 PM
Up to the Appeals now, only those Appeals can bring this Website to Flight, it is over now the music of the night........
- March 6, 2012 at 9:18 AM
This is a great Spring - I am having a ball with this Orie trial. And then we have a bunch of nice sentencing coming up. Payjacker Perzel - finally, Payjacker Veon - again thankfully. And old Payjacker Billy Blabbermouth gets his own cage assignment. Recommend they get assigned to Guantanamo, even if we have to let less dangerous terrorists out to fit them in.
Keep going AG and Feds. We have a republicrat-made cesspool in PA and it stinks.
And of course, keep voting republicrat!
- March 10, 2012 at 10:09 AM
Nicest thing anyone said about Perretta-Rosepink last week after her conviction: "I don't like her, but that (BLEEP) was loyal." Yes, she was — to a fault.
Heard when Lavelle's wife got arraigned, he was hiding in his car in the parking lot, what a man?
There was this little Bird in his nest on a freezing windy day that could not even fly yet.
The little Bird look up over the nest and all of sudden the wind took him away and he fell from his nest into the grass.
As he laid there he started to Chip Chip very loud.
A cow heard him and went over to him feeling sorry for the helpless Bird.
The Cow stood over the Bird and lifted up his tail and dumped right on him a warm bunch of Dung.
Even though the Dung kept the Little Bird warm the Bird kept chirping even louder and louder.
All of sudden a Coyote hears the Bird and comes over to the Bird and gently pulled him out of the Cow Dung with his paw.
Lifts the Bird in the air as he brushed him off and the Little Bird quits chirping in the delight someone cares.
All of a sudden the Coyote opens his mouth and swallows the Little Bird.
The Morale Of The Story:
Folks that throw dirt on you aren't always trying to hurt you, and folks that pull you out of a jam aren't always trying to help you.
But the main point is when you're up to your nose in shit, keep your mouth shut.
- March 14, 2012 at 12:29 PM
The Mellow plea areemet deserves some review. First, if the OAG was following the evidence wherever it might lead, it's surprising the never got to Mellow, or Fumo, or Musto, or Orie (who they got the first complaint about). Second, ok, even if they missed it the first time, it's impoossible to believe the feds wouldn't now require Mellow to fully cooperate with the AG ongoing 4 caucus probe now - since Mellow publicly has agreed to plead to the exact klind of politics/fundraising on state time and resources that sent Veon, Feese and Cott to prison, and for which Perzel and DeWeese face prison. How can all those staff folks in the House get charged, punished, etc., if the investigation doesn't apply to the Senate? Third, if as we've been told their is interest in a state investigation of gaming and licensing of casinos, recall Mellow was the Senator for and friend of Louie DeNaples. Finally, will this fed conviction take Mellow's $139,000 a year pension? If not, shouldn't AG at least get a guilty plea to an offense that would? Why take Veon, DeWeese, Feese, Perzel and bunch of lesser staff folks' pensions, but not 40 year Senator who put money in his pocket, served as Senate leader and Pro Temp, and has the highest pension of all. Now is the time to follow the evidence wherever it leads. Today you can find that evidence on page 1.
- March 16, 2012 at 9:33 AM


text:
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