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The Tuberculosis (TB) Treatment Pipeline
July 2005
IntroductionAlthough tuberculosis (TB) kills two million people a year -- one person every 15 seconds -- there have been no new drugs approved to treat TB in the last 40 years. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global incidence of TB disease is rising by 1% annually. This increase is concentrated in Africa and is attributable to the rise in TB infection in people with HIV. Additionally, the emergence of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) in Eastern Europe and Russia is posing a new challenge to efforts to control the disease.
TB is a disease of the poor. Ninety-five percent of those ill with TB, and 98% of those who die of TB, live in the developing world. Despite significant investment on the part of the affected countries, there is still a great need for multilateral resources and political commitment to adequately address the health-infrastructure and financing challenges of which the TB epidemic is both a product and a cause. The Global Plan to Stop TB (2001-2005) identified a resource gap of $3.77 billion, which did not fully encompass the need for investment in new tools (including diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines), and which in any case was not fully funded (Global Partnership to Stop TB 2001).
Beyond the epidemiological and political context, there are also significant biomedical issues that new treatments need to help alleviate. Some of these concerns are:
To address these urgent, emerging challenges for TB control, there has been recent unprecedented activity in the arena of TB drug development. Agencies such as WHO, the Global Fund for HIV, TB, and Malaria, and the Gates Foundation have galvanized multilateral support and initiated public-private partnerships to increase resources to combat this disease of poverty. One result of these actions is that after a lull of 40 years, six new drugs for TB are currently in clinical trials. At least three other potentially exciting compounds are in preclinical studies. These compounds are products of research and development undertaken by pharmaceutical companies and public-private collaborations funded through philanthropic foundations. One leader championing the cause of TB drug development is the nonprofit Global Alliance for TB Drug Development, which is supported by the Gates and Rockefeller Foundations. The Global Alliance has catalyzed a new focus and leadership for TB treatments by initiating public-private partnerships among stakeholders doing basic science and clinical trials.
The Draft Strategic Plan of the New Drugs Working Group for the Global Plan to Stop TB-II includes the following drugs that are currently or imminently scheduled for clinical trials (New Drugs Working Group Draft for Global Plan II April 2005). All the compounds in this unprecedented TB drug pipeline have been endorsed by the Global Alliance and are being screened to ensure that they can be taken with ARVs, manufactured inexpensively for use in developing countries, and used with other TB drug regimens, ideally to shorten and simplify the duration of TB treatment and address MDR-TB (New Drugs Working Group 2005).
Table 1. TB Drugs Currently in Clinical Trials
Click to enlarge
Diarylquinoline TMC207 (J) (Previously R207910)This compound, TMC207, or J, is owned by Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and is being developed at its research subsidiary Tibotec. Tibotec scientists discovered J by screening their chemical libraries for compounds with anti-mycobacterial properties. The compound has many characteristics that make it an attractive TB drug candidate, including low molecular weight, high potency against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB strains, very long half-life (permitting once-weekly dosing), and low potential for drug interactions.
Mechanism: TMC207, or J, is among the Diarylquinoline (DARQ) class of compounds, which have a very specific and previously unknown anti-mycobacterial mechanism. It is postulated that J inhibits the proton pump of the M. tuberculosis adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase that is the main source of fuel for M. tuberculosis (Andries 2004).
Reduction of treatment burden: Studies in mice show that J has a long half-life (43.7-64.0 hours in plasma and 28.1-92.0 hours in tissue) and a low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The bactericidal activity of the drug seems to be time-dependent, not concentration-dependent. Due to its ability to penetrate and stay concentrated in tissue for long periods of time, J holds the promise of being active against latent TB infection as well as active TB disease. Its long half-life, low MIC, and bactericidal potency also give J the potential to reduce the duration and the pill burden of TB treatment. In mice, a single dose had bactericidal potency for about eight days. When used as monotherapy, a single dose of J was at least as potent as the triple combination of rifampin (R), isoniazid (H), and pyrazinamide (Z) and was more active than R alone. Due to potential for resistance development, however, J will not be used as monotherapy, but only in combination with the other current TB drugs. When it was substituted for one of three current TB medications (R, H, or Z), the J-containing regimens performed significantly better -- they were as effective in one month as RHZ was in two months. In particular, the JHZ and RJZ combinations cleared the lungs of TB in all the mice after two months. These promising murine data need to be replicated in humans (Andries 2004).
Utility against MDR-TB and TB/HIV coinfections: Because of its unique mechanism, J is active in vitro against TB organisms resistant to isoniazid (H), rifampin (R), streptomycin (S), ethambutol (E), pyrazinamide (Z), and moxifloxacin (M). Furthermore, it has no cross-resistance with current anti-TB medications (Andries 2004). J can be also be used in conjunction with antiretroviral drugs, and unlike rifampin, it doesn't accelerate their metabolism (Ibid.)
Adverse effects: Single ascending dose (SAD) and 14-day multiple ascending dose (MAD) studies in healthy human males were orally presented at the 16th TB Trials Consortium (TBTC) meeting in San Diego on 20 May 2005. J was well absorbed after a single oral dose and has an effective half-life of 24 hours. No severe adverse effects were observed. The treatment duration needed for sterilization, as well as the most effective drug combinations, are as yet unknown in mice and humans (McNeeley 2005).
Needed studies: Studies in TB patients have not yet begun. More research on the pharmacokinetics of the compound is needed to develop a safety profile in women, children, and individuals coinfected with HIV or HCV and TB. Studies that will provide more information about the sterilizing duration of the drug and its potential to prevent recurrence of TB still need to be conducted.
FluoroquinolonesThe fluoroquinolone (FQ) compounds are a class of synthetic antibiotic derived from nalidixic acid, with a broad spectrum of activity. This family includes ciprofloxacin and a variety of related compounds, two of which are in the current TB pipeline. FQs are well absorbed orally, and have good tissue penetration and relatively long duration of activity. Quinolones are "broad-spectrum antibacterial agents that block DNA replication and kill bacterial cells" (Drlica 2004). Some newer fluoroquinolones are effective against non-dividing bacteria as well; they do not have cross-resistance to other classes of TB drugs. Several fluoroquinolones have been studied for their antimycobacterial activities (Pletz 2004; Gradelski 2002).
During the 1990s, two C-8-methoxy fluoroquinolones (moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin) were developed commercially for use against gram-positive pathogens ... Moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin also had exceptional activity with M. tuberculosis if assessed by a mutant selection criterion. However, when examined for activity in cultured cells or in animal models, the C-8-methoxy compounds were not lethal enough to be spectacular anti-tuberculosis agents. Thus, successful use of fluoroquinolones with tuberculosis will probably require finding appropriate combination therapies (Drlica 2004).
Gatifloxacin (G)Gatifloxacin is a broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic that is marketed in the U.S. by Bristol-Myers Squibb as Tequin. It is used to treat a number of bacterial infections and is usually taken at 400 mg once daily (Bristol-Myers Squibb 2004).
Mechanism: An in vitro study looking at the bactericidal action of gatifloxacin (G) by itself and in combination with isoniazid (H) or rifampin (R) showed that G added limited bactericidal activity for the first two days, but not thereafter. The hypothesis is that G is active against the occasionally dividing bacteria, but that in the static, persisting bacilli it does not contribute any sterilizing activity to that of the other drugs (Paramasivan 2005).
Reduction of treatment burden: The failure of G to add to the sterilization activity of H or R suggests that it will not reduce treatment time. Gatifloxacin is active against intramacrophage M. tuberculosis when used with certain combinations of antituberculosis drugs (R, H, and Z). Gatifloxacin's activity against intramacrophage bacilli in combination with antituberculosis drug implies that with the right additional drugs, G can produce effective suppression of TB (Sato 2003). Another study looking at the use of G in combination with ethionamide (ETA) with or without pyrazinamide (Z) in mice showed that G, ETA, and Z was the most effective combination to sterilize the lungs and prevent relapse. When treated with G and ETA at 5 days/week doses of 300 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg of body weight, respectively, the mice lungs were completely sterilized in 12 weeks; however, there was relapse during the eight-week subsequent observation period. When Z was added to ETA and G at 450 mg/kg for 5 days/week for 12 weeks, the murine lungs remained free of live mycobacteria during eight weeks of follow-up observation. For the lower dose regimen of G at 300 mg/kg plus ETA at 75 mg/kg, the twice-weekly regimen was as effective as the daily regimen. These data suggest the possibility of using this regimen in intermittent therapy, thus potentially reducing treatment burden (Cynamon 2003).
Utility against MDR-TB and TB/HIV coinfections: As the above data show, gatifloxacin can be active in regimens without H or R. The combination of G, ETA, and Z could therefore potentially be useful against isoniazid- (H) and rifampin- (R) resistant TB. It is also anticipated that G will work well with ARVs (Cynamon 2003).
Adverse effects: None of the studies spoke of the any side effects specific to the treatment of TB; however, in general, fluoroquinolones can cause CNS toxicity. Gatifloxacin has been associated with increases in insulin levels among diabetics. Caution should be used when taking G along with antacids, heart rhythm disturbance medications, or with mineral supplements containing zinc, magnesium, or iron. Gatifloxacin has not been shown to be safe or effective in children younger than 18 or in pregnant or lactating women (Bristol-Myers Squibb 2004).
Needed studies: Studies are needed to more clearly define the use of G in combination with current TB therapy and to define its safety. The optimal dose and combination regimen for TB need to be understood better. The validity of the assumption that early sterilization of lungs is a predictor of relapse inhibition also needs to be studied.
Moxifloxacin (M)Moxifloxacin (M) may be the most promising of the fluoroquinolones being tested against M. tuberculosis (Gillespie 1999). It is made by Bayer and marketed as Avelox (moxifloxacin hydrochloride) in over 100 countries for the treatment of a variety of bacterial infections. It is most often given as a single oral 400 mg dose once daily (Bayer 2004). The bactericidal potential of M at 25 mg/kg six times a week was equivalent to isoniazid (H) (Ji 1998). A study in mice replicated this apparent equivalence between M and H monotherapy and also showed that the combination of M and H together is much stronger than each alone (Miyazaki 1999). M showed early bactericidal activity comparable to isoniazid and rifampin in human subjects (Pletz 2004; Gosling 2003).
Mechanism: M is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, active against gram-negative, gram-positive, and anaerobic bacteria. It has a mechanism that is distinct from H in that it affects bacteria by binding to the DNA gyrase and topisomerase IV, which are involved in bacterial replication. Compared to some other fluoroquinolones, it has a lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and a half-life that is equivalent to other fluoroquinolones. Unlike some other effective fluoroquinolones, M is not phototoxic (Ji 1998).
Reduction of treatment burden: Two studies in mice showed that using M along with already approved anti-TB drugs can lead to faster sterilization of the lungs. In mice, a combination of M along with rifampin (R) and pyrazinamide (Z) was shown to eradicate M. tuberculosis from the lungs by up to 2 months earlier compared to the standard regimen of isoniazid (H) with R and Z. Another study showed that adding M to a rifapentine and H regimen was more effective than adding streptomycin in clearing the lungs. Due to its sterilizing effect against slow or intermittent replicating bacteria, M in combination with other drugs seems promising for the continuation phase of TB treatment and to potentially shorten therapy (Lounis 2001). Some data from a yet unpublished study in mice that Jacques Grosset presented during the May 2005 TBTC meeting showed that four months of M with R and Z was as effective as six months of the standard regimen of RHZ/RH. In another study, TBTC Study 27 conducted by the CDC-funded TB Trials Consortium, unpublished data from a randomized, blinded comparison of HRZM vs. HRZE showed that the M-containing regimen led to faster sputum and culture-conversion, with no difference by dosing frequency (five versus three days weekly). However the study also showed that there was a marked difference between African study participants and North American participants in the rates of two-month culture-conversion (60% vs. 85%; surprisingly, this difference was not affected by HIV status) (Burman 2005).
Utility against MDR-TB and TB/HIV coinfections: M might be very useful against MDR-TB since it has no cross-resistance to other antituberculosis drug classes. An in vitro pharmacodynamic infection model that simulated drug decline similar to those seen in humans suggested that doses of 400, 600, and 800 mg/day of M would suppress drug resistance in TB by 59%, 86%, and 93%, respectively (Gumbo 2004). When tested against 86 strains of M. tuberculosis, including 13 resistant and 4 multidrug-resistant ones, M was effective against all strains but two at 0.5 mcg/ml. The other two, both of which were MDR strains, were suppressed at minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2 and greater than 4 mcg/ml (Tortoli 2004). M plus ethionamide (ETH) showed more activity than M alone in mice infected with MDR-TB (Pletz 2004; Fattorini 2003).
When compared with the standard third-line regimen of ofloxacin (OFX), ethionamide (ETA), amikacin, and pyrazinamide (Z), nine months of M, ethionamide, amikacin, and Z was found to be as effective as six months of the standard third-line regimen. Thus, though it doesn't shorten the treatment, M does broaden the treatment options for MDR-TB (Veziris 2003).
M can be used with current ARVs, as it is a broad-spectrum antibiotic class that is already being prescribed commonly, and no drug interactions have been mentioned.
Adverse effects: M has CNS side effects and drug interactions with other FQs. Only small studies in TB patients have been done so far, and few AEs have been reported. Moxifloxacin has not been shown to be safe or effective in children younger than 18 or in pregnant or lactating women (Bayer 2004).
Needed studies: There is a need to better understand the pharmacokinetics of M, and to explain the potential ethnic or geographical differences in the two-month TB culture-conversion rates suggested in TBTC study 27. Moxifloxacin, like gatifloxacin, needs to have its safety and activity determined in children under 18 and in pregnant and lactating women. Finally, the role of M in combination therapy for TB, including initial intensive and continuation-phase regimens, and for treatment of MDR-TB and in combination with ARVs needs to be defined in well-conducted randomized and operational research studies.
Nitroimidazopyran PA-824Since being identified in 1995 at PathoGenesis, this drug has had many proprietors. First Chiron Corporation acquired the compound and then the Global Alliance For TB Drug Development obtained worldwide rights to it and its derivatives from Chiron with Chiron's commitment to make the drug available for TB without royalty in countries where TB is endemic. In vitro and in murine models it is shown to be effective against MDR TB, and actively and slow growing M. tuberculosis.
Mechanism: PA-824 kills M. tuberculosis bacilli by inhibiting the synthesis of protein and cell wall lipids (Stover 2000). It has specific bactericidal effect against M. tuberculosis complex. In mice, it has a minimum bactericidal dose (MBD) of 100 mg/kg/day. When used at MBD by itself, PA-824 56 was bactericidal during initial therapy phase at a level comparable to an equipotent dose of isoniazid in humans (Tyagi 2005). It was even shown to be effective against MDR strains and TB bacilli grown under oxygen depletion showing potential bactericidal impact in latent state TB bacilli (Lenaerts 2005). Its sterilization effects rival those of R and H. PA-824 at a single oral dose of 25 and 100 mg/kg reached high levels in the lungs and spleen. Regular dosing over 14 days showed PA-824 was at higher levels in target tissues than in plasma and that the plasma concentration is dose dependent (Global Alliance 2004).
Reduction of treatment burden: In continuation phase PA-824 has been seen to target bacilli that had persisted despite a two-month intensive treatment phase of R, H, Z. There are no clear data that show the potential for PA-824 for shortening TB treatment. However, its effectiveness against active and static TB bacilli shows promise for its use in initial and continuing phases of TB treatment (Tyagi 2005).
Utility against MDR-TB and TB/HIV coinfections: PA-824 in combination with isoniazid prevents selection of TB mutants resistant to isoniazid (Tyagi 2005). Unlike current TB drugs, it has shown high bactericidal activity against all MDR-TB isolates as well as potential for activity against latent TB. There is no cause to suspect that PA-824 cannot be used with HIV medications as there was no significant inhibition of cytochrome P450 isozymes (Global Alliance 2004).
Adverse effects: The adverse effects profile of PA-824 has not yet been evaluated in humans.
Needed studies: Studies are needed to define PA-824's utility in TB treatment during the initial and continuation phase for drug-susceptible TB infections, and its best use in combination for MDR-TB. Clinical trials are needed to define its adverse effects profile, its sterilization effect, and its effect on TB culture conversion and on preventing relapse. Since it seems active against MDR-TB, its use needs to be defined in hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV coinfected TB patients.
Otsuka Pharmaceuticals and Lupin Laboratory CompoundsTwo additional drugs are also currently being tested in the clinic: a proprietary compound of Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, and pyrrole LL-3858 of Lupin Laboratories. Currently, there is no significant information publicly available about these compounds.
ConclusionsAs the above pipeline shows, it is an exciting time for TB drug development. There is the promise of therapies that may shorten treatment duration of drug-susceptible TB, as well as an increase in treatment options for MDR-TB. The novel mechanism of activity and long half-life of TMC207, or J, has promise for not only reducing treatment burden, but also providing a powerful tool against TB that is resistant to current TB drugs. The sterilizing effects of M and G have the potential to reduce time to culture-conversion, thereby reducing the transmission and potential for relapse. Much work remains to be done, however, before these drugs can be adopted into standard regimens. This work includes better understanding drug dosage and drug interactions, and developing a safety profile for these drugs. New trial designs need to be devised as well as rapid, well-designed, well-controlled studies for these drugs to make a difference in reducing the world's TB and TB/HIV epidemics in the near future. Researchers, study sponsors, and regulatory agencies including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) need to agree on study designs that can quickly validate these new TB drugs while also defining their side effects and potential interactions with ARVs and other commonly used drugs. FDA should consider utilizing accelerated approval mechanisms for TB drugs that fill unmet needs in TB control.
TAG is concerned that there is insufficient infrastructure worldwide to rapidly validate these new TB drugs and scale up their use in a variety of settings where they will be needed. The only well-established multicenter network capable of carrying out clinical trials of new TB drugs, the CDC-funded TB Trials Consortium (TBTC), receives just $9.2 million in funds annually and will experience a budget cut of $800,000 due to reduced federal support for the CDC. Though in its recent trials the TBTC has added well-performing and highly productive international sites in Brazil, South Africa, and Uganda, TBTC is mainly centered in North America, where TB case rates are still falling. There is an urgent need to further expand the TBTC significantly to enhance its capacity to carry out the larger, longer, phase III studies that will soon be needed to validate the efficacy of the new anti-TB drugs. Much broader support is also needed from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for clinical trials of new TB drugs. Other consortia approaches like the new European and Developing Country Clinical Trials Program (EDCTP) are also needed and require funding well in excess of its current budget of $400 million for 5 years (2003-2008) for HIV, TB, and malaria. The U.K. Department for International Development (DFID) could also provide significant new support along with other developed and developing countries. Additionally, the human resources and insights of affected communities and people with TB are still untapped. Their leadership is vital to further TB treatment and advocacy and will also be needed to make TB trials a success.
Based on the current prediction of resources, the draft plan of the New Drugs Working Group for the Global Plan to Stop TB II anticipates that the first new TB drugs will be available by 2010 at the earliest. Dramatically scaled-up funding for clinical trials of new TB drugs will be a prerequisite for achieving success. High-level political will and significant resources must be mobilized to accelerate these developments lest the unconscionable deaths of two million people continue unabated year after year.
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This article was provided by Treatment Action Group.


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It is too early to comment on tire wear , only about 6000 miles, but if they are anything like CS4's it will be great. They ride smooth and QUIET and hold the road well. I am still a Cooper fan.
Good tires so far better than what i thought
Seem to be great on wet pavement and good on snow and ice
paul Whitney minnesota
They are vary delishishes will defiantly get them again
Love my new tires will buy them again
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I researched these tires before purchase and couldn't be happier. Sure footed ride, quiet and allows my 98 Lincoln towncar to deliver the ride is was designed to give. Very very Happy
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Perfect fit and ride on 2004 Honda crv!
Probably my last set for this vehicle.
For my sister's Rav4
My second set of CS5 Grand Touring. Had set on my Ford Contour for years. Very satisfied. When my sister needed tires before winter, I bought her a set of the same. She is very happy with the improved driving and safety factors. I will be buying Coopers for the duration, and the immediate shipping and deals on tires-easy.com are a no brainier.
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The tires are great
Nice ride, Has been good for snow so far. Looks great on car
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Secondhand Smoke Causes Death and Sickness in Children
Babies are hurt by secondhand smoke.
Tobacco smoke harms babies before and after they are born. Unborn babies are hurt when their mothers smoke or if others smoke around their mothers. Babies also may breathe secondhand smoke after they are born. Because their bodies are developing, poisons in smoke hurt babies even more than adults. Babies under a year old are in the most danger.
Secondhand smoke is a known cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
The sudden, unexplained, unexpected death of an infant before age one year is known as SIDS. The exact way these deaths happen is still not known. We suspect it may be caused by changes in the brain or lungs that affect how a baby breathes. During pregnancy, many of the compounds in secondhand smoke change the way a baby's brain develops. Mothers who smoke while pregnant are more likely to have their babies die of SIDS.
Babies who are around secondhand smoke, from their mother, their father, or anyone else, after they are born, are also more likely to die of SIDS than children who are not around secondhand smoke.
Studies show that babies whose mothers smoke while pregnant are more likely to have lungs that do not develop in a normal way. Babies who breathe secondhand smoke after birth also have weaker lungs. These problems can continue as they grow older and even when they become adults.
Older children are in danger, too.
Studies show that older children whose parents smoke get sick more often. Like babies, their lungs grow less than children who do not breathe secondhand smoke. They get more bronchitis and pneumonia. Wheezing and coughing are also more common in children who breathe secondhand smoke.
Secondhand smoke can trigger an asthma attack in a child. Children with asthma who are around secondhand smoke have worse asthma attacks and have attacks more often. More than 40 percent of children who go to the emergency room for asthma live with smokers. A severe asthma attack can put a child's life in danger.
Ear infections are painful. Children whose parents smoke around them get more ear infections. They also have fluid in their ears more often and have more operations to put in ear tubes for drainage.
Information contained in this article has been taken directly from The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General. Secondhand Smoke: What it Means to You. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. June 27, 2006.
For more information:
Go to the Smoking and Tobacco health topic.


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Store, transport, and protect your Panasonic DMC-ZS100 in the hot pink Ultra-Light Neoprene Camera Case from MegaGear. This stylish carrier is made of lightweight neoprene. For impact protection, the interior is padded with foam. The Ultra-Light features large handmade stitches, flap closure, and a keychain holder for easy carrying. The Ultra-Light Camera Case helps protect your gear from moisture, bumps, scratches, dust, and dirt.


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- Description
A versatile top in cool weather or a serious midlayer for extreme cold weather endeavors in demanding conditions, the classic Patagonia Men's R1 Pullover is made from Polartec Power Grid fleece and delivers outstanding stretch, breathability, and durability.
The R1 Pullover effectively manages moisture and provides insulation. The gridded design traps heat while offering a low-profile that makes it ideal for layering. Raglan sleeves and off-shoulder seaming maintains the streamlined profile and maintains comfort even if you're carrying a pack or wearing a climbing harness. A half-length zipper keeps weight to a minimum while serving as a venting option. Other features include a zippered chest pocket and on-seam thumb loops.
With a slim fit that allows it to be worn under heavier layers, the Patagonia Men's R1 Pullover is available in your choice of size and color options.
- Exclusive to Patagonia, a new Polartec Power Grid fabric (with Polygiene permanent odor control) is lighter and more breathable than before but with the same outstanding stretch and durability
- Raglan sleeves for increased mobility and off-shoulder seaming for comfort under a pack
- Pullover silhouette has deep center-front zipper with a soft, kissing-welt zipper garage at chin for next-to-skin comfort
- One left chest pocket has Slim Zip install, zipper garage and mesh pocket bag
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Best Use Backpacking, Hiking, Climbing, Mountaineering, Snow Sports Jacket Back Length Waist-Length Type Fleece Midlayer Warranty Limited Lifetime Shell Material 6.3oz Polartec Power Grid polyester fleece Number of Pockets 1 Fit Slim
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If their glassmarks are similar to the porcelain marks 1956 - present?http://www.rosenthal.de/46n/english_Sammeln_Tipps_1381.htm
Hi, so now I am wondering *if* this is older or not. The label is foil also -- if that makes any difference, or not :spls: It is just a simple design, or is there a name for it. TIA
Imagohttp://www.rosenthal.de/60R1-2-20522/Imago.htmIf you see their prices you get a mega-bargain... or you realise what the second market value is
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Ontario Masters in Christian Counseling on Campus Degrees and Masters Programs
Masters in Christian Counseling on Campus Degree General Information
Are you a student or religious professional who is looking for a graduate education in behavioral sciences? Do you want to cultivate good listening skills and perceptive thinking in a program that integrates up-to-date theories, trends and techniques in therapy with biblical principles? If so, a masters in Christian Counseling on campus degree may prove to be a rewarding academic and vocational path.
The approach of Christian counseling is to use the tools of psychological counseling within the perspective of the Bible and theological frameworks. The broad aim of Christian Counseling programs is to create an educational foundation for graduates that combines Christian principles into professional counseling practice that may potentially prepare students to pursue careers in religious organizations, hospitals, schools or the government[i].
Potential benefits of Masters in Christian Counseling on Campus degree programs
If you are choosing the traditional, on-campus college experience, it might provide you with the opportunity to cultivate social and professional networks, and enjoy face-to-face interactions with your professors and classmates. Studying on-campus might also give students access to the school's facilities that can include libraries, athletic facilities, and possibly a school chapel. Make sure to look into all your options for accredited schools offering Christian counseling degrees on GradSchools.com; search by location or degree type to find the right match for your educational and professional goals.
Masters in Christian Counseling on Campus possible coursework
Program formats can vary from school to school. When choosing a program, you might want to select one that follows a certain track. For instance, are you earning the master's degree as a
stepping-stone towards earning a Master of Divinity, or do you want to specialize in pastoral counseling, leadership or theology? Some of the different subjects that might form part of the curriculum in a Christian counseling masters degree programs might include:
- Biblical principles
- Theological Wisdom
- Professional competence in religious education
- Pastoral ministry
- Prayer as treatment
- Career counseling
- Christian theology
- Psychotherapy
- Pastoral / Ministry studies
- Counseling techniques
- Psychological counseling
Potential Career Paths For Graduates Who Earn Christian Counseling Degrees
Earning a Master's Degree in Christian counseling might potentially open up a variety of career paths. Some of these may include:
- Clergy: Conduct religious worship and perform other spiritual functions associated with beliefs and practices of religious faith or denomination and provide spiritual and moral guidance to members[i].. This field has a projected growth rate of employment of 10% between 2012 and 2022[ii].
- Rehabilitation Counselors: Help people with emotional and physical disabilities live independently[iii]. Licensing requirements for this field differ by state and services provided[iv].
- Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists: Help people manage and overcome mental and emotional disorders and problems with their family and relationships[v]. Workers in this field are required to have a master's degree and license to practice[vi],
- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors: Advise people who suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction, or other behavioral disorders[vii].. This is a high growth industry; The BLS projects a growth rate of employment for substance abuse and behavior disorder counselors of 31% between 2012 and 2022[vii].
- Psychologists: Study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and human behavior by observing, interpreting and recording how people relate to each other and their environments[viii]. Typically psychologists need a Ph.D. or specialist degree in psychology, a master's degree is sufficient for some positions[ix].
Ready To Pursue a Masters Christian Counseling Degree On Campus?
Whether you are hoping to pursue a career in ministry, counsel families or work with individuals with depression or substance abuse issues, a Christian counseling degree might provide learners with an enriched educational repertoire and ability to apply scripture in a relevant manner. Browse through the different degree programs on GradSchools.com to find the one that sounds like they might have the potential to fulfill your goals.
Sources: [i] bls.gov/oes/current/oes212011.htm | [ii] bls.gov/ooh/about/data-for-occupations-not-covered-in-detail.htm | [iii] bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/rehabilitation-counselors.htm | [iv] bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/rehabilitation-counselors.htm#tab-4 | [v] .bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/mental-health-counselors-and-marriage-and-family-therapists.htm | [vi] bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/mental-health-counselors-and-marriage-and-family-therapists.htm#tab-4 | [vii] bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-and-behavioral-disorder-counselors.htm | [viii] bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm } [ix] bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm#tab-4
Sponsored Listings
- Hamilton, ONHamilton, ON
McMaster University
Master of Divinity
A graduate professional school dedicated to helping prepare people for ministry with and through the Christian community in Canada and internationally. Fully accredited by ATS. Theological education in a Canadian context, for the Canadian church.


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Cristiano Ronaldo Sidelined with Eye Injury
LISBON, Portugal – Cristiano Ronaldo is not seeing stars. For a period, he could not see anything at all.
After sustaining a bloody gash to his left eye while playing with his club team Real Madrid, it was announced that Ronaldo will miss Portugal's friendly match in Gabon on Wednesday.
Ronaldo missed the second half of his club's match against Levante on Sunday after defender David Navarro's elbow cut the Portugal captain.
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said that the injury was so bad that at one point the star forward temporarily lost his sight.
The Portuguese Football Federation said in a statement Ronaldo would miss the trip to Libreville, though it gave no details.
Late last month, the international soccer phenom was nominated for FIFA's coveted Ballon d'Or award recognizing the World Player of the Year.
Ronaldo faces tough competition to win the title, with the favorite for the award being La Liga's other star player- Lionel Messi.
Based on reporting by the Associated Press.
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A craniopharyngioma is a benign tumor that develops near the pituitary gland (a small endocrine gland at the base of the brain).
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
This tumor most commonly affects children between 5 and 10 years of age; however, adults can sometimes be affected. Boys and girls are equally likely to develop this condition.
Craniopharyngioma causes symptoms in three different ways:
- by increasing the pressure on the brain (intracranial pressure)
- by disrupting the function of the pituitary gland
- by damaging the optic nerve
Increased pressure on the brain causes headache, nausea, vomiting (especially in the morning), and difficulty with balance.
Damage to the pituitary gland causes hormone imbalances that can lead to excessive thirst and urination (diabetes insipidus) and stunted growth. When the optic nerve is damaged by the tumor, vision problems develop. These defects are often permanent, and may be worse after surgery to remove the tumor.
Most patients have at least some visual defects and evidence of decreased hormone production at the time of diagnosis.
Signs and tests
- CT scan and/or MRI scan of the brain
- A thorough neurological examination
- Endocrine hormone evaluations to look for any imbalances
Traditionally, surgery has been the main treatment for craniopharyngioma. However, radiation treatment instead of surgery may be the best choice for some patients.
In tumors that cannot be removed completely with surgery alone, radiation therapy is usually necessary. If the tumor has a classic appearance on CT scan, then even a biopsy may not be necessary, if treatment with radiation alone is planned.
This tumor is best treated at a center with experience managing craniopharyngiomas.
Expectations (prognosis)
In general, the prognosis for patients with craniopharyngioma is good, with an 80-90% chance of permanent cure if the tumor can be completely removed with surgery or treated with high doses of radiation. However, the prognosis for an individual patient depends on several factors, including the ability of the tumor to be completely removed, and the neurological deficits and hormonal imbalances caused by the tumor and the treatment. Most of the problems with hormones and vision do not improve with treatment, and sometimes the treatment may even make them worse.
A significant percentage of patients have long-term hormonal, visual, and neurological problems following the treatment of craniopharyngioma.
In patients where the tumor is not completely removed, the condition may recur.
Calling your health care provider
Call your health care provider if there are any signs of increased intracranial pressure (headache, nausea, vomiting, imbalance), any visual changes, increased thirst and urination, or poor growth in a child.
by Amalia K. Gagarina, M.S., R.D.
Medical Encyclopedia
All ArmMed Media material is provided for information only and is neither advice nor a substitute for proper medical care. Consult a qualified healthcare professional who understands your particular history for individual concerns.


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We are located in the Splits top center in the ancient Roman palace
Surrounded by all the popular attractions and entertainment, Hostel Meri is only a short walk to Splits greatest museums, shops, restaurants, nightlife and beaches. A short 10 min walk away you will find the gorgeous, popular Bačvice beach which is also home to dozens of cafes, restaurants, fast food outlets, bars and clubs. All amenities can be found nearby, including ATM'S, banks, post office and supermarkets.


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Every year, the Pro Football Hall of Fame asks a panel of photography experts to choose the best NFL photo of the year. The photographer gets an award, and the picture is put on display at the Hall of Fame.
In the case of this award-winning picture of Aaron Hernandez scoring a touchdown in 2010, the photo was displayed for a year after it won the photography award, then put up again this year as part of a new exhibit displaying some of the best pictures in the Hall of Fame's collection. The Hall of Fame took the picture down, however, when Hernandez was accused of murder and visitors suggested that it wasn't appropriate.
That was disappointing for Mary Schwalm, who took the picture of Hernandez.
"It is disappointing," Schwalm told the Sporting News. "I was able to say, 'I have a photo hanging in the Hall of Fame.' Can I still say that? . . . I'm bummed. I'm disappointed."
Schwalm is still the winner of the 2010 award, and her picture — which captured the joy of Hernandez as he scored and the disappointment of the fallen Packers defensive back behind him — is still a good one. It's just not one the Hall of Fame wants to display right now.


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Repaired Carillon Brings Hourly Chimes to Campus
This article appeared in the March 1, 1994 issue of the UAF Sun-Star by Lance Andree
The bells are tolling again. Students who have found themselves in the vicinity of the Gruening Building lately have undoubtedly heard UAF's recently repaired chime system announcing the turn of the hour.
The bells are actually the sound of a Maas-Rowe symphonic carillon, stowed away in a little room above the Davis Concert Hall and amplified by eight speakers atop the Gruening Building. The carillon has been out of commision since last summer, and workers finally got it up and running last week.
The chimes now sound every hour on the hour, between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily, with a tune which simulates the sound of London's Big Ben. As of Friday, the carillon will be heard on upper campus as well, since it has been wired to speakers on the West Ridge.
Though most students are now aware of the hourly symphony which resonates from the center of campus, few probably know of the long history behind the carillon.
Geophysical Institute electronics shop supervisor John "Bennie" Benevento, on the other hand is very aware of the system's legacy. He has become zealously dedicated to the carillon over the years.
According to Benevento, the James E. Barrack Memorial Carillon was donated to the university in 1955 by Mrs. James Barrack after the former's death. It was placed in what is now Signers' Hall with the speaker system sounding out from the top of the Eielson Building.
Today, students can still see the plaque in the Great Hall of the Fine Arts Complex dedicating the carillon to James E. Barrack and acknowledging the donation by Mrs. Barrack.
Yet though the carillon was state-of-the-art when it was built, Benevento said that time eventually took its toll.
"Over the years, the system deteriorated to a point to where it no longer worked." Benevento said.
Rather than discard the machine, the university asked Benevento to work on it.
"I fell in love with that thing," he said. "It was built in the 1940s, but it was a magnificent design. We put hundreds of hours into fixing it."
Bill Zito, who also works at the Geophysical Institute, became involved in the project as well.
"It's very outdated, but back then it was really a hot item," Zito said.
Zito and Benevento adopted the carilllon, and developed a respect for the importance it held to the family that donated it.
"It's really a labor of love," Benevento said. "It would have been really easy to just throw it away, if you take the heart out of it."
Instead, they salvaged components which could still be used and replaced the dead ones with more modern parts. As a result, the "heart" of the system—the original clock, the keyboard and original suspended chimes—lives in the current system.
"We resurrected the chime system and the player piano," Benevento said. "We still use the basic system, and to my knowledge we have the only system that old that's still in use."
When Signers' Hall was remodeled in 1984, the carillon was moved to its current location in the Great Hall. Though the original player that once rang out such tunes as "Yellow Rose of Texas" and "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" is no longer operable, the songs were recorded on a metal tape recorder and can be played back over the system on occasions such as graduation and commencment.
Also, the original keyboard is still intact, and live music can be played on the system through it. UAF Associate Professor of Music Dave Stech has on occasion played pieces on the keyboard which have been heard across the campus.
Benevento said the system "burned out" again this summer. He said that he had to wait until recently to get it working.
"There's no funding to keep the system going", said Benevento."So we just finally had some spare time, we got it running again."
Benevento said the ringing of the chimes is expected to continue for the rest of the school year, providing all goes well. He sees the maintenance to the machine as more than a simple cost-benefit analysis—it would be cheaper to scrap the aged system altogether and buy a new one. But he feels it's a responsibility of UA to the Barrack family and the continuity to keep it running.
He also believes the university has much to gain by taking care of the carillons.
"If we show the community that we really care about bequeathed gifts to the university, we'll see a lot more come through," he said. "If you show good stewardship and you care, somebody else will be more likely to give, too."


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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May, 04, 2010 – There's No Such Thing as GREEN Technologies– Just Good Business: Economic, Technological, and Political Influences in "Green†Thinking. The study profiles, defines and then forecasts the GREEN Ecosystem. It explains why the oil industry isn't evil. It addresses many of the issues that are slowing many alternatives and the reasons why. It defines the future based on FACT from politics to why some technologies have more hype than actual value. The study addresses the technology from Semiconductors to fossil based energy. Why each have value and why the world as we know it will change but not because of Global Warming aka Climate Change but because of technology and the technologists that have been driving new ways of making things better, faster, and cheaper.   Â
For More Information or To Purchase
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., June, 25 2009, — MultiMedia Intelligence has been dissecting the global financial recession that began officially in December of 2007, and then escalated the second half of 2008. MMI saw how Q4 2008 adversely affected the digital signage industry. The money that advertisers had been willing to spend on digital signage had been growing roughly 20% annually in the years 2003-2008. Then Sub-Prime, Oil Prices, Banking, etc hit. While it is impossible to anticipate when global financial markets will turn around, it can be definitely said that ad revenues in 2009 most likely will not match the ad revenues generated from digital signage in 2008. For more information or to purchase please click here.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 11, 2009 - Multiplatform and Interoperable DRM will represent over 8% WW of pay TV subscribers participating in a multiplatform offers by 2012. Yet in many respects currently it still remains a goal rather than current practice. However time and the natural progression of these services on multiplatforms will start to solidify into an ecosystem capable of supporting and justifying a multifaceted but cohesive offer. For the immediate future smaller scale multiplatform initiatives will remain fragmented with third parties providing the platform, DRM or both.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., February 3, 2009, —Consumer electronics devices manufacturers and CE industry pundits have long predicted a truly interconnected IP home. MultiMedia Intelligence isn't the only company looking for true convergence; it exists but hard to fine. But there has always been some type of problem. The lack of a healthy ecosystem has always been a requisite for this to happen, until now. The ingredients for the IP connected home include the availability of IP content aggregators, streaming video codecs, centralized network connectivity, and reliable wireless protocols. MultiMedia Intelligence believes that the necessary technology platforms are in place now and forecasts 244.5 million IP-Connected devices will be shipped in 2013.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., December 15, 2008—GM, Ford and Chrysler are feeling the pain of this economy, but not as badly as advertisers. In 2008, GM alone had a greater than $ 2B budget for marketing and advertisement. When Q3 2008 was over, most of that budget was pulled. That means plans for those multimillion dollar ads for the Super Bowl in February will be cut back or gone completly.   This is impacting all advertisers that spend big money. It's all about ROI. This is proven by Digital Signage being able to moderate the health of each display, schedule content and advertisements, allow for single-point remote management of a network, and provide proof of play according to recent research conducted by MultiMedia Intelligence.
For More information or to Buy the Report
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., December 10, 2008— US.1 Billion of US Broadband Operator CAPEX in 2007 was driven by consumers' use of peer-to-peer (P2P) networking, according to recent research by MultiMedia Intelligence. This is slightly down from the .2 billion spent in 2006.
CAPEX is not the only cost center for broadband operators when it relates to P2P; OpEX is affected as well. In 2008, US broadband operators incurred almost 0 million in OpEX expense as a result of P2P networking.
For More Information or to Buy the Report
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. December 9, 2008—MultiMedia Intelligence projects that Motorola will remain the most successful mobile handset manufacturer in the US market in 2008, but that share is rapidly fading. According to recent research by MultiMedia Intelligence, Motorola is projected to provide 21% of all handsets consumed in the consumer market in the US. Samsung and LG are closing fast and promise to surpass Motorola in 2009. "The market share changes among the top mobile handset providers is noteworthy; however, it is not the story of the market," according to Rick Sizemore, Chief Strategy Officer with MultiMedia Intelligence. "The market share gains made by RIM and Apple are coming at the expense of the market incumbents and are affecting the way the entire market competes."
Read More or to Buy
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., November 19, 2008— When the 2008 holiday season has ended in the United States, 33.1 million LCD TVs will have been sold to US consumers, according to recent research by MultiMedia Intelligence. However, while the number of LCD TVs sold moving into 2009 will rise, a steep decline in Average Selling Prices (ASPs) will sap 2009 overall revenue growth. Further, market weakness will impact multiple income segments, including households with income below $ 35,000 as well as households with income between $ 150,000 and $ 250,000.


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Every spring I get back to Manhattan (where I spent time as a student) and take some time to see what's new and fun in the Village and adjacent food scene; over the next few weeks, I'll be filling everyone in on my latest trip.
It seems that New York is busting with food, even more than usual if that's possible. There suddenly seem to be a million more gelato places than I remember in the Village, Eaterly (which I didn't get to this trip) towers over Chelsea and the food truck trend has definitely migrated east...I saw everything from a legit looking taco truck to a truck called Kimchi Tacos (gee, where did they come up with that concept?) One place I'd been meaning to get to since my last year's trip was Minetta Tavern in the Village to try their famous Black Label Burger made of all kinds of prime cuts of dry aged beef.
The Tavern has a great old-school feel with lots of polished wood. I arrived early as a walk-in and had no trouble getting a seat at the bar, where I enjoyed a house specialty Dodd Cocktail, a flip made with bourbon, absinthe and peach bitters; I love a good flip (guilty pleasures you know), and this was a smooth and lovely drink; foamy, cool and slightly fruity, it was the perfect thing for a hot New York afternoon. I was less pleased with the Maple Sazerac, a sazerac with maple liqueur. Any maple notes were drowned out by absinthe, which was of the artificially bright green and overly sweet variety (might have been La Fee). As a disclaimer though, I should say that I'm very picky about my sazeracs.
Then onto the burger. Instead of fries, I opted for the punched potatoes, smashed white potatoes fried in duck fat with rosemary and garlic. The burger, served with caramelized onions, was very good, cooked medium rare it was a nice bright red in the center. It had a rich meaty taste but was a bit less funky-beefy than I might have hoped for. It's a high quality burger, but it didn't strike me as a revelation. I'm not sure that it was significantly better than my favorite LA burgers, and at $26, it was $10 more than Comme Ca's burger, for one, though this is New York and a ten dollar mark up from LA is probably just par for the course. The potatoes were quite tasty, but again, not a revelation. I found myself wishing there had been more fried surface area and bits, that they had punched harder.
Overall, a fine meal in a nice atmosphere, but not one that I will be dreaming about.
Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St.
New York, NY 10012
(212) 475-3850
Sunday, May 1, 2011
New York Report: Minetta Tavern
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Jan. 8th, 3:30 – 4:30 pm, CWU Lynnwood Snoqualamie Hall
I'll bet you look good in a uniform! The Washington State Patrol is looking to hire 300+ troopers. Trooper Keith Leary will be here to share information about the hiring process. Workshop will include information on how to apply, testing, and the interview process. More info at wsp.wa.gov
Questions? Contact Merridy Rennick @ 425-640-1574 x3878 or email@example.com


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Indian Silk
Beautiful floral panelling makes the Paloma Dress our new favorite. Inspired by a vintage Indian frock, the Paloma is both effortless and majestic. The Paloma Dress boasts a full skirt, deep V-neck and long sleeves.
The striped silk chiffon we used for the Paloma Dress is rescued deadstock fabric that was left over from a larger fashion house. By using deadstock fabric we save hundreds of thousands of gallons of water annually and keep the planet clean.
All of our dresses are made in downtown Los Angeles by the best dress makers in the world. Each seamstress is paid a fair living wage. We are proud of the positive environmental and social impact our company is making. We don't just want you to look good in our dresses, we want you to feel good about what you're wearing too.
The Paloma Dress


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Gov. Sam Brownback and Commerce Secretary Pat George praised the opening of the International Animal Health and Food Safety Institute on the Kansas State University Olathe Innovation Campus as a new chapter in the efforts to make Kansas a global center for research. Brownback and George attended the ribbon cutting today marking the formal opening of the new institute, located just east of Kansas Highway 7 on College Boulevard.
"This is a great day for Kansas and K-State," Brownback said. "The opening of this institute will strengthen the efforts to make our state a worldwide leader in animal health and food safety, which in turn will greatly expand our research and economic activity, and create jobs."
Brownback is hosting a series of Economic Summits focused on different industry sectors important to the state. The Animal Health Summit will be held on June 9 in Manhattan.
"This new institute will help K-State become one the nation's best research universities in the growing industry sector of animal health and food safety," George said. "This is a world-class facility that will help Kansas attract the brightest academic minds and the best innovative businesses to the Animal Health Corridor."
The institute is a $28-million, 108,000-square-foot facility. The K-State Olathe campus will serve as a center for research, education and commercialization. Students earning master's and doctorate degrees in biosciences and biotechnology will work alongside scientists conducting research on the campus.
In addition, K-State Olathe also will partner with the Kansas City area companies in providing professional development training for employees. K-State Olathe is part of the Johnson County Education and Research Triangle initiative, a cooperative effort with the University of Kansas that involves KU's Edwards Campus and the KU Medical Center.


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We had so much fun last week. I was approached by the people at Suave who wanted to sponsor a party where they would hire a hair stylist to come in and teach a group of us about hair care and styling.
I got the group together and Suave (as is typical when I've worked with them) did it all so elegantly. They provided the treats and the stylist and goodie bags full of tons of Suave products--mostly from their new products with scents like rosemary-mint, almond and aloe-ginseng--and I walked away with some highly valuable tips for doing hair.
I've used some of the Suave products for a long time, I like their body washes, body lotions and Freeze Hold spray which I swear works as well as the Paul Mitchell version and I've heard good things about their anti-frizz cream though I myself haven't used it since I have other hair issues besides frizz. After the party one of my friends went out to get a volumizing shampoo (at the suggestion of the stylist) and ended up trying one of the Suave line just to see if she could see a difference and told me the next day that she liked how it worked--and she's one who typically uses brands like KMS on her hair.
So, now that I've mentioned how classy our sponsor is, the tips the styists brought were wonderful. Of course, they concentrated on how to protect hair against cold, dry weather such as we have here but a few of the tips were good all-purpose things you can do to protect your hair and keep it healthy regardless of which products you use.
1. Don't over shampoo. If you have very oily hair then washing every day is fine but if you have fine or normal hair wash every other day and dry or damaged hair every three days. I know one stylist who doesn't use shampoo much at all and instead will rub baking soda in her scalp to remove grease--and usually with cool water rather than hot which can strip oil from your hair.
I've heard that your hair takes a little bit to adjust but once it does you have beautiful shiny and silky hair that is much less damaged. I'm a little skeptical of this myself and will stick to shampoo but you might try it on an unsuspecting toddler as a test subject. I'm kidding. Kind of.
2. Brush your hair before you shower, especially if it's long. It will help prevent tangles which will save your hair from added stress and damage.
3. Only shampoo your scalp. After wetting your hair and scalp in the shower, rub shampoo on your hands then shampoo your scalp, not the ends of your hair. Since shampoo is a detergent which can be harsh you should avoid overuse and shampooing only at the scalp as much as possible helps to remove the oils and dirt without damaging the ends. The shampoo will naturally tend to drift down the shaft as you rinse but focusing on cleansing the scalp will keep your hair healthier.
4. Only condition the ends. While you want to keep the shampoo at your scalp, keep the conditioner at the ends. Don't use too much (a quarter-sized amount) and rub it on your ends, combing it with your fingers and leaving it in for 3-5 minutes as per the directions and make sure you thoroughly rinse (again, cooler water is better).
5. Use protein formulas for chemically treated hair. If you've had chemicals, such as coloring, on your hair then look for products with protein because hair is made of keratinized protein which chemicals strip. Protein formulas help replace some of that lost protein.
* I'm slightly skeptical of this myself. I've heard from dermatologists that you should beware of products claiming to promote absorption of vitamins or minerals through your skin because the skin cannot metabolize. Vitamins have to be taken internally, not externally. I would assume that hair would be the same way though I don't know if that applies to protein as well. I'd have to ask a dermatologist about this one.
** After pondering my above skepticism I did, in fact, ask a dermatologist. My friend Dr. Jeffery Benabio publishes the Dermatology Blog and he confirmed that hair cannot absorb or replace lost protein. Pieces of protein can stick to the hair follicle, giving it the appearance of being healthier but the shaft cannot be healed by using a protein product. I knew it!
6. Brush your hair carefully. Once you're out of the shower be careful not to brush your hair roughly. A wide comb is best because the bristles tend to pull and damage the hair which is more delicate when wet. Towel dry it as much as possible and air dry it if you can.
7. Aim your dryer down and keep it away from you. To make your hair sleeker, blow in the direction of the hair shaft, downwards toward the ends but hold it 6-8 inches away from you and keep the airstream moving to avoid heat damage. To volumize, blow dry upside down with volumizing product applied at the roots and then once it's dry give a burst of cool air to cool the hair down before flipping right side up. This helps to set the hair in the upward direction and gives more lift. If you have curly hair, use a diffuser to avoid the frizzies. Fully dry your hair before using heat styling tools on it.
8. Think small. When straightening your hair use smaller sections as the results will last longer. Curling smaller chunks of hair will make things curlier and bigger chunks will create loose waves. Before applying any heating tools to your hair make sure it is free of tangles. Once you've heated a section of hair, if you've made a mistake and need to redo it, wait for the hair to completely cool before going back and reheating it, otherwise you'll damage it.
9. Protect with products. A leave-in conditioner is great for protecting hair. The spray varieties are best for fine or limp hair and the creams better for thick, coarse hair. Don't use too many products in general, which can build up and weigh you down but use good products with lasting power and you'll get better results. When straightening or curling hair, spray a bit of product on the hair, working it in, before heating to protect from heat damage. Using a clarifying shampoo once a week or so will help keep products from building up on your hair.
10. Cowlicks can be conquered. If you have one, use a round brush or blow the section directly forward, weighing the hair down with the air flow to tame it. If this can't work incorporate it into your style and don't fight it.
I've been trying these tips to see if it made a difference on my own hair and I will vow that yes, they do. I haven't used a leave-in conditioner and I don't have cowlicks but otherwise the tips have made my hair soft and sleek and much less prone to static. I worried that curls wouldn't stay in as long but that wasn't a problem--the curls looked smoother and softer without going flat. Success I'd say.
Thanks Suave! It was lots of fun.
Congratulations to Melissa of Rowlett, Texas, Janelle of My Inkstand, Erma of Washington Court House, Ohio, Sara of Independence, Missouri and Rebecca of Vestal, New York for winning this weekend's giveaway for You've Been Sentenced. You're going to love your games, I promise.
Sponsored by Polkadot Peacock for children's bedding.


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Pro wrestling was plenty strange before San Francisco's ultra-hip Incredibly Strange Wrestling brought Horned Chickens, Pedophiles, and laconic referees into the ring. But it is not the gimmicks that make pro wrestling strange. It seems to me that the strangeness of pro wrestling comes from its almost complete lack of irony.
It is doubly ironic, then, that ISW tried "to be strange" by repackaging pro wrestling with irony so that the fabulous might enjoy it without risk to their cool. ISW had the knack of cool. The shows were presented as sets of satiric wrestling matches interspersed with live music. ISW was so cool that bands like NOFX, the Dickies, Fear, and bassist Mike Watt asked to be booked at their shows. Pro wrestling's sincerity prevailed among the wrestlers, though. Irony never inspired anyone to keep taking the hard bumps night after night. ISW's workers had that sincerely strange attraction for wrestling that keeps folks in the ring whatever the risk.
Beer, Blood, and Cornmeal: Seven Years of Incredibly Strange Wrestling is a memoir of Bob Calhoun's time as an urban backyarder, manager, and color commentator in ISW from 1995 to 2003. It is Calhoun's story, but he gives memorable accounts of fellow urban backyarders such as Homo Loco, Chango Loco, indy wrestlers such as Shane Dynasty/ El Gran Fangorio, and Allan Bolte, the former announcer for Roy Shire's promotion. He shares some dope on Ron Alexander whose wrestlers provided some of the only trained talent in the ISW ring. Nothing earth-shattering on Alexander, but wrestling gossip is always welcome. Gossip about the bands who played at ISW provide for some powerful moments of schadenfreude. Fred Durst plays the diva, talks smack to the wrestlers, but then refuses to get in the ring when the time comes.
Incredibly Strange Wrestling was created by famed sensationalist Johnny Legend and promoter August Ragone, who with Brett Kieble brought the show to its main venue at San Francisco's Paradise Lounge and Transmission Theater. The show mixed a Rockabilly, Punk, Cult Movie, Lucha aesthetic with urban backyard wrestling. As ISW grew in popularity, Audra Morse was brought in to manage the show. Morse was a successful manager, securing appearances on several alternative music tours and consistently pulling in full-houses at the Transmission and later at the Filmore. Calhoun seems to respect and fear Morse, but not much else. He portrays her as a monomaniacal carny who barks orders and rules by fiat. No surprise that in short time she cuts off Legend, Ragone, and Kieble to run ISW on her own. She is a formidable businesswoman. If she could get rid of them so easily, heaven protect the poor urban backyarder who gets on her wrong side.
Calhoun's style of writing is straightforward and energetic, if a bit raw. He sometimes lets his words tumble over each other in a Kerouac-like patter meant to sound "authentic." V. Vale, of "Incredibly Strange" fame, defends any weaknesses in Calhoun's style in his foreword:
And when a book is very entertaining (as you'll find in this volume), one can overlook the liberal use of then-current vernacular speech, as well as stylistic quixoticisms. That is the price of reading some kind of actual "truth" committed to paper by a non-academic, non-careerist writer who has actually lived the life he is writing about. That writer is Bob Calhoun, who wrestled under the moniker of Count Dante.
Calhoun's stronger passages, and there are many, are well-observed and sharply funny. His characterizations nicely communicate the wrestlers' addiction to performance and risk-taking in and out of the ring. In some cases, Calhoun seems to write well by accident. He describes being "the fat kid" so poignantly that when he preens unselfconsciously in other passages, what would have been purely obnoxious becomes more nuanced on reflection. Calhoun is still uncomfortable with himself. He cannot quite abandon himself to the delicious accident of being part of something historical. I hope he abandons himself to the accident of becoming a writer. There are better books in him. I look forward to reading them.


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Melvin inducted into Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Fall League has the unrivaled reputation of being baseball's premier environment for future Major Leaguers.
The AFL, however, is not limited to developing players. It is also a testing and proving ground for future managers and one of those who trod on that ground, Bob Melvin, on Friday night was celebrated as the latest inductee into the AFL Hall of Fame.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Fall League has the unrivaled reputation of being baseball's premier environment for future Major Leaguers.
The AFL, however, is not limited to developing players. It is also a testing and proving ground for future managers and one of those who trod on that ground, Bob Melvin, on Friday night was celebrated as the latest inductee into the AFL Hall of Fame.
"I'm truly honored by this. When you see some of the names you're joining, it certainly is humbling," Melvin said prior to his induction before the Glendale-Scottsdale game in Scottsdale Stadium.
Melvin is a two-time Manager of the Year, once in each league, possibly on his way to a third. The A's skipper is one of three finalists to for the American League award he earned last season.
But when he managed the AFL's Maryvale Saguaros in 1999, it was the very first managerial experience for the former catcher who had retired only five years earlier.
As part of Friday night's ceremony, Melvin's No. 3 Saguaro uniform was retired.
Melvin credits the AFL exposure of managing a team comprised of prospects from five different organizations with turning him into a Major League manager -- only four years later, with the Seattle Mariners.
"You were always aware of being watched," Melvin recalled. "And in talking with the general managers from the different organizations at the time, you realized those conversations had an impact in getting you on the map."
Melvin was not alone in getting to use the AFL as a launching pad into the manager's office. Former Giants, Cubs and Reds skipper Dusty Baker, former Brewers manager Davey Lopes and Matt Williams, the freshly minted manager of the Nationals, all cut their managerial teeth in this league.
As Melvin alluded, the AFL Hall of Fame's roster includes baseball royalty, all of whom left their footprints in the desert sand. The league's shrine was formed in 2001, nine years after the AFL's inaugural 1992 season.
AFL director Steve Cobb couldn't help becoming a major name-dropper in kicking off Friday night's ceremony.
"Chris Carpenter, Nomar Garciaparra, Ryan Howard, Brian Giles, Roy Halladay, Torii Hunter, Derek Jeter, Mike Piazza, Albert Pujols," Cobb began his recital.
The enshrined also includes 10 managers. But Melvin is the only one with Manager of the Year honors in both leagues, having earlier received that honor in 2007 with the D-backs. Melvin is also the first of 164 members of the A's with ties to the AFL to graduate to its Hall of Fame.
Roland Hemond, who before becoming the architect and chairman of the AFL was the GM of the 1989-91 Orioles with whom Melvin spent part of his playing career, called being able to help salute him Friday night "a great honor."
"So many graduates have made us proud, and tonight is another," Hemond said before turning to Melvin and adding, "I hope someday you will be in the National Hall of Fame at Cooperstown."
After posing with his framed old Saguaros uniform and seeing the banner depicting his retired No. 3 unfurled on the right-field fence, Melvin told a very good Friday night AFL crowd, "This is an evening you never forget."
"I'm lucky enough to be approaching my 11th year as a big league manager. So take note," Melvin said, alternately looking into the dugouts of both the Desert Dogs and Scorpions, "you could not be in a better breeding ground to get to the big leagues. I know firsthand this is a springboard to bigger and better things.
"Thank you very much for letting me be a part of a night like this, and a small part of the Fall League."
Melvin is the first of this year's three AFL Hall of Fame selectees to be actually inducted. Darin Erstad, the former Angels outfielder who caught the final out of the 2002 World Series, will have his enshrinement on Wednesday. The induction of the third honoree, Dustin Pedroia, will be delayed by his upcoming surgery to repair a torn thumb ligament.
Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer.


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Expect a train on any track at any time
-Most trains do not travel on a regular schedule. Be cautious at a grade crossing at
any time of the day or night.
Don't get trapped on a grade crossing
-Never drive onto a grade crossing until you are sure you can clear the tracks.
Once you have started across the tracks, keep going, especially if you see a train
Never drive around the gates
-If the gates are down, stop and stay in place. Do not cross the tracks
until the gates are raised and the lights have stopped flashing.
Watch out for the second train
-When you are at a multiple track crossing and the last car of the train passes
the crossing, do not proceed until you are sure that no other train is coming on another
track, especially from the opposite direction.
Get out of your vehicle if it stalls
-If your vehicle stalls on a crossing, get everyone out and off the tracks
immediately. If a train is coming, stay clear of the tracks. If no train is in sight, post
lookouts and try to start the vehicle or push it off the tracks.
Never race a train
-Racing a train to a crossing is foolhardy. You will never have a second
chance if you lose.
Watch for vehicles that must stop at highway-rail grade crossings
-Be prepared to stop when you are following buses or trucks that are required to
stop at highway-rail grade crossings.
Don't misjudge the train's speed and distance
-Because of the large size of a train, it appears to be moving much slower than
you think. If you have any doubts stop and wait for the train to pass.
Trains can't stop quickly...you can
-A train going 30 mph takes 0.6 miles to come to a stop. A train traveling 60 mph
takes 1.4 miles to halt.
Be especially watchful at night for highway-rail grade crossing warning signs
-At night is particularly difficult to judge speed and distance. If you have any
doubts it is always better to be overly cautious than sorry.


text:
- Marissa Mayer. Pregnant CEO. Big Whoop | Fast Company: "Like lightning heralding thunder, women and men, parenting or not, expect talking heads to stir society's pot of unresolved family issues when a woman lands the big job."
- The Woman Who Would Have Been Sally Ride: "If the space agency's people should shoulder some of the blame for the sexism that kept women out of orbit, the prevailing paradigms of the era sure made it easy."
- 17-Year-Old Girl Builds Artificial 'Brain' to Detect Breast Cancer: "An artificial 'brain' built by a 17-year-old whiz kid from Florida is able to accurately assess tissue samples for signs of breast cancer, providing more confidence to a minimally invasive procedure."
- Marieme Jamme: Shaping Africa's Tech Revolution: "Senegalese-born Marieme Jamme is at the forefront of the technology revolution that is slowly transforming Africa."
- HowStuffWorks "Top 10 Things That Women Invented": "When you compile a list of the most famous inventions of the past few centuries, few women will show up as the creators of those items. It's not that women lack ingenuity or a creative spirit, though; it's just that women have faced many hurdles in receiving credit for their ideas."
- Canada's new Starcraft II champion: "Some in the community may have found reasons to say why she doesn't belong, but not only is Scarlett proving that she does belong, but that she can soundly kick your ass in the process."
- Christie Koehler and Elizabeth Krumbach among O'Reilly Open Source Award winners: Of the five recipients of the O'Reilly Open Source Award at this year's OSCON, two winners are women..
You can suggest links for future linkspams in comments here, or by using the "geekfeminism" tag on delicious or pinboard.in or the "#geekfeminism" tag on Twitter. Please note that we tend to stick to publishing recent links (from the last month or so).
Thanks to everyone who suggested links.


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Andy Williams' signature hit song from the early 1960s was no accident of timing.
Audrey Hepburn sang it first in the 1961 film "Breakfast at Tiffany's," and it was nominated for an Oscar. But when the producers of the Academy Awards show asked Williams to perform "Moon River" on the 1962 broadcast, his record label hatched a plan.
With four weeks till air time, Williams recorded an album featuring "Moon River" and other "great movie themes." It was rushed into stores on Oscar day and by the next morning was on its way to being a hit.
Williams, 84, whose soothing baritone and laid-back style made him one of America's top vocalists from the 1950s into the 1970s, died Tuesday at his home in Branson, Mo., his family said. Late last year, he announced he had bladder cancer.
When rock music was stirring up the 1960s and 1970s, Williams and his silky voice soothed the masses hankering for the familiar rhythms of a bygone era. "The Andy Williams Show" aired weekly from 1962 to 1967 and again from 1969 to 1971, with occasional specials in the interim, and was reassuringly old school, at least in its early years.
For his part, Williams was much like other popular television personalities of the day such as Dinah Shore and Johnny Carson. Williams was a relatable and reassuring presence, often wearing his trademark sweaters as he sang such hit songs as "Days of Wine and Roses" and "Born Free."
"The Andy Williams Show," which was taped at NBC in Burbank, won three Emmy Awards, and its casual host received two Emmy nominations.
Williams said he never tired of singing "Moon River," whose melody he considered "beautiful" and whose lyrics he called "timeless."
"You wouldn't believe how 'Moon River' became a hit," he told the Chicago Tribune in 1989. "I was having dinner with [songwriters] Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer, who had just finished recording the movie 'Breakfast at Tiffany's,' with Audrey Hepburn singing 'Moon River' out on the balcony with a guitar.
"So Mancini and Mercer played this song for me, which I thought was great," he said, but his record company at the time "was really into singles then, and they said: 'I don't think phrases like "my Huckleberry friend" will make it with the kids — they won't know what it means.'"
His next record label, Columbia, hurriedly sent him to the studio to record "Moon River."
The singer hosted "The Andy Williams Show" on NBC from 1962 to 1967, then did occasional specials before again taking the series weekly from 1969 to 1971.
"In some cases, people who go on television, their record sales drop off; mine seemed to go up," Williams told the Orlando Sentinel in 1991.
"I think it's because the music is kind of soft and easy and it's not jamming down anybody's throat. It's just there and people find it pleasant and like it, and they go out and buy the albums."
"The Andy Williams Show" featured established entertainers such as Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Jonathan Winters and Phyllis Diller as well as newer talents such as Linda Ronstadt, the Mamas and the Papas, Elton John and the Jackson 5.
Williams also regularly showcased the Osmond Brothers, who were billed as "a youthful barbershop harmony group from Ogden, Utah" when they debuted on the show in 1962.
A popular feature of the TV program was the annual Christmas special, which invariably showed Williams surrounded by his family.
The Christmas shows were so popular that when the weekly series went off the air, "we got thousands of pieces of mail" asking us to come back, Williams later said. He returned annually to host Christmas specials for many years and later presented Christmas shows in theaters around the country.
The Iowa-born Williams began singing professionally as a boy with his three older brothers in the 1930s, and he went solo when the quartet broke up in the early 1950s.
After becoming a regular featured singer on Steve Allen's "Tonight" show in 1954, Williams had hits with songs such as "Canadian Sunset" and "Butterfly."
He continued to turn out hits in the 1960s and '70s, including "Can't Get Used to Losing You," "Dear Heart," "Charade," "Music to Watch Girls By" and "(Where Do I Begin) Love Story."
The son of a railroad mail clerk, Williams was born Dec. 3, 1927, in Wall Lake, Iowa. As a boy, he began singing with his three older brothers — Bob, Don and Dick — in the local Presbyterian church choir.
"The very first time he heard his four sons harmonize together, my dad became a man with a dream and a mission in life, convinced that we had a future as professional singers," Williams wrote in his 2009 memoir "Moon River and Me."
With their father as their manager and "driving force," the Williams Brothers landed a 15-minute show every weekday morning on a Des Moines radio station in 1936 when Andy was 8. They had similar success after moving to Chicago in 1941, and later Cincinnati.
The family headed west in early 1944 and the Williams Brothers soon got two big breaks in Hollywood: Bing Crosby hired them to do the backing vocals on his 1944 hit "Swinging on a Star" and MGM signed them to a contract.
They appeared as a quartet in half a dozen forgettable movies, including "Kansas City Kitty." While his brothers were in the service during World War II, Andy sang in a few other close harmony groups before spending six months in the merchant marine toward the end of the war.
In 1947, the Williams Brothers teamed with singer-comedienne Kay Thompson to form a critically acclaimed nightclub act that toured the country for a number of years. The Williams Brothers split up in 1953; his older brothers were tired of travel and were starting their own families.
Williams spent more than two years as a regular on Steve Allen's "Tonight" show, singing and appearing in comedy sketches, and then hosted summer replacement variety series from 1957 to 1959 before launching his long-running NBC variety show in 1962.
In 1961, he married Paris-born Claudine Longet, then a young Las Vegas dancer, with whom he had three children, Noelle, Christian and Robert, named after their close friend Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.
The Williamses were among those gathered in Democratic presidential candidate Kennedy's suite at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 4,1968, when he won the California presidential primary. They were headed downstairs to meet with Kennedy when the senator was fatally shot shortly after midnight.
At Kennedy's funeral, Williams sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." He later called it "probably the hardest thing I ever did."
"It was thrilling and heart-wrenching," he told the Chicago Sun-Times in 2000. "I remembered he loved hearing that song at rallies and such wherever his campaign travels took him. I started singing it and then everybody in the church just joined in, and it was the most moving moment I have ever experienced."
Williams and Longet were divorced in 1975, and the next year a dark chapter of his personal life began when Longet was charged with the shooting death of her boyfriend, skiing champion Vladimir "Spider" Sabich.
He later said he received only positive feedback for supporting his ex-wife, who claimed the pistol went off by accident. She was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, and sentenced to 30 days in jail in 1977.
"People respected me for standing by her," Williams said in 1981. "I didn't think I did anything special — I just did what I had to do. I was there to take care of my kids and make sure they were all right, and because I love my ex-wife. I wasn't worried about my image. That was the last thing I cared about."
When Caesars Palace opened in Las Vegas in 1966, Williams was the first performer to headline, and he remained a star attraction there for two decades.
An avid golfer, he hosted the variously named Andy Williams San Diego Open for many years.
In 1992, while continuing to perform across the country, he opened the Andy Williams Moon River Theatre in Branson, when it was mainly a hub for country music.
"I didn't want to pretend I was a country singer," he told the Vallejo (California) Times-Herald in 2004. "I was going to be myself. I wanted to make a theater that represented what I felt I was — classy, sophisticated in a way. So I built a theater like that."
Even in his 80s, Williams retained a singing voice that, as one British writer put it, was "still as smooth as silk lingerie."
Williams' survivors include his second wife, Debbie; his three children, Robert, Noelle and Christian; six grandchildren; and brothers Don and Dick.