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FreebieFresh's Apps Gone Free List Apr 3
iPhone and iPad apps gone free today:
|Pocket Drive +, best File Manager (iPhone/iPad)
Transfer your files to your iPhone or iPad and access them anytime, anywhere with Pocket Drive. With a built-in ZIP archiver, web file downloader, MP3 player, and…
|Fiete (iPhone/iPad)
Fiete is a friendly sailor who lives on an island in the sea. In this interactive picture-book, children between 1 to 3 years can explore Fiete's island and help…
|Fiete Farm (iPhone/iPad)
Cock-a-doodle-doo! Experience a day on the farm with sailor Fiete: drive a tractor, feed the cats and the the pigs, care for the cow and the chickens, harvest carrots…
|Fiete Match – best memo / pairs game against a clever sailor (iPhone/iPad)
Can you beat a real old salt at the memo game? Why not try it out and take on sailor Fiete!
In what is surely the most beautiful memo game, Seemann Fiete invites…
|Starseed: Origin (iPhone/iPad)
Now 50% off!!!
9/10 – TouchArcade
Pilot the Starseed and perform bombing runs on massive dreadnoughts in the depths…
|CHOMP by Christoph Niemann – funny video stories for kids (iPhone/iPad)
"Editor´s Choice Award" by Children´s Technology Review for Excellence in Design!
wired.com: "It's not quite a storybook, and not quite a video game. It's…
|Sago Mini Forest Flyer (iPhone/iPad)
More than 1.5 million downloads!
The fun begins at Robin's birdhouse. Ring the doorbell and invite your new feathered friend out to play. Discover the magical…
|Quick Fit – 7 Minute Workout, High Intensity Interval Training, Full Body, Yoga, and Abs (iPhone/iPad)
⁌ Quick Fit is FREE today! ⁍
**Featured in an Apple Commercial, Fast Company, LifeHacker, TheNextWeb, Engadget, and more!**
7 minutes is all it takes to get…
|Better Vision App (iPhone/iPad)
Is your vision decreasing? Do you have trouble seeing nearby or from a far? Could you use some support when you are reading, for instance because of dyslexia or…
|DayCost Pro – Personal Finance, Money Manager, Income, Expense & Budget (iPhone/iPad)
Three seconds a bill. Fast, Security and Easy to use is our aim, and iOS notification center widget.
Look at other people how to say:
|Star Rover – Stargazing and Night Sky Watching (iPhone/iPad)
We're Not Kidding! All Star Rover Apps (iPhone, iPad & Apple TV) are FREE!
Happy April Fools' Day!
Do you love the starry night? Do you want to know everything…
|Aerofly 2 Flight Simulator (iPhone/iPad)
Aerofly 2 lets you explore the world of flying in a quality never seen before.
|Smart Recorder and Transcriber – All Features (iPhone/iPad)
Use this app to record your meeting. Then order a transcription from the app. If you already have a recording, you can easily import it by mailing the recording…
|Take It Easy (iPhone/iPad)
It's a puzzle, it's a brain teaser and it's a game! It's all three and much more! It is bingo with strategy! Place your pieces one at a time on the board….
|Top Camera 2 – HDR, Slow Shutter, Night and more – Photo Video Editor and Filters (iPhone/iPad)
*** FREE for few days***. Top Camera is back! Here is the 2nd version of award winning photo/video camera/editor app for iOS. What's changed? Just everything….
|Tollsmart Toll Calculator & Expense Tracker (iPhone/iPad)
TOLLSMART is NOW FREE for 2-axle cars! Download it today while it's free!
Ever wish Google Maps or MapQuest displayed the cost of tolls along routes?
|Offline wifimap: free wi-fi & passwords for wifi hotspot: pro version for travel (iPhone/iPad)
Map Wifi is the most convenient service for searching for the opened WiFi access points.
Stay connected even in the most remote cities in Europe, America, Asia…
|Smart Recorder DE – The music and voice recording app (iPhone/iPad)
Smart Recorder DE is a full featured recorder offering many features beyond what is available in the built in voice memos app. The Smart Recorder series of products…
|IQ Test Pro Edition (iPhone/iPad)
IQ Test Pro Edition. With solutions!
|Smart Recorder – The Voice Recorder (iPhone/iPad)
Smart Recorder is a full featured recorder offering many features beyond what is available in the built in voice memos app. It has over 1,000,000 device installs….
|Hack RUN (iPhone/iPad)
Ever wanted to be a hacker? Play Hack RUN! Now with Apple Watch support! Hack your way into the heart of a mysterious organization to uncover their secrets. Hack…
|Luminance (iPhone/iPad)
**Share the love by posting your shiny new photos to Facebook and Twitter **
Luminance gives you pro photo editing capabilities in a simple and elegant interface….
|Photo Share & bluetooth transfer & photo or video transfer (iPhone/iPad)
It is easy for you to use Photo Share to transfer photos and videos among iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. The transfer makes use of Bluetooth without any…
|Reverse Music Player – Play backwards (iPhone/iPad)
A fully featured backwards player.
Select any song from your music library and play it backwards! Record yourself talking and play it backwards too.
– Reverse tracks…
|Smart Recorder DE for iPad – The music and voice recording app (iPad)
Smart Recorder DE gives you all the functionality of the popular Smart Recorder product. In addition, it gives you full editing capabilities. You can trim recordings….
|CogniFit Brain Fitness for iPad (iPad)
CogniFit is the ultimate brain training app.
Play different brain games to challenge your mind and train your cognitive skills like you never did before!
– "Sleek,…
|FDesign – Design Your Own Photo Effects With Layers. (iPad)
*** Free for a limited time, download now! ***
With FDesign, you now have ultimate control over how to transform your photo to a unique and gorgeous one.
Our freebies will save you tons of cash. Expect to see more every single day. Follow our Facebook for more updates.
Just follow this link to get the freebie:


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Mariah Carey's Christmas Special aired last night, and while I didn't catch it at the time, videos of the show at the Orpheum Theater in LA have flooded the Internet today. One particular clip presented the very pregnant diva performing "O Come All Ye Faithful" with her operatically trained mom, Patricia Carey.
Turns out that the elder Carey is a vocal coach. The mother-daughter team also recorded the holiday perennial a deux for Mariah's Christmas album, Merry Christmas II You. ("Merry Christmas II/To You." Get it? Good.)
Mariah clearly loved the experience:
Many people know that my mother is a trained opera singer, so I guess it was only a matter of time before we both got onto a record together. It was a lovely experience being in the studio together, and I'm very happy that I have this documented for the rest of my life.
Awwww. And yeah. The mom was lovely ... had a beautiful voice.
But for the love of God, can someone please put a muzzle on that daughter of hers? We know that you have a five-octave range, Mariah. But do we have to hear it every single freaking time?
And the hands gyrating ... the face writhing in pain ... the casting the eyes up to the heavens. Why must you subject us -- and frankly, yourself -- to this? Honestly, I was terrified that you were going to go into labor. I was terrified that I was going to go into labor. And I'm not even pregnant!
Mariah, listen to me. You have a perfectly wonderful, God-given voice. Stop mucking it up. Seriously. You're really freaking me out. And I'm sure I'm not the only one.
Take a peek:
What to you think? Should Mariah take it down about 100 notches?
Image via abc.com

subset: commoncrawl


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New Delhi: Congress on Monday approached Election Commission (EC) against Prime Minister Narendra Modi as it accused him of 'misusing state machinery' and 'abusing authority' over the broadcast of his 'Mann ki Baat' address on All India Radio ahead of Assembly polls later this month.
In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath, AICC legal department secretary KC Mittal said the programme was broadcast on October 3 in contravention of the instructions issued by EC after the model code of conduct for the upcoming Assembly polls had already come into force.
The party said that, when the model code is in force, the telecast/broadcast by political parties on Doordarshan or All India Radio can only be done as per the slot allotted to them by a draw of lots conducted by Prasar Bharti in consultation with EC.
Stating that Modi is the 'prime campaigner and only face' of BJP for the upcoming polls, Mittal alleged that the 'Mann Ki Baat' broadcast was 'part of the election campaign specially planned and designed for furtherance of the interest of the party (BJP) in power' by 'misuse' of government machinery and personnel.
"The telecast/broadcast of such a politically-motivated programme on Doordarshan and All India Radio is an abuse of authority. Such telecast/broadcasts are totally prohibited. Modi has misused the official machinery to further the prospects of BJP in Haryana and Maharashtra in utter disregard and violation of the model code of conduct as also the guidelines on telecast and broadcast," Congress said as it sought 'immediate stern action' against the Prime Minister and his party.
Assembly polls in Haryana and Maharashtra are due on October 15.
Commenting on the matter, AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmed said, "We have complained to EC against the prime minister as he is using the public broadcaster for the benefit of a particular political party in the elections. If the Prime Minister violates the model code, (then) who will follow it."
"EC should issue a notice and prevent such misuse in the future. Similarly, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's address was also aired on Doordarshan when it is clear that RSS seeks vote for BJP during elections."
The Prime Minister had last week for the first time reached out to the countrymen via radio in a pep talk about how to shed despondency and use their skills for the betterment and prosperity of India.
In the 'Mann ki Baat' programme which had coincided with Dussehra, Modi had said, "The 125 crore Indians are blessed with immense skill and strength. All we need to do is to understand our strengths."
Congress alleged that the Prime Minister also 'conveniently made announcements regarding certain schemes to appease a certain class and section of voters'.


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The elements of cleaning
Temperature, agitation and cleaning agent
By Ron Baer
Cleaning – every kind of cleaning – involves three elements: temperature, agitation and cleaning agent. Different jobs require different measures of each element to be successful.
Let's use an example everyone knows: washing your hands. When your hands are really grimy and dirty, nothing cleans better than a scrub brush, gritty soap, and hot water from the tap. The water is providing the temperature, the brush gives agitation, and the strong soap is the cleaning agent. If you only have mild soap, you can still get your hands clean, but it will take more severe or longer brushing. You have decreased one element and increased another. When your hands are not so dirty and don't need as much cleaning power, you can get them just as clean by rubbing your hands together to provide agitation, much less than the scrub brush, using milder hand soap, much less than the gritty soap, and the same hot water from the tap. You adjust the cleaning elements to minimize the wear and tear on your hands, using only the cleaning power necessary to get your hands clean.
Cleaning hard surfaces is quite the same. You need the right combination of temperature, agitation and cleaning agent. The right combination depends on the composition of the surface and substrate, the nature and extent of the unwanted matter, and the temperature of the water supply. Often, you can have a pretty good idea of the issues surrounding the cleaning job to be done. However, using a little caution as a starting point is wise.
Trial and error on a relatively concealed section of the surface will give you the knowledge required to understand what combination of pressure, agitation and cleaning agent will yield the best results without unnecessary risk. You may have cleaned similar surfaces in the past and think you know the limits and requirements. However, when dealing with surfaces like brick, stone, cement block, marble and faux stone, nature and manufacturing variances and, yes, mistakes will change the conditions and requirements.
New ConstructionLet's take a look at some specific cleaning situations you might run into with new construction. In the discussion, we will talk about water pressure. If you can apply the cleaning agent with hot water you, increase the temperature element. Since the other elements don't change, you will reduce the amount of chemical agent needed and, thereby, reduce your cost of cleaning.
It is important to remember when using a high-pressure water sprayer that the actual pressure of the water hitting the wall is a function of how close the wand is held to the surface. As the distance from the wand to the wall increases, there is a dramatic reduction in the pressure when using a fan-shaped nozzle. For example, when using a 15-degree nozzle, which is the smallest fan available, when the wand is held 12 inches from the surface and the water sprayer gauge mounted on the machine indicates 3,000 psi, the water is actually hitting the wall at less than four psi.
- Glazed Brick: Glazed brick is hard and does not easily absorb the mortar, so often you can use relatively high pressure, little cleaning agent, and hot water to remove mortar and its film.
- Standard Red Brick: New red brick is generally hard but porous. Therefore, you will probably want to use high water pressure, a masonry cleaning chemical, and hot water.
- Colored Brick: Colored brick involves additional challenges, because the chemicals that provide the color and react with the cleaning agent to give unwanted color inconsistency. You will want to use high water pressure, a cleaning agent specifically made for cleaning colored brick, and hot water. Because the specialized cleaning agent is less powerful than regular cleaning products, you may need to use more to maintain an acceptable level of productivity.
- Cement Brick: Though cement brick is hard, the material will etch and expose some aggregate if the cleaning agent contains acid. If the color is not embedded into the brick, you will also get some color change with the etching. The difficulty is that you need some acidity to remove the mortar, while minimizing the effect of the acid on the cement. Using high-pressure hot water and minimizing the use of a cleaning agent is best. The usual solution to the dilemma is to try to minimize the etching, while making it consistent over the entire surface. Getting the architect's agreement on the desired appearance is critical.
- Cement Block: Block has some of the same problems as cement brick; you need acidity to remove the mortar, but it will etch the surface, exposing aggregate. For this cleaning situation you may want to increase the hot water pressure, either by holding the wand closer to the surface than you normally would or using a more aggressive rotating nozzle and an appropriate cleaning agent.
- Raked Surface Brick: A raked surface, because it will absorb more mortar, will require an increase in the cleaning agent with high-pressure hot water.
- Sand Faced Brick: To maintain the sand face, you will need to greatly reduce the agitation by reducing water pressure, increase the cleaning agent quantity and using hot water.
- Faux Stone: Typically, faux or veneer stone is manufactured by pouring concrete into a variety of molds, and then coloring each piece. The coloring is painted on the surface, so using any amount of agitation and cleaning agent may deface the stone. A present, manufacturers do not have any recommendations for cleaning it, other than very low-pressure water to remove any environmental discoloration.
- Cast Stone: Care should be taken to avoid the need to clean cast stone. This should be done by covering the pieces with plastic to avoid getting mortar on the surface. Any cleaning agents that will remove mortar will etch the surface of the cast stone, changing its appearance and streaking it. Therefore, if the cast stone is used with materials that will be cleaned, the cast stone must be protected from the runoff.
- Natural Stone: Certain stones, such as sandstone and limestone, will not tolerate cleaning with acid-based cleaners as the acid will dissolve naturally occurring elements in the rock. Moderate pressure can be used with specialized non-acidic cleaning agents and hot water.
Restoration and RehabilitationRestoration cleaning involves two additional variables, which require you to reevaluate the three elements of cleaning – temperature, agitation and cleaning agent – and to make different choices depending on additional considerations. You not only have to consider the composition of the surface material but also the nature of the stains and the environmental impact of the cleaning agent.
Often, it is necessary to assay the composition of the original surface and mortar, the composition of any previous repairs and modifications, and the nature of the stains and to consider the surroundings of the project. It would be quite normal to have other structures in close proximity, stringent regulations on runoff, and an occupied structure. Stains will range from carbon black to acid rain and rust from deteriorating ornamentation and structural elements.
The only way to determine the best cleaning methodology and process is to involve material analysts and building preservation experts. Specialized restoration cleaning agents are available to treat a variety of stains. Chemical manufacturers will give guidance with regard to which chemicals they formulate for particular types of surfaces and stains. It may be necessary to limit agitation from water pressure, if the surface is particularly soft. In most cases, temperature and the proper cleaning agent will need to combine to provide cleaning power as agitation will need to be minimized and may be limited to hand brushing.
ConclusionThere are some generalities that you can consider when balancing agitation, temperature and cleaning agent.
- Increasing the temperature of the cleaning agent and the surface to be cleaned, either by using hot water and heating the cleaning agent with the water or creating friction by brushing, will increase the power of the cleaning agent. If you want the cleaning agent to be less powerful, decrease the temperature or use less.
- Generally, agitation is accomplished either by water pressure or manpower using brushes or even rags. It sure is easier to let water pressure do the job, if the surface will tolerate it.
- Chemicals represent the greatest variable cost in cleaning, so it is important to identify the chemical with the right balance of power and cost. There are seemingly unlimited choices in cleaning agents. Sometimes the choice comes down to what you've had the best experience with and what is most available to you. Sometimes the choice is made by the designer, who perhaps made the choice based on what specification happens to be most available on his computer. Other times, it is important to choose the right formulation for the job at hand and to vary the amount of agent being used to get the job done in an acceptable amount of time and at an acceptable cost.
Originally published in Masonry magazine.
About the Author
Ronald Baer is President of Unique Industries, Inc., manufacturer of Kem-O-Kleen masonry cleaning equipment, and Enterprise Consulting of Colorado, Inc., a consulting firm providing management services to family-owned businesses. He is also a facilitator for The Alternative Board (TAB). He may be reached at 800-274-4121.


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Having just seen OCULUS, I can recommend it as a weird, imaginative good time for those horror fans out there seeking something a bit different. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it certainly provides you with enough twists and turns to disorient you, and best of all, it does proud the very small subgenre of "killer mirror" films.
Here's a featurette for the Mike Flanagan-directed film, which examines the ins and outs of making something like a haunted mirror scary. If you want to see a bug batch of clips from OCULUS, head over to our video section.
OCULUS is a spine-chilling supernatural tale of two damaged siblings (Gillan and Thwaites) who, as children, witnessed their parents' harrowing descent into madness and murder. At long last, brother and sister reunite as adults to expose and destroy the paranormal entity they believe is responsible: the Lasser Glass — a legendary mirror their family once owned.
Karen Gillan and Brenton Thwaites star with Rory Cochrane, Katee Sackhoff, Annalise Basso, Garrett Ryan, James Lafferty and Miguel Sandoval. OCULUS is directed by Mike Flanagan from a script he co-wrote with Jeff Howard, based on a short film Flanagan and Jeff Seidman made in 2005.
OCULUS star Katee Sackhoff


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Anders W
Lives in Uppsala, Sweden
Joined on Mar 29, 2007
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Ken Strain: Re slide 2: nobody tilts the sensor for IBIS - it would have the wrong effect. Think of what that would do in a view camera.
Displacing the sensor is the appropriate correction. Pitching the lens and sensor together (for example) causes the image to move up or down the sensor (try it with a camera). The motion is in proportion to the focal length (try it). So to correct this kind of motion, all IBIS systems measure the angle, multiply by the focal length to convert it to the required displacement and feed that back to the position of the sensor such that the image does not move.
You are of course right Ken. The sensor moves in three ways only: left/right, up/down, and rotation about the optical axis. But by so doing, it can correct for five different types of camera shake: pitch, yaw, roll, vertical shift and horizontal shift.
What was new when Olympus first introduced its 5-axis IBIS with the E-M5 was simply that unlike any prior IBIS system it had motion sensors for vertical and horizontal shift. Compared to some, but not all (e.g., Pentax SR) prior IBIS implementations, it also added roll.
Correction for roll is not possible with OIS whereas the four other axes can be corrected by means of OIS too. However, most OIS implementations are 2-axis only. The only exception I am aware of is the Canon 100/2.8L IS USM Macro.
Those interested in further detail on how a 5-axis IBIS system works may want to have a look here:
|Total: 2, showing: 1 – 2
|"Witherslack Hall" steam locomotive at Orchard Crossing, Worcestershire, England. by cjf2
from My Best Photo of the Week
|Peruvian sweetness by VickyGo
from street life


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Can I get paralyzed from epidural?
Severe neurologic injury: can epidural make you paralyzed?
Severe neurologic injury leading to permanent paralysis is rare complication of epidural. It may occur as the result of epidural hematoma, epidural abscess or direct injury of the spinal cord. In rare instances unexplained neurologic injury may occur that cannot be attributed to epidural or spinal. The chance of suffering such injury as the result of labor epidural is rarer than the chance of suffering fatal car accident during the next year.
Pregnant patients are mostly young and healthy, and the risks of any procedures in this group must be seriously balanced against its benefits. What's the point of relieving pain, even very intense, if the price of that will be becoming permanently paralyzed? The first commandment of medicine is Primum Non Nocere (first do no harm) has been formulated by Hippocrates thousands of years ago and is still valid today.
There is no point denying that serious neurological damage, such as permanent paralysis, can occur as the result of epidurals in labor or spinals for caesarean sections. However it is the unfortunate attribute of human mind that disasters tend to be given more attention than they deserve and are remembered for a long time, often out of context with the big picture. There are plenty of examples of this. After 9/11 disaster many people were terrified of flying, yet statistically air travel was and still is the safest – and most convenient – method of getting around. It was estimated that because more people chose to travel by cars, more death occurred on the roads than the average for the same period in previous years. Nobody was afraid of driving, even though death rate in traffic was considerably higher than in the air!
Paralysis resulting from labor epidural often gets a lot of attention from the media, and it does not help that the event inevitably becomes sensationalized. As the result the public gets wrong impression that these complications are more common that they are in reality. Of course, it would be wrong to blame patients for being suspicious and scared: the perspective of becoming disabled is terrifying.
Risk means different things for different people. Some of us engage in risky sports and activities, such as motorbike racing or bungee jumping, yet some refuse to drive because it is perceived as dangerous. Even though the risk of dying in plane crash is one in 10 million, some people still refuse to fly. The same is true for labor epidurals: you might refuse to take the slightest risk of being paralyzed. The acceptability of various risks is a deeply personal decision. And because it is influenced by strong emotions it is very important that the decision regarding labor epidural is based on the most comprehensive and latest information regarding.
Briefly stated, based on statistical data neuraxial blockade – labor epidurals or spinals for cesareans – are very safe. In rare instances however they can lead to neurologic damage.
Severe neurologic damage means the loss of function of the spinal cord or/and peripheral nerves that results in disability. The damage may be temporary or permanent. The accepted time for the return of function in temporary damage varies, but is generally accepted as one year. In other words if the patient does not recover within this time the damage is considered permanent. There are three ways by which epidural or spinal may inflict damage: direct injury, spinal hematoma or epidural abscess.
Direct injury is the result of the placement of the epidural needle into the spinal cord or nerve root. The degree of damage varies depending on the depth of the penetration of the needle and, if an injection was done, the characteristics and the volume of the drug. This type of damage is probably the most uncommon, mostly because when the needle touches the spinal cord or a nerve it causes pain so severe that the patient immediately reacts to it and will simply not the anesthetist to continue the damage, thus limiting the injury to the minimum.
Spinal hematoma occurs in patients in whom the ability of blood to coagulate is impaired. Epidural space is filled with veins which are commonly injured during the placement of epidurals. In vast majority of patients it is not a problem: the bleeding triggers the cascade of biochemical reactions the result of which is blood clot which plugs the hole on the vessel and stops the bleed. If for some reason the formation of the clot is impaired the bleeding continues. Spinal canal is an enclosed space surrounded by hard bony tissue that cannot expand, and if the bleeding continues the blood fills the canal and leads to the compression of the structures within it, most importantly the spinal cord. Blood supply to spinal cord becomes compromised, and if the compression lasts for longer than six to eight hours the damage is likely to become permanent.
Epidural abscess is the result of infection, and the mechanism of injury in this case is similar to that of epidural hematoma. The infection expands within the spinal canal and either causes the compression of the spinal cord. In addition, neural structures are directly damaged by infection. Epidural abscess takes longer to produce damage than hematoma: days, weeks or even months.
Obtaining statistics regarding these complications is difficult, and the reliability of the existing data can be debated either way due to several reasons. First, the incidence of these complications is rare, and in many labor wards decades pass without one happening. Many cases of permanent damage may not be reported in the literature if litigation process has been initiated. Existing data is also difficult to interpret: most reports of the damage come from academic institutions where most epidurals are performed by junior doctors in training. Experience of the operator by itself is a major factor determining the risk of medical procedures, therefore the statistics of complications is likely to be distorted. Lastly, statistics of epidural or spinal complications most often include patients from all areas of surgery, not only laboring women, and those patients have considerably higher risk of epidural complications, including the serious ones. The inclusion of these patients in overall epidural statistics most certainly creates falsely inflated incidence of severe neurological complications in obstetric patients.
What follows is the detailed discussion of three scenarios leading to severe neurological injury: epidural hematoma, epidural abscess and direct damage of the neural structures.
Epidural hematoma
As already mentioned, injury of small blood vessels during the insertion of the epidural needle is common and does not cause problems. In healthy people the injury of small blood vessels and the resulting bleeding is self limiting. The reason is the ability of blood to form a clot, or coagulate. The clot plugs the damaged blood vessel and stops the bleeding.
The blood consists of the liquid part – plasma – and cells: red and white blood cells and platelets. The biochemistry behind coagulation is very complex but may be reduced to two major components: the platelets and dissolved in plasma proteins called coagulation factors. As soon as the tissue is damaged the platelets start getting stuck to the damaged site. This process is called adhesion. Activated platelets change their shape from spherical to star-like and acquire the ability to bind with fibrinogen. At the same time the specific biochemical factor released from the damaged cells – tissue factor – triggers the sequence of reactions in plasma called coagulation pathway, the final result of which is the conversion of soluble protein fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin, which looks like strands made of cooked egg white. Together with platelets fibrin forms the clot.
There are two major groups of causes of decreased ability of blood to coagulate: congenital or acquired. Immediate examples of congenital conditions that come to mind are hemophilia and Von Willebrand's disease. In both of these conditions certain coagulation factors are absent due to genetic defects. Depending on the severity of the condition, some hemophiliacs can literally bleed to death from a small cut, as well as to lose large amount of blood from an injury that would normally cause a small bruise in a healthy person. Luckily, these diseases are uncommon. However there are other, less dramatic conditions, in which blood coagulation is impaired.
Acquired coagulation disorders are even rarer, and most of them are the result of medication specifically given to reduce the ability of blood to coagulate to various degree, most commonly for the prevention of blood clots in the deep veins in the legs. Some examples of such drugs are aspirin, heparin, clexane, warfarin, clopidogrel and a few others.
Obviously, the first step to prevent epidural hematoma is to identify patients at risk of impaired coagulation. Identifying patients on anti-coagulant medication: we simply ask about it. The patients with hemophilia and other severe bleeding disorders are spotted in the same way. It is more difficult to identify those with less obvious disease, and for that purpose several focused questions are asked: do you tend to bleed a lot from small cuts, did you ever need a blood transfusion and in what circumstances, and so on. Whatever the cause, if the ability of blood to coagulate is impaired – the condition collectively called coagulopathy – neuraxial analgesia is contraindicated.
There is a specific subgroup of obstetric patients in which coagulopathy may be present, women with pre-eclampsia. This condition affects between two and three percent of all pregnant women and is characterized by two main features: elevated blood pressure and the presence of proteine in the urine. Headache is usually the main symptom. Severe and/or untreated pre-eclampsia may develop into eclampsia – generalized seizures – which may be fatal. In the vast majority of patients pre-eclampsia is controlled relatively easily. However in severe cases patients are unresponsive to medication, and early termination of pregnancy becomes the only option. As many of pre-eclamptic patients have high blood pressure, the use of epidural analgesia in labor is beneficial: good pain control prevents extreme and dangerous swings in blood pressure. Similarly, for those pre-eclamptic patients who require cesarean section spinal anesthesia is preferred for the same reason.
To make the situation (and lives of anesthetists!) more difficult, pre-eclampsia may be complicated by HELLP syndrome. HELLP syndrome is the acronym for Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets. Hemolysis is the condition where red blood cells become damaged and their content is present in plasma. If severe it can lead to kidney damage. Elevated liver enzymes are the result of liver damage. The patients with this syndrome commonly complain of pain in the upper part of the abdomen – the area where the liver is located. Hemolysis and liver damage are serious enough conditions to raise the alarm of doctors, however it is the third part of the syndrome, low platelets, that are of the particular importance to an anesthetist, and this the situation may get tricky.
As explained above platelets are vital for normal coagulation process. If platelets are low the risk of bleeding increases, and if epidural or spinal is performed the risk of epidural hematoma increases many times. It is generally acceptable that the safe concentration of platelets in respect to neuraxial block is 100,000 per 1 mm3, and in some cases up to 70,000. Below this level the risk becomes unacceptably high. Most anesthetists consider the rate of decrease more important than the actual number. If platelet count is 90,000 for the last three days most anesthetists will go ahead with the epidural, but will not do it if the count goes down from 120,000 to 100,000 in the last couple of hours. Such an aggressive drop indicates aggressive disease process, and in such cases it is better to stay away from neuraxial blocks.
The problem is that for patients with pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome spinal or epidural is the best anesthetic choice. Even the most naturally oriented midwives support epidurals in these patients due to their beneficial effects on blood pressure. Paradoxically, the more severe the condition, the more desirable the epidural becomes. The same is true for those who undergo caesarean section: spinal anesthetic allows for much better and more predictable blood pressure control during surgery in these patients.
There is more to HELLP syndrome. Patients suffering from this condition commonly develop edema – swelling – of the upper respiratory tract. This increases the incidence of difficult intubation during general anesthesia, which may ultimately lead to inability to maintain adequate respiration and oxygenation. Spinal anesthetic eliminates the risk of failed intubation by keeping the patient awake.
At the end of the day the decision to proceed with the epidural or spinal is made after weighing all risks and benefits: platelet count, the rate of its decrease, the degree of blood pressure elevation, anticipated difficulty of general anesthesia for a particular patient and other relevant factors. Most importantly, the decision is made with full participation of the patient after explaining the situation.
If the hematoma does occur it manifests with the following symptoms:
- progressive back pain
- failure to regain sensation and/or motor function in the legs after the removal of epidural catheter
- new changes in sensation or motor function.
If the bleeding in the epidural continues the sensation and movement in the lower limbs worsens and eventually full paralysis occurs. On physical examination the weakness and loss of sensation is confirmed. Peripheral reflexes (such as knee-jerk reflex) may be increased. Diagnosis of spinal hematoma is based on symptoms and signs and is confirmed by imaging investigations, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI.
Epidural hematomas as a complication of neuraxial block are only part of the picture, as most of hematomas are spontaneous and are dealt with by neurosurgeons on regular basis. In some cases epidural blood vessels can rupture spontaneously, due to the weakness of vascular wall and elevated blood pressure. They can also result in various degrees of neurological symptoms and are treated according to the situation. While most spontaneous hematomas are managed conservatively, hematomas resulting from epidurals must be treated by surgery. The speed of intervention is crucial for adequate recovery, and the sooner hematoma is drained, the more likely full recovery. It is generally accepted that spinal hematoma must be surgically drained within eight hours in order to avoid permanent damage. That is why the patients with the slightest suspicion of this complication are immediately sent for an emergency MRI.
Now to the most important question: what is the actual risk of spinal hematoma?
One of the most comprehensive reviews on epidural hematoma complicating epidural anesthesia has been performed by Erik Vandermeulen and colleagues in 19941. The first part of the article discussed problems related to obtaining reliable data. If this complication was to be studied in a prospective and randomized study, its design would be ethically and methodologically difficult, and would require analysis of more than 100,000 patients. Just to put this number into perspective: one of the regional hospitals where I work performs about 1000 to 2000 deliveries a year with about twenty percent of patients (400) getting epidurals. Imagine how long it would take to get enough data for proper analysis. The review quotes several publications of large case series in which epidural or spinal anesthesia was performed without a single spinal hematoma. In some publications more than 200,000 patients received uncomplicated epidural blocks, while fewer uneventful procedures have been described after spinal anesthetic. One published review evaluated 13 case series that included more than 850,000 patients having received an epidural block. Only three patients developed spinal hematoma. Similarly, seven other case series were reported, including 650,000 spinal blocks without a hematoma. Using statistical analysis it was estimated by some authors that the risk for a spinal hematoma to be 1:150,000 after epidural and 1:220,000 after spinal. Estimated figures in epidemiological studies are presented as confidence intervals: the lowest and the highest probabilities that would include 95% of cases. Figures quoted in the study represent the upper limits of the confidence interval, so that the real incidence values will probably be somewhat less frequent.
Vandermeulen's review summarizes published cases of epidural hematomas and summarized risk factors associated with this complication as well as to identify possible causes. It is based on the literature search through the National Library of Medicine's MEDLINE system and assessed previously published major reviews and large case series and found cases of bleeding complications of the spinal cord associated with epidural or spinal anesthesia. Between 1906 and 1994 – the span of 88 years – 61 published cases of epidural hematoma were found that developed after epidural or spinal anesthesia.
42 of 61 spinal hematomas (68%) occurred in patients with impaired coagulation. In 25 of them some form of heparin therapy was present. The remaining 12 patients had a variety of conditions, including thrombocytopenia (low platelets), chronic alcohol abuse, chronic renal insufficiency, or were treated with aspirin, indometacin, urokinase, phenprocoumone, dextran 70, or other drugs that are known to interfere with coagulation. Among patients with spinal bleeding were five pregnant women and four patients with anatomic abnormalities of the spinal cord or the vertebral column, such as tumors rich in blood vessels. The puncture – epidural or spinal block – was reported difficult in 15 and/or bloody (signifying definite blood vessel injury) in 15 patients, respectively (25%). Multiple attempts were reported in 12 patients (20%). Hence, in 53 of the 61 cases (87%), at least one of the above-mentioned conditions – clotting disorder or technical difficulties – was present. More than one of the above conditions was found in 20 cases.
As mentioned before, if a serious complication following spinal or epidural block has been the subject of a legal process these cases don't get reported in the literature for obvious reasons. Analysis of indemnity insurance claims helps to overcome this problem to some degree. Every doctor has indemnity insurance, and if he or she is sued by a patient the insurance covers litigation costs and settlements if such arise. Studying insurance claims gives allows to look at those cases that are not likely to be reported in the academic press. One such study was conducted in Finland. In 1987 Finland introduced the Patient Injury Act, according to which a patient suffering any injury as a result of medical treatment may file a claim to the Patient Insurance Association. From 1 May 1987 to 31 December 1993, 23 500 claims for compensation were made. After going through the claims database the authors of the review found 86 claims where spinal or epidural anesthesia was involved. Unfortunately there was no distinction made between epidurals and spinals that were performed for childbirth or other types of surgery. Altogether seven claims were made for long-lasting motor and/or sensory deficits. The duration of the complaints ranged from 3 months to permanent. Fifteen patients filed claims for long-lasting sensory loss or painful areas in the buttock and/or legs. On the average the symptoms persisted from 6 months to 2 years. There were several cases of permanent paralysis as well, but none of them was clearly related to epidurals in labor.
The authors of the review estimated that during the period during which claims have been made 550,000 spinals and 170,000 epidurals were performed, and the incidence of any serious complications therefore was 0.45 per 10,000 for spinal and 0.52 per 10,000 for epidural anesthesia. The definition of serious complications in this study included not only neurologic complications but other events, such as cardiac arrest, acute toxic reaction to local anesthetic drugs and bacterial infections. On the other hand, seven claims for neurological deficit translate to about one case per 100,000 neuraxial blocks, the rate consistent with the previous review. The authors of the review also concluded that careful patient selection and proper technique are of importance in order to avoid serious complications related to epidural or spinal blocks.
The most current and the most relevant for our discussion review on severe neurological complications after epidural and/or spinal block has been published in 2006. It specifically looked for reports of epidural hematoma, abscess and neurologic injury in obstetric patients who had epidural for labor or spinal anesthetic for cesarean section. The review covered published literature from 1966 to 2005. Initial search found 1269 articles on the subject, 38 were related to obstetrics. Eventually 27 methodologically solid studies were selected for the final analysis of data.
Eight studies with the total patient population of 1.1 million reported a total of six epidural hematomas. This number, six hematomas in over a million epidurals , illustrates the difficulty of studying this complication and calculating the chances of it happening. Unfortunately the studies did not report the management and the outcomes of these complications. These numbers give an estimated incidence of epidural haematoma as 1 in 168,000 to 183,000 or 5 to 6 per one million patients.
Epidural abscess
If infection is introduced into a tissue it triggers a complex immune response. Various immune cells move to the infected area, eventually surrounding and destroying infectious bacteria. This process is accompanied by pain, redness of the area as the result of dilatation of blood vessels, swelling and, in cases of more severe infection, systemic symptoms such as fever, malaise and chills. In the attempt to limit the spread of infection the immune process results in bacteria being encased in a cavity which eventually drains to the surface and heals. Common acne vulgaris – a skin pimple – is a typical example of the workings of the immune system. The infection originates in the sebaceous gland of the skin, immune cascade is triggered, the infection become localized in a small cavity and eventually finds its way to the skin. Infected content of the cavity consisting of dead bacteria and immune blood cells – pus – is eventually evacuated and the cavity heals. Such cavity is called an abscess.
Depending on the function of the immune system and the aggressiveness of bacteria infection may spread to the surrounding areas tissues and cause considerable damage. Abscesses situated in deep areas – abdomen for example – cannot be drained spontaneously and are treated by surgery: an incision is made, the pus drained and the cavity washed out with antiseptic solutions.
Epidural space is filled mostly with fat tissue which is generally characterized by poor blood supply. It is also located far from the skin. If infection is introduced into the epidural space it may form epidural abscess, the cavity filled with pus. The damage from epidural abscess is twofold: compression of the spinal cord and other neural structures by the expanding cavity similar to that in epidural hematoma, as well as direct damage by infectious bacteria. Infection can also spread to the vertebrae, resulting in osteomyelitis, or bone sepsis, the condition that is difficult to treat.
The progression of the epidural abscess follows four basic stages:
Stage 1 – back pain at the level of affected area
Stage 2 – nerve root pain radiating along distribution of the nerves
Stage 3 – impaired sensation and motor function, urinary and bowel incontinence
Stage 4 – paralysis.
Because of the poor blood supply of the epidural space the delivery of the immune cells is slow and so is the development of symptoms which are also often vague. Back pain is seen in three quarters of patients, fever in about half and early neurological symptoms occur in one third of patients. All three symptoms are present only in a small minority of patients. The duration of symptoms may vary from several of days to several months.
Spinal abscesses usually extend over the level of three to four vertebrae, but in very rare cases may involve the whole spine. Patients who have diabetes, history of alcohol or substance abuse as well as HIV-positive persons are at significantly higher risk of developing epidural abscess. The diagnosis of an epidural abscess is made on the basis of symptoms and signs and is confirmed by CT-scan or MRI.
Slow progression of epidural abscesses is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand the damage takes longer time to occur and allows for considerably more time for intervention. On the other hand, because the symptoms are developing slowly and are often not dramatic the diagnosis of epidural abscess is often delayed until serious neurological complication develop. At early stages of epidural abscess patients often complain of some back pain, sometimes radiating pain to the leg(s) and mild fever. Back pain and nerve root irritation are common during and after pregnancy. Mild fever typical for epidural abscess is also common in the weeks following delivery. Because of vague presentation up to half of the patients with epidural abscess are initially misdiagnosed, according to clinical data.
Education of patients is crucial for early diagnosis, and every woman who had labor epidural should be aware of the potentially serious symptoms. If symptoms occur it is important to emphasize the history of recent epidural to the attending doctor. Even better, the patient should contact the anesthetic department of the hospital where epidural was given. Anesthetists are literally paranoid about serious complications of epidurals and will follow symptoms even remotely suggestive of epidural abscess with vigilance, often excessive. Vast majority of anesthetists will insist on immediate MRI. Most of the time there will be no pathology found, however the motto is "rather safe than sorry", and such vigilance ensures that epidural abscess is not missed. MRIs are safe, and except for being expensive there are no serious side effects from this investigation.
The treatment of epidural abscess consists of two parts: removal of pus – drainage – and antibiotics. Drainage is done surgically and may be extensive if infection spreads to the surrounding tissues, such as bones, ligaments and muscles, as all infected tissues must be removed if possible. Antibiotics are started immediately and continued for a long time to prevent the recurrence of infection. There are reports of successfully treated cases of epidural abscess without surgery, with antibiotics alone. However this approach is only suitable when minimal symptoms are present and when the risk of infection spreading is low. Ultimately the surgeon will decide on the approach based on the severity of the abscess, the condition of the patient and estimated risk of recurrence.
The outcome of treatment depends, first and foremost, on the severity of the infection as reflected by the symptoms. Abscesses detected in early stages are small and easy to drain. They are also less likely to spread and cause extensive damage. This explains clinical aggressiveness of anesthetists when this complication is suspected. If a woman presents of moderate back pain several days after she had an epidural and is subsequently diagnosed with the abscess on the MRI, severe disability is unlikely if adequate treatment is initiated. On the other hand, if neurological symptoms are – muscle weakness, loss of sensation or incontinence – are already present, the chances are that at least some symptoms will remain after treatment. In general, paralysis is likely to become permanent if it lasts longer than 24 hours.
Fortunately, the chances of epidural abscess are low. According to the data from the review mentioned in the previous section, the incidence of epidural abscess is slightly higher than epidural hematoma. 13 studies that included the total of 1.2 million women with labor epidural reported 11 cases of deep epidural abscess. This gives estimated incidence of 1:110,000 women, or 9 cases per one million patients. Studies conducted after 1990 report slightly lower incidence of 1:145,000 women, or 7 per million.
Unfortunately, final outcomes of epidural hematomas and abscesses are often not reported in published studies, therefore it is impossible to estimate the risk of disability. According to published literature on all epidural abscesses, not only those related to epidural blocks, 4 to 22% of patients end up with permanent paralysis. Early diagnosis remains the most important factor that determines recovery.
Direct neurologic damage
Anything involving a sharp object inserted into a human body carries risks. Epidural block is performed in a blind fashion, and the position of the needle is determined by the loss of resistance to air of saline. The fact is that on the way between the skin and epidural space there are no important anatomical structures damage to which can lead to serious consequences. However, at least theoretically the needle can end up in nerve roots or spinal cord and result in neurological injury.
There are no reviews specifically addressing direct injury to neural structures during epidural or spinal. The technique of neuraxial anesthesia has been perfected and standardized on literally millions of epidurals performed over the last several decades. The equipment has also evolved during the same period of time. Teaching standards and safety expectations have also improved considerably, therefore it is not surprising that direct injury to the spinal cord and nerve roots is rare. In fact, it is so rare that the only information regarding this complication available in published literature consists only of case reports, and estimation of a meaningful value of risk is not possible.
The most important and reliable "safety monitor" during placement of epidural is the patient herself. It is the absolute requirement that when epidural or spinal is performed there should be no significant pain. Injecting local anesthetic under the skin causes burning sensation, and advancing epidural needle through tissues may cause discomfort, however it must not cause serious pain. Sharp pain, especially if it irradiates into the legs or the side of the body, means the contact between the needle and neural structures. Most of us are familiar with intense shooting pain similar to electric shock when a "funny point" on your elbow is struck. Needle touching a nerve causes similar sensation, and the patient will immediately let the anesthetist know of this happening, who will stop advancing the needle at this point.
Contact with nerve roots is relatively common when epidural is performed, especially during the placement of epidural catheter. By itself it is harmless and does not cause any more problem than unpleasant sensation. If pain occurs the anesthetist should withdraw the catheter and change the position of the needle before attempting advancing the catheter again. The same is true when local anesthetic mixture is injected through the catheter: it must NOT be painful.
During placement of spinal block for cesarean section the feeling similar to electric shock passing through the leg(s) is relatively common and once again is due to the needle touching the nerves of the cauda equina. Spinal needles are small in diameter and relatively blunt, and limited contact with the nerves is harmless. Typically the patient feels momentary pain, not intense, shooting through to one of the legs. The pain disappears immediately. On the other hand, pain during actual injecting of local anesthetic is unacceptable. The injection must be stopped and the position of the needle changed.
In medicine nothing is infallible, and there have been reports of cases where full dose of local anesthetic intended for intrathecal block has been injected directly into the spinal cord without the patient feeling any pain. Needless to say such cases are an aberration and are extremely rare.
Unexplained injury
Some neurological damage that persists after labor epidural cannot not be clearly attributed to either epidural hematoma or infection. It has been termed as persistent neurologic injury. Its estimated incidence is between 1:257,000 and 1:237,000, depending on the reporting period, or 4 per one million patients. The causes of these complications are not clear. Childbirth is a traumatic process and may be accompanied by significant tissue damage. When the fetus passes through the birth canal it may cause considerable pressure on lumbar plexus – the nerves that supply the thighs and knees – on one or both sides. If labor is prolonged and there is a significant disproportion between the head of the fetus and woman's pelvis injury to the lumbar plexus can occur with various degrees of loss sensation and motor function in the legs.
There are many possible causes of neurologic deficits, and all of these rare complications could occur spontaneously. There are several reports of spontaneously occurring epidural hematomas and abscesses during pregnancy and childbirth. One study reported 95 cases with neurologic damage in obstetrics with and without epidurals. It was found that 85% of cases of neurologic damage occurred with forceps delivery.
Overall incidence of severe neurologic complications after labor epidural and spinal for cesarean is low, roughly between 1:100,000 and 1:250,000. The very purpose of this site is to provide the user with an understanding of risk of complications, and it is best achieved by comparison with something familiar. According to the National Highway Traffic safety Administration (http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx) in 2008 in the United States there were 17.96 fatalities per 100,000 registered drivers, or 12.3 per 100,000 of population. Either of these figures is more than ten times the incidence of severe neurologic injury after epidural. In less densely populated (and maybe more law abiding) Australia (http://www.bitre.gov.au/publications/49/Files/IS38_RoadDeathsB.pdf), road mortality has been reported at 7 per 100,000 of population in 2007, still considerably higher than the rate of neurologic injury after labor epidural. Despite of the fact that the chance of dying while driving to work driving is significantly higher than becoming paralyzed after epidural the latter causes considerably more anxiety and fear.
It is undeniable that every medical procedure is associated with risk of serious complications, and labor epidural is no different from other interventions. It is not sufficient to mention the risk of a complication, its severity and the impact is also very important. At the end of the day acceptance of risk is a personal decision which should be based on the best available information. Providing this information is the primary purpose of this site.
Vandermeulen EP, Van Aken H, Vermylen J. Anticoagulants and Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia. Anesth Analg 1994;79:1165-77
Aromaa U, Lahdensuu M, Cozanitis DA. Severe complications associated with epidural and spinal anaesthesias in Finland 1987-1993. A study based on patient insurance claims. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 1997 Apr;41(4):445-52.
Ruppen W, Derry S, McQuay H, Moore RA. Incidence of Epidural Hematoma, Infection, and Neurologic Injury in Obstetric Patients with Epidural Analgesia/Anesthesia. Anesthesiology 2006; 105:394–9.


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Enrolling in NYC public high schools is an overwhelming and difficult process. There are over 600 schools students can choose from and not all of them may be the right one. Many immigrant students and their families don't know that they have the right to ask for help in their language, and that there are specific programs and resources to help the student succeed. Choosing the wrong school puts immigrant students, already struggling with a new language and culture, at a higher risk of dropping out of high school.
Our newest project, Your School, Your Choice!, created with Flanbwayan Haitian Literacy Project and designer Njoki Gitahi, launched yesterday at a student-led press conference at Flanbwayan. The multilingual poster is a step-by-step guide that highlights the rights and resources for immigrant students and their families enrolling in NYC public high schools.
For full details about this project, click here!


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I am a married woman now, woo hoo!!! The wedding and honeymoon were absolutely fabulous!!
Well I am in the process of starting a new blog..a new title, a new me :-) Tony and I are moving to Texas in 3 weeks and I decided to start fresh when I move. So I hope y'all follow me still. Once my blog is ready to go I will post the URL here :-)
Also once the new blog is ready I will tell you all about the wedding and honeymoon AND how we chose to move to Texas
So please bare with me these next few weeks,don't forget about me. I will be back with a whole new fresh look. See
you all soon. Also when I get back I'm going to have a lot
of catching up to do on my fav blogs :-)


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We pick up from where we left off last season with Horatio racing to MDPD when he figures out, from serial killer suspect Bob Starling's recent clue, that something bad has happened to H's. He arrives to discover that everyone is passed out from a foreign gas that was pumped through the lab. Everyone gains consciousness except for Jesse who fell from passing out and hit his head causing his death. The team cleans up the aftermath and watch in shock as Jesse's body is taken out on a gurney. Horatio and the team will not stop until they get Starling for murdering Jesse. They have Starling in custody but are unable to actually charge him as all the evidence from his previous kills are contaminated from the gas leak. Natalia calls Melissa Walls, his PhD student, hoping to get her to help us but she seems oddly dismissive and says she wants nothing to do with Starling. From examining the "All Fall Down" note which Starling left for H, they link the ink and paper to Starlings inkjet printer. They discover the Halon gas tanks left by the air conditioning vents on the roof of MDPD that were used to knock our team unconscious.
The tanks are traced back to Dade University where Starling recently worked at. Meanwhile back at MDPD Starling taunts Horatio by being able to free himself of his handcuffs and tells H that the "clock is ticking". H tells Tripp to transfer him to the maximum security prison in Miami. While Walter is cleaning up Jesse's face and saying his goodbyes he finds a shard of glass in Jesse's wound on his forehead. We later find out this glass is from a broken LCS screen on a digital camera. Walter searches for the memory card that Jesse was trying to download. Based on the timing of events they conclude that someone on the outside was helping Starling pull his plan off. They go to find Melissa, the obvious accomplice. As they are about to open her door they discover that she's been tied up and opening the door will trigger a gun pointing at her to go off. They get around it and save her. They trace the bullet to a gun that belongs to Keith Garwood, the janitor at Dade University. Keith also has access to the storage closet that housed the tanks of Halon. Keith pleads that he had nothing to do with the Halon gas or tying up Melissa and rigging a gun at her. Calleigh inspects the bullet from the gun in Melissa's apartment and discovers that it is filled with sand and not gun powder which would have prevented it from going off. Through additional inspection of the "All Fall Down" letter they discover a hidden message in invisible ink that says "Man marks the earth with ruin, but his control stops at the shore". Horatio remembers Starling telling him "the clock is ticking" and puts it all together. H and the team race down to the beach and discover an unclaimed cooler with a ticking clock in it. At the same time Starling is being personally escorted by Tripp in a green and white van to maximum security prison. Within a matter of seconds gunfire from out of nowhere starts pelting Tripp's car causing he and the officers to run for cover. Starling is able to free himself of his restraints and escapes unscathed. Meanwhile, Walter and Benton try recover erased pictures from the memory card only to discover intimate photos of Starling and Melissa. They were in love and she was his accomplice. She planted the gas at MDPD and she tied herself up and framed Keith Garwood. They bring Melissa into custody and she agrees to cut a deal in order to avoid the death penalty. Melissa meets Starling at the marina as they had planned, and wearing a wire she gets Starling to admit everything he has done; all the evidence they need to convict Starling of Jesse's murder. The uniforms take Melissa and Starling into custody.


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E Team
Main Page
The E-Team!
Campaign History in Brief:
Our game has been running since November of 2006. The PC's started at class level 3 (ECL 6); 23 sessions and three elemental planes later, the E Team has advanced to level 7 (ECL 10). Check out the original "one sheet" proposing the campaign that I sent to the players!
I only discovered Obsidian Portal recently and I'm engaged in the process of moving over some of my campaign documents. Over time, I hope to be able to recreate adventure logs from my prep and in-game notes. Hopefully the players will also help to flesh these out based on their recollections and their own notes.
The E-Team is…
- Rock Branson, monk of Earth Taciturn and fierce – can be a bit crude – loves to grapple
- Player: Toby
- Nift the Quick, rogue of Fire Charming and suave – has an eye for the ladies – stabs with a flaming rapier
- Player: Terry
- Mystral, sorceror of Air Whimsical and spacey – quick with a joke – blasts away with cold and electricity spells
- Player: Mark
- Snow, archivist of Water Rune-reading scholar – slightly megalomaniacal – wields a frost mace
- Player: Tim
Each member of the E-Team has a set of unique half elemental powers.
The world of the E-Team is a homebrew setting, created in "pay as you go" style. That is, there is no map of the continent with all the major nations blocked out, no detailed historical timeline, no pantheon covering all the portfolios, etc. Indeed, the world does not even have an official name! (Though some refer to it as "the Garden", see below.)
For the most part, places are invented and detailed as the players visit them and/or hear about them. Some information about these places can be found on the Locations page.
Cosmology and Lore
The campaign features a nonstandard cosmology known as the Orrery Cosmology, more or less as described in Manual of the Planes. The planes are not fixed into a Great Wheel, but instead move around, in complex paths and orbits. The Inner Planes (Elemental Planes) have a fixed orbital path around the Material plane; at any given time, one of them is closer to the Material plane than the others. This has an effect on elemental magic on the Material plane.
There is plenty more scholarly common knowledge known by characters like Snow. During their adventures, the E-Team has also made a number of discoveries.
The Al-mira tribe of jann, who are the E-Team's patrons, have their own names for the various planes:
- The Garden (Material)
- Sun (Fire)
- Soil (Earth)
- Rain (Water)
- Sky (Air)
- The Stars (Outer planes)
Al-mira jann refer to fiends and celestials alike as "Creatures of the Stars". The E-Team often use these terms as well.
Campaign Style
The E-Team is a serious campaign with a long term story arc involving a grand cosmic mystery. Challenges tend to be dynamic rather than static – there are very few dungeon crawls, and usually multiple possible solutions to problems that the players face—often ones that the DM did not expect! Roleplaying/social encounters are about as common as straight-up combat. The E-Team often faces adversaries outside their "weight class" (for example, the group adventured amongst the efreet of the City of Brass at ECL 9), so a kick-in-the-door approach usually doesn't work. Planning combined with bold action is rewarded!
XP are not explicitly tracked; the DM just decides when it is a good time for the players to level up. Similarly, there's not a lot of emphasis on treasure and looting. The E-Team's janni patrons often provide them with equipment or cash to buy magic items in the local markets. (There's a lot you can find to buy in the City of Brass!)
Though generally serious in tone, the campaign is far from grim and has seen its fair share of comic relief. Real-world anachronisms have been known to surface from time to time…
E-Team != A-Team
The original "one sheet" does reference the A-Team, and certainly, the name "E-Team" is inspired by that old TV show. But the campaign is not merely a tongue-in-cheek effort to recreate the TV show in a D&D game! Some elements of the campaign style perhaps do bear some passing similarity to the style of the A-Team, but overall, I think the game has its own unique feel.
At the start of the campaign, Toby pointed out the following:
You forgot one of the defining characteristics of the A-Team. If my memory serves me correctly…
"In 1976, a crack commando team was unjustly accused of a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security compound and fled to the Los Angeles underground…"
And indeed, this has not happened to the E-Team. Not yet, anyway…


text: HAWTHORNE, Calif., Dec. 3 -- OSI Systems Inc. said its subsidiary RapiTec Inc. has been awarded an additional $2.38 million above a recently announced $11 million subcontract for the production of multiple integrated laser engagement system components (MILES) for the Apache Helicopter (AH-64D) longbow tactical engagement simulation system. This increased award has been granted to RapiTec to produce more MILES components. Delivery terms are consistent with the prior contract, with shipments beginning by June 30, 2002 and lasting through June 30, 2003.


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Giving Policy Statement
As a locally owned and operated hospitality company for nearly 100 years, Hotel Congress has a long tradition of supporting nonprofit organizations serving the Tucson community.
We are so proud to be a partner in all of the exciting progress currently underway in Tucson's downtown neighborhoods, we have decided to focus our philanthropic efforts by investing in initiatives and partnerships with human service and arts & culture organizations that specifically serve the needs of downtown Tucson through a variety of grants and programs.
Once a year, Hotel Congress reviews grant requests of $10,000 or less from nonprofit organizations for initiatives that support downtown Tucson. Organizations interested in applying for a grant must be able to provide:
- A narrative description with specific information regarding how the grant would be used and how many people will benefit from the contribution.
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- An active Board of Directors list with name, title and occupation.
- A current list of volunteers and contributors
- An easy to understand budget and financial statements.
- Information regarding how Hotel Congress employees might learn more or become involved in the organization.
Grant applications for the 2018 year closed on September 30, 2018. Grant applications for the 2019 year will open in Spring 2019.
2018 awardee(s) will be announced November 16, 2018. If you have any questions, please email rita
Congratulations to our 2017 Grant winners:
The Jewish History Museum & The January 8th Memorial Foundation!
Learn more about these non-profit organizations.
In-Kind Support
Hotel Congress provides donations of food, gift certificates, products, supplies and facilities to nonprofit organization serving downtown Tucson. Organizations seeking in-kind support can click here to complete our in-kind request form. Please note, no in-kind requests by phone, email or in-person can be processed.
- The online donation form must be filled out completely in order for your request to be considered. This includes submitting attachments such as a formal request letter, auction request form or event flyer/brochure.
- Organizations must be a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity.
- Your request for an item must be submitted via the online donation form and must be received by Hotel Congress at least 4 weeks prior to your event, though we do ask that you not submit more than 3 months in advance.
- An organization is eligible to receive only one donated item per year.
- Due to limited resources, we are only able to support organizations in Tucson.
- Submitting a request does not guarantee a donation.
- We are unable to place follow-up calls regarding each donation request. If you have not received a response within two weeks of your request, please email the In-Kind Program at rita
- Donations are for charitable purposes only (e.g., auctions and raffles). We cannot provide sales incentives, corporate gifts, or donations to for-profit entities or individuals.
Due to the high volume of requests we receive, the following guidelines must be followed in order to be considered for an in-kind item.


text: I got problem with my WRT54GX4, it can not working with the PDA device, like the Windows Mobile and Nokia E61 cell phone. The computers are ok. I did upgrade the firmware to the newest 1.00.20 but it didn't help at all. Does anyone has same problem or know how to solve it?


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SOURCE: CrowdReviews.com
March 01, 2016 03:00 ET
SANTA FE, NM--(Marketwired - March 01, 2016) - CrowdReviews.com, a platform for reviewing and ranking email marketing solutions, has announced an invitation for users of email marketing solutions to leave reviews on the software they have experience with. The platform creates rankings based primarily on customer reviews and experiences to assist those searching for email marketing solutions in finding those which consistently meet the needs of their customers. Real-time rankings are produced based on a transparent algorithm with the greatest focus being placed on reviews left by actual customers.
Businesses which have used an email marketing software in the past or are current customers of email marketing software providers are invited to CrowdReviews.com to leave a review detailing their experiences with the software. Reviews are made public to potential buyers and users in order to help those searching for exceptional email marketing solutions. Rankings are updated in real-time based on new reviews and information made available to the algorithm which can be reviewed at any time by both buyers and providers.
To view the list of the best email marketing solutions, or to find the vendor you're using visit:
User reviews are one of the most crucial factors used by the algorithm when determining how companies are placed in the rankings. There are five key factors considered by the algorithm which include review strength, reputation strength, reviewer strength, profile strength, and verified status. Each of these factors has various sub-factors which can affect how an email marketing software vendor is positioned within the rankings. Email marketing vendors and customers alike can review these factors and even forecast how a particular action will affect a company on the following page:
Those interested in joining CrowdReviews.com can visit the following page to register or claim their profile:
About CrowdReviews.com
CrowdReviews.com is a crowdreviewing platform which ranks over 500 software categories and 200 service categories.
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Contact InformationSamuel Powers941-257-4559530-B Harkle RoadSTE 100Santa Fe, NM 87505
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Hi everyone,
I have installed xampp 1.7.4 and in the httpd.conf i have only port 85 as listen.
it works well, i can reach the site true http://mysite.nl:85 (this isn't my site, just a example)
but... i don't want to show port 85, i only want to see http://mysite.nl
I can't use port 80, because tomcat6 is also installed which is using port 80 (installed in different directory then xampp).
if i go to http://mysite.nl (again, this isn't my site.. just an example) then i go to the tomcat6 page, which i dont want.
So maybe i wan't to redirect http://mysite.nl to http://mysite.nl:85 but without seeing the port :85 in the url.
Is there a way to do this? If search most of the topics here but coudn't find a solution.


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I'm thinking in the following way:
- Collages All
- Collages Digital
- Collages Handmade
- Collages HighQuality
- Photos All
- Photos Animals
- Photos Nature
- Photos Humans
But because of the sizes of the sets (up to 100 images in each (i hope)) all these sets could be subGrouped by YEAR so one can see the "evolution" and navigate trough the years and types.
Why? i would like to see for example:
- CollagesDigital + 2005
Wouldn't you find it usefull?
Possible solutions:
1. Type>Set and Year>Tag
I can create a Set for each Type and give a tag for each year
- there's no API to retrieve all tags from a specific Tag.
2. Type>Tag and Year>Tag
Looks like this could work (e.g. CollagesDigital+2005)
- this might get very slow if i have many photos... or not?
...to be written more... soon, very soon...


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If you've never been to Puerto Vallarta before, I have an inkling you'll be looking into travel arrangements after seeing this destination dream wedding by Elizabeth Lloyd Photography. It's destination perfection. And when that pretty place is paired with a swoon-worthy color palette, fab DIY details and a new Mr. & Mrs. you just want to squeeze they are so adorable - you get a full gallery of images that is a vacation in itself.
Click here for the FULL wedding!
From the Bride... Before we were even engaged, we knew we would get married in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was the location of our first vacation together almost six years earlier and hopefully many more vacations in the years to come. We had about a year and a half to plan our wedding, and I used much of this time to work on many DIY projects: the flower belts for me and my bridesmaids, my jeweled shoe clips, the jeweled lockets hung from my bouquet, our polaroid guest book, menus, place card signs on the backs of each chair, an aisle runner and capiz shell dangles for the altar, to name a few. The last DIY project mentioned now serves as an art piece hung on a wall in out bedroom.
For our wedding, we envisioned a small, intimate, candlelit beach celebration. We had 20 guests join us, and all were traveling to Mexico for the first time. We made sure to plan some fun events (a Mexican-style welcome dinner, horseback riding and a sailing trip) in the days leading up to wedding. By the day of the wedding, there was a bond formed between all of our guests, and it was great to see everyone truly happy.
I was so happy with our choice of vendors. Michael and Eva of Vallarta Weddings allowed us the ability to infuse many of our DIY projects. Our original venue fell through about a month before our wedding, and they suggested Casa Canela. This location was lush, romantic and private. A perfect blend for a romantic evening. Plush Catering was able to create a six-course tasting menu that offered our guests a less traditional wedding meal. We were lucky enough to book the amazing Mango Trio to play during our ceremony and cocktail hour. They provided the perfect soundtrack to our surroundings. And last but not least we wanted to make sure we documented our day both through video and photos. Russell John Films provided the cinematography. The film is so perfectly us. Its sweet in the right places and lighthearted in other places, but most of all it tells a beautiful story. And of course we wanted to make sure we came away with some amazing photographs. We worked with Kiersten Rowland of Elizabeth Lloyd Photography. I loved her energy and was so happy we had a trash the dress shoot with her. By that time, we were more used to being in front of a camera, and I think she snapped some of our most favorite pics during this session. We had the time of our lives. Mexico will always be a part of us and our relationship. We hope to be back soon!
Wedding Photography: Kiersten Rowland of Elizabeth Lloyd Photography / Wedding Venue: Casa Canela in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico / Event Planning: Vallarta Weddings / Wedding Cinematography: Russell John Films / Catering: Plush Catering & Events / Band: The Mango Trio / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Shoes: J.Crew


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Volume 16 Issue 52 | May 21 - 27, 2004
Soprano softball
Mobsters are coming Downtown this Saturday, May 22, for the celebrity Stars and Strikes Softball game, with teams comprising some of the cast of The Sopranos vs. WKTU Radio.
The event, held at the Murry Bergtraum Field on Cherry St., is kicking off with a block party at 3 p.m. including music, a silent auction, face painting and other childrens activities, followed by the game starting at 5 p.m. through 8 p.m. Proceeds from the event will go to P.S./I.S. 89, the Downtown Little League and the Peter Stuyvesant Little League. Tickets cost $25 which can be bought from Ticketmaster, 718-862-7795 or from P.S./I.S. 89 school at 201 Warren St.
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As a Full City (medium) roast, you'll experience fruit forward notes, with a sweet scotch and winey finish.
The Vienna Roast (dark) is the most interesting: Cinnamon, French toast, chocolate, tremendous sweetness, maple syrup, and caramel.
I'm roasting this limited edition, never to be tasted again, coffee, fresh to order. I will custom roast your pound of coffee, either Full City, Vienna, or French Roast.
$40/lb. Whole Bean or Ground for French Press or Drip


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Admission Requirements
Thank You for Your Interest in Our Graduate Programs!
Thank you for your interest in applying to programs offered by the UW Oshkosh Department of Public Administration. This section provides all the necessary instructions to successfully complete an application.
General Application Information
- Availability: Spring, Summer and Fall
- Deadlines: Rolling Admission
- Admission Tests: No GRE required |TOEFL for International Students Only
- International Applicants: TOEFL scores must be submitted. International students must complete application requirements for BOTH: International Student Admission as a Graduate Student (NOTE: "The estimated expenses" chart on this page does not apply to the online MPA program) and the MPA program admission requirements listed below.
- Online application. The first step in the application process is to complete an online UW System application for admission to UW Oshkosh. Candidates should select either (a) the on-campus MPA program option OR (b) the online MPA program option in the electronic application form (NOTE: Once admitted to the face-to-face MPA program or the online MPA program, graduate students are not allowed to switch between the two versions of the MPA program).
MPA Program Admission RequirementsAdmission in full standing to a master's degree program requires the applicant to meet minimum Office of Graduate Studies requirements:
- A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- GPA Requirement: An undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 (4.00 scale) or at least 2.90 during the last half (approximately 60 credits) of undergraduate work. (Probationary admission will be considered on an individual basis if an applicant has a 2.25 overall undergraduate grade point average AND a 2.50 undergraduate grade point average for the last half of a baccalaureate program.). The bachelor's degree must be from a regionally accredited institution.
- Official transcripts. Official transcripts of all collegiate work must be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies from the issuing institution. Copies "issued to student" are not considered official. Only transcripts from regionally accredited schools will be considered. If an applicant is a current or former UW Oshkosh graduate or undergraduate student, he or she does not need to provide an official UW Oshkosh Transcript.
- A $56 non-refundable application fee is required and cannot be waived. It is recommended that the fee is paid at the time you submit the online application. Processing will not proceed if the fee is not paid.
- A statement of professional goals and objectives. The statement should consist of a minimum of two paragraphs, single-spaced on one sheet of paper, communicating how a candidate's career aspirations fit with the MPA program. You can use the same statement that you write in the on-line application form, but include it on a separate sheet of paper and provide it to Graduate Studies.
- A current resume.
- A two-page, double-spaced paper that has the following topic: "The National Academy of Public Administration has identified four pillars of public administration-economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and social equity. Please explain why they are all equally critical to the successful practice of public administration today." If you use sources for the essay, please cite them accurately in text and references.
- Letters of reference from three professional and/or academic individuals who are able to assess the likelihood of success in graduate school. In addition, to providing the three contacts in the on-line application form, you can also submit the three letters, if you have those, directly to the Office of Graduate Studies via mail, email or fax. Your references can also email (firstname.lastname@example.com) or mail (Mailing Address: UW Oshkosh Office of Graduate Studies, 800 Algoma Blvd., Dempsey Hall, Room 337, Oshkosh, WI 54901-8621) or fax (920-424-0247) the letters directly to Graduate Studies.
Graduate Healthcare Management (HCM) Certificate Admission Requirements
- Online application. The first step in the application process is to complete an online UW System application for admission to UW Oshkosh.
- A $56 non-refundable application fee is required and cannot be waived. It is recommended that the fee is paid at the time you submit the online application. Processing will not proceed if the fee is not paid.
- Official transcripts. Official transcripts of all collegiate work must be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies from the issuing institution. Copies "issued to student" are not considered official. Only transcripts from regionally accredited schools will be considered. If an applicant is a current or former UW Oshkosh graduate or undergraduate student, he or she does not need to provide an official UW Oshkosh Transcript.
- Essay. A brief essay of 200-500 words stating why the applicant is seeking admission to the graduate HCM Certificate program.
- If you wish to apply to both the MPA program and the graduate HCM Certificate program, you must submit two separate applications, indicating which program you are applying to. Both types of programs use the same application form. You do not need to pay the application fee of $56 if you are already admitted in the MPA or another graduate program.
MPA & HCM Application Submission & Review Procedures
- Application Documents Submission: All Master of Public Administration program and/or Healthcare Management Certificate application documents (see above) must be submitted directly to the UW Oshkosh Office of Graduate Studies via email (email@example.com), or fax (920-424-0247), or mail.
UW Oshkosh Office of Graduate Studies
800 Algoma Blvd.
Dempsey Hall, Room 337
Oshkosh, WI 54901-8621
- Checking Application Status. The Office of Graduate Studies has added a checklist to the students' TitanWeb. This will list all of the items that a student would need in order to have their admission application complete. On the student's TitanWeb Student Service Center home page it will list the items under their To Do list. Under details it will state if the items were received or still pending (initiated). This will allow the students to be able to check on the status of the application process. Once the admission decision has been made the checklist will be removed from the student's TitanWeb.
- Application Documents Review Procedures. Once the Public Administration Department receives the candidate's complete application package from the Graduate Studies Office, all faculty in the department review the documents and make a decision about the candidate's admittance. The Graduate Studies Office is informed of the department's admission decision. Candidates are then notified officially by mail.
Early Registration in MPA Classes Encouraged
- Because MPA courses have 20-student capacity each and fill very quickly, it is recommended that all current and prospective students register for classes during their application process to reserve their seats.
- Once prospective students apply and pay the $56 application fee, their record is built overnight and they acquire a special student status. Students can enroll in any classes having special student status, but they do not qualify for financial aid with that status. Once students' documents are reviewed and they are admitted to the MPA program, their special student status changes and they may qualify for financial aid (if needed).
- Students can use the TitanWeb to log in and enroll in MPA 711 Introduction to Public Administration-a first required course in the MPA program. Enrollment in additional courses is also possible in consultation with Dr. Anna Filipova (email@example.com; 920-424-0037).
- Registration for classes does not require an immediate payment. Students are charged for the classes by the first due date of the semester. These due dates can be found on the Student Financial Services website. Generally, the first due date for fall and spring terms is at the end of the second week of classes. During summer, payments are due the first day of the summer term.
Applying as a Special Student
If you want "to test the waters" about the MPA program before you make a decision to apply for it, or if you simply want to take some MPA courses without pursuing a graduate degree, or if you are MPA alumni and want to take some additional courses, you can do so as a special student.
Read the special student registration procedures below:
- Print the two-page special student registration form (PDF format).
- On TitanWeb log in as a guest and find current semester class offerings of courses.
- Place the required course information at the bottom of the registration form (first page, boxed area).
- Mail, fax or email the completed registration form to the Graduate Studies Office. Make sure both pages of the registration form are completed and signed.
- You will receive a letter from the Graduate Studies office once a record is built for you including information on e-mail and Desire to Learn (D2L).
- No more than 12 credits earned as a Graduate Special student may later apply to degree requirements.
- See the Graduate Studies Policy about Special Students and non-degree student classifications.
- Special students must receive grades of at least a B in all coursework.
- Special students are not eligible to receive financial aid.
Contact Information
Department Chair & MPA Coordinator
If you would like to learn more about the programs offered by the Department of Public Administration, or if those are the right programs for you, please contact Dr. Anna Filipova (please see advising times).
- Office: Clow Faculty Building, 838 High Avenue, Oshkosh, WI, 4th floor, Room F420
- Phone: (920) 424-0037
- Email: email@example.com
Office of Graduate Studies
- Office: Dempsey Hall, Room 337
- Phone: (920) 424-1223
- Fax: (920) 424-0247
- Email: email@example.com
- Website


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us, them, we
Us, them, we
You would think that the President of a free, democratic nation would distance himself from divisiveness and name-calling. But we are talking about a president that lives in his own little world, so I guess I'm expecting too much there.
Bush appeared in Ripley, Virginia yesterday to celebrate Independence Day. Looked more like "Rally 'Round Religion Day" to me.
The minister that spoke before W. greeted the crowd with these remarks:
"We have ridiculed the absolute truth of your word in the name of multiculturalism," (Reverend) Miller said. "We have been forced to honor sexual deviance in the name of freedom of expression. We have exploited the system of education in the name of the lottery. We have toyed with the idea of helping human life in the name of medical research. We have killed our unborn children in the name of choice." via Newsday
And then W. gets up there smiling. I'm not implying that he finds those words to be absolute truth, but he is aligning himself dangerously by hanging out with people who think that embracing multi-culturalism means ridiculing God or that "sexual deviance" (read, homesexuality) means the same.
"Bush also drew cheers for the freedoms 'granted to each one of us by Almighty God'.." I was under the impression that our freedoms were granted to us by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and those who fought for revolution.
"May we always live by that same trust, and may God continue to watch over the United States of America."
Continue? He was watching over us before? Looks like he was busy watching over some other nation last September. Besides, I thought that it was Bush's job to ensure that real, living people are watching over the United States.
When a leader of a nation says "we" he is speaking for the entire nation he presides over. W. does not speak for me. When he says "we" believe in God and "we" should thank the Almighty for our freedoms, he does not speak for me. His Baptist faith does not speak for an awful lot of people. I wonder how other clergy, from religions that are a little more open and accepting to people of all walks of life, feel about multi-culturalism and homosexuality.
Instead of bringing our nation together on the anniversary of its birth, W. has done more to separate the "us" from the "them."
Let's wave those flags of freedom, everyone. Let's shout about how this country affords us freedoms that no one else has. Free to be you and me, right?
If you're not for them you're against them. If you embrace the cultures of others, if your God is different from the one spoken of in the pledge, if you have no God at all, if you are gay, if you question authority, if you speak out against our leaders, if you believe in freedom of choice, if you think outside the areas set forth by our leaders, if you dare to have a differing opinion about foreign policy, war, education, then apparently you are part of the problem.
The lines have been drawn. Us. Them. For or against. No inbetween, no crossing over lines, no holding hands and embracing our differences.
I am not represented when our president says "we."
I am more frightened of that thought than I am of terrorists.


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