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Information regarding the series The Sara Chronicles by Laura Hughes
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Thursday, September 17, 2015
Adventure Book For Teens
The Hateresses are but one of Braccus's warped creations that hunt Sara and her companions. Stay tuned to find out more about it.....
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sara chronicles book#1
Book 5
Book 5
Dying was easier than she expected; there was no pain, no lingering horrific death scene in which she realized she would never see her loved ones again, just total silence and the nagging question of what she was supposed to do next. Standing perfectly still in the nothingness, Sara thought about the events that brought her here; Vincent had just touched her and she was gone. Gone, as not in the somewhat stable plain of the living world; but her limbs had feeling, the ground beneath her was hard and she was clasping two very solid hands in front of her while a cool breeze caressed her face.
Should she feel different somehow being dead; a little angry, sad, or happy that she was beyond all the misery going on with the living? Should she stop and mourn herself for a moment, after all she had been so young when she died. Stupid random thoughts for such a serious moment, but she couldn't seem to make them stop tumbling around her head.
Everything she had ever heard about the afterlife was totally at odds with what she was feeling at the moment, like a lightning bolt waiting to burst through the clouds. Death shouldn't be this way; it was more like eternal night wasn't it, the end of it all. It was so strange to feel more alive than when she was actually alive and it made absolutely no sense at all.
Sara stood in her little spot in the middle of white cotton candy-like clouds waiting for sadness and regret to overtake her but was surprised to feel happy, loved and definitely not alone. Puzzled, she turned her head slightly and was overcome by joy at the sight of two very familiar people standing next to her staring at the same overcast scene she was. Thomas and James had somehow managed to pass through the barrier with her to the land of the dead. How had that happened?
She struggled to find a good reason for this; her brief moment of happiness shattered by the reality of what their presence here meant. For them to be here, it could only mean one thing, they were dead also. As they turned pasty pale faces towards her, she fell to her knees wailing in despair at the realization that they must have done this to stay with her. Thomas' eyes showed startlingly bright green against his pale skin as he knelt down to hug her tightly. James light brown skin an ashy color against the darkness of his eyes; joined him as they all huddled together; no one spoke as she cried for the sacrifice that had made to be with her.
Book 4
Book 4 Chaos Confusion and Changing of the Guard
Sunlight so bright and yellow, it could have been melted butter, shown down on trees crisp, green and breathtakingly alive. These trees rose toward the sky as if to touch the sun, their leaves vibrating softly in the air in silent communication with the bright yellow orb, giving thanks for the privilege of being in this beautiful place. Grass, thick and green sprouted from dirt dark, soft, moist and teaming with an army of fat juicy earthworms and other assorted insects. Sparkling blue water bubbled from the ground to flow into a rocky stream bed to gurgle its way toward distant hills, like a blue ribbon winding its way across the emerald green grass.
The sound of birds chirping sounded from the tree-tops as they launched themselves into a sky that was bright blue with a few puffy white clouds added almost like decorations. Deer and rabbits cavorted freely on the ground below not accustomed to seeking refuge in the brush for they had no enemy from which to hide. This world was clean and unspoiled; no litter cluttered the landscape, the air was pure and unseen, as air was meant to be. Man had not yet ruffled Mother Nature's feathers by dumping the products of his existence in her lap. In short, this place was as it had been intended to be, paradise, a fresh start, the beginning of it all.
As the sun shown down on this idyllic scene, a small hairline crack appeared in the perfect sky and gradually began to widen. Darkness spilled from the ever-widening gap, spreading its way across the treetops to slither serpent-like towards the ground leaving a trail of decay in its wake. Brittle black branches snapped and fell from trees that just moments before had been healthy and thriving. Grass shriveled and sank into soil now crumbled and dry from contact with the descending darkness, leaving dead worms and beetles littered throughout.
The animals noticed the change immediately. Ears perked up as they shuffled nervously, deer broke into a run; pursued closely by the inky stain that now resembled a skinny arm. Slender fingers groped frantically for thin brown hindquarters as they scrambled out of reach into the forest. Birds took to the air; wings flapping so hard feathers were knocked loose, falling to the ground in a crazy slow motion spiral. Dozens of footfalls shook the ground as the formerly calm creatures ran for their lives; most made it away in time, the will to live giving them incredible speed. The formerly crowded field was almost empty, a few of the slower animals hesitating, unsure of the direction of the threat, noses twitching and ears perked up to detect the slightest movement, seeking a source for their unease.
A white long-haired rabbit pushed itself into the air with its powerful back legs only to be pulled down into the soil, its terrified squeals quickly muffled by the thick dry crust of dirt that covered it. A large buck sprinting for the trees met a similar fate, its antlers being the only object still visible above its earthen grave. A dead mole, having tried to escape the hardened crust below lay pale and sightless on the ground, surrounded by several small black ants, and a large brown spider.
Book 3 The Return
Book 3 The Return
The sun rose and set, seasons passed. People got up in the morning, went to work, celebrated holidays, took vacations, and went about their daily routines. In short, life went on for everyone except a young golden haired girl named Sara. She slept as life continued for the rest of the world, unaware of the events taking place around her.
Four years passed, she got older, grew taller, and went through the changes people do as they grow up but she wasn't aware of any of this. She missed of all the birthday party's Rianna celebrated at her side as she sat holding her hand. Her lovely face remained relaxed and expressionless as her friends visited day after day, hoping that Olie had found a way to reverse the spell that Braccus, their mortal enemy, had placed upon her. Yet, after all this time, she still slept and as always, Thomas was there.
Thomas sat in a chair, sunlight warming his face as he stared at Sara's sleeping form. It was strange watching her sleep year after year. He knew that Olie had done the only thing he could to ease her suffering when he put her in this deep sleep. Her every waking moment would have been misery if he hadn't stepped in to help her. Braccus had invaded her mind and made it impossible for her to communicate with her friends. She couldn't touch them or listen to them without experiencing intense pain and nausea. Worse still, it seemed that she was absorbing the powers of the other children when she came in contact with them. She had been afraid and alone when Olie stepped in and placed her under a sleeping spell.
Olie said she was safe in this sleep state, she wasn't aware of anything, but Thomas wasn't so sure. He had been here at her side every day since she had been put to sleep. He had slipped in and out of her mind. He felt her in there. He could hear her sometimes, in the distance, just out of reach, and yesterday, the first time in years, he was sure that she had been aware that he was there. Just like the first day when she had pushed him out of her mind. He was also aware that there was something else there, lurking outside the edge of the protective barrier, waiting for an opening, an evil presence looking for a way to get to Sara's soul and destroy it. He was not going to let it happen, he was so close, he could feel it. He was going to have to get through to her soon before it found a way to break down the barrier.
Book 2
Book 2 Evolution of Us
It was by all accounts a very strange day in the history of the community called Fairville. True, the weather had been a little unseasonably cool the past couple of weeks, especially for the month of May, but today it had actually snowed on the west part of town. What was even stranger was the fact that just a mile away from the snowstorm, residents reported temperatures to be at least one hundred degrees with bright sunshine and high humidity.
Driving between the two areas was very interesting to say the least, and officials of the National Weather Agency were dispatching scientists to observe the phenomenon. Several reporters from various news agencies were also rushing to the area to record the weird weather activity.
There was talk now of other strange weather incidents that had been occurring in and around the area for about six months, incidents that the residents had been able to reason away until this extreme event. Little things, like rain that fell on only one city block and not in any other part of town; and the time that fog filled the area around the local school, but nowhere else.
The local weatherman had attributed all this to atmospheric changes caused by the ocean current due to their close proximity to the sea. Blah, blah, blah… No one understood a word he had said, but went along with it because he had to know what he was talking about, right? He was, after all, the weatherman.
So now, the town was becoming an area of much interest to several important national agencies and the normally small population was about to increase dramatically in a short time.
It was all everyone talked about now. For whatever reason, they were now to become celebrities, known for living in the town with the funny weather. The town buzzed with excitement at the imminent arrival of all these important people.
There were two people in town, however, to whom the excitement did not extend. These two people, a young girl and her guardian, had just arrived in town six months ago and had settled in to enjoy the relative peace and quiet of the town, when these events began to take place. And frankly, they were not happy with the sudden interest shown to their new home.
Sara Chronicles Book One
Someone had made a terrible mistake twelve years ago and had placed a homeless child in the care of Janet and Hugh Finklestein. How the infant grew to be a remarkable young girl, despite the minimal attention given to her care, was a downright miracle. She was a well-mannered, sweet child, well thought of by all who knew her. But the trouble was no one really knew her.
This girl, Sara, was a rather unique character in a world of ordinary people. She had an inner glow about her that made her stand out in a crowd. One never only looked once at her, they often looked second and third times as she made her way through a room. She carried herself well, shoulders straight, perfect posture, always so very careful to please. In fact, too careful; like she was walking on eggshells.
In conversation, she spoke slowly as if she were afraid to say the wrong thing, and she never made eye contact, even when speaking directly to someone. She never sought out others to speak to, but many people seemed to want to speak to her, to be near her. Many children tried to get to know her, but she remained as distant as ever. There was always an underlying fear in her, like she was a little rabbit in a world of rabid wolves.
book one
sara chronicles book one
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Practice short story from years ago
The Big Game
The big game is tomorrow. It's finally here. All that hard work, those extra hours spent practicing on
the basketball court when I could have been doing something else. But I didn't want to do anything else,
this was about basketball. I love basketball. It all leads up to this, taking home the trophy at the state
championship tomorrow will prove we are the best team; the best players in the entire state. All these
thoughts were going through my head as I sat on my bed gently smoothing out my bright blue jersey
with the matching shorts before rising to carry them into the bathroom to hang them on the towel rack
where they would be ready for use tomorrow.
Sitting on the bed, I reached over to open the window beside it. It's getting a little hot in here, I
thought sitting on the bed once again and fanning my face with my hand.
The phone started to ring then so I looked at the Caller I.D. and picked it up after seeing it was Jimmy.
Jimmy is my best friend. I've known him since I was in second grade.
"Hey, what's up," I said
"Nervous?" He asked me
"Yeah, but it's only because I want to get this over with. How good do you think Hopewell High is
"I think they're a good team, but I think we're better. Their defense is a little bit lame if you ask me,"
Jimmy answered with confidence.
"Yeah, you're right. We have a pretty unbeatable team this year. All the guys are in top playing form."
"Well, about that, Frank won't be playing with us tomorrow. He got really sick and coach is going
to replace him with Hank Barton."
"Now that you mention it, Frank has been a little green around the gills lately," I stopped to
cough into my hand. "But Hank is really a good player and he's attended all of the practices, so I'm
sure we'll still do really well."
"Of course, you're right. Nothing to worry about, the game is in the bag." Jimmy coughed into the
"Hey, you alright man, you sound a little rough," I asked as I covered my mouth to muffle a sneeze.
"Oh, I'm o.k." Jimmy said "My throat's just a little bit dry. Did you just sneeze?"
"It's just a little bit dusty in here that's all. No problems with me." I turned my head and wiped my
suddenly drippy nose on my shirt sleeve. "What are you going to do when this game is over and we have
a little down time?"
Jimmy told me he was interested in a girl in his geography class and he was planning to ask her out. I
told him that I was planning to ask out Sandy, the pretty blonde cheerleader. Maybe we could double
date. Jimmy said he thought that was a great idea, and we talked for a little longer before Jimmy said his
mom wanted him to get off the phone.
I'd better get to sleep soon. I thought glancing at the clock. I turned to pull back the covers, decided
it was chilly and shut the window before falling into the bed and into a deep sleep.
I woke up the next morning, feeling like me head was on fire. I could feel my hair sticking to my head
like it had been glued there with a super sticky substance. Raising my hand, I wiped off about ten gallons
of sweat from my forehead. I felt like I had been out in the sun all day and had a bad case of sunburn.
My eyes were burning like crazy as I focused on the door of my room.
I could hear Mom knocking and calling "Harvey, honey are you up yet?"
"I'm awake," I croaked, trying to clear my throat, Please, please don't open the door Mom! If I can
just splash a little cold water on my face, I know I'll be o.k. I can't miss this game. I can miss this game.
I can pull myself together, I know I can. So I tried to push myself out of bed real quick because I knew
if I made it to the bathroom, I could get ready and she would never know I had a little fever.
That quick move was a bad idea, cause now I felt dizzy and the doorknob was turning and in she
comes. She takes one look at me and shakes her head.
"Harvey, you look terrible!" She cried and rushed up to the bed. Now she was touching my head and
saying," Oh, baby you're so hot!"
She left the room and came back real fast with a thermometer. She slid it between my lips, which by
the way are so sore I want to cry. When she pulled it out again, I hear her say, "One hundred degrees!
I'm going to get you some medicine."
How did I get so sick? I was in tip top shape when I went to sleep, well practically. There's no way I'm
going to stay home. I'm not missing the big game! So as soon as she left the room to get the medicine, I
got up to make my way to the bathroom; because I knew that I could still play this game. I'd just have to
man it up a little. I'll bet Michael Jordan wouldn't have let a little fever stop him from playing. I stopped
to salute his poster on the wall before continuing my two mile journey to the bathroom. My feet were
so heavy, I felt like I was dragging ten pound weights on my ankles.
Finally, I reached the bathroom doorway! I felt a chuckle bubble up in my throat. This was so going to
work. I turned on the faucet and splashed the wonderfully cold water on my face. Boy did that feel
good! O.k., so a look in the mirror tells me that I look pretty crappy. But who cares as long as I can play.
A few careful moves has me in my uniform and once I get my sneaks on, I'm halfway there.
I was on my way to get them when in walks my mom. She takes one look at me, shakes her head
again and points to my bed.
"Mom!" I tried to say, but my throat was so sore, it was more like a squeak and a grunt. So I waddled
back to bed on legs that suddenly felt like soggy sponges and fell back into the covers. I think I fell asleep
shortly after she gave me some cold medicine.
I was so mad when I woke up. Boy was I going to give Frank a piece of my mind, that germy jerk had
Caused me to miss the state championship! It was then that I learned that not one single player had
been able to attend the game. It seems Frank has a cousin who just transferred to Hopewell High and
joined the basketball team. Apparently, he recently visited Frank and; the rest as we say is history. Since
both teams were sick during the game, it has been rescheduled for next week. Now all I have to worry
about is how I'm going to ask Sandy out after we win the game.
The End
go ronnie!
Someone had made a terrible mistake twelve years ago and had placed a homeless child in the care of Janet and Hugh Finklestein. How the infant grew to be a remarkable young girl, despite the minimal attention given to her care, was a downright miracle. She was a well-mannered, sweet child, well thought of by all who knew her. But the trouble was no one really knew her.
This girl, Sara, was a rather unique character in a world of ordinary people. She had an inner glow about her that made her stand out in a crowd. One never only looked once at her, they often looked second and third times as she made her way through a room. She carried herself well, shoulders straight, perfect posture, always so very careful to please. In fact, too careful, like she was walking on eggshells.
In conversation, she spoke slowly as if she were afraid to say the wrong thing, and she never made eye contact, even when speaking directly to someone. She never sought out others to speak to, but many people seemed to want to speak to her, to be near her. Many children tried to get to know her, but she remained as distant as ever. There was always an underlying fear in her, like she was a little rabbit in a world of rabid wolves.
my book The Sara Chronicles Book One
my daughter Sara giving me bunny ears
me trying to unwind at the end of the day
About Me
I am a nurse and a published author. Avid weight lifter,mom and wife.love vintage ads and trivia.
View my complete profile


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Good prenatal care will help you have a healthy pregnancy and make informed decisions. Care includes visits with your doctor and tests. There are many types of prenatal tests for the mother and fetus. Different tests are used at different times in your pregnancy. Some tests are done routinely. Other tests are done only when there is an important reason to do so.
Some prenatal tests are screening tests, while others are to help make a diagnosis. A screening test gives information about the possibility that a problem exists. For example, an alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) screening test can show whether there is a risk of spina bifida. A diagnostic test can tell that a specific problem is present.
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- Blood (or saliva) tests
- Urine tests
- Ultrasound, including nuchal translucency
- Other tests
- Amniocentesis
- Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
- Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS)
Prenatal Testing
Blood (or Saliva) Tests
In a blood test, blood is drawn from your arm using a syringe. It is sent to a lab for evaluation. Blood tests check for:
There are 4 major blood types: A, B, AB, and O. Each of these blood types is also classified by the types of antigens present. Antigens are proteins on the surface of blood cells, one of which is called the Rh factor. If you carry this protein, you are Rh positive. If you do not carry this protein, you are Rh negative. About 85% of people are Rh positive.
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Symptoms and complications of Rh incompatibility only affect the fetus or newborn. The mother's health is not affected. If the mother's antibodies cross the placenta and attack the fetus's blood, the fetus's red blood cells will be broken down and fetal anemia will result. This can cause swelling of the baby's body, brain damage, heart failure, or even death of the fetus or newborn.
Rh incompatibility can be prevented in most cases by giving mothers Rh immunoglobulin (RhIg). This prevents sensitization of an Rh-negative mother's blood. The first injection is given at week 28 of the pregnancy. The second injection is given within 72 hours of delivery, and after miscarriage or abortion to desensitize the mother's blood for future pregnancies.
When an Rh-negative woman develops antibodies to an Rh-positive baby, RhIg treatment does not help. Therefore, Rh incompatibility prenatal testing and preventative measures are extremely important. The fetus will be closely monitored during the pregnancy. The baby may need a blood transfusion after delivery. In severe cases, the fetus may be given a blood transfusion while in the uterus.
If you are anemic, you have low levels of iron in your blood. A serum ferritin screening test may be done to determine if you are anemic. A mild level of anemia is expected. It is normal in later pregnancy due to the mother's expanded plasma volume. But, severe or early onset anemia can lead to extreme tiredness and increase your risk of preterm delivery and low birth weight. You may be prescribed iron tablets or injections.
Many STDs can harm your developing baby. Doctors routinely test for chlamydia and gonorrhea, which are done by culture. Blood tests are done for:
- Hepatitis B
- Syphilis
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
It is important to know if you have any of these conditions. There are things that you can do to help prevent the STDs from spreading to your baby.
Chickenpox and German measles are usually mild diseases in women who are not pregnant. However, they can cause birth defects if a mother is infected for the first time during pregnancy.
CF is a genetic disease. Both parents must be CF gene carriers for the baby to get the condition. There is no cure for CF, although treatment has advanced in recent years. CF is most likely to occur if the parents are Caucasians of Northern European descent.
Some pregnant women develop high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. This is called gestational diabetes. It is due to hormonal changes in the body that affect insulin absorption. You may be asked to take an oral glucose tolerance test around the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy. This includes a special sugar-loaded drink and repeated blood tests. Women at high risk should be screened sooner.
If you have symptoms or a history of thyroid disease, you may have blood testing done to confirm it. It is usually treated with medication to bring thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) back to normal levels. This reduces the risk of complications for the baby and mother.
At 15-20 weeks, a mother's blood components can be tested to find out if the baby is at increased risk for spina bifida, abdominal wall defect, Down syndrome, and trisomy 18 (another type of genetic disorder). At 10-14 weeks, these blood serum tests can be combined with a special ultrasound, called nuchal translucency, to identify signs of Down syndrome, trisomy 18, and other birth defects.
The triple screen is a maternal blood test that measures the levels of 3 substances normally produced by the fetus or placenta. The test is used to identify pregnancies that have a higher-than-average risk of certain birth defects, such as Down syndrome and neural tube defects.
The triple screen can be done between the 15th and the 20th week of pregnancy. However, it is most accurate when done between the 16th and 18th week. The screening is done through a normal blood draw and poses no risk to the mother or fetus.
The triple screen test is available for all pregnant women, but is recommended for those who are 35 years or older. It may also be recommended for pregnant women with:
- Birth defect history
- History of illicit drug or harmful substance use
- Diabetes
- Viral infection
- Radiation exposure
The 3 substances the triple test measures are:
- Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)—protein normally produced by the fetus
- Estriol—estrogen produced by both the fetus and placenta
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)—hormone produced within the placenta
The triple screen is a screening test, not a diagnostic test. This means the test can only assess risk. It cannot diagnose a condition. A woman's individual risk of having a child with birth defects is calculated using the levels of AFP, estriol, and hCG combined with the mother's age, weight, and race.
The test results are expressed as odds. For example, "the odds this baby has Down syndrome are now greater than, less than, or equal to" what was expected based on the mother's age and medical history.
If the triple screen shows increased risk, additional testing is done, as well as a referral to a genetic specialist. It is important to remember that the test only points to the likelihood of an outcome—it is not diagnostic. Many women with a positive screening test do not have a child with a birth defect. This is considered a false positive result.
AFP is sometimes tested alone, without hCG and estriol. Also, an additional marker can be added to the test, making the triple screen a quadruple screen. The substance is inhibin A, which is a glycoprotein. Studies have found that a greater number of markers increases the accuracy of the screening test.
Urine Tests
In a urine test, you will be asked to collect a sample of your urine in a sterile container. The urine is sent to a laboratory for evaluation. Urine tests may be done to check for:
- Glucose—The presence of sugar in your urine indicates gestational diabetes, a type of diabetes that occurs only in pregnancy. If sugar is present in your urine, additional tests will be ordered to confirm the diagnosis.
- Protein—The presence of protein in your urine could be a sign of a urinary tract infection. Later in pregnancy, protein in the urine can signal pre-eclampsia. This condition causes a sudden rise in blood pressure and may cause excessive weight gain.
- Ketones—The presence of ketones in your urine is a sign that your body is breaking down fats instead of carbohydrates for energy. This can mean that you are not getting enough to eat or you are dehydrated. This may be present in diabetes.
- Bacteria—The presence of significant numbers of bacteria in your urine is a sign of potential urinary tract infection. You may be prescribed antibiotics to treat the infection. Group B streptococcal infection can also be identified in a urine test.
Other Tests
A swab of your vagina or rectum may be taken to check for signs of infection or changes in cell structure. A swab or smear may be taken for:
- Cervical dysplasia or other conditions—A cervical or Pap smear is often done at the beginning of pregnancy to check for abnormalities in cells or other conditions, such as cancer .
- Group B streptococcal infection
Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a bacterium that can cause life-threatening infections in newborns. Many people carry GBS but do not become ill. One of every four to five pregnant women carry GBS in the rectum or vagina. During birth, a newborn may come in contact with this bacterium.
Occasionally, babies born to a mother who carries GBS will develop signs and symptoms of the disease. Most cases occur within the first week of life and most cases are apparent a few hours after birth. GBS infection can lead to severe infection, pneumonia, and meningitis. Once diagnosed, GBS infections can be treated through IV antibiotics.
A woman can be checked for GBS during pregnancy. The test should be done late in pregnancy, during weeks 35-37. A swab of both the vagina and the rectum are taken. The swabs are sent to a lab and grown in culture.
If the result of the test is positive, then you are considered a carrier of GBS. If you test positive for GBS or are at high risk, IV antibiotics will be advised during labor and delivery.
An ultrasound uses sound waves to examine internal structures, including the developing fetus and position of the placenta. Ultrasound is a noninvasive exam that poses no risk to the mother or fetus. Depending on which trimester you are in, an ultrasound can be used for different reasons.
First trimester:
- Confirm a pregnancy
- Estimate the gestational age
- Identify location of pregnancy—in uterus or in fallopian tubes
- Check for a neural tube defect
- Check for multiple gestations
- Check for extra fluid in the back of the neck
Second trimester:
- Week 11-14: characteristics of potential Down syndrome
- Week 18-20: possible congenital malformations
- Check for multiple pregnancies
- Confirm gestation age and fetal growth
- Check level of amniotic fluid
- Determine the baby's sex
Third trimester:
- Determine the location and development of the placenta
- Check fetal well being and movement
- Identify any uterine or pelvic abnormalities of the mother
- Check the adequacy of the amount of amniotic fluid
Early in the pregnancy, a transvaginal ultrasound may be done. During this procedure, a slender probe is inserted into your vagina. Images of the uterus and ovaries are created on a computer screen. The images are evaluated by a trained professional.
In the first and early second trimesters (between 11-16 weeks), you may have a nuchal translucency (NT) or nuchal fold scan done. This is a special ultrasound that can help identify Down syndrome, other chromosomal abnormalities, and heart defects. The fluid in the back of your baby's neck is measured. These results are often combined with other blood test results to determine the risk of a condition.
During this procedure, your abdomen is coated with a gel and a technician passes a wand-like tool, called a transducer, across your abdomen. Images of the fetus are created on a computer screen and evaluated by a trained professional. When this procedure is conducted during the first trimester, a full bladder is required.
Additionally, you may have a Doppler ultrasound , which can detect moving blood cells and measure their direction and speed.
Additional Prenatal Testing for Genetic Disorders
A genetic disorder can be passed from one or both parents to the baby. Examples include:
- Huntington disease
- Sickle cell anemia
- Tay-Sachs disease
- Cystic fibrosis
The decision to have genetic testing is a complex and often difficult one. Genetic counseling is available to mothers and fathers. The following tests may be done to diagnose or confirm the presence or absence of a genetic disorder. The tests may be combined with or follow other tests results, such as blood or ultrasound.
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is a diagnostic procedure during which a sample of chorionic villi cells from the placenta is removed and tested for chromosomal abnormalities and genetic birth defects. CVS is done at 10-12 weeks gestation and can test for diseases such as Down syndrome, Tay Sachs, and cystic fibrosis. CVS can also be used for paternity testing.
- Transcervical (TC) CVS—A a thin catheter is guided through the vagina and cervix and into the placenta where a small amount of tissue is obtained. Ultrasound is used to help guide the doctor and decrease risk to the fetus.
- Transabdominal (TA) CVS—Similar to amniocentesis, a needle is guided from the abdomen and into the placenta where a small amount of tissue is obtained. A local anesthetic may be used. Just as with TC CVS, ultrasound is used to help guide the doctor and decrease risk to the fetus.
An amniocentesis is a diagnostic procedure during which a sample of amniotic fluid is removed and evaluated. Amniotic fluid is the fluid surrounding a developing fetus. It contains cells normally shed from the fetus.
When done early in pregnancy (15th to 18th week of pregnancy), it is used to detect:
- Down syndrome
- Other chromosomal abnormalities
- Neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly
- Inherited metabolic disorders
Percutaneous Umbilical Blood Sampling (PUBS)
Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) is a diagnostic procedure that examines blood from the fetus. The blood is drawn from the umbilical cord where it inserts into the placenta. Performed at 18 weeks or later, PUBS is used to detect:
- Chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome
- Blood disorders, such as fetal hemolytic disease
- Malformations of the fetus
- Fetal infection
- Fetal anemia
PUBS can also be used as a technique to transfuse the fetus in severe cases of fetal isoimmunization (when an Rh-negative mother produces antibodies to Rh factor) or fetal infection with parvovirus B19. This type of treatment is rarely needed now because severe fetal anemia from isoimmunization is largely prevented by other measures. Additionally, PUBS can be used to give certain medications to the fetus.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: Andrea Chisholm, MD
- Review Date: 12/2016 -
- Update Date: 05/20/2015 -


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It's been an eventful year in Granite Falls and Clarkfield. For proof one need look no further than the A/T's list of Top 10 Stories of 2012.
1) Fagen Fighters WII Museum:
The Fagen Fighters WII Museum is a sight to behold. From the warbird collection to educational videos that run on touch screen displays, everything about the WWII museum is top notch with a "wow factor." The venue will serve to teach the younger generations about the "Greatest Generation" but will also serve as a major tourist draw for perhaps generations to come. And better yet is the promise that "this is just the beginning," foreshadowing even more great museum developments in the future.
2) Minnesota Falls Dam:
If not the top story, the removal of the Minnesota Falls Dam is at the very least the most emotionally charged. After private and public attempts to salvage the century old structure failed, Xcel Energy has begun the removal process of the dam. State and non-profit environmental organizations believe that the action will improve recreational fishing and river-craft opportunities while many others are still skeptical that a drop in river levels will hurt local aesthetics.
3) H.A. Hagg purchased:
Much like Minn. Falls Dam taps into the nostalgia of GF residents, the H.A. Hagg building holds a special place in the heart of many in the Clarkfield community. A Missouri property investor purchased the building for just over $6,000 and has begun to make investments into the former school in hopes of finding tenants that will make the structure profitable. The sale also impacts the YME as the district had come to view the building mostly as a liability in terms of upkeep and potential removal expense.
4) Granite leaders pass on:
Community leaders (from L-to-R) Gary Kubly, Elroy Burgeson and Dick Wambeke all died in 2012. Kubly was a pastor and long-time Senator for the area; Burgeson served as dean of the local technical college and helped start both the Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) and the community celebration known today as Western Fest; while Wambeke was a long-time GF councilman, YM Co. Commissioner and YM Co. Family Service Director. All were beloved role-models who made major contributions to the area community.
5) Pedestrian Bridge rehab is fully funded :
With perhaps Granite Falls most iconic structure feeling the wear and tear of time and the occasional major flood, the GF City Council managed to obtain approximately $525,000 from the state and $525,000 from the federal government to fully fund a rehabilitation of the bridge that will help ensure that the walking bridge is in place for many years to come. The rehab is expected to begin and be completed next year.
6)Health and Safety Lawsuit: A lawsuit has dogged YME's roughly $10 million Health and Safety improvement project since the start, but it was only this past year that a judge ruled that approx. $2.5 million of the project fell outside a state program. YME has challenged the ruling.
7) Riverview Apts. sold... finally: It took a few years and three auctions but the Riverview Apts. was finally sold to a family-run business out of Oregon.
8) YMC Government Center: In Dec. YM Co. purchased the Fagen Engineering buidling in downtown GF for $450,000 to serve as a government center.
9) Downtown changes: In GF, two new businesses and the ongoing impact of the K.K. Berge Building has brought life to downtown, while in Clarkfield the demolition of the Roxy Theater paved the way for Hardware Hank's expansion.
10) Both principals replaced: Both YME and BRE principals in Karen Norell and Jodi Kennedy departed in '12 bringing a relatively rare change to the leadership in both schools. The good news is that both replacements Michael Meihak and Melissa Hesch, respectively, have been well received.
Honorable Mention: Upper Sioux Community receives $1M grant for wastewater treatment plant, state redistricting, GF looking to building nursing home, Prentice St. Flood mitigation complete, Clarkfield potential police changes, GF water plant nears completion, a very dry spring.


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Deep Fork Riv
Bluff Creek Cnl
North Canadian Riv
Lk 31
Lake 34
Overholser Lk
N Council Rd
N Meridian Ave
NW 10th St
NW 50th St
NW 16th St
NW 23rd St
Graham Ave
Willow Ave
Nesbitt Ave
McMillan Cir
NW 33rd Ter
Holly Ave
Patricia Ave
N Wheeler Cir
Adams Ave
Wheeler Ct
Cameron Ct
N Redmond Ct
N Moulton Ct
Purdue Ct
NW 18th Cir
NW 54th Pl
NW 17th Cir
Fiesta Ct
Shannon Ct
NW 32nd Pl
NW 14th Pl
NW 44th Cir
NW 41st Cir
N Quapah Cir
Colton Dr
Overholser Rd
Chisholm Ct
19th Ter
N June Ave
N Austin St
Rea Ave
W Harlow Pl
N Lyon Blvd
Graham Cir
NW 14th Ter
Downing Ave
N Beaver Ave
NW 12th Pl
Manor Dr
Lakeside Dr
NW 31th Pl
Coronado Plaza
Brenda Ave
N Wilburn Pl
St George Dr
Ramsey Rd
NW 19th Dr
N Saint Charles St
Pinecrest Dr
Oakwood Villa Ct
N Meridian Pl
Reeves Ave
N Willow Ave
N Sterling Dr
Kingston Rd
Kavel Dr
Oak Ln
10th St
Michelle Ln
NW 48th Cir
Willow Springs Dr
Harvard Dr
Byron Ave
NW 24th Pl
N Grove Pl
Spyglass Ln
Amhurst Pl
NW 53rd Ter
N Anita Pl
N Timber Ave
NW 12th Pl
Byron Pl
NW 20th Ter
N Wheeler Ave
NW 37th Pl
Life Style Dr
NW 43rd Pl
NW 24th Cir
Fleetwood Dr
NW 59th Ter
NW 13th St
NW 46th Dr
NW 40th St
N Purdue Pl
Sandy Ln
NW 58th Ter
N Warren Pl
NW 39th Ter
Timber Ave
NW 10th Ter
NW 54th St
N Elm Pl
NW 34th St
NW 45th Ter
NW 49th St
NW 46th Ter
NW 47th St
Moultrie Ave
N Sand Oak St
Flamingo Ave
N Quapah Pl
Macarthur Park Ln
NW 13th Pl
Brown Oaks Dr
NW 56th St
NW 56th Pl
N Grove Ave
NW 34th Ter
NW 35th St
N Westaire St
NW 36th Ter
Willow Cliff Rd
Cove Dr
Overholser Ct
Picnic Ln
NW 14th St
NW 52nd St
N Zedna Dr
NW 18th St
NW 25th Pl
Mason Dr
NW 16th Pl
N Harvard Ave
Julie Pl
NW 33rd Dr
N Briarcliff Ave
N Downing Ave
N Wall St
N Reeves Ave
N Adams Ave
N Reeder Ave
NW 11th Ter
N Sapulpa Ave
N Adams St
N Shannon Ave
Circle Dr
N Tropicana Ave
Astoria Blvd
N Keeton Ave
Woodland Way
NW Oliver St
N Shawnee Ave
N Markwell Pl
N Ann Arbor Pl
NW 57th St
N Meridian Ct
N Ann Dr
NW 33rd Ter
Regatta Dr
NW 53rd St
N Grant Ave
Otterson Dr
Whitecap Ln
Windsurf Way
NW 24th St
N Nicklas Ave
N Libby Ave
N Lela Ave
N Ditmer Rd
N Donnelly Ave
NW 51st Pl
Perimeter Center Dr
N Gibson Ave
N Broadview Dr
N Holly Ave
Lake Club
Mariner Dr
NW 18th Ter NW 19th St
Lytle Dr
N Bush Blvd
Terrace Dr
Glade Ave
N Bridgeport Ln
N Lakeview Dr
NW 30th Pl
N Donna Ave
N Oakhill Rd
NW 33rd St
Oakhill Dr
NW 39th Expy
Wilburn Dr
N Dawson Dr
Eagle Ln
N Sterling Ct
N Bryan Ave
Tulsa Dr
N Maney St
Inman Dr
NW 30th Ter
NW 22nd St
N Windsor Pl
N Thompkins Ave
Williams St
Willow Springs Ave
N Preston Dr
NW 43rd St
Oakhill Ln
N Tela Dr
Lionsgate Cir
NW 25th St
NW 29th Ter
Amelia Ave
N McMillan Ave
NW 44th St
NW 15th St
NW 55th St
NW 56th Ter
N St Charles St
N Norman St
NW 19th St
NW 48th St
N Barr Ave
NW 49th St
N Nicklas Ave
Golden Oaks Rd
N Westridge St
NW 55th St
N Berry St
Brownsville Ln
NW 31st Ter
N St Charles St
N Allen Ln
Lombardy Ln
Hayden Ln
N Norman Ave
Memory Ln
N Minnie Ln
N Reeves Dr
N Reeves St
N Wheeler Ave
N Flamingo Ave
NW 51st St
N Martin Ave
N Willow Ave
N Gleason Ave
N Fordson Dr
Beck Dr
Donley Dr
NW 29th St
N Wilburn Ave
N Sterling Ave
NW 11th St
NW 37th St
N Anita Ave
Cashion Pl
Woodbrier Dr
NW 38th Ter
N Windsor Ave
NW 58th St
Lakeview Pl
Lak eview Dr
NW 51st St
N Dittmer Rd
N Moulton Dr
N Stanley Ave
NW 58th Ter
NW 20th St
N Warren Ave
N Gardner Ave
NW 17th St
NW 16th Ter
Lyon Blvd
NW 21st Ter
NW 24th St
Eton Ave
NW 27th St
Philip J Rhoads Ave
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N Harmon Dr
NW 31st Ter
NW 31st St
NW 32nd St
N Warren Ave
NW 45th St
N Sterling Ave
Colfax Pl
Shannon Ave
Templet Dr
NW 47th St
NW 30th Ter
NW 56th St
N Harvard Ave
NW 13th St
NW 21st St
N Davis Ave
N Donald Ave
N Brunson St
N Divis Ave
NW 28th St
NW 14th St
N Windsor Blvd
N Beaver Ave
NW 54th St
NW 17th St
NW 25th Ter
N Nesbitt Ave
N Mueller Ave
N Roff Ave
NW 29th St
N Riverside Dr
NW 26th St
NW 33rd St
NW 57th St
NW 38th St
NW 37th St
NW 39th St
NW 52nd St
NW 42nd St
NW 46th St
NW 33rd St
NW 28th St
N Holloway Ave
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N Purdue Ave
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Wilburn Ave
N Peniel Ave
N State St
N Carol Ln
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N Windsor Ter
NW 45th St
NW 43rd St
Tudor Rd
Purdue St
N Oakridge Dr
N Alexander Ln
NW 32nd St
NW 38th St
N Vermont Ave
E Wagner Rd NW 50th St
N Bradley Ave
NW 27th St
NW 25th St
County Line Rd
NW 44th St
NW 53rd St
N County Line Rd
N Lake Hefner Canal Rd
NW 34th St
Overholser Dr
N Vermont Ave
N Libby Ave
NW 26th St
N Utah Ave
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NW 28th Ter
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N Redmond Ave
N Donald Ave
NW 34th St
N Sapulpa Ave
W Park Pl
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NW 11th St
N Shawnee Ave
NW 41st St
NW 40th St
NW 20th St
NW Liberty St
NW 48th St
River Rd
NW 46th St
NW 35th St
N Markwell Ave
NW 10th St
NW 18th St
NW 31st St
N Portland Ave
N Rockwell Ave
N Overholser D r
N Rockwell Ave
N Central Rd
S Overholser Rd
NW 27th St
NW 32nd St
NW 30th St
N Geraldine Ave
N Asbury Ave
NW 15th St
N Purdue St
NW 58th St
N Tulsa Ave
NW 21st St
NW 14th St
NW 13th St
NW 12th St
NW 18th St
NW 11th St
N Grove Ave
NW 22nd St
N Peniel Ave
N Glade Ave
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Stinchcomb Dr N Stinchcomb Ave
N Thompkins Ave
N Hammond Ave
NW 42nd St
N Roff Ave
N County Line Rd
N Mueller Ave
E Overholser Dr
NW 19th St
N Tulsa Ave
N Eagle Ln
NW 36th St
NW 39th St NW 39th Expy
NW 39th Expy
N College Ave
NW 36th St
N Portland Ave
N Ann Arbor Ave
N Macarthur Blvd
House District 84
US Routes
Major Roads
Local Road
Service Drive
Private Road
( ( Bike Path
!! 2 - 5,000
!! 5,001 - 10,000
!! 10,001 - 25,000
!! 25,001 - 50,000
!! 50,001 - 579,999
House Districts
Oklahoma House GIS Office: June, 2011
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YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR friggin MIND! WHAT GAME DID YOU WATCH? HOUSTON WOULD BEAT THE JETS 99% OF THE TIME.............IN NY I
I watched the game where the mighty Texans were held to 6 points in the second half .to a team without there best defender. I watched the game where they let up 17 points to a team without the best offensive player . I watched a game that showed me that the 49ers are the better team right now not the Texans
dude the Jets scored on a special team kick off ... so face it 10 point and Texans where milking clock at the end ...
congrats bro ... you broke even ... thats better then a losing night anyday .
Lol at everyone giving props or knocking him. He didnt win or lose. How was that a good call or a bad one? Do you people read???
yea I said congrats on breaking even ... do you read lol .. plus breaking even is a win in my book .. lol as long as you dont lose you had a ok night lol


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El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) affects weather, climate, and, consequently, humans and their activities. In this investigation, students review and analyze ENSO background info, data and satellite images in preparation for a game. Acting as... (View More) policy makers for Peru, students determine the details of an ENSO event based on information from climate specialists, and then allocate money to manage disaster preparedness and minimize impacts on agriculture and fishing. The URL opens to the investigation directory, with links to teacher and student materials, lesson extensions, resources, teaching tips, and assessment strategies. This is Investigation 1 of three found in the Grades 9-12 Module 3 of Mission Geography. The Mission Geography curriculum integrates data and images from NASA missions with the National Geography Standards. Each of the three investigations in Module 3, while related, can be done independently. (View Less)
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text:
One more sleep
Until Justin Timberlake's big Italian fairytale wedding. All week friends and family have been in the south of Italy enjoying picnics, bike rides, beach time, barbecues, and fireworks. Here's Pipsy yesterday at cocktail hour. Tonight there's a rehearsal dinner per standard wedding procedure. The ceremony and reception proper are tomorrow. So...
We can cover this on Monday right?
Like, Justin Timberlake getting married doesn't merit a working weekend, does it?


text:
Hawkeye Valley Area Agency on Aging has its September meals planned. Each meal includes milk. Meals are offered on a contribution basis for people over 60 year of age. People under 60 must pay the actual cost.
There are two menu options on most days of the month. Both congregate and home delivered meals may choose between option A and option B. Meals must be ordered in advance. All meals must be ordered by 9 a.m. the day before receiving a meal. Preference for Option A or B must be given at time of order if no preference is given, Option A will be served.
Meals are served at the Grundy Center Healthy Lifestyles Center Monday through Friday. For reservations call 319-824-3843. Home delivered meals are also available. For more information call 319-272-1767 or toll free at 877-538-0508.


text:
Probably a lot of you full animation fans wonder how I can like Bob Clampett and Hanna Barbera at the same time. Clampett made the fullest of the fully animated golden age shorts and Hanna Barbera ushered in a whole era of cartoons with hardly any animation at all! Many think they destroyed animation for all time and I don't have a strong argument against that.
So I'm gonna attempt to explain why I still like and am inspired by their early stuff.
First, there is more to the appeal of animation than animation (the motion) itself.
When Hanna Barbera first started its TV Studio it had some creative elements that even many fully animated cartoons didn't (including their own).
Appealing and Striking Character Design
This is the first thing you notice about a character. Whether he or she has a distinct design. Throughout even the classic period of cartoons, many characters had a generic design. My favorite character of all time is Daffy Duck and he is a pretty generic 40s style duck. He gets his personality from the animators, once he starts moving.
Hanna Barbera characters from 1957 to the mid 60s had not only an overall striking house style, but each character had a somewhat distinct design - an instant visual signature.
In real life some people are very distinct looking, but everyone is distinct enough that you can recognize them and you can instantly make assumptions about their personality just by how they look. (Do you make fun of everyone on the street when you drive around town? And act out their personalities and voices?) You might be wrong about your stereotypes but visual distinction is a powerful conveyer of character and Hanna Barbera had that more than almost any other studio.
Great Voices
Here is another cartoon tradition that has vanished.
Many of the best cartoon characters from the 30s to the 60s had extremely distinct sounding voices and then distinct speech patterns.
The great cartoon voices came mostly from radio. Radio by its very nature cultivates strong and distinct voices. The voice is all you know about the character. You have no visual clues and so the more clear and unique the character of a voice you hear, the stronger the character in your mind.
The really good cartoon talents of today complain that animated features won't use them because they are not big movie and television stars and I sympathize with them. Features want "star voices" and i have no idea why.
What makes most stars today is not their voices at all. What does Brad Pitt sound like? He may be an excellent actor with lots of charisma, but most of that is conveyed by his appearance and his expressions and mannerisms.
When I watch an animate feature, I couldn't tell you who was doing the voices. They all sound the same to me. They aren't distinct. They sound like your neighbors.
We watched Larry King interview Seinfeld the other day about Bee Movie and they kept running clips of bland characters with non-descript voices. Then they started talking about how great the voices were. They revealed, for example that Rene Zelwegger did the voice for the cross eyed human girl who makes it with bees. Not in a million years would I ever have guessed who was doing the voice. These hugely expensive movies seem to lack all the raw materials that make up likeable characters. No design, no voice, no dynamic. If Hanna Barbera can afford at least that much, why can't features? What a mystery...
TV voices these days attempt being distinct by having bland actors hold their noses and talk squeaky. This has been going on since the 70s. There are some exceptional talents in the business, like Billy West, Corey Burton, Cheryl Chase, Eric Bauza and others but they are not always taken advantage of by voice directors.
Anyway, the point I am making is that the voices in Hanna Barbera cartoons, as in Warner Bros. classic cartoons are first rate.
Extremely distinct.
If you take a really distinct character design and add a really distinct colorful voice, you instantly have a big head start for your characters.
Good Character DynamicsThe Flinstones dynamics were stolen wholesale from the the Honeymooners, but the combination of Ed Benedict's character design and the great voice talents makes them seem different enough from their inspiration that they really seem like real and distinct characters.
Hanna Barbera continued a longtime trend from classic cartoons. When they needed a voice for a character they sometimes imitated a actor from radio or TV. They would usually change it or exagerrate it enough to distinguish it as Daws Butler did with Art Carney's voice for Yogi Bear.
Ironically the cartoon characters have outlived the fame of many of the live actors who inspired them.
Yogi, Boo Boo and Ranger Smith have a great natural dynamic between them, and unlike the Honeymooners seem to have been created from scratch. (Unless someone knows some earlier show that inspired it)
The Jetsons has good design, great voices but not so much of a character dynamic and that show didn't do as well as The Flintstones, probably for that reason.
Distinct voice and design combined with strong character dynamics are fantastic raw materials for a cartoon series.
Good animation?
Well if you have those other primary ingredients then good animators can really take advantage of them. But will they? Sometimes, depending on the era and circumstances.
In the late 50s when HB was new, the animators were basically undirected and left free to animate the characters according to the voice tracks. Sometimes the animation would be distinct even though limited, and those are the HB cartoons I like. The ones where the animators added to the raw materials of the good characters. The cartoons that each look different from each other, are cartoony and the characters seem alive, unique and motivated.
There are a lot of fully animated cartoons from the 30s and 40s that have no personality or design or unique character dynamics at all, including Hanna Barbera's Tom and Jerry. The animation is beautiful, flowing and full of strong accents. That (along with the extreme painful violence) carries the cartoons.
To this day I can't figure out how after 15 years or so of making the same personalityless cartoons over and over again, all of a sudden Bill and Joe created a whole slew of characters with distinct personalities, voices and designs. Anybody have an answer for that?
It's too bad the 2 approaches didn't coincide. Full animation combined with distinct characters.
These ingredients added a lot to the appeal of the early Hanna Barbera cartoons.
Great BG StylingArt Lozzi, Ed Benedict, Montealegre and others created really happy colorful and distinct worlds for the Hanna Barbera characters. They pulled you into the stories.
Kali and I were watching the Jetsons the other day. I loved the Jetsons when I was a kid, but I was really disappointed with the first 2 or 3 episodes we just watched.
The show has a great concept: a 50s situation comedy family lives in the 60s vision of the future. Man's basic primal instincts haven't changed even though technology is advanced.
I don't know how you can go wrong with the raw materials that went into the Jetsons. I would kill to do a series of them. Voices, designs, great concept, genius background design, funny situation...If you are a talented eager cartoon director, this is a killer foundation for you to work with. The possibilities for humor and invention are limitless.
The animation in the Jetsons is so bland that it shocks me. The same animators who were having fun on Yogi Bear and the Flintstones seem to be animating in their sleep.
The characters merely walk back and forth, say their lines and make the minimum required expressions of happy, sad, mad or dumbfounded. The characters merely do what the script tells them to do, like automatons. (like today's expensive primetime cartoons) There is no life. It's depressing to imagine the animators coming to work and parking their brains and just sitting down to mechanically churn out lifeless things that lift their arm, gesture, nod their head, open and close their lips.
What happened between 1958 and 1962?
Undirected cartoons with lively animators doesn't usually produce cartoons as satisfying and complete as cartoons that are precisely directed by visionaries like Chuck Jones, Bob Clampett or Tex Avery - but then, there weren't a lot of great directors in history anyway, so it's better to have some cartoons that don't at least completely squelch the individual artists' contributions to the films.
Clampett is so amazing that he was able to have both these qualities at the same time in his films. His cartoons are uniquely Bob Clampett, but he didn't chain his animators and artists by demanding to OK every single creative atom in the cartoons. He had a way of inspiring his animators to do the best work they ever did. He encouraged them to bring their own unique ideas to the screen and that's why Clampett's cartoons can be watched over and over again, even after you know all the jokes. There are just so many layers of creativity happening all at once.
The early HB cartoons had a unique set of circumstances- great raw ingredients for cartoon series, and top artists and animators, who were allowed (if not encouraged) to have some fun and create in their own styles.
By the 60s this aspect of the cartoons vanished and I don't exactly know why.
It seems that the more successful Bill and Joe became, the more sedate and undirected the cartoons became-and the less interested the animators were in their work.
To me this is an immense tragedy. Someone at HB should have seen the great potential the studio had and taken advantage of it as soon as they were able to afford to.
If they had a couple of creative directors and let them run with the raw material of characters and situations they could have made truly classic films full of fun and most importantly - life.


text:
Refractive Index of Schott K7
From Schott Optical Glass Catalogue of August 2010
For a typical sample of Schott K7 the refractive index and extinction coefficient at 632.8 nm are 1.509 and 0.000. Below are files of complete refractive index and extinction coefficients. If the file is not available for download, you can request our proprietary file by clicking "Request".
- Tab-delimited data file for unrestricted use
Refractive Index Reference - Generated using Sellmeier dispersion model with coefficents listed in Schott Glass Catalogue of August 2010
No guarantee of accuracy - use at your own risk.
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The Cortez Journal encourages people to submit announcements about upcoming events for the Community Calendar. Send announcements to firstname.lastname@example.com. Items submitted at least two weeks in advance will have a better chance of getting published; items submitted several days before the event might not get published. For more information, call the Journal at 565-8527.
VFW St. Patrick's Day dinner
The VFW Ladies Auxiliary and Post #5231 will be holding their Annual St. Patrick's Day Dinner on Saturday, March 16 starting at 5 p.m. at the Post Home at 136 Grand Avenue in Mancos. Menu includes corn beef and cabbage, carrots, potatoes, dinner roll and dessert along with punch or coffee for $8. Children 6 and under are free.
Spring Hoedown multi-band fundraiser
The Spring Hoedown fundraiser is set for Saturday, March 16 from 5:30 to 11 p.m. at the Mancos Opera House. This event benefits Montezuma School to Farm Project and Pay It Forward Fund. There will be musical performances by Robbie Overfield and the Breaks, Hello Dollface, Caruta Roma, as well as square dancing and line-dancing. There will also be a silent auction, and food, beer and wine will be available for purchase. Admission is $20 for adults; ages 17 and under are free. Tickets are available at Maria's Bookstore (Durango), Zuma Natural Foods (Mancos), Dolores Food Market, Spruce Tree Espresso (Cortez), or at the door. For more information, contact Tami Graham at 759-9716.
Spring Fling
The annual Four Corners Fling Square Dance and Round Dance Festival will be held on Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16 at the Cortez Middle School. On Friday there will be a dance from 7:30 to 10 p.m. On Saturday there will be an informal dance from 1 to 5 p.m. and a grand march at 7:45 p.m. The public is welcome to come and watch professional square dancers perform free of charge. Refreshments will be provided. Enter through the east entrance of CMS and go down the ramp. For more information contact Vonnie at 749-9682.
4-H Western Swing
Come dance with the 4-H Western Swing on March 16 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Montezuma County Annex building on 103 N. Chestnut. DJ Mr. Soul will be providing the entertainment and refreshments will be available for purchase. The cost is $5 for singles and $8 for couples. Tickets will be available at the door. Contact Sherry at 529-6174.
Bake sale fundraiser
There will be a St. Margaret Mary Youth Bake Sale on Sunday, March 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cortez City Market. Funds will go to sending youth to Steubenville of the Rockies in Denver and to World Youth Day in Brazil this summer.
The Cholesterol Myth
The Dolores Healing Space, 102 N. 4th St. in Dolores, will feature Dr. Amy Loschert, Naturopathic Doctor as its free monday night presenter from 6-7 p.m. She will be speaking on the true risk factors for heart disease. What is "good" cholesterol vs. "bad" cholesterol and why do some people have high triglycerides? You will learn how to sort through the confusion of a lipid panel and what a good cholesterol level really looks like as well as pearls for prevention. Call Dr. Amy with questions at 676-1011.
Call for Mentors
The Piñon Project will be at the Mancos Public Library on Wednesday, March 20, from 9:30 a.m. to noon to talk about its mentoring program. The program matches at-risk youth with an adult volunteer who serves as a one-on-one mentor, friend and advocate. The Piñon Project's Mentoring Program is the only program of this type in the area. People interested in learning more, or becoming a mentor, should come to the meeting or call the Piñon Project at 564-1195.
Gymnastics circus
Stormy's Gymnastics will have a circus performance on March 20 starting at 2 p.m. at the Cortez Recreation Center. The performance will feature what local gymnasts have developed in the past year. The schedule is as follows: Tsunamis (ages 3 to 6); The Tornados (ages 6 to 12) at 3 p.m. and the Hurricanes, which are the top gymnasts with mixed ages will be at 4 p.m.
For more info contact Rayna Hale @at 560-3916 or Randy Quillin at 315-209-5846.
High Desert Homesteading
The second course in the High Desert Homesteading seminar series will be on Wednesday, March 20 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Let It Grow Nursery and Garden located at 90 N. Mildred. The course, "Growing Amber Waves of Grains and Beans," will be presented by Bob Bragg and Mike Coffey. The cost for the class is $15 and includes refreshments and education materials. Tickets can be purchased at Let It Grow. Contact Rosie Carter at 565-4170 or Nina Williams at 560-1443 for more information.
Wonder Women film
In celebration of Women's History Month, Community Cinema at the Mancos Public Library, located at 211 W. First St., will host a screening of Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines. This film traces the fascinating evolution and legacy of Wonder Woman, from the birth of the comic book superheroine in the 1940s to the blockbusters of today, the film looks at how popular representations of powerful women often reflect in society's anxieties about women's liberation. Thursday, March 21 at 7 p.m. in the MPL meeting room. Free and open to the public. For more information call the library at 533-7600.
Heart to Heart Easter concert
The annual Heart to Heart Easter Concert will be held on Friday, March 22 at 7 p.m. at Lifeway Baptist Church.
The evening will include music by area Christian musicians reminding us of the death, burial, and triumphant resurrection of Christ. An offering will be recieved to support Heart to Heart/Montezuma Crisis Pregnancy Center
as they offer services to our community including free pregnancy tests, healthy relationship presentations for teens, and abortion recovery groups for those seeking healing from the emotional and relational pain of
past abortion choics. Call 565-0979 for more information.
Presentation: 'Lincoln's Legacy of Equality and Liberty'
On Saturday, March 23, Montezuma County Court Judge JenniLynn Everett Lawrence will present "Lincoln's Legacy of Equality and Liberty." The program was developed by the Colorado Bar Association and is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Montezuma County. It will be held at 9 a.m. at the Ponderosa Restaurant, 108 S. 8th, Dolores. The presentation is open to the public. For more information, contact Betty Janes at 533-1051 or email@example.com.
Book signing in Dolores
Author Lowell F. Volk, of Pleasant View, will be hold a book signing On March 23 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Dolores Public Library, 1002 Railroad Ave.
Volk's book - "Luke Taylor: Westward Bound" - is a Civil War novel where Taylor struggles to keep his family safe as Union soldiers march through the South burning crops, destroying buildings, and killing livestock. When a band of renegades dressed as Union soldiers attacks his home, killing his brother and beating him and his mother, Luke must leave the farm to find his father.
For more information, contact James Branscum at 888-361-9473 or email@example.com
Leave No Trace training
Dolores River Boating Advocates will host a "Leave No Trace" awareness workshop for whitewater boaters on Saturday, March 23 at 4Corners Riversports in Durango from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn how to minimize impacts to the rivers Rick Ryan, former BLM Dolores River ranger, will lead the training. Cost is $10, which includes lunch and all materials. Space is limited, register by calling 799-1475 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
American Legion concerts
Vanishing Breed Band will be at the American Legion, 320 N. Harrison, March 23, 8 p.m. Shake off those winter blues with Odis & the boys. There is a $5 cover, 21 and over. Also this month, Beautifull Loser's are playing at 8 p.m. on March 30. There will also be a $5 cover, 21 and over. Come shake off the winter blues and pop into spring with these two fabulous bands!
Messianic Passover Seder
Passover Seder will be held on Monday, March 25 at 6 p.m. at 15325 Rd. 22 (north of Cortez, near Road S, off Highway 491). As celebrated in homes throughout the world, the Passover Seder is rich with historical meaning and traditions, as well as with Messianic symbolism. Passover is a holy convocation, a calling together for a sacred assembly. The observance will last about three hours and includes reading together through the Haggadah, eating the symbolic elements, drinking the cups, partaking of a meal of traditional foods, partaking of the Lord's Supper, all with music and worship and in order. An optional $10 donation would be appreciated. Please RSVP to one of the following by March 20: Mike and Paulette Gasner, 882-7696; Ron and Carolyn Lucus, 565-2430; Jeanette Conacher, 560-1651; Pat Grant, 560-2848; or Jean Oliver, 565-0747.
Bingo in Dolores
Dolores Rotary Bingo will be held Tuesday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m. Dinner (chili and soups, drink and dessert for $5) Bingo begins at 7 p.m. Help support the Dolores Operation Graduation by playing Bingo.
Dr. Seuss Family Night
The Montelores Early Childhood Council will present A Dr. Seuss Family Night in honor of the 108th birthday of Dr. Seuss. This free evening includes dinner and many fun activities for parents to do with their preschoolers. It takes place on Thursday, March 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Beech Street Preschool Big Room Please RSVP by March 25 to email@example.com or 970-565-7491.
Easter party for children
All children in kindergarten through fourth grade are invited to attend an Easter party from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 30, at the Montezuma Valley Presbyterian Church, 350 S. Washington St., Cortez, directly across the street from Manaugh School.
This activity is being organized by the "Fellowshipping Fun Loving Outreaching Christian" committee and the Youth Group of the church. Numerous games and activities are being planned for the children to enjoy. A raffle will be held for a number of items, including a large vinyl bunny. Refreshments will be available for parents who accompany their children.
For more information, contact the church at 565-7024 or Jack Robbins at 882-1444.
Driver safety course offered by AARP
AARP will sponsored a driver safety course Tuesday, April 2 from 12:30 to 5 p.m. at the Calvin Denton Room in the Empire Electric Building.
This course is authorized by the state of Colorado and is designed to meet the needs of older drivers. Completion of this course can qualify you for a discount on your automobile insurance.
The course is available to all motorists whether or not they are members of AARP. A $12 fee for AARP members and a $14 fee for nonmembers is to be paid by check, (no cash or credit card) which covers materials. Please bring your driver's license and your AARP membership number (if you have one).
Register with Scott and Judy Aeschlimann at 565-3872. Leave name and phone number on the answering machine if no one is available. The class number is limited.
Two on Tap coming to Cortez
Southwest Colorado Concerts presents Two on Tap performing a concert of song and tap dance, on Tuesday, April 2 at 7 p.m. in the Montezuma-Cortez High School auditorium. Two On Tap marks the creative collaboration of two celebrated Broadway musical theatre performers Melissa Giattino and Ron DeStefano. Tickets will be on sale at the door; single-concert tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for youth, 18 years old and under. Season tickets for the four-concert 2013-2014 season will also be on sale, $45 for adults and $10 for youth 18 years old and younger. If you are not a current season ticket holder and purchase a season ticket for the 2013-2014 season at this concert, you will get into Two On Tap for free. For more information contact Paul Bostrom at 565-9127 or Joyce Stevenson at 565-4757
Computer classes at Cortez library
The Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park St., and the Unlimited Learning Center will offer computer classes in April.
On Thursday April, 11 at 1 p.m.: Basic Internet Searching. Subjects covered will include: World Wide Web, URLs, Links, Web Browsers, Toolbars on Web Browsers, Address Bar, Simple Searching Tips and Techniques.
Staff from the Southwest Colorado Workforce Center will be teaching a computer class on finding a job on Friday, April 12, at 1 p.m.
On Thursday, April 25 at 1 p.m. the Cortez Public Library will present "Getting an Email with Gmail."
All classes at the library must be signed up for ahead of time. Sign up by calling 565-8117 or by stopping by the library. To find out more about the classes at the Unlimited Learning Center call 565-1601.
9Health Fair coming to Mancos
The 2013 9Health Fair, sponsored locally by the Mancos Valley Loins Club, will be held April 13 at the Mancos Middle School from 7 a.m. to noon. Don't miss this opportunity for low-cost and free health care screenings for individuals over the age of 18.
Participants can review screening options, register and pre-pay for their screenings online at www.9healthfair.org. There will be a separate entry for the pre-pay participants; watch for signs.
Volunteers are needed during the fair and for setup and clean up. If you are interested in helping with the 9Health Fair, non-medical volunteers can contact Val Hobson at 533-7874 and medical volunteers can contact Deana Yeomans at 533-7985.


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Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel, however, refused to remain buried and tantalizing glimpses of routines from the series went on to be reused in classic films like Duck Soup, A Night at the Opera and The Big Store.
Luckily for Marx fans everywhere the scripts to these classic radio broadcasts were rediscovered in the early 1980s, their publication eventually leading to a affectionate and side splittingly funny British remake of the series for BBC Radio 4.
For the first time in detail Marx and Re-Marx takes a look at the history of this enduring series, its genesis, its death and its resurrection.
Previously unpublished letters from the desk of Flywheel creator Nat Perrin.Full Episode Guides for both incarnations of the Flywheel and a guide to related productions.
Contributions from the cast and crew of the BBC remake of Flywheel; Mark Brisenden (Weekending, Spitting Image), David Firman (Dinner Ladies, Norbert Smith: A Life), Graham Hoadly (The Adventures of Sexton Blake, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Stageshow), Dirk Maggs (Superman: Doomsday and Beyond, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency), and Frank Lazarus (Pennies From Heaven, Our Friends in the North).
Transcripts of the remaining recordings of the original series.


text: After six weeks Leavenworth is 2-4, but that can almost be thrown out with district play starting this week. "It's the first game of the season and we've had six weeks of preparation," said head coach Mark Littrell. So far the Pioneers have used the time to learn Littrell's system and get ready for this time of the year. "As far as knowing our system and knowing what we need and our expectations, yeah they are there," Littrell said. "We've just got to quit making mistakes." That's why the Pioneers lost 31-13 at Olathe East last week. It was a closer game than the score indicates, but Leavenworth had numerous penalties and allowed East to convert on trick plays. Littrell said holding penalties was an issue because of technique. "We've got to do a better job with our linemen and our receivers when they are blocking to move their feet and not just standing still and getting their arms swung out and grabbing jerseys," he said. The Pioneers host the 2-4 Lawrence Lions, but they have won two of their last three games. "They've got a good defense, but we are capable of blocking them and moving the ball on them," Littrell said. Leavenworth has moved the ball on the ground pretty much all year with Jason Randall and some with receiver Isaiah Ross. The Lions do the same with their power running game. "They are more power and they are going to run it at you with counter," Littrell said. Resilience may be what the Pioneers will need in this game, and Littrell said even the opposition has commented on how hard Leavenworth has played this year. "The last two or three weeks, opposing coaches are saying, 'Those kids don't quit and they keep playing hard. We haven't seen that before,'" Littrell said. "I go, 'Well, that's what we are trying to do.'" Friday's game is senior night with the final two district games being at Lawrence Free State and Wyandotte.


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3:00 pm
Teaching Channel Presents "Social Studies Essentials" Social Studies Essentials: Watch students engage in rigorous lessons about socio-economics, community and history. We'll start in first grade and finish up in high school with some extraordinary teachers who provide their students with unforgettable experiences in order to learn complex concepts. D
4:00 pm
Economics Classroom, The: A Workshop for Grade 9-12 Teachers "Building Blocks of Macroeconomics" Macroeconomics looks at the economy as a whole, including inflation, recession, unemployment, economic growth, and gross domestic product (GDP). In this session, lectures, simulations, and exercises help explain these great forces and show how they fluctuate. D
5:00 pm
Wild Photo Adventures "Florida Everglades, Part 2" Host and professional wildlife photographer Doug Gardner and nature photographer Jason Hahn continue their photographic expedition through the brackish water mangroves out into the saltwater estuaries of the Florida Everglades. D
5:30 pm
Wild Photo Adventures "Waterfowl, Part 1" Host and professional wildlife photographer Doug Gardner travels up the east coast from South Carolina to Virginia photographing ducks, snow geese and wild tundra swans as they migrate south. D
6:00 pm
Coastal Cooking with John Shields "Coastal Tailgate" Tailgate Kings of ESPN "The Feasty Boys" share their grilling secrets with a succulent seafood pouch recipe. Then warm up with some Tillamook Cheddar Cheese and Lager Soup and sweeten the deal with Pecan Pie Squares. The Kitchen Goddess will share tips on making perfect parking lot party. D
6:30 pm
Primal Grill with Steven Raichlen "At The Game" A football game would be a sorry experience without tailgating. And tailgating revolves around grilling. Of course, just as the meaning of "football" varies around the world, so does what you grill. D
7:00 pm
Rachel's Favorite Food for Living "Good Fast Food" Host Rachel Allen transforms typically greasy fast food dishes into healthy, family-friendly fare. Recipes include: home-made pizza, spicy chicken wings, burgers with guacamole and cheese croquettes. D
7:30 pm
Sara's Weeknight Meals "Girls at the Grill with Elizabeth Karmel" Women of America, pick up your tongs, put on your aprons and man the grill! It's easy with Sara's buddy, grilling expert Elizabeth Karmel, to guide you! First is an easy Chicken Paillard with Greek Farmer's Salad and Tzatziki to get the basics down. Then, pizza! This one is a Blistered Corn and Asparagus Pesto Grilled Pizza. Finally, we'll go all out with Elizabeth's famous Texas Hill Country BBQ with a universally loved finger lickin' sauce. D
8:00 pm
Barbecue University with Steven Raichlen "Tailgate Warriors" Steven scores extra points with a platter of grilled polenta with Italian sausage and peppers, then stuns the fans with flame-grilled prosciutto panini.G
8:30 pm
Katie Brown Workshop "Backyard Style" Get cooking outside the kitchen and let your next party spill out of the dining room and into the backyard. Recipes: beer-simmered bratwurst, burgers and baked beans. Projects: stylish food baskets and a backyard fountain. D
9:00 pm
Christina Cooks "Tailgate Party Makeover" What better reason to get off the sofa, out of the house and down to the stadium for the big game than a tailgate party? Rooting for the team works up a hearty appetite. In this episode, you'll learn how to make hearty food, heart healthy!. D
9:30 pm
Katie Brown Workshop "The Big Game" Throw a victorious sports night party. Guest chef Chris Paulk makes sweet potato chips and dip, indoor barbecue ribs and empanadas. Celebrate in style with a turf snack tray and a touchdown centerpiece. D
10:00 pm
America's Test Kitchen from Cook's Illustrated "Sunday Brunch" Test cook Julia Collin Davison shows host Christopher Kimball how to make foolproof Cinnamon Swirl Bread. Then, gadget guru Lisa McManus reveals her favorite pancake dispenser, and Chris answers questions from viewers. Next, test cook Bridget Lancaster shows Chris how to make perfect Baked Eggs Florentine at home, and science expert Guy Crosby explains the science behind perfect baked eggs. D
10:30 pm
Simply Ming "Wine & Tapas" Seafood and the Azores go hand in hand, and on today's episode of Simply Ming, Ming gets right into the thick of things when he travels to the beautiful area of Caldeira do Santo Cristo. Here with the help of a local chef, Ming will help harvest limpets and clams to come up with two unique dishes. D
11:00 pm
Taste This! "Nathan's Hot Dogs" America's favorite food: The Frankfurter! Chef Joe makes a stop at his favorite hot dog spot, Nathan's of Coney Island. This was the first Nathan's ever built in New York, in 1916. Chef Joe orders the signature dog, but could not leave out the cheese, chili, and even the corn dog! In the test kitchen, Chef Joe puts his own unique twist on the Frankfurter. D
11:30 pm
Rick Steves' Europe "Burgundy: Profound France" Rick takes time to enjoy the region's edible, drinkable, scenic and floatable delights. He travels on a canal barge, visits a medieval hospice and a modern monastery, builds a barrel, appreciates fine Burgundy wine, slurps escargot and eats well.G


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Two Star Generals - Volt for the future; CTS-V for old times' sake
Nearly three years ago, many were writing off General Motors for dead. They would have been right had the U.S. government not decided that the company–or more correctly, its huge workforce and the employees of all the suppliers that depended on it–was too big to fail.
Be that as it may and notwithstanding its past automotive transgressions, GM is back with a product line that bodes well, including a pair of truly diverse players: the Chevrolet Volt and Cadillac CTS-V wagon. A fellow car enthusiast asked me which two new cars I would buy if I had $120,000 to spend, and these came quickly to mind. They embrace the guilty pleasures of a superb sports car with a big V8 thirsty for gasoline and the conscience reset button of a cleverly executed gas miser.
As an occasional driver of my wife's 2007 Toyota Prius, I can attest to the satisfaction of stretching gasoline–not unlike the pleasures of riding the wind in a sailboat rather than powerboating. We put 60,000 miles on the Prius but eventually parted with it for two reasons: I never could get comfortable in the seats and our Bernese Mountain Dog puppy rapidly outgrew the car's wayback.
The pup, who rode for a year in a gas-hungry V8 4Runner, and now travels in the back of a Jetta diesel wagon, wouldn't be happy in a Volt either, but I would, and not just for its more comfortable seats. The Volt's control stack suggests one is sitting in a giant self-propelled iPod, and the instrumentation graphics are eye-catching. The energy monitor includes a ball, like a spirit-level bubble, that grows larger and greener during efficient driving but shrinks into red-orange (to signify the fate of the planet, perhaps) when it detects energy being squandered. The government fuel economy website (fueleconomy.gov) shows the Volt as having 90 cubic feet of passenger space (versus 94 for the Prius).
The original Prius propels itself with the most efficient combination of gas engine and battery power for the circumstances, and as the battery runs down, the gas engine and regenerative coasting and braking recharge it–a process that the car's brain manages automatically and continuously in the background. The Volt, on the other hand, runs exclusively on battery power until the lithium-ion alchemy is 70 percent depleted, a process that happens in 30 or 40 miles, after which the gas engine alone serves primarily as a generator to keep amps flowing to the electric motor and the car in motion.
There has been controversy disputing GM's claims that the Volt is revolutionary technology because its gas engine never drives the wheels directly, but on these pages we'll let the car's real-world numbers–compiled over the course of a week-long test–speak for themselves.
The gas engine and regenerative braking can recharge the batteries slightly, but the only way to recharge the Volt's propulsion batteries fully is to plug the car into a 240- or 110-volt outlet; the original Prius cannot be plugged in for a recharge, but newer models can. Plug-in all-electric cars such as the Mini E and Nissan Leaf have no alternative means of propulsion and, like a golf cart, they're dead in the water if the batteries run out of juice away from a charger.
The best car for the job depends on the job. Long commutes favor a gas-electric hybrid; short ones can completely eliminate gas when driven in a Volt, Mini E or Leaf. My daily commute is more than 120 miles round trip, and our Prius averaged about 45 mpg on the mission. I was curious to see how the Volt would fare, considering it would clock the first 30 or 40 miles of my drive without burning a drop of gasoline. The answer also depended on how quickly the batteries would recharge at the office when plugged into 110 volts, the only outlet available there, rather than the swifter 220 volts.
After charging on 110 volts at home from 7:25 p.m. to 8 a.m., the car predicted its supply of electricity would be good for 34 miles as I left for work. In fact, the batteries took me 40.6 miles before passing the baton to the gasoline engine. When I arrived at work after a total of 61.2 miles, going 60 to 65 mph most of the way, the Volt's display showed that the car had traveled 40.6 miles on the batteries and 20.6 miles on 0.5 gallons of gasoline, for 122 mpg overall.
I plugged the car into the office's 110 volts at 10:15 a.m. and unplugged it two hours later to get lunch. The dashboard display indicated a battery range of eight miles. As I plugged the car back in at the office 25 minutes later, I saw that the three-mile round trip to buy a sandwich had burned 0.03 gallons and reduced battery range to six miles. Plugging into 240 volts (using a home base available from Volt dealers) decreases full charging time to four hours from 10, says Chevy.
At 5:50 p.m., after just over seven hours on 110 volts at the office, the car showed a battery range of 26 miles and total range (battery plus gas) of 310 miles as I left for home. The battery was depleted after 27 miles and gasoline carried me the remaining 34.2 miles home. The data accrued since the full overnight battery charge showed that with a partial charge at the office the Volt had used 1.49 gallons of gas to travel 125.7 miles, for a workday average of 84.7 mpg. The test car's indicated "lifetime mpg" figure was 43.3, suggesting that a lot of the 3,620 miles on its lifetime odometer had been logged beyond battery endurance.
A Kill-A-Watt consumption meter (about $30 from Home Depot) showed that the next overnight infusion of battery juice consumed $1.48 worth of electricity (12.91 kWh at our local utility's rate of 11.5 cents/kWh)–enough, predicted the Volt, for 36 miles. At that rate, 95 miles would cost $3.90–the approximate price of one gallon of (Chevy-specified) premium gasoline, ergo 95 "mpg" from electricity.
But these numbers don't look as impressive when you factor in the Volt's $44,680 sticker price as tested. That's a 65 percent/$17,680 premium over a $27,000 Prius, money that could buy 4,600 gallons of gas–enough to take that Prius 230,000 miles; it's 80 percent/$19,680 more than a $25,000 Jetta diesel, money that would buy 5,000 gallons of diesel to take the VW 170,000 miles. This is the downside to the technologically smart Volt in the stark context of dollars and sense. But if you want a comfortable car with a small carbon footprint, perhaps those attributes will overrule the accountant in you.
If the accountant can just buzz off, go test drive a Caddy CTS-V wagon before you buy anything made in Germany. The wagon part makes this car more of a hauler than you'd expect from anything that's this much fun to drive, and it makes you wonder why BMW hasn't imported the M5 wagon to the U.S. Total cargo capacity with the rear seats folded down is 58 cubic feet.
The CTS-V sedan got a warm reception in these pages (February/March 2009) and the wagon is more of a good thing. It continues to blow me away that this great car–complete with 556 hp, three-pedal manual six-speed gearbox, form-fitting Recaro seats and magnetic ride control that reads the road and adjusts to it 1,000 times a second–comes from General Motors. The American muscle car of old done right today, it packs some fearsome punch and goes around curves and drops anchor (Brembos all around) with plenty more reserves than you'll need to dip into on public roads.


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By Ed Patino
HILLSDALE � Hayley Maystead capped her record setting week by adding another to her collection.
The senior broke her own school record by scoring 39 points and leading the Hillsdale High School girls basketball team to a convincing 74-40 victory over the Hudson Tigers in a Lenawee County Athletic Association game Friday before a spirit winter homecoming crowd.
Maystead's 39 points broke the previous record of 36, which she had tied earlier this season. In Tuesday's game at Brooklyn Columbia Central, Maystead set the Hillsdale girls basketball career scoring record. Maystead now has 1,244 career points, including 399 this season.
"Hayley came close to a triple double tonight, and a lot of her points came off her defense," Hillsdale coach Nick Langston said. "We had balanced scoring early in the game, and we need that. We're making strides at the right time, and we'll need to do that against some of the elite teams."
Hillsdale (10-6, 5-5 LCAA) took command of the game early and never let up. The Hornets opened the game on a 21-5 run in the first quarter. Hudson (0-14, 0-9 LCAA) found its offense in the second quarter, but the Hornets carried a 31-21 lead into halftime.
That would be as close as the Tigers would come, however, as Hillsdale outscored them 19-9 in the third quarter, then added 24 more points in the fourth to pull away.
"We try to make (homecoming) a special night for the program, and I'm glad we were able to perform like we did tonight," Langston said. "We have six of our players on the homecoming court, so that show they can be athletes and ladies at the same time."
Maystead grabbed 12 rebounds and handed out nine assists to go with her 39 points. Jamee Thompson had nine points and six rebounds, while Maddie Eves scored eight points. Whitney Hodge scored six points and forced three steals and Kim Sanderson had five points.
"Jamee knocked down some big 3's for us and Sarah Maple had a good game off the bench," Langston said.
Emily Ladd scored 27 points to lead Hudson.
The Hornets will host Blissfield in another LCAA game Tuesday. Hillsdale will look to avenge its Jan. 8 road loss to the Royals.
Maystead's record night lifts Hillsdale girls