text:
Author Affiliations: The Generation R Study Group (Mss Tromp and Kiefte-de Jong and Drs Lebon and Jaddoe) and Departments of Epidemiology (Drs Jaddoe and Hofman), Pediatrics (Mss Tromp and Kiefte-de Jong and Drs Lebon, Jaddoe, and Moll), and Pediatrics/Respiratory Medicine (Dr de Jongste), Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; and Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Department of Health Sciences and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Vrije Universiteit (VU University), Amsterdam, the Netherlands (Dr Renders).
Objective To examine whether the timing of introduction of the allergenic foods cow's milk, hen's egg, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and gluten is associated with eczema and wheezing in children 4 years of age or younger.
Design Population-based prospective cohort study from fetal life until young adulthood.
Setting Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from April 2002 through January 2006.
Participants A total of 6905 preschool children participating in the Generation R study.
Main Exposure Timing of introduction of cow's milk, hen's egg, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and gluten collected by questionnaires at 6 and 12 months of age.
Main Outcome Measures Information on the outcomes eczema and wheezing were obtained by questions from the age-adapted version of the "International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood" core questionnaire and questionnaire data on parentally reported physician diagnosis for eczema.
Results Of 6905 children, wheezing was reported in 31% at age 2 years and in 14% at ages 3 and 4 years. Eczema was reported in 38%, 20%, and 18% of children at the ages of 2, 3, and 4 years, respectively. The introduction of cow's milk, hen's egg, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and gluten before the age of 6 months was not significantly associated with eczema or wheezing at any age after adjustment for potential confounders (P > .10 for all comparisons). The results did not alter after stratification according to the child's history of cow's milk allergy and parental history of atopy.
Conclusion This study does not support the recommendation for delayed introduction of allergenic foods after age 6 months for the prevention of eczema and wheezing.
The prevalence of atopic diseases in children has been increasing over the past few decades1 and varies throughout the world.2 Atopic diseases, including atopic eczema, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food allergy, are common in childhood and cause a very significant burden.3,4 Atopic diseases are complex and multifactorial, involving genetic and environmental factors.5 An important environmental factor that may influence the development of atopic diseases is early childhood nutrition. The first year of life includes many transitions in food consumption.6 Introduction of complementary feeding is essential for both developmental and nutritional concerns. The timing of complementary feeding is particularly important given the maturation of the gastrointestinal and renal systems.7Quiz Ref IDHealth risks that have been suggested to be associated with early complementary feeding include excessive child weight gain,8 increased body mass index,9 respiratory illness during childhood,10 and autoimmune diseases (eg, type 1 diabetes mellitus11 and celiac disease12).
Recommendations for the timing of complementary feeding vary. The European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology,13 The European Society for Paediatic Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN),14 and the American Association of Pediatrics15 recommend delaying introduction of solid foods until a child is 4 to 6 months of age. However, the ESPGHAN recommends that introduction of complementary feeding should not be delayed beyond the age of 6½ months.14 There is no current convincing evidence that delayed complementary feeding beyond the age of 4 to 6 months is protective for the development of atopic diseases.13,15- 18 In addition, few studies found early complementary feeding to be associated with an increased risk of atopic disorders such as eczema.16,19,20 Some studies even found an increased risk for atopic disease in relation to delayed food introduction.21,22
It has been suggested that a family history of atopic disease is associated with a significantly increased risk for development of atopic disease in childhood.23 However, avoidance or delayed introduction of potentially allergenic foods has not been convincingly shown to reduce allergies, either in children considered at risk for the development of allergy or in those not considered to be at risk.14 Muraro et al23 found that most children who develop atopic disease, particularly recurrent wheezing and asthma, during early childhood do not belong to high-risk groups for development of atopic disease.
Quiz Ref IDWhether delayed introduction of allergenic foods could decrease the risk of atopic diseases is controversial. Therefore, our aim was to examine whether the timing of introduction of the following allergenic foods—cow's milk, hen's egg, peanuts, tree nuts, soy and gluten—is associated with eczema and wheezing in children up to 4 years of age. In addition, we aimed to assess whether the association differs between children with and those without a history of cow's milk allergy in the first year of life and those children with and those without a parental history of atopy.
Quiz Ref IDThis study was embedded in the Generation R study, a population-based prospective cohort study from fetal life until young adulthood, and has been described in detail previously.24,25 Consent for postnatal follow-up was provided by a total of 7893 mothers with a delivery date between April 2002 and January 2006. The study was approved by the medical ethical review board of the Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
For children aged 2, 3, and 4 years, questions from the age-adapted version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) core questionnaires on asthma and eczema were used. These questions were made suitable for younger children and have been used in several articles on this cohort.26Quiz Ref IDInformation was also available from questionnaire data on parentally reported physician diagnosis for eczema. Questionnaire response rates were 69%, 64%, and 63% at the ages of 2, 3, and 4 years, respectively. Eczema and wheezing were defined as present or absent in the child's second, third, and fourth years of life.
When the child was 6 and 12 months old, parents were asked by questionnaire about the child's age at first introduction of cow's milk (4855 children), hen's egg (4505 children), peanuts (4478 children), tree nuts (4431 children), soy (4658 children), and gluten (4734 children) in their infant's diet. Also at these times, parents were asked to complete a short food-frequency questionnaire about food products frequently consumed, according to a Dutch food consumption survey in children.27 Subsequently, the reported food products introduced were cross-checked with the short food-frequency questionnaires. For example, if, when their child was 12 months old, the parents indicated that they had never introduced peanuts into their child's diet, yet when their child was 6 months old, the parents had indicated that their child had consumed peanut butter more than once, the introduction of this allergen was considered to be at or before 6 months of age. In addition, the first introductions of cow's milk and soy were also cross-checked with the type of bottle feeding (soy-based or based on fully hydrolyzed whey protein or not) used at the ages of 6 and 12 months.
Variables possibly related to eczema and wheezing, such as sex, gestational age, and birth weight, were obtained from obstetric records assessed in midwife practices and hospital registries.25 In addition, potential confounders and mediators were accessed through a combination of prenatal and postnatal questionnaires completed by both parents and included information on race/ethnicity; maternal socioeconomic status (SES); maternal smoking; parity; and family history of asthma, eczema, hay fever or allergic rhinitis, and allergy to house dust. The race/ethnicity of the child was defined as follows: if both parents were born in the Netherlands, the race/ethnicity of the child was defined as Dutch; if one of the parents was born in a country other than the Netherlands, that country applied; if parents were born in countries other than the Netherlands, the country of the mother applied.28 Maternal SES was defined according to educational level as follows: low level was defined as no education, primary school, or less than 3 years of secondary school; midlevel as more than 3 years of secondary school, higher vocational training, or a bachelor's degree; and high level as an academic education.29 Postnatal questionnaires completed by the mothers at 6, 12, and 24 months included information on the general health of the child (ie, medication use, comorbidity), day care attendance, and the consumption of food products. Data on breastfeeding were collected by delivery reports and postnatal questionnaires at the ages of 2, 6, and 12 months. Breastfeeding was classified as (1) never; (2) exclusively for 6 months; (3) exclusively for 4 months and partially at 6 months; (4) exclusively for 4 months, with no breastfeeding at 6 months; (5) partially for 6 months; or (6) partially for 4 months, with no breastfeeding at 6 months. In addition, information on the presence of cow's milk allergy was obtained by questionnaire at the ages of 6 and 12 months by asking parents whether their child had been seen by a physician because of cow's milk allergy. When the child was 24 months old, parents were asked about the number of physician-attended respiratory tract infections acquired by the child and use of antibiotics during the past 12 months. Information on gastroenteritis was obtained by asking parents about their child's bowel movements and defined as any episode of diarrhea accompanied by fever. Body mass index (BMI) at 24 months was calculated from the child's weight and height available from child health centers. Being overweight was defined according to age- and sex-dependent BMI thresholds for young children from Cole et al.30
To avoid the influence of metabolic disorders and clustering, the following children were excluded in the analyses for this study: twinborn (238 children); siblings within the Generation R cohort (343 children); those with presence of a congenital heart condition (47 children); those with anemia between the ages of 12 and 24 months (58 children); and those with growth retardation, defined as height for age minus 2 standard deviations based on the Netherlands growth curves of children 12 to 24 months old (163 children).31 The presence of a congenital heart condition and anemia were defined according to parentally reported physician diagnosis obtained by questionnaire. Children whose parents did not provide informed consent for the use of questionnaire data were also excluded (135 children). To prevent bias associated with missing data, variables with missing values were multiple imputed (5 imputations) based on the correlation between the variable with missing values with other patient characteristics32,33 according to the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method. Consequently, data for 6905 children were available after multiple imputation for statistical analyses.
Logistic regression analyses were performed with eczema and wheezing at ages 2, 3, and 4 years separately as dependent variables. Introductions of allergenic foods in the first year of life were analyzed as independent variables and adjusted for potential confounders and mediators (ie, sex, maternal SES, race/ethnicity, maternal smoking, gestational age, birth weight, parity, breastfeeding, use of any antibiotics, day care attendance, gastroenteritis, number of respiratory tract infections, overweight, parental history of atopy). The selection of potential confounders and mediators was performed by the alteration in odds ratios (ORs). The potential confounder or mediator was kept in the multivariate model in case of an alteration of 10% or greater in OR. To assess whether the association between the timing of allergenic food introduction and wheezing and eczema was different among children with a history of cow's milk allergy and parental history of atopy vs those without, statistical interaction was evaluated by adding the product term of the independent variable and subgroup (independent variable × subgroup) as covariate to the univariate model. Stratified analyses by history of cow's milk allergy or parental history of atopy were performed when the statistical interaction was significant (eTables 1-4). The pooled results of the 5 imputed data sets are reported in this article as ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). P <.05 was considered as statistically significant. The statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software (version 17.0 for Windows; SPSS Inc, Chicago, Illinois).
Maternal and child characteristics of the study population are presented in Table 1. Of 6905 children, 31% had reported wheezing at age 2 years and 14% at ages 3 and 4 years. Eczema was reported in 38%, 20%, and 18% of children at the ages of 2, 3, and 4 years, respectively.
The introduction of tree nuts before the age of 6 months was significantly associated with wheezing at 2 years of age (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.25-5.73). However, this association was explained by sex, maternal SES, race/ethnicity, maternal smoking, gestational age, birth weight, parity, breastfeeding, use of any antibiotics, day care attendance, gastroenteritis, number of respiratory tract infections, overweight, and parental history of atopy (Table 2). No significant association was found between early introduction to tree nuts and wheezing at age 3 years (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.70-2.20) or 4 years (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 0.79-2.13) (Table 2). In addition, no significant association was found between early introduction to tree nuts and eczema up to age 4 years (Table 3). The introduction of cow's milk, hen's egg, peanuts, soy, and gluten to an infant's diet before the age of 6 months was not significantly associated with wheezing (Table 2) or eczema (Table 3) at any age. These results were independent of sex, maternal SES, race/ethnicity, maternal smoking, gestational age, birth weight, parity, breastfeeding, use of any antibiotics, day care attendance, gastroenteritis, number of respiratory tract infections, overweight, and parental history of atopy. Additional adjustment for potential mediator history of cow's milk allergy did not alter the results for wheezing or eczema (data not shown).
A history of cow's milk allergy in the first year of life was more frequently found in children with reported wheezing and eczema than in children without reported wheezing and eczema (P ≤ .05 for difference in history of cow's milk allergy at the ages of 2, 3, and 4 years). A parental history of atopy was also more frequently found in children with reported wheezing (P = .24, P < .01, and P = .11 for difference in parental history at the ages of 2, 3, and 4 years, respectively) and eczema (P < .05 for difference in parental history at the ages of 2, 3, and 4 years) (eTable 1). Although a significant interaction was found with a history of cow's milk allergy for the introduction of peanuts and gluten (eTable 2), no significant association was found after stratification by history of cow's milk allergy (eTable 3). No interaction was found between the timing of introduction of food allergens and parental history of atopy (eTable 4).
Quiz Ref IDThis population-based prospective birth cohort study failed to demonstrate that the timing of introduction of allergenic foods (cow's milk, hen's egg, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and gluten) was associated with eczema and wheezing in children 4 years or younger. The results did not alter after stratification for history of cow's milk allergy or parental history of atopy.
Various current feeding guidelines recommend complementary feeding to be introduced when a child is older than 4 to 6 months.13- 15 However, there is no current convincing evidence that delayed complementary feeding until a child is older than 4 to 6 months is protective for the development of atopic disease.13,15- 18 Few previous studies found earlier complementary feeding, before a child is 4 months of age, to be positively associated with atopic diseases as eczema and wheezing.10,19,34 In a birth cohort in the Christchurch Child Development Study in New Zealand, eczema rates were found to be significantly higher in infants who were introduced to solid foods before 4 months of age.19,34 A study of a cohort of children in Dundee, Scotland, found solid feeding before 15 weeks to be associated with an increased probability of wheezing during childhood.10 However, these studies did not assess whether a longer delay of complementary feeding, until a child is older than 6 months, had a additional protective effect on eczema and wheezing.
The results of this study are in agreement with the findings of other birth cohort studies. The Influences of Lifestyle-related Factors on the Immune System and the Development of Allergies in Childhood (LISA) birth cohort study found no evidence supporting a delayed introduction of solid foods beyond age 6 months for the prevention of eczema at age 2 years35 and no evidence supporting a delayed introduction beyond ages 4 or 6 months for the prevention of asthma at age 6 years.17 Filipiak et al18 also did not find evidence supporting delayed introduction of solid foods beyond 4 months of age or delayed introduction of the most potentially allergenic solids beyond 6 months for the prevention of eczema. In addition, a birth cohort study in the United Kingdom found no evidence for a protective effect of late introduction for the development of eczema or wheezing at ages 5 to 5 years.22 Conversely, this last study found a significantly increased risk of eczema in relation to late introduction of the allergenic foods egg and milk. The KOALA birth cohort study21 found that a delayed introduction of cow's milk was associated with a higher risk of eczema in the first 2 years of life. The latter association could possibly be explained by reverse causation since parents with a family history of atopy or infants with early symptoms of allergy may delay complementary feeding. Possible distortion by reverse causality has been suggested previously.35
An important strength of this study is the large study population drawn from the general population. Several other studies selected children of atopic parents who are at higher risk of developing atopic diseases, which might have led to selection bias since atopic parents are more likely to introduce allergenic foods later in the infant's diet. An additional strength is the use of multiple imputation for missing data. Consequently, attrition bias was of minimum concern.32,33
Some limitations of the study have to be considered in the interpretation of the results. Information on the timing of allergenic food introduction was asked retrospectively when the child was 6 and 12 months old; therefore, minor misclassification because of recall bias cannot be excluded. However, this would have influenced our results only if parents of children with wheezing or eczema tended to misclassify having introduced allergenic foods after 6 months of age instead of before 6 months of age. Eczema and wheezing were diagnosed on the basis of parent-reported questionnaires. This could have led to misclassification of the outcome since physician diagnosis provides more accurate outcome diagnosis. Yet, we do not expect this misclassification to have influenced the effect of timing of food allergen introduction in particular, given that the outcome was measured after the introduction period. Another limitation of this study was that it could not examine the effect of allergenic food introduction before the age of 4 months in relation to eczema and wheezing. Thus, our study precludes conclusions on the effect of very early introduction of allergenic foods. However, Zutavern et al17 found no evidence supporting a delayed introduction of solid foods beyond 4 or 6 months of age for the prevention of asthma at the age of 6 years. For eczema any effect of a delayed introduction of solids could not be excluded.
Asthma assessment among young children is based on asthmalike symptoms, such as wheezing, often reported by parents through self-administered written questionnaires. Early wheezing in infancy is, however, not a very strong and independent predictor of childhood asthma. Diagnosis of asthma is difficult in young children, owing to the nonspecificity of the symptoms and the fact that conventional lung function tests cannot be performed at such a young age.36 Therefore, our results do not allow for conclusions regarding the introduction of allergenic foods and later development of asthma. However, previous studies found that an infant's diet has a greater effect on short-term outcomes of atopic diseases than on long term-outcomes.7 Therefore, we do not expect the effect of the introduction of allergenic foods to influence the results for eczema and wheezing differently at ages older than 4 years.
We considered confounding and reverse causality in our analysis by adjusting for potential confounders and by evaluating statistical interaction for history of cow's milk allergy and parental history of atopy. However, residual confounding and residual reverse causality cannot be fully excluded. Reverse causation may occur if a delayed introduction of allergenic foods is truly protective for wheezing and eczema and parents of high-risk infants were more likely to delay the introduction of allergenic foods after 6 months of age, which may cancel out the effect.
In conclusion, the results presented in this study do not support a delayed introduction of allergenic foods at an age older than 6 months for the prevention of atopic diseases eczema and wheezing. Further studies in our cohort should focus on asthma and eczema at later ages in order to elucidate whether late introduction of food allergens delays the onset of atopic disease.
Correspondence: Henriëtte A. Moll, MD, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center, PO Box 2060, 3000 CB Rotterdam, the Netherlands (email@example.com).
Accepted for Publication: March 15, 2011.
Published Online: June 6, 2011. doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.93
Author Contributions: All authors had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data, the accuracy of the data analysis, and the decision to submit for publication. Study concept and design: Tromp, Kiefte-de Jong, Lebon, Jaddoe, Hofman, and Moll. Acquisition of data: Tromp, Kiefte-de Jong, Lebon, Jaddoe, Hofman, and Moll. Analysis and interpretation of data: Tromp, Kiefte-de Jong, Lebon, Renders, and de Jongste. Drafting of the manuscript: Tromp and Kiefte-de Jong. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Kiefte-de Jong, Lebon, Renders, Jaddoe, Hofman, de Jongste, and Moll. Statistical analysis: Tromp and Kiefte-de Jong. Obtained funding: Jaddoe and Hofman. Administrative, technical, and material support: Jaddoe and Hofman. Study supervision: Kiefte-de Jong, Renders, Hofman, and Moll. Nutritional background: Kiefte-de Jong. Allergic disease background: de Jongste.
Financial Disclosure: None reported.
Funding/Support: This phase of the Generation R Study was supported by the Erasmus Medical Center, the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Organization for Health Research and Development (Zon Mw) and Europe Container Terminals B.V.
Role of the Sponsors: The funders had no role in the design of the study; the data collection and analyses; the interpretation of data; the preparation and review of the manuscript; and the decision to submit the manuscript.
Online-Only Material: This article is featured in the Archives Journal Club. Go to here to download teaching PowerPoint slides.
Additional Information: The Generation R Study is conducted by the Erasmus Medical Center in close collaboration with the School of Law and Faculty of Social Sciences of the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Municipal Health Service–Rotterdam Metropolitan Area, the Rotterdam Homecare Foundation, and the Stichting Trombosedienst & Artsenlaboratorium Rijnmond.
Additional Contributions: We acknowledge the contributions of children and parents, general practitioners, hospitals, and midwives in Rotterdam.
Thank you for submitting a comment on this article. It will be reviewed by JAMA Pediatrics editors. You will be notified when your comment has been published. Comments should not exceed 500 words of text and 10 references.
Do not submit personal medical questions or information that could identify a specific patient, questions about a particular case, or general inquiries to an author. Only content that has not been published, posted, or submitted elsewhere should be submitted. By submitting this Comment, you and any coauthors transfer copyright to the journal if your Comment is posted.
* = Required Field
Disclosure of Any Conflicts of Interest*
Indicate all relevant conflicts of interest of each author below, including all relevant financial interests, activities, and relationships within the past 3 years including, but not limited to, employment, affiliation, grants or funding, consultancies, honoraria or payment, speakers' bureaus, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, royalties, donation of medical equipment, or patents planned, pending, or issued. If all authors have none, check "No potential conflicts or relevant financial interests" in the box below. Please also indicate any funding received in support of this work. The information will be posted with your response.
Some tools below are only available to our subscribers or users with an online account.
Download citation file:
Customize your page view by dragging & repositioning the boxes below.
More Listings atJAMACareerCenter.com >
Enter your username and email address. We'll send you a link to reset your password.
Enter your username and email address. We'll send instructions on how to reset your password to the email address we have on record.
Need assistance?
Athens and Shibboleth are access management services that provide single sign-on to protected resources. They replace the multiple user names and passwords necessary to access subscription-based content with a single user name and password that can be entered once per session. It operates independently of a user's location or IP address. If your institution uses Athens or Shibboleth authentication, please contact your site administrator to receive your user name and password.


text:
Top Definition
Referring to one's scale of drunkenness, this is the point in the night when, unless you choose to drink more, you're drunkenness level will surely begin to sink.
Kelly took one look at her flask and knew the choice came down to one simple fact: drink it or sink it.
dari Dude Brooooo Jumat, 23 Januari 2009
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Extended breastfeeding- how do I do this?
Anne asked me a question today about extended breastfeeding: ...The one thing that was hard for me was the inability to really go away anywhere w/o baby, even for a night or two. (My first had a horrible time with a bottle) I'd love to know how you handle this?
I think a big part of extended breastfeeding and attachment parenting I suppose, for me, is always having baby near. That means I keep my baby with me until I feel we both are able to handle being apart (as well as whoever is watching the baby being capable to night parent as I would .) Recently I left Ivy for one over night (she is 21 months old). I never left Gray until he was older than 2, I just wasn't ready and neither was he.
A big part of this belief, or desire, is that this is what I want.
Of course I would love to get away, go on adults-only trips, go to blog conferences like BlogHer in New York, but I want MORE to be with my nursing child and family right now. Call it a sacrifice if you must, but for me it's just a choice.
(I recently sent a best friend a note about motherhood journeys. This is my motherhood journey and it will probably look very different from your own.) (And that's ok. And actually how it should be.)
Babywearing and changing the world- how can we help?
Baby So Smart has put a call out for help to mothers in Honduras. Please take a moment when you can to read about this beautiful and worthy cause.
Have any babywearing or attachment parenting questions you'd like to ask? I will certainly try to answer according to my own humble mothering experiences, in the comments below.


text:
Ariat® Ladies' Fatbaby Boots
The Ariat® Ladies' Fatbaby Boots are highly fashionable, yet fully functional as a western riding boot. Stirrup friendly, lightweight Pro Crepe™ outsole and Duratread™ heel make a great boot for riding, working or going out for a night of fun! Read more...
The Ladies' Fatbaby Boots by Ariat® are a highly versatile boot for wearing to the ranch or to the rodeo, or from riding to going out for fun! Both fashionable and functional, they are stirrup friendly, and made with Ariat's ATS® insole technology providing stability, support and cushioning. The Pro Crepe™ outsole is durable, lightweight and has long-lasting cushioning for your feet, while the Duratread™ heel helps resist slipping. 8" shaft height.
Premier product - this product is not eligible for any discounts off the purchase price.
Overall Rating: 4 StarsAverage Based on 1 Reviews Write a Review
The camo one are one of best but i have order stuff from here always git here on time so jst try them and you will see how good there are and bet u will start orderin from them
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed - Your Money Back Any Time, for Any Reason.
Smith Brothers is proud to offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our products. We stand behind the quality of our products, and should you not be satisfied with your purchase, simply return it and we will refund, replace or exchange it for you.


text:
KIHEI - A multifamily home in Kihei was gutted by a fire Sunday afternoon that destroyed all of the home's contents and displaced two adults and two children.
"We don't have clothes, we don't have food, we don't have anything," resident Liezel Cambe said. "I don't know what to do."
At about 1:45 p.m., fire crews from Wailea, Kihei, Kahului and Makawao responded to a house fire at 204 Humupea Place in Kihei, finding flames coming from the rear of the home, Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga said. He said that the fire was under control at 3:25 p.m. and extinguished about 2 hours later.
Article Video
No injuries were reported.
Cambe had been renting a back portion of the house since November and resided in the house with her two children and a man.
She said that the landlords are in the Philippines. According to county property tax records, the 2,256-square-foot property is registered to Eliseo Malinnag Bagorio II and Dina Matias Bagorio.
Article Photos
A multifamily home in Kihei was destroyed by fire Sunday afternoon
The Maui News / CHRIS SUGIDONO photo
Liezel Cambe (right) sits with daughter April Joy Agapay as she watches firefighters and police officers tend to her Kihei residence, which was destroyed by a fire Sunday afternoon.
The Maui News / CHRIS SUGIDONO photo
Maui firefighters battle a blaze at a home in South Maui. The fire gutted the home and displaced four residents.
Maui Tunes Entertainment & Productions photo
The one-story house, its yard and fence were blackened by the blaze. The wooden structure was still standing but had holes in the roof and the windows were broken with the interior barren.
"I have no memories," said Cambe's 15-year-old daughter, April Joy Agapay, who attends Maui High School. "My cheerleading stuff, my school stuff. . . . It was all smoking, and I just started to cry.
"I was scared."
Article Map
According to Cambe, she, her boyfriend, her daughter, her landlord's brother and his friend were inside the home before the fire started.
"We were doing barbecue in the backyard, talking story and eating," Cambe said of the meal at about noon. "My daughter was in the front of the house watching TV, and then I took her with me to go shopping.
"Before I left the house, I made sure everything was safe, and then my sister called me up saying my house was on fire."
"I didn't know what to think or do," Agapay said. "We raced over and I was like shaking in the car."
Cambe's boyfriend was not available for comment at the scene. The two other men did not speak English.
"When I got down here, the ambulance, the Fire Department and the police were already here and then started talking to my landlord's brother, and I had to explain to the police what he was saying," Cambe said. "I left the house and made sure I turned off everything and that's why I'm wondering what happened."
Neighbors near the house in the cul-de-sac saw the men inside the house try to fight the fire, which was coming from the rear of the property.
"Some guys passing by were yelling fire, fire," said Kasey Villa, who lives across the street from the home. "My brother and boyfriend ran out to see what was going on and there were like four other guys out there trying to put out the fire, but the house was already engulfed in flames - the back of the house, the bushes, everything."
Cory Mina, Villa's boyfriend, talked to the two men passing by and yelling about the fire and learned that they were from Oahu and on their way to Home Depot when they saw the fire.
"Nobody knew that the fire started until those two guys showed up," he said.
Mina and Villa's brother, Ruben Villa, ran across the street and saw the house go up in flames within minutes.
"We ended up running down there and saw two local guys throwing coolers of ice at the fire and one using a water hose," Ruben Villa said. "By the time we got to the back of the house, it was already in flames and when we saw a couple of propane tanks we ended up digging."
Justin Horne, who lives one house up the street, was watching TV when he noticed a neighbor running down the street toward the cul-de-sac.
"I smelled smoke, but I thought someone was cooking something and burnt it," he said. "When I went out to the street, I could see people running from the area and people across the street yelling to get people out of the house. I saw the house up in flames. . . . It was pretty bad already."
Despite losing her residence, Cambe embraced her 10-year-old son and said that she was lucky she didn't lose him, since he normally sleeps in a room near the back of the property. Agapay said that her brother was supposed to be home sometime before the fire.
"I'm lucky my son was in Pukalani with my ex-husband, because sometimes he'll go to the room and sleep without telling us," Cambe said.
The Red Cross offered its assistance to the displaced residents, county director Michele Liberty said.
"We're providing assistance with the families and things to get them through the initial disaster," she said. "Workers will continue to follow them, just to ensure their needs are met."
During the fire, Piilani Highway was closed between Kaiwahine Street and Moi Place at about 2 p.m. due to smoke obscuring visibility. The highway was reopened an hour later, according to county officials.
Oceanic Time Warner Cable and Hawaiian Telecom received calls about lost service and their crews responded to the scene around 4 p.m.
Tony Pruett, manager of Maui field operations with Hawaiian Telecom, was parked on the side of Piilani Highway near the scene of the fire and said that his company was actively trying to send a crew in to fix the singed cables running parallel to the highway and hanging above the rear of the home.
Mainaga said that the home was totally destroyed by the fire. The estimated damages are $450,000 to the structure and $150,000 to its contents.
The police Criminal Investigation Division and fire officials were conducting an investigation on the fire.
* Chris Sugidono can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Our Terms of Use (click here to view) have changed. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our new Terms of Use.
Describes electron configurations of lanthanides and actinides and uses of lanthanides and actinides.
Americium is atomic number 95 on the periodic table and is also a member of the actinide series. Watch this video to see how Americium is used in smoke detectors and could be used as a power source for space travel in the future!
Reviews the electron configurations and uses of lanthanides and actinides.
Learn about the crucial roles that rare earth elements play in modern technology.


text:
Original images via ESPN
Original images via ESPN
Tony Romo's binder is full of interceptions, indeed. And he follows the playbook to the T.
Romo would like to clarify that even though he has binders full of interceptions, he still fully respects and cares about each and every individual interception that he throws.
Ed Werder reports that the Romo binder contains a soiled pair of Jessica Simpson's panties (in plastic).
Hardly seems big enough to contain the panties.
He dated her before the "balloon affect" took place. But I like where you went with that.
Oh, the memories he'll have!
The binder full of interceptions is the Meast of this week's LOLNFL.
I know this might damage my cred, but I'm man enough to admit my ignorance. What is #6 referencing?
Nothing. Above the photo is "No joke, I just love this picture and want to remember it forever"
Slides 1 and 4 are truly delicious
They make a funny in my tummy.
It appears Romo and Romney have something in common. Binders full of something. Shit.
keep your politics out of my LOL.
They kept showing #8 on all the highlight shows, but I wondered why no one was mentioning the fact that the O-lineman was behind the runner, pushing. I enjoyed the clip and enjoy the LOLNFL hover tag.
It reminds me of when Nelson Muntz (or Wilbur Munch) doing something similar with Bart
The Browns have realized the best chance Richardson has to gain positive yardage is if he just blocks for himself.
Wait until next year when Richardson will be blocking for himself and will be the team's quarterback.
He'll lead the Browns to the playoffs and Mr. Brown will continue to make dismissive wanks. It's the ultimate mind game to inspire Richardson, dontcha know.
So Boris Johnson went to the game in his Halloween costume – a privileged zombie.


text:
Top Definition
While a man lays on his back on the dining room table as if he is the centerpiece at a tea party, a woman comes up and puts her vagina on his head while another man tea bags the first guy while shoving a cupcake in the girls face.
Man, last night at the tea party, things got so crazy "the mad hatter" showed up.
додав Thegang2 26 Грудня 2013
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?


text:
Men's and Women's S&D Travel to IUPUI
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State men's and women's swimming and diving teams will head down to the IU Natatorium to face IUPUI and Xavier on Friday, Jan. 11. This will mark the first competition for BSU in 2013.
The women last competed in the House of Champions, at the IU Natatorium, where they earned third place. Junior Bridgette Ruehl (Lowell, Ind./Lowell) led the way with two individual wins.
The men were last in action at the Eastern Michigan Invitational where they placed fourth. Several Cardinals improved their times and finished in the top 10.
Be sure to check ballstatesports.com for results.


text:
The poised star of The Mindy Project looked pretty in pink on Wednesday as she stood in front a huge room full of people and admitted, "I love praise."
Conducting the opening statements at The Hollywood Reporter's annual Women in Entertainment breakfast, which honored Diane Keaton, Kaling said praising the Academy Award-winning actress "is enjoyable because she is so self-deprecating. She literally invented the art of gracefully deflecting praise. I could learn something from her."
Guests at the Beverly Hills Hotel-held event burst out in laughter, as Kaling went on to say, "I love hearing [praise]. I love calling my dad and reliving it for him. I love reliving it to myself in the car on the way back from something, listening to hip-hop music and just thinking."
Added the former costar of The Office, "I even like it when the praise is only halfway. Like, 'Isn't it refreshing to see an unconventionally attractive, chubby woman of color running a television show?' " In her no-holds-barred speech, Kaling also admitted that she was wearing Spanx for the event.
At the breakfast, presented by Lifetime, guests were also treated to inspirational speeches by several other powerful women in Hollywood, including Elizabeth Banks, Kerry Washington – and Keaton herself.
While sipping on mimosas and coffee, guests munched o nfruit, potatoes, frittatas and assorted pastries. The uplifting morning concluded with the presentation of a Samsung inspirational board, which had powerful messages submitted by Washington, among others.
–Dahvi Shira
Spot a celebrity? Tweet us your sighting— People magazine (@peoplemag) August 7, 2012
@peoplemag with #CITA and it could appear on PEOPLE.com!


text:
South Dakota Merchandise & USD Coyotes Apparel from the Official University of South Dakota Fan Shop
USD Clothing and Coyotes Gear at the Official University of South Dakota Shop
The Official USD Store has the biggest selection of South Dakota Coyotes Merchandise for fans and alumni. Find USD Coyotes Clothing for men, women and kids in the latest styles from top sportswear brands like adidas so you'll always look good while showing off your Coyote pride. Shop the most in-demand USD Coyotes Apparel to cheer on the Coyotes football, soccer and basketball teams in. At the Official University of South Dakota Shop we stock an endless assortment of USD Clothes and Attire for all students and alumni.
Get something for everyone on your list when you shop our awesome assortment of South Dakota Coyotes Gifts including the best variety of quality USD Products. Buy your new South Dakota Gear from the Official Shop of South Dakota Coyotes Sports today and take advantage of our fast 3-day shipping for just $4.99 on your entire order.


text:
Technical information
|Starting point:
|Heiden train station
|Rorschach Hafen train station
|Getting to the starting point:
|by train from Rorschach, by bus from St. Gallen
|Getting to the destination:
|by train from St. Gallen, Buchs, Sargans
|Physical fitness:
|Hiking time:
|3h - 3h30
|April to November (by boat from May to September)
|Heiden – Wolfhalden –Walzenhausen
Get to know the sly-witted Appenzeller humor and lose yourself in the fabulous landscape of Appenzeller Land with its breathtaking view of Lake Constance, extending as far as southern Germany, the Rhine Delta and the Bay of Bregenz. On about 40 signposts you will find some of the funniest Appenzeller jokes. Söndi, the Joke Trail mascot, has packed an adventure backpack for the young guests. With this backpack the hike on the Joke Trail is even more exciting and diverse. We are not disclosing the contents of the backpack, but will say this much: besides a quiz there are also materials for crafts and a sweet treat. The activities included in the backpack are carried out directly on the trail. The combination of hiking tour and adventure ride is considered a secret tip. With the fantastic round-trip ticket, you can explore Appenzeller Land above Lake Constance in an ingenious and comfortable way aboard two mountain trains and a cruise ship.
Tour Overview
3D hiking map Download GPX coordinates Download KMZ (GoogleEarth)
The careful planning of a tour will ensure that you also derive the maximum pleasure and enjoyment from it. Please take the time to contact the local information centre and enquire about route and weather conditions before setting off. Your intended trail may be fully or partially closed, depending on the time of year and weather conditions.


text:
When you order fish off the menu at a restaurant, there are many common options: Snapper, Cod, Chilean Sea Bass. But the names on the menu can mean many things.
Full CoverageCommitment 2016
Seafood: What is really being put on your plate?UPDATED 11:53 PM CST Feb 25, 2013
CommentsThe views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.blog comments powered by Disqus


text:
- Sign-In to Store Account
Sign In to the LexisNexis StoreForgot Username/Password?
- Register
- Customer Service
- LexisNexis on FacebookLexisNexis on Twitter
Rhode Island Criminal and Traffic Law Manual
Publisher: LexisNexis Law Enforcement
Fingertip access to criminal law and procedure, motor vehicle law, juvenile law, and many related statutes!
Buy more and save. For volume discounts contact your sales representative or call 1-877-394-8826.
Available Formats
- Bundle:Book + eBook:epub
- for e-readers, including Adobe® Digital Editions, Apple® iPad®, SONY® Reader
- Bundle:Book + eBook:mobi
- for Mobipocket readers including Amazon® Kindle®
- eBook: epub
- for e-readers, including Adobe® Digital Editions, Apple® iPad®, SONY® Reader
- eBook: mobi
- for Mobipocket readers including Amazon® Kindle®
Publisher:LexisNexis Law Enforcement
Publisher:LexisNexis Law Enforcement
Publisher:LexisNexis Electronic Publications
Publisher:LexisNexis Electronic Publications
Recommended Products
K9 Officer's Legal Handbook, Second Edition with 2014 Supplement
Know and understand the unique legal issues faced by dog handlers.
Buy more and save. For volume discounts contact your sales representative or call 1-877-394-8826.
Management and Supervision of Law Enforcement Personnel, Fifth Edition
Comprehensive and expert management guidebook for law enforcement supervisors.
Officer's Arrest Handbook
Officer's Arrest Handbook is an easy-to-read, concise manual that will sharpen an officer's knowledge of arrest and seizure law.
Officer's DUI Handbook, 6th Edition with 2014 Supplement
Practical advice for police officers about how to handle the arrest, investigation, and trial of an individual found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Promotional Exam Preparation for Law Enforcement
A must-have for any law enforcement officer who wishes to score well on a sergeant's, lieutenant's, captain's, deputy chief's, or chief's promotional exam.


text:
Men's Crocs @ Work™ Wellie Rain Bootout of stock
Men's Crocs @ Work™ Wellie Rain Boot is sold out.
try a new search
search tips
- Double check the spelling
- Limit your search to one or two words
- Try a more general term
- Still having trouble? Contact us.
email chat


text:
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
A vicious attack against a Summerville woman last week landed her boyfriend behind bars on charges of attempted murder and attempt to poison.
Summerville Police say Lucan Hunt, 36 of 105 Twin Tree Drive, was arrested in North Charleston on July 30.
Hunt has a long history with law enforcement. The police incident report indicates hes been arrested in several states and is currently on parole in a North Carolina case and under the supervision of North Dakota Parole and Probation; however, hes been living in Summerville for the last six months, according to information his girlfriend provided to police.
In the July 29 incident, a witness called to report a driver in a Chevy Tahoe was chasing a female driver in a Honda CRV down Bacons Bridge Road, and the woman was screaming help out the window.
The 38-year-old woman made it to a relatives home, where Dorchester County Sheriffs deputies, Dorchester County EMS and Summerville Police caught up with her.
The womans eyes were extremely red and swollen and she smelled strongly of chemicals, according to the police incident report.
She told police she and Hunt had gotten into an argument and he pushed her down and tried to force her to drink liquid drain opener.
He then grabbed the shower curtain rod and hit her in the face and head, then tried to strangle her, she told police.
The responding officer noted lacerations and redness on her head, a contusion above her eye and a bleeding lip.
The woman and her family told police they were terrified of Hunt; the woman said hed threatened to kill them all and burn down her relatives house.
The woman was so scared she didnt even want to get into an ambulance to go to Summerville Medical Center; she told police she thought Hunt would follow her and kill her.
She was finally persuaded to get into the ambulance after the officer promised he would be following directly behind; the paramedics later reported the woman, who was spitting up blood during the ride, refused to lie down in the ambulance but insisted on sitting so she could see the police car for the entire trip to the hospital.
According to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Hunt was convicted in 2005 for assault on a female, a misdemeanor charge in North Carolina that doesnt necessarily indicate domestic violence, and convicted again in 2011 for possession of stolen goods.
He was given probation at first, but his probation was revoked because of positive drug screens, failure to comply with substance abuse treatment, failure to report in and absconding, according to the N.C. Department of Public Safety.
He served eight months in prison for the possession conviction and is now supposed to be supervised in North Carolina for a probation term from North Dakota, according to N.C. Department of Public Safety.
© 2016 The Journal Scene an Evening Post Industries company. All Rights Reserved.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Parental Consent Form.


text:
Espresso and Coffee Grinders
Every dynamite cup of espresso or coffee starts with a dynamite grind. Consistency, texture, size - it all matters. Whether you are new to the world of espresso or have been making the perfect cup of coffee for as long as you can remember, fresh coffee grounds are the first step.
Take your pick from our curated collection that includes everything from entry-level coffee grinders to precision-designed espresso grinders. With video tips and reviews of each grinder, you too can master the daily grind!
Learn More about Coffee Grinders
Mahlkonig K30 Vario GrinderThe distant future, a one in which robots clean your house and make your breakfast, is getting closer every day with the Mahlkonig K30 Vario Grinder. Not only can this grinder give you a single quality shot of espresso in two seconds, it can do it with professional consistency that other less evolved grinders can only aspire to. This grinder will fulfill every coffee scientist's dream, with intuitive programming, easy adjustments, electronic shot counters...the list goes on. Learn More$1,675.00
Baratza Forte BG Brew Grinder - Metal BurrHave a passion for pour over? The Forte BG Brew Grinder is Baratza's latest addition to its grinder line-up, specially crafted for multiple prep methods! Named best commercial product at SCAA 2013, the Forte BG is a commercial flat burr grinder dedicated to perfecting medium to coarse grinds. Learn More$919.00
Rocket Espresso Mazzer Mini Electronic Grinder - Type AThe Mazzer Mini Electronic Grinder proudly boasts the Rocket logo and is the perfect companion for your Rocket Espresso Machine. Ideal for home use or any light commercial environment, the Rocket Mazzer Mini Electronic Grinder has a stepless grind adjustment and programmable electronic dosing to make filling your portafilter a snap. Choose from a polished stainless or black version. Learn More$999.00
Out of stock


text:
Ballenger is best choice as Jefferson Co. Sheriff
February 27, 2013
At the heart of self-government, power rests with the citizens. In a republic, officers are elected to represent citizens and are responsible to them....
Please write letters to the judge asking for Bobby Shirley to get a slap on the hand, hasn't he suffered enough ? And his poor family too. LOL .
1 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Showing 1 of 1 comments


text:
|Welcome to the MANGA Forum.
|You will have to register before you can post: log in or sign up at the top of the page to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
i know this is a bit dark. What would be your song to play at your funeral. Mine would be leave out all the rest by linkin park
Aerith's Theme Song. Sad and cool at the same time. (Soothing too)
I had tears in my eyes when she died, mostly because of the song Likes headphones... A lot.
"some things are better left unknown"
"some things are better left unknown"
dennis leary's i'm a "bleep"hole song
i like the one that played at the hokages
hi every body im new! ^_^


text:
Is the VA in Need of a Major Overhaul?
The widening scandal at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which led to the ouster of Secretary Eric Shinseki last week and could fell a number of other officials, is sparking a broader debate about whether the agency should be overhauled after a decade of rapid expansion.
The VA operates 150 hospitals, more than 1,000 health clinics and 131 cemeteries. It buries, houses, educates, hospitalizes, loans money to, and insures the lives of millions of veterans each year. And the veterans who intersect with the agency span decades of government service, from World War II survivors to those recently returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Even with a falling number of veterans – the total stands at less than 22 million compared with 23 million in 2010 — the volume of veterans seeking health care and enrolling in disability benefits continues to grow. More than 3.5 million veterans now collect disability payments, up more than 33% in 10 years. The VA's annual budget now exceeds $150 billion, a sum that is often authorized by Congress with little second guessing.
But the number and needs of veterans is changing faster than the large agency designed to serve them, and revelations about widespread medical scheduling improprieties has prompted calls for a broader shake up than firing Mr. Shinseki and finding a new secretary to lead the VA.
"There needs to be a discussion about what changes need to take place to make sure that vets are getting access to care in a timely manner, and then that this is being done in a cost-effective way," said former VA Secretary Anthony Principi, a Republican.
More In Veterans Affairs
- Hillary Clinton Pledges to Push for Tougher Gun Restrictions
- Republicans Take Aim at Hillary Clinton for VA Remarks
- Jeb Bush Calls for Privatizing Elements of Veterans Health Care
- Barack Obama Plan to Shift Veterans Choice Act Funds Faces Shelling on Hill
- Hagan's Handshake Comes With Tough Words for Obama
- North Carolina Ad Targets Hagan Over VA Record
There are a number of changes that could come into focus. Congress could decide to revamp the way veterans receive health care, possibly by liberalizing rules about seeking care at non-VA hospitals. It could also streamline or consolidate some of the VA's housing or job-training programs, for example, which are similar to those offered by other federal agencies.
Changes, though, have proven to be complex and must have broad support from veterans groups to win consideration. Several veterans groups believe it is important to have programs tailored to the needs and conditions of former service members, and programs serving vets tend to have more ironclad budgets than programs run by other agencies.
Previous efforts to redesign the agency have seen mixed results. In 2003, the VA began a controversial effort to close a number of underused VA hospitals, streamline the health care offered at others, and build new ones in places where the large number of nearby veterans strained the existing infrastructure. The results were mixed, with modest changes to some hospitals while the infrastructure was kept largely intact. The agency has tried to build a number of new hospitals in recent years. Some have been delayed for years, and others have seen their budgets grow far beyond initial estimates.
A frequent target of many calling for reform is the VA's sprawling regional chain of command, which critics allege has allowed senior officials to operate with too much autonomy and with little oversight, either from top VA brass or Congress.
"You've got a bloated hierarchy that has so many layers that you can't get information from the bottom up and you can't get oversight from the top down," said Paul Light, a professor of public service at New York University. "The agency is rife with inefficiency."
Joseph Violante, legislative director of Disabled American Veterans, said the group "wants to sit down with Congress and figure out how to make the system work better," but cautioned against any effort to ratchet back the scale of how the VA interacts with veterans.
"I don't think it's too big to manage," Mr. Violante said of the agency. "I think you need not only strong leadership in the secretary, but strong leadership in the under secretaries. And you need strong oversight to make sure the money being given to the VA is being spent wisely."
Agency officials have said changes are underway, and it has spelled out some ambitious goals.
In a December report to Congress, Mr. Shinseki wrote, "We are transforming the VA into a 21st century organization focused on increasing Veterans' access to VA health care and services, ending the backlog in compensation claims, and ending Veteran homelessness – both in 2015 – to fulfill our nation's enduring commitment to veterans.
Such targets could now get a second look, particularly as the VA's metrics for measuring success are scrutinized more closely.
Get more on U.S. agencies, first thing in the morning, by signing up for the Capital Journal Daybreak newsletter: on.wsj.com/CapitalJournalSignup


text:
Contact: Allen Spelce
R.J. DeSilva
(512) 463-4070
For Immediate Release
February 27, 2008
Texas Comptroller's Office Schedules March Tax Help Seminars
Comptroller Susan Combs' office will offer 10 free seminars in March to assist local taxpayers with their state taxes.
The seminars will take place throughout the month at various locations across the state. A complete list of locations, dates and times is available at www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/seminars.html.
"Operating a business has many challenges, but figuring out your taxes should not be one of them," Combs said. "Whether you are a new taxpayer or one who has been in business for many years, these seminars will help you understand the laws that apply to you and your business."
At the seminars, taxpayers can learn about sales tax forms, taxability issues, taxpayer responsibilities and the array of services and information available from the Comptroller's office to assist taxpayers. Comptroller representatives will answer questions and provide assistance to attendees.
For more information about the seminar in your area, call the Comptroller's field office in your area.
Those who are unable to attend the seminars can call the Comptroller's toll-free tax assistance line at (800) 252-5555. Tax forms and tax information can also be found on the Comptroller's Web site, www.window.state.tx.us.


text:
Link: Added by:
Wilder's personal timeline, a place to collect and share things from Wilder's life.
Created by bettyloredo
on Sep 28, 2010
Last updated: 10/01/10 at 09:28 AM
wilder t. has no followers yet. Be the first one to
John Wilkes shoots President Lincoln at a play at Fords Theater Washington D.C.
Lee's men were exhausted and weak. He surrendered his Army to General Grant.
Sherman began to move Southward from the vicinity of chattancoga. His army was confront by the confederate force only 55,000 men. Its was important was the he gave out food and supplies to the people that need it
Its is one of the best known speeches in America History.
The 13 amendment was the examination of slavery.
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's armies took Vicksburg away from the confederates.
The battle was for 3 days. General Lee would never invade the northern state again
It was the third year of the civil. The Proclamation declared that all person held by slaves within the rebellious state. "slaves shall be set free".
The war was the bloodiest single Battle of the civil War. Lee was trying to find new supplies and new men in Maryland. The war was in Northern virginia.
The anaconda plan was to block the confederates to
The battle of bull Run was the first major land battle of the Civil War. The confederacy won the battle of Bull Run.
Fort Sumter is taken by Confederates.


text:
Print Detail Page |
Request a Quote |
I'm Interested
The SV21 is our most popular boat of the SV Series coming in with a 99" beam on a 20''-5" length. We built this boat a little taller with a comfortable 20" freeboard over your standard bay boat for light off shore duty. All lids are fiberglass built using vacuum bagging for superior strength and light weight. All hardware is stainless steel and the forward lids have locking latches. All wells are foam insulated. On the port side of the rear deck is a large insulated well that can be a fish ice box, storage well or as an option, plumbed for a release well. In fact the entire boat is foamed for sound and temperature insulation and unsinkable safety.
Have a question about the 2013 Sundance Sea Born SV21?


text:
SCP was founded in 1985 by Sheridan Coakley as a manufacturer and retailer of modern furniture. Inspired by the designs of the Modern Movement, Coakley decided to start selling classic and hard to find pieces and also try his hand a producing new designs in the same spirit. Nearly three decades on, SCP remains true to its founding idea, to make and sell design products that are functional, beautiful and made to last.
SCP work with a plethora of talented designers including Donna Wilson, Terrence Woodgate and Lee Kirkbride. From tableware and soft furnishing, pendant lights to side tables, explore SCP's fabulous range of products to add design driven style to your home.
2 matching products, priced from £ 55.00 to £ 132.50


text:
Chavez Jr at Dodgers Stadium
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr throwing out the first pitch for the LA Dodgers. read more »
Brandon Rios Workout
Brandon Rios training in Robert Garcia's gym, is getting set for "my biggest fight" when he takes on unbeaten Anthony Peterson of Washington DC. read more »
Korobov vs Greenidge
Part of the undercard action for Gamboa vs Salido. read more »
Pacquiao Media Day Workout
Manny Pacquiao is at the Wildcard to workout in front of media... read more »
Pacquiao's Bus
Manny Pacquiao's fight bus for his fight on November 13th at Cowboys Stadium... read more »
Lopez vs Marquez
Pics of Juanma Lopez vs Rafael Marquez at the MGM... read more »


text:
Top Definition
An ethnic slur to describe Greek people and salesmen in particular. Most famously used in the movie ''Lock, Stock, And Two Smoking Barrels".
"Get Nick, that greasy wop, shistos, pesevengi, gamouri Greek bastard, if he's stupid enough to still be on this planet."
feefifofum2によって 2013年12月30日(月)
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?


text:
Mongoose Saga 26" Womens Mountain Bike
$99.93 - $149.93
Store pickup
1 year parts and labor
Get Out on The Trail with This Womens Mongoose Mountain Bike This tough and wiry Mongoose Saga 26" Womens Mountain Bike has 21 gears to power you up the hills and a dual suspension frame to soften the bumps along the way. It has a Promax front disc brake and a linear pull rear brake for safe stops. The light flexible frame is tough enough to take you all the way to the top of the mountain. Experience the quiet excitement of the trail on this excellent mountain bike. This blue and white Womens Mongoose Mountain Bike will get you up the hill and down the other side. It comes with a light tough 3-piece alloy crankset and pedals, and 36-spoke alloy wheels. The fully shock absorbing dual suspension is aluminum. You get terrific equipment that is built to last, and both the front wheel and seat are quick release for fast fixes on the trail. Get this great value priced bike and get out there.
- Mongoose Saga 26" Womens Mountain Bike gives you dual suspension to soften the ride
- Put together with an efficient 21 speed SRAM/Shimano shift system to power you up the hills and speed you home
- Your Promax front disc brake is balanced with a linear pull rear brake for safe stops
- Alloy levers and 3-piece alloy crankset cut weight but keep the tensile strength
- Zippy blue and white bike with nicely detailed black and gray paint work and Mongoose logo
- Follow the Sears Bike Sizing Guide to fit your bike for the best possible ride
- Great value-priced Saga Womens bike from Sears
Specifications & Dimensions
Product Documentation
More Like This
View Product
View Product
View Product
View Product


text:
Heat stress during late gestation impacts not only cow health and production but calf performance and immunity, as well.
by Abby Huibregtse, Hoard's Dairyman Associate Editor
As temperatures rise, so does the need for cow cooling. On some farms, milking herd facilities may be equipped with heat abatement systems including fans and sprinklers, but dry cow housing may not be as adequately cooled.
It is well documented that heat stress during the dry period affects a cow's mammary gland development, metabolism and immunity, leading to suppressed immune function during the transition period and less milk production during the subsequent lactation. Research has also shown that heat stress during the dry period leads to lower birth weight of calves.
What we don't know a lot about is how heat stress during late gestation affects calf performance after birth. To take a closer look at this, the University of Florida conducted a study at their Dairy and Calf Unit from July to November 2010. Cows in the study were housed in a freestall barn and exposed to either heat stress (HT) or cooling with sprinklers and fans (CL).
The birth weight of all calves was recorded, but only heifer calves were used in measurements of growth and immune status after birth. There were nine calves born to HT cows and 12 calves born to CL cows. All calves were managed under identical conditions from birth forward, which included a colostrum feeding 4 hours after birth, pasteurized milk after Day 1 and weaning at 2 months of age.
Data collection included gestation length, birth weight, monthly body weight and withers height measurements up to 7 months, hematocrit and plasma total proteins, total serum IgG, and blood cortisol concentrations. Results of the study were published in the December 2012 Journal of Dairy Science.
It was found that cows exposed to heat stress had a gestation period 4 days shorter than cows in the cooling treatment group. Birth weight was higher for CL cows (93 pounds) over HT cows (80 pounds). Body weight at weaning was also greater for CL calves (173 pounds) than for HT calves (145 pounds).
Immune response indicators differed between treatment groups as well. Compared to calves in the CL group, HT calves had less total plasma protein (6.3 versus 5.9 g/L), total serum IgG (1,577.3 versus 1,057.8 mg/dL), and decreased hematocrit (33 versus 30 percent).
In contrast, body weight and withers height were very similar between both treatment groups from months 3 to 7. Treatments also did not affect the blood cortisol concentration levels after weaning.
Based on these results, the researchers concluded that heat stress of the dam during the dry period impacted fetal growth, calf growth and immune function from birth to weaning. Improved calf performance and health is simply another reason why dry cows should not be ignored during hot summer weather.
The author is an associate editor and covers animal health, dairy housing and equipment, and nutrient management. She grew up on a dairy farm near Plymouth, Wis., and previously served as a University of Wisconsin agricultural extension agent. She received a master's degree from North Carolina State University and a bachelor's from University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Click the icon to subscribe to HD Notebook and get the blog sent to you.


text:
*Please Note: Baby Doll Tees are an additional $1. XXL sizes are an additional $2.
Measurement (inches)
Note: Our Baby Doll Tees are:
* 100% ringspun (super soft!) cotton; may shrink if put in dryer
* Form-fitting and sizes run small.
* If you have any questions, please let us know via Live Chat or email@example.com.


text:
on May 14, 2013 - 3:12 PM
, updated May 14, 2013 at 3:45 PM
Former television and radio personality Brian Kahle, best known for clashing with then-Mayor Jimmy Griffin on the set of "AM Buffalo" in 1987, was found dead Monday night in his Lockport home, according to Lockport police.
Niagara County Coroner Kenneth V. Lederhouse said police went to Mr. Kahle's Summit Street home after receiving a call from a family member who had been unable to reach him.
Lederhouse said there were no signs of foul play and Mr. Kahle had been ill in recent days. The family's physician signed off on the decision not to have an autopsy.
Mr. Kahle, 68, worked at Channel 7, WKBW-TV from 1978 to 2001.
The clash with Griffin "is certainly something people talk about when they talk about Brian, but he was so much more than that," said John Di Sciullo, who left Channel 7 last year to become executive director of production and promotion at WBBZ-TV. "He was a real broadcaster."
In his marketing career, "Brian had that old-school quality where he would actually pick up the phone and call somebody," said Di Sciullo, "He was a professional guy. When he was on the show, he always did his homework. Whether it was an author or a local doctor, he took great pride in doing his homework."
It was an attack on that characteristic that drove Mr. Kahle to end an interview with Griffin on the set of "AM Buffalo" in August of 1987, Di Sciullo said. During the mayor's monthly appearance on the show, Mr. Kahle asked Griffin about the allegations that his brother, Thomas J. Griffin, mishandled money meant for a federal lunch program. Griffin bristled and repeatedly snapped at Mr. Kahle, "Brian, do your homework."
Finally, Mr. Kahle replied, "You say that once more and I'll throw you off this program."
The pair exchanged a few more remarks before Mr. Kahle announced that the interview was over. In the control booth, Di Sciullo, who was producing the show, said, "I looked at the director, the director looked at me, we went to a wide shot and went to commercial, and the mayor stormed off the set." A camera crew followed him to the door as he stormed out, uttering an expletive at another reporter he spotted on his way out.
Mr. Kahle later told The News that he said to Griffin, "You're done today." He added, "I do my homework. I got angry, I'll concede that."
Mr. Kahle left AM Buffalo in 1997 after more than 18 years on the show to work on the station's Eyewitness News.
In a 2009 interview with The News, Mr. Kahle said he started a public relations firm called Magic Marketing – a nod to his other work as a professional magician – in 1995, while he was still at WKBW. He said, "I've always felt the need to diversify, in part because of the nature and uncertainty of the television business, but also because I've found so many other things that interest me."
Mr. Kahle also had a weekly radio show on WLVL from 12:30 to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays. In the early 1990s he operated a restaurant in Jamestown called the Magic Parlour.
In a 2009 interview with The News, Mr. Kahle talked about his health challenges, including diabetes and coronary artery disease, which were diagnosed in 1999.
"Even though I had been feeling tired and listless for quite some time, the double diagnoses came as quite a shock," he said. He had quadruple bypass surgery soon afterward.
In 2009 he said, "The recovery was long and difficult – three months. But I now feel better than I have in years. The procedure not only changes you physically, but also made me take stock of the stresses I was under and my lifestyle in terms of my diet. Now, I exercise almost every day, and thanks to being my own boss, have much less stress than my days working for others."
Mr. Kahle is survived by a daughter, Christina, and a son, Michael, according to WKBW.
Funeral arrangements, which were incomplete Tuesday night, are being handled by Lockport's Taylor & Reynolds Funeral Home.
– Anne Neville


text:
Message from the Dean
vincent rougeau, dean, law school
Welcome to our online community. Since its founding in 1929, Boston College Law School--one of the nation's premier Jesuit, Catholic legal institutions--has earned a national reputation for educational excellence and the highest standards of professionalism.
Particularly striking is the spirit of community here. Though our students have varied backgrounds and represent more than 200 colleges and universities in the United States and in several foreign countries, they readily support one another in their learning. Diverse student groups also work together on common projects. One must see Boston College Law School to believe that so many people will give so much of themselves to create a community characterized by care and concern for others. Our students work hard, of course, but they find other students, faculty, staff and alumni mentors who help them through any rough patches.
We realize that the theory and practice of law are complementary rather than conflicting, and this, too, shapes our community. We have great respect for the craft of lawyering and teach it early and often, in our first-year legal reasoning, research and writing program, in our nationally recognized clinical programs in the Center for Experiential Learning, and in many other aspects of the curriculum.
We are also proud to be part of the long Jesuit tradition that combines the highest regard for learning with an emphasis on service to others. We stress professional responsibility throughout the curriculum, anchored in a sense of obligation that is rooted in religious faith as well as other values. Many of our classes and co-curricular activities connect directly to seeking justice, and we repeatedly consider the impact of our actions on the less fortunate. We believe the practice of law stands for something beyond detached analysis and neutral professional skills.
As a result, we emphasize the importance of pro bono service. This does not in any way diminish our commitment to a broad range of legal scholarship and learning. Our faculty continue to gain national and international recognition for their work in numerous areas of law, even as they remain focused on teaching and accessible to students outside the classroom. Our students excel in their studies, their advocacy and their involvement in countless community projects.
At Boston College Law School, students are prepared to meet the many challenges of a successful legal career as they study in a supportive, collegial environment. We welcome your interest and encourage you to explore our web site further. You are always welcome to contact our students, faculty and alumni to learn more about us.


text:
Capito has a hidden ace
January 7, 2014
Rep. Shelley Capito has a big ace up her sleeve going into the race to succeed Sen. Jay Rockefeller. It is simply that Democrats will be unable to portray her as a hardline conservative....
bwahahaha.....the ACA and the Obamacare question was hilarious as it showed just how uninformed and ignorant the liberal voter is.
3 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
FACT: Shelley has not written a single law during her time in DC that has become law and actually helped West Virginia.
FACT: Shelley voted against Fair Pay, essentially saying women should not be paid as much as men for doing the same job.
FACT: Shelly is the daughter of a corrupt politician who did time in federal prison.
Why did you leave out all of these facts?
3 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
I hereby come out of retirement long enough to once again call attention to the fact that for this TS guy, every problem known to man, from climate change to diaper rash is somehow the fault of liberals, Obama, and the ACA. Such a simple solution could only have come from a mind attuned to the simplest of thoughts. But then, reading this column seeking wisdom is a little like going to the ballpark seeking a healthy meal.
3 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Capito is Manchin light. They both feel very comfortable snuggling up to Obama. I'll vote for Patrick McGheean in the primary, but if Capito wins the primary, I'll vote for her in disgust in the general election. I wouldn't vote for Tennant if my life depended on it.
2 Agrees | 3 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Funny one Joe....in your dreams! People do not know Tennet and those who do are NOT impressed! lol.
MTNR; what does what Capito's 'father' have to do with HER? Some of that liberal compassion and tolerance eh? LOL. You hypocrites don't have any problem with democrat corrupt and found GUILTY politicians and voting for them again, yet you complain about Capito's relationship with her father? Laughable and stupid. You're an idiot. You lefties have tried for YEARS to lie about her and it's not doing one bit of good. Lying just shows everyone how dispicable a person YOU are; not the person you're badmouthing. Of course you being liberal and all, you wouldn't "comprehend" that would you?
Democrats: Bully's; liars; gossipers; deceivers; intolerant of others; have no moral compass and no conscience; and can't show compassion for anyone. Angry little losers with no futures. No futures because they refuse to 'work & EARN' their way in life. Most still living in mama's basement,
4 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Walker; show PROOF and DOCUMENTATION that the scam, Global warming is NOT a bunch of liberal fools? Where's your proof that it's otherwise?
Al Gore....still lying to people trying to convince them he needs YOUR money.....as he keeps building his many mansions and travels around in all his SUV's and private JET! LOL. Hypocrites! Then, Michael Moore, (I suppose you'll try to say he's conservative?) lol. Make me laugh again, please....lol.
ALL liberals have NO common sense, NO moral compass, NO work ethics, NO social graces, NO tolerance, NO manners, NO clear signs of intelligence! Also, no compassion for even their own babies as they continue having their own babies' heads bashed in and give it a nicer name than murder...'abortion.' Yeah, I think we're pretty spot on what a liberal is. You all prove it daily.
4 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
TruthSeeker - NOTHING I posted is untrue. Sometimes the truth really hurts, doesn't it Truthseeker ...
3 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Right you are, Joe. McGheehan will have a boatload of Koch money and savvy oppo research to pester Capito with during the primary. I don't think he has much of a chance of winning but Capito's record is so negative that she will go into the general with some serious problems.
2 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Ah, yes, Puremagix, Going Godwin and ACORN...two republian default positions which disqualify you from making any further posts. Yes, that's the rule...
ACORN has been cleared of all charges of wrong doing. The drama was the creation of FoxNoise and James O'Keefe's vivid imagination. O'Keefe was charged with impersonation in another matter and was placed under house arrest.
excerpt: "...An independent investigation by the Brooklyn District Attorney's office and the Attorney General of California vindicated ACORN of any wrongdoing. A federal judge ruled that the law barring the group's receipt of federal funds was unconstitutional."
1 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Remember when liberals thought mr. swint was the guy to beat Capito? Bwahahaha.....and Humphrey's? They tried him twice; lost both times. lol. Now they think Natalie Tennants the one. Keep dreaming....
2 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
FACT: ACORN has been cleared of ALL charges. Excerpt from Salon and NY Daily News.
"...An investigation by the Brooklyn district attorney found no evidence that the local ACORN office had engaged in any criminal conduct, despite the hype conservative media gave to tapes of a fake prostitute asking for help from the organization.
"They edited the tape to meet their agenda," a law enforcement source told the New York Daily News, which reported the investigation's results on Monday"
The tapes were edited by Breitbart and O'Keefe.
1 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
TruthSeeker, you still have no clue what this thread is about, do you.
1 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
ACORN became another target of the drama driven right wing media, i.e., FoxNoise and the Breitbart online gossip monger. O'Keefe is a young republican hustler who wanted to make a name for himself. O'Keefe concocted a fiction before he entered the ACORN offices and attempted to tape unsuspecting ACORN employees in compromising situations O'Keefe created. O'Keefe and Breitbart then edited the tapes to conform to the fiction O'Keefe and Breitbart created.
These edited tapes were aired on FoxNoise and GOP members of Congress demanded that ACORN be defunded. Sadly, the Dems did not aggressively defend ACORN and the organization was defunded and disbanded. As WMW has said, it was a shameful example of the GOP basing serious legislative decisions on lies, misinformation and too much FoxNoise.
ACORN and its employees have been cleared of all charges stemming from the altered tapes aired on FoxNews.
1 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
You can be sure that he takes "Devil's Advocate" literally.
ACORN is still one of the right-wing default issues. Excerpt from HuffPo article:
The massive new appropriations bill unveiled Monday night includes four provisions that block funding to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, an anti-poverty activist group better known as ACORN.
ACORN, however, no longer exists.
The group dissolved in 2010, penniless, after Congress cut off its funding in 2009 based on a selectively edited video released by conservative provocateur James O'Keefe. O'Keefe manipulated the footage to give the impression that ACORN workers were encouraging tax avoidance related to prostitution and child smuggling...continued
1 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
It is pathetic, WMW, but also dangerous. These are the idiots who are screaming for economic sanctions on Iran.
These are also the liars who obstruct job creation then turn around and blame the Dems.
The Dems need 17 seats to regain the majority in the House. I'm hoping the Christie scandal will be enough to fire up mid-term voters.
1 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
January 5 - 8 Gallup: PRINCETON, NJ -- Thirteen percent of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, essentially unchanged from December but above the all-time low of 9% from November. Congressional approval has rarely been 20% or higher in the last three years.
1 Agrees | 3 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Understanding motives is the key to understanding how the low/no-info republican voters have been turned into what Puremagix and TruthSeeker represent here.
These are people who, as you said, have no intellectual curiosity about politics or have even a basic understanding of how the US government works. The howling that is taking place now about impeaching President Obama is an example of those on the right believing that this will magically create a republican Presidency. Puremagix fell into that trap and only after I explained the Presidential order of succession did he claim to "understand the pecking order"...
The RW media has been churning out lies and misinformation for a very long time and fortunes have been made for the grifters who con the gullible. Limbaugh was one of the first to see the advantages of being a "conservative". While he is vulgar and often malicious, he is, in reality, just an entertainer.
Roger Ailes is an entirely different matter.
1 Agrees | 3 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Puremagix - You had better hope that you have sound documents that can back up your accusations stated in your post dated Jan.11,2014 @2:08pm. They have been turned in to Federal Authorities. I can't wait to see who you really are.
0 Agrees | 3 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Bwahahaha......bernadetto.......you liberals are so whiney and hilarious. Hurry, say something else...I need the laugh today.
Oooh...am sure Pure's shaking....NOT!
Leave it to a whiney whittle wiberal to go crying to someone because they were 'offended.'
Bwahahaha.....grow up. You lefties still in your diapers and sucking pacifiers.
1 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Obviously liberals can't READ newspapers Pure. And forget about 'researching' the facts on internet news sites. They can barely use their computer to post here.
Bernedette....go*****a pacifier.
1 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
OK, TruthSeeker, here's your opportunity to actually discuss an issue.
I'm quite certain you are one of those on the Right who want to see President Obama impeached.
Let's set up a hypothetical situation wherein President Obama has been impeached and removed from office. What happens next?
Could Sarah Palin become the next President?
0 Agrees | 3 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
I wouldn't expect anything moral or right to come from you Nellie. Of course you support corrupt lying presidents and politicians. Only those with the same characteristics do!
When you break laws, bypass congress and FORCE your own agenda on the people; commit illegal, secretive gun running scams that are STILL showing up at crime scenes in America, use bullying, blackmail, intimidation tactics to go after anyone that opposes your agenda....you should be punished under the laws that are already in place for crooks like that. Therefore, real intelligent and moral people ALL agree; Obama and Pelosi, Barney Frank, Reid and all other Progressives in both parties should be arrested, fined, charged and impeached for those crimes.
You saying otherwise, PROVES your stupidity and lawless behavior yourself. Only crooks support crooks in their criminal activities.
You just keep proving what Pure says about you and others like you. Your kind are attempting to ruin this country.
1 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
No fair, Puremagix...you knew the answer to the impeachment question because I explained it to you. Care to dispute that? Remember, I can access IM archives.
You really should allow TruthSeeker to contribute to this discussion. We both know that she doesn't read any comments but her own and it's only fair that she be allowed to give it a try.
So, TruthSeeker, if President Obama were to be impeached, could Sarah Palin become the next President?
1 Agrees | 3 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Nellie....you're either a little slow.......or incapable of comprehending what you read.......LET ME BE CLEAR....Obama IS indeed the WORST excuse for a leader anyone has ever seen in this country or ever WILL see in this country. History will not be nice to him OR the progressive liberal TRAITORS who supported the biggest Traitor of all; OBAMA!
So, your problem with that is? Because I truly do not care what you or any other pansy nonthinking, selfish, lazy, uneducated, inept liberal has to say about it.
You really should try to get out into the public more often. You sound like some schizophrenic freakzoid that needs to revisit her pychiatrist.
0 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Maj...some folks need 'tough' love; not coddling.
0 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Showing 25 of 27 comments Show More Comments
Post a Comment
You must first login before you can comment.


text:
Too often we hear about product innovation. Lots of funds are invested to develop new products or to improve existing ones to better match the needs of consumers.
But we don't often hear about business model innovation. This kind of innovation fundamentally changes the way companies do business. It challenges every single part of the value chain and fundamentally changes the way companies add value to consumers.
The research that is done to do product innovation starts from the product itself and the questions that are aimed at finding new features for the product or new uses.
Other type of innovation is that one that aims at finding new ways of reducing costs or new ways to increase willingness to pay, which eventually results in higher profit.
But true Business Model Innovation goes beyond that. It starts at the customer, and tries to find out new ways to deliver value in meeting specific customer needs.
Ok, too much consultant speech. Let's use an example.
Amazon is a clear example of business model innovation. They started as a company that sold books, then migrated to auctioning used books, then moved on to selling e-commerce solutions for small business and now they are even selling hardware (Kindle). They continuously redefined the way to add value to customers and make money while doing it.
Another example is OnStar (full disclosure: I work for GM). The initial business model was a subscription based service for GM car owners. It is a service that, when you push a button located on the rear view mirror, offers you a set of concierge services (navigation, phone calls, booking service). It is much more than this; check it through this link to OnStar site.
Just recently, they started selling rearview mirrors with the button and the service to non-GM car owners, re-inventing the way they add value to customers and earn revenue through it.
Here are a couple of examples more. A hypothetical one and a real one.
Shai Agassi's vision for Better Place revisits, not only product innovation (electric vehicles, re-charging stations, driver experience) but also the business model around electric vehicles.
He takes the traditional business model from a different industry and applies it to the electric vehicles industry. The principle of the innovative business model mirrors the one from the mobile telecommunications industry, where the hardware is heavily subsidized and users purchase usage in the form of minutes. Agassi challenges the fact that electric vehicle owners also have to own the battery, which is quite an expensive part of the vehicle. Instead, he builds a business model around purchasing electric miles. Users own the vehicle and, instead of recharging the battery in their car, they replace it in the "Switch Stations" and they pay for the usage in the form of miles that battery will allow them to run. Simply beautiful.
As put in Wired Magazine by Daniel Roth: "Agassi dealt with the battery issue by simply swatting it away. Previous approaches relied on a traditional manufacturing formula: We make the cars, you buy them. Agassi reimagined the entire automotive ecosystem by proposing a new concept he called the Electric Recharge Grid Operator. It was an unorthodox mashup of the automotive and mobile phone industries. Instead of gas stations on every corner, the ERGO would blanket a country with a network of "smart" charge spots. Drivers could plug in anywhere, anytime, and would subscribe to a specific plan—unlimited miles, a maximum number of miles each month, or pay as you go—all for less than the equivalent cost for gas. They'd buy their car from the operator, who would offer steep discounts, perhaps even give the cars away. The profit would come from selling electricity—the minutes.
There would be plugs in homes, offices, shopping malls. And when customers couldn't wait to "fill up," they'd go to battery exchange stations where they would pull into car-wash-like sheds, and in a few minutes, a hydraulic lift would swap the depleted battery with a fresh one. Drivers wouldn't pay a penny extra: The ERGO would own the battery"
A traditional business model in one industry can become a very innovative business model in a different industry. Open your mind, look for solutions outside the box.
While I was writing this post I came across this great speech by Johanna Blakley, where, using copyright laws as the red thread, she challenges highly IP regulated industries to rethink their business model taking as a reference low IP regulated industries, mainly the fashion industry, which has proved to be more profitable and creative than the music and film industries. She blames the freedom to copy and explains the constraints that traditional thinking brings to business model innovation. Very interesting and thought provoking:
In the aftersales side of the automotive industry, the business model revolves around selling service and parts at the manufacturers official service centers. The real need of a car owner is to keep his car running, not to take the car to the official manufacturer's service center. So, if he wants to take his car to his brother's shop, the manufacturer is not adding value, is not supporting or meeting his need: "Bring it to our official center or you are on your own, pal". And the entire business model is designed around this.
What if, for an extra amount of money (to be determined through the normal pricing processes that take into account cost structure, elasticity..etc) the official dealer sends someone to pick up the car at the customer's house, leaves a temporary replacement car with him, drives it to his brother's service shop and supervises that the repair/maintenance work is done to certain standards that ensure the manufacturer's quality? I am sure that quite a big number of customers would be ready to pay for this, creating a new revenue stream that relies on meeting a clear and focused customer need and on performing a necessary customer task while adding value. And it is an assembled solution and not a sale of an owned product or service.
It also might generate additional revenue through those independent shops that purchase more official parts from the manufacturer.
Starting with the consumer needs/problems and working around assembling solutions for those will unearth innovative business models.
This post is very related to the previous one (Owner-less) as automotive companies need to do some business model innovation if they want to remain relevant. If they want to provide transportation solutions for customers who are increasingly less interested in owning a car. If your fundamental business model relies on the revenue you generate by selling cars, parts and service, how is your business model sustainable in the long term when people will not want to own cars?
If your only revenue comes from the price consumers pay for your product, what will happen when consumers don't want to buy your product? Innovate your business model or die.
This is just one more reason why companies need to really be customer centric, putting the consumer and its needs at the core of what they do and assembling solutions to customer problems beyond manufacturing and selling products. But I will elaborate on the whole idea of Customer Centricity in a future post.
Only when you have the consumer and its problems at the core of what you do as a company, and you identify what are the unmet needs, the tasks he needs to perform and figure out the way to add value when meeting those needs and solving those problems, you can define your business model in a robust and sustainable way.
Inherently, consumer needs and problems evolve and change rapidly, so business model innovation is vital for survival.


text:
HANOVERTON In United Local's gymnasium, there is a banner that hangs behind one of its hoops. The banner reads "United Lady Eagles Basketball Dynasty: Inter-Tri County League Champions, Five in a Row."
With a school-record 24 victories this past season, winning is no longer a luxury for the Golden Eagles it has become a way of life. After winning its second consecutive Division III district championship, United will move to a stage it is intimately familiar with regionals.
"It's awesome," United senior Courtney Hydrick said. "It make us feel great. With all of the hard work we've put in, and getting to see the banner up there. We've all played together since AAU ball in fifth grade."
With six seniors, United has a core of experienced players who are looking to advance beyond league titles. Last year, United fell to Smithville 45-29 in the regional semifinals, finishing with a record of 21-4.
"It only drives us even harder," senior Emily Zehentbauer said. "There's no room to be nervous or anxious."
Second-year head coach Sam Mathias credits the experience of losing in regionals last year to the team's inspired play this year.
"We have six seniors and one junior on the team," he said. "Five of those girls were at the regionals last year. This year we had a focus on getting back to that stage."
As United prepares to face fourth-ranked Orrville (23-2) in their regional semifinal, the Golden Eagles will take all the experience they can get.
One of the seniors who was not on the team last year is Hydrick. After missing last season with a knee injury, Hydrick is ready to help her team try to advance.
"I feel like my size and length could be a big factor this year," she said. "They have a lot of size and speed, but I think we match up well. We don't play a lot of teams that match up with us heightwise."
Still, the Golden Eagles are thankful for what has become their winningest season ever.
"I'm so fortunate. These girls are like my sisters," Zehentbauer said. "To know that I will be able to look back at this one day and realize what I was a part of, it's awesome."
United will take on Orrville at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Cuyahoga Falls High School.


text:
Posts Tagged 'discounts'
Gardening Retreat at Columbia River Gorge Cabins
Wednesday, April 6th, 2011
To sink hands in rich soil, work in fertilizer, and water seedlings – these are the dreams of gardeners. For some folks, gardening is the most relaxing and rewarding activity there is. If that sounds like you, consider participating in our How Our Community Garden Grows weekend, April 15 – 17, 2011. Our goal is… Read more »