text:
Contact Us
For immediate assistance:
Imagine Lifestyles Headquarters: 866-436-3514
Miami: 305-432-3205
New York: 646-368-8267
New Jersey: 856-437-5271
Philadelphia: 856-437-5271Driving Experiences:
Learn More | Book A ReservationEmail: [email protected]
- Air & Space (64)
- Helicopter (12)
- Private Jet (37)
- Art (88)
- Interior Design (44)
- Ask Imagine (66)
- Audi (13)
- Auto Shows (35)
- Billionaire Life (117)
- Bizarre Exotic Cars (28)
- Celebrities (327)
- Chauffeur Stories (6)
- Cool Car Features (46)
- Cuisine (148)
- Chicago Restaurants (39)
- Miami Beach Food & Wine (72)
- Custom exotic cars (11)
- Economy & Market (140)
- Entertainment Tips (38)
- Estates & Spaces (99)
- Exotic Automobiles (1839)
- Aston Martin (166)
- Bentley (111)
- Bugatti (165)
- Cadillac (157)
- Ferrari (401)
- Lamborghini (336)
- Land Rover (44)
- Maserati (86)
- Mercedes-Benz (159)
- Porsche (136)
- Rolls-Royce (105)
- Exotic Car Crashes (64)
- Exotic driving experiences (3)
- Exotic Hotel Tips (176)
- FAQ Luxury Rental Cars (3)
- Fashion (140)
- Clothing (40)
- Heels & Bags (14)
- Jewelry (37)
- Fisker (1)
- Gift Ideas (87)
- Green Luxury (125)
- Hotels (298)
- Mondrian Hotel (87)
- Ritz-Carlton South Beach (8)
- The Setai Hotel (31)
- Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago (106)
- W Hotel (30)
- Imagine Lifestyles Luxury List (9)
- Luxury car auctions (35)
- Luxury Concept Cars (296)
- Aston Martin Concept Cars (179)
- Bentley Concept Cars (19)
- BMW Concept Cars (13)
- Cadillac Concept Cars (13)
- Chevrolet Concept Cars (5)
- Ferrari Concept Cars (4)
- Lamborghini Concept Cars (21)
- Land Rover Concept Vehicles (3)
- Maserati Concept Cars (60)
- Mercedes Concept Cars (2)
- Porsche Concept Cars (23)
- Rolls Royce Concept Cars (7)
- Luxury Essentials (71)
- Liquor (21)
- Luxury Events (194)
- Super Bowl (10)
- Upcoming Miami Events (37)
- Luxury Hybrids (28)
- Luxury Motorcycles (94)
- Luxury News (171)
- Luxury Property Rentals (47)
- Luxury Q & A (215)
- Luxury Racing (54)
- After Market Performance Stuff (17)
- F1 Racing (21)
- Luxury Rental Car Tips (252)
- Luxury Rental Specials (2)
- Luxury Travel Tips (162)
- Nightlife (97)
- Philanthropy (26)
- Real Estate (66)
- Dubai (16)
- Spas (23)
- Special Edition Cars (33)
- Sports (8)
- Technology (230)
- The Baddest/Coolest Things/Cars (83)
- The Calendar (150)
- The Most Expensive Things (479)
- Top 10 (67)
- Top 5 (103)
- Travel (146)
- Upscale Dining Tips (55)
- Videos (142)
- Yacht (94)
- Air & Space (64)
Category Archives: BMW
The Innovatively Seductive 2014 BMW i8 Visits Geneva
The BMW i8 has served as the brand's attention-grabber since it first emerged in concept form. The stunning supercar is on stage this week at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, looking particularly seductive in a charcoal gray coat with brilliant pops of blue. The 2014 BMW i8 emerged back at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Since that time, the futuristic exotic has only gotten better. The BMW i8 has taken many powertrains, from a fuel-efficient diesel to a petrol sipper to a plug-in petrol hybrid. While the powertrain remains quite versatile, the look has stayed close to its concept form, … Continue reading
BMW and Toyota Releasing Twin Exotic Cars
Successful automakers BMW and Toyota are collaborating on a set of twin exotic cars, which will be confusingly related yet separate. One lovechild will be BMW and one Toyota, but they will share aspects of both brands including design and technology. BMW and Toyota opt to pair their resources for a set of exotic sports cars. What will they learn during this awesome experiment? Will brands begin to collaborate as well as compete? The automotive industry is all about smoking the competition. For this reason, the unique union between typically competitive automakers Toyota and BMW has wheels spinning. The talks … Continue reading
Posted in BMW, Exotic Automobiles, Luxury News
Tagged BMW and Toyota, BMW and Toyota twin cars
Leave a comment
The 2015 BMW i8 Convertible?
BMW first began taunting us with the stunningly futuristic i8 at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Now that production is slated to begin for the plug-in hybrid i8 sometime next year, they have begun to steer excitement toward a potential roadster version. Glorious. Will there be a BMW i8 convertible? This is not the first time the i8 has been caught with its top off, mind you. There was a BMW i8 Spyder concept at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show. Because the chatter and topless version is back, it appears that both the coupe and convertible will be a reality. … Continue reading
Plug Into the BMW Concept X5 eDrive
BMW continues to enhance its i line, with the recent unveil of the BMW Concept X5 eDrive at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show. The next generation of the X5 is still gorgeous and performance oriented, but has a newfound love for its environment. That is to say, it is a plug-in hybrid. The BMW Concept X5 eDrive at a glance: The plug-in hybrid powertrain features a 4-cylinder gas engine paired with a 95-horsepower electric motor. The electric motor was developed in-house. The system also packs a lithium-ion battery pack for extra range. Automated transmission sends power to all four wheels … Continue reading
BMW i8 Plugs Into Supercar Status
The BMW i8 has only been revealed in concept form so far, but the brand is being proactive in the type of reception it wants for the hybrid. Surprisingly, BMW will not be lining the hybrid up next to the likes of Tesla, but rather, challenging gas-guzzling supercars like Ferrari or Porsche. The idea is that the BMW i8 may attain 80 miles per gallon thanks to a hybrid powertrain, but that it is still as tough and desirable as a Ferrari and should be on par with those types of brands. BMW takes aim at Ferrari and other supercar … Continue reading
The 2014 BMW i3 Electric Car Deliveries Begin
BMW is poised to release its first-ever electric luxury car on July 29th, 2013. The long-awaited 2014 BMW i3 electric car will join its thirstier siblings and offer up something new for clients while opening up full throttle with a new niche for the BMW brand. While European deliveries for the i3 began in November, they are just starting stateside. The 2014 BMW i3 at a glance: 70-100 mile electric-only power range There will also be a range-extended version made available with a twin-cylinder gas engine derived from a motorcycle. This will offer backup comfort for those with range anxiety. … Continue reading
Posted in BMW, Green Luxury, Luxury Hybrids
Tagged 2014 BMW, 2014 BMW i3, BMW electric cars
Leave a comment
BMW Displaying Mixed Emotions on iOS in the Car
When Apple's iPod emerged a decade ago, luxury carmaker BMW was among the first to integrate it into its cars. The tech-savvy and forward thinking carmaker is taking things a bit slower when it comes to Apple's "iOS in the Car" offerings. Rumors are flying that BMW is done with the forbidden fruit, but the truth remains anyone's best guess at this point. Siri's presence strengthens with 'iOS in the Car' BMW responded to the rumors by claiming to be in close contact with Apple and releasing the following statement: "BMW is investigating the technical challenges required to integrate iOS … Continue reading
BMW Destroys Guinness World Drift Record!
BMW has stolen the Guinness World Drift Record with an unbelievable 51-mile drifting session at the BMW Performance Center near Greenville, South Carolina. Check out the highlight videos below: Watch the BMW lap the wet track Apparently it is not against Guinness regulations to position sprinklers onto the track for this event. For some reason, the Bugatti Veyron Fastest Production Car issue comes to mind! Will BMW be stripped of this title in a few years after enough people point out the water issue? It did take years for Bugatti to be stripped of its title–after it was highlighted repeatedly … Continue reading
BMW i3 EV Shows More of its Electrified Body
BMW has been taking off more and more camouflage, revealing previously unseen parts of the elusive new plug-in i3 EV. This marks the next level version of the hybrid formerly known as the 'Mega City Vehicle' (MCV). The BMW i3 EV is a hatchback and should be emerging from obscurity to full production form quite soon—possibly by the end of the year. BMW i3 EV continues to shed camouflage in a sort of slow striptease The BMW i line is geared toward an environmental and urban approach at the luxury car. The i sub brand is smaller, futuristic, and capable … Continue reading
Posted in BMW, Cool Car Features, Luxury Hybrids
Leave a comment
BMW Loaner Program Poised to Reduce Range Anxiety
BMW is taking a proactive approach to reducing range anxiety for buyers of its i models with a new loaner program. The BMW loaner program will provide all buyers of its i3 electric car with a free gasoline loaner car for those longer trips. While the company is confident that the i3 will give drivers what they seek for 90 percent of their trips, they also know that an annual road trip could sway purchases. A company propelled forward by creativity, this is reminiscent of the BMW online marketing endeavors for the i-brand. That is where the free gasoline loaner … Continue reading


text:
Batelco backs Royal Fund for MartyrsBatelco, Bahrain's leading telecom operator, has backed the Royal Fund for Martyrs with a contribution of BD100,000 ($263,804). The fund has been established by the Deputy King, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al More… |
UAE 'crucial to global energy security'The UAE, which holds about 10 per cent of the world's known oil reserves, is a vital contributor to world energy security, said the head of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec). The UAE has been 'an Opec member country More… |
UAE Exchange, Unicef join hands for childrenUAE Exchange and Unicef have announced a new partnership to promote the cause of underprivileged children. In this partnership, the leading global remittance and foreign exchange brand will donate to Unicef Dh0.10 for each remittance tran More… |
CBB wins Takaful awardThe Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) was honoured at the International Takaful Awards held recently as part of the second international takaful summit in London. The CBB received the award for "Outstanding Contribution to the Takaful Industry More… |

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Children's Summer Programs
Gifted and Talented Program
June 9-27, 2014 (8:30am-11:00am / M-F): A three-week summer program in June for students entering grade one through grade six in the fall. Students can help prioritize their class selections via the online application!
Whiz Bang Science Program
July 7-18, 2014 (9:00am-11:30am / M-F): A two-week science program in July for young "scientists" entering grade one through grade six in the fall. Students help create the program theme via answers to questions in the online registration!
Conversations of Humankind Program
A Life of the Mind one-week program, offered in two consecutive weeks in June for middle-school students entering grade seven through grade nine next fall.
This is the Department of Education
Browse all Departments & Programs
- Anthropology
- Art
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Classics
- Economics and Business
- Education
- English
- Environmental Program
- Feminist and Gender Studies
- Film and New Media Studies
- French, Italian, and Arabic
- Geology
- German
- History
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Music
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Race and Ethnic Studies
- Religion
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Sport Science
- Southwest Studies
- Theatre and Dance


text:
Open Classifieds is a script for classified ads, advertisements, and listings. It is a Web application that is developed to be fast, light, secure, and SEO friendly. It is template enabled and easy to administrate. It features friendly URLs, cache, and CAPTCHA.
A desktop news aggregator for reading news feeds and Web logs.
Lazarus Object Pascal IDE


text: Google and especially Yahoo! have done some major shifts to Geolocation in the last couple of months. I personally often see quite big differences between accessing google.com from a german IP and a US IP which leads me to the conclusion that they're most probably geotargeting. Applying filters for different regions doesn't make sense imho. Except language based filters but that shouldn't be an issue when it's about US/UK SERPs.


text:
My Bday is May 17th, can I get a discount?
Community Stats
- Group HUDDLER
- Active Posts 4,929
- Profile Views 1,749
- Member Title This Space for Rent
- Age 36 years old
- Birthday May 17, 1977
Not Telling
Favorite NFL Team
Most hated NFL Team
Any other team in the NFL souf
Posts I've Made
In Topic: ILM huddlers, want to have lunch w/Steve Smith?
17 January 2014 - 06:29 PM
In Topic: Can we ditch Dwill and Jstew?
14 January 2014 - 08:48 PM
Let's ditch all our RBs and just pass every down
In Topic: Captain Munnerlyn
12 January 2014 - 06:17 PM
Did Mikell ever return.. he looked like he was really in pain when he was limping off the field.. was having a hard time from the nose bleed trying to see who replaced him
In Topic: Not just a new OC, but a new system is needed.
12 January 2014 - 06:08 PM
It was a good year overall to be a Panther fan. I didn't like the outcome of the game obviously, and everyone around me was talking about those BS calls by the refs. However, it was fun to get out and do something like that after being a hermit for the last 4 months. Looking forward to going to at least 3 games next year. BTW, is it usually that big of a cluster *** after the game? Took me 2 hours to get home and it's only about 25 miles
In Topic: Gameday Menu
12 January 2014 - 09:44 AM
Is it wrong to take a shot at 8am to cure a hangover?
- → Viewing Profile: Posts: CLTPanther
- Privacy Policy


text:
Shu Takumi, the innovative mind behind the Ace Attorney series, has crafted a brilliant new masterpiece that's sure to challenge the most ardent puzzle enthusiast out there. This will be the must-have Nintendo DS title for early next year. With quirky characters, gorgeous visuals, incredible drama, and Rube Goldberg-flavored puzzles, this is a guaranteed recipe for unadulterated awesome.
In GHOST TRICK: Phantom Detective, players will be transported into the spirit world of Sissel, a murder victim who upon returning as a ghost, has lost his memory and must solve the mystery of his suspicious demise. Sissel has the unique ability to possess inanimate objects from the real world and skillfully manipulate them in order to influence events.
Subscribe to our videogame news


text:
New Customer ? Start Here.
Can't find what you're looking for? Shop all ink and toner cartridges by brand
Item: 187446 Model: 07843
Tablet Type Details | iPad 2 |
Compatible Devices | iPad 2 |
Dimensions | 32 cm(H) x 20.4 cm(W) x 0.2 cm(D) |
Weight | 0.6 lbs. |
Need more help? Get advice from your Network REVIEW SNAPSHOT® by PowerReviewsDigital Treasures� Screen Pristine Screen Protector For iPad 2 Reviewed by 1 customer Displaying review 1 10/18/2013 Difficult to use. Pros
Best Uses
Comments about Digital Treasures� Screen Pristine Screen Protector For iPad 2: I'm sure this probably comes with the territory, but it was nearly impossible to get rid of all the air bubbles on the screen protector for our ipads. We had 12 of them to apply and after spending 45 minutes on the first one there were still bubbles. There were stickers on the film that we were not able to remove so it was not a completely clear screen. In frustration we did not spend as much time on ech one so there are bubbles that interfere with the clarity of the screen.
Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend Was this review helpful? Yes / No - You may also flag this review Displaying review 1 |
This Web site is intended for use by US residents only. See International Sites. See our delivery policy for full details. Copyright 2013, Staples, Inc., All Rights Reserved.


text:
McKlein USA R Series Ohare Nylon Wheeled Laptop Case
Earn eBags Reward points on every order! Each Rewards Club point converts to a $1.00 back to spend on future purchases. To join, just use a password during checkout to create your account.
When will this product arrive at my door?
Product Features
Detailed Product Description
+ Show More


text:
Packing List
Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: The weather in southwest Missouri is known to be erratic, especially in winter, spring, and fall. (In the summer, it is just uniformly hot & humid.) Be sure to pack a variety of clothes. Yesterday (May 1) it was hot enough to swim and today it is quite chilly (low 50's).
- 1
- DoubleTree Hotel Springfield
- Holiday Inn University Plaza
- Days Inn Battlefield Rd/Hwy 65
- Ramada Oasis Inn and Convention Center
Show Prices
Show Prices
Show Prices
Show Prices
- Save up to 50% on hotels.
- Hotwire.com Hotwire: Get a 4-star hotel for a 2-star price.
- Book now for big savings!
- Hotels.com Outstanding choice of hotels all over the world at fantastic prices.
Sponsored Links


text:
Oh the things that go viral. @Bluerobin2
User Profile
Aliens don't wear hats.
Male, 15, United States
hey, I'm SmokedSausage and I like meemoos :^)
- Joined:
- Sun 14th April, 2013
- Website:
- http://darkeffectsoftware.webs.com/
Recent Comments
Cant wait for it to come out this spotpass feature just made Animal Crossing once again one of my Favorite games since its Gamecube Release


text:
HEAD Elite Tennis Backpack
Eligible for Free Shipping on Orders $49 or More! (see promotion details) |
Members of The League get 5% back when you spend $100! (see promotion details) |
Product Details
Heading to the club for a quick match? Grab the HEAD® Elite tennis backpack, and you're good to go! It features a roomy main compartment for clothes and accessories, as well as a separate (ventilated) shoe pocket. The racquet compartment has auto-stop zippers to keep it securely closed. Adjustable, padded shoulder straps help you comfortably manage the load.
Get your new HEAD® tennis backpack today from Sports Authority.
- Large main compartment
- Racquet compartment with auto-stop zippers
- Front accessory pocket
- Vented shoe compartment
- Mesh water bottle/tennis ball side pouch
- Adjustable, padded shoulder straps
- Carry handle
- PVC free
- Dimensions: H 17 inches x W 13 inches x D 11 inches


text:
According to an article in today's Chronicle of Higher Education John Sanders, a professor at Huntington College in Indiana, has been fired for his writings on Open Theology. Huntington is an Evangelical college and I gather that there has been over the last year or so considerable political pressure to fire him. (Thanks to David Paulsen for the link)
Since the article isn't open to non-subscribers, allow me a few excerpts.
Bruce A. Ware, senior associate dean of the School of Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and an ardent opponent of Open Theism, says the controversy is of much more than scholarly interest. By rejecting the notion of a supreme being who knows or has even planned the whole future, he says, "Open Theism undermines people's confidence in God." It "makes God pathetic."
Other theologians see the debate over Open Theism as a proxy for a struggle over who will lead the evangelical movement -- free-will-believing liberals or old-fashioned Calvinists. As the debate has spread, a number of evangelical institutions, including the six seminaries of the Southern Baptist Convention, have started to require faculty members to sign statements saying that they believe in God's complete knowledge of the future. The statements are intended to keep out supporters of Open Theism.
But the idea's impact is spreading beyond the walls of evangelical seminaries. "For philosophers who speculate about God, it has breathed new life into the debate," says Kelly James Clark, a professor of philosophy at Calvin College and secretary-treasurer of the Society of Christian Philosophers.
. . .
The society's decision not to expel the two men was viewed as inappropriate leniency by some members. Norman L. Geisler, president of the Southern Evangelical Seminary and a former president of the theological society, resigned from the group in protest.
"Before my own eyes," he says, "I saw an organization I belonged to go down the tubes and officially approve a view which denies the infallible foreknowledge of God."
Yet while conservatives failed to get Mr. Sanders removed from the society, they are forcing him from his faculty job of seven years at Huntington. Last month the college's president, G. Blair Dowden, told a stunned faculty meeting that pressure from the United Brethren Church and the prospect of falling enrollments had become too much to resist. Mr. Sanders, he said, would have to leave.
Mr. Dowden says he was not happy with the decision, which was made by the Board of Trustees. He acknowledges that the move could be a blow to academic freedom.
An other post on the topic from the Christian Post. Also at BP News. They don't mention the firing, but some of the other events leading up to it.
Since this is all taking place in an other faith, I don't have too much to say about it. I have strong doubts about Open Theism, but certainly it is not something I think would cause huge problems in Mormonism. Indeed it has, the last couple of years, been an active topic among many scholars. John Sanders actually spoke at the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology last year. However this is apparently a surprise to some people, who wonder if this bespeaks a movement among Evangelicals towards a more Calvinistic theology.
Being more ignorant of the range of beliefs permissible among these various groups, I can't say much. I will say that if this is a significant doctrinal matter, that Mormons ought not be that surprised. One wouldn't be surprised if someone at BYU teaching against LDS basic theology was fired. However, since BYU has itself been involved in a firestorm of controversy over academic freedom due to various firings thought to relate to religion, it will be interesting to see how the Evangelical community deals with this.
This is sad indication of where evangelical education is going. I'm no friend to open theism, so I don't sympathize with his view. Nonetheless, the university--even a Christian evangelical one--should be a place of sharing new and challenging ideas. Moreover, Sanders is a committed inerrantist on scripture, which speaks to his commitment to broadly evangelical views. If they find Sanders's views unorthodox, who's next? Molinists? Arminians? Amillenialists?
Speaking as one within the evangelical camp (and as a hopeful professional academic), I believe that firing Sanders only because he is an open theist is ridiculous. (His academic credentials are superb.) I believe this is part of the growing trend among evangelicals to equate orthodoxy with Calvinism.
John, I have noticed a very strong upswing in Calvinism. Nothing against Calvinism, but I seem to recall that when I was in college I met few Evangelicals who were Calvinists. Indeed most Evangelicals I had discussions with seemed quite opposed to Calvinism. Yet the last few years the vast majority of Evangelicals I've had discussions with definitely adopt more Calvinist positions. Well, I should hedge my bets somewhat, since I confess to not being that up on all the nuances of what is or isn't Calvinist. But they definitely seem to take a much narrower view of what is appropriate within Christianity.
It is interest to see what this will result in. I know of many Baptists who were concerned at the more conservative swing that especially the Southern Baptist Convention has taken the last decade.
At the same time I know Mormons and some Evangelicals have been trying to mend fences. (A lot of Mormons have experience with severe persecution from a minority of Evangelicals) I think many Mormons thought that inter-faith dialog, such as having Dr. Sanders speak at the SMPT conference were helping. But with the firing of Sanders and the rather strong criticism of Richard Mouw's recent comments among many Evangelicals, I wonder what will happen.
I woulds't call it Calvinism as much as I'd call it a bunker mentality. Especially the backlash against Richard Mouw's comments, which presumed that any criticism at all was better than nothing and therefore justified (I've read several of the articles covering responses, and I really think that this is a reasonable characteristic of them).
I believe that the firing of Sanders is surprising -- especially in light of the fact that Bill Hasker (recently retired) has taught philosophy at Huntington College for years and is a very articulate proponent of Open Theology. I am an Open Theologian within the LDS camp -- and I find the same tendencies among many in the LDS camps who equate Mormonism with a McConkie take on scripture (one that is insupportable in my view given the LDS view of scripture open to updating and emendation). I fear that the same inability to respond to Open Theology in an academic forum will lead LDS to demonize those who adopt it in LDS camps. Indeed, I have already been shunned for a position at the Lawfirm that represents the Church because of my open view of scripture! No -- this phenomenon is not far from us.
I find the comments by Bruce Ware to be most interesting. He fears that people will adopt Open Theism more and more -- and as a Calvinist they must do so because God causes them to do so!
One of these days Clark is actually going to articulate his position with enough clarity that we can discuss it. Up until now I've only seen vague concerns about Open Theism. It is time Clark. I am excited by the prospect of discussion (respectfully) the issues related to semi-compatiblism with you. For now, I believe that Open Theism is not merely an option for LDS thought, but one that is natural given the notions of limited omniscience adopted by BY, WW, LS and other Church Presidents (and embodied BTW in official First Presidency Statements).
I also believe that the firing of Sanders is rerehensible. Firing another simply because he differs in a theological issue as intricate as God's foreknowledge is reaching into areas where academic respect ought to reign. Unlike Jim Faulconer, I believe that Sanders' firing is not at all like firing someone for not believing in the BofM. Rejecting scripture is one thing; rejecting a particular theological reading of scripture is quite another. It is more like firing a BYU teacher because s/he believes in evolution or in post-modernism (whatever it means).
Of course, Arminius was treated the same way for rejecting predestination in the 16th century. Let's not kid ourselves, however, in Evangelical circles the Calvinists can be as controlling as the god they propose to worship -- when one worships an all-controlling god who even determines people to be cast into hell, I suppose all kinds of unrighteous dominion can be justified.
Blake, I was going to put together a brief outline of my position for the SMPT conference. But given my current contract bid, a new baby and a tonne of other things, I'm just not going to have time to write it in a fashion I'd want to present. So let me write something brief up tonight.
"Rejecting scripture is one thing; rejecting a particular theological reading of scripture is quite another. It is more like firing a BYU teacher because s/he believes in evolution or in post-modernism (whatever it means)."
Without defending or condemning the firing of Sanders or the merits of Calvinist theology, it seems to me that the Calvinists response to what Sanders offers is a concern for undermining God's sovereignty--a doctrine that is at the heart of Calvinist belief, not at the (debatable) boundaries. That would be more serious for them than a concern over whether evolution or postmodernism might be for Latter-day Saints. One may argue, of course, that "the openness of God" doesn't undermine sovereignty, but the great majority of Calvinist will hold that it does.
I think one of the most significant things here (as Johnny Dee hints at) is the trend to make Calvinism the norm for Evangelical.
(Blake, which First Presidency Statements talk about limited omniscience? I'd be really interested to see them. I haven't made my mind up yet, though I tend to lean toward belief in full omniscience. I'd like to see the Statements to throw into the mix (particularly in my discussions with some who are absolutely sure there must be full omniscience). Is this in your book (or upcoming book)?)
Without speaking for Blake, I suspect he has in mind Brigham Young and his notion of continuing to increase in knowledge as an implication of eternal progression. I don't think that follows that God doesn't have absolute knowledge of our world. Further there is the ever interesting issue of universals and whether God knows those. Those of a more Ockham bent will obviously have problems with knowledge of universals.
I agree with you, btw. I think that any religious organization ought to be able to maintain some doctrinal orthodoxy in its staff. That's part of working at a religious school. The problem I have is that there is this sense I read in various groups that Calvinism is Christianity. I certainly understand believing ones theology and thinking it the correct interpretation. By the same reasoning I think Mormonism is correct. But I'd never say it is the only valid form of Christianity. (i.e. tolerate other forms of belief)
It's an interesting question since clearly BYU has non-Mormons working at it. So long as they abide by the ethical rules, some of which may seem silly to non-Mormons, I don't think there is a problem. That was, I believe, Jim's point. Yet when a particular theological movement is perceived as a political threat then things are different. Events around the early 90's are one example in our own religion.
On a slightly different tack, this is just another illustration of the political uses of heresy charges. Too often, heresy is just about institutional infighting or power struggles. Administrators who terminate faculty on such grounds might promote certain institutional agendas, but will likely undermine the sense of free academic inquiry that a successful university depends on. It's nice that, for once, the culprit isn't BYU.
While I think heresy can be political in the sense you use it, that's not really the sense I meant it in. Specifically I think that heresy can be a valid concern as a political matter. You suggest heresy arises out of politics while I see the politics arising out of the heresy.
The 1860 and 1865 statements by BY and his counselors discuss the problems with Pratt's views and articulate a clear view that God increases in knowledge. I quote them in chapter 3 of my book.
BTW Clark, given your present state of sleep-deprivation incident to new-papa-hood (congratulations!), you deserve to have a ton slack. It would be nice to have an SMPT discussion of your views, but don't feel any pressure. Life lifes.
Thanks, Blake. The 'other Church Presidents' and 'embodied in FP statements' caught my interest. I was thinking you might have found something other than BY--something more recent. Though I don't have time to read it all now, I suppose I really ought to buy your book. (It's the time factor right now, by the way, that is delaying my reading and commenting on the material you sent me on atonement.)
Eugene England had some interesting thoughts on the omniscience of God. The way he expressed it to me was that God has a perfect knowledge of what he needs to know to save us. There might be other realms of knowledge that do not apply to us currently that He continues to learn and grow in. I have no idea if this is published somewhere, though I have read a letter of unknown provenance from a Bruce R. McConkie rebuking England for these ideas on a website some time ago.
I think, John, that McConkie probably was a nominalist, in the sense that he didn't accept the reality of universals. Thus the only way to know what we'd call a universal would be to know the extension of it. (i.e. the only way to know all about redness would be to know all red things) At least that's the only way I find his logic making sense. This is somewhat understandable given the positivism of the times.
I've often wondered if someone ever brought that distinction up to him.
Is anyone familliar with the purported McConkie letter to Prof England? I have never seen it anywhere other than Anti-Mormon sites, and thereby doubt its origins.
Also, I cannot help but feel that Calvanism smacks of the ancient greek mode of mythology, in that it depicts an immature and self-concious god who treats his creations as more playthings than children.
If you need an online version of the letter, you can look here:
It appears the U of U has a copy of this letter. I don't know if there is any reason to doubt its veracity:


text:
Point Reyes Headlands Winter Shuttle Bus System
On weekends & holidays, Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is closed beyond the South Beach Road junction from 9 am to 5:30 pm during favorable weather conditions. Bus service to the Lighthouse & Chimney Rock is provided from Drakes Beach. More »
2014 Harbor Seal Pupping Season Closures
From March 1 through June 30, the park implements closures of certain Tomales Bay beaches and Drakes Estero to water-based recreation to protect harbor seals during the pupping season. Please avoid disturbing seals to ensure a successful pupping season. More »
Operational Changes Took Effect on May 1, 2013
The Lighthouse Visitor Center is now only open Fridays through Mondays; closed Tuesdays through Thursdays, including Thanksgiving. The Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center is open on weekends and holidays when shuttles are operating. More »
Red Barn Art Exhibitions: Portus Novæ Albionis {{close discoveries}}
"Portus Novæ Albionis {{close discoveries}}" Photographer Graham Hewson's photographs of scenes from Drakes Estero and Estero de Limantour were on display in the Red Barn Classroom from Thursday, July 1, 2010, through Thursday, September 30, 2010. There was also a photographer's reception at the Red Barn Classroom on Sunday, July 11, 2010. Visit the Red Barn Art Exhibitions section of our Indoor Activities page to find out what is currently on display. The Red Barn Classroom gallery is open by appointment only, Mondays through Fridays, 9 am to 4 pm. Please contact Carola DeRooy at 415-464-5125 or by email to schedule an appointment or for more information. To get to the Red Barn Classroom, follow the directions to Point Reyes National Seashore. As you proceed up the driveway toward the Bear Valley Visitor Center, turn left at the sign for the Red Barn Classroom. |
Did You Know?
Coast Miwok people have lived in the Point Reyes vicinity for over 4,000 years. They lived in villages similar to Kule Loklo, which is located near the Bear Valley Visitor Center. More...


text:
Thermostability of xylose (glucose) isomerase and its importance in the production of high fructose corn syrup
Kevin L. Epting1, Claire Vieille2, Rockey K. Bandlish 1, J.
Gregory Zeikus 2, and Robert M. Kelly 1
1: North Caroline State University, 2:Michigan State University
Xylose isomerase (XI) catalyzes the conversion of xylose to xylulose. Its
industrial importance is due to its ability to convert glucose to fructose
in the manufacture of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), hence it is also
referred to as glucose isomerase. Current production of HFCS uses
immobilized XIs at around 60şC. This limits the conversion of glucose to
fructose to 42 percent, and requires an expensive enrichment step to
increase the mixture to 55 percent fructose. A thermostable XI would allow
the process to be operated at higher conversion. Based on sequence analysis,
XI's have been divided into two classes, I and II. Enzymes from class
I lack a fifty amino acid residue at the N-terminus that is present in those
from class II. Currently, only class I enzymes are used in HFCS production.
The class II enzymes include XIs from mesophiles, thermophiles, and
hyperthermophiles. The sequences for the XIs are highly conserved, and due
to their industrial importance much sequence and biochemical data are
available, which makes XIs a good model system to study thermostability.
XIs from E. coli, T. thermosulfurogenes, and T. neapolitana were examined
with respect to their thermostability. During the study, it was noted that
there was a noticeable reduction in the asparagine (Asp) and glutamine (Gln)
composition of the thermostable XIs. Overall, hyperthermophilic proteins
contain 55% fewer Gln and 28% fewer Asn then mesophilic protiens. Since
both Asp and Gln are easily deaminated at higher temperature, it is not
surprising that these would be reduced in thermostable enzymes. This led to
the question of whether other XIs with low Asp and Gln could be more
thermostable. The Bacillus licheniformis XI (BLXI) was selected for
further study based on this criterion. The recombinant enzyme cloned and
expressed in E. coli exhibited similar kinetic parameters as other class II
XIs. However, differential scanning calorimitry (DSC) results showed the
Tmelt for the active enzyme was 74şC, which is significantly higher than one
would expect for an organism with a growth temperature around 37şC.
Discussed here will be the factors that appear to contribute to the
stability of XIs based on comparisons among class II versions of the enzyme
with different levels of thermophilicity.
Characterization and Optimization of Mammalian G-Protein Coupled Receptors
Expression in the yeast S. cerevisiae
G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute a large class of
proteins that span the plasma membrane seven times and may possess
covalent modifications, such as glycosylation and disulfide bonds.
A GPCR's physiological role is to recognize specific extracellular stimuli and to allow the cell to respond appropriately.
Since it is believed that 60% of all medications interact with members of this family, GPCRs represent important drug targets.
However, at this point in time no optimal expression system exists to help facilitate the development of new
medications intended for specific receptors.
Our research has focused on characterizing and optimizing the
expression of two pharmacologically distinct mammalian GPCRs in S. cerevisiae, the mouse Substance P receptor and the human A2a receptor.
During the characterization phase, both the fate and the
activity of these two receptors were analyzed.
Unlike the expression of mammalian GPCRs in E. coli, which results in the formation of insoluble aggregates,
both receptors are expressed as integral membrane proteins in yeast.
Furthermore, we have shown that the human A2a receptor is active and successfully trafficked to the plasma membrane.
In order to produce higher titers of receptor, intracellular proteins that help fold nascent proteins (chaperones) or capable of
catalyzing covalent modifications were co-expressed with the mammalian
GPCRs. Since most GPCRs are glycoproteins with intramolecular disulfide
bonds, a chaperone believed to interact with glycoproteins and isomerases
capable of forming and rearranging disulfide bonds were chosen.
Our data not only shows that the co-expression of certain chaperones or foldases
can result in a two fold increase in GPCR expression,
but gives us greater insight into membrane protein biogenesis.
The Effects of Dilution Rate on the Refolding of Prochymosin from Inclusion Bodies Formed in Escherichia coli
Prochymosin was refolded at various concentrations to determine its effect on the kinetics and yield of refolding.
The fraction of prochymosin refolded was highly concentration dependent. As the prochymosin concentration in the renaturation solution was varied from 0.01 mg/mL to 1 mg/mL, the percent refolded decreased from 8% to less than 1%.
The yield was further increased to over 15% with the use of a slow addition technique to mimic a lower protein concentration in the refolding solution.
At higher concentrations such as 0.2 gm/mL a more drastic difference was seen with yields increasing as much as nine-fold. The proposed kinetic model suggests that the refolding pathway is first order passing through an intermediate, while it competes with a second order reaction that leads to reaggregated prochymosin.
Escherichia coli cell DH5a was transfected with the plasmid pWHA43,
and this organism was used to produce bovine prochymosin in the form of insoluble inclusion bodies. The cells were lysed and the inclusion bodies were collected in a pellet fraction.
The inclusion bodies were then solubilized in an 8 M urea solution at pH 10.5. The resulting solution, containing unfolded prochymosin, was diluted ten-fold reducing the urea concentration to 0.8 M, triggering the refolding process.
Reduced and oxidized glutathione were used in the refolding solution to facilitate disulfide rearrangement allowing the proteins to refold properly. The refolded prochymosin was then activated to pseudochymosin by acidification, and a milk-clotting activity assay was used to determine the concentration of activated pseudochymosin that was properly refolded.
Ex vivo Monitoring of Baculovirus-infected Larvae Via an Optical Probe
Trichoplusia ni (T. ni) larvae were used as a host organism for recombinant baculoviruses expressing UV optimized green fluorescent protein (GFPuv) or GFPuv with either human interleukin-2 (hIL-2) or chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT). A GFP optical probe was used to both excite the green fluorescent protein (373 nm), and subsequently monitor fluorescence emission (510 nm) in viable larvae. The amount of GFPuv present in the infected larvae was quantified using a voltmeter connected to the optical probe's photodetector. The voltage readings were significantly higher for infected versus uninfected larvae and showed a strong correlation with the amount of GFPuv being produced which in turn indicated the amount of hIL-2 or CAT present in the larvae. Furthermore, the readings obtained with the probe had less variation and required less labor than the readings obtained by fluorescent spectroscopy or Western blot analysis. Importantly, the results were obtained in real time. Therefore, the GFP optical probe, in conjunction with recombinant baculovirus expressing GFP, can be used to monitor the progress of infection in T. ni larvae and to predict the optimal harvest time for increased recombinant protein yields.
Cloning and Expression of Drosophila melanogaster beta-N-Acetyglucosaminidase Genes in S2 Cells.
The use of insect cells as host is a popular alternative for the expression of recombinant glycoproteins. One advantage over prokaryote or lower eucaryote system is the ability to perform protein glycosylation. However, unlike higher eucaryote such as mammalian or human, the glycoprotein produced in insect system rarely produces the complex type N-glucan. The presence of large quantity of naturally occurring non-lysosomal beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase in insect cells is believed to be one of the major reasons. This degrading enzyme specifically removed the GlcNAc on the alpha-1,3 Mannose branch and thus blocks further elongation of the N-glycan. Insect cells lacking this enzyme would be an ideal host for the production of therapeutic glycoprotien. This goal can be achieved by the use of specific inhibitor.
In order to identify hexosaminidase genes in Drosophila melanogaster, a BLAST search was performed using both the Bombyx mori and Manduca Sexta sequences. Two different hexosaminidase genes were identified, DmHexol and DmHexo2, which have approximately 50% and 35% amino acid identity with the lepidopteran sequences respectively. The stably transformed S2 cells produced a significant amount of beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase enzyme, which is much higher than the basal level. Large scale expression, purification and further enzyme characterization works will also be described.
Preparation, Stability, and in vitro Performance of Vesicles made with Diblock Copolymers
Vesicles made completely from diblock copolymers - polymersomes - can be stably prepared by a wide range of techniques common to liposomes. Processes such as film rehydration, sonication, and extrusion can generate many-micron giants as well as monodisperse, ~100 nm vesicles of PEO-PEE (polyethyleneoxide - polyethylethylene). These thick-walled vesicles of polymer can encapsulate macromolecules just as liposomes can, but, unlike many pure liposome systems, these polymersomes exhibit no in-surface thermal transitions and a sub-population even survive autoclaving. Suspension in blood plasma has no immediate ill-effect on vesicle stability, and neither adhesion nor stimulation of phagocytes are apparent when giant polymersomes are held in direct, protracted contact. Proliferating cells, in addition, are unaffected when cultured for an extended time with an excess of polymersomes. The effects are consistent with the steric stabilization that PEG-lipid can impart to liposomes, but the present single-component polymersomes are far more stable mechanically and are not limited by PEG-driven micellization. The results potentiate a broad new class of technologically useful, polymer-based vesicles.
A Unified Modeling Framework for Incremental Truncation and DNA Shuffling
Combinatorial DNA libraries are widely
employed to search for novel proteins for
many different applications ranging
from industrial enzymes to vaccines.
Directed evolution experiments exploit high-throughput
screening of proteins encoded by the combinatorial
library to rapidly select enhanced proteins.
The objective of this work is to provide
quantitative guidelines for setting up
the generation of combinatorial DNA libraries through
DNA shuffling and incremental truncation.
DNA shuffling starts with the random fragmentation of a small library of DNA sequences from different
species that encode for a given protein. The fragments are reassembled through fragment annealing
and polymerase extension, introducing crossovers when fragments from two different
parent sequences anneal and extend. Since this annealing requires sequence identity, crossovers only occur
along matching regions, leading to an uneven sampling of sequence space and
perhaps omission of promising sequences.
In contrast, incremental truncation for the creation of hybrid enzymes is sequence independent and
creates combinatorial libraries of all possible single crossovers between two sequences as recently verified
by Ostermeier et al. (1999).
Although incremental truncation overcomes identity limitations, it is restricted because only a single crossover
is generated per sequence pair. This implies that DNA shuffling and incremental truncation are complementary in nature.
Here we propose a quantitative method for analyzing combinatorial DNA library generation that
models the results of both DNA shuffling and incremental truncation. The analysis of these two protocols shows that
together they are capable of producing novel multiple-crossover sequences containing crossovers that are not based on
regions of sequence identity.
Green Fluorescent Protein as a Fusion Partner in S. cerevisiae: studies of the fusion effect, protein expression and localization.
Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) has found tremendous applications in various fields in the past decade. Our lab has previously demonstrated that GFP could be used as a quantitative reporter both in E. coli and in S. cerevisiae . In this study, we further examine the use of GFP for monitoring fusion protein, i.e. Hexokinase(HXK)—GFP, expression and localization events. A multiple fusion HXK-EK-GFP-6xHis was constructed where the Histidine tag (6xHis) would allow for convenient affinity purification, and the enterokinase (EK) cleavage site would be used for separation of HXK from GFP after affinity purification. Our results showed that the Hexokinase-GFP fusion proteins retain their structure/enzyme activity, and most importantly, there is a linear correlation between Hexokinase activity and GFP fluorescence. Enterokinase cleavage studies revealed that both GFP fluorescence intensity and HXK activity remained unchanged after separation of the fusion proteins, which indicated that fusion of GFP did not cause structural alteration of Hexokinase and thus did not affect the enzymatic activity of HXK. Confocal microscopy studies showed that while GFP was distributed evenly in the yeast cytosol, HXK-GFP fusion resulted in a di-localization of both cytosol and the nucleus. GFP proved to be a useful fusion partner that allowed for real-time and live observation of the fusion proteins.
High-Performance Chromatofocusing Using Micropellicular Column Packings
Micropellicular (i.e., nonporous) column packings are used in chromatofocusing to demonstrate the resolution and speed achieved when separating proteins under these conditions. Linear or concave pH gradients are produced with simple mixtures of buffering species instead of the more commonly used polyampholyte buffers. Computer- aided design methods are demonstrated for selecting the composition of the elution buffer to produce a pH gradient of a desired shape. The method is applied to the high- resolution separation of horse myoglobin and human hemoglobin variants.
A useful selection of buffering species is described capable of producing pH gradients of a variety of shapes in the range between pH 9.5 and 5.5.
Design of Synthetic Gene Transfer Agents
Gene therapy is one of the most promising methods of treating genetic diseases. It involves delivery of healthy gene into the cells of the affected organ or tissues. The methods used for gene delivery can be broadly classified into two categories - viral and synthetic methods. There are certain disadvantages in using viral methods, such as immunogenic reactions, limited size of genetic inserts and non-specificity. Therefore, a lot of attention has been drawn towards non-viral or synthetic carriers. This is because, synthetic vectors offer greater ease of use, safety and there are no theoretical limitations on the amount of gene that can be packaged. However, the efficiency of gene delivery by non-viral methods is low. Hence, more research is needed to increase the efficiency of these methods.
There is a strong relationship between carrier structure and its performance. Hence, effective carriers can be designed by controlling their structure. This study investigates the properties of polymer-based carriers. The carrier used is a cationic polyelectrolyte (polylysine), encapsulating a rod-like DNA agent. Monte Carlo simulations are used to determine the net charge of the complex and the number of bonds formed per DNA monomer, which determines the strength of DNA-polymer binding.
Mixed Signals: Fungal elicitor and methyl jasmonate effects on sesquiterpene cyclase promoter activation in Hyoscyamus muticus hairy roots
Sesquiterpene cyclase is a key branchpoint enzyme in the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway and catalyzes the conversion of FPP to sesquiterpenes. The sesquiterpene cyclase promoter is responsive to fungal elicitation and plant defense signal molecules such as jasmonic acid. The H. muticus sesquiterpene cyclase promoter (Hmp) was fused to the green fluorescent protein (gfp) gene, cloned into a binary vector, and used to develop H. muticus hairy roots containing the Hmp-GFP construct via Agrobacterium transformation. The objectives of this research are to determine the effects of controlled application of fungal elicitor and jasmonic acid upon localization of promoter activation in hairy roots. Specifically, we aim to observe when and where the promoter is turned "on" in a plant root in response to controlled elicitor application by tracing GFP fluorescence. The eliciting substance is immobilized in a slab of nutrient agar that is applied to the root tip while the remainder of the root is contacted with only nutrient agar. GFP fluorescence is recorded over 24 hours along the axis of the root. Preliminary results indicate that fungal elicitor stimulates promoter activation (GFP fluorescence) only in the region directly contacted with the elicitor. However, jasmonic acid application results in very intense fluorescence that increases with time polarly along the root axis from the contacted region toward the root tip only. We are currently investigating the transport of jasmonic acid as a secondary signal in the elicitation process. Combined with jasmonate biosynthesis inhibitor studies, this work may allude to the role of jasmonic acid in plant root defense signal transduction at long distances from the stimuli.
Tapered Fiber Optic Sensors for Measuring Cellular Physiologic Response
Our long-term objective is to develop a methodology and a device to map metabolic activities of tissues and cells in a local region.
Optical fibers provide a convenient and efficient means of sensing of metabolic activity in situ. In this preliminary work, we report on the results of three experiments.
Single mode optic fiber, with a tapered geometry in the light path coupled to a light source, was successfully used for sensing fluorescent molecules (thioflavin S, Alexa fluor, and BCECF).
Life time changes due to NAD(P)H binding with a dehydrogenase was determined.
Finally, dynamics of intracellular NADH and its binding are determined using life time measurement due to changes in oxygen availability.
Characterization of Intracellular Proteolytic Activity in Pichia pastoris
Pichia pastoris is a methylotrophic yeast that has a strong, inducible promoter which can be used for protein production. It is capable of generating post-translational modifications that are more similar to eukaryotic protein modifications such as glycosylation. P. pastoris does not secrete high amounts of endogenous protein; therefore the heterologous protein secreted into the culture is relatively pure and purification is easier to accomplish. In this study we investigated the intracellular proteolytic activity during the growth and protein production stages of batch fermentations of the P. pastoris in both rich media (Yeast-extract Peptone Dextrose) and BMGY (Buffered Medium containing Glycerol) under oxygen -rich and oxygen-limited conditions. Proteolytic activity was analyzed using SDS G-PAGE. Additionally, pulsed vs. continuous methanol feed was investigated.
Measuring Cell Traction Forces on Collagen Gels
New tissue can be developed by growing cells in a polymer matrix that can later be implanted to replace defective tissue within the body. In order to understand the design of novel types of tissue, one must understand the interactions between cells and the polymer matrix in which they are growing. For example, fibroblasts, a common cell type found in connective tissue, are known to remodel collagen, a biological polymer, by exerting traction forces on the collagen to change its overall shape.
These shape changes or displacements, combined with the mechanical properties of the collagen, can be used to calculate the cell traction forces. The remodeling resulting from these forces could produce materials with specific local mechanical properties ideal for tissue equivalents.
In order to determine the cell traction forces from the collagen fibril displacements, the mechanical properties of collagen must be measured. Early in remodeling, the collagen is assumed to be an isotropic, elastic material in which none of its properties vary with respect to direction. A linear relationship between the displacement of the collagen fibrils and the cell traction forces can be deduced from elasticity theory. This relationship can then be utilized to calculate the cell traction forces from experimental values for the collagen fibril displacements measured by video microscopy and calculated by deformation and fitting algorithms. Preliminary results show traction forces of 5 to 25 nN in a 40 minute period.
A Fluorescence Energy Transfer Study Of Lecithin-Cholesterol Vesicles In The Presence Of Sodium Tauroursodeoxycholate
Fluorescence energy transfer from dehydroergosterol to dansylated lecithin was used to characterize lecithin-cholesterol vesicles in the presence of the bile salt, sodium tauroursodeoxycholate.
The approach is to demonstrate agreement between the fluorescence technique and conventional studies with respect to the vesicle-to- micelle transition as a function of bile salt loading. The changes in the fluorescence ratio correlated well with the conventional light scattering measurements that quantify partial micellization of vesicles as a function of bile salt loading. In addition, fluorescence energy transfer from dehydroergosterol to dansylated lecithin revealed cholesterol enrichment of vesicles and re-vesiculation of micelles at bile salt loadings for which vesicles and micelles co-existed
Anaerobic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH)-Degrading Enrichment Cultures Under Methanogenic Conditions
The widespread contamination of aquatic sediments by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has led to the need for efficient, cost-effective anaerobic bioremediation processes. Recently, several studies demonstrated PAH degradation under nitrate- and sulfate-reducing conditions; however, very limited information is available on degradation of PAHs under methanogenic conditions. This research focuses on the characterization of PAH-degrading microbes and population dynamics for mixtures of PAHs under methanogenic conditions. Baltimore Harbor sediments were utilized to initiate anaerobic enrichment cultures in estuarine medium with naphthalene (NAP), phenanthrene (PHE), and pyrene (PYR), respectively. Both NAP and PHE degradation were detected, but not PYR. Subsequently, the NAP and PHE enrichment cultures were transferred to fresh medium and refed NAP and PHE, respectively. Again, the cultures continued to exhibit NAP and PHE degradation. The population of the PAH-degrading consortia was monitored via comparative sequence analysis of 16S rDNA. By utilizing these techniques, shifts in the microbial community as a result of further enrichment and degradation were monitored. Initial characterization of the NAP- and PHE-degrading consortium revealed 41 and 28 distinct RFLP types with universal primers and 13 and 15 with archaeal primers, respectively. Further, the predominant RFLP types exhibited the high sequence similarity to anaerobes which have been implicated in the degradation of other contaminants, such as PCB, trichlorobenzene, benzene, and hydrocarbons. This preliminary information is utilized to monitor population dynamics and biodegradation kinetics for PAH mixtures (NAP, PHE, and PYR).
Green Fluorescent Protein as a real-time indicator to monitor gene expression in bioprocess
The use of green fluorescent protein as a reporter gene has made a broad impact in several areas especially in studies of protein trafficking, localization and expression analysis. Its many advantages are that it is small, autocatalytic, and does not require fixation, sacrifice, or the addition of any co-factors or substrates. Two characteristics of GFP, extreme stability and lag time, pose a hindrance to the application of GFP as a real time gene expression reporter in bioprocess applications. In this report, we present analytical methods which overcome these problems and enable the temporal visualization of discrete gene regulatory events. The approach we present measures the rate of change of GFP fluorescence, which in turn reflects the rate of gene expression. We conducted fermentation and microtiter plates experiment using protein synthesis inhibitors to illustrate the feasibility of this system. Additional experiments using the classic gene regulation of the arabinose promoter demonstrate the utility of GFP as real time indicator of transcriptional regulation. With repetitive induction and repression of the arabinose promoter, GFP shows a cyclical change in fluorescence emission during culture.
Evidence of Lateral Phase Separation in Lecithin-Cholesterol Membranes
Formation of cholesterol rich domains within the membrane has been reported, but conclusive evidence and a fundamental understanding of the domains are lacking. Cholesterol-rich domains if present might play an important role in phenotypic modulation during early atherogenesis.
The goals of this investigation are to test the hypothesis that cholesterol-rich domains form via lateral phase separation in lecithin-cholesterol membranes, and to perform a systematic study to characterize the composition and temperature ranges over which such domains form. If cholesterol-rich domains exist it should be possible to melt them away by raising the temperature of the system. A fluorescent analog of lecithin was introduced into the membrane, and the fluorescent emission spectrum was recorded as a function of temperature and cholesterol loading.
High Pressure Dissociates Tailspike Protein Aggregates and
Promotes Native Structure Formation
Protein aggregation plays a major role in medicine, biochemical
research, and in the biotechnology industry. We are using a number of
techniques to study the reaction rates, and intermediates formed, during
protein aggregation in order to understand and control this process. One
of these techniques involves the application of hydrostatic
pressure. Hydrostatic pressure can dissociate oligomeric proteins and
other macromolecular complexes without denaturing the secondary and
tertiary structure of the subunits, and has been used to determine the
thermodynamics of assembly reactions.
P22 tailspike protein is the model system for protein aggregation,
as it forms aggregates under physiological conditions. Additionally, the
structure is known, and tailspike intermediates along the folding and
aggregation pathway have been characterized by native gel electrophoresis
and size-exclusion high-pressure liquid chromatography. Tailspike protein
aggregates formed during refolding were exposed to pressures between
15,000 and 35,000 psi. Pressure dissociated the aggregates, resulting in
increased amounts of monomeric and dimeric folding intermediates, as well
as native trimer, relative to ambient controls. Pressure also affects the
intermediate conformations, as visualized by mobility shifts on native
gels. These results show that hydrostatic pressure can convert protein
aggregates to native protein without using chaotrophs, extremes of pH, or
dilutions required in typical refolding procedures.
To develop a molecular understanding of the aggregation mechanism,
atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to study macroscopic aggregate
formation as a function of time. AFM images show that tailspike aggregates
can adopt two morphologies: spherical clusters with diameters on the order
of 100 nm and fibers up to 1 µm in length. Section analyses performed on
the spherical clusters indicate that they are composed of smaller units of
roughly the same size as the tailspike folding intermediates. Ultimately,
we will develop a mechanistic model that accounts for the macroscopic
observations and the molecular behavior of the aggregates.
The use of a green fluorescent protein fusion tag to develop cellular systems for optimal expression of membrane proteins
G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are an important class of transmembrane proteins that mediate cellular response to diverse stimuli.
Many diseases have been linked to GPCR function but little is known about expression, folding, and interactions of these proteins.
In order to elucidate structural and functional properties, we plan to develop cellular systems for efficient expression of functional protein.
Green fluorescent protein (GFP) will be used as a fluorescent fusion tag to identify the intracellular location and bottlenecks of the proteins.
GFP is ideal for analysis because it requires no additional substrate and generally does not affect the native structure of the protein.
The effect of chaperones and foldases can be studied once the GFP-GPCR fusion is complete.
This marker will also aid in the development of methods to refold or improve the solubility of the protein.
Measurement of Intracellular pH Response of CHO Cells to Varying Culture Conditions Using BCECF
The intracellular pH (pHi) response of Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, growing in pseudo-continuous culture, to varying cultivation conditions was measured using the fluorescent probe BCECF through two different methods. Temperature, shear stress, and BCECF concentration are three parameters that were studied using the instantaneous pHi measurement method developed previously at Drexel University. The goals of these studies are to determine the lowest quantifiable concentration of BCECF that can be used to yield accurate pHi measurement results; the effect of shear stress due to bioreactor agitation speed on the pHi; and the pHi as effected by varying cultivation temperatures. A secondary method, perfusion measurement, was also used to determine both the effect of temperature shock, as well as the effect of varying cultivation temperatures.
Production of Therapeutic Proteins In Plants: Creation of a Plant Baculavirus System
A plant tissue culture based system is being developed as a platform to produce proteins in sufficient quantity for testing and characterization purposes. In this plant tissue based expression system, a vector carrying the gene of interest is cloned into Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The bacterium and plant tissue are co-cultured, and the bacteria transfer the gene into the plant tissue. The plant tissue transiently expresses the foreign protein at high levels, and is then harvested. A proposed refinement includes causing the bacteria to transfer to the plant tissue a sub-genomic virus carrying the gene of interest. The plant tissue culture will be engineered to contain the viral amplification functions. It is anticipated that this system will produce higher protein yields due to the ability of the virus to transfer the foreign gene to additional cells beyond those initially transfected by the Agrobacteria. Additionally, auxotrophic bacteria could be used to diminish the effects of bacterial overgrowth on the plant tissue culture. Initial data will be presented to show the increase in transient expression due to mechanical wounding of the plant tissue, and also the pH dependence of transient expression when using acetosyringone to activate the Agrobacteria for gene transfer.
The Role of Cysteins and Disulfide Bonds on the Protein Folding of P22 Tailspike
Understanding how large, complex oligomeric proteins fold and assemble has
been a goal of protein chemists for decades. A model system for
investigating the assembly of these complex oligomers is the tailspike
protein of the P22 bacteriophage, a homotrimer composed of 666 amino acids
and eight cysteine residues per monomer chain. The macroscopic folding
pathway of tailspike has been well studied, and monomer, dimer and a
disulfide-bonded protrimer have been identified as folding
intermediates. The disulfide-bonded protrimer is of particular interest
as there are no disulfide bonds in the final, native structure. It is
this feature that prompts the investigation into redox optimization of
tailspike folding.
The three cysteine residues toward the carboxyl terminus, at positions
496, 613 and 635, have been shown to exhibit sulfur reactivity, indicating
that these are the most likely candidates to be involved in disulfide
bonding during the folding reaction. Single serine mutants at each of
these residues were expressed and purified from E. coli. In vitro
characterization of these mutants, in trimer form, demonstrate similar
stability to wild type tailspike when treated with various concentrations
of guanidine chloride, as monitored by intrinsic tryptophan
fluorescence. In addition, the single mutants have native-like circular
dichroism spectra. However, significant differences were observed between
the single mutant and wild type folding reactions under both low protein
concentrations, which favor productive folding, and high concentrations,
which lead toward aggregation. The single mutants fold two to five times
slower than wild type under productive folding conditions, but this
difference is even greater at aggregating conditions, where the appearance
of trimer is more than fifty times slower than wild type. When two single
mutants are mixed together in a single reaction, folding under aggregating
conditions is significantly improved, with trimer appearing only two to
four times slower than in the wild type reaction.
Investigation and Characterization of Gene Dosage on Expression of Archaeal b-glucosidase in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Archaeal enzymes have great potential for industrial use, however expressing them in their natural hosts has proven challenging. Fermentation conditions for many archaea are far beyond modern fermentation capabilities, and to compound the problem, archaea generally achieve much lower biomass yields than Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Therefore, our goal is to bypass direct fermentation of archaea by overexpressing their enzymes in the yeast S. cerevisiae.
Our model protein is the tetrameric b-glucosidase from the hyperthermophilic Pyrococcus furiosus.
We engineered the b-glucosidase to be secreted into the medium and have shown successful secretion of active b-glucosidase. The effect of gene copy number on b-glucosidase secretion was studied and a maximally secreting transformant was found to secrete approximately 1 mg/L in batch culture.
All transformants retained large intracellular fractions of b-glucosidase with an average approximately 370 times that of supernatant b-glucosidase values.
Interestingly, our findings indicate a putative secretory bottleneck between the Golgi and the plasma membrane. We are currently investigating the nature of the bottleneck and developing cellular engineering solutions.
Deformation-Enhanced Fluctuations of the Erythrocyte's Spectrin-Actin Nodes and Relation to Spectrin Unfolding
To assess local elasticity in the red cell's spectrin-actin network, nano-particles were tethered to actin nodes and their constrained thermal motions tracked. Cells were immobilized as well as controllably deformed by aspiration into a micropipette. Since the network is well-appreciated as soft, thermal fluctuations even in an unstressed portion of network were expected to be many 10's of nanometers based on simple equipartition ideas. Real-time particle tracking indeed reveals such motions for 40-nm fluorescent beads either tethered to actin directly within a cell ghost or else tethered
to actin from outside a cell via glycophorin. Moreover, the elastically constrained displacements are significant on the scale of the network's inter-nodal distance of ~60–80 nm. Surprisingly, along the aspirated projection – where the network is axially extended by as much as two-fold or more – fluctuations in the axial direction are increased by almost two-fold relative to motions in the unstressed network. A simple analytical model introduces the idea that this unexpected softening in the highly extended direction reflects forced unfolding of spectrin repeats, or else rapidly reversible dissociation
within or between spectrin oligomers, and/or more subtle contributions from actin protofilament rotations.
Detachment of S. aureus from Collagen under Fluid Shear Conditions with the
Aid of a Monoclonal Antibody
Receptor mediated adhesion of bacteria to biological surfaces is a
significant step leading to infection. Novel methods to block these specific
interactions have gained considerable interest due to an increase in
bacterial antibiotic resistance. However, these methods are only useful as
preventive strategies and not treatment strategies against infection.
Recently, monoclonal antibodies specific for the S. aureus collagen receptor
demonstrated the ability to displace attached cells from collagen in static
assays. In this study, we report S. aureus detachment from collagen in a
fluid shear environment aided by monoclonal antibodies that posses this
displacement functionality. A parallel plate flow chamber was employed to
create a defined shear environment for various levels of physiological shear
(100-2300 s-1). The dynamic detachment of cells from collagen was quantified
using phase contrast videomicroscopy and digital image processing in real
time. Results demonstrate that detachment depends on S. aureus strain, mass
transfer of the antibody to the receptor, and shear rate. We hypothesize
that in regions of low shear (100-300 s-1) both antibody mass transport and
shear force affect detachment rate, in regions of moderate shear (300-1500
s-1) detachment is effected only by antibody mass transport, and in regions
of high shear (=2000 s-1/) detachment is minimized.
Affinity Ultrafiltration: Effects of ligand binding on Selectivity and Process Optimization
The effective design of affinity ultrafiltration processes using a
selective macroligand requires a detailed understanding of the effects of
ligand binding interactions on product yield and purification.
Theoretical calculations were performed to evaluate the
performance of affinity diafiltration separations with both competitive
and independent binding interactions for the product and impurity. The
intrinsic selectivity for independent binding decreased during the
diafiltration due to the increase in fractional impurity binding as the
impurity is selectively removed. The opposite behavior was seen for
competitive binding since the strongly bound product displaces the
impurity from the binding sites. Purification-yield diagrams were used to
examine the effects of affinity ligand concentration and binding constants
on the separation. Model calculations were in excellent agreement with
experimental data from single-stage and 2-stage cascade membrane
systems for the separation of tryptophan isomers using bovine serum
albumin as the stereoselective macroligand. Simulations with a fixed
number of diavolumes show a clear optimum in product yield and
purification factor at an intermediate ligand concentration due to the
competing effects of the intrinsic selectivity and the rate of impurity
removal. These results provide an appropriate framework for the design and
optimization of affinity ultrafiltration systems.
The Effects of pH and Ionic Strength on Carbon Dioxide Transport Dynamics in Biorecators
The level of dissolved carbon dioxide is a key component in cell culture systems. In large-scale animal cell culture, dissolved carbon dioxide can quickly reach toxic levels and result in lower cell density and culture yield. In tissue culture, carbon dioxide is an important signal that can control metabolism and development. The mass transfer of carbon dioxide in culture is also a valuable measurement used in measuring the respiration quotient and can be used to predict the mass transfer rates of oxygen. Compared to the other gas components in a culture, carbon dioxide is more complex because it undergoes a series of reactions to form the inorganic carbon system. A mathematical model has been developed which predicts the dynamic response of a bioreactor to changes in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide using a proton balance. The model was used to investigate the effects of different culture variables on the mass transfer of carbon dioxide and dynamics of the inorganic carbon balance. The system was found to be extremely sensitive to pH and mildly to non-ideality introduced by the media's ionic strength. This has important implications for understanding the dynamics of dissolved carbon dioxide for measuring respiration quotients and using CO2 mass transfer to measure O2 mass transfer.
Calculating the mass transfer coefficients of oxygen from carbon dioxide mass transfer measurements
Accurate measurements of the oxygen mass transfer coefficient (KLa) are critical for successful scale up of bioreactors and controlling the metabolism of cultured cell lines. The measurement of the oxygen KLa usually involves stripping oxygen from the media of a reactor and then measuring the rate at which the dissolved oxygen returns (gas in * gas out technique). Problems with this method include the inaccuracy and unreliability of the dissolved oxygen probe and damage incurred to the cell culture during oxygen deprivation. A new method has been developed to measure the KLa of oxygen based on the bioreactor's inorganic carbon balance and the transport rates for carbon dioxide. It has been calculated and experimentally verified that the ratio of the KLa of carbon dioxide and oxygen is relatively constant, and the KLa of oxygen can be indirectly calculated from the KLa of carbon dioxide. The KLa of carbon dioxide can be experimentally measured from the bioreactor's response to a step change in carbon dioxide partial pressure to indirectly give the oxygen KLa.
Design of Smart Carriers for Peroral Protein Drug Delivery
The development of oral delivery systems for protein- and peptide-drugs has received significant attention. Two major problems exist in the development of such systems. First, significantly proteolytic degradation of the proteins and peptides occurs drugs in the stomach and upper portion of the small intestine. Also, the transport of the macromolecular drugs across the lining of the GI tract does not occur readily without the aid of absorption enhancers. To overcome these problems, we have developed a pH-responsive carrier that provides delivery to the small intestine as well as enhances gastrointestinal uptake of the proteins. In this study, graft copolymers of polymethacrylic acid and polyethylene glycol (P(MAA-g-EG)) were prepared and used as carriers of insulin. Due to the formation/dissociation of interpolymer complexes, the hydrogel will hinder diffusion in acidic environments and will protect the insulin from powerful digestive enzymes. At the higher pH conditions of the small intestine, these complexes will dissociate, resulting in polymer swelling and insulin release. The aims of this study were to investigate the release kinetics of insulin in vitro as well as the pharmacokinetics following in situ administration of the insulin loaded polymer in the GI tract.
Methods to study Controlled Drug Release in the Vitreous Humor
of the Eye
Ocular diseases such as retinitis, glaucoma, lymphoma, and macular
degeneration are difficult to treat with systemic drug therapy because many
drugs fail to deliver significant amounts of drug to deep eye structures.
Intravitreal drug injections have been used with some success, but repeated
injections for chronic treatment are impractical for most patients. With
advances in controlled-release technology, interest has increased in the
development of long-term, drug-releasing ocular implants for treating
chronic eye diseases.
Accurate determinations of drug concentrations at the various
regions within the posterior chamber of the eye is crucial to effective drug
delivery by the implants. The purpose of this work is to devise improved
methods for monitoring drug levels in the eye non-invasively models that can
predict these drug concentrations. To validate the measurement techniques
and to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of intravitreal drug
transport, model systems of the drug delivery are used.
An in vitro mechanical model of the eye is used to study the
relative importance of diffusion and convection of drugs through the
vitreous humor. Drug movement is simulated by a marker dye moving through an
agarose gel. Dye concentration is monitored optically with special imaging
software. Once characterized, this in vitro model is used to validate the
MRI methods for monitoring drug transport using contrast-enhancing agents
such as gadolinium and its conjugates as drug surrogates.
Additionally, mathematical finite element models are used to
predict spatial and temporal drug levels in the chambers of the eye. These
three-dimensional models incorporate characteristic of diffusion and
convection as determined by in vivo MRI measurements.
Reactor Design for Submerged Root Culture: Role of Aeration and Tissue Morphology on Hydrodynamics
Root cultures possess the ability to synthesize chemicals (secondary metabolites) with complex stereoisomer structures that may be difficult to produce by traditional chemistry. In addition, plant tissue culture is being explored as an alternative production system for eukaryotic, recombinant proteins. These classes of compounds are of interest to the pharmaceutical, food, or specialty chemicals industries. Commercialization of root cultures as alternative chemical production systems will depend on the feasibility of their large-scale cultivation.
At large scales, in vitro root cultivation becomes limited by delivery of oxygen to the tissue. Various chemical reactor designs have been proposed for growing root cultures at large scales. In this work, one of these reactor configurations - the bubble column reactor - has been used at a pilot-scale (15 liters) to investigate the oxygen delivery limitations that cause decreases in growth and tissue respiration rates in liquid-submerged, sparged root culture systems. In an effort to understand the oxygen transport mechanisms in these systems, overall oxygen transport rates were measured in the pilot-scale bubble column reactor by gas-phase analysis, along with mixing of the bulk gas and liquid phases through use of tracer studies. The effects of aeration rate on liquid mixing, gas holdup, and tissue respiration rates were examined with two different root lines (Solanum tuberosum and Hyoscamus muticus). Mixing and apparent mass transfer rates were not enhanced by increasing aeration rates. The role of gas phase channeling in offsetting increased superficial gas velocities is discussed. Morphological tissue characteristics on bulk mixing were also examined using a hairless analogue developed for H. muticus (Bordonaro and Curtis, B&B, 2000). The elimination of root hairs proved to be effective at improving liquid mixing times and decreasing the extent of static gas in the bubble column reactor. These improvements were accompanied by 40% greater biomass accumulation and 20% higher respiration rates.
Multi-element Array Impedemetric Immuno-biosensors
James Butz, Anne Robinson
University of Delaware
Jon Shanter, Dr. Alfred Carlson
The Pennsylvania State University
This work was funded by the Center for Bioprocessing Research.
Shannon F. Kramer,
Govind Rao,
Yordan Kostov,
William E. Bentley
University of Maryland-College Park
Badarulhisam Abdul-Rahman1, Karen Palter2, Eric Ailor3, Julian Jones3, Nobora Tomiya1, Yuan C. Lee1 and Michael HJ. Betenbaugh3 .
1Department of Biologyk, 3Department of Chemical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. 2Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
James C-M. Lee, Harry Bermudez, Bohdana M. Discher, Maureen A. Sheehan,You-Yeon Won, Frank S. Bates, Dennis E. Discher
School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania
Gregory L. Moore, Costas D. Maranas, Stefan Lutz, Stephen J. Benkovic
The Pennsylvania State University
Jincai Li, W.E. Bentley and Govind Rao
University of Maryland Baltimore County
Xuezhen Kang and Douglas D. Frey
University of Maryland at Baltimore County
Veena Pata, Nily Dan
Drexel University
Colleen Merritt and Wayne R. Curtis
The Pennsylvania State University
Hong Sang, P. Mohana Shankar, Steve Wrenn and Raj Mutharasan
Drexel University
Nekeisha S. Sweeney and Tracey R. Pulliam Holoman
University of Maryland
Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Building
College Park, Maryland 20742-2111
Aron Parekh and Darrell Velegol
The Pennsylvania State University
Manasa V.Gudheti, Steven P.Wrenn
Drexel University
Wook Chang, Youngsoon Um and Tracey R. Pulliam Holoman
University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-2111
Canghai Lu, C.Renee Albano, William E. Bentley, Govind Rao
University of Maryland Baltimore County
Gregory M. Troup, Steven P. Wrenn
Drexel University
Brian G. Lefebvre and Dr. Anne Skaja Robinson
University of Delaware
Ronald Niebauer, Anne Skaja Robinson
University of Delaware
Daniel DeSantis, Amy Fritzinger, Jared Simons, Hong Sang, and Raj Mutharasan
Department of Chemical Engineering, Drexel University
Jason Collins, Edgard Carvalho, Wayne Curtis
The Pennsylvania State University
Brenda Danek and Anne Robinson,
University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716
email@example.com (302) 831-6697
Jason D. Smith and Anne Skaja Robinson,
University of Delaware
James C-M. Lee and Dennis E. Discher
Bioengineering/ University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Lisa Mascari and Julia M. Ross
University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus
Jonathan Romero, Andrew Zydney
University of Delaware, Dept. of Chemical Engineering
Kenneth L. Urish and Wayne R. Curtis
Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvanis State University,
University Park PA, 16802
Kenneth L. Urish and Wayne R. Curtis
Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvanis State University,
University Park PA, 16802
Robert J. Murray, Mariko Morishita, Marc C. Torjman, Jeff I. Joseph and Anthony M. Lowman
Drexel University
Hyuncheol Kim(1,2) , Robert Lutz(2) , Martin Lizak(3) , Rupak K. Banerjee(2) , Michael Robinson(3) , Nam Sung Wang(1)
1 : University of Maryland, College Park
Department of Chemical Engineering
College Park, MD 20770
2: Division of Bioengineering and Physical Science
National Institute of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892
3: National Eye Institute
National Institute of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892
Lia D. Tescione and Wayne R. Curtis
Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802.
Abstracts Withdrawn
Calvin Walker Jr., Anthony Guiseppi-Elie
Center for Bioelectronics Biosensor and Biochips


text:
Browse our mobile site for the best experience on your device.
St. Louis' R&B and Back in the Day Jamz
Listen to Majic Live
Follow @1003KMJM
The Tony Scott Show
Tammie Holland
Keith Sweat
BJ the DJ
Pam Oliver
Sunday Morning Live
Jade Harrell
Arika Parr
Carmen Kelly
Sylvester The Cat
Toni Roper
Most Recently Played
Most Played This Week
Submit Request
What song was that?
Sunday Morning Live Podcasts
Audio/Video Support
Contest Rules
Join the club
Edit my account
Majic Photos
Sista Strut Photos
Contact Us
Join us on Facebook
Listen on iHeartRadio
Events Calendar
Sista Strut
Public Service Submission
Community Involvement
Volunteer Opportunities
Recruitment Alert
Internship Program
Advertise with us
Joe Simon
Joe Simon
Greatest Hits: The Spring Years, 1970-1977
Original Release Date: 1997
Track Listing
1. Your Time to Cry
2. Help Me Make It Through the Night
3. You're the One for Me
4. All My Hard Times
5. Georigia Blue
6. Drowning in the Sea of Love
7. Pool of Bad Luck
8. Power of Love
9. I Found My Dad
10. Trouble in My Home
11. Step by Step
12. Theme from Cleopatra Jones
13. River
14. Carry Me
15. The Best Time of My Life
16. Get Down, Get Down (Get on the Floor)
17. Music in My Bones
18. I Need You, You Need Me
19. Come Get to This
20. Easy to Love
21. You Didn't Have to Play No Game
22. One Step at a Time
23. For Your Love, Love
Kris Kristofferson: Composer
Joe Simon: Composer, Vocals, Producer
Paul Simon: Composer
Joe South: Composer
Donnie Fritts: Composer
Bunny Sigler: Composer
Tony Joe White: Composer
Gene McDaniels: Composer
Teddy Randazzo: Arranger, Producer
Larry Alexander: Engineer
Thom Bell: Arranger
Kenny Gamble: Composer
Leon Huff: Composer
Mike Lewis: Arranger, Producer
Brad Shapiro: Arranger, Conductor, Producer
Andrew Smith: Arranger
Bert de Coteaux: Arranger, Conductor
Phillip Mitchell: Composer
Ady Croasdell: Liner Notes, Compilation
Raeford Gerald: Composer, Producer
Malcolm Crowthers: Liner Notes
David Farrow: Package Design
John Richbourg: Producer
David Young: Post Production


text:
Gordon Ramsay Takes On The Swedish Chef In Muppets Most Wanted Promo
December 8, 2013 01:00:10 by Stephanie GustafsonMasterChef grouch Gordon Ramsay likes to think of himself as the ultimate expert in food preparation, but then again, so does the Swedish Chef. The two notoriously stubborn television figures recently faced off in a hardcore food truck competition — and the results just might surprise you!
Topics: FOX Reality TV Shows, Gordon Ramsay, Hell's Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares | No Comments »
MasterChef's Graham Elliott Drops 128 pounds and Runs His First 5K
December 6, 2013 10:00:11 by Suzy KerrGraham Elliott, we hardly recognize you! Since dropping nearly 130 pounds in the last five months, the MasterChef host and restaurateur is looking much slimmer – and healthier – these days.And his appearance isn't the only thing that's different, either. Just last week, Graham completed his first 5K run – something that the old Graham wouldn't have been able to do.
Topics: FOX Reality TV Shows, MasterChef | No Comments »
Ruben Studdard Dishes On The Biggest Loser Conspiracy
December 5, 2013 12:00:19 by Lisa PrincA few weeks ago Ruben Studdard was booted from The Biggest Loser ranch after Jillian Michaels made an error in judgment, only to be brought back and then eliminated two short weigh ins later. Of course, this left many folks speculating that there was a conspiracy going on, and now, the Idol champ is finally speaking out about what went down.
Topics: American Idol, FOX Reality TV Shows, NBC Reality TV Shows, The Biggest Loser | No Comments »
Ruben Studdard Exits The Biggest Loser: Worst Trainer Mistake Ever?
November 7, 2013 07:13:39 by Lisa PrincRuben Studdard shocked us all this week on The Biggest Loser, when a five pound weight loss for the week led to his elimination. However, the American Idol season two winner's trainer, Dolvett Quince looked surprised as well, or was he wondering if he just made the biggest mistake ever? Hmm…
Topics: American Idol, FOX Reality TV Shows, NBC Reality TV Shows, The Biggest Loser | 10 Comments »
Ruben Studdard Sounds Off On Biggest Loser Elimination
November 6, 2013 05:56:12 by Stephanie GustafsonDespite his status as the heaviest contestant this season on The Biggest Loser, Ruben Studdard struggled to keep up with the impressive weight loss achievements of his competitors. As such, we weren't all that surprised to see the American Idol alum booted from the competition last night. Still, despite his failure to capture a second reality television victory, Ruben still feels he's a champion in his own right.
Topics: American Idol, FOX Reality TV Shows, NBC Reality TV Shows, The Biggest Loser | 12 Comments »
Ruben Studdard Shocker! Idol Champ Booted From The Biggest Loser In Week Four
November 6, 2013 10:00:54 by Lisa PrincWe've got to admit it, like most fans, we were really looking forward to watching American Idol's season two winner Ruben Studdard get healthy and lose weight on The Biggest Loser, but for his size, the singer seemed to be having a lot of trouble dropping pounds each week. So while it was a bit shocking, we shouldn't be too surprised that Studdard was eliminated last night! What a huge disappointment…
Topics: American Idol, FOX Reality TV Shows, NBC Reality TV Shows, The Biggest Loser | 4 Comments »
Simon Cowell Thinks He Will Be A Good Dad
November 5, 2013 06:00:23 by Lisa PrincSimon Cowell shocked us all when he announced that, not only was he expecting a baby, but he knocked up his close friend's wife. And even more shocking is that The X Factor guru, who has always claimed to be awful with kids, thinks he is going to make a good father! What's up with that?
Topics: FOX Reality TV Shows, The X Factor | No Comments »
What Does Kelly Clarkson Want For Christmas? A Baby!
October 31, 2013 05:00:34 by Suzy KerrAmerican Idol winner Kelly Clarkson only has one wish for Christmas, and it's not her two front teeth. The newlywed has something a little more cuddly in mind, which she revealed on a radio show yesterday. "I want babies!" Kelly announced. "Everybody keeps saying, 'What do you want for Christmas?' And I'm like, 'I want to be pregnant.'" Well alrighty then, I guess Kelly's evenings are booked solid for the next couple months.
Topics: ABC Reality TV Shows, American Idol, Duets, FOX Reality TV Shows, Kelly Clarkson | No Comments »
Demi Lovato: Kanye West Better Treat Kim Kardashian Right!
October 25, 2013 03:40:37 by Stephanie GustafsonIn the aftermath of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's engagement, anyone and everyone has speculated over the couple's ability to remain married longer than 72 days. The latest to weigh in on the Keeping Up With The Kardashians lovebirds? None other than X Factor judge Demi Lovato!
Topics: E! Reality TV Shows, FOX Reality TV Shows, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Kim Kardashian, Kourtney And Kim Take New York, The X Factor | No Comments »
Details On Kelly Clarkson's Romantic, Intimate Wedding
October 23, 2013 03:00:44 by Suzy KerrKelly Clarkson, the season 1 winner of American Idol, got hitched over the weekend, and now we've got all the details – and video proof! – of the intimate ceremony with music manager Brandon Blackstock. After scrapping their original plans for a big wedding extravaganza in the backyard of their Nashville home, the pair opted instead for a low-key, super private ceremony at a farm in Tennessee.
Topics: ABC Reality TV Shows, American Idol, Duets, FOX Reality TV Shows | No Comments »


text:
Saturday, March 8, 2014 | 1:22 a.m.
Hi, (not you?) | Member Center | Sign Out
Posted: 1:57 p.m. Monday, May 20, 2013
Daily News Staff Writer
Slow-moving storms produced driving rain before noon Monday, with the bulk of the accumulation falling north of Royal Poinciana Way, Public Works Director Paul Brazil said.
Readings from the rain gauges at the 14 storm-water pump stations told the story: more than 1 inch of rain in an hour.
The National Weather Service had issued an urban flood advisory for the island.
Standing water pooled on the streets surrounding Phipps Estates at 1 p.m., but it wasn't considered flooding, Brazil said.
Public Works has four crews, or eight workers, cleaning storm-drain openings throughout the island.
The town stretches 14 miles from top to bottom; however, the Department of Transportation handles storm drains south of Sloan's Curve, Brazil said.
As for flood-prone areas, Brazil said, "It all depends on the storm and which way it's going as to which areas are impacted."
Tonight, expect mostly cloudy skies with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, and more rain is forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Advertisers & Sponsors |
© 2014 Cox Media Group. By using this website,
you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices.
Already have an account? Sign In
{* #registrationForm *} {* traditionalRegistration_displayName *} {* traditionalRegistration_emailAddress *} {* traditionalRegistration_password *} {* traditionalRegistration_passwordConfirm *}Already have an account? Sign In
{* #registrationFormBlank *} {* registration_firstName *} {* registration_lastName *} {* traditionalRegistration_displayName *} {* traditionalRegistration_emailAddressBlank *} {* registration_birthday *} {* registration_gender *} {* registration_postalZip *} {* traditionalRegistration_passwordBlank *} {* traditionalRegistration_passwordConfirmBlank *} {* agreeToTerms *}We have sent you a confirmation email. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account.
We look forward to seeing you frequently. Visit us and sign in to update your profile, receive the latest news and keep up to date with mobile alerts.
Don't worry, it happens. We'll send you a link to create a new password.
{* #forgotPasswordForm *} {* forgotPassword_emailAddress *}We have sent you an email with a link to change your password.
We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. Your existing password has not been changed.
To sign in you must verify your email address. Fill out the form below and we'll send you an email to verify.
{* #resendVerificationForm *} {* resendVerification_emailAddress *}Check your email for a link to verify your email address.


text:
Parenting Issues
My husband and I are pretty unique in that we discussed a myriad of future issues long before we got married. I distinctly reme... Read More »
As a party planner, I know the importance of music and the need to stay current. That's why I first started listening to music... Read More »
My daughter has a memory like an Elephant. The upside: she has such good memory recall she hardly forgets a thing. The downside... Read More »
A few days ago, my two-year-old daughter reached a milestone. She cursed…and she used the word in the right context. We expe... Read More »
I've come to the unfortunate realization that co-parenting is an abstract notion, a fanciful dream and quite frankly, in my ca... Read More »
Syndicated Post from Melissa Chapman, MarriedMySugarDaddy.com... Read More »
Every evening, as a part of our getting the kids ready for bed ritual, my husband and I bathe our children in the same tub (we h... Read More »
Two months into my daughter's first year in elementary school, I had to go out of town for three nights. Not trusting my husb... Read More »
When ABC News Now came a calling and asked me to be part of Moms Get Real with Juju Chang and Lee Woodruff on the topic of swear... Read More »