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- 32D progenitor cells (1)
- Devic disease (1)
- Devic syndrome (1)
- Extended donor criteria (1)
- Graft function (1)
- Graft survival (1)
- Medizin (13) (remove)
- Contrasting disease patterns in seropositive and seronegative neuromyelitis optica: A multicentre study of 175 patients (2012)
- BACKGROUND: The diagnostic and pathophysiological relevance of antibodies to aquaporin-4 (AQP4-Ab) in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) has been intensively studied. However, little is known so far about the clinical impact of AQP4-Ab seropositivity. OBJECTIVE: To analyse systematically the clinical and paraclinical features associated with NMO spectrum disorders in Caucasians in a stratified fashion according to the patients' AQP4-Ab serostatus. METHODS: Retrospective study of 175 Caucasian patients (AQP4-Ab positive in 78.3%). RESULTS: Seropositive patients were found to be predominantly female (p < 0.0003), to more often have signs of co-existing autoimmunity (p < 0.00001), and to experience more severe clinical attacks. A visual acuity of ≤ 0.1 during acute optic neuritis (ON) attacks was more frequent among seropositives (p < 0.002). Similarly, motor symptoms were more common in seropositive patients, the median Medical Research Council scale (MRC) grade worse, and MRC grades ≤ 2 more frequent, in particular if patients met the 2006 revised criteria (p < 0.005, p < 0.006 and p < 0.01, respectively), the total spinal cord lesion load was higher (p < 0.006), and lesions ≥ 6 vertebral segments as well as entire spinal cord involvement more frequent (p < 0.003 and p < 0.043). By contrast, bilateral ON at onset was more common in seronegatives (p < 0.007), as was simultaneous ON and myelitis (p < 0.001); accordingly, the time to diagnosis of NMO was shorter in the seronegative group (p < 0.029). The course of disease was more often monophasic in seronegatives (p < 0.008). Seropositives and seronegatives did not differ significantly with regard to age at onset, time to relapse, annualized relapse rates, outcome from relapse (complete, partial, no recovery), annualized EDSS increase, mortality rate, supratentorial brain lesions, brainstem lesions, history of carcinoma, frequency of preceding infections, oligoclonal bands, or CSF pleocytosis. Both the time to relapse and the time to diagnosis was longer if the disease started with ON (p < 0.002 and p < 0.013). Motor symptoms or tetraparesis at first myelitis and > 1 myelitis attacks in the first year were identified as possible predictors of a worse outcome. CONCLUSION: This study provides an overview of the clinical and paraclinical features of NMOSD in Caucasians and demonstrates a number of distinct disease characteristics in seropositive and seronegative patients
- The L76V mutation in HIV-1 protease is potentially associated with hypersusceptibility to protease inhibitors Atazanavir and Saquinavir: is there a clinical advantage? (2011)
- Background: Although being considered as a rarely observed HIV-1 protease mutation in clinical isolates, the L76V-prevalence increased 1998-2008 in some European countries most likely due to the approval of Lopinavir, Amprenavir and Darunavir which can select L76V. Beside an enhancement of resistance, L76V is also discussed to confer hypersusceptibility to the drugs Atazanavir and Saquinavir which might enable new treatment strategies by trying to take advantage of particular mutations. Results: Based on a cohort of 47 L76V-positive patients, we examined if there might exist a clinical advantage for L76V-positive patients concerning long-term success of PI-containing regimens in patients with limited therapy options. Genotypic- and phenotypic HIV-resistance tests from 47 mostly multi-resistant, L76V-positive patients throughout Germany were accomplished retrospectively 1999-2009. Five genotype-based drug-susceptibility predictions received from online interpretation-tools for Atazanavir, Saquinavir, Amprenavir and Lopinavir, were compared to phenotype-based predictions that were determined by using a recombinant virus assay along with a Virtual Phenotype™(Virco). The clinical outcome of the L76V-adapted follow-up therapy was determined by monitoring viral load for 96 weeks. Conclusions: In this analysis, the mostly used interpretation systems overestimated the L76V-mutation concerning Atazanavir- and SQV resistance. In fact, a clear benefit in drug susceptibility for these drugs was observed in phenotype analysis after establishment of L76V. More importantly, long-term therapy success was significantly higher in patients receiving Atazanavir and/or Saquinavir plus one L76V-selecting drug compared to patients without L76V-selecting agents (p = 0.002). In case of L76V-occurrence ATV and/or SQV may represent encouraging options for patients in deep salvage situations.
- Safety and clinical outcomes of rituximab therapy in patients with different autoimmune diseases: experience from a national registry (GRAID) (2011)
- Introduction Evidence from a number of open-label, uncontrolled studies has suggested that rituximab may benefit patients with autoimmune diseases who are refractory to standard of care. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and clinical outcomes of rituximab in several standard of care-refractory autoimmune diseases (within rheumatology, nephrology, dermatology and neurology) other than rheumatoid arthritis or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a real-life clinical setting. Methods Patients who received rituximab having shown an inadequate response to standard of care had their safety and clinical outcomes data retrospectively analysed as part of the German Registry of Autoimmune Diseases. The main outcome measures were safety and clinical response, as judged at the discretion of the investigators. Results A total of 370 patients (299 patient-years) with various autoimmune diseases (23.0% with systemic lupus erythematosus, 15.7% antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitides, 15.1% multiple sclerosis and 10.0% pemphigus) from 42 centres received a mean dose of 2440 mg of rituximab over a median (range) of 194 (180 to 1407) days. The overall rate of serious infections was 5.3 per 100 patient-years during rituximab therapy. Opportunistic infections were infrequent across the whole study population, and mostly occurred in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. There were 11 deaths (3.0% of patients) after rituximab treatment (mean 11.6 months after first infusion, range 0.8 to 31.3 months), with most of the deaths caused by infections. Overall (n = 293), 13.3% of patients showed no response, 45.1% showed a partial response and 41.6% showed a complete response. Responses were also reflected by reduced use of glucocorticoids and various immunosuppressives during rituximab therapy and follow-up compared with before rituximab. Rituximab generally had a positive effect on patient well-being (physician's visual analogue scale; mean improvement from baseline of 12.1 mm). Conclusions Data from this registry indicate that rituximab is a commonly employed, well-tolerated therapy with potential beneficial effects in standard of care-refractory autoimmune diseases, and support the results from other open-label, uncontrolled studies. Additional file 1: Supplemental tables. Table A1. Duration of follow-up from first rituximab infusion to last control visit by diagnosis. Table A2. Number of rituximab infusions by diagnosis.
- Gene-Wide Analysis Detects Two New Susceptibility Genes for Alzheimer's Disease (2014)
- Background: Alzheimer's disease is a common debilitating dementia with known heritability, for which 20 late onset susceptibility loci have been identified, but more remain to be discovered. This study sought to identify new susceptibility genes, using an alternative gene-wide analytical approach which tests for patterns of association within genes, in the powerful genome-wide association dataset of the International Genomics of Alzheimer's Project Consortium, comprising over 7 m genotypes from 25,580 Alzheimer's cases and 48,466 controls. Principal Findings: In addition to earlier reported genes, we detected genome-wide significant loci on chromosomes 8 (TP53INP1, p = 1.4×10−6) and 14 (IGHV1-67 p = 7.9×10−8) which indexed novel susceptibility loci. Significance: The additional genes identified in this study, have an array of functions previously implicated in Alzheimer's disease, including aspects of energy metabolism, protein degradation and the immune system and add further weight to these pathways as potential therapeutic targets in Alzheimer's disease.
- RP1 Is a Phosphorylation Target of CK2 and Is Involved in Cell Adhesion (2013)
- RP1 (synonym: MAPRE2, EB2) is a member of the microtubule binding EB1 protein family, which interacts with APC, a key regulatory molecule in the Wnt signalling pathway. While the other EB1 proteins are well characterized the cellular function and regulation of RP1 remain speculative to date. However, recently RP1 has been implicated in pancreatic cancerogenesis. CK2 is a pleiotropic kinase involved in adhesion, proliferation and anti-apoptosis. Overexpression of protein kinase CK2 is a hallmark of many cancers and supports the malignant phenotype of tumor cells. In this study we investigate the interaction of protein kinase CK2 with RP1 and demonstrate that CK2 phosphorylates RP1 at Ser236 in vitro. Stable RP1 expression in cell lines leads to a significant cleavage and down-regulation of N-cadherin and impaired adhesion. Cells expressing a Phospho-mimicking point mutant RP1-ASP236 show a marked decrease of adhesion to endothelial cells under shear stress. Inversely, we found that the cells under shear stress downregulate endogenous RP1, most likely to improve cellular adhesion. Accordingly, when RP1 expression is suppressed by shRNA, cells lacking RP1 display significantly increased cell adherence to surfaces. In summary, RP1 phosphorylation at Ser236 by CK2 seems to play a significant role in cell adhesion and might initiate new insights in the CK2 and EB1 family protein association.
- Wound healing in mice with high-fat diet- or ob gene-induced diabetes-obesity syndromes: a comparative study (2010)
- In the past, the genetically diabetic-obese diabetes/diabetes (db/db) and obese/obese (ob/ob) mouse strains were used to investigate mechanisms of diabetes-impaired wound healing. Here we determined patterns of skin repair in genetically normal C57Bl/6J mice that were fed using a high fat diet (HFD) to induce a diabetes-obesity syndrome. Wound closure was markedly delayed in HFD-fed mice compared to mice which had received a standard chow diet (CD). Impaired wound tissue of HFD mice showed a marked prolongation of wound inflammation. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was delayed and associated with the disturbed formation of wound margin epithelia and an impaired angiogenesis in the reduced granulation tissue. Normal wound contraction was retarded and disordered. Wound disorders in obese C57Bl/6J mice were paralleled by a prominent degradation of the inhibitor of NFκB (IκB-α) in the absence of an Akt activation. By contrast to impaired wound conditions in ob/ob mice, late wounds of HFD mice did not develop a chronic inflammatory state and were epithelialized after 11 days of repair. Thus, only genetically obese and diabetic ob/ob mice finally developed chronic wounds and therefore represent a better suited experimental model to investigate diabetes-induced wound healing disorders.
- Protocol TOP-Study (tacrolimus organ perfusion): a prospective randomized multicenter trial to reduce ischemia reperfusion injury in transplantation of marginal liver grafts with an "ex vivo" tacrolimus perfusion (2013)
- Background: Critical organ shortage results in the utilization of extended donor criteria (EDC) liver grafts. These marginal liver grafts are prone to increased ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) which may contribute to deteriorated graft function and survival. Experimental data have shown that the calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus exerts protective effects on hepatic IRI when applied intravenously or directly as a hepatic rinse. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to examine the effects of an ex vivo tacrolimus perfusion on IRI in transplantation of EDC liver grafts. Methods/Design: The TOP-Study (tacrolimus organ perfusion) is a randomized multicenter trial comparing the ex vivo tacrolimus perfusion of marginal liver grafts with placebo. We hypothesize that a tacrolimus rinse reduces IRI, potentially improving organ survival following transplantation of EDC livers. The study includes livers with two or more EDC, according to Eurotransplant International Foundation's definition of EDC livers. Prior to implantation, livers randomized to the treatment group are rinsed with tacrolimus at a concentration of 20 ng/ml in 1000 ml Custodiol solution and in the placebo group with Custodiol alone. The primary endpoint is the maximum serum alanine transamninase (ALT) level within the first 48 hours after surgery; however, the study design also includes a 1-year observation period following transplantation. The TOP-Study is an investigator-initiated trial sponsored by the University of Munich Hospital. Seven other German transplant centers are participating (Berlin, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Mainz, Münster, Regensburg, Tübingen) and aim to include a total of 86 patients. Discussion: Tacrolimus organ perfusion represents a promising strategy to reduce hepatic IRI following the transplantation of marginal liver grafts. This treatment may help to improve the function of EDC grafts and therefore safely expand the donor pool in light of critical organ shortage. Trial register: EudraCT number: 2010-021333-31, ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01564095
- Inhibition of neutrophil activity improves cardiac function after cardiopulmonary bypass (2007)
- Background The arterial in line application of the leukocyte inhibition module (LIM) in the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) limits overshooting leukocyte activity during cardiac surgery. We now studied in a porcine model whether LIM may have beneficial effects on cardiac function after CPB. Methods German landrace pigs underwent CPB (60 min myocardial ischemia; 30 min reperfusion)without (group I; n=6) or with LIM (group II; n=6). The cardiac indices (CI) and cardiac function were analyzed pre and post CPB with a Swan-Ganz catheter and the cardiac function analyzer. Neutrophil labeling with technetium, scintigraphy, and histological analyses were done to track activated neutrophils within the organs. Results LIM prevented CPB-associated increase of neutrophil counts in peripheral blood. In group I, the CI significantly declined post CPB (post: 3.26 +/- 0.31; pre: 4.05 +/- 0.45 l/min/m2; p<0.01). In group II, the CI was only slightly reduced (post: 3.86 +/- 0.49; pre 4.21 +/- 1.32 l/min/m2; p=0.23). Post CPB, the intergroup difference showed significantly higher CI values in the LIM group (p<0.05) which was in conjunction with higher pre-load independent endsystolic pressure volume relationship (ESPVR) values (group I: 1.57 +/- 0.18; group II: 1.93 +/- 0.16; p<0.001). Moreover, the systemic vascular resistance and pulmonary vascular resistance were lower in the LIM group. LIM appeared to accelerate the sequestration of hyperactivated neutrophils in the spleen and to reduce neutrophil infiltration of heart and lung. Conclusions Our data provide strong evidence that LIM improves perioperative hemodynamics and cardiac function after CPB by limiting neutrophil activity and inducing accelerated sequestration of neutrophils in the spleen.
- Novel role of Ras-GTPase Activating Protein SH3 Domain-Binding Protein G3BP in adhesion and migration of 32D myeloid progenitor cells (2012)
- Rho GTPases are involved in homing and mobilization of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells due to their impact on cytoskeleton remodeling. We have previously shown that inhibition of Rho, Rac and Cdc42 clearly impairs adhesion of normal and leukemic hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) to fibronectin and migration in a three-dimensional stromal cell model. Here, we identified the Ras GTPase-Activating Protein SH3 Domain-Binding Protein (G3BP) as a target gene of Rho GTPases and analysed its role in regulating HPC motility. Overexpression of G3BP significantly enhanced adhesion of murine 32D HPC to fibronectin and human umbilical vein endothelial cells, increased the proportion of adherent cells in a flow chamber assay and promoted cell migration in a transwell assay and a three-dimensional stromal cell model suggesting a strong impact on the cytoskeleton. Immunofluorescent staining of G3BP-overexpressing fibroblasts revealed a Rho-like phenotype characterized by formation of actin stress fibers in contrast to the Rac-like phenotype of control fibroblasts. This is the first report implicating a role for G3BP in Rho GTPase-mediated signalling towards adhesion and migration of HPC. Our results may be of clinical importance, since G3BP was found overexpressed in human cancers.
- Correlation of inflammatory and proangiogenic cytokines from undiluted vitreous samples with spectral domain OCT scans, in untreated branch retinal vein occlusion (2013)
- Purpose: To assess the levels of inflammatory and angiogenic cytokines in undiluted vitreous from treatment-naïve patients with macular edema secondary to nonischemic branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), with flow cytometric bead array (CBA) and to correlate the results with subjective and multiple spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) parameters. Methods: A total of 43 eyes from 43 patients (mean age 69.7 years, 23 male) were divided into groups of new, "fresh" (n = 28; mean duration after onset 4.1 months) and older BRVO (n = 15; 11.6 months). Because of macular edema, these patients underwent an intravitreal therapy combining a single-site 23 g core vitrectomy with bevacizumab and dexamethasone. Undiluted vitreous was then analyzed for interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor isoform A (VEGF-A) levels with CBA and correlated with visual acuity (VA), clinical parameters of BRVO (type and perfusion status), and morphologic parameters, such as central macular thickness, central retinal thickness, thickness of the neurosensory retina, thickness of the serous retinal detachment, and the disruption of the ellipsoid line (photoreceptor inner and outer segments) and the external limiting membrane, as measured with SD-OCT. Twenty-eight undiluted vitreous samples from patients with idiopathic, nonuveitis vitreous floaters served as the controls. Results: The mean IL-6 was 23.2 pg/mL (standard deviation, ±48.8), MCP-1 was 602.6 (±490.3), and VEGF-A was 161.8 (±314.3), and this was higher than in the control group, which had a mean IL-6 of 6.2 ± 3.4 pg/mL (P = 0.17), MCP-1 of 253.2 ± 73.5 (P < 0.0000001), and VEGF-A of 7.0 ± 4.9 (P < 0.003). In all BRVO samples, IL-6 correlated positively with MCP-1 and VEGF-A (correlation coefficient r = 0.79 and r = 0.46, respectively). VEGF-A was the only cytokine to correlate significantly with SD-OCT parameters (thickness of the neurosensory retina r = 0.31; disruption of the ellipsoid line r = 0.33). In the older BRVO group, there was a positive correlation between cytokines (IL-6 with MCP-1, r = 0.77; Il-6 with VEGF-A, r = 0.68; MCP-1 and VEGF-A, r = 0.68), whereas only IL-6 correlated with MCP-1 in the fresh group (r = 0.8). Conclusion: The inflammatory markers and VEGF-A were elevated in the vitreous fluid of patients with BRVO, and these correlated with one another. VEGF-A was more often correlated with the morphologic changes assessed by SD-OCT, whereas the inflammatory markers had no significant influence on SD-OCT changes.


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On your marks, get set…read!
Providence, by Flanders resident Lisa Colozza Cocca, has been named the featured book for One Community, One Book, by the Morristown Festival of Books.
The idea is for everyone across Morris County to read Providence, discuss it, and then bring questions and comments to the author's talk and panel discussion at the Festival, on Sept. 27, 2014.
A preview of the novel and the One Community campaign is scheduled for June 12 at the Harding Kemmerer Library, from 4 pm to 6 pm. Refreshments will be served, and the book can be purchased there and at The Bookworm in Bernardsville.
The new Morristown Festival of Books kicks off on Sept. 26 with a presentation by William D. Cohan, whose book The Price of Silence investigates the Duke University lacrosse scandal of 2006. Admission is $20 to that event, at the Mayo Performing Arts Center.
All talks on Sept. 27–a roster of 20 authors will be announced soon–are free. Venues include St. Peter's Episcopal Church, the parish house at the Presbyterian Church in Morristown, the Morristown & Township Library, the Mayo Center Starlight Room and the Vail Mansion lawn.
Providence was chosen for the One Community campaign because of its broad appeal, organizers said. Students of middle school age and higher are encouraged to participate.
The novel "touches on loss and abandonment, the challenges of the elderly and keeping small communities vibrant," according to a statement from the Festival team.
"As a member of the sandwich generation, I can easily relate to the multi-generation aspects of Providence and believe others will as well," said Kim Armstrong, a Roxbury resident who co-chairs the One Community committee.
The term "sandwich generation" refers to adults sandwiched between caring for the needs of their parents and raising their own children.
Noting that New Jersey is celebrating its 350th anniversary, Festival organizers said they were eager to promote home-grown talent.
"In this inaugural year, the Morristown Festival of Books is excited to celebrate a local author, whose connection to the Morristown area will strengthen our sense of being part of the same community of readers and writers," said Morristown resident Michele Russo, the other co-chair of One Community.
Lisa Colozza Cocca is a freelance writer and editor whose nonfiction titles for children and young adults include Reconstruction and the Aftermath of the Civil War, Marquis de Lafayette: Fighting for America's Freedom, and the Understanding Graphs series.
So far, officials in Morristown, Florham Park and Netcong have issued proclamations urging residents to read Providence as part of the One Community, One Book initiative, according to organizers. Area librarians also have expressed support.
Providence should be available in many libraries across Morris County, and several book clubs have indicated plans to add it to their reading lists, Festival organizers said.
"The mission is to encourage curiosity, dialogue and discovery by engaging community book groups, high school students and teachers, library patrons and the public at large in discussions using a single book, which appeals to a diverse readership," their statement elaborated.
Inspired by the Savannah Book Festival, this autumn's bookfest in Morristown is meant "to celebrate the power of the written word to challenge, transport and transform us, while bringing together our community in conversation," said Chairwoman Linda Hellstrom.
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3 Signs that you might need to choose another Real Estate Agent
July 11, 2014 by themathercompany
Filed under Blog, Columbia SC Real Estate, General Blog, General Real Estate Information, Homeowners, Sellers
Your partnership with your real estate agent plays a large role in the success of your home sale. To get your home sold quickly and for top dollar, you should follow your agent's advice about pricing your home and getting (and keeping) it in tip-top shape. You'll also need to keep your schedule open so your agent can show your home to as many potential buyers as possible.
If you've done all your agent has asked of you but you've only had a few nibbles while other homes in your area have sold, you might need to step back and figure out why. Take a close look at your agent and their advice, and evaluate their performance in these areas:
Your Agent May or May Not Call You Back—It's a Roll of the Dice
Good real estate agents are busy people, so it's not always easy to get in touch with them. But a good real estate agent also knows it's important to keep in contact with their clients, and they make a point of returning calls as soon as possible. If your communication with your agent feels one-sided, that's a red flag. Even if nothing new has happened, it's reasonable to expect your agent (or someone from their team) to contact you every week to discuss strategy and whether you need to make any changes to get buyers' attention.
Your Agent's Marketing Plan Is Based on Positive Thinking
You made the decision to work with an agent because you know you aren't a real estate marketing whiz. You should be able to depend on your agent to develop an effective marketing strategy that will attract buyers. If the plan isn't working, your agent should also be willing to step up their game and try new methods to reach buyers. Most importantly, your agent should not blow off your concerns and questions about how much time your home is spending on the market.
Your Agent Has More Attitude Than Most Teenagers You Know
That leads us to overall attitude. Do you feel like your agent is super-serving you? Or do you feel like you're one more box to check off their to-do list? Is your agent showing up late for appointments? Avoiding you altogether (see Roll of the Dice)? Showing a lack of patience with your questions (see Positive Thinking)? Always remember, you don't have to put up with a bad attitude to work with a great agent who will get your home sold.
You Can Do Better
If you've decided your current agent isn't the right one to help you sell your home, you might need to choose another agent. When you work with an agent you should be confident about these two two things:
1. That your agent has got this! They'll know what to do in tough market conditions because they've been through them before. They'll know how to price your home to attract buyers, and if they don't hit the bull's-eye, they'll be ready with a back-up plan. You can trust them to base their decisions on solid research, and they'll be willing to discuss all the details with you.
2. You'll feel like the center of the universe. Word gets around, and real estate agents with a reputation for poor service simply don't stay in the business long. An agent with several years' experience has learned to focus on meeting their clients' goals, and they'll work hard to make sure you meet your goals as well.
To read the article as published on DaveRamsey.com, please click here.
Sell Now to avoid the New Competition
July 9, 2014 by themathercompany
Filed under Blog, Columbia SC Real Estate, General Blog, General Real Estate Information, Homeowners, Sellers
For the last several years, home sellers had to compete with huge inventories of distressed properties (foreclosures and short sales). The great news is that the supply of these properties is falling like a rock in the vast majority of housing markets. Many homeowners are now thinking of selling as the impact of this substantially discounted competition has disappeared.
However, every seller of an existing residential property must realize that there is a new form of competition about to hit the market: newly constructed homes.
As the economy improves, builders will again be bringing their housing developments to the market. Trulia recently reported that the purchaser, given a choice, actually prefers new construction. Here are two charts showing the results of the Trulia survey:
To read the article as published on The KCM Blog, please click here.
Moving? Tips for Packing
July 7, 2014 by themathercompany
Filed under Blog, Buyers, Columbia SC Real Estate, General Blog, General Real Estate Information, Homeowners, Local Real Estate Information, Sellers
Moving to a new home can be exciting, the sign of new beginnings. It can also be an exceptionally stressful time.
Getting all your furniture, clothes, kitchenware, electronics and valuables from one place to another is no simple task – whether you've hired professionals or are managing the move yourself.
The specifics of each move are different. Moving down the block, from one studio apartment to another, is less complicated than moving from a 3,000-square-foot home in New York to a similarly sized house in California. No matter how or where you're moving, preparation and careful planning will make the process smoother.
1. Sort, sell, donate or toss
Why move what you don't need or use? During the days and weeks leading up to your move, mercilessly sort through every closet and drawer. Organize a moving sale, donate items to a charity like Goodwill, The Arc or The Salvation Army, or list them via an online reuse/recycle-type website. Throwing things away is OK, too; some items will simply be outdated or too worn to be of much use to others.
2. Make lists, check them twice
Organization is the key to any good move. Make lists of all the people and institutions you need to contact before moving: schools, utility companies, government offices, subscriptions you need to change, etc. You'll need another list that includes the names of everyone who needs to know your new address, from family members to co-workers. Perhaps most important of all: make a list of things that will be moved, room by room. If you've hired a moving company, the movers will work with you to put together an inventory. If you're moving your own stuff, consider getting an app like Moving Day for the iPhone, which allows you to build a complete inventory and create barcodes for your boxes that you can scan with your phone and document damaged items.
3. Over-prepare
If there's one thing you don't want to run out of on moving day, it's boxes. If you're packing yourself, ask nearby stores, friends and neighbors for boxes. If you buy special moving boxes, ask if you can return any you end up not using. Also make sure you have plenty of tape, furniture padding and bubble wrap to ensure your stuff arrives undamaged. Borrow or rent a dolly for moving heavier items. If you're relying on friends and family to move you, make it as easy as possible for them. Have all the boxes packed and labeled before they arrive, so all they have to do is pick up a box and carry it to the moving van. If you've got professional movers handling the packing, they should come armed with all the supplies you'll need.
4. Label absolutely everything
Mark your boxes with clear descriptions so you can remember which boxes are fragile and which can wait to be unpacked. Even better: In addition to listing contents, label with a destination such as "master bath" or "basement." Avoid mish-mash boxes and "misc." labels – those boxes will cause frustration on moving day and beyond.
5. Pack an 'open me first' box
When you get to your new place, the last thing you want to do is sort through a half-dozen different boxes to find the toiletries and clothes you need. Your 'Open Me First' box should include a change of clothing for each family member, towels, soap, shampoo, medicines and favorite toys for the kids. If your morning isn't complete without a cup of tea, include a tea kettle, tea and mug; granola bars or a box of crackers might also be a nice pick-me-up on unpacking day.
To read the original article, please click here.
Flag Etiquette For Flying "Old Glory" at Your Home
July 4, 2014 by themathercompany
Filed under Blog, Columbia SC Real Estate, DIY, General Blog, General Real Estate Information, Home Maintenance, Homeowners, Sellers
According to federal code, here's how to honor those broad stripes and bright stars as you fly them at home today and everyday!
The patriot's guide to flying the U.S. flag at home
•Fly the flag outside only from sunrise to sunset, unless it is illuminated for night time display.
•Especially fly the flag on New Year's Day, January 1; Inauguration Day, January 20; Lincoln's Birthday, February 12; Washington's Birthday, third Monday in February; Easter Sunday; Mother's Day, second Sunday in May; Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May; Memorial Day (half-staff until noon), the last Monday in May; Flag Day, June 14; Independence Day, July 4; Labor Day, first Monday in September; Constitution Day, September 17; Columbus Day, second Monday in October; Navy Day, October 27; Veterans Day, November 11; Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November; Christmas Day, December 25; state birthdays (dates of admission); state holidays; and other days as announced by the U.S. President.
•Do not fly the flag outside during inclement weather unless you use an all-weather flag.
•Do not fly another flag above the U.S. flag, or if the other flag is on the same level, do not fly another flag to the right of the U.S. flag.
•Fly the flag with the "union" (the blue field of white stars) at the peak of the staff (unless the flag is at half staff) when flying the flag from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony, or front of a building.
•When you suspend a flag over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, hoist the flag, union first, from the building.
•When you display the flag over the middle of the street, suspend it vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street, to the east in a north and south street.
•When you display a flag horizontally or vertically against a wall or in a window, place the union uppermost and to the flag's own right, or to the observer's left.
•Display the flag with the union down only as a distress signal.
•Fly the flag at half-staff (positioning the flag one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff) at times specified, often according to presidential instructions.
•When flying the flag at half-staff, it should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.
•Never allow the flag to touch anything beneath it, including the ground, the floor, water or other items.
•Never carry the flag flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
•Never use a flag as wearing apparel, bedding, drapery, ceiling covering or decorative element. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free.
•Never use the flag for advertising purposes. Don't embroider it on articles, print or impress it on disposable items.
•Don't use a part of the flag as a costume or athletic uniform. A flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firefighters, police, and members of patriotic organizations. A lapel flag pin should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.
•Protect the flag from display, use or storage that will cause it to be easily torn, soiled or damaged.
•Never place things on the flag or attach marks, insignias, letters, words, figures, designs, pictures, or drawings
•Don't use the flag as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
•Aged flags no longer fit for flying—like those wind whipped ones on personal vehicles—should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferable by safely burning it.
To read the original article, as published on realtor.com, please click here.
Easements and Rights-of-Way and your property
July 3, 2014 by themathercompany
Filed under Blog, Buyers, Columbia SC Real Estate, General Blog, General Real Estate Information, Homeowners, Local Real Estate Information, Sellers
In certain types of real estate transactions, it's not not until the middle of the deal that home buyers realize the land they're purchasing with their home is not 100 percent theirs. They are startled to discover that they must allow their neighbors to "share" part of their land, or that the local utility company has a right to access a pipe buried in their back yard.
How can this be? In both examples, the properties have what's known as an "easement," otherwise known as a "right-of-way." This easement grants other designated people the right to specific types of access. Easements can be granted to another person, such as a neighbor, or to an entity, such as an electric and gas utility.
A property easement is generally written and recorded with the local assessor's office. The documented easement will show up when a title search is conducted and it stays there indefinitely, unless both parties agree to remove it.
Without getting too deep into legal details, here are the types of easements worth knowing about.
1. Right-of-Way Through Your Property
As a homeowner, you would probably assume that you're purchasing the land around your home, front yard, back yard and driveway. But that's not always the case. Often, when you review the preliminary title report, you may discover that someone actually has a right-of-way through your property.
This is common in the case of a long driveway or a home that may be set back from the street. It could have been that in order for a neighboring home to have been built, that property's owner negotiated with a previous owner to gain a right-of-way through the front of the parcel or driveway for the home you are buying.
In this scenario, you own the land, but the owner of the neighboring property has been granted right to pass through your property. In some instances, the previous owner might have been compensated for granting this access. The important thing to know is that easement carries over when a new owner assumes the property.
2. Right-of-Way Grant
If you're the homeowner who needs access to a neighboring property, or you discover that the driveway or walkway to your home is actually not 100 percent yours, there's usually nothing you need to do. It's just important to be aware of these conditions, and that this is not entirely your land.
Depending on the size of the easement and the type of land it covers, there may be some issues regarding maintenance. For example, it may be your responsibility to keep up the land: Mowing the lawn, shoveling the pathway or maintaining a fence. If there's a maintenance ambiguity, check with the current seller to understand how she and the other owner worked this out in the past. Many times an easement like this, known as a "Right-of-Way Grant," has been on title through the course of three or four owners, making the original intentions or understandings not explicit. Understanding how the easement has worked in most recent practice is your best course of action.
3. Other Types of Easements
Anyone who lives in a condominium or some type of planned development likely spends many hours working on property they don't own outright but have access to. Most likely, the condo or planned development's homeowners association (HOA) actually owns those areas, but each resident or owner has a right to pass through, which is one obvious type of easement.
But some easements aren't so obvious and take buyers and homeowners by surprise. A classic example is one in which a utility company, such as an electric and power company or a telephone company, has an easement through your land for the purpose of maintaining the utility.
There was a situation near San Jose, CA, in which the electric and gas utility had an easement through someone's backyard. It had been on title for many years, but the existing owners didn't know about it. One day, the electric company showed up with digging machines and materials and made a mess of the yard digging to fix a faulty line. Though the owners were shocked, there was nothing they could do.
Situations like these show why it pays to be cautious if an easement shows up in a property title search. Ask the title company, attorney or your real estate agent to retain all documents pertaining to the original easement in order to review the details. That way, you will know the exact location of the easement, its size and scope and how it's to be utilized.
Often, there's not a problem with easements, but it's still important to check. Any potential red flags might wind up affecting the value of your home.
In the case of the house in San Jose, for instance, what if the utility company had done permanent damage? What would be the homeowner's recourse, if any? It's best to vet these things before closing, rather than facing a serious real estate dilemma down the road.
To read the original article, please click here.
How to best showcase your home's first impression.
July 2, 2014 by themathercompany
Filed under Blog, DIY, General Blog, General Real Estate Information, Home Maintenance, Homeowners, Sellers
Whether you're prepping your home for sale, or just want it to look good, don't forget about the exterior — especially the front yard and door!
Here are some great tips from home stagers and curb appeal experts on how to best showcase your home's first impression.
Walk to the curb
The first order of business: Walk to the curb or street and look at your home from the road.
This will probably be the buyers' or the buyer agent's first, real-live impression of your house. Take the time to review the way your front yard looks. Does the front door look fresh and inviting? Is the landing or porch neat and tidy? These are the details that can make a huge difference for that ever-important first impression.
And if you sense something's off, clip home improvement ideas from books, magazines or professionals who can really help you maximize the appeal of your home and get it ready for the market!
One professional, Michelle Molinari, has the perfect way to consistently spruce up exteriors of listings. She adds flowering white flowers to yards in Louisiana because they "always look great on photos," she said.
Molinari also recommends a layer of mulch to finish out garden spaces and — a fun little tip — she suggests coordinating the mulch color with the roof color. The match will make the entire front appear more complimentary to the eye.
In lieu of green grass in the U.S. Southwest, xeriscaping is used because of the way this water-conserving method makes use of natural landscape items like rocks and desert-friendly plants.
The money shot: Your front door
One big item: Don't forget the front door!
A brightly painted front door and decorative house numbers lend to this home's curb appeal.
Some home stagers recommend using the same exterior color for the front door, but I prefer to a color to complement exterior house colors. For instance, a Tudor-style house with cream walls and grey trim would be great with a hydrangea blue on the door. A gray wall Colonial with white trim would look stunning with a black door. Most of the paint manufacturers have suggested exterior combinations (walls, trim and doors) to help sellers determine which color works well with the exterior paint colors and style of their house. (See: How to Choose Exterior Paint Colors).
In addition to the front door, potted plants and tables and chairs are great additions for a front porch. For the smaller landing, Karen Eubank of Eubank Staging in Dallas, Texas suggests a pot of rosemary by the front door. What a great way to have potential buyers enter your home after taking a nice whiff of rosemary at the door, signaling their welcome.
Numbers add a punch
Last, but not least, don't neglect the house numbers or lighting. House numbers are best seen with dark numbers on a light background and are very important when selling! Ensure there is enough light to read them comfortably from the road. And if the front of the house is hard to see from the road, place another set of numbers closer to the road so buyers don't miss the house!
Hopefully all of these tips will help your home make a great first impression!
To read the original article, please click here.
Mowing Your Lawn the RIGHT Way
June 27, 2014 by themathercompany
Filed under Blog, Columbia SC Real Estate, DIY, General Blog, General Real Estate Information, Home Maintenance, Homeowners, Sellers
A chore though it may be, mowing your lawn properly will do more than just improve its appearance.
When it comes to your landscape, one of the most time-consuming summer chores is mowing.At this time of year, under the right circumstances, the grass puts all its energy into growing, leaving you struggling to keep a tidy lawn. But mowing is not just a chore–done right, it's one of the most effective ways of maintaining healthy turf. Here's how to mow properly…
Mow more often
It might be more convenient to wait for the lawn to get straggly before mowing, but doing it every 4-5 days during the growing season will keep you from cutting too much off for healthy growth. Aim to take off no more than one-third of a blade's height at once. This leaves enough leaf tissue so that the plant can continue photosynthesis. If you get behind one week, raise the mowing height to keep from cutting off too much at one time.
Don't bag the clippings
Assuming you are mowing often enough so that the clippings aren't excessive, leave them on the lawn to decompose and fertilize the soil. If it looks untidy, redistribute with a rake.
Sharpen those mower blades
Start the season with a sharp blade and replace as necessary. Help maintain sharpness by mowing when the grass is dry to keep wet leaves from clinging to the blades.
Switch directions
It doesn't actually matter whether you mow in rows or spirals, but switching it up will help reduce soil compaction and turf wear.
Get the right mower for your lawn
- Manual-reel mowers: The best for the environment but requiring a lot of manpower, reel mowers demand keeping the grass quite short, which means cutting more often. They are easier to store for those lacking garage space and are perfect for those with small lawn space.
- Electric mowers: With an electric motor that pushes a rotating blade are second best in turns of minimal effect on the environment because they don't produce exhaust. They are best for homeowners that have level lawns. Try a cordless one with a side or rear bag to catch the clippings if you chose to bag, otherwise get one that cuts finely enough to let them settle on the yard.
- Gas-powered mowers and lawn tractors: The exchange for power and usability does come with a heavy toll on the environment, so please choose a newer model that produces less exhaust emissions. Also part of the exchange for convenience comes the required maintenance—regular tune-ups, refuels, and oil changes. But for larger yards, they are the most practical solution.
To read the original article, please click here.
Lowering Your Energy Bills during the Dog Days of Summer
June 26, 2014 by themathercompany
Filed under Blog, Columbia SC Real Estate, DIY, Financial, General Blog, General Real Estate Information, Home Maintenance, Homeowners
As temperatures rise, it's common for utility bills to do the same.
A whole-house makeover isn't necessary to begin generating energy savings this summer.Even the simplest changes can save you some serious dough in no time.
Clean filters
Want your air conditioner to run as efficiently and inexpensively as possible? Be sure to put "clean filters" at the top of your to-do list.
Dirty filters significantly block airflow and reduce a system's efficiency. With normal airflow obstructed, air that bypasses the filter may carry dirt directly into the evaporator coil and impair the coil's heat-absorbing capacity. Clean your filter and you can lower your air conditioner's energy consumption by up to 15 percent.
For central air conditioners, filters are generally located along the return duct's length. Room air conditioners have filters mounted in the grills that face into your house.
Some filters are reusable; others must be replaced. Clean or replace your air-conditioning system's filter or filters monthly during the cooling season. Filters may need more frequent attention if the air conditioner is subjected to dusty conditions or you have pets.
Just as it keeps your house warm in the winter, insulation can help keep your home cool in the summer. Insulation can reduce heating and cooling costs as much as 20 percent, according to Energy Star.
If you're only going to insulate one place, look upward. Attic temperatures can soar to 140 degrees or higher in the summer. That heat will radiate down into your home. Insulation can stop that flow of heat and keep your main living space cooler in summer.
Shade those windows
Shades and blinds won't actually reduce air leakage, but they can play a huge role in saving energy.
Awnings, for example, can reduce solar heat gain in the summer by up to 65 percent on south-facing windows and 77 percent on west-facing windows. Awnings require ventilation to keep hot air from becoming trapped around the window. Consider installing adjustable or retractable awnings so that sun is allowed to warm the house in cooler months.
Interior blinds can't do much to control heat gain, but the fact that their slats can be adjusted helps control both light and ventilation. When completely closed on a sunny day, the U.S. Energy Department estimates highly reflective blinds can reduce heat gain by approximately 45 percent.
Drapes or curtains may also reduce heat gain, but their effectiveness varies greatly depending upon their fabric type, color and backing. On hot days, close draperies on windows receiving direct sunlight to prevent heat gain. Studies demonstrate that medium-colored draperies with white-plastic backings can reduce heat gains by 33 percent.
Invest in a smart thermostat
Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.
Programmable thermostats have the potential to save enormous amounts of energy. Unfortunately, most users don't program their programmable thermostats, leading the government to exclude the devices from its Energy Star program.
Never fear, there's a cool new thermostat available that can actually do the thinking for you. The Nest features a simple dial that allows you to set the temperature you want; the $250 thermostat will learn your schedule as it goes. In about a week, it's able to track your habits and programs itself. The Nest can also be controlled remotely, via smartphone or laptop.
Best of all, The Nest is aesthetically pleasing and, to quote the MIT Technology Review, "a little bit sexy."
Turn off, unplug
The United States Environmental Protection Agency reports that the average household spends $100 a year on plugged-in devices even when they're not being used directly. Nationwide, idle gadgets and appliances suck up 100 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity at a cost to consumers of about $11 billion.
According to the EPA, computers account for 2 to 3 percent of overall U.S. household and office energy use. Sleep mode helps, but your best option is to unplug entirely or use a power strip, such as the Smart Strip, which kills power when it senses inactivity.
Another big energy suck? That garage or basement fridge that's being used to cool a half-empty ketchup bottle and a package of stale cheese. Pre-1993 models gobble twice as much energy as newer models. Need cold drinks for a party? Plug in the fridge the night before, but don't keep it running unless you really need it.
To read the original article as published on zillowblog.com, please click here.
Selling Your Home: then and now
June 25, 2014 by themathercompany
Filed under Blog, Columbia SC Real Estate, General Blog, General Real Estate Information, Homeowners, Sellers
Over the last 30 years, the way buyers shop for new homes has changed drastically. From the advent of online listings to the influence of home-improvement television shows, there's plenty a home seller has to know about catching and keeping a buyer's interest these days.
Go Where the Buyers Are and Give Them What They Want
Changes in technology have played the largest role in revolutionizing the way buyers find their new homes. Interested homebuyers used to browse newspaper ads and real estate magazines or go to open houses. But once online listing sites began to gain popularity, there was no turning back.
"Open houses were important when I started in real estate," Dawn Kirkland, an agent in Birmingham, AL, told us. "But they're no longer useful. Why go out and look when you can stay home in your robe and fuzzy slippers and see everything you want to see?"
Today, buyers of all ages begin their home searches online. The two largest age groups of homebuyers, Generations X and Y, even skip the computer and search using their mobile devices. That's how many young homebuyers today actually find the homes they ultimately buy.
Overall, 92% of homebuyers searched online for a new home, so if you want buyers to even see your home, you must have an online listing. But, according to real estate agent Bob Wolf, if you want buyers to be interested in your home, you've got to outshine the competition. "The information, pictures and virtual tours included in sellers' listings have got to be stellar," he said.
A recent National Association of Realtors study of homebuyers backs him up. Homebuyers ranked photos, detailed information and virtual video tours as the top three most useful features of online listings.
Looking Past the Online Listing
Hooking the seller with a fabulous listing is just the beginning, especially with today's buyer.
"A seller has six seconds to make an impression on a buyer," Dawn said. The first three seconds are spent at the curb of course, so a neat yard and welcoming entry are as important as they have always been. But the sale really hinges on the next three seconds.
"You have to knock their socks off as they walk in," Dawn explained. "Because they will either walk through the rest of your home with anticipation, or they'll walk through with a critical eye,"
"Get a stager to help with furniture arrangement," Leigh Gillig, a real estate agent in Nashville for 30 years, added. "This was never done years ago. Buyers now expect the home to look like a magazine."
We're Not Done Yet
Even making sure your home looks just right often isn't enough to seal the deal, Dawn cautioned.
Years ago, buyers were more willing to consider purchasing a fixer-upper. "But there's been a radical change in family dynamics," she explained. "Today there are more dual-income and single-parent homes than ever before. The children are constantly involved in activities. Buyers today have no time and little inclination to take on a fixer-upper."
That means buyers have to put in more work to present their home in its best light—ready to move in with no looming repair issues.
"If it needs doing, do it," Dawn advised. "If you need a new roof, go ahead and get a new roof. Buyers always think home improvements cost more than they actually do, so if they see that your home needs a new roof, it could scare them off."
Sometimes There's No Substitute for Personal Advice
Attracting and impressing buyers takes a combination of high-tech marketing skills and old-fashioned hard work. When it comes to pricing your home, however, sellers are better off consulting a professional rather than relying on online pricing estimates.
Part of your agent's job is to determine the right price for your home so you won't waste time with a price that's too high or lose money with one that's too low. Agents have their own sources of information they use to calculate prices, and those aren't always available to online pricing websites.
"Sellers may have an unrealistic expectation based on past markets, the media and information overload from the internet," Bob explained. "That's why it's so important that sellers get all the facts about what's happening in their market from an agent who's done their homework."
A good agent won't stop there. They'll have a marketing plan that makes use of online and offline methods of getting your listing in front of buyers, and they'll give you honest suggestions about how to get your home in show-ready condition.
The right agent will also help you negotiate purchase contracts and help you address any issues that crop up between your acceptance of an offer and closing.
If you're already working with an agent like that, congratulations! You've found one in a million. If you need help finding a high-octane, high-energy agent, you can see who Dave recommends in your area today.
To read the article as published on daveramsey.com, please click here.
Modernizing Your Kitchen on the Cheap
June 19, 2014 by themathercompany
Filed under Blog, Columbia SC Real Estate, DIY, General Blog, General Real Estate Information, Home Maintenance, Homeowners, Renovations
We always hear that remodeling a kitchen is one of the most expensive home improvements. And it can be.
The Remodeling 2014 Cost vs. Value Report listed the average cost of a major kitchen remodel at $54,909, and even a minor remodel came in at $18,856.
But kitchen remodeling doesn't have to be that expensive. "If you take it piece by piece, you can do something good on a budget," says Aimee Grove, a communications and marketing specialist in the San Francisco area. She and her husband have remodeled two kitchens on a budget. "I have my dream kitchen now," she says. "I wouldn't change a thing."
The choice of materials makes a big difference in how much you'll spend. Custom-made, solid-wood cabinets with a premium finish and decorative molding can easily cost $1,200 or more per linear foot, which is the way cabinets are normally priced. But you can get attractive cabinets at Ikea or even a local shop for a quarter of that cost if you shop around.
And while granite countertops definitely cost more than laminate, if you visit enough stores, you'll learn that granite itself varies widely in price. "We went to 10 different marble places until we found the slab we wanted at the right price," Grove says.
She and her husband remodeled the kitchen of their cottage-style home for about $12,000 after getting a quote from a contractor for $32,000. They chose to paint rather than replace their existing cabinets, but added a marble countertop and a subway tile backsplash, plus two new stainless steel appliances.
They found that it really pays to shop for materials and labor. For example, the price of the marble they wanted varied from $80 to $13 per square foot, and the fabrication quotes ranged from $3,200 to $6,000. Quotes to paint their cabinets ranged from $1,500 to $7,000. Tile, both for flooring and backsplashes, can run $1 to $15 per square foot. You may find the cabinet hardware you liked most in the store for half the price online.
Danielle Colding, who runs Danielle Colding Design in Brooklyn, New York, recently redid her kitchen with sleek, ultramodern gray lacquer cabinets from Ikea. "They're really affordable," she says. "You can do a normal kitchen for $4,000 to $5,000."
Colding, who won HGTV's "Design Star" competition in 2012 and also hosted "Shop This Room" on the network, says local shops can also be an excellent option when remodeling on a budget.
Grove and her husband chose to act as their own contractors, hiring separate painters, marble fabricators and tile installers. They gathered names from a contractor friend and the marble yard, and then asked those companies for bids and references.
Being your own contractor creates more work because you're screening multiple contractors rather than just one general contractor for the entire project. Plus, you have to be available during the day to supervise, and you have to shop around to find the best price on supplies.
But for someone whose remodel doesn't include knocking down walls, reconfiguring the layout or dealing with city permits, appointing yourself contractor can be a way to cut costs. "If you have the capabilities to be the general contractor yourself, you can definitely save some money," says Jason Kloesel, owner of VK Construction and Remodeling in Austin, Texas. "If you don't have the smallest construction knowledge, I would not recommend this at all."
Whether you hire a general contractor or individual companies, make sure the contract is very specific about what is included when it comes to labor and materials.
Here are 14 tips for remodeling your kitchen on a budget.
Know what look you want before you start interviewing contractors. Drop by local showrooms to see cabinets, counter top options and combinations. This will help you get a sense of costs for different options, too.
Keep your plumbing and gas lines in the same place. A kitchen remodel costs considerately less when you don't change the layout.
Don't assume big-box stores have the lowest prices. A local cabinetmaker, in some cases, may offer a better deal than the larger competition.
Shop around. Explore all options for both labor and materials, from granite to hardware to appliances. Price varies a lot.
Consider used. Entire kitchens are routinely sold on Craigslist and at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore as well as architectural salvage stores. Hiring a local cabinetmaker to create a piece or two is much cheaper than creating an entire kitchen. "It's used, obviously, but it's usually very high-quality," says Cathie Pliess, design program coordinator for the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.
Look for remnants of granite and marble. Most fabricators have stone left over from previous jobs, and they'll often sell it for a fraction of the original cost.
Make friends with cabinet shops. Once they're finished with a display, it is sold at a deep discount. And don't forget about big-box stores. You can score deals on cabinets by being friendly with them, too.
Shop online. Hardware, plumbing and lighting fixtures are all great items to buy online.
Don't skimp on planning. The exact layout of the kitchen and choice of cabinets will make a big difference in how well your kitchen functions.
Find out where contractors shop. Many of those stores and fabricators are open to the public. Some offer discounts for bigger purchases, and many sell products that aren't available in retail stores.
Be flexible on materials. If there is a look you want, see if there is a cheaper way to get it. Subway tile and glass tile, for example, are available at many price points, as are granite, marble and porcelain floor tile.
Do your due diligence. Check references of any contractors you plan to use, and make sure the contracts spell out who is responsible for buying materials, exactly what materials the contractor is supplying (down to brand and model number) and what the cost will be if you make changes during the job. Cheaper is not necessarily better.
Paint when possible. Know that paint is cheaper than stain, and that goes for the labor, too. "People shouldn't overlook what a difference it makes to paint your cabinets," Pliess says.
Consider alternative materials and designs. You can take the doors off the top cabinets or repurpose old furniture as kitchen storage or to create an island, Pliess suggests. Beadboard creates an attractive, inexpensive backsplash. And you might be surprised at today's laminate countertops. "Laminate has come a really long way," Pliess says. "It doesn't have that ugly laminate look anymore."
To read the article as published on homes.yahoo.com, please click here.


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In the last week, two local media reports have suggested that the is at threat of being shut down, but postal officials say that no closure is currently planned.
The Pasadena Weekly reported last week that the Altadena Post Office and two other local branches are at threat of being shut down, citing local union members, and the Pasadena Star-News also listed the Altadena branch as being at risk in an article about a local postal worker protest on Tuesday.
In both cases, the discussion of a possible shutdown comes from union members from the postal service--neither paper cites an official U.S. Postal Service official by name in their reporting.
According to Richard Maher, the local spokesman for the postal service, neither the Altadena branch nor any Pasadena branches are on the list of about 3,700 post offices nationwide that are currently being considered for closure.
The only facility in Pasadena or Altadena that is under consideration is a mail sorting operation that does not include retail post office functions, Maher said.
But that does not mean local postal workers and Altadena community members who like their local post office have nothing to fear--the long-term picture for the entire postal service is grim.
Without additional funding for the service, there exists a possibility that up to half of the post office branches in the country could be shut down within five years, according to Maher. Altadena obviously would stand a good chance of being one of the branches to close.
It's also worth noting that Congress decided to and decided to bestow that honor on a Pasadena branch instead. A representative for Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, said at the time that the decision had to with the Pasadena branch being "permanent."
The USPS is facing a deficit of over $9 billion, according to this ABC News report, and will default on a $5.5 billion pension fund payment if no congressional action is taken. Because of the pension issues and the long-term decline in mail usage, the postal officials have not painted an optimistic future for the service, though several short-term solutions are currently under consideration.
However, before any branch is shut down, the public must be notified--there is a 60-day public input period before closure. The list of 3,700 postal branches are ones where the public has now been notified.
The protests in Pasadena on Tuesday were part of a wave of union protests nationwide aimed at getting congressional leaders to take action to avoid or minimize employee layoffs, delivery reduction or branch closures.


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What should be on the front page for Wednesday, Aug. 28?(Poll has closed)
50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr's speech 8% 2 votes
Victoria City Council votes on Marketplace Fairness Act resolution 31% 8 votes
Battleground Texas; State Democratic leaders visit Victoria 27% 7 votes
VISD conducts public hearing on tax rate 23% 6 votes
Port of Victoria update 12% 3 votes
26 total votes


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Shapiro says Twitter-based employment index provides real-time accuracy
Xie says internet censorship in China often reflects local officials' concerns
Cheng finds marriage may not be best career option for women
Jeff Morenoff makes Reuters' Highly Cited Researchers list for 2014
Susan Murphy named Distinguished University Professor
Sarah Burgard and former PSC trainee Jennifer Ailshire win ASA award for paper
James Jackson to be appointed to NSF's National Science Board
PSC Brown Bags will return in the fall
Lam, David. 1993. "Comment on Preston and Campbell's "Differential Fertility and the Distribution of Traits"." American Journal of Sociology, 98: 1033-39.
This article is a comment on "Differential Fertility and the Distribution of Traits" by Samuel H. Preston and Cameron Campbell, the abstract of which is given in the following paragraph. The comment supplies illustrations of how the model proposed by Preston and Campbell works and useful examples of when it may or may not apply. Also included is Preston and Campbell's reply.
A recurrent fear during the past century is that the mean IQ level of populations will decline because persons with lower IQ scores have above-average fertility. Most microlevel data demonstrate such fertility differentials, but population IQ levels have risen rather than fallen. In this article, a simple two-sex model shows that negative fertility differentials are consistent with falling, rising, or constant IQ distributions. Under a wide variety of conditions, a constant pattern of fertility differentials will produce an unchanging, equilibrium distribution of IQ scores in the population. What matters for IQ trends is how the IQ distribution in one generation relates to the equilibrium distribution implied by that generation's fertility differentials. Intuition fails in this important area because it does not account for the macro structure within which micro results must be interpreted.
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Best Beach Front Pointe West Location in Galveston
- bedrooms 2
- baths 2
- sleeps 5
- pool yes
- hot tub yes
- pets allowed no
- type Condo
- community Pointe West
rates (USD)
/ night
$ 2,200 - $ 2,200 / week
$ 4,900 - $ 4,900 / month
vacation rental description
2 bedroom/ 2 bath condo offers large private balcony overlooking
beach with oceanviews! Master suite includes king-size bed, balcony
access overlooking beach and private bath. 2nd bedroom has twin bunk beds and a single bed. Reserved parking for one vehicle.
condo rental amenities
Fully equipped kitchen with stainless steel appliances
Granite counters throughout
washer/dryer in unit
Wireless Internet
Unlimited local calls
Cable TV - 3 TVs -50" in living room
Elevator direct access to unit
One free assigned parking space
Overflow parking as available
activities and attractions in Galveston Texas
Infinity-edge pool
Children's pool
Lazy River pool
Shelling on groomed beach
Game room
Fitness Center
Ocean view Roof-top bar
vacation rental rates
Will only rent on a weekly basis or monthly
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25.00 club entry fee not included. Cost includes veryone for entire stay.


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Play Slideshow >>
Borrowing Goes Bust
Tight credit is prompting many departments to postpone new projects and temporarily suspend others.
From left: Hoa Nguyen, Melika Roshandell, Jan Kleissl (assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the Jacobs School of Engineering), Anthony Dominguez, Michael Sankur, Mandana Farhadieh, and Yoichi Shiga. Not pictured: Wen-Han Liu, Samer Naif, Andrea Tan, Roger Huang, Anders Nottrot, Hared Ochoa, and Long Sun. Photo: Dong Kim, UC San Diego
Kalamazoo College
Clocking a recycling rate of nearly 59%, the Michigan campus competed against 400 colleges and universities nationwide to win this year's "Grand Champion" bragging rights in the annual Recyclemania competition. (The "Grand Champion" in the partial campus division category is California State University in San Marcos, which recycled 76% of its waste stream.) Altogether, participating schools recovered more than 58 million pounds of recyclables and organics.
A local energy provider will use "gasification of wood waste" to convert the city's trees, limbs, and branches into ethanol. The city already converts used cooking oil into bio-diesel to fuel its fleet.
The Virginia Tech and Cornell University researchers proved that GPS can be duped. They programmed a briefcase-sized receiver used in ionospheric research to send out fake signals. The phony receiver is placed near a navigation device to track, modify, and retransmit satellite constellation signals. Gradually, the "victim" navigation device would take the counterfeit navigation signals for the real thing. Though the researchers proved they can "spoof" receivers, as well as already established countermeasures, they are also confident they can help devise methods to guard against such attacks.
Sang-Soo Kim
Ohio University is licensing the associate professor of civil engineering's asphalt binder cracking device to test the durability of highway asphalt, which has so far produced more accurate, consistent results than conventional methods. The invention is the size and shape of a beverage coaster and contains a metal testing ring. Different types of asphalt are poured into the device, which is then placed in a cooling chamber. An off-the shelf computer program determines which types of pavement hold up to the stress of traffic and weather extremes.
The executive director of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies formed a nonprofit alliance to advance holistic, watershed-based approaches to water quality and quantity challenges. Launched in September, the Clean Water American Alliance includes more than 30 members from universities, private companies, regional organizations, and municipalities.
The fleet management superintendent for Troy, Mich., brings in an additional $500,000 by insourcing services through agreements with other cities. To add to this revenue base, in 2007 he launched a pilot program leasing his fleet vehicles to another city that brought in $6,000, and Lamerato expects leasing revenue to more than double.
Minnesota DOT
The department used the rebuilding of the I-35W bridge to restore public trust by making the entire process transparent. For details, see page 24.
Thanks to the premier of Ontario, Canada, provinces can spend an anticipated $1.1 billion in surpluses instead of returning the money to reduce the province's debt. Passed in May, the Investing in Ontario Act was motivated in part by a survey of executives who identified infrastructure repair as a top need.
Upon its 2007 creation, the 10-person committee immediately went to work analyzing the cost-effectiveness and phosphorous-removal-effectiveness of stormwater best management practices (BMPs). Led by Michael Eastling, public works director for the city of Richfield, and Pete Willenbring, consulting engineer for WSB & Associates consultants, the study analyzed unknown and previously untested maintenance costs associated with a variety of BMPs, including rain gardens and stormwater treatment ponds.
Missouri DOT
The latest in a line of experiments include: testing soy- (instead of water-) based striping paint; posting You Tube videos that help the public visualize new transportation projects; and hosting its first online public meeting. Plus, other states are adopting, or considering adoption of, MoDOT's "Practical Design" cost-savings plan, which has saved the department more than $500 million over three years by customizing construction projects to fit specific needs rather than applying generic standards across the board.
311 Call Centers
Close to $78 trillion will be spent on capital projects globally by 2025. Of that, the...
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The American Public Works Association (APWA) has announced the Public Works Projects of...
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Portland, Ore., is giving new meaning to the term "multimodal" by building a bridge...
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The following is a sampling of apps that can be accessed by using a variety of mobile...
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The 11,000 drinking water professionals at the American Water Works Association...
The American Public Works Association announced 2015's volunteer leaders during its...
A California city says upgrading facultative lagoons via an energy-savings performance...
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Eve to Adam's new album "Banquet for a Starving Dog" is an exercise in new-era emotional rock. Now, that does not mean the album is emo. Rather, this is twenty-first century rock in the style of the Foo Fighters with a thick layering of attempted emotion.
Joe's going to hate this.
... and other words for "boner".


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This is from an interview with Brian Dawkins on the NFL Network after the AFC practice for the Pro-Bowl Wednesday. I'm not sure if it will become available online but regardless, I'm sure the NFL network will re-air the practice at some point this week. Just in case they don't or if you don't have the NFL Network I'm here for you.
Synopsis sprinkled with quotes verbatim: (redundancies feel good don't they?)
BDawk begins the interview by talking about his switch from the NFC to the AFC. He says he is blessed and is honored to gain the respect of his coaches, teammates, and "even the fans."
Primetime goes on about how he was on this "National Conference Call" for "The Network" and was asked to give his input for the All-Decade Team and Neon Deion lays a big fat one right between BDawks cheeks (his face man... his face : ) telling BDawk he was his "number one safety."
The look on BDawk's face says it all, "what 'chu talking about safety? SAFETY? I'm your number one guy. PERIOD. Anyways... the only reason I'm here is to win a MF game!
Deion then feels out of place expressing his man chub for BDawk but does so anyways.
"Seriously. What you represent on the field. What you represent off the field. I need these people to know you. Can you tell these people... who are you?" asks Primetime.
First, BDawk is a blessed man of God that turns everything he touches into gold (figuratively speaking of course). He expresses his appreciation for being able to do what he does on the field and in the community and for being able to do it for as long as he has and as healthy as he has. He adds something about digging the talent out of himself through hard work.
"Secondly, I care about my teammates. I really do. I care about my teammates."
See? I told you redundancies feel good!
After a very rude and loud air horn fills the beautiful and blue Miami sky BDawk resumes, "when I go and touch the field I want them to know that I am going to pour myself out for them physically, emotionally, mentally..." and turning to look directly into the camera as if he was speaking to you and you alone, "those are the types of things I expect in return."
Feeling left out and ignored, Irvin chimes in about how when he interviewed Brandon Marshall (See Deion? I talk to important people too!) and told Marshall, "this is what I love about you [BDawk] the most. You give your heart. You give your everything," referring to BDawk.
Now feeling uncredible, Irvin makes sure BDawk remembers the conversation with The Beast and then goes on a diatribe inquiring about BDawk adjusting to a new team after pouring everything he had in him to 'Da Eagles. Irvin wants to know if BDawk was still confident he could perform and if getting selected to the Pro Bowl was some sort of consolation for not even getting into the playoffs (okay that's not exactly what he said, but if I were reading between the lines that is sure what it sounded like). BDawk admits it was painful and that it hurt to leave Philly. He continues on suggesting that the Lord had him come to Denver for a reason.
"I went kicking and screaming in the beginning. It was an emotional thing, but I knew he sent me there for a reason and I was going to do His work when I got there."
Next, BDawk sharpens his Wolverine blades and prepares an attack on the MSM. Apparently the MSM thinks BDawk has lost a step every year since he was 30. So what's a BDawk to do? BDawks use stuff like that for motivation in the offseason, but once they step on the field it's all about his teammates, his family, the Broncos, and representing Him. Irvin begins to lean in patiently waiting for BDawk to finish and when he does proclaims, "I almost hugged you right in the middle of the interview. That wouldn't have been professional so I stopped."
Is it just me or is that Irvin character a quick thinker? I mean he's really on the tips of his toes!
The big, beautiful, and blue Miami sky suddenly turns gray as lightening flashes and the thunder booms as Eisen drops a bomb. His question rolling off the tongue like that of the whiny kid nobody wants to talk to at your birthday party, but your Mom made you invite? Yeah, it was like that.
"WHAT ABOUT... WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR IN DENVER? What happened with Mike Nolan?"
Now that Eisen has sucked the smile off BDawk's face like he was a Ghostbuster sucking a ghost into one of those awesome backpacks BDawk gets serious.
"Umm, don't know... 100 percent."
"He's a professional," says Primetime with a laugh, chuckle, and big grin doing his best to make Eisen feel as awkward as possible for the mud he's trying to fling.
Eloquently continuing, BDawk says, "but you know what? If that's where Josh feels like we need to go in order for us to take the next step, to be on the same page, then that's what I am willing to do. I told him and I'll tell you guys; I'm behind him so if he made that decision there's a reason why he made it. I trust him and I'm going to go out, and whoever he brings in as Defensive Coordinator, he's going to have Brian Dawkins on his side."
Irvin then motions over to an assistant off camera to bring him a shovel so he can try to dig up some dirt chanting, "if Eisen can do it so can I!" His attempt to uncover what has already been buried regarding "The Brandon Marshall" situation and other coaching decisions goes a little like this...
"Once again, whenever he made that decision, I'm behind him. If he feels like that's the best thing for us to move for that game then that's what I'm going to do."
"I love this man," comes out of nowhere aka Irvin's mouth.
Without missing a beat BDawk lays it out for everyone, "You see? The thing that I have to do is, I have to make sure that the boss, the owner, or whoever it is knows that they're going to have Brian Dawkins on their side and I may not agree with him, but if I disagree with him it's going to be behind closed doors if we're going to talk about that - not in public. I'll never do that to him."
To conclude, infer what you want... I don't make the news... I just report the news... thanks for reading!


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As the titular superhero, Chris Evans is the main attraction in ôCaptain America: The Winter Soldierö but Scarlett Johansson and her alter ego, the Black Widow, nearly steal the show.
Johansson, who made her first Marvel appearance in ôIron Man 2ö four years ago, has slowly but surely turned the butt-kicking crimefighter into one of the most fascinating figures in the Marvel universe.
ôItĺs an interesting challenge to keep coming back to this character whoůis sort of evolving with each installment,ö says the actress.
ô[She has this] rich back story and I think itĺs just an exciting thing to be scraping away at [that] a little [bit] at a time, to reveal the bigger picture of her.
ôSheĺs actually a very complex character, which is wonderful for me, because over the period of time that Iĺve played her, Iĺve also grown, obviouslyůso I feel like the characterĺs story is more enriched as my own experiences are.ö
Johanssonĺs Black Widow has become so interesting, in fact, that it seems as if its only a matter of time before the character becomes the focus of her own movie.
ôAs Scarlett has already said, thereĺs a big element that explores her back story in an upcoming Marvel feature,ö notes ôCaptain America: The Winter Soldierö producer Kevin Feige.
ôSo the question really is when would we want to take her out of that ensemble to go and do her own thing? In fact, as you saw in this movie, and as youĺll see in [2015ĺs] `Avengers: Age of Ultron,ĺ she is kind of the key to so much of the broader world.ö
Now in release, ôCaptain America: The Winter Soliderö has been described as one of the darkest and most intense of Marvelĺs superhero movies. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo (TVĺs ôArrested Developmentö), the film draws as much inspiration from Ĺ70s paranoid thrillers like ôThree Days of the Condor,ö ôThe Parallax Viewö and ôMarathon Manö as it does from comic book-inspired adventures.
In the movie, a follow-up to 2011ĺs $371-million-grossing ôCaptain America: The First Avenger,ö Cap is drawn into the business of intelligence agency SHIELD after director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) comes under attack from the mysterious Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan.) Wary of trusting anyone, Cap and the Widow hit the road in hopes of exposing the conspirators threatening SHIELD.
The supporting cast includes Robert Redford, Anthony Mackie, EmilyVanCamp, Hayley Atwell and Garry Shandling.
For Johansson, the biggest draw of ôCaptain Americaö was having the opportunity to present another side of Natasha Romanoff/the Black Widow.
ôI think this is the first time that weĺve really gotten to see Natasha,ö says the actress, 29. ôWe saw a little bit of her backstory in `The Avengers,ĺ and weĺll see more of that in `Avengers II.ĺ
ôBut in this film, we really get to see Natasha as a person who gets up, gets ready for work in the morning, and has a life outside of just her job. Sheĺs a woman and she has her own reality outside of the suit.ö
Over the course of the movie, thanks to some late-game revelations, Natasha/Black Widow and Steve/Captain America get shaken to their core. Portraying that dramatic mix of emotions was fascinating for Johansson.
ôAs the plot unfolds, we find that both Steve and Natasha are questioning their own identityůTheyĺre pretty strong people but at the end, the Widow, even more than Caps, realizes, `wait, I actually donĺt know who I [am]. Iĺve actually been this sort of hired hand for my entire professional career and young adult life. Who am I and what do I want and what do I need from someone?ĺ
ôSo in some ways thereĺs a kind of cliffhanger at the end, because you really see that theyĺre just kind of cresting the wave of having this huge moment of self-discovery and hopefully weĺll be able to track where that goes in the next installments.ö
Johansson has one of the most diverse resumes of any young actress in Hollywood. The New York native got an early start in the business, making her film debut at age nine in Rob Reinerĺs ôNorthö as John Ritterĺs daughter.
She quickly followed that movie up with ôManny and Loö and ôThe Horse Whispererö before graduating to more adult roles with the Coen Brothersĺ ôThe Man Who Wasnĺt Thereö and Sofia Coppolaĺs ôLost in Translation.ö
Johansson has a knack for picking projects with celebrated directors. She worked for Woody Allen three times in ôMatch Point,ö ôScoopö and ôVicky Christina Barcelonaö while also starring in ôWe Bought a Zooö for Cameron Crowe and lending her distinctive voice to Spike Jonzeĺs Oscar-nominated ôHer.ö
This Spring, Johansson can be seen in both ôCaptain Americaö and ôUnder The Skin,ö a quirky sci-fi indie about an alien (Johansson) who preys on the men of Scotland.
Right before Johansson shot ôCaptain America,ö she played Maggie in a Broadway revival of ôCat on a Hot Tin Roof.ö
As it turns out, appearing on Broadway was the perfect way for Johansson to get into shape for the Widow.
ôI had come off of doing this Broadway run, which is pretty much the most physically challenging thing you can do,ö she says. ôSo I felt like if anything was going to prepare me to have stamina [for `Captain America,ĺ] it was that.
ôEverything seemed like a piece of cake after treading the boards for that long.ö
Still, Johansson felt compelled to add a bit more exercise to her daily routine.
ôI think I was in pretty solid shapeů but then itĺs [a matter of] maintaining it,ö she says. ôSo Iĺd get up at 5 AM, go to the gym, and do all that stuff thatĺs horrible and not glamorous at all. Iĺd train like a dude and then eat a bunch of lettuce and whatever. Thatĺs how it goes. Nothing fancy.ö
Of all the characters Johansson has played, Black Widow is the one whoĺs been taken to heart the most by young girls. Itĺs a distinction which leaves the actress more than a little puzzled.
ôI think Natasha is a bit of a reluctant superhero,ö says Johansson who is reportedly expecting her first child with fiance Romain Dauriac. ôNatasha doesnĺt necessarily have this really kind of strong, golden moral compass. Letĺs not forget, she started out her career as essentially a mercenary so I donĺt know if that makes her role model material,ö
ôBut I will say that one of the things thatĺs very attractive to me about Natasha is that she uses her feminine wiles as part of her job, but she doesnĺt rely on her sexuality or physical appeal to get the job done.
ôSheĺs extremely smart. She thinks on her feet. Sheĺs a leader and she has a lot of foresight. Those are all qualities that I think itĺs wonderful to celebrate for young women.ö
If there was any doubt that Black Widow has struck a chord with young fans, the actress gets a reminder of the characterĺs popularity every Oct. 31.
ôItĺs really rad for me to have my friendsĺ kids look up to that character and dress up like her at Halloween and play with the boys and be rough,ö says Johansson. ôI always say, ôThe Widow always wins.ĺ And itĺs true. And thatĺs a nice sentiment.ö


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The Suzanne Farrell Ballet Dances Balanchine's Best Works
* Additional fees apply.
All offers for The Suzanne Farrell Ballet have expired.
The last date listed for The Suzanne Farrell Ballet was Sunday November 11, 2012 / 7:30pm.
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Rockville Civic Ballet Dances The Last Duchess
- Full Price:
- $17.00
- Our Price:
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Famed for their annual Nutcracker, the acclaimed Rockville Civic Ballet's latest production boasts a trio of dances. The Last Duchess is inspired by an intriguing Robert Browning poem, in which a duke shows off a portrait of his wanton wife, insinuating that he's gotten rid of her for good. Also on the program are the works Saturday Night Social, a fun and entertaining romp set to Aaron Copland's Rodeo, and Danse D'Enesco, a folk dance-influenced piece that's described as bright and fast-moving. Learn More
Venue Details
parking in the Kennedy Center is $20 (or $22), parking under the Watergate, VA Ave. is $12. Then walk across the street to enter Kennedy Center.Side Show travel • Jul 11 2014 star this tip starred
The weather was cloudy.. I wore skinny jeans and a nice top with booties. .One Mic: Breaking Form: global urban contemporary dance dress • Jun 27 2014 star this tip starred
Reviews & Ratings
Featured review from PatJ
view more less of this review
This was a varied program including the company premiere of "The Prodigal Son". The whole program was beautiful and well-danced. The Post critic was wrong, this was a great performance.
Quotes & Highlights
"Risk-taking … musically satisfying …as impressive as ever." —_Washington Post _
"[Divertimento No. 15] creates an ideal realm in which courtesy, chivalry, brilliance, serenity, and expansiveness coexist and give off light." —_The New York Times _
_Program B:
Divertimento_ No. 15 (Balanchine/Mozart)
Prodigal Son (Balanchine/Prokofiev)
Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (Balanchine/Rodgers, arr. Kay)
_The performance is scheduled to run approximately 2 hours and 12 minutes, including intermissions. Program is current at time of publication, but subject to change without notice.
About the Ticket Supplier: The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, located on 17 acres overlooking the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., is America's living memorial to President Kennedy as well as the nation's busiest arts facility, presenting more than 2,000 performances each year. The Center is home to seven theaters: the Concert Hall, the Opera House, the Eisenhower Theater, the Family Theater, the Terrace Theater, the Theater Lab, and the Terrace Gallery. In addition, as part of the Kennedy Center's Performing Arts for Everyone outreach program, free performances take place each evening at 6 p.m. on the Millennium Stage. In addition to offering annual series of the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, theater, ballet, dance, chamber music, jazz, and performances for young audiences, the Kennedy Center presents festivals celebrating the arts and culture of countries and regions around the world.


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Aug. 19--Eight sold out shows in your hometown. That's a local musician's dream.
On Saturday, Kid Rock took the stage at DTE Energy Music Theatre for the sixth of eight sold-out hometown concerts, where the Detroit star delivered a high-energy summertime party for people on a budget.
But before Kid Rock became a multiplatinum recording artist with legions of fans around the world, he was just another local musician with a dream, hammering it out on the local scene.
It wasn't unusual to drive around in the mid-'90s and see telephone poles and streets littered with Kid Rock flyers. He's always had an incredible work ethic.
Saturday's show was a reminder of just how far the boy from Romeo has come. Flanked by his name in lights and an elaborate 11-piece band, he effortlessly weaved through a string of hits, tapping into his earlier days to display his rap skills on the show's opener, "Devil without a Cause," and digging into his Southern-rock roots on one of the show's closing numbers "All Summer Long."
He's come a long way from being an aspiring rapper on the local scene -- a one-man operation, playing clubs that many of us local musicians are still sweating it out in.
-- Photo gallery: Kid Rock's first 2013 DTE Energy Music Theatre show -- Mobile users tap here
He's been groundbreaking in the way that he's been able to transform himself and embrace a multitude of genres in his music. He's reaching an audience far bigger than I think he ever imagined.
As a local musician, that's been inspiring to see. Watching a local guy rise to the top gives hope to the rest of us struggling to make it.
It was incredibly cool to stand among the crowd of more than 15,000 people, at one of my favorite hometown venues, and soak in every aspect of what he's become.
I couldn't help but look around and think to myself ... what if.
(c)2013 the Detroit Free Press
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Aug. 19--Eight sold out shows in your hometown. That's a local musician's dream.
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