text:
Info: Your browser does not accept cookies. To put products into your trug and purchase them you need to enable cookies.
• Greeting cards
Fifteen different greeting cards with chilli designs or photos. The cards are A6 in size, and have been left blank to leave space for you to write what you want.
An envelop is included with each card.
Seed Categories
Aubergine seed Beetroot seed Cabbage seed Calabrese seed Carrot seed Chilli seed – veg types Chilli seed – spice types Chilli seed – habaneros Chilli seed – superhots (including Dorset Naga) Chilli seed – ALL Courgette and marrow seed Cucumber seed Exotics seed Fennel seed French bean seed Herb seed Kale seed Kohlrabi seed Leek seed Lettuce seed Mustard seed Onions and shallot seed Oriental leaves seed Pea seed Radish seed Runner Bean Spinach and chard seed Swede seed Sweet corn seed Sweet pepper seed Tomatillo seed Tomato seed Turnip seed Winter squashes and pumpkin seed ------------- PLUG PLANTS ........... (chillies and sweet peppers) --------------- Fresh chillies ------------- NON-SEED ITEMS Chilli growing COMPETITIONS Chilli growing courses Gift Vouchers ------------- Merchandise: • Gardening Tools • Posters Special offers
Your Shopping Trug
Your trug is empty.


text:
Raising the Minimum Wage Isn't a Death Knell for Business
Image via Shutterstock
Whether it's federal spending, gay marriage or gun control, we are a divided nation when it comes to hot-button issues.
But there's one — which is up for review Monday by a San Diego City Council committee — on which we as a country almost unanimously agree: the need to increase the minimum wage.
According to a recent national Gallup poll, 87 percent of Democrats, 72 percent of independents and 53 percent of Republicans approve of raising the federal minimum wage. As the CEO of a business with 300 employees, it might seem counter-intuitive for me to side with the masses on this point, but I'm all for raising the rate. Let me explain.
Right now, the federal rate is $7.25 an hour. Taking inflation into account, a worker earning that in 2014 is worse off than one who made the base hourly wage of $1.60 in 1968.
Fortunately, 21 states mandate a higher rate, and California is one of them. Our state minimum wage is $8 per hour, but on July 1, it'll move to $9. Starting Jan. 1, 2016, it'll be an even $10.
READ MORE: A Reader's Guide to the Minimum Wage Push
The call to bump up the rate has reached a fever pitch in recent weeks and that's largely due to President Barack Obama's call to give low-income Americans a raise. If Obama gets his way, the federal minimum wage would jump to $10.10, a move he says is needed to more closely reflect a living wage.
Some of San Diego's political and labor leaders have pushed for an even higher wage in America's Finest City that could outpace the planned state increases.
Unfortunately, business leaders from trade associations, chambers of commerce and even some of my fellow CEOs have come out publicly against a raise in the federal minimum wage and any attempt by San Diego's government to improve on California's minimum.
I respectfully disagree with my colleagues in the business community. Opposing an increase in the minimum wage is a failure to recognize the value of our human resources, and the positive effect they have on our region's economy.
The most popular argument against a minimum wage hike is that small businesses will make less money and in turn, will have to collectively lay off millions of employees.
That argument ignores economic reality. The vast majority of minimum wage workers aren't employed by small businesses. In fact, most small businesses pay their employees above the minimum wage. In all, two-thirds of America's low-wage workers are currently employed by large companies with 100 or more employees.
READ MORE: Meet the Anti-Minimum-Wage Group Funding Those Minimum-Wage Studies
Of the 50 largest employers of these minimum-wage workers (Walmart, KFC, McDonald's, etc.), more than 90 percent were profitable last year. A raise in the minimum wage would hardly make an impact worthy of layoffs.
Raising the minimum wage makes social and fiscal sense for two main reasons.
First, economist James Galbraith says raising the minimum wage would increase the income of a staggering 28 million Americans, most of them women. Women currently work these low-paying jobs to a much greater degree than men, so they would see the greatest impact.
Second, many economists and legislators point to various bellwethers, like a general increase in home prices and a decrease in unemployment claims, to suggest we are recovering from the recession. While this may be true, what is definitely true is that it won't be the wealthy and super wealthy who will benefit from an increase in the minimum wage. It will be the low-income wage earners and the middle class who currently make below $10.10 per hour. With an increase in the minimum wage, these 28 million Americans will now be able to spend more on essential and non-essential goods.
This kind of consumer spending is what greases the wheels of our economy, and gets it moving in a measurable way.
The vast majority of the 300 employees at my company are entry-level, and I can tell you that paying a living wage results in better attendance, less turnover and improved morale, performance and productivity.
In other words, the very foundation of a profitable enterprise.
Gabriel Bristol is CEO of Desert Call Connection. Bristol's commentary has been edited for style and clarity. See anything in there we should fact check? Tell us what to check out here.
Voice of San Diego is a nonprofit that depends on you, our readers. Please donate to keep the service strong. Click here to find out more about our supporters and how we operate independently.
Value investigative reporting? Support it. Donate Now.
Show comments
Minimum wage should be set per city/county, not per state. What about a tiered or step system? Brand new workers would get minimum wage step 1 when they first enter the workforce and can "step up" as they continue. Step 2 after a year. Step 3 after another year, etc.
We also need to look at the basic cost of living per city. It's difficult for me to understand why rent, food, gas, etc gets more expensive every year, but the average pay workers are getting isn't keeping up.
And the disparity of pay in this city compared to the same job elsewhere is concerning. Retail Sales employee (same employer, same employee): Nashville $15.00 an hour. San Diego: $10.00 an hour.
Idea: rent control in San Diego:
allowing tenants who are meeting their obligations (including paying the legal
rent) to remain in their homes instead of moving, rent control may reduce
instability and associated external costs. For example, in times of economic
crisis, bank foreclosures have produced uneconomic vacancies including lost
rental income, attracting nuisances, vandalism, and increased crime, adversely
affecting local property values.
Rent control is considered necessary by the state of New York[26] to protect the public and to prevent landlords from imposing rent increases that cause key workers or vulnerable people to leave an area. Maintaining a supply of affordable housing is believed to be essential to sustaining the local society.[27] Homeowners who support rent control point to the neighborhood instability caused by high or frequent rent increases and the effect on schools,[28] youth groups, and community organizations when tenants move more frequently."
Sez who?
If 71% of those polled say that jumping of a cliff is a good idea, I encourage all those so inclined to follow their lead.
Who claims that the minimum wage is a "death knell for business"? This is a straw man.
The two arguments I've heard are (1), that it will decrease the number of low skill jobs available, and (2) if San Diego puts in a higher minimum wage of it's own rather than wait for the new California minimum to kick in and/or a much higher minimum at the federal level, that it will hurt San Diego businesses that compete with similar firms in other cities in the county.
This second argument seems particularly appropriate in fast food joints, auto parts and tire stores, and other firms that sell standard products. Why patronize your local Bev Mo, Staples or Radio Shack when it's counterpart in, say, La Mesa or El Cajon can beat their prices because of lower labor costs?
As for Mr.Bristol's firm, Desert Call Connection, I can't help noticing that, according to it's web site, it's headquartered in Las Vegas. Bristol has outsourced a number of jobs to India, The Philippines and Eastern Europe, according to an October newspaper story, and he's apparently struggling to keep his San Diego operation in Kearney Mesa operating. To his great credit, he employs a lot of veterans and seeks them out for openings in his firm, so to this humble scribe, he's a real hero!
A couple years ago San Jose raised their minimum wage 25%, $8 to $10 p/h. Over the course of the next year their unemployment went down just over 23%, and the number of businesses increased. Other cities, such as Washington D.C. and San Francisco also have had their unemployment go down after they raised their minimum wage.
A one size fits all minimum wages is nonsensical. States and local communities are all different, and are all setting their own minimum wages. Therefore the argument for whether to raise it or lower it federally is rather pointless, unless federal employees are somehow unaffected by state and local minimum wages. From a political strategy standpoint, the Republicans are fools for not raising it once, and pegging it to an index of some kind. The republicans have no chance of winning this argument regardless of what does or doesn't make sense. Set the minimum wage once so that the increase is comparable to one of the states that already has a decent minimum wage, and then peg it to some kind of index. Then there will be no more arguing, and no more straw man attacks to put up with. From that point forward, it would simply be up to states, and local governments to decide whether to set a wage that exceeds the federal minimum. Some will say that the feds don't have the constitutional authority. Right; and they don't have the authority to pass many other laws either, but they still do it don't they? It is really up to the people to decide whether they care about keeping government in check. For now, the republicans and libertarians need to worry about fighting more winnable battles. By the way, the title of this article is preposterous. Nobody ever said that a minimum wage increase would mean death to businesses. They simply stated that it would result in less hiring, which still might be true. If it turns out to be disastrous, then republicans and libertarians could simply say look we were right! We only voted for it as a compromise because we were not in charge at the time. I don't see any downside for repubs/libertarians to support the increase provided that there are common sense exceptions so that I'm not paying a kid $10 an hour to shovel the snow on my sidewalk.
Some years back California Democrats were insisting we raise the minimum wage while they were also insisting that the condition being rich began at an annual salary of $36,000 (they wanted to tax that more you see). I asked a leading Dem why we could not raise the minimum wage to $18 an hour, then we would all be rich?
jim dodd
I own a business in Oregon, where the minimum wage is $9.10. I can tell you for a fact that this has not affected the number of employees we have or the hours they work. That's because it would be shooting myself in the foot to reduce either and lose income as a result. Increased minimum wages has caused prices to rise a little because it has caused all wages to go up. Yet, over the same period of time, I've seen larger percentage increases in the cost of goods, rent and utilities. None of my employees make minimum wage except the occasional temp. Because I pay well and provide good working conditions, I have had all my staff for 3 to 12 years. Lower turnover is well worth the cost.
This guy is just simply wrong. This minimum wage ploy has long been a tactic by leftists to appeal to the sense of victimhood of their liberal, chronically unemployed base. And the tidal wave of illegal alien minimum wage job thieves. They facilitate illegal immigration and support them once they get here. Then they seek to punish the successful (the rich) by redistributing their profits. (income 'inequality') Studies by Forbes, the Cato Institute, the Heritage Institute, and none other than the bipartisan Congressional Budget Office refute the claims made here and the skewed Gallup figures shown here. Minimum wage hikes cost jobs. Period. Proven over and over. It's the same kind of leftist insanity employed by nancy pelosi that the best way to improve the economy is longer unemployment benefits.
The push for minimum wage increases at this particular moment is a crass attempt to distract attention from the increasingly disastrous news for obamacare. Obamacare has been costing jobs and hours and incomes and peoples' affordable health coverage since day one.
This recent article explains more...
@-P So as workers become more expensive, businesses will hire more workers? Who knew?
@Jim Jones No justice, no peace.
@James Weber @-P One explanation as to why this happened is that most people who make minimum wage tend to spend all of their pay check to simply to put food on the table - a new pair of jeans is a luxury. If they make more money, they will have more to spend, creating more business for the neighborhood stores. To keep up with the increased business, the small businesses would need to hire more people, or those customers will go somewhere else. In San Jose, a large number of those newly created jobs were/are minimum wage jobs, I'm guessing that means an increase in retail jobs, which would fit into the scenario I just described. If you've got a different explanation for the San Jose/San Francisco/ D.C. numbers, I would love to hear it.
@Jim Jones @JLDodd You might be on to something Jim. Between 1974 and 2011 average incomes for the top 1% rose 194%. Had federal minimum wage risen at the same rate, it would now be $26.96.
@Jim Jones @JLDodd We should set the standard for the nation by making the minimum wage $50/hour. Social justice now!
@Jim Jones @-P @James Weber Thanks Jim. Following your argument, then the reverse claim, that raising minimum wage results in higher unemployment, is also unsustainable. There's either a link from minimum wage to unemployment rates, or there's not.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This film is about two Serbian Gypsy musicians and activists, Dragan Ristic from Belgrade and Vince Olah from Novi Sad, who've devoted their lives to developing Roma culture and preserving its collective memory.
Ristic's and Olah's musical styles are very different. But both have survived forced assimilation, segregation and marginalisation by making music; and, in the process, given Romany music international recognition and drawn world attention to their cultural and ethnic identity.
Content on this website is for general information purposes only.
Your comments are provided by your own free will and you take sole responsibility for any direct or indirect
liability. You hereby provide us with an irrevocable, unlimited, and global license for no consideration to
use, reuse, delete or publish comments, in accordance with Community
Rules & Guidelines and Terms and


text:
Student Transportation Announces Director Election Results Of Its 2013 Shareholder Meeting
BARRIE, Ontario, Nov. 11, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Student Transportation Inc. (TSX:STB) (Nasdaq:STB) (" STI" or the " Company") is pleased to announce that all of the nominees listed in its information circular dated September 24, 2013 were elected as directors of the Company at its annual meeting of shareholders held on November 7, 2013 (the " Meeting"). The results of the voting for each nominee are as follows:
|Votes For
|Votes Withheld
|Denis Gallagher
|Irving Gerstein
|Kenneth Needler
|Grace Palombo
|George Rossi
|David Scopelliti
|Victor Wells
Student Transportation Inc.(TSX:STB) (Nasdaq:STB) is North America's third-largest and most innovative supplier school bus transportation services and management services. Founded in 1997, STI's family of local companies operating more than 10,800 vehicles and transports over 1 million students to and from school each day. STI has a long history of safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation solutions delivered by drivers, dispatchers, maintenance technicians, terminal managers and others who are caring members of their local communities. For more information, please visit www.rideSTBus.com .
CONTACT: INVESTOR CONTACTS: Student Transportation Inc. Patrick J. Walker Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President Keith P. Engelbert Director of Investor Relations (843) 884-2720 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Website: www.rideSTBus.com
Select the service that is right for you!COMPARE ALL SERVICES
Action Alerts PLUSTry it NOW
Jim Cramer and Stephanie Link actively manage a real portfolio and reveal their money management tactics while giving advanced notice before every trade.
Product Features:
- $2.5+ million portfolio
- Large-cap and dividend focus
- Intraday trade alerts from Cramer
- Weekly roundups
TheStreet Quant RatingsTry it NOW
Only $49.95/yr
Access the tool that DOMINATES the Russell 2000 and the S&P 500.
Product Features:
- Buy, hold, or sell recommendations for over 4,300 stocks
- Unlimited research reports on your favorite stocks
- A custom stock screener
- Upgrade/downgrade alerts
Stocks Under $10Try it NOW
David Peltier, uncovers low dollar stocks with extraordinary upside potential that are flying under Wall Street's radar.
Product Features:
- Model portfolio
- Stocks trading below $10
- Intraday trade alerts
- Weekly roundups
Dividend Stock AdvisorTry it NOW
Jim Cramer's protege, David Peltier, identifies the best of breed dividend stocks that will pay a reliable AND significant income stream.
Product Features:
- Diversified model portfolio of dividend stocks
- Alerts when market news affect the portfolio
- Bi-weekly updates with exact steps to take - BUY, HOLD, SELL
Real Money ProTry it NOW
All of Real Money, plus 15 more of Wall Street's sharpest minds delivering actionable trading ideas, a comprehensive look at the market, and fundamental and technical analysis.
Product Features:
- Real Money + Doug Kass Plus 15 more Wall Street Pros
- Intraday commentary & news
- Ultra-actionable trading ideas
Options ProfitsTry it NOW
Our options trading pros provide daily market commentary and over 100 monthly option trading ideas and strategies to help you become a well-seasoned trader.
Product Features:
- 100+ monthly options trading ideas
- Actionable options commentary & news
- Real-time trading community
- Options TV


text:
Babolat Star 5 Owners - Calibration tools
I like to find out what most Babolat 5 owner use to calibrate their machines...
I heard Albert Lee uses this:
I found this unit:
Go to grand slam stringers . com (no spaces) and get the calibrator they have on there. I believe it runs for about $39. It works great and I believe it is used widely throughout many stringing rooms on tour.
Edit: My apologies but that calibrator is actually no longer on that website. Anyway it is called the UltraSport 50 by J Scale.
Here it is even cheaper than GSS had it when I bought mine:
|All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:03 AM.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2014, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
© 2006 - Tennis Warehouse


text:
I'm a relaxed guy. I've worked hard for everything I've ever had. People have told me I have an 'old soul', I enjoy things a little beyond my generation. Frank Sinatra, Monty Python, and classic cars. I'm a big boy but cuddly. I cam seem intimidating at times but I'm a pretty gentle understanding guy.
Join OkCupid
Find better matches with our advanced
Find better matches with our advanced
matching system
—% Match
—% Enemy
29 • Sarasota, FL • Man
I'm looking for
- Women
- Ages 19–30
- Near me
- Who are single
- For new friends, long-term dating, short-term dating
My Details
- Last Online
- May 31, 2013
- Orientation
- Straight
- Ethnicity
- White
- Height
- 6′ 1″ (1.85m)
- Body Type
- A little extra
- Diet
- —
- Smokes
- When drinking
- Drinks
- Socially
- Drugs
- Never
- Religion
- —
- Sign
- Aries
- Education
- —
- Job
- Science / Engineering
- Income
- —
- Relationship Status
- Single
- Relationship Type
- —
- Offspring
- —
- Pets
- Likes dogs
- Speaks
- English (Fluently)
Similar Users
My self-summary
Write a little about yourself. Just a paragraph will do.
What I'm doing with my life
Don't overthink this one; tell us what you're doing day-to-day.
What I'm doing with my life? Hm that's a good question. I've just begun a great career as a mechanical engineer and learning everyday. I never thought I'd actually like getting up and going to work but I do now. I've done my partying and I do it well but I moderate it much more now.
I'm really good at
Go on, brag a little (or a lot). We won't judge.
Fixing things. I can fix almost anything. Haha. I realized it when i was young and my step-mother's handheld vaccuum broke and I took it apart and fixed it. That's just one of my many talents.
The first things people usually notice about me
I'm an empty essay… fill me out!
My personality. I'm open and I can get along with anyone. Once your my friend I'm loyal to you as if you were my family. I'm a happy jovial guy who loves big groups of friends.
Favorite books, movies, shows, music, and food
Help your potential matches find common interests.
Let's see. Books: the perks of being a wallflower (back in the day), a million little pieces, my friend Leonard, I hope they serve beer in Hell, the average american male and others I can't remember. Movies: Fight Club, Empire Records, Say Anything, Grandma's Boy, Gladiator, Seven
The six things I could never do without
Think outside the box. Sometimes the little things can say a lot.
My phone, my wallet, my tootbrush, shoot I have no idea. I can't think of anything else. I'll fill the rest out when I can remember.
I spend a lot of time thinking about
Global warming, lunch, or your next vacation… it's all fair game.
Work, life, friends. Normal things people think about. Haha
On a typical Friday night I am
Netflix and takeout, or getting your party on — how do you let loose?
Hanging out with my friends at home or out with some buddies drinking and playing pool.
The most private thing I'm willing to admit
I'm an empty essay… fill me out!
Ha. Not hardly. Message me and find out.
You should message me if
Offer a few tips to help matches win you over.
Uhm I stated some of that above. Annnnd if you wanna know anything else. I'm usually a pretty open and honest guy, sometimes to a fault.
Connect your existing OkCupid account
Sign in
Welcome Back!
Restore your account to continue meeting new people.
Reset your password
We'll email you a link to reset it.
Email sent!
An email is on its way to . If you don't see it, try checking your Spam folder.


text:
Chapter 4. The Chemistry of Behavior: Neurotransmitters and Neuropharmacology
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to our mailing list, to receive news updates. Learn more.
|By Lindsey Konkel and Environmental Health News Babies whose moms lived within a mile of crops treated with widely used pesticides were more likely to develop autism, according to new research. The study of 970 children, born in farm-rich areas of Northern California, is part of the largest project to date that is exploring links between autism and environmental exposures. The University of California, Davis research – which used women's addresses to determine their proximity to insecticide-treated fields – is the third project to link prenatal pesticide exposures to autism and related disorders. "The weight of evidence is beginning to suggest that mothers' exposures during pregnancy may play a role in the development of autism spectrum disorders," said Kim Harley, an environmental health researcher at the University of California, Berkeley who was not involved in the new study. One in every 68 U.S. children has been identified with an autism spectrum disorder—a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by difficulties with social interactions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "This study does not show that pesticides are likely to cause autism, though it suggests that exposure to farming chemicals during pregnancy is probably not a good thing," said Dr. Bennett Leventhal, a child psychiatrist at University of California, San Francisco who studies autistic children. He did not participate in the new study. The biggest known contributor to autism risk is having a family member with it. Siblings of a child with autism are 35 times more likely to develop it than those without an autistic brother or sister, according to the National Institutes of Health. © 2014 Scientific American
Keyword: Autism; Neurotoxins
Link ID: 19764 - Posted: 06.24.2014
Heidi Ledford If shown to be possible in humans, addiction to the Sun could help explain why some tanners continue to seek out sunlight despite being well aware of the risks. The lure of a sunny day at the beach may be more than merely the promise of fun and relaxation. A study published today reports that mice exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays exhibit behaviours akin to addiction. The researchers found that mice exposed repeatedly to UV light produced an opioid called β-endorphin, which numbs pain and is associated with addiction to drugs. When they were given a drug that blocks the effect of opioids, the mice also showed signs of withdrawal — including shaky paws and chattering teeth. If the results hold true in humans, they would suggest an explanation for why many tanners continue to seek out sunlight, despite the risks — and, in some cases, even after being diagnosed with skin cancer. "This offers a clear potential mechanism for how UV radiation can be rewarding and, in turn, potentially addictive," says Bryon Adinoff, an addiction psychiatrist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, who was not involved with the study. "That's a big deal." Oncologist David Fisher of the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and his colleagues became interested in sunlight addiction after studying the molecular mechanisms of pigment production in the skin after UV light exposure. In the new study published today in Cell1, they show that in mice, some skin cells also synthesize β-endorphin in response to chronic, low doses of UV light. © 2014 Nature Publishing Group
Keyword: Drug Abuse
Link ID: 19752 - Posted: 06.21.2014
By Robert Dudley When we think about the origins of agriculture and crop domestication, alcohol isn't necessarily the first thing that comes to mind. But our forebears may well have been intentionally fermenting fruits and grains in parallel with the first Neolithic experiments in plant cultivation. Ethyl alcohol, the product of fermentation, is an attractive and psychoactively powerful inebriant, but fermentation is also a useful means of preserving food and of enhancing its digestibility. The presence of alcohol prolongs the edibility window of fruits and gruels, and can thus serve as a means of short-term storage for various starchy products. And if the right kinds of bacteria are also present, fermentation will stabilize certain foodstuffs (think cheese, yogurt, sauerkraut, and kimchi, for example). Whoever first came up with the idea of controlling the natural yeast-based process of fermentation was clearly on to a good thing. Using spectroscopic analysis of chemical residues found in ceramic vessels unearthed by archaeologists, scientists know that the earliest evidence for intentional fermentation dates to about 7000 BCE. But if we look deeper into our evolutionary past, alcohol was a component of our ancestral primate diet for millions of years. In my new book, The Drunken Monkey, I suggest that alcohol vapors and the flavors produced by fermentation stimulate modern humans because of our ancient tendencies to seek out and consume ripe, sugar-rich, and alcohol-containing fruits. Alcohol is present because of particular strains of yeasts that ferment sugars, and this process is most common in the tropics where fruit-eating primates originated and today remain most diverse. © 1986-2014 The Scientist
Keyword: Drug Abuse; Evolution
Link ID: 19751 - Posted: 06.21.2014
By Elizabeth Norton A single dose of a century-old drug has eliminated autism symptoms in adult mice with an experimental form of the disorder. Originally developed to treat African sleeping sickness, the compound, called suramin, quells a heightened stress response in neurons that researchers believe may underlie some traits of autism. The finding raises the hope that some hallmarks of the disorder may not be permanent, but could be correctable even in adulthood. That hope is bolstered by reports from parents who describe their autistic children as being caught behind a veil. "Sometimes the veil parts, and the children are able to speak and play more normally and use words that didn't seem to be there before, if only for a short time during a fever or other stress" says Robert Naviaux, a geneticist at the University of California, San Diego, who specializes in metabolic disorders. Research also shows that the veil can be parted. In 2007, scientists found that 83% of children with autism disorders showed temporary improvement during a high fever. The timing of a fever is crucial, however: A fever in the mother can confer a higher risk for the disorder in the unborn child. As a specialist in the cell's life-sustaining metabolic processes, Naviaux was intrigued. Autism is generally thought to result from scrambled signals at synapses, the points of contact between nerve cells. But given the specific effects of something as general as a fever, Naviaux wondered if the problem lay "higher up" in the cell's metabolism. © 2014 American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Keyword: Autism
Link ID: 19749 - Posted: 06.19.2014
by Helen Thomson KULLERVO HYNYNEN is preparing to cross neuroscience's final frontier. In July he will work with a team of doctors in the first attempt to open the blood-brain barrier in humans – the protective layer around blood vessels that shields our most precious organ against threats from the outside world. If successful, the method would be a huge step in the treatment of pernicious brain diseases such as cancer, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, by allowing drugs to pass into the brain. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) keeps toxins in the bloodstream away from the brain. It consists of a tightly packed layer of endothelial cells that wrap around every blood vessel throughout the brain. It prevents viruses, bacteria and any other toxins passing into the brain, while simultaneously ushering in vital molecules such as glucose via specialised transport mechanisms. The downside of this is that the BBB also completely blocks the vast majority of drugs. Exceptions include some classes of fat and lipid-soluble chemicals, but these aren't much help as such drugs penetrate every cell in the body – resulting in major side effects. "Opening the barrier is really of huge importance. It is probably the major limitation for innovative drug development for neurosciences," says Bart De Strooper, co-director of the Leuven Institute for Neuroscience and Disease in Belgium. © Copyright Reed Business Information Ltd.
Keyword: Glia
Link ID: 19748 - Posted: 06.19.2014
By Denali Tietjen Caffeine isn't healthy, but that's no news. The withdrawal headaches, jitteriness and dehydration kind of gave that one way. What is news, however, is that starting at puberty, it's worse for boys than girls. Girls and boys have the same cardiovascular reactions to caffeine in childhood, but begin to react differently in adolescence, finds a new study conducted by researchers from The University of Buffalo. In the double-blind study published in the June issue of Pediatrics, researchers examined the cardiovascular reactions of 52 pre-pubescent (ages eight to nine) and 49 post-pubescent (ages 15 to 17) children to varying levels of caffeine. Participants consumed either the placebo, 1 mg/kg or 2 mg/kg caffeinated sodas, and then had their heart rates and blood pressures taken. The results found that pre-pubescent children had the same reaction to caffeine regardless of gender, while post-pubescent boys had much stronger cardiovascular reactions to caffeine than girls. The study also examined post-pubescent girls' reactions to caffeine at various phases of their menstrual cycles. At different stages of the cycle, the girls metabolized caffeine differently. "We found differences in responses to caffeine across the menstrual cycle in post-pubertal girls, with decreases in heart rate that were greater in the mid-luteal phase and blood pressure increases that were greater in the mid-follicular phase of the menstrual cycle," Dr. Jennifer Temple, one of the researchers who conducted the study said in a University at Buffalo press release announcing the study.
Keyword: Sexual Behavior; Drug Abuse
Link ID: 19739 - Posted: 06.17.2014
By Brian Palmer Maureen Dowd, a 62-year-old Pulitzer Prize–winning columnist for the New York Times, had a bad marijuana trip earlier this year. As part of her research into the legalization of recreational cannabis in Colorado, she ate a few too many bites of a pot-infused candy bar, entered a "hallucinatory state," and spent eight paranoid hours curled up on her hotel room bed. Dowd used the experience as a jumping-off point to discuss the risks of overdosing on edible marijuana, which has become a major issue in pot-friendly states. It's also possible, however, that Dowd just doesn't handle cannabis very well. While pot mellows most people out, everyone has heard of someone who barricaded himself or herself in a dorm room after a few bongs hits in college. (Or maybe that someone is you.) Why do people react so differently to the same drug? The question itself may be something of a fallacy. Cannabis is not a single drug—it contains dozens of compounds, and they appear to have varying, and sometimes opposing, effects on the brain. Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and cannabidiol, or CBD, have been the subject of some intriguing research. In 2010, researchers showed that pretreating people with a dose of CBD can protect against the less pleasant effects of THC, such as paranoia. In a similar 2012 study, participants took pills that contained only one of the two chemicals, rather than the combination that you receive in cannabis. The subjects who took THC pills were more likely to suffer paranoia and delusion than those who took CBD. The researchers went one step further to investigate which specific cognitive effects of THC are likely to lead to paranoia and other symptoms of psychosis. After taking either THC or CBD, participants watched a series of arrows appear on a screen and responded by indicating which direction the arrows were pointing. Most of the arrows pointed directly left or right, but occasionally a tilted arrow appeared. (Researchers called the tilted arrows "oddballs.") Subjects who took the CBD had a heightened brain activity response to the oddballs. That's the way a nondrugged person typically reacts—repetitions of the same stimulus don't interest us, but a sudden change grabs our attention. The THC-takers had an abnormal response: They found the left and right arrows, which constituted the overwhelming majority of the images, more noteworthy than the oddballs. © 2014 The Slate Group LLC
Keyword: Drug Abuse; Attention
Link ID: 19734 - Posted: 06.16.2014
By J. DAVID GOODMAN and ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS Amid the weeknight bustle of a Walmart parking lot in Centereach, N.Y., a young woman in a pickup truck had lost consciousness and was turning blue. Her companion called 911. Possible drug overdose; come fast. A Suffolk County police officer, Matthew Siesto, who had been patrolling the lot, was the first to arrive. Needles were visible in the center console; the woman was breathing irregularly, and her pupils had narrowed to pinpoints. It seemed clear, Officer Siesto recalled of the October 2012 episode, that the woman had overdosed on heroin. He went back to his squad car and retrieved a small kit of naloxone, an anti-overdose medication he had only recently been trained to use in such circumstances. He prepared the dose, placed the atomizer in her nostril and sprayed. "Within a minute," the officer said, "she came back." Once the exclusive purview of paramedics and emergency room doctors, administering lifesaving medication to drug users in the throes of an overdose is quickly becoming an everyday part of police work amid a national epidemic of heroin and opioid pill abuse. On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo committed state money to get naloxone into the hands of emergency medical workers across New York, saying the heroin epidemic in the state was worse than that seen in the 1970s, and the problem is growing. Last month, the New York police commissioner, William J. Bratton, announced that the city's entire patrol force would soon be trained and equipped with naloxone. "Officers like it because it puts them in a lifesaving opportunity," Mr. Bratton said, suggesting that beat officers would carry it on their belts. © 2014 The New York Times Company
Keyword: Drug Abuse
Link ID: 19728 - Posted: 06.14.2014
Nathan Greenslit A recent neuroscience study from Harvard Medical School claims to have discovered brain differences between people who smoke marijuana and people who do not. Such well-intentioned and seemingly objective science is actually a new chapter in a politicized and bigoted history of drug science in the United States. The study in question compared magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 20 "young adult recreational marijuana users" (defined as individuals 18 to 25 who smoke at least once a week but who are not "dependent"), to 20 "non-using controls" (age-matched individuals who have smoked marijuana less than five times in their lives). The researchers reported differences in density, volume, and shape between the nucleus accumbens and amygdala regions of the two groups' brains—areas hypothesized to affect a wide range of emotions from happiness to fear, which could influence basic decision-making. Researchers did not make any claims about how marijuana affected actual emotions, cognition, or behavior in these groups; instead; the study merely tried to establish that the aggregated brain scans of the two groups look different. So, who cares? Different-looking brains tell us literally nothing about who these people are, what their lives are like, why they do or do not use marijuana, or what effects marijuana has had on them. Neither can we use such brain scans to predict who these people will become, or what their lives will be like in the future. Nonetheless the study invented two new categories of person: the "young casual marijuana user" and the young non-marijuana user. This is the latest example of turning to brain imaging to make something seem objective. Establishing brain differences among certain groups highlights the uniquely ignoble political history surrounding the criminalization of a plant. © 2014 by The Atlantic Monthly Group
Keyword: Drug Abuse
Link ID: 19725 - Posted: 06.14.2014
Claudia M. Gold Tom Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH,) in his recent blog post "Are Children Overmedicated?" seems to suggest that perhaps more psychiatric medication is in order. Comparing mental illness in children to food allergies, he dismisses the "usual" explanations given for the increase medication prescribing patterns. In his view, these explanations are: Blaming psychiatrists who are too busy to provide therapy, parents who are too busy to provide a stable home environment, drug companies for marketing their products, and schools for lack of recess. By concluding that perhaps the explanation for the increase in prescribing of psychiatric medication to children is a greater number of children with serious psychiatric illness, Insel shows a lack of recognition of the complexity of the situation. When a recent New York Times article, that Insel makes reference to, reported on the rise in prescribing of psychiatric medication for toddlers diagnosed with ADHD, with a disproportionate number coming from families of poverty, one clinician remarked that if this is an attempt to medicate social and economic issues, then we have a huge problem. He was on to something. In conversations with pediatricians (the main prescribers of these medications) and child psychiatrists on the front lines, I find many in a reactive stance. When people feel overwhelmed, they go into survival mode, with their immediate aim just to get through the day. They find themselves prescribing medication because they have no other options.
Keyword: ADHD; Drug Abuse
Link ID: 19715 - Posted: 06.10.2014
A moderate dose of MDMA. commonly known as Ecstasy or Molly, that is typically nonfatal in cool, quiet environments can be lethal in rats exposed to conditions that mimic the hot, crowded, social settings where the drug is often used by people, a study finds. Scientists have identified the therapeutically-relevant cooling mechanism to enable effective interventions when faced with MDMA-induced hyperthermia. The study, publishing tomorrow in the Journal of Neuroscience, was conducted by researchers at the National Institute on Drug Abuse's Intramural Research Program (NIDA IRP). NIDA is a part of the National Institutes of Health. While MDMA can have a range of adverse health effects, previous studies have shown that high doses of MDMA increase body temperature, while results with moderate doses were inconsistent. This has led some people to assume that the drug is harmless if taken in moderation. However, this study shows that in rats even moderate doses of MDMA in certain environments can be dangerous because it interferes with the body's ability to regulate temperature. "We know that high doses of MDMA can sharply increase body temperature to potentially lead to organ failure or even death," said NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow. "However, this current study opens the possibility that even moderate doses could be deadly in certain conditions." It is impossible to predict who will have an adverse reaction even to a low dose of MDMA. However, in this study scientists gave the rats low to moderate doses that have been shown in past studies to not be fatal. They monitored the rats to determine drug-induced changes in brain and body temperature and in the body's ability to cool itself through blood vessel dilation. When rats were alone and in a room-temperature environment, a moderate dose of MDMA modestly increased brain and body temperature and moderately diminished the rats' ability to eliminate excessive heat. However, when researchers injected the same dose in rats that were either in a warmer environment or in the presence of another rat in the cage, brain temperature increased, causing death in some rats. These fatal temperature increases were because the drug interfered with the body's ability to eliminate heat.
Keyword: Drug Abuse
Link ID: 19695 - Posted: 06.05.2014
Sarah C. P. Williams This, in all its molecular complexity, is what the bulging end of a single neuron looks like. A whopping 300,000 proteins come together to form the structure, which is less than a micrometer wide, hundreds of times smaller than a grain of sand. This particular synapse is from a rat brain. It's where chemical signals called neurotransmitters are released into the space between neurons to pass messages from cell to cell. To create a 3D molecular model of the structure, researchers first isolated the synapses of rat neurons and turned to classic biochemistry to identify and quantify the molecules present at every stage of the neurotransmitter release cycle. Then, they used microscopy to pinpoint the location of each protein. Some proteins—like the red patches of SNAP25 visible in the video at 0:14—aid in the release of vesicles, tiny spheres full of neurotransmitters. Others—like the green, purple, and red rods at 0:45—help the synapse maintain its overall structure. Different proteins surround vesicles when they're inside the synapse—the circles scattered throughout the structure at 0:56—than when the vesicles are forming at the edge of the synapse—as shown at 2:08. Researchers can use the model, described online today in Science, to better understand how neurons function and what goes wrong in brain disorders. (Video credit: Wilhelm et al. 2014, Science) © 2014 American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Keyword: Brain imaging
Link ID: 19678 - Posted: 05.31.2014
by Laura Sanders Some people think marijuana is nature's gift to humankind: a nonaddictive drug, safe at any dose, that opens the mind, lifts the spirit and transports the user to a more profound reality. "The illegality of cannabis is outrageous, an impediment to full utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insight, sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly mad and dangerous world," a user named Mr. X wrote in the 1971 book Marihuana Reconsidered. Close to 30 years later, Mr. X was revealed to be the legendary science communicator and astronomer Carl Sagan. His message still reverberates with many Americans, whose support for legalizing marijuana has tripled since 1989 — from 16 percent to 54 percent today. In Colorado and Washington state, voters legalized recreational marijuana use in November 2012. That formal embrace of marijuana may signal a growing shift in acceptance. Today, 21 states and the District of Columbia sanction medical use (up from 16 in 2010) and 17 have curbed punishments for possession of small amounts of recreational cannabis. Marijuana as medicine is gaining support in studies, both to tamp down nausea and pain and to directly counter insidious diseases such as epilepsy, cancer and multiple sclerosis (SN: 6/19/10, p. 16). But what about for healthy people? Is marijuana really a safe way to rise above the tumult and distress of daily life? Michele Leonhart, the head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, says no. In congressional testimony in 2012, she portrayed marijuana as a dangerous addictive drug on par with methamphetamines or heroin. Like other drugs cordoned off by her agency to a list called Schedule I, she said, marijuana has no medical use and a high potential for abuse. © Society for Science & the Public 2000 - 2013.
Keyword: Drug Abuse
Link ID: 19676 - Posted: 05.31.2014
By C. CLAIBORNE RAY Q. WHY WOULD A PAIN MEDICATION LOSE ITS EFFICACY AFTER WORKING WELL FOR SEVERAL YEARS? A. The mechanism is complex, said Dr. Shakil Ahmed, a pain medicine specialist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. "It is due to a phenomenon called tolerance," in which there is a decrease in response over time to repeated exposures of the body to pain medication, he said. "This might be due to alteration in the way the body disposes of the medication," Dr. Ahmed suggested. Or it could occur because drug interactions or bodily changes add a substance that induces an enzyme responsible for disposing of the drug. Another explanation is that long-term administration of pain medications results in a reduction of the number of target drug receptors or a drop in their responsiveness, and in desensitization to the pain medication in question. There is also an increase in the function of other nervous system receptors, called NMDA receptors , which may lead to the development of the tolerance, Dr. Ahmed said. Dr. Ahmed's practice and research include several alternatives to conventional drug treatment for pain, including spinal cord stimulation, use of radio frequency to interrupt the nerve pathways of pain, delivery of pain medication with a pump directly to the space around the spinal cord, and non-invasive laser therapy. © 2014 The New York Times Company
Keyword: Pain & Touch
Link ID: 19666 - Posted: 05.28.2014
By IAN AUSTEN Hershey stopped producing chocolate in Smiths Falls, Ontario, six years ago. The work went to Mexico, but the factory remains, along with reminders of the glory days: A sign that once directed school buses delivering children for tours. A fading, theme-park-style entrance that marks what used to be the big attraction — a "Chocolate Shoppe" that sold about $4 million of broken candy and bulk bars a year. The once ever-present sweet smell of chocolate is gone, too. In the high-ceilinged warehouse, where stacks of Hershey's bars and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups once awaited shipment, the nose now picks up a different odor: the woody, herbal aroma of 50,000 marijuana plants. Clinical, climate-controlled rooms with artificial sunlight house rows upon rows of plants at various stages of growth. In the "mother room," horticulturalists use cuttings to start new plants. The "flowering rooms" are flooded with intense light 12 hours a day to nurture nearly grown plants in strains with vaguely aristocratic names like Argyle, Houndstooth and Twilling. The new owner of this factory, at 1 Hershey Drive, is Tweed Marijuana. It is one of about 20 companies officially licensed to grow medical marijuana in Canada. A court ordered the government to make marijuana available for medicinal purposes in 2000, but the first system for doing so created havoc. The government sold directly to approved consumers, but individuals were also permitted to grow for their own purposes or to turn over their growing to small operations. The free-for-all approach prompted a flood of complaints from police and local governments. So the Canadian government decided to create an extensive, heavily regulated system for growing and selling marijuana. The new rules allow users with prescriptions to buy only from one of the approved, large-scale, profit-seeking producers like Tweed, a move intended to shut down the thousands of informal growing operations scattered across the country. © 2014 The New York Times Company
Keyword: Drug Abuse
Link ID: 19657 - Posted: 05.25.2014
Puffing on a battery-powered, electronic cigarette to satisfy nicotine cravings could help longtime smokers quit their tobacco addiction. The evidence supporting that claim has been thin in the past, but researchers have now reported that adults in England who used the devices were 60% more likely to remain smoke-free than those who turned to nicotine patches or went cold turkey. Some public health researchers, though, still worry that's not enough to cancel out the negative effects of e-cigarettes, which might keep other smokers hooked on nicotine or prevent them from seeking out more effective ways to quit. "This is an important study because, until now, the data on quitting smoking with e-cigarettes has been mostly anecdotal," says Neal Benowitz, a physician at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), who studies tobacco addiction and was not involved in the work. E-cigarettes produce a nicotine-rich vapor that's free of many of the toxins and carcinogens that make tobacco cigarettes so unhealthy. Their popularity has skyrocketed since they hit the market in the early 2000s; a 2012 survey found that 30% of adult smokers in the United States had tried e-cigarettes. But studies attempting to establish both the risks and benefits of the devices have had varied conclusions. One recent review of the scientific literature, which included Benowitz as an author, reported that smokers who used e-cigarettes were less likely to quit smoking than those who didn't use the devices. The results were based on broad surveys of all smokers, however, not just those attempting to quit. Another paper concluded that e-cigarettes are about as effective as nicotine patches at helping people stop smoking. Since 2006, researchers in England have run an ongoing surveillance program, in conjunction with the government's research bureau, called the Smoking Toolkit Study. Every month, they survey a new sample of 1800 random adults about their smoking behavior. © 2014 American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Keyword: Drug Abuse
Link ID: 19640 - Posted: 05.20.2014
By Venkat Srinivasan In 1995, Ivan Goldberg, a New York psychiatrist, published one of the first diagnostic tests for Internet Addiction Disorder. The criteria appeared on psycom.net, a psychiatry bulletin board, and began with an air of earnest authenticity: "A maladaptive pattern of Internet use, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress as manifested by three (or more) of the following." The test listed seven symptoms. You might have a problem if you were online "for longer periods of time than was intended," or if you made "unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control Internet use." Hundreds of people heard of the diagnostic test, logged on, clicked through and diagnosed themselves as being Internet addicts. Goldberg's test, however, was a parody of the rigid language in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the American Psychiatric Association (APA)'s psychiatric research manual. In a New Yorker story in January 1997, Goldberg said having an Internet addiction support group made "about as much sense as having a support group for coughers." I've been researching the science and controversy over the last five years and wrote a long story about it last year for The Caravan. Since Goldberg's prank, about one hundred scientific journals in psychology, sociology, neuroscience, anthropology, healthy policy and computer science have taken up the addiction question in some form. And after two decades of ridicule, research, advocacy and pushbacks, the debate is still about four basic questions. What do you call it? Does the 'it' exist? How do we size up such an addiction? Does it matter? © 2014 Scientific American
Keyword: Drug Abuse
Link ID: 19621 - Posted: 05.15.2014
A single alcohol binge can cause bacteria to leak from the gut and increase levels of bacterial toxins in the blood, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Increased levels of these bacterial toxins, called endotoxins, were shown to affect the immune system, with the body producing more immune cells involved in fever, inflammation, and tissue destruction. Binge drinking is defined by NIAAA as a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08g/dL or above. For a typical adult, this pattern corresponds to consuming five or more drinks for men, or four or more drinks for women, in about two hours. Some individuals will reach a 0.08g/dL BAC sooner depending on body weight. Binge drinking is known to pose health and safety risks, including car crashes and injuries. Over the long term, binge drinking can damage the liver and other organs. "While the negative health effects of chronic drinking are well-documented, this is a key study to show that a single alcohol binge can cause damaging effects such as bacterial leakage from the gut into the blood stream," said Dr. George Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of NIH. The study was led by Gyongyi Szabo, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Vice Chair of Medicine and Associate Dean for Clinical and Translational Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The article appears online in PLOS ONE In the study, 11 men and 14 women were given enough alcohol to raise their blood alcohol levels to at least .08 g/dL within an hour. Blood samples were taken every 30 minutes for four hours after the binge and again 24 hours later.
Keyword: Drug Abuse
Link ID: 19620 - Posted: 05.15.2014
By ANAHAD O'CONNOR Two medications could help tens of thousands of alcoholics quit drinking, yet the drugs are rarely prescribed to patients, researchers reported on Tuesday. The medications, naltrexone and acamprosate, reduce cravings for alcohol by fine-tuning the brain's chemical reward system. They have been approved for treating alcoholism for over a decade. But questions about their efficacy and a lack of awareness among doctors have resulted in the drugs' being underused, the researchers said. Less than a third of all people with alcohol problems receive treatment of any kind, and less than 10 percent are prescribed medications. The Affordable Care Act requires that insurers provide coverage for substance abuse treatments and services, and addiction specialists expect to see increases this year in the number of people seeking help for alcoholism. George Koob, the director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, said the new study should reassure doctors that naltrexone and acamprosate, while not silver bullets, can help many patients. "This is an important paper," said Dr. Koob, who was not involved in the study. "There are effective medications for the treatment of alcoholism, and it would be great if the world would use them." In the new study, which was published online on Tuesday in JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association, a team of researchers based mostly at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill compiled findings from the most rigorous trials of medications for alcoholism in the past few decades. Ultimately, they analyzed data on roughly 23,000 people from 122 randomized trials. The researchers focused on a measure known as the "number needed to treat," an indicator of how many people need to take a pill for one person to be helped. The study found that to prevent one person from returning to drinking, the number needed to treat for acamprosate was 12; for naltrexone, the number was 20. By comparison, large studies of widely used drugs, like the cholesterol-lowering statins, have found that 25 to more than 100 people need treatment to prevent one cardiovascular event. © 2014 The New York Times Company
Keyword: Drug Abuse
Link ID: 19615 - Posted: 05.15.2014
By KATIE THOMAS Almost overnight, a powerful new painkiller has become a $100 million business and a hot Wall Street story. But nearly as quickly, questions are emerging about how the drug is being sold, and to whom. The drug, Subsys, is a form of fentanyl, a narcotic that is often used when painkillers like morphine fail to provide relief. The product was approved in 2012 for a relatively small number of people — cancer patients — but has since become an outsize moneymaker for the obscure company that makes it, Insys Therapeutics. In the last year, the company's sales have soared and its share price has jumped nearly 270 percent. Behind that business success is an unusual marketing machine that may have pushed Subsys far beyond the use envisioned by the Food and Drug Administration. The F.D.A. approved Subsys only for cancer patients who are already using round-the-clock painkillers, and warned that it should be prescribed only by oncologists and pain specialists. But just 1 percent of prescriptions are written by oncologists, according to data provided by Symphony Health, which analyzes drug trends. About half of the prescriptions were written by pain specialists, and a wide range of doctors prescribed the rest, including general practice physicians, neurologists and even dentists and podiatrists. Interviews with several former Insys sales representatives suggest the company, based in Chandler, Ariz., has aggressively marketed the painkiller, including to physicians who did not treat many cancer patients and by paying its sales force higher commissions for selling higher doses of the drug. Under F.D.A. rules, manufacturers may market prescription drugs only for approved uses. But doctors may prescribe drugs as they see fit. Over the last decade, pharmaceutical companies have paid billions of dollars to settle claims that they encouraged doctors to use drugs for nonapproved treatments, or so-called off-label uses, to increase sales and profits. © 2014 The New York Times Compan
Keyword: Drug Abuse; Pain & Touch
Link ID: 19612 - Posted: 05.15.2014


text:
- Dec 26, 2007
Mitsubishi kei cars "Bloom" for Japan's ladies
When you boil away everything else, the core elements of the new "Bloom Edition" Mitsubishi kei cars are their Sakura Pink paint; light-colored, water-resistant seat fabrics; and makeup mirrors. Yes, there are other colors available, and we're sure some of the Japanese shoppers (women, specifically) who Mitsu is targeting might also appreciate the cars' UV glass with water-repellent coating (think "factory Rain-X" here). But the real package centers on the Hello Kitty-look that the pink brings.
The Bloom Edition package is available on the "i" (above) and eK Wagon kei cars. It's not uncommon to see keis marketed in pastels with an eye toward female buyers anyway, but these Bloom Editions are about as direct as you can get. Who knew vanity mirrors could actually be promoted as a selling point?
[Source: Mitsubishi]
29 Comments


text:
Pocket Tee by AR SRPLS. Boxy, relaxed fit tee with chest pocket, cuffed short sleeves & crystal side seams.
Wide, round neck / Short, cuffed sleeves / Large, left chest patch pocket / Crystal embellished side seams / Boxy, oversize fit / Color: White / 75% Lyocell, 25% Cotton / Made in Japan
Sizing: Fits true to size.
We're delighted to welcome you as the newest member of Luvocracy, the place to discover, luv, and buy the best products from the people you trust.


text:
Hi, I'm Derek, 35, played with the Minor Park group a couple of times and looking for someone wanting to hit in the 4.0 to 4.5 range.
Give a call at 913 206 7532.
Share Twitter
Views: 11
Replies to This Discussion
Welcome toTennisopolis : Tennis Social Network
Sign Up (free)or Sign In
Or sign in with:
© 2014 Created by Mark / The Mayor.
Badges |
Report an Issue |
Terms of Service
Please check your browser settings or contact your system administrator.


text:
Fancy being frozen like left-over salmon? Well you can, but unlike the salmon, you might not defrost so well.
The process of cryonic freezing has long been the subject of science fiction novels and movies – from Dr Evil to Sylvester Stallone – characters have been frozen in a cryogenic state before being brought back to life years down the line in order to wreak havoc/protect future societies. But how likely is it that the process will actually become scientifically achievable?
Perhaps the most famous case of cryogenic freezing (in real life) is that of Walt Disney. Following his death in 1966, rumours circulated that he had paid to have his head preserved like an Iceland pepperoni pizza upon his demise. A nice thought, if you're a fan of known autocratic anti-Semite Hollywood studio owners reappearing in 2020 and offering franchise deals to Mel Gibson, however the rumour was dispelled long ago by his family.
Another case most recently was Kim Souzzi, of St Louis, who made global news by raising £70,000 though a campaign on social media site Reddit. She was diagnosed with brain cancer and given only months to live, so she raised the cash and when she died last January, had her head successfully frozen. She hoped (or hopes? Past-tense or present-tense – cryogenics is confusing) that through cryopreservation, she will one day be brought back to life in an age when a cure for brain cancer had been found. Of course, being America, there were the inevitable religious questions raised by her family, however eventually they agreed to support her. You may have noticed that I've referenced the Daily Mail there, but I've read the article, and there isn't any suggestion that the US immigration policy caused Ms Souzzi's cancer.
Leaders in the field of cryogenics admit that the current technology is limited, rendering the process of successfully bringing a patient back to life entirely impossible. Further to this, Professor Arthur Caplan told NBC News that hypothetically, a 'reconstituted' human would be incredibly fragile: "It wouldn't take a lot of damage to shift somebody from being a reconstituted person to being a reconstituted vegetable," he said. "You don't need that much cell damage to cause harm…."you're going to be kind of a freak." Well that's reassuring for Ms Souzzi.
Graham Templeton, in this article for Extreme Tech, agrees that the process is far too complex for modern science to contend with. He writes: "The super-ice bath of cryonic stasis is much more complicated than just putting a recently made corpse in a freezer. The process must be accompanied by major blood replacement and a complex cocktails of drugs, synthetic hormones, and anticoagulants. Without the drugs and the saline blood replacement, the nucleation of ice crystals in the blood during freezing would explode the patient cell by cell, like wine bottles left in the freezer." Nice of him to use the wine analogy, although if you're putting wine in the freezer then you need to reassess your alcoholic storage methods. May I suggest a wine rack?
Caplan adds that as well as the genetic complications, there will be social implications to being 'born again' too: "Friends are gone. No one is there. I would worry you would quickly become isolated and depressed." It sounds like Justin Beiber's post-fame future.
While contemporary technology holds little hope for resurrection, these graphs from Alcor show that the number of patients electing to be preserved is rising rapidly as people strive to achieve that most elusive of concepts: immortality.
Without turning this article into a Dawkins-esque science vs religion debate (for which I am clearly not sufficiently intellectually equipped), it appears that a small yet ever increasing number of people are shunning the traditional idea of the afterlife, (Heaven for the weather, Hell for the soundtrack) preferring instead to believe that future scientific technology will allow them to exist – as themselves – hundreds of years in the future.
Is this really a desirable idea? Along with the aforementioned physical and psychological downsides, there are many other points to consider. Hypothetically, if you were unfrozen and greeted by a world one hundred years in the future, would it really be a great place to exist on your own? Sure, you could track down your family and possibly catch the Rolling Stones' 150th anniversary concert at the New, New Wembley Stadium, but would you really want to pay for everything using Bitcoin, or learn Mandarin in an attempt to avoid becoming another western victim of the Chinese genocide? It wouldn't be long before you began reminiscing about Go Compare adverts, pining after the sniping remarks of X Factor judges and longing for whatever a Rita Ora is. And just imagine the glaring gap on your CV – how will you explain that in your Assistant Shelf Stacker interview at GoogleSupermarket?
Main image: Jasoninhollywood via Flickr


text: Slide 3. Rationale MONAHRQ: A Web-Based Tool for Quality and Utilization Reporting Why should it be so expensive to generate and put out basic information?Why should information be so hard to get?Why does every organization have to reinvent the wheel?Five images below bullet points: first is a topographic map of Oregon; second is a topographic map of New York State and parts of Pennsylvania and New England; third is a picture of an office building; fourth is a roadmap of Illinois; fifth is of an office building.Contents Page last reviewed July 2010 Internet Citation: Slide 3. Rationale: MONAHRQ: A Web-Based Tool for Quality and Utilization Reporting. July 2010. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/cpi/centers/ockt/kt/webinars/monahrq/monahrqsld3.html


text:
- 9 total posts
- 1 review
- 8 comments
Reviews by CJ13
Never Too Late - Wantirna South, AU
My name is Cara and I'm from Melbourne, Australia. I've never written a review before so hopefully I won't be too boring! So, I have hated my teeth my WHOLE life! Massive overbite, lots of overcrowding, just horrible! My parents were going to pay for my braces when I was 14 and stupid me refused... READ MORE
Recent comments from CJ13
Defiantly!! Goes to show that if your patient and stick it out, good things will happen!! Xx READ COMMENT
Not yet I haven't! Thanks for the tip tho! Maybe I should go grab some instead of being lazy and putting up with the rubbing!! :-) READ COMMENT
Been meaning to do an update!! Haha the first week or two was hell! I'm onto aligner number four in less than a week! Happy to say that I don't get any pain now! Only struggling if I talk constantly for long periods of time then the... READ COMMENT
I just hope that each new tray doesn't cut my mouth open like the 1st one! Haha even after I filed it down, it still hurt. Fingers crossed that I just have a super tough mouth noe & nothing will bother it! I think I shall do a picture... READ COMMENT
Hi! Thanks for your comments! I think I was being slightly paranoid with the odor! I kept breathing on my partner and was like, tell me, do I have bad breath! lol, my obsessive cleaning seems to be doing the trick!! It's now day 6 and I... READ COMMENT


text:
Amber Blackman
Dec 4, 2014
Jonathan E. Benedict
Oct 30, 2014
Darrell W. Cook
Oct 2, 2014
Michael Polchies
Sep 25, 2014
Home » News » Crime
Attorney 'shocked' by murder charge
Bouquets of flowers have been placed at the entrance to the abandoned City Concrete plant at 2 Hampton Road in Exeter in memory of Amanda "Amy" Warf, whose body was found inside last week. (JASON SCHREIBER/Union Leader Correspondent)
He was even more surprised when he learned that Warf's ex-husband, Aaron Desjardins, was charged in her murder.
Coughlin, a Portsmouth lawyer, was representing Desjardins while he and Warf ironed out the details of a parenting plan for their 11-month-old son, William, in the Brentwood Family Court.
Coughlin was hired just after their divorce was final in February 2012 and says he never saw any serious problems between the two.
They may have disagreed at times like many divorced couples, but Coughlin said it was nothing unusual.
"I hear about these things happening, and sometimes when I'm involved in a particular case I wonder if something bad might happen because of the nature of my client or the nature of the opposing party," he said. "This case didn't have that. It's surprising that he might somehow be involved."
The last time Coughlin spoke with Desjardins was a few weeks before prosecutors say he killed Warf by slitting her throat.
The body of the 36-year-old mother who worked at Exeter Hospital was discovered on the second floor of the abandoned City Concrete factory on Hampton Road in Exeter on March 7. Firefighters found her body while responding to a fire that prosecutors say was intentionally set, though Desjardins hasn't been charged with arson.
Just a few days after telling reporters he had nothing to do with her murder and that someone else had done it, Desjardins, 36, was arrested at gunpoint near his Epping home Tuesday and charged with first-degree murder.
Coughlin said he believes Warf and Desjardins were still seeing a co-parent counselor at the time of the killing and had a hearing scheduled in May.
"They were working on the minutia, the logistics of the parenting time that they would spend with William, but they had pretty much equally divided it, and they were trying to figure out when transfers would occur and things like that," Coughlin said.
Before his arrest, Desjardins told the New Hampshire Union Leader that he and Warf had "come to full agreement" on custody of their son.
"We were just going to put the ink on the paper," he said at the time, suggesting that all was well between him and Warf.
Unlike some couples, Warf and Desjardins didn't seem to have a problem getting together to work out their issues.
"They could meet in the same room. There were no domestic violence aspects of the case. No restraining orders," Coughlin said. "If it turns out that he was aggressive toward her during this event I certainly never saw evidence of that when I observed them dealing with each other."
At times, even Desjardins' new wife, Sarah, would attend meetings with Coughlin when Warf was also present. Court documents hinted at some tension between the two women in the past, but Coughlin said Sarah was "very helpful with him in parenting William."
According to Senior Assistant Attorney General Susan Morrell, William is now being cared for by other family members while Desjardins remains held without bail at the Rockingham County jail. He is due back in court for a probable cause hearing on March 22 at the 10th Circuit Court in Brentwood.
- More theft-related charges for Raymond woman - 0
- 3 men arrested for burglarizing car dealer - 0
- Alleged lip-biter faces more charges - 0
- Child left unattended while trio overdosed on heroin - 0
- Compounding company officials charged with murder - 0
- 'Resilient' teen has a long road to recovery - 0
- Kibby indictments detail months of depraved sexual violence and torture - 0
- Treasurer arraigned in theft from wool growers - 0
- Pet store burglary arrest leads to robbery charges - 0
Police say man swung ax at exREADER COMMENTS: 0
- Celtics dominate Orlando - 0
- Bruins hold on in Minnesota, beat Wild in OT - 0
- Andreoff hat trick paces Monarchs - 0
- Board of Ed finds in favor of Goffstown; Dunbarton plans Supreme Court appeal - 0
- Derry Administrator opposes council goal of cutting Derry tax rate - 0
- Thursday meeting to address Windham water project concerns - 0
- Derry takes steps to improve rundown buildings - 0
- Derry fire chief is retiring - 0
- Tech conference sparks ideas and imagination - 0
Hampstead home invasion suspect wants evidence tossedREADER COMMENTS: 0
Police arrest pair after bullets fly
Jeb takes a dip: First Flavor of the Week
Charles M. Arlinghaus: Read these books, OK?
NH reacts to thaw with Cuba
Power Plays: BANANAS and NH's energy needs
Police: Man endangered child after overdose
- Whom do you think bears the brunt of the blame for the mayhem this weekend in Keene?
- KSC students
- 37%
- KSC administration
- 2%
- Police
- 6%
- Visitors from out of town
- 18%
- A combination of any/all of the above
- 37%
- Total Votes: 2483


text:
It is one of the beautiful compensations of this life that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.Charles Dudley
Friends can help each other. A true friend is someone who lets you have total freedom to be yourself - and especially to feel. Or, not feel. Whatever you happen to be feeling at the moment is fine with them. That's what real love amounts to - letting a person be what he really is.Jim Morrison
It is necessary to help others, not only in our prayers, but in our daily lives. If we find we cannot help others, the least we can do is to desist from harming them.Dalai Lama
Help others and give something back. I guarantee you will discover that while public service improves the lives and the world around you, its greatest reward is the enrichment and new meaning it will bring your own life.Arnold Schwarzenegger
In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us.Flora Edwards
A good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better.Jim Rohn
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself.Galileo Galilei
Everyone needs help from everyone.Bertolt Brecht
We cant help everyone, but everyone can help someone.Ronald Reagan
In giving advice seek to help, not to please, your friend.Solon
Help yourself, and Heaven will help you.Jean De La Fontaine
When a person is down in the world, an ounce of help is better than a pound of preaching.Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton
We can help others in the world more by making the most of yourself than in any other way.Earl Nightingale
Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, "What's in it for me?"Brian Tracy
Tell everyone what you want to do and someone will want to help you do it.W. Clement Stone
Time and money spent in helping men to do more for themselves is far better than mere giving.Henry Ford
There is no such thing as a self-made man. You will reach your goals only with the help of others.George Shinn
Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life.Sandara Carey
Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no help at all.Dale Carnegie
There is no love which does not become help.Paul Tillich
We shall take this route; let not your resolve be weakened. Know that the help of Allah comes according to your desire. Let not the Muslims fear anything so long as they have the help of Allah.al-Walid, Khalid ibn


text:
- Color
- Brown Black
A cream-based, conditioning mascara on one end. A gel-based, smudge resistant topcoat on the other. Lengthens, conditions and defines lashes while providing a glossy, water resistant finish.
Lashlacquer is sulfate-free, petro-chemical-free, synthetic fragrance-free, free of pthalates, no GMO's, no PPG's, and triclosan-free.
DuWop does not use animal testing on any of their products.
Topcoat: Water (Aqua), Rosa Centifolia (flower Water), PVP, Propylene Glycol, Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Disodium Deceth-6 Sulfosuccinate, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Methylparaben, Potassium Sorbate
DuWop® Cosmetics, Inc.
What do your friends think?Ask them to weigh in
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®by PowerReviews
Reviewed by 3 customers
Sort by
Great sealer but terrible mascara
By Likes useful products
from Burlingame, CA
describe yourself Classic Style
Best Uses
- Anytime
Comments about DuWop Lash Lacquer Mascara/Top Coat, Brown Black, 1 ea:
Use the sealer over any other brand of mascara and it works. The mascara that comes with the sealer is dry and I do not use it. I buy this product just for the sealer.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Great for a natural look
By Alex
from Seattle, WA
describe yourself Natural Style
- Adds Volume
- Applies Evenly
- Defines & Separates
- Doesn't Clump
- Great Brush
- Lengthens
Best Uses
- Anytime
- Daytime
Comments about DuWop Lash Lacquer Mascara/Top Coat, Brown Black, 1 ea:
I haven't had any trouble with smearing like the previous reviewer and the product comes off about as well as most other mascaras I have tried. If I use the base coat I always use the top coat so maybe that helps with smearing?
The combo of base and top coat gives you a lot of control over your look so this product is very versatile. I use just the top coat for a really natural look and use both the base and top coat for a more dramatic look.
The only draw back I have found is that if you apply to much of the top coat (it is a little bit sticky) your lashes will stick together a little bit. Go light with the top coat and it is fine.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
This product is terrible. ...
By Anonymous
from Undisclosed
Comments about DuWop Lash Lacquer Mascara/Top Coat, Brown Black, 1 ea:
This product is terrible. I had high hopes for it, since I like their blush. It continuously smudges and looks like racoon eyes, even after you wipe and clean it up. I tried it and so did my daughter, and it did the same thing to both of us. Also, I was told it would be easily removable. That was also incorrect. I tried to take it off in the shower, but was left with most of it on, and still had to use lots of eye makeup remover. I would give this product less than 1 star if I could. I was very disappointed.


text:
You are definitely the artist that most inspires me here in Deviantart.
Your lineart and colors are amazing!
I wish I could paint and draw half as good as you (btw, do you suggest any tutorial or something like that? haha).
Well... continue with the great work!
Well, thank you
I don't have a tutorial in mind, what works the best is to just draw as much as you can. Take inspiration from life or from other artists and you should be good
Your stylization is to die for.
I LOVE IT!!! Did you come up with most of this on your own? It's amazing! It's given me new ideas for my writing! I really need to practice some more because it's my only form of 'art' if literature can be considered art XD
Wow! Nice galley man, keep it coming!
Remarkable gallery! Can't wait to see more


text:
My Profile
United States
Member since Oct 2011
Flag This ProfileFlag as Inappropriate
Reviewed Roasted Garlic, Chile, Shallots and Olive Oil Pizza - California Style Pizza
Oct 11, 2011 in Food Network Community Toolbox on FoodNetwork.com
"I LOVED THIS DISH!!! It was simple and SUPER TASTY!!!! It didn't take as long as i thought it might, but was scrumptious!!!"""


text:
Is it okay for me to say "happy birthday" to someone who is no longer my friend (she ended the friendship 11 months ago)
While it is very thoughtful of you to want to do so, you are probably opening yourself up to being hurt over the situation all over again.
Yes...there are several levels of relationship and they are always changing throughout life.

1. Stranger (never met them and no idea of their character or beliefs)

2. Acquaintance (someone who you see but neither of you talk)

3. Surface friend (you say hi but neither care about each other)

4. Friend (someone you share beliefs and do activities with and care for)

5. Close Friend (you consider important and you show care for weekly)

6. Best Friend (daily show care for, do things for them selflessly)

7. Lover/Spouse/Partner (committed financially, emotionally, physically)

These are all the stages that can be worked up towards and they are ba<x>sed on trust, mutual commitment, common interests, and experience

If a person violates your trust and becomes an enemy...you would probably never allow them to be more than an acquaintance ever again.

As the saying goes..."hurt me once, shame on you...hurt me twice, shame on me."
If you honestly hope she has a happy birthday you should do it. If she 'snaps back' at you that is her loss and her being petty. If she truly values the friendship you once had she will take it as a sincere wish for her contentment.
heck ya, I'm still sending a card to my ex best friend who hasn't talked to me in 12 YEARS.
Forget it and Move on.
Good on you there's a lot going on in the world ,good luck.
I think you should just move on. They have and it is time that you do as well.
what is she going to say?

I dont except-

I used to have a very good friend that I have known since I was 4, we got into a big disagreement and stop speaking for about 4 years(yes i know). I tried to fix it eventually but things will never be the same.

what did you do that caused her to end the friendship?

I have no idea if this is fixable but obv its someone you care about.

if this is not fixable I recommend you appoligise to her and get on with your life because I think you realy feal guilty for something.
well remembered
Why would you want to? do you truly want her to have a Happy Birthday? I'd say leave it be unless you see this as maybe a way of sorting through things with her? in that case say it but don't hold too much store by it
Why not? It shows U remember her.
Only if you want to.
Just remember she may not respond well and you may get your feelings hurt in the process
i wouldnt bother, but then again i'm a very bitter person
do u want to?


text:
COLUMBIA — A fire destroyed a multi-level home early Wednesday morning at 2214 Chapel Hill Road, but the residents who were inside at the time survived. Two dogs died, according to Columbia Fire Department Battalion Chief James Weaver.
Early morning fire displaces two families, kills two dogs
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 | 2:49 p.m. CST; updated 8:46 p.m. CST, Wednesday, January 9, 2013
To read the full article, please sign up or login.
Get full access to the Columbia Missourian on your computer, phone, and tablet for just $5.95 per month.
* Unlimited access on your iPhone, iPad, Android phone and Android tablet
* All the high-quality, in-depth journalism of the Columbia Missourian and Vox Magazine, updated 24/7
* Your news. Your device. Your time.
If you'd like to read more about the value of being a member, read this column from the Missourian's executive editor, Tom Warhover.


text:
More Languages ›
Play Extreme Trial / More Extreme Sports games
* Changing language is only available in some games.
Complete the course before your time is up. Touching the ground and going out of bounds gives time penalties - so take care!
Complete the course before your time is up!
Get the latest webmaster news direct to your email inbox. Just sign up below!
Sign up to be alerted by email whenever we release new webmaster games.
Password Reminder
You need to install Adobe Flash Player to sign up Extreme Trial. Download the Flash Player now.


text:
|Name: _________________________
|Period: ___________________
This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Off the Wall and Family Tree.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What does Joey say his mother understands about him?
(a) Nothing.
(b) His illness.
(c) His pain.
(d) His feelings.
2. What of his grandma's does Joey find after she leaves?
(a) Her false teeth.
(b) Her shoe.
(c) Her purse.
(d) Her cane.
3. Why does Joey's mother allow him to run around before school?
(a) To make him happy.
(b) To give herself a break.
(c) To let out his energy.
(d) To make her husband mad.
4. Where does Joey's grandmother try to lock him one day?
(a) The refridgerator.
(b) The garage.
(c) The stove.
(d) The closet.
5. What does Joey stare into at his house to calm himself?
(a) The toilet.
(b) The garbage disposal.
(c) A can of paint.
(d) The television.
Short Answer Questions
1. How does Joey say his grandmother usually acts?
2. What kind of abuse does Joey's grandma use most often?
3. Who does Joey NOT blame for what he sees is wrong with him?
4. What does Joey's mother do when she pins Joey to the ground before school?
5. What does Joey do repeatedly before going to school?
This section contains 198 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page)


text:
"Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it onto future generations."
Related quotes
"We had assumed or hoped for today to be so much more than yesterday. Isn't it strange how we do nothing and expect different outcomes."
"As a second generation Irish man I am constantly searching for the Ireland of my childhood. A simpler, happier place like in the film 'The Quiet Man'; but I'm afraid it's gone forever."
"Bear in mind that the wonderful things you learn in your schools are the work of many generations. All this is put in your hands as your inheritance in order that you may receive it, honor it, add to it, and one day faithfully hand it on to your children."
"I care about our young people, and I wish them great success, because they are our Hope for the Future, and some day, when my generation retires, they will have to pay us trillions of dollars in social security"


text:
Brazil is indeed a very famous country in the globe and the best holiday end. Not only is it known for the natural resources but there are historical properties and rich Brazilian culture que pulls a large number of people from around the planet every year. And above all the famous Brazil carnival is like cherry on top for Those in particular who have come to enjoy Their special vacation. Regardless of any reason be it professional or personal, people dream to travel this beautiful country at least once in Their existence. And once you enter here, make sure to make the most of your vacation.
The many people know, Brazil is the country of the celebrations and parades. And in que carnival, it Reflects the entire Brazilian culture. So you can partially witness the history and civilization of the country if you are able to Participate in One of Those carnivals. Besides this, there is another way to pass your quality time and that is by exploring the huge Amazon rainforest in a river cruise. There are so many other things you can see and here the. For example, you can visit the historically important monuments, museums que bear the history of the nation. Otherwise, you can lie on the beaches and play exciting games like beach swimming, surfing, beach volleyball and many more. And after you are done with the relaxing you can get back to the resort you are staying and enjoy the delicious cuisines. The only thing you need to do is but to opt for a trustworthy travel agency who offers reasonable deal for the Brazil tours . The best thing for you to do at the team of Selecting a travel agency is not to look for the cheapest but the one who are emerging with a good name on the market. It is not to pick the cheapest but the most reliable. And there are more than hundreds of such agencies who are online and Generally create confusion for people. Know That You Should not just go for a random company. It will take time but it's worth taking a risk than by spending unnecessarily. Above all, its World Cup fever these days, They have so many beneficial World Cup packages to offer. Just make sure you are in the right hand.
Put your money on a company that is reputable in the business and serves the Administrations quality to its customers. Be sure to check the testimonials on their site.


text:
John Aleshire will take the reins of an organization that has a projected $200,000 deficit for 2008.
John Aleshire
» Position: Executive director of the Humane Society of Indianapolis.
» Age: 58.
» Personal: Not married; born and raised in Terre Haute.
» Pets: Two cats, Bert and Ernie, both from local shelters.
» Education: Bachelor's degree in sociology from Indiana State University, 1972; master's of divinity, United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio, 1975. He's an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church.
» Work history: Executive director of Little Red Door Cancer Agency since 2002; director of corporate asset development and community outreach for HealthNet, a primary health-care company for low-income families, 1999-2002; executive director of the Westminster Foundation and director of marketing for Westminster Village North, a retirement community, 1995-99; director of development and public affairs for the Damien Center, an HIV/AIDS care coordination center, 1992-95; executive director of the Indiana chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 1989-92.
The Humane Society of Indianapolis has hired a new executive director whose first concern will be trying to lift the nonprofit out of a nearly $3 million hole.
John Aleshire, executive director of the Little Red Door Cancer Agency, will begin his job Sept. 10 under pressure to bring the Humane Society's $2.5 million budget back into the black. The organization has a projected $200,000 deficit for 2008 on top of debt already totaling $2.8 million.
The two-month search for a new director and the decision to hire Aleshire underscore the depth of the Humane Society's financial woes.
After Martha Boden resigned as executive director of the Humane Society in June, the board decided to cut the position's salary to $75,000 from $105,000 as a cost-saving measure. However, Aleshire's salary will be $93,500, $11,500 less than Boden's. His salary is comparable to what he was paid at Little Red Door.
"We didn't reach the goal we had set," said David Horth, chairman of the Humane Society's board. "But . . . his skills and abilities match that salary."
Aleshire will oversee 37 employees, instead of the 12 at Little Red Door, an organization for low-income cancer patients.
He said he has been in tough financial spots before, such as when he worked for the Indiana chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. During his time there from 1989 to 1992, he said, he helped turn the financial tide.
"He will go above and beyond to set things straight," said Ryan Judy, president of the Little Red Door board. Judy said Aleshire helped diversify and increase the agency's revenue stream.
"Organizations find themselves in trouble if they don't focus and fulfill their mission," Aleshire said. "People do react with their financial support."
Aleshire said he pulled his support for the Humane Society several years ago amid reports by The Indianapolis Star on the society's high rates of euthanizing animals. But Aleshire said he has since resumed donating to the organization.
He has his financial work cut out for him at the Humane Society, though it has made some progress.
In 2007, the organization spent $971,000 more than it took in. That operating deficit has shrunk to $200,000 this year.
To save money, the organization began collaborating with the city's Animal Care & Control, administrator Steve Talley said. The Humane Society quit accepting strays, instead turning them over to Animal Care & Control. In return, the city is turning over more adoptable pets to the Humane Society, Talley said. The department has taken in 335 more pets so far this year than during the same period last year.
At the Humane Society, Boden cut 15 employees last year.
Aleshire doesn't intend to make additional cuts.
"I'm not about shrinking," he said. "We are about stabilizing and growing within our mission."
On any other plans, Aleshire won't be specific. He said he wants "to make the city of Indianapolis proud again of the Humane Society."
Some representatives from local animal organizations say the Humane Society needs to rebuild its reputation.
"I would start from scratch," said Ellen Robinson, executive director of FACE, a low-cost spay and neuter clinic. "They've gotten themselves to the point where they're not really effective."
"They got a reputation for existing in a vacuum, for withdrawing from the community," said Greg Brush, chief executive of the Feral Bureau of Indiana, a nonprofit that focuses on animal population control in Central Indiana.
Boden, a former Minneapolis businesswoman, took over the Humane Society in 2002 during another set of tough times. She has been hired as regional business development director for Pet Angel Memorial Center, a pet funeral home in Carmel.
Call Star reporter Emily Belz at (317) 444-5527.


text:
Warrior Prequel Men's Training Shoes On Groupon Goods.
Groupon ( www.groupon.com) has partnered with Jake "Body by Jake" Steinfeld to offer his recommendations for premier fitness products on Groupon Goods. Launching today and boasting Jake's seal of approval, the series includes items such as a corebody reformer for six pack abs, Warrior Footwear for ultimate comfort in or out of the gym and recovery equipment from Trigger Point. The entire collection can be found at http://www.groupon.com/occasion/gg-body-by-jake.
Groupon will also be releasing a series of videos highlighting Jake's fitness picks and launching a week-long campaign on Facebook and Twitter with product giveaways. Jake is also taking fitness questions on Groupon's Twitter handle ( @Groupon) on 1/28 @ 11AM PST (1PM CST) and phone calls at 12 PM PST (2PM CST). Anyone can give Jake a call at (213) 792-2608.
Top products featured in the Groupon Goods fitness picks include:
- TRX Home Suspension Training Kit
- Warrior Shoes - Prequel
- Warrior Shoes - DOJO
- Trigger Point - Mini Foam Roller
- Trigger Point - Cold Roller
- Nautilus - Corebody Reformer
- Perfect Fitness Ab Carver + Free Core Ball
"I've dedicated my life to making people look and feel great. This collection includes some of my favorite fitness brands and they are the perfect way for anyone to kick off their fitness and wellness routine," said Jake Steinfeld. "My motto is Don't Quit! With my favorite picks people have the right equipment, the right tools and the right motivation. These products we're featuring are geared towards all fitness levels – whether a beginner or a seasoned pro I'm going to make 2014 the year to succeed!"
Select the service that is right for you!COMPARE ALL SERVICES
Action Alerts PLUSTry it NOW
Jim Cramer and Stephanie Link actively manage a real portfolio and reveal their money management tactics while giving advanced notice before every trade.
Product Features:
- $2.5+ million portfolio
- Large-cap and dividend focus
- Intraday trade alerts from Cramer
- Weekly roundups
TheStreet Quant RatingsTry it NOW
Only $49.95/yr
Access the tool that DOMINATES the Russell 2000 and the S&P 500.
Product Features:
- Buy, hold, or sell recommendations for over 4,300 stocks
- Unlimited research reports on your favorite stocks
- A custom stock screener
- Upgrade/downgrade alerts
Stocks Under $10Try it NOW
David Peltier, uncovers low dollar stocks with extraordinary upside potential that are flying under Wall Street's radar.
Product Features:
- Model portfolio
- Stocks trading below $10
- Intraday trade alerts
- Weekly roundups
Dividend Stock AdvisorTry it NOW
Jim Cramer's protege, David Peltier, identifies the best of breed dividend stocks that will pay a reliable AND significant income stream.
Product Features:
- Diversified model portfolio of dividend stocks
- Alerts when market news affect the portfolio
- Bi-weekly updates with exact steps to take - BUY, HOLD, SELL
Real Money ProTry it NOW
All of Real Money, plus 15 more of Wall Street's sharpest minds delivering actionable trading ideas, a comprehensive look at the market, and fundamental and technical analysis.
Product Features:
- Real Money + Doug Kass Plus 15 more Wall Street Pros
- Intraday commentary & news
- Ultra-actionable trading ideas
Options ProfitsTry it NOW
Our options trading pros provide daily market commentary and over 100 monthly option trading ideas and strategies to help you become a well-seasoned trader.
Product Features:
- 100+ monthly options trading ideas
- Actionable options commentary & news
- Real-time trading community
- Options TV


text:
The U.S. increased its use of renewable energy other than nuclear and hydroelectric by more than China last year, BP Plc (BP/) said.
U.S. consumption rose by 6.4 million tons of oil equivalent while use in China jumped by 5.8 million tons, according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2012 report.
China's use of renewables, which increased from a lower base, jumped 48 percent to 17.7 million tons compared with 2010. U.S. use of renewables advanced 16 percent to 45.3 million tons.
To contact the reporter on this story: Mathew Carr in London at firstname.lastname@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Alessandro Vitelli at email@example.com