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Register now for free, or sign in with any of these services:
Hillsman stated that his team had 21+ off rebounds and clearly should have won the game. They shoot 25% for the game. Put one of the off rebounds back in and we don't have this conversation. Your class act coach knocked off everything sitting on a table next to his bench. Water, soda, paper, etc. Hillsman kicked over a bench chair in the first game. Was a jerk in both games. Refs should have whacked him in either game, but didn't. UAA is a pretty good D-II team. #5 in the country. Final four in Coach Moser's 2nd season. In fact, Syracuse might look into getting him when they ship off Hillsman. Finally, can't the alumni buy Hillsman a suit and tie? Both games, he's wearing the same Orange t-shirt and sweats. Nice look that's working for ya!!


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Are You Happy with Your Weight? Survey from Fitness Magazine & Yahoo! Shine Exposes How Men & Women Deal with the Battle of the Bulge
America's quest for weight loss is never-ending, according to a new survey from FITNESS Magazine and Yahoo! Shine. The exclusive survey asked 2,001 women and men to reveal how they feel about their weight and if being skinny really matters. The survey revealed that 38 percent of adults and 48 percent of women say they "feel fat" on a weekly basis; 41 percent of adults believe that losing weight would positively impact their lives. More than half of the adults polled (53 percent) and 59 percent of women polled said they wanted to lose 10-20 pounds.
The results appear in the 20th anniversary issue of FITNESS, on stands April 17, 2012, and online at Yahoo! Shine, the leading site for women's lifestyle content. Highlights from the findings are below.
Happy at Your Ideal Weight?
The survey revealed that 74 percent of adults aren't currently at their goal weight; 44 percent of women and 38 percent of men believe they would be happier at their ideal weight.
Adults said if they were at their goal weight they believed they would:
|Be happier
|41 percent
|Have a better love life
|18 percent
|Make more money
|7 percent
|Have more friends
|5 percent
Celeb Body Confidence
28 percent of women said they wished they could steal Halle Berry's body confidence.
Here's how other celebs stacked up:
|Halle Berry
|28 percent
|20 percent
|Kate Winslet
|15 percent
|Kim Kardashian
|8 percent
|6 percent
Fat Days
- 48 percent of women admitted to having an "I feel fat" day once a week or more, compared to only 28 percent of men. 19 percent of women polled said they felt fat every day.
- 40 percent of women and 22 percent of men noted saving "fat clothes" – clothes that are too big – in their closet in case they gain a few pounds.
Dare to Compare
- Women are tough critics: 31 percent thought they looked fatter compared to other women, and only 10 percent thought they looked better.
- Not surprisingly, men weren't as hard on themselves. 18 percent thought they looked just as good as other men, with only 16 percent admitting to believing that they looked fatter.
Battle of the Bulge
55 percent of women and 43 percent of men polled admitted that after gaining weight, they would watch what they ate, but they wouldn't resort to extreme dieting.
What women do when they gain weight:
|Watch what I eat, but don't go on a diet
|55 percent
|Head to the gym/start exercising
|17 percent
|Drown my sorrows in cookies/candy
|12 percent
|Start a diet immediately
|10 percent
|Curse out the scale
|10 percent
Body Issues
- 51 percent of women have deleted a photo of themselves because they thought they looked fat versus 21 percent of men. Young women (age 18-34) were more likely to do so, with 60 percent hitting delete.
- 33 percent of women have been too embarrassed to change clothes in public compared to only 21 percent of men. Another 20 percent of women have bought clothes that are too small in hopes of one day fitting into them; only 9 percent of men have done this.
- 43 percent of women said a husband or boyfriend was the person most likely to make them feel good about their weight, followed by best friend (13 percent), sister (6 percent), and mother (5 percent).
Full survey results available by request.

subset: commoncrawl


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Posted: March 3, 2014
During the 2014 NAMM Show in Anaheim, Calif., earlier this year, Andertons Music stopped by the Gretsch Showcase to check out some of the new products.
Not only did they run through the offerings from the Gretsch's Roots Collection, but they also checked out an Electromatic Pro Jet with Bigsby in a stunning Silver Sparkle finish.
Watch both clips below.
Tags: 2014 Gretsch Showcase, 2014 NAMM Show, Andertons Music, Electromatic, NAMM, Roots Collection
Posted In: Events, Product Plugs | Leave a comment
Keep in touch with the latest Gretsch news, pictures and videos.
New From The Gretsch Blog.
What are you interested in?
View Past Blogs.


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Emerson Process Management and JSC RusHydro, the largest hydropower generation company in Russia, have signed a memorandum of cooperation for process automation projects that will improve the reliability and availability of RusHydro hydroelectric units.
The agreement covers automation-related services as part of the reconstruction, modernization and upgrade of RusHydro's Volzhskaya, Saratovskaya and Votkinskaya plants. The two companies may also cooperate on modernization of control systems at hydroelectric plants in Dagestan, and on controls for future wind power plants.
Emerson offers a broad range of automation technologies to improve power plant performance, including its PlantWeb digital plant architecture with the Ovation expert control system and AMS Suite asset management software. Its engineering, project management, installation and startup services also help power-generating companies such as RusHydro obtain the full value of their automation investments.
"We are pleased to already be working with Emerson at our Volzhskaya, Saratovskaya and Votkinskaya plants," said Rahmetulla Alzhanov, chief engineer and deputy chairman of RusHydro's management board. "And we expect that further work with this automation company will help us upgrade our generating capacities and improve process safety, reliability and operating efficiency."
For more hydropower news and information, click here


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We Offer the High Quality Repair Service In New York
MacBook & MacBook Pro, PCs, Laptops, Tablets, Photo and Video Cameras, Plasma/ LCD/ LED
TVs,Broadcast Equipment and much more...
47 Canal St
(between Orchard St & Ludlow St)
New York, NY 10002
(212) 219-3091
Mon - Fri: 9:30am - 6:00pm
Sat: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Sun: Closed
At our store we offer High Quality repair services
at competetive prices!
• Hi-Tech Electronics has been providing quality repair service since 1983 and has more than 25 years of experience working with all kinds of digital circuitry.
• 90 days warranty
• Customer relations and feedback are of great importance to us. Our crew does the best job possible, with every unit we receive for repair.
• Our highly professionally trained personnel and state of the art equipment result in a high quality repair job our customers can rely on.
• Free general service
• Quick turnaround time: 1 - 4 Business days for the majority of repairs
• If we don't fix it - you don't pay.
At our store you can also buy pre-owned MacBooks, Laptops, Flatscreen TVs and Home theater amplifiers in excellent working and cosmetic condition, for very reasonable prices.


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A North Texas jury has sentenced a man to 15 years in prison for biting off the nose of a person he quarreled with while washing a car.
Christopher W. Harris received the punishment Wednesday in Fort Worth - the third time prosecutors say he has been sentenced for biting.
Prosecutors say the 37-year-old and another homeless man began to argue last year while washing the car. They say Harris grabbed the man in a bear hug and bit his nose, removing half of it. Efforts to reattach it were unsuccessful.
Harris was convicted Tuesday of an assault charge.
Harris was also sentenced in 2001 to nine months for biting a jailer's finger. Prosecutors say he was sentenced in 2006 to four years for biting and swallowing part of a man's finger.
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In cluttered markets individuals gravitate
to brands that they identify with most.
Those that are relevant and vital to
their sense of place, belonging and community.
Magazine brands are magnets for self
defining interest groups.
They offer skillfully crafted,
original, trusted content which
influences opinions and behaviour.
The Rules of Attraction study took place over two years with over 15,000 magazine media consumers.
Our study included mobile diaries, online surveys, in-depth video, and face-to-face interviews, which highlighted the 28% increase in digital interactions with magazine media year-on-year.
The research was conducted by Crowd DNA. For a full debrief of the findings please contact the Magnetic team.


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UCF's main campus library will be hosting a major series of programs and exhibits exploring the African American baseball experience and related themes:
"Pride & Passion: The African American Baseball Experience"
March 5 - April 15, 2010
At the main UCF Library, Orlando Campus
The UCF Libraries was selected as one of 50 nationwide sites for this exhibition, which was organized by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the American Library Association and funded through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Baseball fans and history buffs of all kinds will find something to enjoy in the UCF Libraries' six-week series of exhibits and festivities:
• Come see the "Pride & Passion" traveling exhibition, which explores the story of African American baseball from the 1860s to the present day. Other exhibits will also be on hand, featuring baseball artifacts from local collectors, baseball paintings, and more.
• Soak up wisdom and life experience from four Negro League Legends, who played the game in the rough-and-tumble era before Jackie Robinson broke the color line, at a special program on March 19th.
• Hear interesting presentations by renowned scholars, such as Dr. Leslie Heaphy, author of The Negro Leagues, 1869-1960 (March 16th); Dr. Lee Lowenfish, author of Branch Rickey: Baseball's Ferocious Gentleman (March 22nd); UCF's Dr. Richard Lapchick, Director of the Devos Sport Business Management Program and Director of the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports (March 30th); and more.
• Attend a reading and book signing on March 18th by award-winning children's writer and illustrator Matt Tavares, author most recently of Henry Aaron's Dream.
For more information, and a full listing of events and exhibitions, please visit the exhibit website:
UCF Libraries' Pride & Passion website
Rosen Library Homepage | Ask a Rosen Librarian | Rosen Library Hours


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PRESTONSBURG — The murder trial of a man accused of killing a 63-year-old woman in car crash as he ran from police is set to begin in September, though a new indictment may cause a delay.
James E. Mace, 23, of Pikeville, was indicted earlier this year on one count of murder and one count of first-degree assault for his part in a May 15 car accident which claimed the life of 63-year-old Brenda Montgomery and seriously injured Montgomery's passenger Elsie Oakley.
The jury trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 16, though a superceding persistent felony offender indictment handed down by a Floyd County grand jury this week may cause a delay.
"Oftentimes, when a superceding indictment is returned, and there is a greater penalty, the trial date may be moved out a little to allow the defense additional time to prepare," said Commonwealth's Attorney Arnold Brent Turner.
Mace was the driver of the 2000 Chevrolet Malibu which crashed into Jackson resident Montgomery and her passenger Oakley, during what police said was a pursuit, which began on Rough and Tough. Floyd County Deputies said that Mace and his passenger Jonathan Crider, were spotted on the old strip mine, melting stolen wire down for its copper.
Police alleged that when the pair spotted the deputies cruisers they fled off the mountain towards the main road where officers lost track of the vehicle. Moments later, Mace's vehicle collided head-on with Montgomery's on Route 114.
Montgomery was transported to Highlands Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead by Floyd County Coroner Greg Nelson. Oakley was transported to Highlands Regional Medical Center and then airlifted to Cabell Huntington Hospital.
Mace had to be extricated from the vehicle, and the stolen wire that filled the car, before he and Crider were also airlifted to Cabell Huntington.


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Time to rethink the dpi for your main web and mobile site images
You apple users already get this…others need some prompting!
Just bumped across a review on the new iPads and two sentences caught my eye. The reviewer mentioned surfing to Zillow, the site that lists houses for sale. He commented on how the pictures looked all pixelated.
That's important, and it's also a sesimic change in the digital world of our websites and images on the mobile devices viewed by our clients. In 'the good old days,' the way to keep your web pages loading fast, and not bust through your storage and bandwidth limits of your hosting provider, the best bet was to 'downsize' the images to be 100dpi (dots per inch) down to no less than 72dpi.
Felix Baumgartner's Point of View - Red Bull Stratos Free Fall
Mostly from his knee camera….pretty cool seeing the left spin.
Operation White Widow….a Sci-Fi-Short Animation
TRR: Is a General losing his job over Benghazi?
Is an American General losing his job for trying to save the Americans besieged in Benghazi? This is the latest potential wrinkle in the growing scandal surrounding the September 11, 2012 terrorist attack that left four men dead and President Obama scrambling for a coherent explanation.
On October 18, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta appeared unexpectedly at an otherwise unrelated briefing on 'Efforts to Enhance the Financial Health of the Force." News organizations and CSPAN were told beforehand there was no news value to the event and gave it scant coverage. In his brief remarks Mr. Panetta said, "Today I am very pleased to announce that President Obama will nominate General David Rodriguez to succeed General Carter Ham as commander of U.S. Africa Command.' This came as a surprise to many, since General Ham had only been in the position for a year and a half. The General is a very well regarded officer who made AFRICOM into a true Combatant Command after the ineffective leadership of his predecessor, General William E. "Kip" Ward. Later, word circulated informally that General Ham was scheduled to rotate out in March 2013 anyway, but according to Joint doctrine, "the tour length for combatant commanders and Defense agency directors is three years." Some assumed that he was leaving for unspecified personal reasons.
A USFSP professor is challenged in war-weary Iraq to inspire an entrepreneurial culture
Business professor Bill Jackson may have rough days when he wishes he could wear a flak jacket.
But this past summer, it became mandatory.
Jackson, who teaches at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, spent 45 days in Iraq sharing his insights with university teachers about how to encourage business startups and entrepreneurial activity. While in Baghdad, Jackson lived at one fortified compound and taught at another. His commute of less than 10 miles took 90 minutes, thanks to frequent stops at Baghdad checkpoints. Jackson routinely traveled in a three-vehicle convoy of armed security guards while wearing a flak jacket.
It wasn't for show. Two hours before he arrived for a workshop at Baghdad University, an Iraq general was assassinated at the front gate. Other violence occurred nearby while he was in the city.
"I was naive about the Middle East," Jackson conceded in a recent discussion about his Iraq experience.
Iraq is not poor. The country is rich with oil, holding the world's third largest reserves.
Boeing Now Has A Missile That Destroys Only Electronics And Leaves All Else Intact
The Counter-Electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project (CHAMP), led by Boeing's Phantom works, promised to change the face of contemporary warfare, and its test was a complete success.
CHAMP flew over the Utah Test and Training Range last Tuesday, discharging a burst of High Power Microwaves onto the test site and brought down the compound's entire spectrum of electronic systems, apparently without producing any other damage at all. Even the camera recording the test was shut down.
Read more: businessinsider.com
The about 5 minute summary:Mission Accomplished - World Record Freefall
Note: The 1:30 quick version has 20,800,831 views SINCE last Sunday!
Are These The Pizza Trucks Of The Future?
Posted in the event some techie is working late being mySQLish and getting the munchies and thinking about the future…
Have you ever though about what would make the ultimate pizza delivery vehicle? Something that would match Neil Stephenson's The Deliverator. Dominos did, so they teamed up with Local Motors and sponsored a design competition to come up with something better than that miserable, rusted out beater that brought pizza to your apartment last time you got the late night munchies.
Which Dictator Killed the Most People?
I like this visualization, perhaps because its crude, almost childish look contrasts with the horror it depicts in such a simple way: Worldwide dictators ordered by the number of killings, one drop, one million dead.
Of course, the winner is Mao,


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Play any type of Game at Y8.com. The biggest Game Collection to play free online. Flash, Unity 3D, Html5, Android, Java and Shockwave.
If the game freezes, just click inside it (games can get unresponsive if you click elsewhere on the page).
You are not logged in. Only registered users can vote without verification. Please login or register, or type the words below:
Choose a nice dress for the cute lady student.
Use mouse to interact.


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Video:Profile of the Neck of a Guitarwith Rick Tedesco
Guitars are very popular instruments and if you want to play a guitar you should know some information about its parts. The neck of a guitar is an extremely important part of the guitar and it's components all have a purpose and function.See Transcript
Transcript:Profile of the Neck of a GuitarHi! I'm Rick Tedesco for About.com and today I'm going to tell you about the different parts of the neck of a guitar and what is each parts does. We're here at Guitar Hangar in Brookfield, Connecticut. Guitars are among the most played instruments, mostly because they are affordable and they dominate popular music. When playing the guitar, it's helpful to know some of its parts. All guitars, whether electric or acoustic, share the same basic components. One of these components is the neck, the long, thin piece that extends from the body of the guitar.
The neck of a guitar is sometimes made of one piece of wood. Sometimes it's split down the middle and the middle section is flipped, so that the grain fights itself, making it more stable. Neck woods are sometimes maple, sometimes their mahogany, generally it's a hard wood for stability.
The Guitar Neck is Made of the Following Parts:
- Fretboard
- Frets
- Headstock
- Nut
- Truss Rod
The Pitch and Chords are Controlled on the FretboardThe most obvious of these is the fretboard. The fretboard is the flat portion of the neck that faces the audience while the instrument is being played. It is on the fretboard that chords are formed. The fretboard can be constructed from any one of a variety of hard woods, including ebony, rosewood and maple.
Another feature of the fret board is the position markers, or sometimes called inlays, on the front and side of the guitar. They are on the third, fifth, seventh, ninth, twelfth and so on up the fretboard. And they help the player find the positions, visually, along the fretboard.We move on to The Frets. Located at intervals along the fretboard are the frets—the frets are a thin piece of metal that are set into the wood of the fretboard.
The job of the fret is to determine the pitch of the instrument when strummed or plucked. When you push down on a note, on a fret, what you're actually doing is shortening the string because now you have a metal position here and a metal position here. The shorter the string, the higher the note. Next we have the headstock.
Guitar Tuning is Controlled at the HeadstockAt the top of the guitar, farthest from the body, is the headstock. This is where the tuning keys, or machine heads, are located. The tuning keys allow the musician to tune a string to a specific note.
Located in between the fretboard and headstock is the nut, the nut is a thin piece of material with grooves in it for each string. The nut guides and maintains the position of strings along the neck, as well as having an impact on the action of the strings, the distance between the bottom of the strings and the top of the fretboard.
The Truss Rod is Inside the Neck of the GuitarFinally we'll move on to the truss rod. Truss rods can be located at the headstock, or in this particular model at the base of the neck. Running inside the entire length of the neck is the truss rod. The purpose of the truss rod is to adjust any curvature that might form in the neck due to excessive humidity, string tension or even the natural aging of the wood.
The neck of the guitar, is an important part of the guitar and you'll need to have all the facts. To learn more about Guitars and other music topics, please visit about.com Thanks for watching.
About videos are made available on an "as is" basis, subject to the User Agreement.


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First TeaseAs you all know by now, I like older men, anywhere from 35-50.Im 16 btw So here goes, this happened just the other day actually and it was so exhilarating, I live in a house where were pretty close to other houses so we can see neighbors pretty easy and vice versa. Anyways, I was getting undressed in my room the other day and I didn't notice my curtains were open when I started so I had taken off my shirt but not my bra and I turned to close the curtain and I noticed our next door neighbor, an older man around 40 I think, staring at me. My first instinct was to close the curtain but then I decided heres a chance for me to flirt with the idea of an older guy. So I kinda acted like I didnt see him and I took off my bra slowly and let my boobs fall out naked, I took off my pants and bent over my bed to slide off my panties but i stood up to see what he was doing. He was just staring at me and i stared back this time, i put my hand down the front of my panties and he smiled, and began to rub the front of his pants too. My mom almost walked in so i shut my curtain so she wouldn't see. It was so much fun though, I haven't seen him lately, I hope its not awkward. It was so hot though.
PrettyKathy 18-21, F 12 Responses 12 Sep 12, 2012
Such a lucky neighbor! :-)
Love this story! Good girl, I'm moving next for to you!! Lol. Would love to be friends here, add me here please. Thank you!
Nice story.
No, that's not awkward at all. I'd LOVE to be in the place of your neighbor and get to see you teasing me like you did with your neighbor :)
crazyy lol
Lucky neighbor !
add me plz.... i have a nice surprised :)
hahahahaha..yeah, it was really hot! mmm...16 y.o body....yummy!
ad me kathy
great story add me please
A pretty good expirience :)


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A Los Angeles-based HR Consulting, Outsourcing and PEO Leader since 1982.
CPEhr is one of the largest, and oldest, privately-held HR Outsourcing and PEO firms in the nation. It was founded in 1982 to meet the growing employment challenges facing California employers. CPEhr began as a small payroll, employee benefits and HR provider, with 10 corporate employees. Over three decades, it has grown to be one of the largest HR firms in California, employing close to 90 corporate professionals in the areas of Employment Compliance, Safety and Risk Management, Employee Benefits, Retirement Planning, Payroll and Accounting.
CPEhr currently services 600 client locations, representing over 75,000 employees, and processes approximately $500 million revenues annually.
Find out what makes CPEhr unique in the marketplace: Why Choose CPEhr?
California employers, find out what's new with 2015 California Labor Laws.
Leadership Team
The ultimate responsibility of providing accurate, up-to-date information to the clients rests on the PEO management's shoulders. CPEhr's Leadership Team is one of the most accomplished and knowledgeable HR and PEO teams in the local market with decades of human resources and compliance experience. Meet CPEhr's Leadership team.
CPEhr Mission Statement:
- To be the cost-effective strategic partner and human resources arm for our clients
- To assist our clients with labor-related exposures
- To facilitate the success of our clients by enabling them to focus on their core business
- To support the welfare and well-being of our clients and work-site employees
CPEhr will make reasonable promises and deliver them meticulously with care and consideration
2012-2013 Information
|Actual 2013 Growth:
|Corporate Employees:
|Estimated 2014 Growth:
|2011 Gross Revenues:
|$474 million
|9000 Sunset Blvd.
|2012 Gross Revenues:
|$500+ million
|Suite 900
|Employees Represented:
|West Hollywood, CA
|Worksite Locations:
|Faith Branvold
|Serviced States:
|34 states
|Toll Free:
|Fax Number:
An Open Letter from the President, Faith Branvold
Dear Business Owner:
I am often asked by others to describe what distinguishes CPEhr from other Human Resource providers. Although there is much to share, my comments always center on our exceptional people.
Our employees consistently practice the 12 Standards of Professional Service. These standards apply not only to our dealings with our valued clients, but also to the employees of our clients, and to each other. What makes these standards really work is that they were developed and implemented by nominated members of the CPEhr family and are embraced by all who we employ.
CPEhr is 30 years strong and has served thousands of businesses, yet we proudly still cherish our one-on-one customer relationships. I believe that this approach to conducting business is the key to our success.
We recognize the importance of selecting the right business partner and we are confident that you will make the right choice with CPEhr. I invite you to get to know us better and thank you for your time and interest.
Please feel free to contact me or any of our business consultants to discuss how we can help support your business and assist you with your future growth.
Faith Branvold, President


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Medical devices and methods employing biocompatible polymers and nerve growth-enhancing active factors are disclosed for use as guidance channels for regenerating nerves. The devices are formed from a porous, tubular membrane containing active factor incorporated within the membrane and having openings adapted to receive the ends of the severed nerve. In one aspect of the invention, the membrane has an impermeable, outer membrane surface and a porous, inner membrane surface through which the active factor can diffuse and which defines the boundary of a lumen through which said nerve may regenerate. Methods for fabricating such devices are also disclosed.
1. A medical device for use in regenerating a severed nerve, said device comprising a tubular, biocompatible, porous, polymeric membrane containing an active factor incorporated within the walls of said membrane,
said device comprising an impermeable outer membrane surface and porous inner membrane surface through which said active factor may diffuse, and
said membrane having openings adapted to receive the ends of said severed nerve, and an inner lumen through which said nerve may regenerate.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said active factor is alpha 1-acid glycoprotein.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said active factor is acidic fibroblast growth factor.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said active factor is basic fibroblast growth factor.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein said biocompatible, polymeric membrane comprises polyethylene vinyl acetate.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein the thickness of said membrane ranges from about 0.05 to about 1.0 millimeter.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein said lumen has a diameter ranging from about 0.5 millimeter to about 3.0 centimeters.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein said porous membranes contains pores having a diameter of about 0.1 to 10.0 micrometers.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein said porous membrane is permeable to solutes having a molecular weight of about 100,000 daltons or less.
The technical field of this invention concerns medical devices useful for the repair of severed nerves and methods for fabricating and using such devices for nerve repair.
The problem of repairing severed nerves is a long-standing one that has plagued surgeons for over a hundred years. Despite advances in microsurgical techniques, the recovery of a patient from a serious wound is often limited by the degree of nerve damage which cannot be repaired. The replanting of amputated fingers and limbs is especially limited by poor nerve regeneration.
When a nerve is severed, the functions supplied by that nerve, both motor and sensory, are lost. The appendages of the nerve cells, or axons, in the distal regions of the severed nerve, or those areas furthest from the spinal cord, degenerate and die, leaving only the sheaths in which they were contained. These sheathes, too, degenerate with time. The axons in the proximal stump that remain connected to the spinal cord or dorsal root ganglion also suffer some degeneration.
However, degeneration generally does not proceed to the death of all of the nerve cell bodies. Moreover, if the injury occurs far enough from the nerve cell bodies, regeneration will occur. Axonal sprouts will appear from the tip of the regenerating axon. These sprouts grow distally and attempt to reenter the intact neurilemmal sheaths of the distal portion of the severed nerve. If entry is successfully made, axonal growth will continue down these sheaths and function will eventually be restored.
In the conventional approach to nerve repair, an attempt is made to align the cut ends of the fascicles (nerve bundles within the nerve trunk). A similar approach is taken with smaller nerves. In either case, the chief hazard to the successful repair is the trauma produced by the manipulation of the nerve ends and the subsequent suturing to maintain alignment. The trauma appears to stimulate the growth and/or migration of fibroblasts and other scar-forming connective tissue cells. The scar tissue prevents the regenerating axons in the proximal stump from reaching the distal stump to reestablish a nerve charge pathway. The result is a permanent loss of sensory or motor function.
Various attempts have been made over the years to find a replacement for direct (i.e., nerve stump-to-nerve-stump suturing). Much of the research in this field has focused on the use of "channels" or tubular prostheses which permit the cut ends of the nerve to be gently drawn into proximity and secured in place without undue trauma. It is also generally believed that such channels can also prevent, or at least retard, the infiltration of scar-forming connective tissue.
For example, the use of silastic cuffs for peripheral nerve repair was reported by Ducker et al. in Vol. 28, Journal of Neurosurgery. pp. 582-587 (1968). Silicone rubber sheathing for nerve repair was reported by Midgley et al. in Vol. 19, Surgical Forum. pp. 519-528 (1968) and by Lundborg et al. in Vol. 41, Journal of Neuropathology in Experimental Neurology, pp 412-422 (1982). The use of bioresorbable, polyglactin mesh tubing was reported by Molander et al. in Vol. 5, Muscle & Nerve. pp. 54-58 (1982). The use of porous acrylic copolymer tubes in nerve regeneration was disclosed by Uzman et al. in Vol. 9, Journal of Neuroscience Research. pp. 325-338 (1983). Bioresorbable nerve guidance channels of polyesters and other polymers have been reported by Nyilas et al. in Vol. 29, Transactions Am. Soc. Artif. Internal Organs. pp. 307-313 (1983) and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,349 issued to Barrows in 1985.
Despite the identification of various materials which can serve as nerve guidance channels, the results of research to date have revealed significant shortcomings in such prostheses. For example, some of the materials identified above have lead to inflammatory reactions in the test animals and have failed to exclude scar tissue formation within the channels. The total number of axons, the number of myelinated axons, the thickness of the epineurium, and the fascicular organization of nerves regenerated within guidance channels are all typically less than satisfactory and compare poorly with the original nerve structure of the test animals. Moreover, the loss of sensory or motor function is still the most common outcome of such laboratory experiments. In addition, if the gap distance separating the nerve stumps is too great, regeneration will not occur.
Channels have been manipulated in various ways in an attempt to correct these shortcomings. For example, channels prefilled with a laminin gel (as disclosed in Madison et al., Vol. 44, Brain Res., pp. 325-334 (1985)), a glycosaminoglycan template (as described in Yannas et al., Vol. 11, Trans. Soc. Biomat., pp. 146 (1985)), or with fibrin (Williams et al., Vol. 264, J. Como. Neurol. pp. 284-290 (1987)) have been used to enhance the regeneration of nerve ends separated by a gap distance greater than 10 mm. However, because these substances are normally substrate-bound materials, their conformation and, hence, their level of activity is decreased when they are solubilized.
Channels have also been preloaded with various growth factors (Politis et al., Vol. 253, Brain Res. pp. 1-12 (1982)). However, these factors typically are not stable in an aqueous environment; their half lives are measured in hours rather than in weeks, which is the least amount of time usually required for completed regeneration. In addition, the delivery of these factors is not continuous or controlled; it is dispensed as a one time bolus which is not conducive for long term nerve growth stimulation.
There exists a need for a better materials and methods for formation of nerve guidance channels. Materials and methods for nerve repair that would minimize surgical trauma, maximize distances over which nerves can regenerate, prevent interference with nerve growth by scar tissue and improve the chances for successful recovery of sensory or motor function would satisfy a long-felt need in this field.
It has been discovered that nerve guidance channels containing diffusible nerve growth-inducing active factors can greatly promote the regeneration of severed nerve ends over relatively large distances. These channels consist of biocompatible, porous, tubular membranes having active factor incorporated into the membrane. The factors are released at a controlled rate, thereby prolonging the stimulatory properties of the channel. In addition, factors incorporated into the channel walls have a greater half life than those which are in soluble form within the lumen of the channels; factors sequestered within the hydrophobic environment of the channel wall are not exposed to proteases in the aqueous environment until they are released.
The term "nerve" is used herein to mean both monofascicular and polyfascicular nerves. The same general principals of regeneration within the nerve guidance channels of the present invention are applicable to both.
The term "active factor" is used herein to describe any diffusible substance having bioactivity. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the active factor is a "nerve growth enhancer," such as, for example, a growth factor or active analog, fragment, or derivative thereof.
In one illustrated embodiment, the nerve guidance channels of the present invention are designed to retain active factor within the membrane. The inner surface of the membrane is permeable to the active factor incorporated therein, while the outer membrane surface is impermeable to the factor.
The invention further encompasses methods of repairing a severed nerve using the guidance channels of the present invention. In these methods, the severed nerve ends are placed in proximity to each other and secured within the lumen of the membrane.
Also disclosed are methods of fabricating the device useful in regenerating a severed nerve. In one embodiment, a mandrel having the dimensions of the desired nerve guidance channel can be employed to fabricate the device. One or more coats of a first solution, containing a biocompatible polymer, an active factor, and a hydrophilic carrier, is applied to the mandrel. The hydrophilic carrier establishes domains within the polymer, creating an interconnected pore structure in the finished device from which the active factor is released into the lumen. In a preferred technique, one or more finishing coats of a second solution containing the same or another biocompatible polymer without the carrier is applied to provide an impermeable or substantially less permeable outer surface. The device is then dried and removed from the mandrel.
The invention will next be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments; however, it should be clear that various changes, additions and subtractions can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, in fabricating the nerve guidance devices of the present invention, a variety of known polymeric molding and extrusion techniques can be substituted for the mandrel-coating methods described herein.
Additionally, although the nerve guidance channels described in the examples below are generally tubular in shape, it should be clear that various alternative shapes can be employed. The lumens of the guidance channels can be oval or even square in cross-section. The guidance channels can also be constructed from two or more parts which are clamped together to secure the nerve stumps. Moreover, polymeric sheet materials containing incorporated active factor can be employed and formed into channels in situ. In such a procedure, the nerve stumps can be placed on the surface of the sheet and secured thereto by sutures, adhesives, or friction. The sheet is then wrapped around the nerve segments, and the resulting channel is closed by further sutures, adhesives, or friction.
The foregoing and other objects of this invention, the various features thereof, as well as the invention, itself, may be more fully understood from the following description, when read together with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a nerve guidance channel of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the nerve guidance channel of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an electron micrograph of a cross-section of a nerve guidance channel containing BSA and an active factor;
FIG. 4 is a graphic representation of the rate at which a protein is released from the nerve guidance channel of the present invention as a function of time;
FIGS. 5A and 5B is a phase contrast micrograph of human (PC12) cells cultured in the presence of a control nerve guidance channel releasing BSA only (A), and a channel releasing BSA and b-FGF (B) respectively; and
FIG. 6 is a photographic representation of an electron micrograph taken at the midpoint of a guidance channel releasing b-FGF four weeks post-implantation.
FIG. 1 shows a nerve guidance device 10, according to the present invention, as a tubular, porous membrane having openings 14 and 16 adapted to receive severed nerve ends 18 and 20. The inner membrane surface 22 defines the boundary of a lumen 24 through which a nerve may regenerate.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the membrane 10 showing its porous wall structure 12. In this embodiment, active factor 26 is incorporated within the membrane wall 12. The outer membrane surface 28 is nonporous, while porous inner membrane surface 22 allows for the diffusion therethrough of active factor 26. FIG. 3 is an electron micrograph of a cross-section of an actual guidance channel having a nonporous membrane wall and pores containing BSA and active factor.
Various active factors have been found to aid in stimulating and enhancing nerve regeneration. These include alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, various growth factors, second messenger substances, and second messenger inducers. For further details on such active factors and techniques for isolating or producing them, see, for example, Walicke et al., Vol. 83, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA), pp. 3012-3016 (1986); Rydel et al., Vol. 1, J. Neuroscience. pp. 3639-3653 (1987); Lui et al., Vol. 20, J. Neurosci. Res., pp. 64-72 (1988); and Levi-Montalcini, Vol. 237, Science, pp. 1154-1162 (1987), herein incorporated by reference.
Preferable nerve growth enhancers are growth factors, such as nerve growth factor (NGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF). Basic FGF (b-FGF) and acidic FGF (a-FGF) are particularly useful for this purpose.
In addition, other nerve growth enhancers, such as second messenger substances or inducers thereof, may be useful. A "second messenger" substance is one that initiates a cellular response to a specific signal external to that cell. Useful second messenger substances include, for example, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Active analogs of cAMP such as 8-bromo cAMP and chlorophenylthio cAMP, or active derivatives and fragments thereof, are also useful. "Second messenger inducers" are responsible for the synthesis or activation of a second messenger substance. Useful second messenger inducers include forskolin, and active derivatives and analogs thereof.
The membrane of the channel may be fabricated from any biocompatible polymers, such as, for example, polyethylene vinyl-acetate (EVA). Alternatively, the channel may be composed of a biocompatible hydrogels, such as polyvinyl pyrolidone, polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyurethanes, acrylates, or mixtures thereof. Preferable acrylates include methacrylates or hydroethylmethacrylates. The membrane instead may be composed of a bioresorbable, biocompatible polymer, such as a polyanhydride, polyester, or mixtures thereof. If the channel is not biodegradable over time, it can be formed with longitudinal lines of weakness to facilitate removal from about the regenerated nerve after healing has progressed sufficiently.
The membrane wall thickness of the nerve guidance channels of the present invention range from about 0.05 to about 1.0 millimeters (mm). Similarly, the diameter of the channel lumen can vary from about 0.5 mm to about 3.0 centimeters (cm), depending upon the size of nerve to be repaired.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer surface of the membrane is impermeable to solutes of any size, while the inner membrane surface contains pores having a diameter from about 0.1 to 10.0 microns (μm) so as to be permeable to solutes having a molecular weight of about 100,000 daltons or less. These pores enable the active factors to diffuse out of the membrane and into the lumen of the channel. The particular pore size can be varied depending upon the active factors to be secreted, the size of the nerve to be repaired, and the preferred delivery rate of the active factors.
The invention further encompasses methods of repairing a severed nerve using the nerve guidance channels of the present invention. In these methods, the nerve guidance channels of the present invention as described above, are used by locating the severed nerve ends and selecting and providing an appropriately sized tubular device for the repair. The cut ends of the nerve are gently drawn into channel by manual manipulation or suction, placed in optimal proximity and then secured in position without undue trauma by sutures through the channel, or by a biocompatible adhesive (e.g., fibrin glue) or by frictional engagement with the channel. The channel is then situated in the general in vivo location of the nerve. Antibiotics can be administered to the site, and the wound is then closed.
Also disclosed are methods of fabricating the device useful in regenerating a severed nerve. In one embodiment, a mandrel/molding technique is employed. A cylindrical mandrel having an internal diameter of about 0.05 to 3.00 mm is particularly useful. At least one coat of a first solution containing a biocompatible polymer and an active factor of the type described above is applied to the mandrel. The solution may contain from about 1 to 30%, but preferably about 10% by weight polymer such as, for example, polyethylene vinyl acetate in a solvent. The active factor in the solution may comprise from about 0.001 to 40% by weight of this first solution, depending on the biological activity of the factor and on the desired diffusion rate of the factor from the membrane into the lumen. The remainder of the first solution can comprise a pore-forming, biocompatible agent, for example, a hydrophilic carrier, such as bovine serum albumin, which establishes domains within the polymer, creating an interconnected pore structure in the finished device from which the active factor is released into the lumen. From about 15 to B 60 coats of the first solution are applied to the mandrel, with about 24 coats being the most preferable. The coats are then dried, and the resulting device removed from the mandrel.
In a preferred embodiment, at least one coat of an active, factor-free, second solution containing a biocompatible polymer is layered on the first solution-coated mandrel prior to drying and removal from the mold. This second solution may again contain from about 1 to 30% but preferably about 10% by weight biocompatible polymer, such as, for example, polyethylene vinyl acetate without the pore-forming agent. From about 2 to 10 coats of the second solution are applied, with about 4 coats being preferable.
The solvent for the polymer in both the first and second solutions can be any one of a variety of organic solvents, such as, for example, methylene chloride The accumulated coats on the mandrel are then dried and removed from the mandrel to form the guidance channel of the present invention.
This layering procedure allows deposition of an impermeable coat on the outer surface of the device, insuring that the active factors incorporated into the membrane walls will be inhibited from diffusing through the external surface, and will diffuse only through the inner membrane surface into the lumen of the channel.
The invention will next be described in connection with the following examples and experiments.
Polyethylene vinyl-acetate (EVA) pellets (Elvax-40) were obtained from Dupont (Wilmington, DE). Impurities were removed with multiple wash in pure ethanol and distilled water. A 10% (w/w) solution of EVA was prepared in methylene chloride.
Fabrication took place in a clean room with automated equipment allowing control of processing speed. Tubular guidance devices (50 mm long �1.5 mm ID �1.9 mm OD) were prepared by dip molding over of a stainless steel wire mandrel 28 times.
The channels were then dried overnight in a fume hood, cut into 19 mm pieces, and placed under vacuum for 24 hours. Before implantation, the channels were cleaned and sterilized in a 70% ethanol solution.
Guidance channels containing bovine serum albumin (BSA) (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo) were prepared as described in EXAMPLE 1, except that BSA was added to 10% EVA to obtain a 40% (w/w) BSA/EVA solid matrix upon drying. The mold was dipped 24 times in the BSA/EVA solution, followed by 4 dips in a pure 10% EVA solution. Prior to being put into solution, the BSA was served to obtain particles less than 75 μm in diameter.
Guidance channels containing b-FGF and BSA were prepared as described in EXAMPLE 2, except that 100 μl of b-FGF (recombinant, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA) was added to a 10 ml solution 40% (w/w) BSA/EVA, resulting in a 0.004% (w/w) b-FGF/EVA solid matrix upon drying. The mold was dipped 24 times in the b-FGF/BSA/EVA solution, followed by 4 times in 10% pure EVA solution
Guidance channels containing α1-GP and BSA were prepared as described in EXAMPLE 2 except that αl -GP was added to a 10 ml solution of 40% (w/w) BSA/EVA which resulted in a 4% (w/w) αl -GP/ EVA solid matrix upon drying. The mold was dipped 24 times in the α1-GP/BSA/EVA solution, followed by 4 dips in a pure 10% EVA solution.
Guidance channels containing b-FGF, αl -GP, and BSA were prepared as described in EXAMPLE 2, except that 100 μl of b-FGF and αl -GP were added to a 10 ml solution of 40% (w/w) BSA/EVA which resulted in a 0.004% (w/w) b-FGF, 4% (w/w) αl -GP solid EVA matrix upon drying. The mold was dipped 24 times in the b-FGF/αl -GP/BSA/EVA solution, followed by 4 dips in a pure 10% EVA solution.
The kinetics of BSA release in in vitro studies were determined by incubating 6 mm long channels in sterile scintillation vials containing 10 ml saline at 37� C. The solutions were changed daily, and the amount of BSA released per day was monitored at 220 nm using a DU-65 spectrophotometer (Beckman, Fullerton, CA). Percentage cumulative release curves were prepared for each channel. It is assumed that the percentage cumulative release of b-FGF precisely followed that of BSA, as the molecules have similar molecular weight.
FIG. 4 shows the kinetics of active factor release from a nerve guidance channel as demonstrated by the release of BSA, a molecule having the same approximate molecular weight and diffusion characteristics as FGF. The kinetics of BSA release for 6 BSA/EVA channels were found to consist of 2 phases. During the first three days, a burst phase was observed, during which approximately 50% of the total BSA was released from each channel. After three days, all six channels showed a linear pattern of release (zero order kinetics). During the linear phase, the rate of release ranged from 0.1 to 0.5% BSA per day.
The bioactivity of b-FGF released from b-FGF/BSA/EVA channels was assayed in PC12 cell cultures. PC12 is a cell line derived from a pheocromocytoma (Ryel et al., Vol. 1, J. Neurosci. pp. 3639-3653, (1987)). polystyrene cultures dishes coated with rat tail collagens were seeded with a 105 PC12 cells per ml. PC12 cells were cultivated for 3 days in RPMl 1640 medium supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated horse serum and 5% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum in general accordance with the procedures of Greene et al., Vol. 147, Meth Enzymol pp. 207-216 (1987), incorporated herein by reference. The culture medium was changed every 2 days. Six mm long channels were then placed in each dish. The neurite extension of PC12 cells incubated in vitro with channels releasing either BSA alone or BSA and b-FGF was monitored under phase contrast with a IM35 Zeiss microscope (Zeiss AG., Oberkochen, Federal Rep. Germany) for 6 days.
Channels releasing BSA only did not show neurite extension (FIG. 5A), while cells grown in dishes containing channels releasing b-FGF extended neurites after 48 hours and developed an intense network of neurites at 6 days (FIG. 5B). These results suggest that the b-FGF released from the channels was bioactive and that no significant denaturation of the active factor occurred after exposure to the methylene chloride solvent.
In vivo studies were performed to determine the effectiveness of the nerve guidance channels fabricated as described in EXAMPLES 1-5.
The guidance channels were implanted into rats as follows The left sciatic nerve of Nembutal anesthetized rats is exposed through a skin incision along the anterior medial aspect of the thigh after retracting the gluteus maximus muscle. The sciatic nerve is mobilized from the ischial tuberosity to the tibial-peroneal bifurcation by gently dissecting the overlying connective tissue sheaths. An 8 mm segment of the nerve 1 mm proximal to the tibial-peroneal bifurcation is resected and discarded. The proximal and distal nerve stumps are secured within the 19 mm long guidance channel lumen with a single 10-0 nylon suture. The nerves are positioned 2 mm from the channel ends, separating the proximal and distal stumps by a gap of 15 mm. The surgical site is then irrigated with sterile saline Muscle approximation and skin closure is then achieved with 6.0 monofilament nylon (Ethilon�) and 6.0 braided silk sutures. A septic surgical technique is maintained throughout the procedure, which is performed with the aid of a Zeiss operating microscope. Cohorts of 6 animals were implanted for 4 weeks with channels made of pure EVA, BSA/EVA, b-FGF/BSA/EVA, αl -GP/BSA/EVA, or b-FGF/αl -GP/BSA/EVA.
The rats were deeply anesthetized with sodium thiopental and then perfused transcardially with 100 ml of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), followed by 100 ml of fixative 3.0% paraformaldehyde, 2.5% glutaraldehyde in PBS at a pH of about 7.4. The operative site was re-opened, and the guidance channel with 3 mm of native nerve at either end removed.
Light and electron microscopy served to define the extent of nerve regeneration upon retrieval in in vivo experiments (FIGS. 5-6).
The explants were immediately immersed in fixative, and the guidance channels were cut transversely at their midpoint 24 hours later The specimens were post-fixed in a 1% osmium tetroxide solution, dehydrated, and embedded in Spurr resin. Transverse sections taken at the midpoint of the guidance channel were cut on a Sorvall MT-5000 microtome. Transverse sections are also taken at the level of the native proximal and distal nerve 2 mm away from the channel.
Semi-thin sections (1 μm) for light microscopy were stained with toluidine blue and fuchsin. Ultrathin sections (60-80 nm) for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were stained with Reynold's lead citrate and uranyl acetate.
Myelinated axon populations, blood vessel numbers, fascicle numbers, axonal diameter, and myelin thickness are counted with the aid of a morphometric analysis system (CUE-2, Olympus Corp., Lake Success, NY) interfaced with an IM35 Zeiss microscope.
All channels exhibited a minimal tissue reaction consisting of the presence of several layers of fibroblasts and connective tissue surrounding the polyer. None of the pure EVA had cables bridging the nerve stumps. BSA/EVA channels contained tissue cables without myelinated or unmyelinated axons, whereas four out of six b-FGF/BSA/EVA channels had nerve cables bridging both nerve stumps. The inclusion of αl -GP to b-FGF/BSA/EVA channels lead to enhanced regeneration. The regenerated cables were circular in shape and surrounded by a viscous gel. They were never seen growing along the inner wall of the channels. General histologic examination of transverse sections taken at the midpoint of the regenerated cable revealed numerous nerve fascicles surrounded by an epineurial sheath. The regenerated cables displayed a very high number of blood vessels. Macrophages lined the regenerated cables and the inner wall of the guidance channel, and presumptive Schwann cells and numerous microfascicles surrounded by perineurial-like tissue were also observed. Numerous unmyelinated axons and myelinated axons at various stages of myelination were also observed (FIG. 6). Two of the nerve cables regenerated in b-FGF releasing channels contained more than a thousand myelinated axons at the midpoint of the channel.
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Nov 05 2009
Hotel Room Tour – Grand America, Salt Lake City
This is my favorite hotel so far.
It's the Grand America in Salt Lake City. And it's absolutely beautiful. Built for the 2002 Winter Olympics by Earl Robert Holding, the hotel is elegant, old school, fancy…but shiny and new. I loved it!
I got my own room, right next door to Missy and my mother-in-law. The fun part is that throughout the hotel, there are pairs of rooms behind vestibule doors…so we could keep our respective doors open and walk back and forth and cause trouble with one another the whole time.
I look for that in a hotel room.
The hallway to the bathroom. And this was a regular room! Very big, very comfy.
OH…the bathroom. It was absolutely beautiful.
I love catching Missy in between moments. It's my new favorite hobby.
The room decor in the hotel is traditional—almost a throwback to another time…
…Before gray and taupe and sleek lines took over the world.
Compare this room to my room at the St. Regis if you're in the mood for a laugh!
The rooms couldn't be more different.
Missy and Mother-in-Law's room.
And the beautiful bathroom. I'm waving…see?
See the bathroom scale? We didn't use it.
We're on vacation, man.
If you visit Salt Lake City and have the inclination to treat yourself, I'll tell you one thing:
I recommend the Grand America. It's a lovely place on earth!
Inside Tip: The room service food is delicious! I ordered this yummy rosemary flatbread with hummus and olive tapenade…twice.
And I don't care who knows it.
313 Comments
penny On Thursday, November 5 at 9:40 am
Nice pics……glad you enjoyed my hometown!
lindsey s. On Thursday, November 5 at 9:40 am
the best part about that hotel is that they have "high tea"…. i took my mom and grandma to high tea right around mother's day and i have never seen three grown women so happy! i'm sorry i missed you last night i hope you had a wonderful time in our beautiful city
Cindy On Thursday, November 5 at 9:41 am
I hope you got a chance to enjoy some hot cocoa in the lobby–it's part of the Salt Lake experience
princess jen On Thursday, November 5 at 9:41 am
Thanks for the Ethel and for answering all the questions. It was so wonderful to finally meet you!! I'm glad you enjoyed the Grand America, although I'm surprised you didn't stay at the Hotel Monaco… (that's where all the celebrities stay!) You are so beautiful and sweet and patient. There were so many people there. You have touched so many hearts. I hope you come back to SLC soon!! Have fun in Phoenix.
LeeNJ On Thursday, November 5 at 9:41 am
I see you left the seat up AGAIN! Just saying… Actually, it's worth it just be virtually being along with ya'll.
Brianne Hill On Thursday, November 5 at 9:42 am
We stayed there on our honeymoon, it is beautiful! I'm so sad I missed you Ree. I tried to go to the booksigning but there were too many people and your cookbooks were sold out:(
beyond On Thursday, November 5 at 9:43 am
hotel bathrooms just KILL me. beautiful.
Sarah On Thursday, November 5 at 9:44 am
Been to SLC once, stayed in that hotel and felt the same about it. Loved it! It was the first hotel I stayed in where they laid a robe out on your bed during turndown service. i felt so fancy and adult! Safe travel P-Dub!
Sara On Thursday, November 5 at 9:44 am
That hotel was nice but a little frilly for my tastes. Hope you are still enjoying your journey. Hope to see you in Little Rock soon.
beyond On Thursday, November 5 at 9:44 am
ps: saw you in the NY Times yesterday. awesome!
Alicia W. On Thursday, November 5 at 9:47 am
Ree, it was so fun to meet you, if only for just a second! I hope you got out of there before 1! And a big thanks to the ladies who gave their tickets to me and my sister…we wouldn't have been able to stay otherwise. Have a great time in AZ and make plans for a vacation with your family in Utah so you can enjoy more than the crazy nice hotel!
Diana On Thursday, November 5 at 9:48 am
Of course, land in Salt Lake City costs WAY less than San Francisco. Thus, overhead for hotels is cheaper in Salt Lake. Thus, Hotel rooms can be bigger but cost about the same.
Also, since San Francisco had a bout ten billion mor interesting things within and nearby to see. Museaums, the Ferry Building, the Imaginarium, the Anchor Brewery tour, Pt. Reyes nearby, restaraunts galore, Napa and SOnoma so close, The Jelly Belly Factory tour in Fairfield, the Castro, Height Ashbury, and so on. WHo' gonna spend much time in the room?
Salt Lake city..well, not quite as jam packed with cool stuff
Lisa On Thursday, November 5 at 9:49 am
Oh we love the Grand America. To bad you weren't here over a Sunday. Their Sunday Brunch is fantastic, and also if you came a few weeks later you would have been able to see the Christmas lights at Temple Square. It is amazing! Glad you liked the place.
Kryssy On Thursday, November 5 at 9:49 am
It was so good to meet you for a second last night! And I'm so glad you enjoyed your short stay in Utah. Come see us again, soon!
Sarah M On Thursday, November 5 at 9:50 am
I love this hotel!! How beautiful!
Spruce Hill On Thursday, November 5 at 9:50 am
I love that bathroom!
DM Barney On Thursday, November 5 at 9:52 am
I live a couple of blocks from the Grand America so don't have any excuse to stay there, darn it. As others have already said, Utah is a beautiful place. You need to see Zion's and Bryce Canyon (except it seems like you have seen Zions) and lots of other places. It is very unique in many ways. Sounds like the book signing was a smashing success!
Heather D. On Thursday, November 5 at 9:53 am
I've stayed in one of their rooms that looked just like yours. So nice!
Leslie On Thursday, November 5 at 9:53 am
Thank you Ree for coming to SLC, it was such a pleasure meeting you last night! You're such a delight. I so wanted to bring you some of your comfort food, I made your Asian Noodles, but ate them all. I made your rosemary rolls, but ate them all too. You can see the pattern….so you ended up with nothing. SORRY! But all the recipes were so very wonderful and delicious.
Heather D. On Thursday, November 5 at 9:54 am
Oh, and I was so sorry to not meet you last night! Pretty much got told "no way, go home" after being in line 2 1/2 hours.
You looked great though!
Erin On Thursday, November 5 at 9:56 am
A scale in a hotel bathroom? Darn tootin' right on vacation. (and that would be d.a.r.n., not the other word, I had to double check, twice.) Love the hotel pictures. I'm traveling vicariously through your pictures, thank you.
Cindy On Thursday, November 5 at 9:56 am
I love the Grand America Hotel too. So gorgeous. Welcome to Salt Lake City!
Greta On Thursday, November 5 at 9:56 am
I went up to see you last night, but was unable to get in. Still had a great time and I was able to get a pre-signed book. I would of stayed except I had to get up at 5:00 AM. I hope you make another trip out here sometime!
Jana On Thursday, November 5 at 9:58 am
I love this hotel! I have stayed there once, and my parents stay there whenever they are in SLC. If you liked it, you should go to Sun Valley, ID, a resort owned by Holding. It is spectacular.
Martha On Thursday, November 5 at 9:59 am
Yes, I'm loving traveling with you vicariously. Beautiful hotel and your suites are to die for. I wanna go travelin' with you.
Leann On Thursday, November 5 at 9:59 am
Ree, my daughters and I wanted to meet you, somethin' fierce, but the bookstore was sold out of your book as well as ALL the other bookstores in SLC. We should have just come and had you sign our t-shirts or something totally red-neck–like we are. You are amazing! We have been following you from the beginning. Does that mean we don't have a life??? Hopefully not. I have too many kids to not have a life. Thanks for coming to Utah. See, it's not scary here. And "The Grand"!! What an awesome place for you to stay. We love you here and hope you and the family can return when you come out with Book 2.
Lesli Morris On Thursday, November 5 at 10:02 am
I'm so glad you liked the hotel and Salt Lake City. It is home for me. Interesting side note: I had my high school Senior Ball in the Grand America and I really felt like a princess for a night.
Andrea On Thursday, November 5 at 10:03 am
I love that hotel- it's where my husband and I stayed on our wedding night. (And our first anniversary…) I am so sad I couldn't get in to the signing last night. Please come back to Salt Lake soon!
Victoria in Texas On Thursday, November 5 at 10:04 am
Lurve that marble bathroom and the rich fabrics and carpeting. Just beautiful! Thanks for taking us along vicariously on your Griswold Family book tour. I love your new hobby of catching Missy too. She's too cute!
Jesslyn Weaver On Thursday, November 5 at 10:05 am
So sad I missed you in SLC last night. Entire family has the flu, including me, and I didn't want to be one who contributed in anyway to getting you sick and ruining the rest of your tour. But I had to think thrice about it! I got my hair and makeup done… had a coughing fit, changed my mind… little while later got dressed to go… had another coughing/sneezing fit… and finally stayed home. Glad you had a good time here. Write another book so I can be healthy for that signing.
Leanne On Thursday, November 5 at 10:05 am
Looks like you girls are having such a wonderful trip! What great memories to make with family.
Jaime and the Redheads On Thursday, November 5 at 10:05 am
We tried to come see you last night, but the comedy of errors that stopped us almost makes me want to laugh. Almost. I might still be crying, because I had really been looking forward to it. Read all about Ree Drummond and The Elusive Cookbooks later today.
Jane George On Thursday, November 5 at 10:06 am
This is my dream, to travel from big city to big city across the US, always staying someplace grand.
the Provident Woman On Thursday, November 5 at 10:07 am
WOW! I'll have to look into that one next time we go to salt lake.
Deborah On Thursday, November 5 at 10:07 am
I stayed there on my wedding night – 4 years ago next Wednesday. Thanks for the memories!!
Tamara Kenyon On Thursday, November 5 at 10:09 am
Yay! I've actually stayed in that hotel and it was awesome. That means you're getting closer to where I live. Any chance you'll be in Idaho?
McCall On Thursday, November 5 at 10:12 am
It was so good to see you last night! My fiance and I are staying in the Grand America on our wedding night in January and are sooo excited. I'm glad you liked it
Brandi Hayes On Thursday, November 5 at 10:13 am
What I find amazing is a hotel with both a shower and a separate tub. Nice! Where I usually stay, you are good to not have the toilet in the tub with you.
Michelle On Thursday, November 5 at 10:14 am
You stayed in a very nice place, Ree. I went to your book signing last night, but there were probably 350 people ahead of me in the booking signing line. I did get a chance to hear you speak and see you. You are a stunning lady! And I noticed that your eye was attracted at every baby there You LOVE babies! I can tell. Thanks for coming to Salt Lake City. Sorry about the allergies, though.
OneCowgirl On Thursday, November 5 at 10:15 am
Love the comparison w/ the SF Regis. This hotel reminds me of my grandmother's house – classy!
Mommassoapbox On Thursday, November 5 at 10:17 am
The marble is very fancy. It also looks like a great place for me to lie down when I'm having hot flashes……
Can't you just imagine how cool that would be? Ahhhhhhhhhh…..YES, as a matter of fact, I am having a hot flash already this morning……sighhhhhhh
Eileen On Thursday, November 5 at 10:19 am
Completely enjoying your travels, thanks for posting all of the pictures and commentary. Like everyone else, I agree that the bathroom is nice, reminds me of the watergate hotel in DC (only the bathroom). Will I have to get a ticket to see you in NYC? THis whole thing is building, maybe the book signing will have to be in Madison Square Garden by the time you get to NYC. Was going to wait and buy the book on the day you come, will have to rethink that. Let us know where you will be in NY. Thanks.
AshlyH On Thursday, November 5 at 10:19 am
glad you made it to SLC. I got to see you but didn't even get to buy a book – – they sold out when I was 5 people from the front of the line! Bad new. I had a signing ticket but couldn't use it (no book!). Sad!!
Suzie On Thursday, November 5 at 10:23 am
We live here in the SLC area and have stayed at the Grand America a few times. My favorite thing there is those fabulously deep bathtubs…I could spend days on end in one!
Wish I could have met you last night…got there early but not early enough to get a ticket, get my books signed, or meet you (but I did see you and got a pitcure of your mother-in-law and Missy from a distance). Hope you had a fun evening!
Jen Logan On Thursday, November 5 at 10:24 am
Love Olive tapenade… that should be your next cooking project!
the inadvertent farmer On Thursday, November 5 at 10:28 am
Ohhh I love those colors and mixes of patterns, lovely and feminine without being too girlie. You seem to be having a great time…thanks for taking us all along!
Betsy H On Thursday, November 5 at 10:29 am
you're my kind of woman Miss Ree…only the higher end hotels for me when I travel…I think why not? If I'm going to be away from home, then I want nice digs….and 24 hour room service…never know when ya might get hungry…just hate that tab when its all over…LOL…
Thanks for the tour…I love nice hotels…
susan On Thursday, November 5 at 10:29 am
I stayed there once with my work – looks exactly your room layout too! I was so shocked to hear a door bell ring in my room when the bell-hop delievered my luggage to my room! That is one of my favorite hotels as well!
Frieda On Thursday, November 5 at 10:30 am
Thank you for coming to SLC! I enjoyed meeting you. Travel safely.
chrissy keele On Thursday, November 5 at 10:31 am
Dorothy On Thursday, November 5 at 10:32 am
Beautiful hotel!
Cindy On Thursday, November 5 at 10:33 am
I stayed at the Little America across the street and it was wonderful!! Just as opulent! And the prime rib…the best ever! You made me ready to go back!
Roxanne On Thursday, November 5 at 10:33 am
Next time you are in town, you have to do the "tea"! They have fabulous tea and those little tiny finger sandwiches! It's like playing tea party when you are a kid, only grown up style!
Emily On Thursday, November 5 at 10:34 am
I stayed in that hotel the night before I was married in the Salt Lake Temple. I'm a Salt Lake native living in Alaska of all the crazy places and naturally I can't help missing it there. My mom made a good faith effort to get me a signed cookbook last night, but wouldn't you know (and I'm sure you all too well know it!) there were a gazillion people there! I knew it! Us Utah mom's LOVE you! What a great place to stop on your tour, I'm honored you did and I don't even live there!
Diane On Thursday, November 5 at 10:34 am
Ree – I absolutely LOVED meeting you last night. So gracious and well worth the three hour wait. Please thank your family for sharing you with all of us. I am sure your "punks" miss you….but it was a pleasure! Thank You
Cheryl On Thursday, November 5 at 10:36 am
Love it! Enough with the neutral colors already hotel people! And why, why, why would they even think about putting a scale in there?!
v On Thursday, November 5 at 10:41 am
For the hundreds that knew about the 'golden ticket' required to get in – Good on Ya! For the hundreds of us in the cool, dark on the sidewalk in front of the bookstore in SLC – poo! Where was the 'rules' that said you had to have a ticket to get in to see our friend Ree? Heads up to the rest of the tour followers; Find out if you need a ticket to even get inside! Then you'll have a smile on your face, for sure! xo, V
Lloyd On Thursday, November 5 at 10:42 am
Sorry we missed you last night. We flew back from New York, and go re-routed through Atlanta, adding hours to our trip. Got back too late to make it. Hope you had a good time in SLC. My wife is from Oklahoma, and Salt Lake is the last place on earth she ever thought she'd live. Wild horses couldn't drag her away now.
CHRISTY On Thursday, November 5 at 10:42 am
I'm waving back….SEEEEEEEE????????
I really had an "a-ha" moment with that deep teal…paired with that awesome rug! We are getting ready to move again (army families…always on the move!) and I'm thinking my guest bedroom might have to be as inviting as THAT one! Thank you so much for sharing with us!!!
pineapple princess On Thursday, November 5 at 10:42 am
I so love living vicariously through you.
On the ranch or in a shmancy hotel… life is good… and funny.
jgreen On Thursday, November 5 at 10:44 am
It was definitely a treat to meet you last night. You are so delightful and it was fun to visit with your mother-in-law as well. Even though there were hundreds of people, it was all worth it! (My sister is the "Ree" you met.) Happy travels!
Emily H. On Thursday, November 5 at 10:46 am
It was wonderful meeting you with the other group of Utah bloggers…and our gift basket bearing Utah goodies–those cupcakes from The Sweet Tooth Fairy are to die for…and the cake bites? Pure heaven! I also enjoyed chatting with Missy for a few minutes in the corner. She is simply fabulous. Best of luck on the rest of the trip and enjoy your girl time!
hillary On Thursday, November 5 at 10:48 am
yes, well we mormons know how to do comfort and elegance right! wish i coulda been there, but i kow my friends were! hope you'll make it a little farther west!!
camie On Thursday, November 5 at 10:48 am
I stayed here for my honeymoon and for two poor college kids, it was the ultimate extravagance. I couldn't get over how beautiful the bathroom was. You captured it well!
Carrie Morris On Thursday, November 5 at 10:48 am
So sad I wasn't able to make it down to meet you last night. I'm glad you enjoyed your first trip to SLC. Have a wonderful tour!
The Double Dipped Life On Thursday, November 5 at 10:50 am
I'm so glad that you enjoyed SLC! It really is beautiful this time of year. I missed you, but I got your book and look forward to many nights reading and cooking!
Debbie On Thursday, November 5 at 10:51 am
Wow what a great hotel! Wish you would come to Seattle!
Jamie On Thursday, November 5 at 10:57 am
Love the pictures! I have had a luncheon there a couple years ago in High School and it was BEAUTIFUL. I am so glad you enjoyed Utah! It is a wonderful place.
Care On Thursday, November 5 at 10:57 am
Ree – thank you for coming to Salt Lake! You are every bit as lovely as I have imagined you to be. And your family – ditto. You can see how you all stay so upbeat and happy, you have each other.
The Grand America is the castle on the hill to me. I just dream every time I see it. Even though I haven't been able to stay there, I do go there to eat with the Gods – I can almost afford that. When you mentioned that you only had time for room service meals while here, I knew you wouldn't be lacking when it came to the Grand.
Hope you get time to sleep in all these comfy beds – you are certainly hopping till all hours. Wishing you all a safe and happy rest of your tour! Come back to Salt Lake soon!
Pat in Oak Ridge On Thursday, November 5 at 10:58 am
I love the colors in this hotel room. It is gorgeous. I love yellow rooms, they're so bright and sunny. I wish I could live there.
Susan On Thursday, November 5 at 10:59 am
My children used to live in UT when they were in college. Gorgeous state!
I wish I was there…in your hotel, in Salt Lake, in Utah!!!
Jeni Wood On Thursday, November 5 at 11:00 am
Glad you could come to this beautiful place some of us call home. The mountains are majestic and if you live here, you really miss them when you leave. I enjoyed getting to meet you last night and I love your cookbook… Great Job! Thanks for coming to Salt Lake, please come back soon!
Leyla On Thursday, November 5 at 11:02 am
I don't like the room decor AT ALL! Lol… I'm a contemporary modern type gal… But the gorgeous Tiziano Marble bathroom is right up my ally that's for sure!
Last day to Enter my Giveaway here:
Bev On Thursday, November 5 at 11:06 am
What a treat for all of you!
Christine Higgins On Thursday, November 5 at 11:07 am
This is one beautiful hotel… across the street is the Hotel Little America (their sister hotel)… also a beautiful place to stay. I hope you got to tour Temple Square (just down the street, free on TRAX), you will see beautiful architecture and the feeling there is so reverent. I am from Alaska, but visit often, its one of my favorite places.
Lorianne On Thursday, November 5 at 11:08 am
Just got your book from Amazon! So excited! I love it!
kathrynjs On Thursday, November 5 at 11:08 am
Ree, you are amazing. It was such an awesome experience last night meeting you and your family. The icing on the cake was when it was finally my turn to get my books signed, the news camera showed up and I got a first row seat of your interview with them (and also got on the news. Woot!) It made the 4 hours standing in my heels all worth it. Thank you for coming to SLC.
Cathy Shea On Thursday, November 5 at 11:12 am
All your hard work on your cookbook is paying off. At the time you were writing it, did you have any idea how much fun your grand tour would be?
Jenny M On Thursday, November 5 at 11:14 am
Ah, when you said you were loving your hotel in Salt Lake, I thought to myself "she must be staying at the Grand America."
I noticed the scale in the first bathroom picture. Not quite sure how I feel about a scale in the hotel while on vacation. Calories on vacation don't count right?
Blue On Thursday, November 5 at 11:21 am
hey, there was room for a slumber party in that there room of yours!
actually, i know you didn't really get to slumber last night, which is such a pity. i swear i felt virtue go out of utah when your plane took off this morning. and i felt so bad for you when my alarm went off to get the cuteheads off to school, knowing that you were already up too. hope you can chillax in PHX for a few hours before you go another round.
♥ always,
Brooke Bleyl On Thursday, November 5 at 11:22 am
Oh that bathroom is soooo pretty. The St. Regis is much more style though. I could live in that St. Regis room forever!!!!! You are one lucky girl getting to travel all around!
Carole On Thursday, November 5 at 11:25 am
I'm impressed that the architects would take the itme to go turn-of-the-century-retro, versus a sleek modern design – wish there were more of these.
SharonK On Thursday, November 5 at 11:28 am
This one is my favorite, so far. It's just so doggone cozy and comfy and rich looking…all at once!
Meili On Thursday, November 5 at 11:29 am
Ree, it was so wonderful to see you at the book signing last night! You're taller than I thought you'd be, and even more charming and adorable. Thanks for coming to Salt Lake City! I hope you'll come back soon.
The gal with the red hair and Chinese name
Annette Sheaffer On Thursday, November 5 at 11:29 am
It looks lovely. I always wanted a job where I traveled from one city to another. I am such a gypsy and would love the book tour, I love an adventure. Have a blast everywhere you go.
Twisted Chicken On Thursday, November 5 at 11:34 am
That hotel is beautiful. And those bathrooms are great, aren't they? My brother installed all the marble in the hotel, including those great bathrooms. The food is also wonderful. We've been to several corporate functions there and the food is always delicious.
Erin On Thursday, November 5 at 11:35 am
Ree, you missed one of the best parts of the Grand America — Sunday brunch!!
Dee On Thursday, November 5 at 11:41 am
This looks NICE! I don't like the modern rooms. This one looks posh yet cozy.
Allie On Thursday, November 5 at 11:48 am
My daughter surprised me with your cookbook. So the guys get pizza and the girls… Starbucks and the Pioneer Woman!! See you in Tempe!
Valerie On Thursday, November 5 at 11:50 am
I've stayed there once, it is really posh and nice! My husband won a two night stay there at work, several years ago.
Little America across the street is very similar, just scaled down a bit…but with that same feeling and style (especially the tower rooms). Although it is an older hotel.
tammy blankenship On Thursday, November 5 at 11:55 am
I feel so homesick reading this. I miss the mountains, I hope you enjoyed utah.
pamm On Thursday, November 5 at 11:55 am
The carpet does not make my skirt fly up-otherwise, it's lovely!
A Cozy Kitchen On Thursday, November 5 at 12:06 pm
I actually stayed at The Grand America for two weeks straight for work! It's beautiful.
You didn't include the lobby, which in my opinion is the most beautiful place on earth. I was there in the dead of winter and sitting by the fire, drinking tea was so memorable and really made it feel like home.
Oh and it's funny that you mention the room service because I ordered a salad and actually ended up getting food poisoning but the chef personally came to my room to apologize and brought me a baked potato and Gatorade–A class treatment!
sparkly_jules On Thursday, November 5 at 12:06 pm
Oh my. We were in SLC in July. We camped out. I think that may have been a mistake.
Hummus and olive tapenade? You're killing me, Larry!
Amy On Thursday, November 5 at 12:07 pm
I live near SLC and I was totally excited to come to your book signing, until I started ralphing (throwing up, blowing chunks, puking…) every few minutes the night before… My dreams were crushed. Im glad you enjoyed your stay though!
Journaling Woman On Thursday, November 5 at 12:09 pm
Lovely! I could live there…but who would pay the bill?
KAY GUEST On Thursday, November 5 at 12:13 pm
pati mk On Thursday, November 5 at 12:14 pm
Looks like so much fun!
mimi On Thursday, November 5 at 12:16 pm
Well, we already know you like ruffles. The rooms look grand but very cozy and comfortable at the same time – very Engish manor house-y. Those bathrooms are lovely.
Mary On Thursday, November 5 at 12:16 pm
LOL PW! looks like a nice place, vacation?


text:
San Antonio Catholics welcome new pope
Staff at Archdiocese cry, cheer when Pope Francis I revealed
Deacon Pat Rodgers, director of communications for the Archdiocese of San Antonio, said employees felt a rush of emotion at the announcement of a new pope Wednesday.
"It was tears, it was applause, it was, 'Yahoo,'" said Rodgers. "There wasn't a quiet, silent moment until the Pope called is to pray."
From Argentina, Pope Francis I is the first to be chosen from the Americas and the first pope selected outside of Europe in a millennium.
"It's a whole different perspective, a country a whole ocean away. It's a whole different people. And I think that the culture and his life experience will be different than any other pope we've had," said Rodgers.
|On camera: Seagull hangs out on chimney (video)
|White smoke as new pope elected (video)
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text:
Pulau Daat
Pulau Daat is approx. 587 acres in area, is part of the island state of Labuan in Malaysia.
It is located off Northwest coast of Borneo, at 05 latitude North and 115 longtitude East and lies about 5km Southeast off the mainland of Sabah.
Its Deep bay provides ideal conditions for large vessels to anchor and is free from hurricane and typhoons and enjoys a tropical climate with two annual monsoon seasons. Daily temperatures average between 28 to 32 degrees celcius.
The local and international investors led by M/s RG Gas & Chemical (M) Sdn. Bhd. are desirous of developing the island into a major international Oil & Gas Petroleum Hub, Integrated Fabrication Hub, Port & Jetty and Supply Base.