text:
Age Related Cognitive Decline
Psychological Risk Factors Contributing to Cognitive Decline
There is a tendency to focus on the biological aspects of a disease state because they are perceived as tangible, measurable, and modifiable. However, more loosely defined facets of our lives related to our psychological condition contribute to our mental fluency as well. The ways in which the brain is utilized and stimulated impact its functional state at all ages.
Psychoanalytical tests have found that cognitive impairment is closely correlated with traits such as boredom-proneness, loneliness,123 small social network,124 and high stress.125
Anxiety and Stress
Research in patients with anxiety has shown that, compared to non-anxious control subjects, those with high-anxiety levels must exert greater effort (dedicate more brain resources) to maintain the same level of performance on cognitive tests.126 More severe anxiety is also predicative of earlier conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease.127 In men, even subclinical (low-level) anxiety is tied to cognitive impairment.128
Excessive stress leads to cognitive dysfunction as well. In a study involving 36 women between the ages of 25 and 53, those with the highest work-related stress levels displayed decreased attention and visuo-spatial memory.129 Likewise, in a cohort of 811 aging men, subjects reporting higher stress levels scored lower on the Mini-Mental State Examination than their low-stress counterparts. This indicates that "psychological stress had an independent inverse association with cognition…"130
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition characterized by chronic, lingering anxiety and stress related to a traumatic event in the past. A comprehensive review of eight studies highlighted a strong association between PTSD and smaller brain size (total brain volume).131 The duration of PTSD influences the extent to which the brain deteriorates; developing effective coping strategies as soon as possible may help to limit PTSD-induced decreases in brain volume.132
Meditation is an effective method for relieving stress. With the connection between stress and cognitive dysfunction in mind, researchers studied the effects of an 8-week audio-guided meditation program on cerebral blood flow and cognition in 14 subjects with memory problems. Tests revealed that meditation significantly increased cerebral blood flow in several major brain regions. Improvements in tests of verbal fluency and logical memory were attributed to meditation as well.133
An intimate relationship exists between depression and cognitive dysfunction. Many studies have closely examined this link and allude to the intertwinement of these two conditions, rather than a causal effect of one on the other. Interestingly, depression seems to worsen cognitive dysfunction, but poorer cognitive health predisposes aging individuals to depression as well.134
In fact, studies designed specifically to assess age-related cognitive performance in depression show an interrelationship between the two conditions. A group of aging subjects diagnosed with depression completed various cognitive tests and their results were compared to those of age and sex – matched, non-depressed control subjects. More than half of the depressed subjects scored below the 10th percentile of the control group on the battery of tests they completed. The conclusion drawn from this evidence was that "late-life depression is characterized by slowed information processing, which affects all realms of cognition."135
Continuing research has lead to the delineation of "depression-associated reversible dementia," which is cognitive impairment associated with depression that subsides upon improvement of depression. Nonetheless, in a study of 57 elderly subjects with major depression, those who displayed depression-associated reversible dementia were nearly five times more likely to develop true dementia over a roughly three-year period.136
Several cognitive and neuropsychological deficits accompany depression, including impairments in executive function, attention, episodic memory, visuo-spatial skills and information processing.137 Other research indicates that deterioration in structural integrity of specific brain regions involved in emotional processing is observed in depressed patients.138
Social Network and Personal Relationships
Several studies have suggested that maintaining a large network of friends and other personal relationships, and regularly engaging in social and productive activities is associated with a decreased risk of cognitive decline.139,140 Conversely, social disengagement, defined as having very few or no social relationships, is a strong risk factor for cognitive decline.141
Among 2,249 women aged 78 or older, those with smaller social networks at baseline had a significantly greater chance of having developed dementia within one year than women with larger social networks. The investigators stated that "our findings suggest that larger social networks have a protective influence on cognitive function among elderly women."142 In another study, researchers assessed work history data for nearly 1,000 subjects, who were then followed for up to six years. Participants in the study whose careers involved regularly working closely with people on complex tasks were much less likely to develop dementia over time than subjects who did not regularly work closely with other people.143
Sixteen behavioral measures were correlated with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores for 1,437 elderly subjects in an Austrian study. Among other measures, living alone and perceiving life as being generally stressful were independently associated with lower MMSE scores.144 These findings are supported by a separate study that identified being unmarried as an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment in over 7,000 Italian subjects.145
Social integration, defined by marital status, volunteer activity, and frequency of contact with children, parents, and neighbors, conveys a memory preserving effect in elderly adults. Over a six-year period, memory among those with the lowest level of social integration declined at twice the rate of subjects with the higher levels of social integration.146
Maintaining close ties with friends and loved ones, and being involved in various group-oriented activities, especially outdoors, is an effective method for stimulating and maintaining your brain as you age.
Mental and Physical Activity
The brain consists of a vast network of approximately 90 billion (109) neurons interconnected by 1,000 trillion (1015) synaptic junctions.147 Each mental and physical task that we perform stimulates this massive network in a unique way. Regular stimulation of diverse synaptic pathways by engaging in a wide range of mentally and physically challenging activities directly influences our ability to learn by enhancing synaptic plasticity, and initiating the process of neurogenesis in critical areas of the brain.148,149 In fact, it is now clear that neural plasticity allows the structure and function of the adult human brain to change significantly as a result of new experiences.150
Physical Activity and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
A critical driving force behind neural plasticity (and therefore overall cognitive function) is a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF. BDNF acts upon areas of the brain involved in learning, memory, and higher-order thinking to stimulate genesis of new neurons, survival of existing neurons, and synaptic adaptation.151,152,153 Low levels of BDNF are observed in a variety of brain disorders, including cognitive decline, depression, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease.154,155
Physical exercise is known to enhance cognitive function in humans and other animals, and many researchers now believe that an increase in levels of BDNF induced by exercise mediates this improvement.156,157,158 Several studies have demonstrated that moderate to high intensity aerobic or anaerobic exercise induces sharp (intensity-dependent) increases in BDNF levels in humans.159,160
Gold et al noted a marked increase in serum BDNF levels induced by a 30-minute bout of moderate intensity cycling; this was observed in both healthy subjects and in patients with multiple sclerosis.161 These findings are supported by Tang et al who found that only 15 minutes of a high-intensity stair climbing exercise significantly bolstered serum BDNF levels in healthy men.162 At the highest intensity level, exercise induces sharp increases in serum BDNF levels in as little as three minutes, as reported by Winter et al, who documented the effects of very-high intensity sprinting exercises in healthy young men.163 In this last study, the post-exercise spike in BDNF levels corresponded with a 20 percent improvement in short-term memory.164
Animal models allow scientists to more closely study the dynamic effect of physical activity on the brain. Work conducted by researchers in Taiwan indicates that, while both leisurely (voluntary) physical activity (ie. briskly walking in the park) and targeted physical exercise (ie. going to the gym) boost levels of BDNF and enhance plasticity in animals, they do so in different regions of the brain.165 These findings highlight the importance of not only engaging in exercise routines, but leading a generally active lifestyle as well in order to promote overall brain health.
The beneficial effects of exercise on brain health appear to be limited only by the duration of exercise. Studies conducted in rats reveal a direct correlation between the amount of time spent exercising (wheel running) and the genetic expression of BDNF. In other words, the longer the rats exercised, the more robust the increase in BDNF gene expression.166
The protective effects of regular exercise on cognitive health were documented in a recent comprehensive analysis of 15 studies including over 33,000 subjects who were followed for up to 12 years. Individuals with the highest levels of physical activity were a striking 38% less likely to show signs of cognitive decline over time compared to those with very-low activity levels. Amazingly, even low to moderate levels of physical activity conveyed a robust 35% reduction in risk for cognitive decline. The importance of physical activity for brain health was reflected in the authors' concluding statements: "the present results suggest a significant and consistent protection for all levels of physical activity against the occurrence of cognitive decline."167
Mental Activity, Brain Plasticity, and Cognitive Reserve
Neural plasticity, the dynamic ability of the brain to adapt and respond to novel stimuli in a unique and reinforceable way, is a pivotal aspect of cognition. Plasticity serves as a key medium for the effects of practicing a physical activity – i.e. getting better at a physical task over time. As we practice an activity repetitively signals are transmitted through the brain in a specific pattern over and over again. This redundant signaling ultimately strengthens the connections between neurons in the signaling pathway required to execute the task, leading to greater efficiency and accuracy of signal transmission.
An important limitation of physical practice, though, is that improvements in ability are generally confined to the task being practiced. In other words, practicing tennis does not increase proficiency in bowling. Repetitive mental stimulation, on the other hand, exerts domain-wide improvements that impact other tasks as well. To elaborate, practicing a mentally challenging activity that requires utilization of higher-order cognitive processes, playing chess for example, can improve fluency in other activities that require similar cognitive processes, like driving a vehicle.168,169
Brain plasticity also serves as a prerequisite for a more global effect known as cognitive reserve. This phenomenon arises from, and is dependent on, synaptogenesis – the formation of new synapses, the hallmark physical affect of mental training.
The introduction of novel cognitive stimuli encourages the brain to establish new neural networks through synaptogenesis, which can then be used to bypass breakdowns in other neural networks arising from age-related or pathological deterioration in brain circuitry.
Cognitive reserve is measurable as a function of life experiences and studies have shown that cognitive reserve scores correlate with overall cognitive function in an aging population.170 In subjects with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment, higher cognitive reserve mitigates the loss of function typical with these conditions.171 This same study found that individuals with higher cognitive reserve scores performed better on assessments of visuo-spatial ability than those with lower scores, despite presenting with equal pathologic progression of Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment as assessed by brain imaging.
Just as the desire to maintain a fit and functional body into late life necessitates regular physical exercise, ensuring cognitive dexterity with advancing age requires constantly pushing the brain to new limits in order to evoke plastic changes that strengthen existing, and encourage new, synaptic connections. This becomes clear when considering that individuals with mentally demanding careers appear to be at significantly decreased risk of developing Alzheimer's dementia in later life, compared to those whose careers centered on physical labor.172
Plasticity is an intrinsic property of the brain maintained throughout life; and so cognitive stimulation and training enhance cognitive reserve and convey protection against loss of brain function regardless of age.173 In a study including nearly 500 individuals with clinical cognitive impairment, computerized cognitive training significantly improved several measures of cognitive function.174 Improvement was still evident up to three months post training in some cognitive assessments. Moreover, as little as two hours of cognitive training initiates structural changes in the brain suggesting that those who chose to challenge their intellectual capacity reap the benefits instantaneously.175
A 2005 case study of a chess player reveals the true compensatory ability of the brain given regular cognitive stimulation. The chess player, an aging gentleman whom heretofore displayed excellent cognitive function, presented with complaints of slight memory loss, which over the next two years progressed into mild cognitive impairment. The man then fell ill with an unrelated illness and passed seven months later. The autopsy revealed that he had been living with advanced Alzheimer's pathology in his brain, which would normally cause severe deterioration of cognitive ability. Remarkably, the man displayed only mild cognitive impairment until his death.176 Regularly playing chess had imbued the gentleman with a great deal of cognitive reserve, allowing for relatively normal neural efficiency despite stark deterioration of the structural integrity of the brain.
Speaking more than one language is also a strong inducer of plasticity and cognitive reserve. Learning a second language requires the brain to constantly categorize information in ways that are unnecessary when only a single language is spoken; this establishes numerous new neuronal communication streams. In a study of more than 200 individuals clinically likely to have Alzheimer's disease, being bilingual was found to delay that onset of symptoms by over five years, and delay diagnosis by nearly four and a half years relative to monolingual speakers.177
Cognitive stimulation and training also benefit the brain by enhancing cerebral blood flow. Mozolic et al have shown that an eight-week attention and distractibility cognitive training program significantly increased blood flow to the prefrontal cortex, a brain region involved in personality expression and decision making. The control group in this study, who were exposed to education material, but not intensive cognitive training, displayed no increase in cerebral perfusion.178
A lifestyle incorporating frequent physical exercise, continual learning, and regular cognitive stimulation is likely to be the most effective means for preserving, and possibly enhancing, cognitive function at any age.
Medical Approaches to Combating Cognitive Decline
While various pharmacologic therapeutics have been studied in hopes of identifying an effective intervention for preserving cognition with aging, and preventing diseases of the brain such as Alzheimer's disease, evidence in support of medical therapies are equivocal at best.179 However, preliminary data suggests that some drugs may provide limited benefits for brain health, and thus may adjunctively synergize with increased mental and physical activity levels, dietary changes, and neutraceutical options to optimize brain function with advancing age.
Piracetam has been studied in a wide-range of patient populations, and has demonstrated small benefits in a variety of models of neurological disorders. Multiple mechanisms for the observable effects of piracetam on brain function have been proposed, though a precise description of its mechanism(s) of action has yet to be elucidated. Preliminary studies suggest that piracetam may modulate the signaling of multiple neurotransmitter receptors,180 and improve neuronal membrane fluidity.181
A recent comprehensive review which assessed the efficacy of piracetam in older subjects suggests that the drug may provide appreciable benefits for cognitive dysfunction. The reviewers concluded that "…the results of this analysis provide compelling evidence for the global efficacy of piracetam in a diverse group of older subjects with cognitive impairment."182
Like piracetam, hydergine has been proposed to affect the brain in multiple ways. The drug, which largely fell out of clinical use decades ago after it was shown to be largely ineffective for Alzheimer's disease, is still incorporated by some integrative physicians into regimens for brain support. Proposed mechanisms include enhancing brain glucose utilization,183 increasing acetylcholine signaling,184 and preserving hippocampal structure with advancing age,185 among others.
Collectively, data indicates that hydergine may be slightly more effective than placebo for treating dementia; however, a review concluded that "the efficacy of Hydergine remains inadequately defined."186
Deprenyl, in low doses, is a selective MAO-B inhibitor, and thus slows the breakdown of various neurotransmitters in the central nervous system, especially dopamine, so it may enhance mood and energy.187 The drug has been shown to preserve some regions of the rodent brain with increasing age,188 and to ameliorate HIV-related cognitive impairment in a double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial.189
Centrophenoxine is structurally related to dimethylethanolamine (DMAE), a metabolic precursor to acetylcholine. It has been shown that centropehnoxie increases acetylcholinergic synaptic signaling,190 and improves memory and mental alertness in healthy elderly subjects.191 Other proposed mechanisms by which centrophenoxine may benefit brain function are improving neuronal hydration through enhanced membrane fluidity,192 and the ability to reduce neuronal oxidative stress.193
Dietary Considerations for a Healthy Brain
The exceptionally high rate of metabolism in the brain makes it particularly responsive to the nutritional content of the diet. A Western dietary pattern, typified by excess consumption of simple carbohydrates and dietary fat (in particular saturated fat and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids), is a detrimental, yet alterable, modulator of cognitive function. Numerous studies have identified high intakes of simple sugars and saturated fats as being especially deleterious for brain health.194,195,196 Transitioning to a slightly calorie-restricted Mediterranean diet high in mono- and poly- unsaturated omega-3 fats, fiber, and polyphenols will provide the brain with nutrition to function at high capacity and efficiency.
Some dietary considerations that may be easily overlooked provide substantial brain benefits as well.
Calorie Restriction
Calorie restriction is the restriction of caloric intake to a level modestly below normal, typically 20% to 30% less, but the diet should be dense with micronutrients to maintain optimal nutrition. Caloric restriction is well-known for its ability to induce favorable changes in peripheral insulin sensitivity, which enhances insulin signaling in the central nervous system. The brain relies heavily on proper insulin signaling for a variety of functions that impact cognition, and so it is not surprising that caloric restriction has been shown to benefit cognitive function in many animal and human studies.197,198
A study conducted in 124 hypertensive individuals who led generally sedentary lifestyles found that four months of caloric restriction in conjunction with a diet designed to help control blood pressure produced several neurocognitive improvements in domains including executive learning and psychomotor speed.199
Caloric restriction also boosts levels of several neurotrophic factors, including BDNF, and thus creates an ideal environment for plastic adaptation of the brain in response to mental stimulation.200
Mediterranean Diet
A great deal of scientific literature validates the Mediterranean diet as a staple for those concerned with cardiovascular health, cognitive health, and longevity. The diet centers on "good" fats – mono- and poly-unsaturated fats, especially omega-3's and olive oil, multi-colored fruits and vegetables, and moderate red wine consumption.201,202 Adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been linked with improved insulin sensitivity,203 lipid metabolism204, blood pressure,205 reduced risk of developing cancer206 or metabolic syndrome,207 as well as an overall decrease in mortality.208, 209
The brain also benefits greatly from the health-promoting lipids and antioxidants that are ample in the Mediterranean diet.210 An abundance of scientific literature concedes that adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with better cognitive performance in a variety of populations.211
In 1,393 individuals participating in a prospective study with follow up of 4.5 years, greater Mediterranean diet adherence was shown to decrease the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment by 28% compared to lesser adherence. Additionally, in those who consistently consumed a Mediterranean diet, but did develop mild cognitive impairment, risk of converting to Alzheimer's disease was cut by 48% relative to subjects whose diet deviated from the Mediterranean style.212 Several additional studies have concluded similarly.213,214,215
Moderate Alcohol Consumption
While there is no question that heavy alcohol consumption is deleterious to nearly all aspects of health, including cognition, moderate alcohol consumption, characterized as two drinks daily, seems to convey protection against cognitive decline with aging. Fifteen studies were summarized in a recent comprehensive review which included data for over 36,000 subjects; those classified as "moderate" drinkers were roughly 25 – 30% less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, or any-type dementia, than non drinkers or heavy drinkers.216
Light to moderate alcohol consumption during midlife appears to convey protection against cognitive decline in late life. A study following over 1,400 individuals for nearly 23 years found that mid-life moderate drinkers were less likely to display signs of cognitive impairment later in life than their teetotaling and heavy drinking peers.217
Evidence suggests that red wine may be the alcoholic beverage of choice for maintaining cognitive health, as it contains many phenolic antioxidant compounds that are suspected to impede the pathological progress of Alzheimer's disease,218 and limit the neurological consequences of high cholesterol.219 Indeed, a seven-year longitudinal study including over 5,000 healthy subjects found that those who regularly drank a moderate amount of red wine scored better on every test of cognitive performance that the investigators administered than non-drinkers.220 Other studies have produced similar findings.221
Many of the benefits of moderate drinking are likely attributable to alcohol's profound positive impact on levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol and enhancement of cholesterol efflux.222,223,224 Alcohol consumption protects against cardiovascular and neurological disease and degeneration via mechanisms that may be thought of as hormetic (stress adaptive) in nature; the concluding statements of a recent review on this topic suggest that "to a certain extent, moderate alcohol exposure appears to trigger analogous mild stress-associated, anti-inflammatory mechanisms in the heart, vasculature, and brain that tend to promote cellular survival pathways."225
Moderate Caffeinated Coffee Consumption
Coffee, like red wine, is an excellent source of antioxidant and neuroprotective compounds.226,227,228,229 However, it has been suggested recently that the antioxidant compounds in coffee may synergize with caffeine to enhance the protective effect against brain pathology, and that decaffeinated coffee does not provide the same level of neuroprotection observed with caffeinated coffee.230 Accordingly, a study which followed nearly 700 elderly men for a 10-year period revealed that coffee consumption, roughly equivalent to three cups daily, was associated with a 4.3 fold slower rate of cognitive decline when compared to those subjects who did not drink coffee.231
A team of Scottish researchers recently found that coffee consumption was tied to superior reading ability and higher scores on some other cognitive assessments in a cohort of over 900 healthy adults.232
Moreover, a level of evidence that is strongly suggestive has accumulated indicating that caffeine itself exerts a variety of protective and augmentative effects in various cognitive domains.233,234,235,236 Animal models have identified several mechanisms by which caffeine protects the aging brain, including preservation of blood-brain barrier integrity and suppression of brain and plasma amyloid-beta levels.237,238,239
In addition to preserving cognition, coffee consumption may also protect against type 2 diabetes and some cancers.240,241 Black coffee or espresso appear to be superior choices when selecting a coffee beverage for health benefits, since adding sugar or non-dairy creamer has been shown to blunt the ability of coffee to increase the levels of antioxidants in circulation.242
Nutraceuticals to Support Brain Health
Healthy dietary habits ensure that food is an excellent source of nutrients that serve to support the brain both structurally and functionally. However, optimal neruoprotection and cognitive preservation often require micronutrient intakes in excess of those obtainable in a typical Western diet, or intake of specialized nutrients not common in most foods.
Many nutrients known to modulate physiological process important for brain health have been shown to slow cognitive deterioration, or enhance mental performance.
Fish Oil
Phospholipids are an integral component of all cells in the body, without which the integrity of cell membranes would fail, as would cellular function. In the brain omega-3 fatty acids are incorporated liberally into cellular phospholipid bilayers; DHA alone accounts for 40% of the phospholipid content of neuronal membranes.243 Along with EPA, DHA plays a central role in neurotransmitter signaling and synthesis, and together the omega-3 fatty acids modulate numerous aspects of cognition and behavior.244,245,246
Evidence suggests that the typical Western diet is severely deficient in beneficial omega-3's, and supplies omega-6's in excess, which creates a fatty acid milieu that promotes inflammation and contributes to several age related degenerative diseases.247 Numerous studies have concluded accordingly, indicating that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids optimizes cognitive health.
Slightly less than two grams of fish oil daily, over a 24-week period, was shown to significantly improve scores on a standardized assessment of cognitive function in subjects with mild cognitive impairment. Increases in red blood cell EPA confirmed that supplemental fish oil was biologically available and responsible for the improvement in cognition.248 A similar, but longer-term, study involving nearly 1,500 subjects found that daily omega-3 supplementation was independently associated with a dramatic reduction in cognitive decline over a 1.5 year period in an aging study population, compared to those not taking omega-3 supplements. Importantly, this study also found that dietary fish consumption was not associated with cognition, while omega-3 supplements were, highlighting the superiority of supplementing with omega-3's for supporting brain health.249
In addition to the numerous studies that have associated increased dietary omega-3 intake with better cognitive performance,250,251 a more detailed study confirms the principle role the role of DHA in mediating this improvement. Researchers assessed serum phospholipid levels in 280 middle-aged (35 – 54) healthy study volunteers, which were then correlated to cognitive function. It was found that subjects with the highest serum levels of DHA performed significantly better in multiple domains of cognition than their cohorts with lower DHA levels. This association remained significant even after adjustment for various other confounding factors.252
Polyphenols and Anthocyanins
The disproportionately large metabolic demand of the brain compared to other parts of the body gives rise to an environment in the CNS primed for generation of cell-damaging oxygen free radicals. Polyphenolic antioxidants, such as resveratrol from grapes, catechins from green tea, and anthocyanins from blueberries are among the strongest naturally occurring free radical neutralizers, and several laboratory in vitro studies have confirmed the neuroprotective properties of these antioxidants. In the past, some scientists questioned the utility of these compounds in protecting neural health in vivo due to concerns over oral bioavailability. However, data clearly indicates that these protective compounds are not only adequately bioavailable ingested orally, but accumulate in the brain after oral ingestion, indicating blood-brain barrier permeability as well.253,254,255,256,257
Blueberries. Multiple animal studies have provided mechanistic insights into the well-documented brain health benefits of blueberry constituents. In addition to strongly attenuating neural oxidative stress, blueberry components also inhibit acetylcholineesterase (AChE), an enzyme responsible for catabolizing the important neurotransmitter acetylcholine, thus preserving acetylcholine-related memory and learning.258 Blueberry supplementation also stimulates neurogenesis and enhances neuronal plasticity (adaptability) in the hippocampus, the region of the brain chiefly affected by Alzheimer's disease.259 Other research has revealed that blueberry compounds may optimize cognitive performance through modulation of genetic expression within the brain.260
These biochemical actions translate into observable improvements in learning, memory, and overall cognitive performance resultant from blueberry supplementation or dietary fortification in both animal and human studies.261,262,263
Other beneficial effects of blueberry consumption include enhanced insulin sensitivity in obese subjects,264 and improved vascular smooth muscle contractility after prolonged supplementation.265
Tea Polyphenols. Interest in studying components of tea in the context of brain health was generated by publication of epidemiological evidence which linked increased tea consumption with superior cognitive function in aged populations.266,267 Investigations were fruitful in that they led to the elucidation of powerful tea constituents, including epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), and other phenolic antioxidants, and findings that these compounds possess tremendous disease modifying potential in Alzheimer's disease and the ability to preserve cognition in healthy aging individuals, and animals.268,269,270
In a double-blind placebo-controlled trial, co-ingestion of green tea polyphenols and L-theanine, an amino acid found in tea, was shown to improve memory and attention in subjects with mild cognitive impairment. Those subjects who consumed the supplement also displayed significantly increased theta brain wave activity as measure by electroencephalography (EEG); theta waves are associated with learning and memory.271,272,273 Similar results were observed in animal models of cognitive impairment, and researches attributed some of the benefits to the free radical scavenging ability of green tea polyphenols.274,275 Other research has shown that daily green tea supplementation attenuates age-related cognitive dysfunction in mice, even when treatment is initiated well into adulthood. These results suggest that green tea might protect neurons and preserve cognition regardless of age.276
Tea polyphenols and theanine may also ameliorate the damaging effects of amyloid-beta proteins, which accumulate in the brain as the hallmark pathology of Alzheimer's disease causing severe oxidative stress and neuronal death. Several animal studies have found that EGCG and related catechins suppress amyloid-beta induced cognitive dysfunction and neurotoxicity.277,278,279
Green tea supplementation has also been shown to optimize insulin signaling280 and endothelial function,281 which may provide additional neuro-protective benefits. Additional clinical trials have established that daily green tea supplementation favorably modulates multiple other metabolic parameters related to brain health, including body weight and lipid peroxidation.282
Resveratrol. Many researchers believe that at least some of the health benefits of red wine consumption may be due to its modest content of the well-known phenolic antioxidant molecule resveratrol. In addition to a multitude of evidence suggesting that resveratrol extends lifespan in experimental settings, likely by mimicking the genetic effects of calorie restriction,283 numerous publications also highlight various roles for resveratrol in optimizing brain function.
Resveratrol may benefit the brain via mechanisms including increased synthesis of the growth factors IGF-1284 and BDNF285 in the hippocampus, suppressing formation of inflammatory metabolic products within the brain,286,287 reinforcing the integrity of the blood-brain-barrier,288 and optimizing overall brain metabolism.289 Other studies have shown that resveratrol supplementation preserves cerebrovascular integrity with aging,290 and protects the brain after traumatic brain injury as well.291
In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled human clinical trial, doses of resveratrol ranging from 250 – 500 mg were shown to dose-dependently enhance cerebral circulation and brain oxygenation.292 In a trial involving non-human primates resveratrol supplementation was shown to increase physical activity levels and enhance both working and spatial memory. The investigators concluded that "these results suggest that resveratrol could be a good candidate to mimic long-term CR effects and support the growing evidences that nutritional interventions can have beneficial effects on brain functions even in adults."293
Inside the central nervous system B-vitamin-dependent reactions are responsible for ensuring the proper function of a vast array of neurochemical processes. When levels of B-vitamins, especially B6, B12, and folic acid, are insufficient to optimally support these reactions consequences such as impaired neurotransmitter synthesis and neurocapillary-damaging hyperhomocysteinemia can result.294
|Figure 3: A mitochondrion; organelle within the cell within which chemical energy in the form of ATP is produced.
Multiple human studies have associated low plasma levels of B-vitamins, and even subclinical deficiencies, with cognitive decline and dementia.295,296,297 Scott et al have shown that, in elderly patients, levels of folate correlate positively with the volume of the hippocampus and amygdala, and inversely with white matter hyperintensities, a marker of neuropathology observable upon MRI brain imaging.298
The brain may be the first organ affected by insufficient intakes of various other B-vitamins as well, including pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and nicotinamide, since these nutrients are important intermediaries in the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) process, a series of reactions by which chemical energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is produced. The brain produces more energy per unit mass than any other organ in the body, thus reflecting the sheer number of OXPHOS reactions taking place therein.299,300,301
Coenzyme Q10
A critical component of the OXPHOS reaction pathway, CoQ10 serves to shuttle electrons between two "stations" along the mitochondrial inner membrane on the pathway to ATP formation. Without adequate CoQ10 supply, electron transport may slow, resulting in fewer ATP molecules being produced, and ultimately less available cellular energy.
CoQ10 supplementation has been shown to improve outcomes in several neurodegenerative disorders involving loss of mitochondrial function, such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.302,303 Some animal data provides evidence for CoQ10's potential for preserving cognitive function in conditions such as experimental Alzheimer's disease.304
Inhibition of HMG-CoA by the widely-prescribed cholesterol lowing statin drugs is known to deplete levels of CoQ10 in the body. Indeed, studies have shown that co-administration of CoQ10 with statins may ameliorate some of the side effects of the drugs, and individuals with memory complaints who are also taking statin drugs may benefit from supplementation.305,306,307
The amino acids lysine and methionine are biochemically conjoined in vivo to form the compound carnitine. Carnitine is essential for ensuring that fatty acids are transported into the mitochondrial matrix where they fuel aspects of OXPHOS, but under certain conditions, including age-related cognitive decline, endogenous synthesis may be insufficient to support optimal fatty acid transport. Subsequent to delineation of the role of carnitine in energy production, many researchers began to study the effects of supplementation with carnitine, and its more brain-permeable derivative acetyl-L-carnitine, upon various energy-demanding systems and reactions in the body.308
Supplementation with carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine has been well-documented to ameliorate consequences of disease states with widespread implications for health, including type 2 diabetes and stroke.309,310 However, more impressive is the efficacy of acetyl-L-carnitine in supporting brain health and cognition during normal age related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. Acetyl-L-carnitine optimizes cognition by acting upon multiple facets of neuronal function, including enhancing efficiency of cholinergic neurotransmission,311 stabilization of neuronal mitochondrial membranes,312 increasing neural antioxidant defenses,313 and enhancing neuron growth through sensitization to neurotrophic factors.314,315
A meta-analysis (comprehensive systematic review) of randomized, controlled human clinical trials involving data from 21 studies and data for over 1,200 subjects with mild cognitive impairment or mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease provides unequivocal evidence that supplementation with acetyl-L-carnitine ameliorates cognitive deficits observed during aging and during pathological brain deterioration.316 The reviewers found that daily doses of acetyl-L-carnitine ranging from 1.5 – 3.0 grams consistently provided a statistically significant benefit over placebo for preserving cognition as assessed by multiple standardized tests. Moreover, there was a clear trend for a cumulative effect of acetyl-L-carnitine supplementation over time, suggesting that long-term use of acetyl-L-carnitine may provide the greatest benefit.
Like the omega-3's EPA and DHA, phosphatidylserine is an especially important component of cellular membranes. In the brain phosphatidylserine conjugates with DHA and helps maintain the proper electrical gradient along neuronal membranes, thus facilitating proper neural communication.317 Human clinical trials have found that orally administered phosphatidylserine in doses ranging from 200 mg to 600 mg daily improves cognitive function in aging subjects with cognitive impairment.318,319,320
Ginkgo Biloba
The leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree have been highly regarded throughout human history and used as a food additive and as a traditional medicine. Though widely regarded a nootropic, or cognitive enhancer, human clinical data as a whole suggests that supplementation with Ginkgo biloba extract alone, not in combination with other cognitive support ingredients, is minimally effective for improving cognitive function in those with Alzheimer's disease or cognitive impairment.321 Nonetheless, because studies have shown that supplementation with ginkgo improves cerebral blood flow,322 and other cerebrovascular-related aspects of cognition,323 its use in combination with other brain-supporting nutrients may provide synergistic benefits for cognition. Indeed, results in both animals and humans suggest that, when ginkgo is combined with nutrients such as phosphatidylerine, B-vitamins, or vitamin E, the combination of ingredients confer cognitive benefits.324,325 In fact, in one study comparing the effects of supplementation with Ginkgo biloba extract alone, to Ginkgo biloba extract together with phosphatidylserine, the combination of the two ingredients resulted in improvements in at least two aspects of memory performance, while Ginkgo alone did not. 326
Bacopa Monnieri
In India, where the Bacopa monnieri herb grows, the leaves are held in high regard, and have long been believed in Ayurvedic medical tradition to promote cognitive health. More recently, modern scientific inquiry into the origins of these Ayurvedic tenets has revealed that the herb supports brain function through various mechanisms.
Bacopa is rich in free radical scavenging compounds including polyphenols and sulfur-based molecules, and so may ameliorate the oxidative stress generated by the brains' intense metabolic rate.327 It also contains various phytochemicals with known anti-inflammatory properties, such as luteolin and apigenin.328,329 Several human clinical trials have revealed cognitive-enhancing, and memory improving effects of supplementation with Bacopa extract.
In one double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, daily doses of 300 mg of Bacopa extract significantly improved visual information processing speed, memory consolidation, and lessened anxiety in healthy individuals after 12-weeks of supplementation.330 Another double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the same duration, using the same dose of Bacopa extract, found that the benefits extend to elderly subjects as well. In this study, the group receiving Bacopa fared better on an auditory verbal learning test, and scored lower on anxiety and depression scales than those taking placebo.331 Additional promising results were achieved in a similar study in which healthy adults received either 300mg of Bacopa extract daily, or a placebo, for 90-days. Improvements in working memory were noted in the Bacopa group, but not in the placebo group.332
Huperzine A
A compound derived from the plant Huperzia serrata, commonly known as clubmoss or firmoss, huperzine A is a well-established inhibitor of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme, a mechanism it shares with many commonly prescribed pharmaceutical treatments for Alzheimer's disease.333,334 Inhibiton of acetylcholinesterase preserves levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is critical for cognition and memory.
Huperzine A has been shown to enhance memory in healthy young humans,335 and in a recent comprehensive literature review, it was found that high doses of huperzine A significantly improved scores on standardized cognitive tests achieved by patients with Alzheimer's disease in a time-dependent manner.336
Glyceryl Phosphoryl Choline
Glyceryl phosphoryl choline (GPC) is a form of choline that is naturally present in all the body's cells. Among aging adults, the rationale for GPC therapy goes back to the hypothesis, developed more than 30 years ago, that declining levels of acetylcholine—and a concurrent decrease in the number of neurons that are its intended target—are responsible for a range of cognitive deficits.337 Acetylcholine is an essential neurotransmitter involved in muscle control, sleep, and cognition. Research has shown that GPC is a precursor of acetylcholine that is safe and well tolerated.338 A review of 13 published studies, involving more than 4000 participants, found that patients taking GPC exhibited neurological improvement and relief of clinical symptoms of chronic cerebral deterioration that was clearly superior to placebo and "superior or equivalent" to that obtained with prescription drugs. The same authors found that GPC was superior to choline and lecithin and that it deserved wider study as a therapy for stroke patients seeking to regain full cognitive function.339
A semisynthetic derivative of the lesser periwinkle plant (Vinca minor), vinpocetine has been shown to exert a variety of biological effects that may benefit brain health. It is known to regulate the action of sodium in neurons, lessening the damaging effects of hypoxia as seen in stroke, as well as mitigating oxidative stress.340 Vinpocetine also blunts the activity of an enzyme called phosphodiesterase type 1, an effect which may increase neuronal energy by up-regulating the energy "throttle" cyclic AMP.341 Also, vinpocetine itself has demonstrated the ability to neutralize particularly damaging hydroxyl radicals.342 Moreover, vinpocetine supports healthy blood flow by enhancing vasodilation and blunting platelet aggregation, effects which may enhance cerebral circulation.343,344 Indeed, human clinical trials show that large doses of IV vinpocetine, followed by three months of oral supplementation with 30 mg vinpocetine, eases blood flow in patients with chronic cardiovascular disease.345
Even the healthiest diets may not provide the optimal levels of micronutrients, vitamins, and minerals needed to support healthy brain function. A comprehensive multi-vitamin supplement may help to fill these nutritional gaps and ameliorate some consequences of insufficient dietary nutrition. In a double-blind, controlled clinical trial involving over 200 healthy middle-aged individuals subjects were given either a multi-vitamin or placebo for more than two months, and both groups were then assessed for cognitive function. It was shown that those taking the multi-vitamin displayed less fatigue during extended cognitive challenges, and were also more accurate. Also, those taking multi-vitamins were able to more quickly complete mathematical processing tests than subjects receiving placebo.346


text: Now that Steve Nash is a Laker, just about everyone thinks the Phoenix Suns will be terrible. Well, everyone but the former Suns point guard and the man brought in to fill his shoes (Goran Dragic). Per Yahoo! Sports: "Phoenix Suns fans recently eating at a local Mexican restaurant found it curious when they saw their beloved former point guard Steve Nash dining with his replacement Goran Dragic

subset: commoncrawl


text:
In the other hand, I've found this in a great tutorial posted in this forum by Dogeggs
There is a new DVD drive chipset that is starting to emerge that will not play DVDR, if your Wii came with sys menu 4.0 on it then it could be one, the chipset is known as a D3-2 and the only way of telling if you have one is to open her up, but as this will invalidate your warranty you are better off trying to load DVDRs and if you just keep getting errors then it is a good indication that you have one.
Well, my Wii was bought this month and actually it has the sys menu 4.0... Maybe the problem is the DVD drive that, in some way, is just "blocking" DVDs... What do you think?
Thanks in advance


text:
Learn more about the five boroughs that make up New York City with our complete guide.
Discover what to do, where to stay and what to see in New York City with our planning tool.
Ready for una aventura in NYC? Let Dora guide you to the most family-friendly things. ¡Vámonos!
Enjoy the New York Film Festival, New York City Marathon, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and more.
Download your free copy or order a guide online today.
Wireless Internet is available at locations throughout NYC—including many parks and libraries.
Get tips, maps and everything else you'll need during your stay.
These NYC-centric mobile apps put the City at your fingertips.
See NYC's iconic sights at discounted rates.
Get the best prices at NYC's bars, clubs and restaurants.
Stay in New York City and save with these offers.
New York City is made up of five boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. Each one has enough attractions—and enough personality—to be a city all its own. Learn more about them with this guide.
Bombay Frankie stands out among the faded storefronts on Amsterdam near Columbia University: There"s a glowing blue neon sign. But it also stands out for its namesake Bombay frankies, the flatbread wraps that dominate the small menu. Slightly different from kati rolls, popularized in New York by Kati Roll Company, these frankies hail from Bombay, and their fillings--including spiced egg, chicken and lamb--are topped with yogurt and cilantro sauce. You can get them to go, but the potato-filled ones feel like they weigh seven pounds each, so you might want to eat them at the counter--or at Suite, the bar next door.


text:
Discussion in 'Chelsea' started by fernb8, Jan 3, 2013.
welcome to the conversation
He'd have either checked his run or been outmuscled. I don't think he'd have outright missed though. Even that one would be tough for him to miss.
I thought the same
well done Moses
good effort
seems to be a slight change from FSW
the DMs almost seem staggered
Borat is one shaky keeper. Is niiiiiiiiice.
Slowly turning the screw. Hopefully they get another before halftime.
Boruc almost Rob Green's us a goal
Ba gets a freekick
Maybe just maybe it is a new role for him
Yoshida has been fouling Ba all evening.
if Hazard could just pick the correct final ball
really impressed with Vic this half
He should be a bit more accustomed to the positioning and defensive aspect as he is a CB by trade. Hell he's even more a sweeper by trade which is very close to DM. The lad really seems to want to be a box-to-box CM by the looks of it. At least that's what he seems to be playing at.
Nooooo. Torres is warming up
I like that lad because he is aware of the limitations of his game and thus, understands when its advantageous to dribble and when to pass. Some wingers don't quite understand that simple fact. If he works on his finishing and crossing accuracy he will be a right-footed version of Malouda (circa 2009-2010).
And I would say, just maybe, it is not a role he is good at.
based on the sample size of the past two and a half games
he has been shocking and getting progressively worse
For the record, this board KILLS Torres for that effort.
I have never been impressed with him at CB except in some games. He has great vision and I can deal with his countless mistakes in the middle than the back. He needs to cut down on his haphazard shooting and get his positioning right. Something I am willing to give him time because he is talented and is enthusiastic.
Ba pulling a Torres
great work from Cesar
That it, biatches!!!!!!!!
2-1 Vic
Separate names with a comma.


text:
Updated 6/3/2012. NOTE: The sourcing is uncompleted for the symbolic associations. This will be updated again when I complete it.
"At night you see the silver bow of the goddess of the hunt rise and soar. It is March, and Artemis stalks her game. She embodies swiftness and speed; she is cunning and crafty. Artemis bows to no man and has the skill to topple even the best of them at the hunt. You need not fear her stinging arrows, for just as she adores and protects the creatures of the forest, so too does she protect her devotees. You have seen her power in the ferocity of the bear. You have seen her loveliness in the soft eyes of the doe. She relentlessly pursues her beloved hind, holding it sacred at the same time. Artemis teaches us the thrill of the hunt, she reminds us to be wild and to fear no one!...As her moon wanes, she becomes the elusive game and evades any who would try to capture her. Hers is the indomitable spirit of the maiden. Blessed be her name!"-Judy Ann Nock in The Wiccan Year
Painting, Artemis or Diana of the Hunt, by John Liston Byam Shaw.
by Anna Yamamaya
Her Origins and History
The ancient roots of Artemis are suggested by stemming from the Great Goddess in Old Europe which lasted from 7000 to 3500 BCE (1). Artwork of the Great Goddess was represented with animal symbols such as deer, bears, and dogs, symbolizing her as a Goddess of regeneration, life, and death (2). After the third millennium BCE, Her image survived in Crete where early Minoan culture was untouched by Indo-European tribes (3). The Minoans were a peaceful civilization that followed a Goddess-centered religion. However, the early Minoan civilization was soon destroyed by a huge tidal wave that was the effect of the Thera (or Santorini) volcanic eruption (4). Minoan civilization left in the south of Crete and inland resumed their culture (5). By 1450 BCE, Indo-European tribes finally made their way into Crete, invading the Minoan civilization (6). They became known as the Mycenaeans (7).
Much of the Mycenaean culture was influenced by the Minoans, retaining the Great Goddess representations (8). The Minoan-Mycenaean civilization soon fell into the Dark Age, giving rise to classical Greek culture (9). Classical Greek culture differed immensely from Mycenaean culture when the feminine was more acknowledged (10). Although there is no exact explanation for the drastic difference, some historians believe that classical Greek culture could have been majorly influenced by the Dorians (11). The classical Greeks incorporated the Great Goddess representations from Minoan-Mycenaean culture along male deities from other Indo-European influences, forming their own pantheon and religion (12). Among one of these deities was Artemis whom had been synthesized into other aspects from the Great Goddess, whose mythological nature has made Her become an important Goddess in classical Greece.
In Turkey, Artemis Ephesia (Artemis of Ephesus) contradicted Hellenic Artemis's virgin nature. The statue of Artemis of Ephesus was depicted with many breasts or eggs that are associated with fertility. She is associated with Cybele, the Anatolian Mother Goddess (13). A votive inscription that may date back to the third century BCE mentions Artemis of Ephesus with Crete: "To the Healer of diseases, to Apollo, Giver of Light to mortals, Eutyches has set up in votive offering (a statue of) the Cretan Lady of Ephesus, the Light-Bearer" (14). The name "Artemis" given to the Ephesian Goddess resulted from the Greek colonization in Turkey (15). The sanctuary of Artemis of Ephesus was originally founded by Leleges and Lydians (16). According to Herodotus, the Leleges originated from Crete but were driven out by Dorians and Ionians to Anatolia where they settled in Caria (17). They were then called "Carians" that brought their Goddess culture with them, influenced in shaping the Asian Mother Goddess (18).
Her Name
In the Mycenaean Linear B tablet, the earliest name of Artemis appears as A-ti-mi-te and A-ti-mi-to (19). The Linear B tablet only recorded deity names, so not much was known about the Mycenaean Gods' mythologies (20).
There is not a lot evidence to suggest what Artemis exactly means. Strabo, a Roman writer, suggested that "Artemeas" which translated into "safe and sound" referred to Artemis as a protectress of people (21).
Reference to Artemis is especially found in English. The word "art" according to the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary means: "skill acquired by experience, study, or observation" (22). Its Latin origin, ars, artis, translates to skill. Art also refers to creative expression which has been associated with lunar energies.
Artemis as a Goddess of Regeneration, Life, and Death
Funerary amphora, Boeotia, Greece, 7th century BCE (23). Image from the University of Texas at Austin.
A funerary amphora represents Artemis as a Goddess of regeneration (24). Gimbutas believes Artemis is represented as a Bee Goddess with her arms outstretched like those of insects; the zigzags on her hair represent insect antennas than human hair (25). Also, the fish symbolizes fertility while the sacrificed bull head represents new life (26). She associates Artemis in the vase with Hekate (27).
Johnson gives another interpretation:
"Surrounded by familiar emblems, the Goddess appears as Mother of the Mysteries, characterized by a leaf-shaped face, water hair, and life streams falling from her waist. The female triangles on her bodice indicate her generative powers. With her outstretched arms raised in the traditional sign of blessing, she divides the upper regions from those below. Bird, horned cow, and fish symbolize the worlds of air, earth, and water. The lions, guardians of the Life-Giver, stand on either side, paws outstretched toward her. The tail of the one on her left descends in a spiral, wheras the tail of the lion on her right ascends in a similar spiral.
Below the Goddess's sheltering left arm lies the path to the underworld, marked by the bull's leg… The lowered spiral tail of the lion her left indicates a descent to the underworld, from which leaf forms sprout. The path emerges between the world mountain and lion whose raised spiral tail leads to the shuttle of destiny. Over the lion, beneath the Goddess's right arm, presides the head of a nourishing cow with crescent moon horns. The case records the age-old imitation pattern, the difficult journey that mimes death and rebirth" (28).
Sacred Symbols and Associations
Animals: Bears (29), bees (30), boars (31), bulls (32), butterfly, buzzards-hawks, cats, deer, dogs, doves, eagles, fresh-water fishes, frogs, goats, goldfinches, guinea fowls, hares, hawks, hedgehogs, horses, leopards, lions, long necked water birds, partridges, quails, rams, snakes, sphinxes, swans, toads, tortoises, wolves
Her Plants: All Artemisia plants (mugwort, wormwood, etc.), amaranth, asphodel, cedar, cypress, daisy, dictamnys (dittany of Crete), frankincense, fir (silver fir), hazelnut, hellebore, honeysuckle, juniper, laurel, lotus, myrtle, oak trees, palm trees (date palm), pomegranate, rose, walnut, wildflowers, willow trees (withy)
Artemis in Modern Pagan Practices
An Interpretation of Artemis
I always had trouble trying to describe my patroness Artemis in a few words. It didn't feel fully "right" just to call Her the Goddess of the hunt, animals, moon or moonlight, etc; she's more complicating than that. When I was reading The Holy Book of Women's Mysteries, Z. Budapest referred Artemis as the Soul of the Wild. It hit my head. Well, of course Artemis is the soul of the wild. It was just how it was placed in words (the Soul of the Wild or Soul of Nature) that perfectly fitted Artemis in a few words.
The untamed and wildness is the core of every living being on Earth. According to Patricia Monaghan in The New Book of Goddesses & Heroines:
"In one form she was a nymph and ruler of all nymphs, an elemental force whose domain was the greenwood. There an order exists so unlike human order that it seems to us formless and free, but this freedom is that of complete obedience to instinct, which animals still follow while humans do not. Artemis in this form was the 'Lady of the Beasts,' the force who assured their individual deaths and the survival of the species. As mistress of the animals, she was the invisible game warden of the Greeks, killing with sharp arrows anyone who hunted pregnant beasts or their young. Again as instinct, she ruled reproduction, both sex and birth…It was to Artemis, the force of creation, that Greek mothers called when the pangs of birth began, and they found comfort in their belief that she nursed them through labor just as she did any of her other animals.
As the nymph of the greenwood, then, she is not really different from her other most famous form: Mother Artemis, whose vast rich temple at Amazonian Ephesus was one of the wonders of the ancient world…This Artemis was merely a different visualization of the same energy represented by the woodland nymph: the instinct to live, to produce and reproduce constantly, to devour, and to die. There is power in the image of Ephesia—as Artemis in this form was sometimes called—a power that could be seen as terrifying, so vast and inhuman is it."
I view "wildness" as the true nature of our self or "chaotic side." Our unconscious desires usually appear in our dreams in different guises that may frighten or alienate us. Psychologically, they could be represented as Artemis, the Goddess of the hunt, and we are the prey. She is represented by our shadow animal totems, but at the same time She is our guide. (Yes, it's why Artemis is known as the lady full of contradictions). In the Native American religion, our shadow animal totems usually appear to us in our dreams as an animal that intimidates us. They represent our inner fears, doubts, and intolerances. However, these animal totems have special medicine that will help us in our life if we listen to them by accepting their presences. Once we overcome their tests, they become our strong allies. Artemis as a guide can be seen as holding a torch for us in the darkness. It's also why I agree with Thista Minai that Artemis is the Goddess of moonlight rather than the Goddess of the moon.
Working with Artemis
The following are my experiences working with Artemis throughout the years and how to work with Her. This is how She appears to me and helps me.
I work with Artemis, so I can understand myself more; my true nature. Nothing is more enlightening to me than waking up. Discovering inner parts of me that I've never known and healing those wounds is an exciting journey to me.
Before I knew Paganism existed, I was a ruined fifteen year old teenager. I was confused about my orientation, our society, and my slight misogyny (by the way, I'm a female). I would stab my journal with rants about gender and the nature of femininity. I also had dark dreams with snakes appearing occasionally. When I discovered Artemis, you couldn't believe how much I felt saved. Even though I was just reading information about Her on the internet, I felt ecstatic because I connected with Her. From there, I started to learn, study, and practice Witchcraft. She first appeared to me in a dream as stars connecting a deer-shaped head and eventually became my patroness. I then dedicated to Her in 2009 on my birthday.
She taught me many things. I used to be a vegan who absolutely shoved down my beliefs down other's throat (earning the name annoyingly as the "PETA member"), but Artemis taught me the "rules of freedom." It's their choice to choose whatever to eat and not mine. Now, I'm a vegan who respects hunting for survival (and enjoy watching animals hunt). My views of my femininity also changed. I started to respect my body more and accept myself for who I am. These are some of the parts of me I "reclaimed."
Those who are interesting in working with Artemis for inner purpose have to be ready to face any obstacles and fears. Otherwise, I don't think that She'll call you. When She knows you're ready, She'll definitely come to you—either it be spontaneously or by your request.
I usually work with Artemis for physical healing, mental healing, and protection for animals and people. Artemis doesn't appear to me as a Goddess of emotional healing, but at certain times she helps me get rid of unhealthy attachments. I do not know if that counts as a type of emotional healing because I associate it more with something mental however. She also makes a strong protectress for any situation. Her energy provokes a strong imagery of an overprotective She Bear or a Cougar leaping across cliffs.
In Greek mythology, Artemis is usually depicted as the huntress roaming the forests alone or with her pack of dogs or nymph friends. If you are insecure often and wish to be more independent instead of dependent on others, I definitely recommend Artemis to you. She'll teach you how to find your inner strength and enjoy solitude and independence. You'll eventually become more self-reliable and trust your own talents. If you have a cat, you should spend more time with your feline more. Cats can teach us a lot of things about ourselves. Spending time with animals is rewarding in general.
Working with Artemis will also help you develop certain skills or talents that might have been buried or hidden inside of you (the ones you disclaimed because you felt they were no good). She has good aiming skills and teaches you how to reach your goals.
"The beloved goddess of Greece was the personification of natural law, so different from the laws of society, so much more ancient, so everlasting."-Patricia Monaghan in The New Book of Goddesses & Heroines
Books about Artemis:
(1) Marija Gimbutas, The Goddess and Gods of Old Europe: Myths and Cult Images (Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press, 1982), 196.
(2) Gimbutas, The Goddess, 195.
(3) Gimbutas, The Goddess, 196; Marija Gimbutas, The Living Goddess (Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press, 1999), 131.
(4) Gimbutas, The Living, 148.
(5) Ibid.
(6) Gimbutas, The Living, 149.
(7) Gimbutas, The Living, 151.
(8) Ibid.
(9) Gimbutas, The Living, 153.
(10) Ibid.
(11) Ibid.
(12) Ibid.
(13) Florence Mary Bennett, Religious Cults Associated With the Amazons (Forgotten Books, 1967), 27.
(14) Bennett, Religious, 28.
(15) Bennett, Religious, 27.
(16) Bennett, Religious, 28.
(17) Ibid.
(18) Ibid.
(19) Gimbutas, The Living, 156.
(20) Gimbutas, The Living, 151-152.
(21) Sorita D'Este, Artemis: Virgin Goddess of the Sun & Moon (London: Avalonia, 2005), 10.
(22) Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, s.v. "Art," (Eleventh ed. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 2003).
(23) Buffie Johnson, Lady of the Beasts: The Goddess and Her Sacred Animals (Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions International, 1994), 236.
(24) Gimbutas, The Goddess, 183.
(25) Ibid.
(26) Ibid.
(27) Gimbutas, The Living, 156.
(28) Johnson, Lady, 236-238.
(29) "Artemis Estate," Theoi Greek Mythology, http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/ArtemisTreasures.html (accessed 24 May 2012).
(30) Gimbutas, The Goddess, 183.
(31) "Artemis Estate," Theoi.
(32) D'Este, Artemis, 75.
"Art." Def. 2. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Eleventh ed. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 2003.
Bennett, Florence M. Religious Cults Associated With the Amazons. Forgotten Books, 1967.
D'Este, Sorita. Artemis: Virgin Goddess of the Sun & Moon. London: Avalonia, 2005.
Gimbutas, Marija. The Goddess and Gods of Old Europe: Myths and Cult Images. Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press, 1982.
Gimbutas, Marija. The Living Goddess. Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press, 1999.
Johnson, Buffie. Lady of the Beasts: The Goddess and Her Sacred Animals. Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions International, 1994.
Monaghan, Patricia. The New Book of Goddesses & Heroines. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1997.
Theoi Greek Mythology. "Artemis Estate." Accessed May 24, 2012. http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/ArtemisTreasures.html.


text:
Order several of these colorful hydrangeas and create an eye-popping bouquet.
Stem is 16" to first leaf and has 3 leaves.
1 out of 1 found this review helpful.
Recommend: Yes
This flower is beautiful. Not only did I use them in a flower arrangement, but I made a hair piece with them. I got a lot of compliments.
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Report inappropriate review
0 out of 0 found this review helpful.
I love this flower.. it went really well with the flowers that I had planned for my wedding for next year. LOVE it!!!
We have a 3-5 day in-house process. There will be an additional 1-7 days for delivery.
**During peak Holiday Seasons (Mother's Day & Christmas) it can take an additional 1-2 business days to get your order shipped.
We do not accept International orders online.
To place an order with an International billing or shipping address:
You will need to order by calling 405-745-1275. Customer Service is available Monday - Friday 8:00-5:00 CST.
Your order will need to ship to a US Destination, such as a freight forwarder. By doing so your order will be eligible for our US shipping rates which often include free shipping.
If you would like for us to ship your order directly to you, you will be charged the actual postage amount. That amount is calculated once your order is picked, packed and ready to ship. International shipping address are excluded from all shipping discounts. All orders shipped to an International location are charged the actual cost of shipping.
Please note that this policy does not include Military Addresses, Guam, Puerto Rico & the US Virgin Islands. We will accept and ship orders to these destinations.
Expedited shipping is unavailable at this time.
Shop Hobby Lobby
Attention Customer Service
7600 A SW 44th St
Oklahoma City, OK 73179
If you wish to exchange an item(s) you ordered for a new one:


text:
Queers! Stories! Booze! Revelations!
In October a new arts and community centre opened on Finchley Road, just opposite the Camden Arts Centre. The JW3 celebrates the best Jewish and Jew-ish culture and welcomes everyone. Before having a building, the JW3 ran events across London, including partnering with Gay's The Word on a sell-out true storytelling night 'Queer As Folk Tales'.
Now Queer As Folk Tales is back on December 12th, featuring six brilliant people telling true stories LIVE, without notes.
It's a relaxed, grab a drink and have a listen kind of night. Stories are honest, hilarious, shocking and moving. In the past there's been tales of slapping from Shaun Levin, the evolution of names from Jane Czyzselska and forays into teenage straight sex from Brian Lobel.
December's installment features stories from 'My Transsexual Summer' star Max Zachs, New Statesman columnist Eleanor Margolis, cabaret and performance artist Lazlo Pearlman, film-maker Lisa Gornick and many more to be announced.
For more information click here


text:
Andy Ju An Wang
Professor, Ph.D. I've moved to Southern Illinois University, http://www.siu.edu School of Computing and Software Engineering Carbondale, IL 62901, USA Southern Polytechnic State University You may contact me via emai: Email: My temporary Gmail
[ Home ] | [ Research ] | [ Teaching ] | [ Books ] | [ Services ] | [ Miscellaneous ]
RESEARCHMy research interests include: Information Security, Embedded Software Engineering, Component-Based Development, Computer Game Design and Implementation, Software Reuse and Metrics, Web Services, and Computer Science Education. From August 2001 to June 2004, my research work was funded by Yamacraw Research Initiative, which is now changed to GEDC, Georgia Electronic Design Center. From 2004 to 2009, my research has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Microsoft Research, Cyber Object Corp., and SPSU. More information about my research is available through the following links:
- OVM: Ontology for Vulnerability Management
In order to reach the goals of the Information Security Automation Program (ISAP), we proposed an ontological approach to capturing and utilizing the fundamental concepts in information security and their relationship, retrieving vulnerability data and reasoning about the cause and impact of vulnerabilities. Our ontology for vulnerability management (OVM) has been populated with all vulnerabilities in NVD with additional inference rules, knowledge representation, and data-mining mechanisms. With the seamless integration of common vulnerabilities and their related concepts such as attacks and countermeasures, OVM provides a promising pathway to making ISAP successful.
- NSF CPATH: Threads-Based Computing Curriculum
The revitalization of undergraduate computing education structurally and pedagogically will certainly require a departure from the existing traditions and curriculum models that have not been effective in spite of all the advances in the design of language, software development techniques, hardware systems, and algorithmic processes. This project calls these traditions in question, re-examines the historical evolution of computing education including course content and course sequences, and proposes a new educational model for undergraduate computing education for the new century.
- ES/COP: Embedded Systems and Component-Oriented Programming Lab
This Lab focus on embedded software development with component-oriented programming approach. Device Beans encapsulate reusable building blocks in embedded systems construction. The mission of ES/COP Lab is to investigate systematic approaches and methodology to develop trustworthy embedded systems effectively.
- CGDL: Computer Game Design Lab
The mission of CGDL is to investigate the key issues in computer game design and implementation focusing on innovative software techniques and toolsets for computer game development. Currently our research work center on two areas: (1) Framework based game engines, and (2) Component oriented programming for computer games.
- SSEL: Statistical Security Engineering Lab
The research works in this Lab center on applying probability theory and statistics in security engineering to develop well-defined, tested, credible methodologies for practice, assessment, and predictability. In particular, SSEL will address the challenges in security engineering such as developing methods of analysis to cope with qualitative variables and providing models with the appropriate error distributions for security engineering applications.
- CBSD: Component Based Software Development Lab
The CBSD Lab addresses fundamental issues in component-based software development. Its goal is to develop and explore a unified component model supporting component assembly and component deployment. Formal and experimental methods will be investigated in CBSD Lab to support reusability, verifiability, and composability of component-based software systems.
Research Information for Students
- Information for Graduate Students
You can find answers to some frequently asked questions: How to make a thesis proposal? How to organize my thesis? Should I pursue a Ph.D.? etc.
- A Sample Thesis Proposal
Please note that different professors might have different requirements for your proposal. This sample proposal reflects only my recommendations.
- IEEE Style Reference Guide
- Information for Graduate Assistants
- Information for Undergraduate Students
I was selected as a CTE Fellow for 2003-04 by the Center for Teaching Excellence of SPSU.
- Computer Game Design and Development
This course has been offered since 2004 summer semester. The graduate course number is SWE 6753, and undergraduate course number is SWE 4353.
- Information Security
This course has been offered since 2003 summer semester. The graduate courses for Computer Science majors and Information Technology majors are CS 6293 and IT 6823 respectively. The undergraduate course for Information Technology majors is IT 4823.
- Component Based Software Development
This course has been offered since 2000 fall semester. The graduate course number is SWE 6813. The undergraduate course number is SWE 4633.
- Embedded Systems Analysis and Design
This course has been offered since 2000 spring semester. The graduate course number is SWE 6823. The undergraduate course number is SWE 3683.
- Embedded Systems Construction and Testing
This course has been offered since 2000 fall semester. The graduate course number is SWE 6843. The undergraduate course number is SWE 3843.
- My Teaching History Since 2001
SERVICES AND MISCELLANEOUSI am a member of ACM (Association for Computing Machinery), member of IEEE Computer Sciety, member of IEEE Technical Council on Software Engineering, member of CUR (The Council on Undergraduate Research), member of CCSC (The Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges). Over the past years, I have been served in many program committees for international conferences and national conferences and symposiums. The most recent ones include:
- CLOUD-II 2009: IEEE 2009 International Conference on Cloud Computing, September 21-25, 2009, and CLOUD 2009: International Conference on Cloud Computing, July 6-10, 2009.
- RCA '09: International Symposium on Revision Calculus and Applications, Nanjing, China, October 12-14, 2009.
- ESA'03: The 2003 International Conference on Embedded Systems and Applications
- A special technical session of "Middleware Development for Networked Embedded Systems" at ESA'03, here is the Call for papers.
- The 2003 International Conference on Web Services (ICWS'03)
- ICMSE'03: 2003 International Conference on Management Science and Engineering
In addition, I am involved in the following organizations or services:
A web link to Chinese literature, a collection of works of famous Chinese writers.
- Founding Director of SPSU Center for Information Security Education, which was designated as a national CAE/IAE (Center for Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education) by NSA (National Security Agency) and DHS (Department of Homeland Security).
- Chair of the Department of Information Technology, Southern Polytechnic State University.
- Member of Instructional Technology Committee, School of Computing and Software Engineering.
- Member of Graduate Admission Committee, School of Computing and Software Engineering.
- Sponsor of SPISA (Southern Poly Information Security Association).
- Co-Sponsor of Southern Polytechnic State University ACM-W: a local chapter of national organization for Woman in Computing.
[ Home ] | [ Research ] | [ Teaching ] | [ Books ] | [ Services ] | [ Miscellaneous ]
© 2004-2010 Andy J Wang Last modified: Mon. April 6, 2009


text:
The Fox News poll in Delaware has parlous news for Republican senatorial nominee Christine O'Donnell — she's 14 points behind, her opponent is well over 50 percent, and 60 percent of those polled say she is not fit to be a senator. Ninety-one percent of Delaware's voters say their minds are made up. If this number is anywhere near right, O'Donnell needs a startling turnaround in her fortunes to win the race. Much of this, one presumes, is the fallout not only from the revelations of various irregularities in the week before the primary but also the media revelations since — her "witchcraft" comment, her remarks on masturbation, and so on.
To finish reading this COMMENTARY Web Exclusive, click here.


text: No recent wiki edits to this page. Geo-Mod was developed by Volition as a part of the development for the first Red Faction game. Geo-Mod allowed players to use explosives to destroy their in-game environment, provided that it was dirt or concrete. Even if you decided to tunnel into a mountain you would always run into indestructible surfaces that no rocket or demolition pack could break for. Even in games today, no developer has fully managed to properly deliver on what Geo-Mod attempted to do. Geo-Mod in the first game of the series featured deformation of natural terrain and cavern walls, with limited building deformation. The latest in the series, Red Faction: Guerrilla, departs from this, featuring more detailed building destruction whilst forgoing terrain deformation.


text:
Credit: DigitalSpy.com
Paul Heyman recently spoke about Dixie Carter wanting a TNA vs. WWE event. Here is what he had to say…
"I'm sure that Dixie Carter would love to do a WWE versus TNA PPV. Why wouldn't she? A friend of mine who has way too much time on his hands just started a new beverage company here in the United States… He would like to do a global promotion with Coca-Cola. I don't suggest that Coca-Cola would be profitable having to do a global co-promotion with Shmuley's Soda Company. In the same way it would make no sense for WWE with 95% global share to do an event with TNA with its 5% global market share!"


text:
Skip to Main Content
Theory To Practice
Business Update
Annual Report
> News Article
Selected Media Coverage: April 5, 2005
**Lehigh in the News** {online press clippings from other news sources}
Eyewitness News at 6
Sun-Sentinel (Sunday Circulation: 375,145)
Metro (Philadelphia) (Circulation: 143,798)
Express Newsline
NASA Awards Columbia Project to Boca Raton Scientist
Arnold Marder, professor of materials science and engineering at Lehigh, was supposed to be on spring break at his condo west of Boca Raton, but the phone kept ringing with interview requests. "Media people say this is getting the biggest play," says Marder, 64, of a successful proposal he made while he was on sabbatical last spring at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. Marder was working on the massive crawler that carries the space shuttle to the launch pad. He helped design new treads for the slow-moving vehicle. During that project, he learned that NASA was going to distribute parts of the destroyed Columbia space shuttle to universities to study what caused it to explode upon re-entry on Feb. 1, 2003, over Texas and he immediately submitted a proposal. "I told them how great we were at microscopy," says Marder, referring to the study of metals, ceramics, composites and polymers at the structural level. The microscopes they'll use can magnify beyond 100,000 times, practically down to the atomic level, Marder said.
for Sun-Sentinel, click here
for Express Newsline, click here
ComputerUser (Circulation: 1,713,500)
Twin Cities News
Poker Academy donates software for AI research
Minneapolis-based Poker Academy, a developer of poker software products, has donated $13,000 in software to Lehigh University for students in computer science and engineering to use in artificial intelligence (AI) research projects. The donated software will be used in Artificial Intelligence: Game Programming, a course offered last fall for the first time that will be taught again next fall. The goal of the students using the donated software in the new class will be to make better, more challenging computer games that adapt to a player's behavior, style and level of skill.
click here
St. Petersburg Times (Sunday Circulation: 395,973)
From Contractors to Combat
Henri Barkey, chair of the international relations department at Lehigh, was quoted in an article about contractors who were in Iraq to help teach Iraqis how to set up their government. "Here comes the world's only superpower, the country that can do just about everything but that cannot do reconstruction," says Barkey. "That has created a huge amount of disappointment with the United States."
click here
Christianity Today (Circulation: 61,170)
Bioscience (10,000)
Michael Behe, professor of biological sciences at Lehigh, was mentioned in another two articles regarding his book, "Darwin's Black Box" and his theory of intelligent design. On October 22, John Paul II sent greetings to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, "the Church's scientific senate." His message was reported in the general press as "Pope accepts evolution" as if it were "Church finally accepts heliocentrism." Behe has demolished the idea that complex biological structures could possibly happen by means of gradual accretions of random mutations chosen and preserved by natural selection. Some structures, like the modern city, are complex simply because they have lots of parts, but rearranging or removing certain parts does not reduce the structure's essential function. Other structures, like the blood clotting mechanism, the human eye, or a bacterium's flagellum, consist of a host of parts all of which are necessary and which must be arranged in one and only one way for the structure to work.
click here
Lakeland Mirror
Safe Space: Is It Working?
Lehigh was mentioned in an article about the Safe Space program. The Safe Space program, which was set up in 2003, was meant to educate various faculty members about issues relating to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community. "Lehigh University has a Safe Space program of its own in place, but it is on a far larger scale (mostly owing to the size of the school itself). Lehigh has a director of LGBT affairs and a Women's Center building to which the organization is attached," the article said.
click here
Innovations Report (Germany)
New Alloy Verified for Safer Disposal of Spent Nuclear Energy Fuel
A new alloy developed and patented by researchers at Lehigh University, Sandia National Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory could help the U.S. dispose more safely of 50,000 tons of spent nuclear energy fuel that are now stored at 125 sites in 39 states. John DuPont, associate professor of materials science and engineering at Lehigh and principal investigator on the project, says a nickel-based alloy with added gadolinium showed far greater ability than any other alloy to absorb the deadly radioactive neutrons emitted by nuclear waste. "We designed and developed various alloys to determine the quantity of gadolinium that could be added while still maintaining the desired properties," says DuPont. "We needed to be able to heat-treat the final material, weld it and fabricate it."
for Innovations Report, click here
for Azom.com, click here
The Conservative Voice
Accuracy in Media
Opinion: The Campus Conservative "Alternative" Media
Lehigh University students Neal Hoffman and Cristina Finetti were quoted in an article about their paper, "The Vast Right Wing Conspiracy" (TVRC). "The liberal bias that pervades our university has not been able to stifle this strong conservative voice," says Editor-in-Chief Hoffman, adding, "Our staff has increased from twelve to twenty-four. The circulation has increased from 300 copies per issue to 2,000 copies." Cristina Finetti, a senior political science and English major and assistant editor of TVRC, takes on political correctness in her articles. "I fear that within 20 years the entire Christmas holiday will be banned to ensure that Christians don't offend other groups," Finetti muses, while recommending celebrating while you can "before the ACLU completely stifles your spirit."
for The Conservative Voice, click here
for Accuracy in Media, click here
The Morning Call (Sunday Circulation: 159,733)
A photograph of Lehigh University rowers was shown in the local section as they prepared for a race against Penn State Saturday on the Lehigh River.
(no link)
**Alumni in the News
Yahoo Finance
Judy F. Marks, who received her bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Lehigh, was named executive vice president of Lockheed Martin's Transportation and Security Solutions business until October, when she will become company president.
for mysan.de, click
Posted on Tuesday, April 05, 2005
share this story:
News Home
Latest News
Arts & Culture
Student Life
Expert Opinion
News Archives
Latest News
Arts & Culture
Student Life
Expert Opinion
News Archives


text:
Monday, April 25, 2005
3 Comments:
- Yuval Rubinstein said...
Yeah, that UN can be such a pain, especially when it sends an American law professor to Afghanistan, and he has the gall to point out human rights abuses by the US military against Afghan detainees. But that's OK, as the global hegemon, we can just order the UN to get rid of this pesky interloper, right?
- said...
Finally, a question that I -- as an incoming 1l (at Columbia) -- feel qualified to answer! I don't think that The Interpreter was a particularly good movie. The political side of the movie was not the type of thing that would make anyone think. The dialogue was laborious; it felt like Sean Penn decided that he had to say everything twice as slow as he normally does. Finally, the plot was so-so. The twists were predictable and un-exciting.
If the movie was meant as some sort of free advertisement for the U.N., I don't think it did a particularly good job. Movies like Top Gun, the Bourne Identity, or the Spy Game usually do a better job of portraying their government protagonists as doing romantic and exciting work. A Few Good Men even made a Naval JAG lieutenant – a job that the average joe probably would not have looked twice at when the movie came out (this was before JAG, the TV show) – look like he was the savior of democracy. By contrast, The Interpreter somehow manages to portray the UN as a boring series of staid speeches in dimly-lit, drably furnished corridors. Of course, that's probably an accurate depiction of the UN's day-to-day duties, but I don't think it would make people jump out of their seats to become UN interpreters.
Honestly, if conservative anti-UN types are worried that The Interpreter will somehow foil their political agenda regarding the place of this body in international affairs, this seems an awful lot like jousting mightily against windmills to me.
- Internationalist said...
As someone who worked at the UN last summer, I agree with Jeff V. that the movie itself is not terribly exciting: poor dialogue and predictable plot. My biggest gripe with the film, however, is the decision to use a black African country (albeit a fictional one) as the scene of a genocide. As somebody I was watching the movie with pointed out, "At least it made it easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys." In the end, the movie is a rallying cry for the ICC, but almost shows the most perverse side to international criminal law: people in this made-up country are being killed daily and we're going to serve the leader with a piece of paper indictment?
There were some nice sound bites by Nicole Kidman concerning her feelings for the UN that probably only those of us who have been truly smitten by the "UN bug" will fall for. But the best part, and the reason I went to see the movie at all, were the inside shots of the UN. Now I know what the Delegate's Lounge looks like.


text:
The USSSA Back to School Shoot Out softball tournament, scheduled to be played throughout the day on Saturday at Citizens Park, was canceled due to persistent rain.
Games were scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and run through a 7 p.m. championship game, but the bad weather began with thunder before the first round of games could be completed.
So much rain early this morning, we just werent going to be able to get the fields ready, said Jeff Metz, City of Aiken athletic and tourism superintendent.
Metz noted that the 17 softball teams involved across four age groups had only made plans for games on Saturday. With wet weather continuing into the afternoon, the schedule would have run later into Saturday evening and on to Sunday.
Many of the teams traveling from other parts of the state didnt want to stick around for an unplanned extra day.
We just couldnt make it happen, Metz said.
Metz said he is hopeful to work with the same group on scheduling a tournament in October.
Next Saturday, the park is set to host another USSSA event, this time a youth baseball tournament.
Jeremy Timmerman has a journalism degree from Mercer University. Follow him on Twitter @ASJTimm.
Notice about comments:
Aiken Standard is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point.
We do not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click the X that appears in the upper right corner when you hover over a comment. This will send the comment to Facebook for review. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full terms and conditions.


text:
Details and Shopping
Customer Favorite
Lightweight woven cardigan with slit detailing on both sides of opening near neckline. Two front pockets. An simple and chic layering piece!
*60% Rayon, 29% Linen, 11% Nylon
*Machine Wash Cold
*Machine Wash Cold
Measurements:Length: 30"
Bust (all around): 36"
Sleeve Length: 24 3/4"
Rated 4 out of 5Â by 2 reviewers.
Rated 4 out of 5Â by cypress75 Pretty, lightweight, a bit itchy I am 5'3'', 135lbs, got the medium in gray. The fit was tts for me (i am smaller on top, curvy on bottom). It is just a tad on the itchy side but i can tolerate it. The arms are just a bit tight on me so i wont be layering this over anything long sleeved. The real selling points are the very pretty cut, it looks classy in a causal way, and also on the gray version, there is a very subtle speckled multi-color pattern woven in. A keeper. :) 1.10.2013
Rated 4 out of 5Â by NancyDrew think FP Vintage Size down - and think about vintage-ee sweaters, that's the feel of the knit this is. IF you like these fabrics then you will LOVE the 26454694 Christie Dress Cream I highly REC.. both 12.27.2012
1-2 of 2
Product Reviews
There are no reviews for this product yet. Check back. or write a review yourself.