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Soldiers at the Center of Holiday Tradition
December 2, 2010
By D.R. Bingham
Story Highlights
- Members of the Fort Lee leadership served Thanksgiving meals to troops
- The practice of senior leaders serving junior troops at Thanksgiving is a time-honored tradition
- Fort Lee served up 1,850 pounds of Turkey and 1,350 pounds of ham
FORT LEE, Va. (Dec. 2, 2010) -- Among the last things troops eating in a chow hall expect are a general taking their food orders or a television reporter chatting with them while they eat, but Thanksgiving Day on Fort Lee is not business as usual.
It\'s the first time away from home for many service members, and while nothing can replace that family feeling during the holidays, a friendly face and kind words, along with lots of great food, can certainly help.
Pfc. Felix Ramos, a unit supply specialist from Chicago, was among the individuals who shared the Nov. 25 holiday meal at the U.S. Army Garrison Fort Lee dining hall. As he stepped into the serving line, he was surprised to see Brig. Gen. Edward F. Dorman III, U.S. Army Transportation Corps commanding general, smiling and serving up crab legs.
Dorman was among the dozens of officers and senior enlisted leaders who donned their dress uniforms and volunteered for dining hall duty on Thanksgiving. It's a tradition across the Army and a day the more seasoned Soldiers long remember and look forward to each year. At Fort Lee, they doled out more than 1,325 pounds of crab legs, 1,350 pounds of baked ham, 1,850 pounds of roasted turkey and huge servings of other favorites including shrimp cocktail, mashed potatoes and desserts to eager troops.
"Happy Thanksgiving, what would you like'" Dorman would chime while greeting the Soldiers. "Ham and crab legs seem to be a trend today ... where are you from private'"
Being behind the line was something Dorman said he was happy and honored to do.
"These young men and women serve their country every day, and if I can serve them on this special occasion, that's good. Serving the Soldiers makes my heart swell (with pride)," Dorman said.
Maj. Gen. James L. Hodge, Combined Arms Support Command and Sustainment Center of Excellence commanding general, said he remembers spending his first Thanksgiving away from home as a cadet in the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. While missing his family and friends, he learned the value of forging a caring Army Family. He said Americans send the military their sons and daughters and he wants them to know they are well taken care of.
"Serving Soldiers is one of the most rewarding times; they're so happy and their faces light up when they see their chain of command and know we care about them," Hodge said.
This was the fifth consecutive year local television reporter Wayne Covil (CBS-6, Richmond) spent at Fort Lee eating with the troops while working on a story for the evening newscast. As Dorman placed crab on plates, Covil stood behind him with a video camera focused on the Soldiers' reactions.
"I've been coming here on and off for 18 years," Covil said. "I think it's important for the public to get to see what the Army does. Seeing the faces of the Soldiers when they realize who is serving them is great. I think they kind of enjoy giving orders to those who they normally take them from."
With two plates and several bowls packed with food, Ramos settled into a seat next to his comrades and got down to the business of eating. He paused to talk about what he missed most on his first Thanksgiving away from home.
"Just being with family and enjoying the meal is what I miss the most," he said, "but this is pretty good."


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Reviews by ProgenitorX
One of the best open world games yet!ProgenitorX | June 7, 2014 | Review of The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion Game of the Year Edition - PC
I've played this game so many times now, each time with a new character build. There is a lot to do with tons of variety to keep you entertained. The story lines are interesting and fun to explore. Highly recommend this game if you're looking for something to keep you busy for hours to come. Even though Skyrim is out now, Oblivion is still a great game on its own (some may say even better, apart from graphics of course). The game just gets bigger once you start looking at player mods.
Excellent Turn Based Strategy Game!ProgenitorX | Dec. 8, 2012 | Review of XCOM Enemy Unknown NA POST - PC
I usually jump from game to game, often without finishing them. With XCOM, though, it was a different story. I got sucked into the amazing gameplay. The missions are also very interesting, but can get a little stale later in the game as you repeat similar ones and become a powerhouse (I played on Normal difficulty. Classic or higher should be more challenging, keeping things more interesting.) The story starts off great but leaves something to be desired as it goes on. The settings, characters, and aliens are very well designed though. The character customization keeps things interesting and helps you become more attached to your soldiers. Losing a soldier that's been with you since the beginning hurts a lot. I would not think twice about getting this game. This is an excellent purchase!

subset: commoncrawl


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Monday Sep 17 2012
Cappuccino Cruisers car show honors victims, recalls tragic events of Sept. 11By: Margaret Snider, Telegraph Correspondent
The Cappuccino Cruisers weekly car show on Sept. 12 had a very special purpose — to pay tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. A large volume of guests and classic cars were on hand for the event. A color guard comprising Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legion, and Marine Corps League personnel presented the flags, with a minute of silence for those slaughtered in the events at the World Trade Center 11 years ago. Newspaper stories from the time and lists of those who died were posted in a tribute area on the lot near Red Robin Restaurant on Riley Street in Folsom. Then it was business as usual, but memories lingered as many vowed to never forget. Alan Eldridge of Rescue was there and talked about his 1971 Plymouth Cuda. "They made 5,000-and-change Cudas in 1971 so there probably aren't a whole lot of those left," Eldridge said. "So it's pretty rare from that aspect." He remembers well where he was at the time of the attack on the World Trade Center. "I was working at home, sitting at my desk, watching my TV while I was doing – I was a salesman – doing all my paperwork, and saw it on TV," Eldridge said. "And it's still going on. I watched the news this morning. Just in smaller pieces, but still … the embassy problems and everything else." Roseville resident Frank Bruegger brought his 1945 Willys Jeep, rebuilt to Army specifications. He said he found the Jeep on a walnut orchard farm in Red Bluff. He's had it for four years, and for two and a half of those it was in the garage, being restored. Bruegger clearly remembers Sept. 11, 2001. "It seemed as though it was an accident at first when the first plane hit, and you thought, how can that be an accident?" Bruegger said. "I watched the whole thing from there on, down to where the buildings fell. When the second plane hit it, I'm like, something's wrong here. It was scary." David Henry, owner of Henry's Hot Rods in El Dorado Hills, now lives in El Dorado Hills, but in 2001 he was living in Folsom. His wife woke him up because a friend had called and said to turn on the TV. He woke up in time to see the second tower hit. "It was amazing right after that, everybody had a flag on their house, and everybody was buddies, and we weren't fighting about stupid stuff," Henry said. "Everybody was American, everybody was buddies, and that's all we were doing was talking about that, and we were focused. We seem to have lost that. We forgot that. We all say that we'll never forget. That's B.S., everybody forgets."


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this wiki
|Native Species:
|Andorian system
Alpha Quadrant
|United Federation of Planets
Classified as M-class, Andoria was an inhabited moon. This was the homeworld for the Andorians, a warp capable humanoid species, and the Aenar. Andoria orbited a ringed gas giant in the Andorian planetary system. This system was located in the Alpha Quadrant. The moon was a founding member of the United Federation of Planets.
Astronomical Data
Andoria was located in a neighboring system to Vulcan, which led to a series of conflicts between the Andorian Empire and the Vulcans. In 2154, the Vulcan High Command deployed a fleet of 12 starships to Regulus, which lay just outside Andorian sensor range, preparing to attack Andoria. Andoria was also relatively close to the Sol system. In the 24th century, Andoria was located near to the Cardassian border. (DS9: "Tears of the Prophets")
Further Information
- See also: Andorian history and Federation history
Andoria was inhabited by the blue skinned Andorian species of humanoids, and the Aenar, a subspecies of the Andorians. There was contact between the two sentient species on Andoria in the distant past, but eventually contact was lost and both species only vaguely remembered the other in myths and stories. It was not until around 2104 that contact was re-established between the Andorians and the Aenar. (ENT: "The Aenar")
The Kumari was the first ice cutter to circumnavigate Andoria. (ENT: "United")
Following the agreement of the cease fire on Weytahn in 2152, talks were continued on Andoria, where it was hoped that more than "just talk" would be accomplished. (ENT: "Cease Fire")
Prior to entering the Delphic Expanse, Talas suggested to Shran that they should head back to Andoria while they were still able. (ENT: "Proving Ground")
In 2154 the Vulcan High Command planned to attack Andoria. (ENT: "Kir'Shara")
In 2154, the crew of Enterprise NX-01 set course for Andoria to return the crew of the destroyed warship Kumari home for medical attention. (ENT: "Babel One")
"Chirurgeon" was a top medical profession on Andoria. (DS9: "Prophet Motive")
In designing her new solarium, Yanas Tigan used tile she imported from Andoria, which she then had hand-painted by this charming old man she met on a trip to the Hovarian Cluster. (DS9: "Prodigal Daughter")
Andoria was an ice world, with a human-breathable oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere. Andorian cities were underground and took their energy from geothermal activity. The cities were connected to each other by thousands of kilometers of tunnels.
Only during rare heatwaves would the temperature on Andoria rise above freezing, and even then only for a few weeks at a time. During mid-summer, a temperature reading of -28° was not uncommon. (ENT: "The Aenar")
Kasidy Yates considered the mountains of Andoria as a site for a honeymoon with Benjamin Sisko in 2375. (DS9: "Strange Bedfellows")
Points of interest:
According to writers Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, in a special features segment in ENT Season 4 DVD, the establishment of the Andorian homeworld as a moon orbiting a gas giant was devised to help explain the contradiction of why it was sometimes called Andor and sometimes it was called Andoria, the gas giant being Andor and the moon Andoria.
The Last Unicorn Games Star Trek RPG and Samuel John Ross used information about Andoria, a frozen world first published in Star Trek: The Role Playing Game, for the work The Andorians: Among the Clans. When Mike Sussman and Manny Coto saw this book they "were taken by the striking cover image of an ice-covered Andoria" and went with that interpretation of the planet when it was finally seen in the ENT episode "The Aenar". [1]
The Andorian ice caves were actually a redress of the caverns built for Enterprise's Vulcan trilogy – simply repainted white.
According to the script of ENT: "Broken Bow", there were two Andorian moons. However, this was later changed to two Teneebian moons for the filming of the episode.
In DS9: "Far Beyond the Stars", one of Roy Ritterhouse's drawings is called "Honey Moon on Andoras". This may be an injoke reference to Andoria.
Andoria was destroyed by the Romulans in the unproduced animated series Star Trek: Final Frontier, set during the 2460s.
According to Star Trek: Star Charts, on page 36, Andoria was located in a binary star system. This system consisted of a F-type main-sequence star orbited by an A-type main-sequence star. On page 52, Andoria was identified as the eighth planet in the Procyon star system. This planet was Class M. On page 52, Andoria was identified as the capital of the Andorain Empire, and was a founding member of the United Federation of Planets in 2161. The capital of Andoria was Andor, and 38.2 billion people lived on Andoria. Andorians were warp capable in 1154 A.D. On page 19, Andoria was located in the Andorian Sector (Sector 006). This sector was the sixth explored by Earth ships. In his final voyage in 2120, Zefram Cochrane visited Andoria. (page 60)
In Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Volume 1, Thirishar ch'Thane and Prynn Tenmei note the differences between the names "Andor" and "Andoria." While Tenmei grew up thinking of ch'Thane's homeworld as "Andoria," ch'Thane grew up knowing it as "Andor." Conversely, ch'Thane grew up thinking of Tenmei's homeworld as "Terra," only to discover that Terrans call it "Earth."


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When You're Waiting For the Test Results
Hi Amy,
First I want to say that I'm a big fan. The Pregnancy Week-by-week and Smackdown really helped me as a first time mom, and I'm slowly working my way through everything again with my second pregnancy! I also love your blog, and read it all the time! Now on to my question.
Our big ultrasound was about a week ago. We were told that the baby was developing fine as far as anatomy goes, and we would be having our second baby girl! However, we were also told that there was an abnormality in the baby's bowels, and that this abnormality has a correlation to babies born with Down Syndrome. Our OB-GYN suggested I get a quad screen test done before I leave that day. He explained to me that a QS only checks for probability, and couldn't give me a definitive answer. He explained that a low risk of Downs would be something like 1 in 9000, and a high risk would be 1 in 100. My results came back as a 1 in 6 chance that my baby has Downs.
I am shaken and concerned of course, but I can't think of a better family/support system for ANY child to be born into, than the one I have. I see the genetic counselor later this month, and I'm also scheduled for a level two anatomy ultrasound as soon as my vacation is over. My issue is that I want to be as prepared as I can for both me and baby, but I have NO EARTHLY IDEA, where to start my research and planning. Do you have any tips on where to look? Who to talk to? Where to go from here? I feel like my mind is in a spin, and I can't seem to concentrate on anything. I feel that if I had a place to start, I could get a hold on things, and begin to deal with the situation. Trying to deal with this on top of my already severe case of pregnancy brain (why yes, that WAS me who left the house without a shirt on two days ago!) has me reeling. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Concerned in the South
Well goodness, HUGS lady. Obviously this is not an issue I've dealt with personally, but frankly there was no way I was going to let this question sit in the queue, gathering cobwebs. If there is anything I've learned over the (holy hell) SEVEN YEARS of writing this column at AlphaMom, is that we've got one of the best, smartest and KINDEST audiences on the Internet. So sometimes I just have to step aside and open up the comments for other people who have been there, done that, gotten the t-shirt and the gold star of ass-kicking, to take over.
I will say this: Whenever you are faced with a diagnosis that might fall out of the range of "typical," the stages of Dealing With It can be similar. Shock and fear and a feeling of being completely overwhelmed and somewhat stuck/immobile. There can be a lot of guilt mixed in too, as you find yourself suddenly mourning…something. The loss of your expectations; the child you assumed you'd have.
And here's where the Welcome to Holland metaphor first comes into play. Read it if you haven't yet come across that one.
Then there's guilt, because perspective! There are worse things than Downs or Autism or such-and-such congenital disability! At least you HAVE your baby or child and oh God, do you think your baby/child knows what you're thinking? Do you think they know that you can't look at their face or your growing belly without thinking about IT, the SCARY THING, the thing that dammit, you'll make the best of it if you have to but it's still not what you expected or wanted.
And you know what? It's okay. It's okay to grieve a little. It's healthy. Allowing yourself to feel what you feel when you feel it is the best way to un-stick yourself from the low valley and get yourself back pushing up the hill. Along the way, envision each of the next markers and milestones (the genetic counselor, the anatomy scan, the potential final confirmation, etc.) as physical checkpoints on a hill, and focus only on the next upcoming one — not the whole overwhelming journey up and over into the unknown.
Like, when I run and I'm trying to push myself past my comfort zone, I'll look at the horizon and pick a visible spot: A tree, a corner, and tell myself that I have to make it to that point before stopping. Nine times out of 10, I can run to that point and keep on running. But if I told myself that I had to run all the way back to my house, for example, or to some unseen point far away, I'd probably fail and give myself a lot of mental abuse for giving up.
I don't know, but I guess I've approached our zig-zaggy journey with Noah the same way. First speech evaluation. First sensory evaluation. Developmental pediatrician appointment. Focus on the next thing on the calendar and to-do list instead of trying to wonder what things will be like next year, or high school, or adulthood, or or or etc. That's a one-way ticket not to Holland, but to Crazy Stressville. Because even if the diagnosis is confirmed, you WILL grow into your new role, your new expectations, and find that this really is your new normal, and it's just as fun and lovely and full of ups and downs as anyone else's normal. It just maybe involves more acronyms and appointments, but there's still plenty of the wonderfully mundane and "typical" mixed in.
So for now, work with what you've got and take it one day at a time. You will still have time to prepare and be a wonderful mother and advocate for this child even if you take a week or two "off" to process and wait for an official diagnosis. Buy some diapers and really cute onesies, if that helps. While you may feel like your future is deeply in flux right now, the fact that your baby girl will be adorable, amazing and cherished has never changed, and never will.
It also looks like BabyCenter has a wonderfully supportive message board for parents who are going through the prenatal testing process (and for parents who are preparing to give birth to babies with DS) and this welcome message contains a plethora of helpful links. Dip in, read, get your feet wet and maybe consider joining in when/if you're ready.
And now? Readers? Can anyone chime in with any other suggestions? Websites? Blogs? Books? Support groups? Thank you!
45 Responses to "When You're Waiting For the Test Results"
Heidi T Jan 14 at 2:06 pm Reply
I greatly recommend Kelle Hampton's blog – http://www.kellehampton.com/ . Her daughter Nella was born with Down's Syndrome and she wrote an amazing post about her birth – http://www.kellehampton.com/2010/01/nella-cordelia-birth-story.html . Her blog is about her life and living with Down's Syndrome in such a positive and supportive way.
Big hugs and congratulations on your baby girl! I have a friend who gave birth to her third child a few weeks ago and had a very similar situation — a bowel issue discovered at the big ultrasound, markers for Down Syndrome, and the sort. There was also some problems with the placenta.
Anyway. They were stressed and worried but were hoping for a healthy baby — Downs or not — just healthy. And that's what they got. No further problem with the bowel (it resolved on its own!) and no Down Syndrome.
I hope that you'll have a healthy, uneventful remainder of your pregnancy and a healthy baby girl to snuggle in a few more months.
And if your sweet daughter does have Down Syndrome? By the sound of your post, I am convinced you will be such a blessing to her. Still, if their odds are right, you have an 83% chance she DOESN'T have Down Syndrome.
Rachel Jan 14 at 2:12 pm Reply
Is it echogenic bowel (bowel showing up too light on ultrasound)? I had that findding with my first and also was freaking out, nervous, etc. it was all fine…I had all the tests, kept going for ultrasounds, etc and it eventually just totally resolved itself. Good luck!!
Melanie Jan 14 at 2:21 pm Reply
When I was pregnant with my baby girl the ultrasound showed enlarged ventricles in the brain and some calcium build-up in the heart that were consistent with downs. We were sent for high def ultrasounds with an "I'm sure everything's okay but let's get a closer look" from my doc. My husband and I just thought "oh fun pretty pictures" and when they suggested an amnio (we were too late for less invasive tests) we were completely caught off guard. I was completely devastated that there could be something already happening in my baby's life that I couldn't fix or make better. It is an awful feeling and I did feel so guilty because I knew that she would be loved regardless of whether she was a downs baby or not. I felt I had to quantify that every time I talked about being upset.
We ended up doing the amnio because I needed to know so I could be prepared for whatever was going to happen and, in all honesty, I didn't want finding out on the day of her birth to make it any less special. The amnio came back "normal" and she does not have Down's syndrome so I don't have any recommended sites or anything, but I would just say to relax and know that at this point you can't change anything. Try to enjoy your pregnancy and control the things you can control for now and concentrate on how loved your sweet girl will be when she finall arrives.
I know it's a difficult and very personal decision as to whether you should get an amnio but for us it was the right decision. I am forever a Girl Scout and have the need to be prepared for any situation and that information was crucial to my sanity. It was the longest two weeks of my life waiting for the results but IMO better than how many more months.
I feel for you and hope that you'll update amalah as to what happens. I can tell from your Q that whatever the outcome your daughter will have a happy life and be cherished by her family.
MR Jan 14 at 2:34 pm Reply
((Hugs)) My second daughter was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect just after birth. Not at all your situation, but still – Holland. (Btw, thank you for that Amy!!) So, OP, I can relate to the whirlwind of emotions and "what do I do next?" feeling. I remember so clearly how the room just got quiet, not because the doctor stopped talking, but simply because I just heard nothing else because I felt the world changing. I remember staring at my beautiful daughter and thinking "but she looks so perfect!" I was still in shock and kind of stuck through discharge and going home. We had only been there a few minutes when my dh (one of those people who can't just sit and relax ever) put a YouTube video up about my daughter's heart defect and how they fix it. I was bawling before it was over. But it was kind of a good thing, because I went and hugged my baby. And while doing so, I realized that none of that mattered. I wasn't going to love her less, and she wasn't any less perfect. I gave myself permission to grieve when I needed to and to act as if nothing had changed when I needed to. And I gave myself permission to just feel it all out as I went. That's the most important part – taking it in pieces. Because, ultimately, it doesn't really change any of what you do now. You will go to a few more dr appointments now, but you will still buy baby items and set up the crib. You will learn more about Down Syndrome, but you will still rub your belly and smile at being kicked. And, you will feel everything out as it comes. Yes, there is still a pretty big chance that baby will be born without DS, but no matter what happens, your emotions are completely valid, and your baby girl is going to be perfect. ((Hugs))
Janna Jan 14 at 2:47 pm Reply
I had a 1:23 chance of Down's for our daughter following the nuchal translucency screen. She is genetically normal, but it took us about 5 weeks after getting the "1 in 23" phone call to hear the final, conclusive results from the amniocentesis we ended up getting.
I'm would strongly recommend looking into one of the newer tests that uses cell-free fetal DNA, as they are many many times more accurate than the triple/quad screens and are almost as good as amnio. There is one called MaterniT21 that was the first on the market in late 2011. I requested it from my OB/GYN in March 2012 when I was going through this, and she wasn't familiar enough with it to request it for me, but ask your doctor and push for it to see if they'll give it (or a similar test) to you. It just requires a vial of your blood and the turnaround time is much faster – about 10 days. When I was researching it, the company capped costs for the parents at a max of $230 even if your insurance didn't cover it. So I highly recommend it so that you don't have to wait, worrying, with all of the uncertainty and stress.
Ally Jan 14 at 3:03 pm Reply
When I was pregnant with my third he had cysts on his brain and a few other markers that were consistent with Downs. It was hard. I cried a lot and worried. After a number of tests and high level ultrasounds we found out he didn't have Downs. I know the time before the tests is so hard. You imagine the worst and just want to know what you are facing. I hope you can find ways to distract yourself.
Julie Jan 14 at 3:13 pm Reply
Check out Noah's Dad's blog, like Kelle Hampton's blog, it has a great prospective on raising a small child with Downs. http://noahsdad.com/
E's Mommy Jan 14 at 3:31 pm Reply
I'm an early childhood special education teacher. If you find out that your baby has Down Syndrome I recommend you look up and contact the birth to three developmental centers in your area. You can probably google them or your pediatrician should know what they are called. The one that I used to work at had a class for babies with Down Syndrome and their parents. Even if they don't have a class I think (although I could be wrong) a diagnosis of Down Syndrome automatically qualifies babies to get some special education services, I don't think they actually have to be delayed to get them. That means if you're interested the center would either have you come in or send out some kind of special education staff to come see the baby every week. These people are usually good resources because they've usually worked with other babies with Down Syndrome. If the center doesn't have a class it might be worth asking if you could meet any families with kids with Down Syndrome that go there. Congratulations on your new baby!
Eileen Jan 14 at 3:32 pm Reply
I'm not a mother, but as a sister of a sibling with Down's, I just wanted to give you a bit of moral support. I would also recommend Kelle Hampton's blog. Although Down's isn't an ideal situation, if that does turn out to be the case for you, I can assure it is one of the most rewarding things that will ever happen to you. It, of course, comes with struggles, but the love and purity of heart that you will find in that amazing little creature will give you so much more than yo uever dreamed. I can honestly say that having a brother with Down's has been so enriching and amazing that I wouldn't want a "normal" brother. He is the reason I get up with a smile every morning and I couldn't love anyone more. I wish you the best!
Courtney Jan 14 at 3:34 pm Reply
I second Janna's suggestion. The Maternit21 test would be a great option if you don't want to pursue an amnio as definitive testing. It looks for free fetal DNA in the blood, and gives you a yes/no answer (unlike the quad screen). In my opinion, you have nothing to lose – except $230 if that would be hard for you to swing, and that's assuming your insurance wouldn't cover it. I had it done at 10 weeks with this pregnancy instead of an amnio and was happy with the test, the non-invasiveness, the reliability (which I looked into extensively, as a physician myself) and the relatively quick turn-around time (about 1 week total for me). At least with that test you'll have more information and maybe can prepare better, either way. Best of luck with whatever happens, and congratulations on your sweet girl.
Angela Jan 14 at 3:53 pm Reply
You can contact your local children's hospital, and they should be able to put you in contact with a parents group in your area who will be able to answer a lot of your questions. The genetics counselor might have that information as well.
Best of luck to you and your family!
Steph Jan 14 at 3:54 pm Reply
I'm pregnant with my second as well and have been reading "Far from the Tree", which is equal parts dumb during pregnancy (increases the usual anxiety) and incredibly reassuring as the chapters are all on things like Down Syndrome, Dwarfism, etc, and the big message that came through was that these families all love the heck out of these kids and their new lives. It definitely showed that it was still hard and challenging and that people need to ask for help when they need it, but I'd recommend at least reading the chapter on DS to give some context to the bigger picture. The fact that you're already looking into resources shows what a great mom you'll be to the new addition!
hannah Jan 14 at 4:26 pm Reply
I carry a serious genetic abnormality, and ended up having not one, but two amnios. Not fun, but necessary in my case. I'd encourage it if it's at all an option or will lead to definitive results, and then you can prepare as necessary. As a sister to a handicapped (not Down's) brother, I second the other sister's comments above.
alloverthemap Jan 14 at 4:36 pm Reply
Just wanted to chime in with another vote for the MaterniT21 test. I had it done around 20 weeks after a weak Down's marker was found on ultrasound. It was completely non-invasive and carried no risk to the baby. It also has the advantage of being a diagnostic — not screening — test, so you get back a yes/no rather than some odds.
Sequenom (the company that does the test) even dealt with my insurance company on my behalf. Even though I had to have the blood draw in an outside lab (not at my usual hospital/clinic) and they mailed the sample to Sequenom, I ended up paying nothing. I didn't even have to submit any paperwork or call the insurance company. It was amazing.
Stephanie Jan 22 at 9:27 pm Reply
Just wanted to correct your remark about MaterniT21 being a diagnostic test. It is NOT. It is a screening test. It has a higher detection rate and lower false positive/negative rates than the quad screen, but it is still a screening test. (And different labs quote different rates for all of the above because they all have slightly different studies and data.)
(I'm a genetic counselor and talk about this test all the live long day. Just want to make sure the correct information is out there.)
To the OP–If you are not scheduled to meet with a genetic counselor until later this month, I would still recommend calling. Oftentimes they will review things over the phone (I know I do because our schedule is booked so far in advance and people are nervous) and can point you in the right direction. I would also recommend not going too far down the "preparing for a child with special needs" road until you get a definitive answer, even though the drive for information is certainly revved up right now.
Good luck and hope you get answers very soon!
Nichole Jan 14 at 4:42 pm Reply
Check out kellehampton.com. She has a daughter with downs. Her blog is full of info and very uplifting.
Jen Jan 14 at 8:32 pm Reply
Another vote for getting the most conclusive testing *you are comfortable with*–and not feeling pressured into testing you're not comfortable with. Remember, 1:6 chance of down's means 5:6 chance of NOT having Down's.
Also, after testing or deciding not to get it, you can be in touch with your local children's hospital or pediatrician to see what resources are available for children with Down's Syndrome in your area. They might be able to direct you to specialists, parent's groups, resource centres, therapists and social workers who have worked with parents of kids with Down's Syndrome, etc, etc.
And Kelle Hampton's blog is beautiful!
YES, I was just about the say this exact same thing but scrolled down to see if someone else beat me to it. Those tests get misinterpreted a lot, and the math person in me cringes every time. Also, a 1 in 6 result doesn't just mean a possible DS diagnosis, but a high risk for other trisomies and neural issues. It is obvious this family is in love with this kid and wants what is best, and the more information you have the better prepared you will be provide the best possible care for your child. The great news is, no tests have turned up any other issues (esp, heart or nervous system). I have never been in your shoes in terms of a prenatal diagnosis, but we had a scare once with my youngest when she was a baby (it looked like she was having seizures, which essentially can halt brain development, leaving her unable to advance past her 2mo state, ie, not even support their head). I felt overwhelming ambivalence about the personal stories that ended with "and then everything was fine!" so that isn't the point of this story. Instead, my point is, when I told my husband what the drs were saying, he said, you know what hasn't changed? "we will still love her and we will still do everything we can to help her be the best little girl she can be. So in that way, nothing has changed with the tests and nothing will change with their results." And that right there brought me more comfort than anything else could during that horrible waiting period. sending hugs. I hope you find comfort during this journey.
Kari Jan 14 at 9:23 pm Reply
Far From the Tree is an excellent place to start, I think. I found it very hopeful and uplifting despite the difficult themes (and I am currently a pregnant "geriatric" mom awaiting the results of my own quad screen). One of the common threads in it is that parents find it extremely helpful to connect with others in similar situations as soon as possible. Particularly, meeting with families with older children who have successfully faced whatever ability challenges them. Other families can really help navigate the experiences that may lie ahead and be a strong network for both you and your child, if needed. Or they can at least give you some preliminary answers to questions you have now. Best of luck.
Nicole Jan 14 at 10:48 pm Reply
As an adoptive mom to a 2 YO DS, who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy while we were half a world away waiting for his paperwork to be processed. Turns out our diagnosis was correct, and after two years in an orphanage, DS had significant delays. But, know what? He has come so far and we are considering adoptiong another child with similar special needs. I had to go to China to find Holland, but I absolutely love it here. (Amalah answered my question last year on what to register for for a two year old boy…HI! I'll send an update soon!)
As the previous commenters said before, get the diagnostics to the extent you feel comfortable, and then give yourself permission to feel whatever you need to feel. I experienced fear, anger, sadness, gratitude, joy, and much more all at the same time.
I have a handful of friends parenting infants and young children with Downs, many of them adopted. Getting in touch with your local Early Intervention Services if you have a confirmed diagnosis of Downs will be helpul. But, all in all, you're having a baby, and that's a wonderful, risky, beautiful adventure regardless of what you know…or don't know.
Wishing all the best for you and for your family! OH, and don't let this become the only thing that you and DH talk about. Go out, have fun, feel and experience this together. That's important!
Mary Jan 15 at 10:50 am Reply
Congrats Mama! Welcome to Holland! As my husband and I awaited amnio results for our son we went through that awesome roller coaster of emotions. I cried every time I looked at my husband. I cried every morning before work (I was a special education teacher at the time). And then one morning DH emailed me the link to a local camp that had summer camp geared specifically for kids with DS. And somehow, summer camp made it a little more manageable. So here are some tips from the trenches (for what they're worth)
1) Take a deep breath and have a damn good cry. I felt guilty for mourning. DON'T.FEEL.GUILTY.
2) Lay your worries out on the table for your neonatologist and genetic counselor. They are a great resource and can get you in touch with other great resources (social workers, other medical specialists)
3) Limit the Google and WebMD. 20 minutes at a time max. And following any research up with completely mindless, gooey, new mama foolishness like matching bedspreads, wall hangings, and rockers, and ridiculously adorable onesies.
4) Slow down. You don't have to know everything all at once. You don't have to know everything ever. All the research in the world doesn't make a bit of difference until you meet your baby. Your baby is unique and not like any other baby. You don't need to be an expert on anything but them.
abigail Jan 15 at 12:02 pm Reply
My second child was diagnosed with a chromosomal disorder, prader willi syndrome, shortly after birth. Although we did not know he would not be typical during the pregnancy, I can empathize with what you are going through. At the time, I recall thinking that I was living a nightmare. Experiencing the worst thing I could imagine happening to my family. Two years later, I cannot imagine my life without my special son. Early development network is great, if your school system has one. I also saw a therapist for a short time to help me process all my emotions. It was soooo helpful just to say out-loud all of my emotions. Having been there- done that, my advice to you is to enjoy what remains of your pregnancy and treasure the time you have with your newborn, just like you did with your first daughter. I promise, within a short time, your family will adjust and be just as happy and "normal" as when you would have been with a typical child. Being the parent, sibling, friend, of a disabled person is truly a gift. If it so happens that your daughter is atypical, your outlook on life will change dramatically and you will be a better person for it.
Nicole M Jan 15 at 5:03 pm Reply
My younger brother had Prader Willi syndrome. While it certainly complicated things around the house in some ways, he was the most loving person. I agree that he was a gift to our family, and our entire family is closer and better because of him.
I absolutely loved the "Welcome to Holland" analogy and forwarded it on to my mom as well.
My son was born in March and he has Down syndrome. It was totally a surprise to us as we'd done no prenatal testing, but it's been a great experience so far!
I've blogged a lot about it at vandeblog.com & I'm available to e-mail if she wants.
Also, if it turns out the baby does have Down syndrome, I highly recommend the book "Babies With Down Syndrome." It's great.
Alitia Jan 15 at 5:29 pm Reply
My first pregnancy was a boy with Down syndrome (along with a host of other problems and hydrops which eventually led to a failed pregnancy). Before we learned of all the other problems and we were facing raising a Down syndrome child we met with our local Down syndrome association who gave us all sorts of helpful information and support. Check out ndss.org (national Down syndrome society) or nads.org (national association for Down syndrome) to find a local support group/chapter/association. Don't feel bad if you cry, it's ok. Also, really recommend the Kelle Hampton blog, love her and her writing. Very true to life. Good luck with it all!
Our 5th child, now 10mos was born with Down syndrome, which was not prenatally diagnosed. Given my natural neurosis during pregnancy we opted not to have any screening other than the regular ultrasounds.
With that said, let me just encourage you that having a specific diagnosis for your daughter puts you way ahead of the game. Because I have 5 kids I can tell you all children have special needs, and many times those needs are met after a lot of trial and error and fighting with the medical community and insurance company. Shoot, you've read what Amy's been through with Noah! So, take comfort that there is a lot of research and support for your daughter. I'm so so happy she has you as a mom, no matter how many chromosomes she has.
Cary Jan 16 at 2:35 pm Reply
I also really like Disability is Natural. She has both a website and a book that can be purchased through the site. I found it was extremely helpful in teaching me the importance of person first language and thinking. My daughter is 2 1/2 and still non-verbal and non-ambulatory and may always be. I am at peace with this, and our goals are regardless of her progress that we will help her to explore, communicate, be valued by society, and to live knowing that we don't view her as something that's broken and needs to fixed. Your life will never be the same, and you wouldn't want it to. Big hugs & Congratulations!!!!
I am probably all sorts of messed up according to psychologists be ause I do this, but it works great for me so I'm going to share with you! If your child does not have Down's syndrome, you will get what you always imagined, a normal, healthy baby with no surprises. S now that you know there is a chance of DS, maybe your life is about to get shaken up, you'll have to deal with things ap many other parents don't, and having a child with a disability will have challenges, but man will it have its rewards as well. So, either way, your about to become a parent all over again, and give your wonderful daughter the best gift you can, a sibling. As a lactation educator, I can't help but think about the misconception (like a lot of things with disabilities) that if your child has DS, you will not be able to breastfeed and you have no chance at giving your child optimum nutrition as an infant and will miss out on the bonding experience. That is absolutely false and I really hope you'll get some resources on managing breastfeeding with a child with DS. Just expect you'll have a different route, and some challenges along the way but you can still parent how you feel you should 😉 from breastfeeding to everything else!
Suzy Q Jan 16 at 7:35 pm Reply
Congrats! What a lucky baby to come into your life, to a mother who is so warm and welcoming and loving. I hope all goes well.
When my schedule used to permit, I volunteered at a school for kids with Down Syndrome and autism. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I got to interact (in a variety of situations) with kids from ages 5 to mid-20s and see them grow and progress over the years. What I learned is that early intervention is key.
S Jan 18 at 4:21 pm Reply
I hesitated on posting this originally, and I want to give a different perspective. Here is my background: I have a younger brother and a much younger cousin with DS, whom I love dearly. I also had some of the tests done that you're considering (NT scan w/ triple screen and Verifi which is like the MaterniT21). I got negative results on the Verifi after a high NT but we found a series of abnormalities incompatible with life at our 20-week structural ultrasound and chose to terminate.
On the DS issue: DS is not a death sentence, but it is a life sentence. By that I mean that your child will always have it and you likely don't know the degree of severity of their disabilities at the moment. Yes, there are wonderful things about having a family member with DS. There is also a lot of heartache and difficulties that people who don't have a person in their family with developmental disabilities will never understand. While that's true of having ANY child, know that whatever decision you make, you deserve to not be judged by anyone for making it. Having a child with disabilities is EXPENSIVE. Someday when you're not there, they will need someone to be their caretaker. Your ENTIRE family will be affected, for good AND for ill, by the presence of a child with special needs. DS can also be accompanied by other significant health challenges and it is a good idea to have a full picture of what those challenges are, particularly if your doctors have already found abnormalities outside of DS.
On the testing issue: For me, more information is ALWAYS better. The more informed you are going forward, the better. The NT scan and triple screen results we got gave us a 1:223 likelihood of DS. The odds for our final diagnosis were 1:10,000-50,000 – there simply aren't enough cases identified to have a good sense for how prevalent it is. While I dearly hope you aren't the 1:6 your doctor thinks you might be, a good equivalent in your case is rolling a dice – how likely are you on a dice roll to get a particular number?
I know this is not the happy, everything-will-be-fine response you have gotten from other posters. I'm sorry that you're going through this up-ending of your expectations for a healthy, normal pregnancy and baby. I do hope it will give you an alternate frame of reference from which to consider your options and that you are at peace with whatever you choose to do.
All the best in this difficult time,
Stephanie Jan 22 at 9:30 pm Reply
What a excellent and brave response, S, thank you for posting that.
S Jan 23 at 1:45 pm Reply
Thanks, Stephanie! It has certainly been a rollercoaster of a trip. I also want to put in a plug for the OP, forgot to mention, that there are some really great forums for moms in her situation on Babycenter. There's a space for parents of kids w/DS and space for parents who terminated pregnancies for DS. Both spaces are worth checking out.
Caitlin Jan 23 at 12:25 pm Reply
Lots of love to you.
I read an excellent book called "Expecting Adam" years ago. It is about a woman pregnant with a little boy with DS. The book isn't really about his DS but it was an extraordinary book which you might want to look into.
A Jan 25 at 12:44 pm Reply
My older brother has Downs. He lives in a group home with other high functioning adults with Downs, he has a part time job, he has had the same girlfriend since he was 10 years old. He has an incredible spirit, a generous nature, and an understanding of people that goes beyond intelligence. It was not always easy for my parents to raise him, but they probably had a harder time with me, the difficult/defiant one! If your child does have Downs,
S is right in that it is for life. But it is also a gift. Everyone who has ever met my brother loved him. Several of the people who have worked with him over the years say that he has made them a better person. We cannot walk down a sidewalk in my hometown without people greeting him. I am so lucky to have him as a brother!
Good luck to you and I hope everything turns out well. You sound like an amazing mother and I know you will be able to handle whatever comes your way.
LauraL Feb 04 at 1:22 pm Reply
Forgive me if I'm repeating; I didn't have time to read through all the answers.
I had a very similar scenario, except my nuchal fold translucency + quad screen = 1 in 5 chance. EVERYONE around me did the "Oh, that means a 4 in 5 chance everything's fine" – which I did appreciate, but I kept saying someone's gotta be that 1. Turns out, yes, I was that 1. The day we got the conclusive diagnosis, my husband and I cried for a bit and then got on with it. You DO have to mourn the loss of the child you thought you were going to have, and that's painful. The upside side is that (should you decide to continue the pregnancy and keep the baby) (I say that because I do not presume to know what people will do) you'll be able to be excited when the baby actually arrives. The second half of my pregnancy, I was unable to think of my son in any terms except his diagnosis. Once he was here, he was just Malcolm. And the DS is a part of him like red hair and blue eyes, and honest to God, I wouldn't change it if I could. He is that freaking awesome.
Now, for practical matters: You don't say where you live, but there likely is a local support group for Down syndrome. If not, there should be a state-level one. Call them. Many have a prenatal outreach kind of person who can answer any questions you have, provide a listening ear, point you toward some resources, etc. I have not encountered any that are pro-life persuaders; they just want people to be able to make INFORMED choices. Our big questions were what is life for/with a child wiht DS like, would our daughter resent him, what were some of the medical possibilities, and so forth. They people who could answer those were ones who'd been there, done that.
Online resources for you include:
http://lettercase.org/ – understanding a diagnosis; you can download a booklet free that will answer a lot of questions. Awesome, awesome people.
http://downsyndromepregnancy.org/ – again, fantastaic people, all about pregnancy with DS, good information
http://www.ndsan.org/ – National Down Syndrome Adoption Network; answers if you don't think you can parent a child with DS/want to place the baby for adoption/want to adopt a child with DS. There is currently a waiting list; at times, it has been more than 200 people long.
http://www.ndss.org/ – National Down Syndrome Society
http://ndsccenter.org/ – National Down Syndrome Congress
Sorry for the book here, but I so honestly get where you are. And there are answers out there and people who are happy to talk with you honestly. It's not all rainbows and roses and sparkles, but parenting is parenting is parenting. And it's fantastic. Good luck!
LauraL Feb 04 at 1:30 pm Reply
Unbelievably, given the length of my previous, I forgot something:
In the past 20-25 years, the life expectancy for people with DS has more than doubled. Most of the time, the cognitive impairment (preferred term to "mental retardation") is mild to moderate, but there is no way to tell prenatally where your child will fall on the spectrum – just like typically developing children and intelligence or compassion. It occurs in about 1 in 670-691 births (depends on where you get your info), and there are approximately 400,000 people with DS in America today. People with DS tend to have superb emotional and social abilities, and most learn better visually, which is why reading tends to be much easier than math for them.
All of these are generalizations, but they are some of the lesser-known facts. There are a lot of myths, and things have changed A LOT in the past 20-30 years. Both my husband and I had to let go of memories from our childhoods of what children with DS were like.
Again, best of luck. I'll keep you in my thoughts.
I'm just reading this now- but I wanted to give you some comments as someone who works with a beautiful, inspiring, amazing little girl with DS every day. She's changed my life in ways I couldn't have imagined.
I'm a developmental specialist for children who have special needs. I provide one-on-one play therapy for my clients, in their home with the support of a battery of therapists. We work on everything from gross motor to cognitive things every day- but to the kids I'm just a big goof that comes and plays every day.
If you haven't- check out the blog Noah's Dad. It's got some good information, the mother is a pediatrician, but I don't agree with ALL their comments.
If your locale allows it- try and get services set up pre-natally. This will help make sure you can hit the ground running when baby is born. For instance- you may need help breastfeeding because children with DS tend to struggle with hypotonia (low muscle tone- which makes everything from smiling to walking difficult.)
I'd also start thinking of your "vision" for your daughter. What do you want her life to look like? Do you want her in a typical preschool learning alongside her peers (inclusion model.) Do you want her to always have an aide or would you prefer to to be able to function independently and have the teacher adapt for her? It doesn't have to be pretty- but write down what you want for her now so that when all the decisions have to be made in a few years you can refer back to it. You're going to have to fight for her- a lot- so having that to fall back on has been helpful for a lot of my clients.
Contact your local Down Syndrome society. Explain that you've got a probable pre-natal diagnosis. They'll send a group of parents who are currently raising children with DS to you, to support you and help you through this. Seriously- get a support system- and get it now.
And lastly- this is NOT the end of the world. It's going to be okay. If you'd like you can contact me and I'd be happy to share with you photos and stories of some of my clients (whose parents have given me permission for this exact reason) who are in a typical school, with their typical peers, learning and being loved. They do everything the rest of the kids do- sometimes with some help- but they do it. It's going to be okay! One thing is that DS helps you put things in perspective- you're going to savour every little victory cause you've worked so hard for it. It's a pretty joyful way to live.
All the best!
Athena Apr 28 at 11:19 pm Reply
I love that Holland metaphor, it's very beautiful. At the same time though, it makes me wonder how it would apply to our family. After all, I'm kind of HOPING to land in Holland (and trying not to feel bad about that) because dear god how will three auties manage to raise an NT? Or does that make autism our Italy? (particularly what with the omg ALL the family history, practically so… our plane really, really is most likely to land in autism)
Of course, after spending a decent chunk of pregnancy going "OMG WHAT WILL WE DO IF HE'S NORMAL?", I realised some four-five months in during yet another full-blown scream-out over changing his nappy that "crap, I'm not entirely sure what we'll do if he's NOT, either!"
So maybe I'm just the lady who grabbed her ticket in a lucky dip and burned the travel guides 😛


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Apple's $76B Question: What to Do With the Cash?
Apple announced its quarterly earnings Tuesday, and -- big surprise -- they were stellar. But one numbers not discussed much was the more than $76 billion Apple holds on its balance sheet. That figure is only going to grow, and the company still has given no sign of having figured out what to do with the money.


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- May 15:
- Suncor spill still taints South Platte, proves benzene a tough mop-up
- Oct 7:
- Suncor installs cleanup system at river, wants sewage plant to help
- May 25:
- Suncor spill clean-up at Sand Creek near Denver is months, years away
- May 11:
- Colorado wastewater project at risk from Suncor refinery toxic plume
- May 2:
- Remedies not stopping water pollution at Commerce City refinery
- Apr 21:
- Suncor energy installs fountain, underground walls to reduce benzene plume near Denver
Suncor Energy has expanded the hose system blowing air bubbles into Sand Creek attempting to expel cancer-causing benzene spreading from under the company's oil refinery north of Denver.
Its crews also have been packing a trench with bentonite clay from Wyoming, focused on meeting a deadline today for the completion of a 1,000-foot-long, 30-foot-deep underground wall designed to hold back contaminated groundwater.
But benzene levels in Sand Creek and the South Platte River remain significantly elevated — as much as 100 times higher than the U.S. health standard.
Three months after state regulators ordered an intensified cleanup, the fouling of northeastern Colorado's main waterway continues — illustrating the difficulty of dealing with one of the Rocky Mountain region's long-running cases of industrial pollution.
Extras: Spill Cleanup
- Examine the water test results (47 pages, PDF).
- Slideshow: More photos of Suncor contractors working to clean up liquid leaking into Sand Creek.
- View a map showing the plume spreading from under the Suncor refinery in Commerce City.
- Read the state health department's Dec. 30 order to Suncor Energy (PDF).
A Denver Post analysis of water sampling data shows that the benzene levels in the creek and river may be increasing.
• At the confluence of Sand Creek and the South Platte, the latest test results show an average benzene concentration of 460 parts per billion in February, up 29 percent from an average of 356 ppb in December. The average for the past eight samples, taken in January and February, was 511 ppb. The federal drinking-water standard is 5 ppb.
• Farther downstream, beneath a bike bridge on the South Platte, tests show an average benzene concentration in February of 241 ppb, up nearly 10 percent from 220 ppb in December.
• Benzene measured in the past two weeks at a series of surface wells along Sand Creek also remained elevated: 170 ppb, 110 ppb, 93 ppb and 89 ppb.
The data, from samples taken by Suncor and provided to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, were provided to The Post in response to written requests.
90,000 barrels a day
Since the 1980s, CDPHE officials have known about and tried to deal with contamination at the refinery north of Denver, where Suncor processes 90,000 barrels a day of crude oil from the region and tar sands piped in from Canada. Suncor purchased the refinery from Conoco in 2004.
In 2008, CDPHE officials signed off on proposed "final measures" for corrective action under Colorado's hazardous waste laws.
Then, on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, a fly-fisherman spotted black goo oozing into the creek and river — and called CDPHE's emergency line. State spill-response coordinators dispatched a county inspector, who found no problem. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency experts responding to a Denver Post query went to the scene and launched an emergency cleanup.
State officials in February 2011 received a report from Suncor about a spill at the refinery likely to worsen problems. But the resurfacing of toxic material in November "was a surprise," said Rob Beierle, the health department environment-protection specialist tasked with overseeing Suncor's cleanup.
The continuing seepage of benzene into the creek and river "is a concern," Beierle said in an interview over diagrams and maps. "We need to clean it up.
"I think we've got a pretty good idea of what's going on. We just need to run Suncor along as fast as we can. It takes time to clean up subsurface contamination."
"Not the final solution"
This week, Suncor vice president of refining John Gallagher said aerating Sand Creek to release trapped benzene is not producing the results the company had hoped to see. This "is not the final solution," he said.
Company officials and state regulators now envision a combination of cleanup methods, including pumping and treating 500 gallons of contaminated groundwater per minute and removing toxic vapors from soil.
"We are applying significant resources to address the problem of underground contamination and will continue to do so until we make it right for the environment and this community," Gallagher said.
Gallagher also noted that, under CDPHE's current system for classifying the state's waterways and setting thresholds for pollution, the amount of benzene allowed into Sand Creek is 5,300 ppb — far above the federal 5 ppb health standard.
"Based on the fact that the benzene standard is 5,300 ppb, we don't anticipate there is any permanent damage to the Sand Creek environment," he said.
The harm from spilled benzene probably depends on when contaminated groundwater first reached waterways and how fast it can be contained and cleaned. State aquatic biologists have raised no concerns.
"Cancer in aquatic life, like fish, or in humans who use the water as drinking water might take a decade or two to show up," said Joe Ryan, an environmental engineer at the University of Colorado. "Fish would be much more susceptible to the hazard than humans."
Suncor's underground wall "should have an immediate benefit by slowing the groundwater flow," Ryan said.
But eventually groundwater may find a way around the walls, and "something will have to be done to remove the source of the benzene and the benzene in the groundwater trapped by the wall," he said.
No contamination
No contamination of drinking water is expected because municipal water providers who rely on the South Platte below the confluence with Sand Creek — Aurora and Thornton — treat their water to remove contaminants before water is piped to homes.
Agricultural irrigators also are tracking the situation, as are water-diversion pipeline operators. The Burlington Ditch, lined with concrete in the 1980s, is not connected with Sand Creek, and water sampling at Barr Lake near Brighton has not detected new pollution.
Beyond the refinery, groundwater contaminated with benzene has spread under neighboring property, including Denver Metro Wastewater's Robert Hite Treatment Facility. Metro Wastewater managers there have given Suncor access to build the underground wall and "are concerned for our workers' and contractors' health and safety, and to meet all of our obligations under our (state pollution) discharge permit," agency spokesman Steve Frank said.
Meanwhile, Herb Gibson, Denver-area director for the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, anticipates his open investigation of worker exposures to benzene will continue for several months.
The investigation has expanded beyond refinery locations where benzene was found in drinking water to include benzene in air, Gibson said. "We have received complaints."
Benzene apparently penetrated plastic pipes. Suncor still is providing bottled water for drinking. All Suncor workers have had their blood tested.
The overall situation forced a CDPHE reassessment of corrective actions approved several years ago. By the end of this month, Suncor now is obligated to build an additional 2,000-foot-long underground wall at the edge of the refinery property.
Ways to extract benzene
Cleanup plans also call for continued use of systems designed to extract benzene vapors from soil. About 300 wells drilled around Suncor's property are used to try to monitor the movement of benzene and other toxic contaminants in groundwater. Two pre-existing underground barriers are meant to slow the spread of contaminated groundwater.
Heavy machinery reverberated this week as contractors filled trenches along Sand Creek with the bentonite, which expands upon contact with water to form what is meant to be an impenetrable barrier.
Suncor supervisors said that once this wall is completed, they'll move machinery to start work on the new, bigger underground wall.
"When Suncor purchased these properties from other owners, the ground under the refinery was already contaminated," Gallagher said.
"Suncor is not perfect. We've had some spills on our site that have added to the contamination. It is our intention — and part of the plan that we're following with CDPHE — to remove and recover all of the hydrocarbons in the soil that is practical.
"The uses of our property and neighboring industrial properties will remain the same as they have been prior to this incident."
Bruce Finley: 303-954-1700, twitter.com/finleybruce or firstname.lastname@example.com


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National Down Syndrome Society666 Broadway, 8th FloorNew York New York firstname.lastname@example.com
Tim Mahoney was my uncle. He was an amazing person, an incredible entertainer, full of fun, laughter and life. He was one of the most popular people I ever met, a pure soul and was so proud of me, his niece, for nothing more than being his niece. He impacted more lives than anyone else I know and continues to teach us lessons. Oh yeah, and he had Down syndrome. Everyone who was blessed enough to know him knew he was actually more 'normal' than anyone else! :) Recently he passed away and we recorded his tribute during his celebration of life ceremony. We wanted to share his story as he meant so much to SO many people.
National Down Syndrome Society, 666 Broadway, 8th Floor, New York, New York, 10012Copyright © 2012 National Down Syndrome SocietyPrivacy Policy | Terms and Conditions


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June 23, 2013
Now retired, former school bus monitor Karen Klein says she used $100,000 to seed the Karen Klein Anti-Bullying Foundation to promote kindness.
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Bullied NY bus monitor teaches kindness year later
No new carpet or furniture for the home she's lived in for 46 years. No fancy car in the driveway.
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Wednesday Nov 24 2010
Boarding facility won't take in more dogs
By: Joyia Emard, Loomis News Staff Writer
Owner of Aunt Cynthia's withdraws request after neighbors complain
Complaints from neighbors have caused the Aunt Cynthia's Bed and Biscuit Inn owner to pull a request to increase the number of dogs cared for. Cynthia McCoy owns the cageless dog boarding facility located on Swetzer Road and initially asked the town to authorize an increase in the number of dogs she could keep from 40 to 60. But after hearing neighbors voice concerns about barking and other issues at the planning commission meeting on Nov. 16, McCoy decided to withdraw her request. In an e-mail to the Loomis News, McCoy said, "After hearing the concerns expressed by my neighbors at the planning commission meeting, I have decided to withdraw my request for a modification of my use permit. "It is my intention to listen to all concerns expressed by my neighbors, and to work toward resolution of any and all issues in a neighborly way." The 4,300 square-foot, cage-free building currently houses dogs in each of its four "living rooms," each measuring 750 square feet. Loomis planning commissioners heard public comment on Nov. 16 and continued the item until their Dec. 21 meeting. Thomas Boisvert, who lives on Angelo Drive behind the facility, spoke at the meeting and said he had a petition, signed by more than 100 Loomis residents, against the dog increase. Those signatures, according to town staff, represent 82 properties. Aeron Heath, who lives on Kathy Way, said McCoy "really doesn't care about the neighborhood. The dogs bark a lot." Sarah and Michael Brajonje, who live on Angelo Drive, said they bought their home one year ago and also have dogs. Michael Brajonje said he has concerns about the proposed increased number of dogs at Aunt Cynthia's and a proposed dog-walking path on the site. "The dog trail is a few feet from our back fence. That is a huge invasion of our privacy," Michael Brajonje said. According to a town staff report, the town has fielded complaints regarding "dogs barking and causing a nuisance" from three neighbors of the dog boarding facility. Matt Lopez, town assistant planner, said town staff conducted multiple unannounced visits to the facility and barking dogs were not heard. Lopez also said the town had received a complaint from a neighbor of the business about lights shining into his home, windows and doors of the facility left open, and other issues. Town staff had recommended that the commission deny the request for the increased number of dogs, without prejudice, until a noise study can be conducted.


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Kenra Professional has an exciting career opportunity for an Educator based in Edmonton or Calgary, Alberta. Kenra is an Indianapolis-based, privately held professional beauty company that is dedicated to providing performance-driven hair care products that stylists trust and that allow our customers to achieve their desired style. Our products are developed and manufactured to exceptionally high standards and can be found in quality salons throughout North America. Everything we do is aimed at ensuring our customers are happy and they achieve inner and outer beauty. Professional beauty is a passion for our employees; and consequently, we have high employee morale and satisfaction. Kenra is a fast-paced Company that embraces change and is guided by a culture that values integrity, passion, and relationships.
We are actively seeking an Educator to join our team. This position is responsible for developing and training stylists and salons of all levels on Kenra Professional's product portfolio that will also include Kenra® Color. The Educator must remain current and able to effectively communicate all trends, techniques, and innovations within the professional beauty industry as it relates to all Kenra brands.
The Educator will perform territory needs analysis of their assigned region and report all class details to the Senior Education Manager on a monthly basis as well as prioritize the scheduling of all activities based on the individual territory plans.
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Burt's Bees Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment Moisturizing Shampoo (4.34 fl oz)
- Brand: Burt's Bees
- Hair Type: Dry Hair
- Features: All Natural Ingredients
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Showing 1 - 11 of 11 Reviews
wasn't impressed
This smelled great, but did nothing to improve the look and feel of my hair. It was pretty greasy too, so it took quite a bit of washing/rinsing to make my hair not look greasy after using this product. I would not buy again. Read full review »
Love it!!!!
My hair gets really dry especially in the winter. My best friend turned me on to this stuff and I absolutely love it. It doesn't make my hair feel greasy and does the trick every-tim Read full review »
Works well and hydrated my hair!
I liked that it softened my hair and left it feeling healthier, but the scent is not my favorite so I tend to buy other products that I enjoy more. Natural ingredients make this a wonderful hair care product! Read full review »
Hair Treatment
It is a pretty effective hair treatment cream, but I am not overly impressed with it. It kind of weighed down my hair and I did not like the smell. So I use it sparingly and it works well. Read full review »
Nice Product
This is nice for a conditioning hair treatment. It seems to take a lot of it to get it worked all through the hair ( I guess maybe not so much if you don't have long hair like I do). It is greasy, but not more so than any other oil based hair treatment I've tried. I actually... Read full review »
Great hydrating treatment
This product works well, but if you don't have extremely dry, brittle hair that breaks easily, I wouldn't recommend this. If your hair is even the slightest bit moisturized or hydrated, this product will leave an oily or greasy feel to your hair. Read full review »
It works ok. Since it is not very expensive it is worth it. I use it when I need to give extra care to my hair. It is easy to use and makes my hair more manageable.It makes them look healthier too. Read full review »
Works well but not a miracle treatment.
This product is nice. It's a substantial conditioner and isn't too thin. However, it didn't really work any better than my daily conditioner. I didn't notice any extra shine to my hair and it didn't feel any healthier than it normally does. My hair is in pretty good condition though, so I don't... Read full review »
get shiney hair like me
i LOVE all burts bee's products because they are effective and affordable. I bought this Avacado butter hair treatment. I use this once a week for my hair and wash it off, and gives me really healthy, smooth and shiney hair. I love the way it's smells and the texture is like butter!! Great... Read full review »
Smells good, but is not for me
This product worked well for my mom, but made my hair too greasy. I would recommend it to anyone with overly dry/damaged hair to use maybe weekly! Read full review »
Great heavy duty conditioner.
Burt's Bees is a very popular, all-natural health and beauty line of products. The Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment is of the same great quality that has made the brand so popular.
The product is to be used pre-shampoo, on wet hair. The instructions call for the treatment to be... Read full review »
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Find Shampoos, Conditioners, And Hair Treatments at Target.com! Rich and buttery, Burt's Bees Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair treatment moisturizes to make hair beautiful and silky. Made with Avocado Oil, the pre-wash hair treatment penetrates hair and skin giving you the moisture your hair needs without leaving an oily film. Olive and Almond Oil, Rosemary and Nettle Extracts help give your hair a beautifully glossy shine. This product is part of the Made to Matter collection: innovative products with a purpose. Search "Made to Matter" to learn more. Gender: Unisex.
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Burt's Bees Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment 4.34 oz
Earth friendly natural personal care products. Active Ingredients: Vegetable Glycerin; Olive Oil; Oat Flour; Avocado Oil; Lecithin (Natural Thickener); Sucrose Stearate and Sucrose Distearate (Sugar Emulsifier); Citrus Rind Oil (Cleanser); Almond Oil; Magnesium Stearate (Emulsifier); Oat Oil; Chlorophyll; Tocopherol (Vitamin E); Nettle Leaf Powder; Rosemary Leaf Oil; Vegetable Oil; Fragrance Uses: Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment restores body, shine and manageability to dry and damaged hair. Excellent for both women and men alike. Makes a great styling aid too. Not tested on animals.
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Burt's Bees - Avocado Butter Pre-shampoo Hair Treatment 4.34 Oz 123g
This is a 4.34 oz/123g tube of Burt's Bees Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment with Nettles and Rosemary. Item is new, unopened and unused. Lot is part of a store liquidation, so the labels might be peeled and containers might have dings and scratches. You will receive one 4.34 oz tube per unit purchased. SELLER NOTES: Please Read All photos are of actual item you will receive, unless it is an item with multiple quantities and then it will be representative of what you will receive.Thank
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RCMP rapists, child abusers and violators of Aboriginal woman and girls in British Columbia.
If you didn't read the story, you should.
If you read it you are undoubtedly experiencing feelings of shock and disgust for Canada's longest serving Police agency.
According to the report the allegations were levelled by "respected" New York human rights watchdog "Human Rights Watch."
Allegations that an Aboriginal woman was raped by four (4) RCMP Officers and threatened with death if she reported the incident. Allegations of excessive force that include assault on a seventeen year old girl, assaults with pepper spray, tasers and an "attack" with a K9.
"In five of the ten towns Human Rights Watch visited in the north, we heard of allegations of rape or sexual assault by police officers," the report says.
If these shocking allegations are true we should all be outraged.
The problem is, the "respected human rights watchdog" failed to disclose any of the identities of the women making the accusations.
It makes me question the motivation behind the press release.
In fact, it makes me question the motivation for the entire exercise.
A five-week investigation, ten (10) northern British Columbia Towns visited, eight-seven (87) interviews conducted with forty-two (42) indigenous women and eight (8) indigenous girls, all for what?
To compile an anonymous report so Human Rights Watch could make a media splash?
If you want to find people who'll make complaints of excessive force against Police Officers they're not all that difficult to find. The Provincial Remand Center, Headingley Correctional Institute, Stoney Mountain Penitentiary and Portage La Prairie Correctional Institute for women are full of potential candidates. I doubt you'll ever meet anyone who was punched by a cop, pepper sprayed or tasered who has the awareness to arrive at the conclusion their behaviour had something to do with the event in question.
Allegations of rape, sexual assault or child abuse take these complaints to another level.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper correctly "called out" Human Rights Watch by urging them to share the required information with the Police so the allegations can be properly investigated. He apparently doubled down by asking the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP to investigate.
The problem with the release of the report is the material is anonymous and untested.
Complaints of this nature merit a serious, professional and thorough investigation. An investigation that ought to be conducted by experienced, professional investigators. Professional investigators are skilled seekers of the truth.
Any professional investigator will tell you allegations of any description carry little weight when they're made under the cloak of anonymity. Anonymous allegations made by a group of people who've had a historically antagonistic relationship with law enforcement officers requires even greater scrutiny.
After conducting hundreds of victim and witness interviews during high-profile criminal investigations I'm never surprised by the depths of deception people sink to when reporting information to the Police. Witness accounts often morph considerably when the reporting person is asked to sign their name to a sworn witness declaration form under the threat of prosecution for providing false testimony.
Professional interviewers are aware of the fact that witness accounts must not be accepted at face value. Keen intuition, critical thinking and probing questions often reveal a much different reality than original versions of events.
When it comes to allegations of sexual assault or child abuse, people in the court of public opinion often default to verdict of guilty as charged.
If Human Rights Watch was really interested in doing a public service then they should have had a plan for the meaningful disclosure of their investigative findings before they ever entered into such a high-profile undertaking. Anything less is simply irresponsible and reckless. Truth and justice are always sacrificed when sensationalism and special interest are primary considerations.
I, for one, will keep an open mind until the RCMP accusers decide to make legitimate formal complaints to a professional investigative body.
It's time to "put up or shut up."


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Alachua woman arrested after allegedly hitting husband with car
Published: Monday, June 16, 2014 at 12:01 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, June 16, 2014 at 12:01 p.m.
High Springs police arrested an Alachua woman Sunday morning on allegations she hit her husband with a car during an argument.
Kelly Ann Fregia, 26, of 10608 NW 61st Terrace, and her husband were arguing as they were driving home from a bar at 2:45 a.m. when Fregia pulled over to the side of the road because she had spilled her beer, a High Springs Police Department arrest report said.
Police said Fregia told her husband to get out of the vehicle. He said he would not get out and that she needed to take him home but then left the car and started walking back home, the report said.
The man told police Fregia started yelling at him again and that he cussed at her and kept walking. Police said Fregia drove toward her husband at 10 mph and hit him, knocking him to the ground.
Fregia continued driving and later was found at her parents' home in Alachua by the Alachua Police Department. When police found her husband, he had road rash marks and told them he needed paramedics because his shoulder was hurting, the report said.
The man told police there have been domestic issues with his wife in the past, which is why he got out of the car. Fregia was charged with a felony count of aggravated battery using a deadly weapon, according to the report.
She was being held Monday at the Alachua County jail in lieu of $25,000 bond.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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January 24, 2012
Junior Candidate for 2012 Jamestown Homecoming King Phillip Marshall and Sophomore Escort Monica Dietzel stroll during the coronation ceremony.
Stories this photo appears in:
Photos of the Jamestown Homecoming Coronation
Photos of the Jamestown Homecoming Coronation.
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- Inhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building - http://inhabitat.com -
Japanese Researchers Invent Elastic Water
Posted By Ariel Schwartz On April 30, 2010 @ 11:30 am In Green Materials,Innovation | 14 Comments
The material shown in the picture above is just ice, right? Look again. Elastic water, a new substance invented by researchers at Tokyo University, is a jelly-like substance made up of 95% water along with two grams of clay [2] and a small amount of organic materials. As is, the all-natural substance is perfect for medical procedures [3], because it's made of water, poses no harm to people and is perfect for mending tissue. And, if the research team can increase the density of this exciting new substance, it could be used in place of our current oil based plastics for a host of other things.
According to the researchers, the substance can be used to stick tissues together (human tissues, not Kleenex) and to produce clean plastic [4] materials. It also has a high mechanical strength [5] and self mends when damaged.
Imagine if everything now made out of plastic from oil was instead made out of plastic from water. Though water shortage issues could become a problem if we went hog wild, we could surely reduce a lot of toxins in our environment. Bravo to the "elastic water" team – though it may be just a gel right now it could be a superb and wide reaching solution in the future.
+ Japan Science and Technology Agency [6]
Via Akihabara News [7]
Article printed from Inhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building: http://inhabitat.com
URL to article: http://inhabitat.com/japanese-researchers-make-elastic-plastic-out-of-water/
URLs in this post:
[1] Image: http://inhabitat.com/2010/04/30/japanese-researchers-make-elastic-plastic-out-of-water/1-8/
[2] clay: http://www.inhabitots.com/2009/05/22/maarten-baas%E2%80%99-clay-childrens-chairs/
[3] medical procedures: http://inhabitat.com/design-for-health/
[4] plastic: http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/25/plastic-spoon-lamps-as-sculptural-objects/
[5] mechanical strength: http://www.inhabitat.com/green-gadgets/
[6] + Japan Science and Technology Agency: http://www.jst.go.jp/
[7] Akihabara News: http://en.akihabaranews.com/31168/science/japanese-scientists-invented-%E2%80%9Celastic-water%E2%80%9D-paving-the-way-for-ecologically-clean-plastic-materials
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Notice From The Office Of The Secretary - IN THE MATTER OF THE SECURITIES ACT R.S.O. 1990, C. S.5, AS AMENDED - AND - IN THE MATTER OF PORTUS ALTERNATIVE ASSET MANAGEMENT INC., PORTUS ASSET MANAGEMENT INC., BOAZ MANOR, MICHAEL MENDELSON, MICHAEL LABANOWICH AND JOHN OGG
TORONTO, Nov. 30, 2012 /CNW/ - The Commission issued its Reasons and Decision and an Order with respect to Michael Mendelson in the above noted matter. A copy of the Reasons and Decision and the Order with respect to Michael Mendelson dated November 29, 2012 are available at www.osc.gov.on.caOFFICE OF THE SECRETARY JOHN P. STEVENSON SECRETARY SOURCE Ontario Securities Commission
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Mo. farmers eligible for help to expand wells
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri farmers can get some additional state help to drill or deepen wells for thirsty crops and livestock.
Gov. Jay Nixon said Tuesday the emergency program will cover 90 percent of a well project's cost, with a maximum cost-sharing award of $20,000. Typical state soil and water cost-share programs cover 75 percent of the cost. The state Soil and Water Districts Commission approved the expanded program this week.
Water well projects must help crops or livestock and cannot harm the public water supply.
Applications for the additional assistance must be submitted by Aug. 6 to a soil or water district or through state government's website at www.mo.gov .
Nixon also created a task force of workers from the state Agriculture and Natural Resources departments to process the applications.
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Vincent and Dickson consider the life cycle and pathogenesis of the protozoan parasite Leishmania.
Download Read More
Sometimes, discovery in biology is about discerning rules and sometimes it is about pursuing exceptions. In this spirit, Human Herpesvirus six (HHV-6), the etiologic agent of the common childhood illness roseola infantum, is shaping up to be an intriguing exception.
A recent post on Small Thi... Read More
Intestinal permeability and the translocation of bacteria, viruses and antigens through the mucosal epithelium seems to play a role in many illnesses from celiac disease over diabetes to HIV and immune activation. Do we take into account that intestinal permeability could play a very important r... Read More
Kate writes:
Is it possible that disease stage makes a difference in detection of XMRV and have any XMRV studies tested patients for the virus at several different points over a period of time?
Cort writes:
How different or similar are your m... Read More
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On episode #94 of the podcast This Week in Virology, Vincent, Alan, and Rich speak with Ila Singh about the new human retrovirus XMRV, and how her laboratory is studying its association with prostat... Read More
Environmental Risk factor database: Bugs and Genes II: Alzheimer's , Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, Bipolar disoder and Schizophrenia.
This is a database of environmental risk factors, often viruses, bacteria and parasites, that have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease, Bipolar disorder, Multiple sclerosis, Schizophrenia, and Parkinson's disease , all accessible from the home page. In general the degree of risk conferred by... Read More
A compact, inexpensive microscope operated by a battery is able to diagnose signs of tuberculosis on par with devices that retail for as much as $40,000.
The 2.5 pound microscope was developed by Rice University alumnus Andrew Miller, as his senior design project last year.
The goal was to... Read More
The impact of the pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 virus on seasonal influenza A viruses in the southern hemisphere
Data collected over winter 2009 by five World Health Organisation National Influenza Centres in the southern hemisphere were used to examine the circulation of pandemic and seasonal influenza A strains during the first pandemic wave in the southern hemisphere. There is compelling evidence that t... Read More
This is a blog that tries to address the relationships between genes and environmental risk factors , particularly viruses, bacteria and parasites, in some common diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Bipolar disorder, multiple sclerosis, Schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease and also provide... Read More
This is a database of Herpes simplex (HSV-1) host/viral interactions hosted at WikiGenes. It provides a global snapshot of what the virus does in different compartments at all stages of the viral life-cycle from entry to exit. The database is interactive, and any researcher can edit the page or ... Read More
The XMRV retrovirus has been implicated in chronic fatigue syndrome and prostate cancer. A homology search comparing retroviral with human proteins revealed short contiguous amino acid strings (typically 5-8 aa) matching human proteins whose dysfunction might be expected to cause fatigue, includ... Read More
A National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Research Announcement (NRA), entitled, "Research and Technology Development to Support Crew Health and Performance in Space Exploration Missions" (NRA NNJ10ZSA003N), has been released and is available through the NASA Research Opportunities ... Read More
Elio Schaechter of Small Things Considered describes the work by members of Jill Banfield's lab at Berkeley on a unique set of mine-dwelling microorganisms dubbed ARMAN (for Archaeal Richmond Mine Acidophilic Nanoorganisms). These microbes illustrate many surprising characteristics such as "thei... Read More
Chanock received his MD in 1947 from the University of Chicago, and after clinical training in pediatrics (note the bowtie), joined Albert Sabin at the University of Cincinnati where he studied arthropod-borne viruses. After a stint in the US Army, he rejoined Sabin's laboratory in 1954 as an in... Read More
When I was in graduate school, it seemed that almost no one aspired to work in industry or be part of a company. But times are changing. Now, when I go to conferences and talk to scientists in training, I am asked, "how do I get a job in a company?" and "How did you get your job?"
This is not... Read More
From MO BIO Labs, a cool blog of life sciences sites and lings. Thanks for the MicrobeWorld shout-out, MO BIO!
"I spend a lot of time reading internet news and blogs to stay on top of current research. In the course of my web surfing, I have found some really great scientific sites for microb... Read More
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On episode #93 of the podcast This Week in Virology, Vincent, Alan, and Rich answer listener questions about lab procedures, prokaryotes, endogenous retroviruses, the iPad and teaching, prions, mimi... Read More
Joyce writes:
Love the pod cast!
I once went into a very large bookstore and asked the clerk if they had any books on parasitology. She said that they did and pointed in the direction of a large case of colorful books which on closer examination turned out to ... Read More
Event-based biosurveillance of respiratory disease in Mexico, 2007–2009: Connection to the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic?
The emergence of the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus in North America and its subsequent global spread highlights the public health need for early warning of infectious disease outbreaks. Event-based biosurveillance, based on local- and regional-level Internet media reports, is one approac... Read More
In addition to working as a scientist, and well before his discovery of antibiotics, Alexander Fleming painted. He was a member of the Chelsea Arts Club, where he created amateurish watercolors. Less well known is that he also painted in another medium, living organisms. Fleming painted ballerin... Read More


text:
The merry-go-round of airline merger buzz continues. Where it will end, no one knows. But here's one theory: Continental may be looking for a merger partner of its own, and United may counter US Airways' bid to take over Delta, or just opt to go after Northwest.
A Reuters report notes that Continental shares have rocketed up by eight percent on rumors that the airline may welcome a takeover bid by Northwest.
"What opportunities they're going to be looking at, I tend to think they're going to look at them through the lens of Continental first," Reuters quotes Stuart Klaskin of KKC Aviation Consulting. The report further notes that Continental has made it known it "would consider a merger, if necessary, in order to remain competitive."
Meanwhile, United plans to hold an analyst meeting today and is considered the most likely to throw its hat in the merger ring as well.
So what's it all mean? Same as yesterday: wait and see. In the meantime, there's absolutely no reason to be apprehensive about purchasing tickets on any of these airlines—any merger, even one likely to shed one airline's routes or airport gates, is a long way from becoming a consumer-facing issue in terms of ticketing confusion or otherwise. So don't sweat it right now, even as the merger whispers get louder.


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WINNIPEG — Two people suffered serious injuries after the ATV they were on struck a car in Flin Flon Sunday.
The driver of the car, a 54-year-old woman, also suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to hospital. Her passenger, 58, was not hurt.
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