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Docket No. NOR 42126
UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY D/B/A AMEREN MISSOURI AND MISSOURI CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY v. UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY
Docket No. FD 33508
Docket No. FD 33537
Digest:[1] When Union Pacific Railroad completed the sale of a rail line to Missouri Central Railroad Company in 1999, it involved a contractual service restriction, which prevents Missouri Central Railroad Company from serving an electric generating station owned by Ameren Missouri. Missouri Central Railroad Company and Ameren Missouri now ask the Board to remove the service restriction in the sales agreement so that Missouri Central Railroad Company could provide rail service to Ameren Missouri, which already receives service from two other railroads. The Board is rejecting this request, as we find no basis to partially revoke our prior approval to restructure the terms of sale between these parties.
Decided: February 26, 2013
On November 22, 2010, Union Electric Company, doing business as Ameren Missouri (hereinafter referred to as either Union Electric or Ameren Missouri), and the Missouri Central Railroad Company (MCRR) filed a complaint, and alternative petition to partially revoke an exemption, against the Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP). Specifically, the complaint refers to the terms of UP's 1997 sale of the former Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad Line (Rock Island Line) to MCRR, in which MCRR agreed to a permanent prohibition against providing rail service to an electric generating station owned by Ameren Missouri at Labadie, Mo. (Labadie Plant).[2] MCRR[3] and Ameren Missouri ask the Board to partially revoke its authority for the sale, and to modify the terms of the sale to permit MCRR to serve the Labadie Plant. UP filed an answer on December 13, 2010, asking the Board to dismiss the complaint. On the basis of the facts and arguments submitted in this proceeding, the Board is denying this complaint.
In the
early 1970s, Union Electric completed construction of the Labadie Plant at the
intersection of the Rock Island Line and the former Missouri Pacific Railroad
Line (MP Line), and began operations.
The Labadie Plant has a capacity of 2.405 megawatts, burns over 10
million tons of coal annually, and is
In 1980, the Rock Island Line was bought by the St. Louis Southwestern Railroad Company (SSW), a subsidiary of Southern Pacific Rail Corporation (SP). In the early 1980s, SP also obtained operating rights on the MP Line between Kansas City, Mo., and St. Louis, Mo.[5] In 1984, UP bought the MP Line, which it currently owns. In the 1990s, UP acquired the Rock Island Line as a successor-in-interest to SSW[6] through the UP-SP merger, described further below.
In 1995, UP and SP announced their decision to merge. UP and SP signed a framework agreement on August 3, 1995, that set general details of the planned merger. UP and SP entered into a settlement agreement with BNSF on September 25, 1995 (Settlement Agreement), to address concerns regarding the competitive impacts of the merger. The Settlement Agreement granted BNSF nearly 4,000 miles of trackage rights over the UP-SP lines, gave UP-SP 376 miles of trackage rights over BNSF lines, and identified and addressed the "2-to-1" competition service areas on the merged UP-SP lines.[7]
On September 29, 1995, UP informed Ameren Missouri that the Settlement Agreement did not cover the Labadie Plant.[8] According to UP, it offered Ameren Missouri the following four options:[9]
1. Ameren
2. Another carrier could purchase the Rock Island Line with unrestricted access to the Labadie Power Plant;
3. Another carrier could obtain unrestricted trackage rights over the Rock Island Line;
could move coal to the Labadie Power Plant at a defined rate via interchanges
UP states that Ameren Missouri selected the fourth option. On March 14, 1996, Ameren Missouri and UP signed a conceptual framework agreement that memorialized that choice.[10] UP states that Ameren Missouri informed the Board in sworn testimony in March 1996 that the selected fourth option ensured ongoing competition for rail service to the Labadie Plant after the UP-SP merger.[11]
On August 12, 1996, the Board served a decision approving the merger application for UP and SP. The Board's approval incorporated the provisions of the Settlement Agreement as conditions to the approval. The Board specifically ruled out concerns regarding the impact of the merger on shippers experiencing a "3-2" shift in service competition, stating that the proposed merger, as conditioned, presented little potential for significant competitive harm, because most of that traffic enjoyed vigorous motor carrier competition. UP consummated the merger on September 11, 1996.
On November 3, 1997, UP, GRC Holdings Corporation (GRC), and MCRR executed a line sale contract (Line Sale Contract) for the Rock Island Line, but the transaction (scheduled to close a week later) was delayed due to a lack of funding.[12] On February 17, 1999, GRC asked Ameren Missouri to finance the purchase of the Rock Island Line.[13] In March 1999, an Ameren Missouri affiliate negotiated a shareholder agreement, a stock purchase agreement, and a management agreement with GRC that would govern the financing of the Rock Island Line purchase.[14] On September 14, 1999, MCRR received permission from the Board to acquire the Rock Island Line in a transaction where GRC bought the Rock Island Line from UP and immediately conveyed the line to MCRR.[15] The Line Sale Contract incorporated a trackage rights agreement dated October 5, 1999 (Trackage Rights Agreement) (collectively, Line Sale Agreements). The terms of the Line Sale Contract state that neither MCRR nor its successors, assigns, or tenants can serve the facilities of Union Electric at or near Labadie, Missouri, over the line of railroad being acquired (including over trackage rights on either end of the line which is being purchased) either directly over the existing switch or via new construction.[16] The Trackage Rights Agreement further states that MCRR shall not have the right to move any equipment containing coal to the power generating facilities of Union Electric (or any successor) at Labadie, Missouri.[17] The sale of the Rock Island Line to MCRR was completed on October 7, 1999.
In 2000, Union Electric (then doing business as AmerenUE) filed a petition asking the Board to confirm that the Settlement Agreement applied to the Labadie Plant. Union Electric claimed that UP and SP previously acknowledged that the Labadie Plant met the definition of a "2-to-1" point.[18] In its responsive filings, UP acknowledged that the Labadie Plant was a 2-to-1 shipper, but claimed that the Settlement Agreement did not apply to the Labadie Plant.[19]
In a decision served on June 1, 2000, the Board confirmed that the Settlement Agreement applied to the Labadie Plant, and directed UP and BNSF to negotiate an agreement permitting BNSF to provide service to the Labadie Plant.[20] In so finding, the Board specifically noted the service limitation on MCRR and the Rock Island Line that precluded MCRR service to the Labadie facility.[21]
On November 22, 2010, Ameren Missouri and MCRR filed their complaint, as well as a motion for protective order and a motion for procedural schedule. On December 13, 2010, UP filed an answer to the complaint, a reply to the motion for protective order, and a reply to the motion for procedural schedule. On December 21, 2010, the Board granted a motion for protective order in this proceeding. On January 14, 2011, the Board served a decision that instituted a procedural schedule and modified the previously served protective order. On April 18, 2011, Ameren Missouri and MCRR filed their opening evidence.[22] UP filed its reply on June 17, 2011.
Ameren Missouri and MCRR. In their pleadings, Ameren Missouri and MCRR ask the Board to find that certain provisions in the Line Sale Agreements are unlawful and cannot be enforced. Alternatively, Ameren Missouri and MCRR ask the Board to partially revoke the exemption covering the sale of the Rock Island Line and related trackage rights. The complainants also ask that the Board declare that the contested provisions are anticompetitive and therefore void under the rail transportation policy.[23]
In support of these requests, Ameren Missouri and MCRR assert that the Line Sale Contract provision that prohibits MCRR from serving the Labadie Plant[24] (Labadie Service Restriction) is an unlawful and unenforceable paper barrier.[25] Despite the participation of its corporate affiliates in the sale of the Rock Island Line, Ameren Missouri claims that it had no role in negotiating or drafting the Line Sale Agreements, and asserts that the terms had been reached long before Ameren Missouri was approached by GRC.[26] Ameren Missouri claims that UP stated in 1999 that the deal would only proceed under the original terms, thus suggesting that Ameren Missouri had little ability to alter the terms of the sale.[27] Ameren Missouri and MCRR further claim the Labadie Service Restriction violates 49 U.S.C. § 11101 by preventing MCRR from meeting its common carrier obligation to provide transportation or service upon reasonable request to the Labadie Plant, and also claim that this paper barrier contravenes Ameren Missouri's right to service.[28] The complainants argue that MCRR's common carrier obligation is not dependent on the service that other railroads can or cannot provide to the Labadie Plant.[29] Ameren Missouri and MCRR assert that contractual terms such as the Labadie Service Restriction, which prevent a railroad from meeting its common carrier obligation, are void under § 11101(a), which states that commitments that deprive a carrier of its ability to respond to reasonable requests for common carrier service are not reasonable.[30]
Ameren Missouri and MCRR further argue that the Labadie Service Restriction provides no service or cost benefits to shippers, while decreasing the financial stability of MCRR, and increasing the likelihood that the Rock Island Line will be abandoned.[31] Ameren Missouri and MCRR also argue that Ameren Missouri has effectively paid for the option of service from BNSF by spending a significant amount of money to allow BNSF access, and that despite this expenditure, BNSF trackage rights are not providing the full benefit of competition to the Labadie Plant, as BNSF has merely delivered a small number of trains, and therefore Ameren Missouri has been unable to recoup its BNSF access costs.[32] Ameren Missouri and MCRR argue that they will owe no additional compensation to UP if the Labadie Service Restriction is removed, and claim that the price Ameren/MCRR paid for the Rock Island Line was not discounted due to the inclusion of the Labadie Service Restriction.[33]
UP. On June 17, 2011, UP filed a reply asking the Board to either dismiss the complaint or hold the proceeding in abeyance. UP argues there is no need for Board action as UP is willing to negotiate with MCRR to establish Rock Island Line service to the Labadie Plant. UP also argues that Ameren Missouri is not being unlawfully deprived of common carrier service as the Labadie Plant is currently being served by two carriers (BNSF and UP) and that Ameren Missouri is not entitled to service from a third carrier. UP further states that Ameren Missouri and MCRR have previously argued to the Board that the contested provisions were valid. UP asks that the complaint be dismissed with prejudice; that no relief of any kind be awarded to Ameren Missouri or MCRR; and that the Board grant UP such other and further relief as may be appropriate.
In its reply, UP claims that Ameren Missouri and MCRR have acknowledged that the transaction helped ensure continued rail service for shippers on the Rock Island Line and advanced Ameren Missouri's own interest in economic development within its service area.[34] In addition, UP argues that Ameren Missouri has recouped its investment by obtaining much lower rates from UP as a result of competition from BNSF, and that BNSF is a stronger competitor to UP than SP was, because SP did not have single line access to the PRB.[35] UP also suggests that Ameren Missouri appeal to the Board to enforce the BNSF access condition, if Ameren Missouri believes that its BNSF access is not sufficiently addressing competitive harms arising from the UP-SP merger.[36]
UP states that it would have charged more for the Rock Island Line, if the transaction had included the right to serve the Labadie Plant.[37] UP argues that the quitclaim deed filed in connection with the transaction leaves no doubt that the sale of the Rock Island Line included a restriction on service to the Labadie Plant, and that the restriction was reflected in a reduced sale price,[38] as the quitclaim states that the restriction on service was a "material inducement to Grantor [UP] to sell the Property to Grantee [GRC], that Grantor would not have been willing to sell the Property to Grantee without such restriction, and that such restriction has been taken into account in the purchase price for the Property."[39]
This controversy surrounds a contractual service restriction, which we will refer to as the Labadie Service Restriction, or provision at issue, created when UP sold the former Rock Island Line to MCRR in 1997. As part of that sale, MCRR agreed to a permanent prohibition on serving the Labadie Plant. Before the sale, the Labadie Plant was served by UP and SP. Ameren Missouri, which owns the Labadie Plant, sought and obtained competitive access relief from the Board for the Labadie Plant as part of the UP-SP merger. As such, UP and BNSF, via trackage rights, now serve that plant.
MCRR and Ameren Missouri now ask the Board to revoke its prior authority for the sale and to modify the terms of that sale, or declare the service restriction provisions unenforceable, to allow MCRR to serve the Labadie Plant. If granted, the Labadie Plant would be served by three carriers: UP, BNSF, and MCRR. UP defended the interchange commitment as lawful, but also advocated that we reject the request because Ameren Missouri and MCRR were parties to the agreement and Ameren Missouri already obtained competitive access relief on the basis of this interchange commitment during the UP-SP merger.
We have discretion to revoke an exemption pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 10502(d). As applicable here, we may revoke an exemption, in whole or in part, if the Board finds that regulation is necessary to carry out the rail transportation policy of 49 U.S.C. § 10101.[40] The party seeking revocation has the burden of proof, and petitions to revoke must be based on reasonable, specific concerns.[41] Generally, the Board will revoke an exemption if a petitioner has demonstrated conduct that frustrates the rail transportation policy, and the Board has determined that the reinstated regulatory provisions could ameliorate the alleged harms.[42]
Ameren identifies the Labadie Service Restriction in this case as a paper barrier, also referred to as an interchange commitment, that contractually limits the competitive rail options of the Labadie Plant that would otherwise exist. The agency has addressed interchange commitments in numerous proceedings. In Review of Rail Access, the Board noted that while restrictions that limit competitive interchange are best evaluated on a case-by-case basis, contractual provisions that completely ban competitive interchange and those that go on in perpetuity deserve particular scrutiny.[43] Here, the provision at issue does both: it prevents MCRR from serving the Labadie Plant altogether and it does so on a permanent basis. Moreover, the interchange commitment is not contained in a lease, which by its terms would expire, but rather was part of a line sale.
However, the shipper here has already sought and obtained competitive access relief from the Board based, in part, on the provision at issue. Also, both the carrier whose service is restricted and the shipper were involved in creating the contract that contained the restriction and indeed had previously declined an offer to buy the line without the interchange commitment. Under these circumstances, the Board concludes that it would not be appropriate to revoke its prior approval for the sale of the Rock Island Line, nor attempt to rewrite the terms of that transaction. We elaborate on these two points below.
Significant competitive access relief. In 1996, the Board approved the UP-SP merger. As a condition of that approval, the Board required UP to grant trackage rights to BNSF to ensure that no shipper would be left captive to a single railroad as a result of the merger. Four years later, Ameren Missouri (as Union Electric) filed a petition asking the Board to confirm that this condition applied to the Labadie Plant. In its responsive filings, UP acknowledged that the Labadie Plant was a 2-to-1 shipper, but claimed that the agreement with BNSF did not apply to the Labadie Plant. The Board disagreed. Instead, the Board granted the competitive access relief sought by Ameren Missouri and directed UP and BNSF to negotiate an agreement permitting BNSF to provide service to the Labadie Plant. The Board specifically relied upon the contractual service limitation on MCRR that precluded MCRR service to the Labadie facility.[44]
Ten years after obtaining relief due to the Labadie Service Restriction, Ameren Missouri now seeks relief that would remove the prohibition. However, if this new relief were granted, it would remove the factual basis for the relief that Ameren Missouri already sought and obtained from the Board just after the UP-SP merger. As the Board stated in UP Control and Merger, "The contract under which the SP line was sold bars the purchaser from providing rail service to UE at Labadie . . . [and] were it not for the prohibition against service to UE at Labadie, UE would presently have, at least as respects traffic moving via St. Louis, the intramodal competitive option that it seeks under the auspices of the omnibus clause. . . ."[45] More importantly, the action Ameren Missouri has requested would result in dual grants of relief meant to address the very same issue – negative impacts on competitive service to the Labadie Plant arising from the UP-SP merger. The Board has already determined that the service limitation caused the Labadie Plant to be a 2-to-1 facility under the UP-SP merger, and has therefore already granted Ameren Missouri relief due to the conduct Ameren Missouri now complains about. Ameren Missouri may obtain service from both UP and BNSF. Should either carrier fail to provide service upon reasonable request, Ameren could also seek relief from the Board. Although Ameren Missouri now claims that the BNSF service option is not providing the full benefit of competition to the Labadie Plant due to BNSF's service inadequacies, we note that Ameren Missouri has neither filed sufficient evidence to support this claim, nor filed a complaint over this alleged lack of service from BNSF. We therefore conclude that further regulation aimed at providing Ameren Missouri overlapping relief due to the Labadie Service Restriction is not necessary to carry out the competition goals identified in the rail transportation policy of 49 U.S.C. § 10101.
Parties to the creation of the contract. Another of the principal arguments offered by Ameren Missouri and MCRR to support our revoking or otherwise restructuring the terms of their agreement with UP is that the Labadie Service Restriction violates 49 U.S.C. § 11101 by preventing MCRR from meeting its common carrier obligation to provide transportation or service upon reasonable request to the Labadie Plant, and that this agreement also contravenes Ameren Missouri's right to service. While the Board encourages privately negotiated agreements, contractual restrictions that unreasonably interfere with common carrier operations may be deemed void as contrary to public policy.[46] The contractual restrictions found by the agency to be unreasonable usually involved agreements between two parties that abrogate the rights or common carrier duties of a third party, which had limited or no involvement in the negotiations or contractual agreement.[47]
Here, the evidence submitted clearly indicates that all parties to this proceeding actively worked toward the sale of the Rock Island Line, including the Labadie Service Restriction, and that some of these parties also actively promoted this transaction before the Board. Nor can any party claim that it was unaware of the Labadie Service Restriction. Here, MCRR is not an uninvolved third party whose common carrier duties are being interfered with unexpectedly by the Line Sale Agreements. Instead, MCRR is a signatory of the Line Sale Agreements. We thus conclude that MCRR knew or should have known the impact that the Labadie Service Restriction would have on its operations and finances as a short line railroad, as well as its obligations as a common carrier. Presumably, MCRR also understood that the transaction had certain benefits to it because it proceeded with the transaction. The mere fact that MCRR has now reweighed the pros and cons of a transaction that it entered into 10 years ago does not justify complete or partial revocation of the exemptions to restructure the transaction.
Nor can Ameren Missouri reasonably claim that it is an uninvolved third party to the transaction. The evidence of record indicates that Ameren Missouri had full knowledge of this provision at issue and its impact at the time of the transaction,[48] and likely participated in the negotiations surrounding the transaction to ensure the sale of the Rock Island Line took place. In its pleadings, Ameren Missouri claims that it had no role in negotiating the Line Sale Agreements, that the terms had been reached long before Ameren Missouri was approached by GRC to provide financing, and that UP would only permit the deal to proceed under the original terms.[49] We find these assertions unpersuasive. Ameren Missouri had the choice to decline to participate in the transaction on the terms offered. Instead, the transaction was consummated with the financial backing of a corporate affiliate of Ameren Missouri, and upon closing, GRC sold a majority interest in MCRR to an affiliate of Ameren Missouri.[50] We also note that Ameren Missouri indicates in the pleadings that it wanted the sale of the Rock Island Line to take place, in order to avoid the abandonment of the Rock Island Line and the ensuing effect on economic development that an abandonment would have on Ameren Missouri's customer service area.[51] Even if UP, as the seller, had more market leverage over the transaction than Ameren Missouri, GRC, or MCRR, all entities were aware of the Labadie Service Restriction and the terms of the transaction prior to closing.
In light of their involvement in the creation of this agreement, we find the arguments raised by Ameren Missouri and MCRR insufficient to justify revoking our prior approval or otherwise restructuring the agreement terms.
Conclusion. Under the unique facts of this case where the shipper has previously obtained competitive access relief based on the Labadie Service Restriction, and the short line and the shipper were participants in the transaction that resulted in it, the Board declines to provide the requested relief. Although the facts of this case lead us to conclude that relief is not appropriate, as the Board stated in Review of Rail Access, we will closely scrutinize transactions containing interchange commitments on a case-by-case basis.
This decision will not significantly affect either the quality of the human environment or the conservation of energy resources.
It is ordered:
1. The complaint and petition for revocation are denied.
2. This decision is effective on its service date.
By the Board, Chairman Elliott, Vice Chairman Begeman, and Commissioner Mulvey.
Chairman Elliott did not participate.
[1] The digest constitutes no part of the decision of the Board but has been prepared for the convenience of the reader. It may not be cited to or relied upon as precedent. Policy Statement on Plain Language Digests in Decisions, EP 696 (STB served Sept. 2, 2010).
[2] Contractual provisions included with a sale or lease of a rail line that limit the incentive or ability of the purchaser or tenant carrier to provide service, or interchange traffic with rail carriers other than the seller or lessor railroad, are often referred to as interchange commitments or "paper barriers." See Review of Rail Access and Competition Issues—Renewed Pet. of the Western Coal Traffic League (Review of Rail Access), EP 575 et al., slip op at 1 (STB served Oct. 30, 2007). The Board requires parties seeking to obtain an individual exemption for, or to invoke a class exemption covering, a transaction involving the sale or lease of a railroad line, to identify any provision in their agreements that would restrict the ability of the purchaser or tenant railroad to interchange traffic with a rail carrier other than the seller or landlord railroad. See Disclosure of Rail Interchange Commitments, EP 575 (Sub-No. 1), slip op at 1 (STB served May 29, 2008). On October 29, 2012, the Board proposed rules that would require such parties to include additional information about the interchange commitments in their filings. See Information Required in Notices and Pets. Containing Interchange Commitments, EP 714, slip op at 1 (STB served Nov. 1, 2012).
[3] MCRR is owned by a corporate affiliate of Ameren Missouri. See Ameren Missouri's Opening Evidence I. 25, n.27.
[4] Ameren Missouri's Complaint 4. BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) stated in a 2001 status report that it moved 50 trains to the Labadie Plant, but Ameren Missouri states that it cannot locate the records for these movements, and also claims that BNSF has only moved a handful of trains to the Labadie Plant in the past 10 years. See Ameren Missouri's Opening Evidence I. 15, n.12; see also Ameren Missouri's Opening Evidence I. 15; V.S. Jones at 2.
[6] See Mo. Cent. R.R.—Acquis. and Operation Exemption—Lines of Union Pac. R.R., FD 33508 et al., slip op. at 2 (STB served Apr. 28, 1998).
[7] Areas where pre-merger service was provided by UP and SP. See UE Pet. for Clarification and Enforcement of Merger Conditions (UE Petition), FD 32760 at 9 (STB filed on Jan. 19, 2000); see also Union Pac. Corp., et al.—Control and Merger—Southern Pac. Rail, FD 32760, slip op. at 161 (STB served Aug. 12, 1996).
[12] On December 23, 1997, MCRR filed a notice of exemption to acquire the rail assets of GRC, to operate the rail line, and to acquire the Joint Trackage Rights. On December 24, 1997, GRC filed a notice of exemption to acquire the Rock Island Line.
[14] Ameren states that in 2001, the GRC management agreement was terminated, and the remaining shares held by GRC are now owned by Ameren Development Company, as the sole owner of MCRR. See Ameren Missouri's Opening Evidence I. 22.
[15] The two transfers had been consolidated in proceedings before the Board. See Mo. Cent. R.R.—Acquis. and Operation Exemption—Lines of Union Pac. R.R., FD 33508 et al. (STB served Apr. 28, 1998); see also Mo. Cent. R.R.—Acquis. and Operation Exemption—Lines of Union Pac. R.R., FD 33508 et al. (STB served Sept. 14, 1999).
[17] See Section 3(iv) of the Trackage Rights Agreement, Exhibit C, Ameren Missouri's Complaint; see also Section 1.8 of Exhibit B, Trackage Rights Agreement, Exhibit C, Ameren Missouri's Complaint.
[18] See UE Petition 6, n.10.
[19] Union Pac. Corp., et al.—Control and Merger—Southern Pac. Rail, FD 32760, slip op. at 3 (STB served June 1, 2000) (UP Control and Merger).
[20] Id. at 7.
[21] UP Control and Merger, slip op. at 8, n.23.
[22] Also on April 18, 2011, Ameren Missouri and MCRR filed a petition for waiver of service obligation. In a decision served on April 29, 2011, the Board granted the petition to the extent of limiting the service list to the parties listed on the service list in this proceeding.
[24] Specifically, the complainants identify Section 3(a) of the Line Sale Contract, Section 3(iv) of the incorporated Trackage Rights Agreement, and Section 1.8 of Exhibit B of the Trackage Rights Agreement as the provision at issue.
[27] Id. This evidence was filed confidentially by Ameren Missouri and MCRR. Although we generally attempt to avoid references to confidential or highly confidential information in Board decisions, the Board reserves the right to rely upon and disclose such information in decisions when necessary. In this case, we have determined that we could not adequately present our findings without summarizing certain confidential information.
[40] See, e.g., Ind. Hi-Rail Corp.—Lease and Oper. Exemption—Norfolk and W. Rwy. Line Between Rochester and Argos, In., and Exemption from 49 U.S.C. §§ 10761, 10762, and 11141, FD 32162 et al. (STB served Jan. 30, 1998). We may also revoke if there is a showing that the notice of exemption contained false and/or misleading information, or revocation is necessary to ensure the integrity of the Board's processes. No party has alleged such circumstances are present here.
[41] I&M Rail Link, LLC—Acquis. and Oper. Exemption—Certain Lines of Soo Line R.R., FD 33326 et al. (STB served Apr. 2, 1997), aff'd sub nom. City of Ottumwa v. STB, 153 F.3d 879 (8th Cir. 1998).
[42] See Entergy Ark. Inc. and Entergy Serv. Inc. v. Union Pac. R.R. and Mo. & N. Ark. R.R., FD 42104, slip op at 16 (STB served Mar. 15, 2011); see also Rail Gen. Exemption Auth.—Miscellaneous Agric. Commodities—Pet. of G. & T. Terminal Pkg. Co. to Revoke Conrail Exemption, 8 I.C.C.2d 674, 676-77 (1992), aff'd in pertinent part sub nom. Mr. Sprout, Inc. v. United States, 8 F.3d 118 (2d Cir. 1993); see also Minn. Commercial Ry.—Trackage Rights Exemption—Burlington N. R.R., 8 I.C.C.2d 31, 35-36 (1991) (the Board's revocation analysis "focuses on the sections of the RTP [rail transportation policy] related to the underlying statutory section from which an exemption is sought").
[44] UP Control and Merger at 8, n.23.
[45] Id. The agreement entered into by UP-SP and BNSF, pursuant to which BNSF received various merger-related rights, included the omnibus clause, which protected the 2-to-1 points that were not covered by the trackage rights and line sales provided for in that agreement. See id. at 2, n.4; see also Union Pacific/Southern Pacific Merger, 1 S.T.B. 233, 247 n.15 (1996), aff'd Western Coal Traffic League v. STB, 169 F.3d 775 (D.C. Cir. 1999).
[46] See Hanson Natural Res. Co.—Non-Common Carrier Status—Pet. for a Decl. Order (Hanson), FD 32248, slip op. at 3 (ICC served Dec. 5, 1994). See also United States v. Baltimore & O. R. R., 333 U.S. 169, 177-78 (1948) (parties may not enter into trackage rights agreements that abrogate rights and responsibilities under the statutory provisions of the Interstate Commerce Act).
[47] Ameren Missouri and MCRR cite Hanson and R.R. Ventures. Inc.—Abandonment Exemption—Youngstown. Ohio and Darlington. Penn. (R.R. Ventures), AB-556 (Sub-No. 2X) (STB served Jan. 7, 2000) in support of their claims. However, the complainants' citations to Hanson and R.R. Ventures are unavailing as none of the parties in those cases had received prior, overlapping relief or been harmed by contractual provisions they entered into.
[48] See Ameren Missouri's Complaint 11. (Noting that Ameren Missouri reluctantly agreed to the restriction, intending to challenge it later if necessary.)
[51] See Ameren Missouri's Complaint 10. We also note that while the record does not clearly indicate if the Rock Island Line would have been abandoned had its sale not proceeded forward, Ameren Missouri and MCRR could nevertheless have avoided the negative effects of the abandonment of the Rock Island Line, in addition to this transaction, by invoking the offer of financial assistance (OFA) provisions of 49 U.S.C. § 10904 and 49 C.F.R. § 1152.27(c) to purchase the Rock Island Line for continued rail service. We are therefore not convinced that the sale of the Rock Island Line, with the interchange commitment included, was the only mechanism available to Ameren Missouri and MCRR to avoid the loss of rail service in the area.


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Ganser syndrome: examining the aetiological debate through a systematic case report review
Santhushi Mendis*; Richard E. Hodgson**
*Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Partnership Trust, Swanswell Point, Coventy. United Kingdom.
**Lymebrook Mental Health Centre, Talke Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme. United Kingdom.
Background and Objectives: The aetiology of the syndrome described by Ganser in 1898 has been the subject of disagreement. Proposed causes include hysteria, psychosis and stress. In addition, the presence of the syndrome in association with medical conditions raises the possibility of an organic aetiology. The authors have explored the aetiology by reviewing identified case reports published in English.
Methods: 94 case reports were obtained by searching medical databases and by conducting a hand search for possible references. This is the largest systematic review of which the authors are aware.
Results: The review indicates that the syndrome generally occurs in instances where the individual is faced with stress, especially in those with premorbid vulnerabilities. Individuals who had affective, psychotic as well as organic conditions were found to manifest the condition. However, whilst comorbid mental illness is present in some instances, the Ganser syndrome complex was found to occur commonly in the absence of other mental illnesses.
Conclusions: The absence of a comorbid mental illness in the majority of cases may suggest a specific aetiological mechanism which supports the argument that Ganser syndrome should be ranked as a distinct nosological entity along with some other rare psychiatric disorders.
Key words: Ganser syndrome; Aetiology; Nosology; Case report; Phenomenology; Approximate answers.
In 1898, S.J. Ganser described three prisoners who displayed "Vorbeigehen" (approximate answers), clouding of consciousness, auditory and visual "hallucinations", and amnesia for the period during which these symptoms were manifest1. Enoch and Trethowan2 regarded the main features of the syndrome to be
(1) approximate answers,
(2) somatic conversion symptoms,
(3) clouding of consciousness, and
(4) pseudo-hallucinations.
The tendency to give approximate answers, is regarded to be the central feature of the disorder3. Approximate answers demonstrate an astonishing deficit of knowledge even to the most basic questions, although it is apparent that the sense of the question has been understood4. As Lishman notes, approximate answers may be provided to simple addition, the naming of colours, or to simple questions pertaining to everyday matters5. These responses are given with serious intent, and can sometimes be interspersed with accurate answers5.Of course, the concept relies on the subjective interpretation on the part of the examiner, and it can be sometimes difficult to decide how approximate an answer should be in order to be classed as such5.
Since the description of the syndrome, there has been disagreement about the exact aetiology. Ganser and others such as Tsoi6 regarded the syndrome to be of an hysterical nature. However, others have disagreed. Whitlock, regarded it as a psychosis, occurring either after acute cerebral trauma or during the course of an acute psychotic illness7. Others have argued that it is a stress induced disorder which lies between malingering and hysteria8. Merckelbach et al, described a case where a middle aged man who presented with Ganser symptoms was in fact found to be malingering9. They concluded that Ganser like symptoms should be evaluated carefully preferably with tests for malingering9. To add to the aetiological debate, the condition has been described in association with organic conditions. For instance, Ganser symptoms have been described in frontal-temporal lobe dementia10, cerebral injury11, and in association with a space occupying lesion of the dominant hemisphere12. This, together with the fact that there is an elevated incidence of head injuries in individuals who go on to develop the syndrome8, would raise the possibility of an organic contribution in some cases.
Although S.J. Ganser described the symptoms in prisoners the condition has also been reported in the civilian population. It is thought to occur in individuals who are faced with stressful and intolerable situations13. Those who for various reasons are poorly prepared to cope with stress are thought to be the most likely to develop the symptoms8. The Ganser syndrome has also been described in cases involving litigation14.
To examine the aetiological debate by analysing case reports published in English.
The following databases were searched:
-Allied and complementary medicine-1985 to date.
-British Nursing Index-1994 to date.
-Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (R)-1982 to date.
-DH-DATA-1983 to date.
-Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) -1974 to date.
-Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) -1996 to date.
-King's Fund-1979 to date.
-MEDLINE-1950 to date.
-MEDLINE-1996 to date.
-PsycINFO-1806 to date.
In order to make the search as comprehensive as possible all available articles on the Ganser syndrome published in English were identified by using Medical Entry Subject Headings terms "ganser", "approximate answers" and "malingering". Hand searches and review of identified references were also carried out.
59 papers were found, and altogether a total of 94 case reports were obtained. Most of the articles originated in the developed world, with the main contribution coming from the United States of America (see Appendix).
The number of cases published in a paper ranged from one to seven (see Appendix).
The year of publication ranged from 1905 to 2006 (see Appendix).
Demographic characteristics
Of the total sample, 73 (77.65%) were ma-le and 21 (22.34%) were female.
Their ages ranged from 8 years to 66 years. In 9 (9.6%) cases the age of the individual was not stated. In the remaining 85 cases (90.4%) the mean age of the sample was 31.6 years. 14 individuals were aged 16 years or younger. This group represented 14.9% of the total sample.
Ganser symptom complex
The features of the syndrome considered were those cited by Enoch and Trethowan.
Although considered to be essential for the diagnosis, approximate answers were cited as occurring in only 83 (88.3%) cases. It is not clear why the authors felt that those individuals who did not display approximate answers had Ganser syndrome. The figures for clouding of consciousness, somatic conversion symptoms, and hallucinations were 80 (85.1%), 41 (43.6%, and 27 (28.7%) respectively.
Only 1 (1%) case out of the total sample, did not exhibit any of the features described by the above authors. Only 11 cases (11.7%) exhibited all four of the symptoms. 10 cases (10.6%) displayed only one symptom. The number of cases which displayed 2 symptoms was 38 (40.4%), whilst 34 subjects (36.17%) displayed 3 of the above symptoms.
Pre-morbid vulnerabilities
The case reports documented a variety of difficulties prior to the onset of Ganser symptoms (see Table 3). In some cases, more than one pre-morbid vulnerability was documented. Considering the sample as a whole, 82 individuals (87.2%) had an identified premorbid vulnerability, whilst in 12 cases (12.8%) no premorbid vulnerability was described.
12 individuals (12.7%) had a difficult early life and 4 (4.3%) had been victims of physical or sexual abuse. 13 (13.8%) had experienced scholastic difficulties.
Previous mental illness was relatively common with 39 people (41.5%) having a previous mental illness, and 11 (11.7%) having a history of dissociation. 9 individuals (9.6%) had a history of deliberate self harm, and personality difficulties were described in 13 (13.8%) cases. A history of unexplained physical symptoms was described in 8 (8.5%) reports.
32 (34%) had a past criminal history, 13 (13.8%) had a history of alcohol misuse, and 8 (8.5%) had used illicit substances in the past.
21 (22.3%) out of the total sample, had had a cerebral injury. Of this number in 15 cases the cerebral insult had been recent, whilst in 6 individuals it had occurred in the distant past.
It is not possible to compare the individuals with a history of mental illness with those without one due to the small sample size of the latter. However, superficially there were no obvious differences between the two groups.
Context in which the symptoms arose
27 individuals (28.7%) who developed the symptoms were under investigation, or had been charged or arrested for a crime. Eight cases (8.5%) arose in the context of compensation claims, whilst a similar number (n = 8, 8.5%) followed accidents which did not involve litigation or compensation. 18 (19.14%) cases of Ganser syndrome occurred in individuals who were facing domestic or occupational stressors.
Mental illness
In 1 case (1% of the total sample), a severe depressive disorder preceded the onset of the symptoms. In that case, the development of the Ganser syndrome is reported to have coincided with the sudden remission of the depressive illness.
In 45 cases of the total sample (47.8%) a mental illness occurred whilst the individual displayed the Ganser symptom complex. In this group where the features of a discrete mental illness and the Ganser symptom complex occurred simultaneously, 14 had a psychotic illness, 15 had an organic mental illness, 6 had a depressive illness, 2 had a psychotic depression. 4 suffered from a stress or a grief reaction and 3 had Tourette's syndrome.
Out of the entire sample, 49 cases (52.12%) demonstrated no features of a mental illness whilst exhibiting Ganser symptoms. Out of this cohort, 5 individuals were considered to be malingering, whilst the other 44 were not.
7 cases out of the entire sample (7.4%), developed a mental illness after the Ganser symptoms had resolved. Out of this cohort 4 cases developed a depressive illness, 2 individuals developed mania, and 1 person developed a psychotic episode.
Amnesia for the event
It was not documented in 61 cases (64.9%) as to whether the individual had amnesia for the symptoms or not.
In the remaining 33 cases it was documented whether or not amnesia for the event was present. Within this group, 25 had total amnesia for the symptoms (75.75%); in 3 cases the amnesia was partial, and in 5 cases there was no amnesia present as the individuals had total recollection of their symptoms.
Children with Ganser's syndrome
14 individuals in the sample were 16 years old or younger. There was no history of physical or sexual abuse in any of the cases. In 4 cases (28.6%) there was a history of previous head injury. 6 (42.9%) children were reported to have experienced problems at school. 3 (21.4%) had a forensic history. 6 individuals had a diagnosis of a mental illness, with 3 individuals described as having Tourette's syndrome, 1 suffering from nocturnal enuresis, and 2 suffering from psychotic illnesses.
As far as we are aware this is the largest systematic review of all the case reports published so far. However, our review is subject to bias as only case reports published in the English language have been abstracted. Articles on Ganser syndrome have been published in the German language. For example, Wirtz et al. (2008) describe a patient with Ganser's syndrome after a large left-hemispheric middle cerebral artery infarct. They reported that detailed neuropsychological examination revealed atypical lateralisation of cognitive functions. They postulated that approximate answers was possibly associated with frontal-executive cerebral dysfunction and concluded that brain injury was a common aetiological factor15.
As the majority of reports are of subjects from the developed world, the clinical phenomenology may be different in other settings. As there is no agreed standard for case reporting it may mean that relevant information was not described. Case reports also do not allow an estimate of the incidence or prevalence of the disorder. Moreover, as the duration of symptoms was so poorly recorded, little information could be gleaned on the natural history of the disorder.
Only 11.7% of cases displayed all four of the central features described by Enoch and Trethowan. This proves that the presence of all four features is the exception rather than the rule.
Both ICD-1016 and DSM-IV17 do not specify any diagnostic criteria, apart from mentioning the presence of approximate answers as being required for the diagnosis. Many consider the giving of approximate answers to be the central feature of this disorder. However, this feature was described in only 88.3% of cases. This raises the question as to whether the remainder actually involved genuine cases of Ganser syndrome. It may mean that these individuals were misdiagnosed as having the disorder, when in fact they were suffering from other mental disorders. For instance, the confabulation and amnesia associated with Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome could be mistaken for Ganser's syndrome. Moreover, the fact that 5 individuals who were initially thought to be displaying Ganser syndrome were later found to be fabricating their symptoms, suggests that malingering is an important differential diagnosis which needs to be ruled out at the outset.
Although Ganser described the syndrome in prisoners our review showed that only 28.6% of cases involved those who were accused of committing an offence. In fact, the majority of cases involved the civilian population. Moreover, the fact that some cases occurred in those who were aged 16 years or less, indicates that the syndrome is not confined to adults.
Although the context in which the symptoms arose was not mentioned in 12 cases (12.8%) the remaining 82 individuals (87.2%) which comprised the majority of the sample had been exposed to a stressor of some description. In 15 instances (16% of the total sample) the individuals had experienced a cerebral insult. Whilst suffering from a cerebral insult is stressful in itself, the resulting change to the brain's architecture could impair the individual's capacity to cope with stress. Both these findings could allow one to hypothesise that stress plays a significant aetiological role in the disorder.
49 cases (52.12% of the total sample) who had Ganser's syndrome did not show features of a co-morbid mental disorder. This proves that the syndrome can occur in apparently healthy individuals who have been facing a stressor of some description. However, a significant percentage (45.7% n = 43) developed the symptoms while experiencing a mental disorder. It cannot be stated with certainty whether the manifestations of the mental disorder were mistaken as Ganser syndrome, or whether the two disorders occurred independently. Alternatively, it could be argued that having a mental disorder could lead to the emergence of Ganser symptoms by reducing the individual's capability to cope with stress.
Heron et al.8 stated that individuals who have pre-morbid vulnerabilities are the most vulnerable to developing the syndrome. The fact that pre-morbid vulnerabilities were described in the majority of case reports (87.2%), lends weight to this hypothesis.
F.A. Whitlock regarded the syndrome as a psychotic one7. This view can be discounted based on the finding that a only minority of cases were felt to be exhibiting psychotic symptoms along with the Ganser symptoms. If Whitlocks's view was true, then every single case would have been considered to be suffering from a psychotic illness by the respective author. However, this was not the case.
Moreover, it cannot be argued that it is purely an organic disorder, as not all cases had an underlying organic illness, whilst exhibiting the symptoms. In fact, only 15 cases (15.9% of the total sample) did. However, an organic contribution is suggested by the fact that a significant proportion of the sample (22.3%) had suffered from a cerebral insult at some point.
In support of the view that the syndrome has features of an hysterical disorder is the finding that out of the cases where it was documented whether there was amnesia for the event or not, the majority of cases (75.75%) had no recollection of their symptoms. It is interesting to note that DSM-1V categorises the syndrome as a dissociative one as well.
What is apparent is that the syndrome generally occurs in instances where the individual is faced with stress, and that those whose ability to cope under such situations is compromised due to pre-morbid vulnerabilities, are particularly at risk.
However, it is not possible to state with certainty about the exact aetiology of the disorder. This is because individuals suffering from affective, psychotic, as well as organic disorders have exhibited the syndrome. Moreover, there is a possibility that the syndrome may have features of an hysterical disorder as well. There is therefore a difficulty with the nosological status of the syndrome. This has led some to argue that it should be ranked as a distinct nosological entity along with other rare and exotic psychiatric disorders5.The treatment offered varied as well. In some cases no treatment was offered. In instances where treatment was used, it was variable, and included psychotherapy, electro convulsive therapy and antipsychotic medication.
In conclusion, this review shows that the syndrome generally occurs in instances where the individual is faced with stress and has a premorbid vulnerability which may diminish their capacity to cope in such situations. Patients presenting with all the originally described features are a rarity. Whilst comorbid mental illness is present in some cases the Ganser syndrome cluster does occur commonly in the absence of other mental illnesses which suggests specific aetiological mechanisms. Whilst case reports offer little information on epidemiology the fact there are no specific questions on SCAN18 and SCID19 may indicate the rarity of the disorder.
1. Ganser SJ. Veber einen eigenartigan hysterischen Daminszustand. Arch Psychiatr Nervenkr 1898; 30: 633-640. [ Links ]
2. Enoch MD, Trethowan WH. The Ganser syndrome. In: Uncommon psychiatric syndromes. Bristol: John Wright; 1979; p. 50-62. [ Links ]
3. Weiner H, Braiman A. The Ganser Syndrome: a review and addition of some unusual cases. Am J Psychiatry 1955: 111(10): 767-773. [ Links ]
4. Apter A, Ratzoni G, Iancu I, Weizman R, Tyano S. The Ganser syndrome in two adolescent brothers. J Am Acad Child Adolescent Psychiatry 1993; 32(3): 582-584. [ Links ]
5. Lishman WA. Organic Psychiatry. The Psychological consequences of cerebral disorder, 3rd edition. Oxford: Blackwell Science; 1998. [ Links ]
6. Tsoi WF. The Ganser Syndrome in Singapore: A report on ten cases. Br J Psychiatry 1973; 123: 567-572. [ Links ]
7. Whitlock FA. The Ganser syndrome. Br J Psychiatry 1967; 113: 19-29. [ Links ]
8. Heron EA, Kritchevsky M, Delis DC. Neuropsychological presentation of Ganser symptoms. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 1991; 13(5): 652-666. [ Links ]
9. Merckelbach H, Peters M, Jelicic M, Brands I, Smeet T. Detecting malingering of Ganser-like symptoms with tests: A case study. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2006; 60: 636-638. [ Links ]
10. Ladowsky-Brooks RL, Fischer CE. Ganser symptoms in a case of frontal-temporal lobe dementia: is there a common neural substrate? J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2003; 25(6): 761-768. [ Links ]
11. Snyder SL, Buchsbaum MS, Krishna RC. Unusual visual symptoms and Ganser-like state due to cerebral injury: a case study using (18)F-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography. Behavioural Neurology. 1998:11; 51-54. [ Links ]
12. Doongaji DR, Apte JS, Bhat R. Ganser State (Syndrome): An unusual presentation of a space occupying lesion of the dominant hemisphere. Neurol India 1975; 23(3): 143-148. [ Links ]
13. Andersen HS, Sestoft D, Lillebaek T. Ganser syndrome after solitary confinement in prison: A short review and a case report. Nord J Psychiatry 2001; 55: 199-201. [ Links ]
14. Reiger W, Billings CK. Ganser's syndrome associated with litigation. Comp Psychiatry 1978; 19(4): 371-375. [ Links ]
15. Wirtz G, Baas U, Hofer H, Nyffeler T, Seifritz E, Müri R, et al. Psychopathology of Ganser syndrome. Literature review and case discussion. Der Nervenartz 2008: 79(5): 543-557. [ Links ]
16. World Health Organisation. The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: clinical descriptions and diagnostic guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1993. [ Links ]
17. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. [ Links ]
18. World Health Organization. Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN). Geneva: World Health Organization; 1994. [ Links ]
19. First MB, Spitzer RL, Gibbon M, Williams JBW. User's Guide for the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders - Clinician version (SCID-CV). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Press; 1997. [ Links ]
Dr. Richard E. Hodgson
Consultant Psychiatrist
Lymebrook Mental Health Centre
Talke Road
Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 7TL
United Kingdom
E-mail: email@example.com
Received: 31 October 2010
Revised: 23 November 2011
Accepted: 24 November 2011


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College Hockey:Keith Gets Winner For UAF
Nanooks Take Three Of Four Points At Miami
OXFORD, Ohio — RedHawks Fall On Last Second Goal To Alaska Fairbanks, 4-3
Cam Keith's last-minute goal gave the visiting Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks a 4-3 victory over Miami (8-10-2, 5-7-2 CCHA) Saturday night.
UAF improved to 12-7-1 overall and 8-7-1 in the league on Keith's goal at 19:24 in the third period. For the second straight night neither team was able to score on the power play, with both scoreless on four opportunities.
Senior Jason Deskins netted his 60th career goal when he stole the puck and scored to give Miami a 1-0 lead at 3:16 in the first period. Deskins' goal pulled him even with assistant coach Chris Bergeron on Miami's all-time scorers list with 120 career points (60-60-120).
Fairbanks didn't take long to retaliate as Aaron Voros received a feed from David Keough and finished the play to knot the contest at one apiece. Voros' game-tying goal came just 16 seconds after Deskins' goal at 3:32 in the first frame.
The second period belonged to the Nanooks as both Keough and Ryan Campbell lit the lamp to give UAF a 3-1 lead entering the final 20 minutes. Keough put the Nanooks on top, 2-1, with a goal at 14:09. Just over a minute later, at 15:12, Ryan Campbell gave the Nanooks a 3-1 advantage entering the final stanza. Jared Sylvestre and Scott Farrell were credited with assists on Campbell's goal.
Early in the third period Deskins connected with a shot through the five-hole to pull the RedHawks within one at 3-2. Sophomore Mike Kompon found the streaking Deskins open on a two-on-one break for Miami's second goal at 5:02.
Kompon evened the game, 3-3, with his sixth goal of the season at 14:41 in the final period. Sophomores Derek Edwardson and Greg Hogeboom worked the puck around the back of the net before finding Kompon open on the right wing for the open shot.
With less than a minute remaining in the contest, UAF ended any chance of an overtime period when Bobby Andrews took a shot of the faceoff and Keith put the rebound into the back of the net for a 4-3 Nanook victory. Voros received the second assist on the game-winner after winning the faceoff in the Miami zone.
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Please also keep "woofing," taunting, and otherwise unsportsmanlike behavior to a minimum. Your posts will more than likely be deleted, and worse yet, you reflect badly on yourself, your favorite team and your conference.


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JLO AKA LOLA is indisputable the best Fashion Icon and role model for any curvy young woman. Is there anything else to say if JLO herself is a walking advertising for all the talents she has to offer to her followers and fans? No anything we say would be simply an understatement? For how much longer we will have JLO keeping us on our toes with her great fashion trends and sultry vocals? Will she change back to be Jennifer the Diva or keep giving us this revel Jenny from the Block that we love so much?
With her new album AKA she answers the questions that still remains in people's heads.
On a personal note I would love to meet her and talk to her about her fashion and ask her, what does she think about being this role model for so many young girls and women of many ages?
Other questions would be more like as shown on the lines below:
Tell me JLO, have you ever experienced a wall on your career, and if so, was that ever related to your Puerto Rican Heritage or you feel, this in fact has opened more doors to you?
How were your early yrs. in Hollywood?
Did you ever thought about designing clothes rather than acting or singing in your early yrs. as actress?
Did your family ever opposed to your career or a specific role that you ever played?
How smooth or rough has being your tansition to parenthood, and now divorced mom and single woman?
Any detail on your new single status?
Future plans?
And so on....I wish JLO can at least twit few answers if she ever read this hypotetical interview.


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College Hockey:Oberting Resigns Dartmouth Post
HANOVER, N.H. — Judy Parish Oberting, coming off four straight 20-win seasons at Dartmouth, has resigned as the team's head coach, citing personal reasons.
"For 10 years, I have been heading off to work knowing that there isn't a job I would rather have at any other institution or in any other field," said Oberting, coming off two consecutive women's Frozen Four appearances with the Big Green.
"I have been given the support I have needed to be successful and we have had a pretty good run, but I am as certain today about it being the time to leave as I was in 1987 when I made the decision to attend Dartmouth as an undergrad.
"I know that the program is in good hands and in a position to continue to be successful for many years to come."
In five years as Big Green's head coach, Oberting — a 1991 graduate of Dartmouth — was 114-40-8. She led Dartmouth to the 2001 and 2002 Ivy League championships, ECAC Championship titles in 2001 and 2003 and first place in the 2001 ECAC regular season standings. Her 2002-03 squad was third at the NCAA tournament and set a school record with 27 victories.
This year, Oberting was a finalist for the national women's coach of the year, an honor she earned in 1999-2000.
"Judy has had an incredible impact on this department from the time she entered as a freshman in 1987, and has continued to do so," said Josie Harper, Dartmouth athletic director, "not only through her performances as an outstanding student-athlete, but as an assistant coach who helped build the women's hockey program and as the head coach who has taken it to its greatest heights."
A three-time first team All-Ivy selection in hockey, Oberting still holds seven Dartmouth women's hockey records including goals by a defenseman in a game and season. Both were established during her freshman and sophomore campaigns. During her final two years, Oberting centered some of the finest lines in Big Green history and set school records for assists in a season and career. On Dartmouth's all-time scoring chart, Oberting ranks first with 126 assists, second with 215 points and fourth with 89 goals.
A national search for her replacement will begin immediately, according to Dartmouth.
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Whoops, forgot the link!


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EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon's men's and women's cross country teams will open the 2013 season Friday at the PSU Viking Classic at Blue Lake Park in Fairview, Ore. Blue Lake Park is located approximately 13 miles east of downtown Portland between Interstate 84 and the Columbia River.
Admission to the race is free, however there is a $5 charge for parking ($7 for vans).
The men will open the event with a four-mile race at 5:45 p.m., followed by the women's three-mile race at 6:30 p.m.
The third-ranked Duck women, who won the 2012 NCAA title, but graduated three members off that championship squad, will face Oregon State, Portland and Portland State.
The No. 12 Men of Oregon will square off against eighth-ranked Portland and Portland State.
Both races will be scored as dual meets, as opposed to the invitational scoring format.
The men will send a veteran roster to the line, including senior all-American Parker Stinson, as well as senior Tim Costin, juniors Jeramy Elkaim, Ryan Pickering, Cole Watson and Daniel Winn, and sophomores Chris Brewer and Matthew Melancon.
The women will run two members of their 2012 NCAA championship squad, senior Sarah Penney and sophomore Abbey Leonardi. Junior Megan Patrignelli will also run for the Ducks, as will sophomore Molly Grabill, who is coming off a redshirt season.
Four women will be making their debuts for the women: sophomore Ally Aschbacher, redshirt freshmen Skylar Evans and Ashley Maton, and junior Mia Elbon, who is a transfer from Belmont.
This will be the first regular season cross country meet hosted by Portland State since becoming a Division I program in 1996. The Vikings hosted the 2008 Big Sky Championships at Blue Lake Park, which was also the site of the 2003 NCAA West Regional hosted by Portland.
PSU VIKING CLASSIC MEET DETAILS – Blue Lake Park, Fairview, Ore.
Time: 5:45 p.m. PDT
Length: Four Miles
Results: www.goviks.com/www.goducks.com
Teams (6): Oregon, Portland, Portland State, Concordia, Northwest Christian, Saint Martin's.
Oregon Entries: Chris Brewer, Tim Costin, Jeramy Elkaim, Matthew Melancon, Ryan Pickering, Perker Stinson, Cole Watson and Daniel Winn.
Time: 6:30 p.m. PDT
Length: Three Miles
Results: www.goviks.com/www.goducks.com
Teams (7): Oregon, Oregon State, Portland, Portland State, Concordia, Northwest Christian, Saint Martin's.
Oregon Entries: Ally Aschbacher, Mia Elbon, Skylar Evans, Molly Grabill, Abbey Leonardi, Ashley Maton, Megan Patrignelli and Sarah Penney.
The top five finishers account for the team dual score and the next two may displace runners from opposing teams.
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File CabinetsSee all
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File Organization Supplies
If you've got files piling up on your desk, papers at the bottom of your closet, or other signs of disorganization, it may be costing you more than you think. A cluttered environment can leave you sluggish and not operating at peak efficiency, and even if being surrounded by disorganization doesn't slow you down in this way, not being able to have the items you need at your fingertips can cost you in the business world.
Sam's Club offers file cabinets and shelving units that offer durable construction, a pleasing appearance, and great functionality, all at prices that shouldn't make a debt in your office supply budget. In addition to storage item furniture, you'll find the basics at Sam's Club, like file folders, binders and everything that goes with them, and storage boxes and storage drawers. You can use products available through Sam's Club to streamline your whole office, and the extra money you make from the added efficiency may even have these items paying for themselves in no time at all.
So wade through that pile of papers on your desk, dig out the company credit card, and order the filing supplies and storage supplies you need from Sam's Club today. Before long, your home or business office can be fully organized and running like the well-oiled machine you've always known that it can be.


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Farhadi, Hadi and Salehi, Hadi and Yunus, Melor Md and Aghaei Chadegani, Arezoo and Farhadi, Maryam and Fooladi, Masood and Ale Ebrahim, Nader (2013) Does it Matter Which Citation Tool is Used to Compare the h-index of a Group of Highly Cited Researchers? Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 7 (4). pp. 198-202. ISSN 1991-8178


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Chelsea Handler just couldn't take talking about the shenanigans of Justin Bieber and Kim Kardashian anymore. In an interview with Mail Online, posted on Tuesday, June 10, the outspoken talk show host said that she quit "Chelsea Lately" because she got tired of whining about and making fun of celebrities.
It seems that the show's concentration on celebrities and celebrity news was something that Chelsea never actually liked. Despite having had Justin Bieber and the Kardashians on as guests, with Khloe Kardashian even serving as a guest host once, Chelsea is just not into them. She explained to Mail Online that she couldn't bring herself to talk about them anymore and the only thing she could do was quit the show.
"To be quite honest I don't really care about Justin Bieber and I don't want to talk about him anymore...You can sit around and complain about all that s**t and the Kardashians all day but if you're participating in it then what can you do? It really didn't feel great doing the show and the only way to sort things out was to extricate myself from the entire situation," she said.
During her interview, Chelsea also revealed that the rumors of her replacing Craig Ferguson on the "Late Late Show" are false. She is, however, doing a new project that she's really excited about and which the public will know about in two weeks time. She said that she now wants to interview people who really matter and who will educate her, such as politicians, inventors and media professionals.
"Chelsea Lately" airs on E!, the same channel that broadcasts "Keeping up with the Kardashians" and the various Kardashian spin-off shows. Clearly, now that Chelsea is leaving, she isn't afraid of offending the stars of one of E!'s biggest shows.
Chelsea Handler announced in late May that she will be leaving her talk show in August. There was speculation weeks earlier that she was leaving the network when it was revealed that she was not invited to the NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment upfronts in New York City. It was a good thing that she didn't go, since two of the people whom she now admits she hates talking about, Khloe and Kim Kardashian, were there.
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This paper describes a method based on data mining techniques to classify MIDI music files into music genres. Our method relies on extracting high level symbolic features from MIDI files. We explore the effect of combining several data mining preprocessing stages to reduce data processing complexity and classification execution time. Additionally, we employ a variety of probabilistic classifiers and ensembles. We compare the results produced by our best classifier with those obtained by more complex state of the art classifiers. Our experimental results indicate that our system constructed with the best performing combination of data mining preprocessing components together with a Naive Bayes-based classifier is capable of outperforming other more complex ensembles of classifiers.
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Jordan Coleman
2011 Global Teen Leader, actor, author and education activist impacting youth one story and one community at a time.
Jordan Coleman
Jordan is a young man on a mission. At 17-years-old, he's a filmmaker, actor, author, education activist, honor roll student and athlete. He was recently named one the 25 Most Influential People in Our Children's Lives by Children's Health magazine. Jordan won the 2011 Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival HBO Best Feature Film competition with his film Payin' The Price, a cautionary tale about teen dating violence..He is a 2011 Global Teen Leader, 2010 Prudential Spirit of Community Award winner and was a finalist for the 2009 Do Something Awards, which recognizes young people who make a difference. Jordan was featured on CNN's Young People Who Rock series.He has appeared on America's Best Dance Crew Champions for Charity Show and won $10,000: he has also appeared on Kids Teen News and several other TV programs. Jordan's photo and story appeared on 40 million bags of Doritos.For three years, Jordan was the voice of Tyrone the Moose on Nickelodeon's Emmy Award-Winning animated series "The Backyardigans." Jordan's mom challenged him to use some of his earnings from his cartoon gig to make a positive impact in his community. Jordan wrote, directed and produced "Say It Loud!" a youth film that explores the importance of education for African-American youth.The documentary includes appearances by Kobe Bryant, Ludacris, Michael Strahan, Rev. Al Sharpton, Master P, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Hurricane Chris, Jadakiss, Ben Wallace, Winky Wright, Yung Joc, Busta Rhymes, Terrence J and other celebrities talking about their own educational experiences.Jordan travels across the country showing his film and speaking to audiences of students, parents, educators and community organizers about the importance of education. He was the only independent filmmaker to have his film featured as part of AMC Theatre's Summer Movie Camp. Jordan has screened his film at the 100 Black Men of America Convention, Congressional Black Caucus Convention, Martha's Vineyard African-American film festival and New Jersey Black Issues Convention. Jordan has served as keynote speaker at these events as well as Education Equality's Inauguration Education Rally and 55th Anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education Celebration in Washington, DC.An honor roll student, Jordan is committed to his own education as he spreads his "School is Cool," "Dream Big" and "The Game of Life Starts Now" messages to students everywhere. Jordan has appeared on CNN, NBC, CBS, BET and CSpan; his story has also been featured in Children's Health magazine, Jet, Black Enterprise, the NY Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Star Ledger, The Record, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, New Jersey Monthly, Right OnJordan has received letters of commendation from United States President Barack Obama, U.S. Secretary of Education Arnie Duncan, Congressman Steve Rothman, NJ Governor Chris Christie and local politicians for his efforts to promote the importance of education.The teen filmmaker is at it again with his second film "Payin' The Price" --- a look at teen dating violence. Jordan was inspired to tackle this issue after the Chris Brown and Rhianna "domestic violence incident." Their celebrity status brought the topic of dating violence into the homes of American families like never before. Jordan's win at the Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival made him the youngest filmmaker to win the prestigious HBO Best Feature Film at a film festival.Jordan starred in a Spike Lee directed commercial for the National Basketball Association's All-Star Weekend and a Huggies commercial before he beat out hundreds of boys and landed the coveted job as the voice of Tyrone on "The Backyardigans." Annually, Jordan visits hospitals and shelters to visit children and give them Tyrone dolls. He also gives away backpacks filled with school supplies to children in need. He has worked as a child model for the New York Daily News, and he appeared in lead roles for two TV commercials for Huggies and the NBA. Jordan, his younger brother Justin and their mom created Mama Don't Play Productions, a TV & Film Company that specializes in programs for kids and teens.Jordan is the son of Award-Winning Journalist and Author, Chrisena Coleman and New York State Senator Eric Adams. He plans to continue making films and attend college to study film and communicationsHe enjoys writing movie scripts and making films. Jordan has written several TV treatments and is currently penning the script for his third movie "Justin In Case," a cautionary tale about teens and sexting. He is the author of Say It Loud: The Reel Deal & Behind The Scenes Stories. His hobbies include playing football, basketball, video games and practicing his deejay skills.
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Food is important. Not only does it give your guests something to keep their hands busy while mingling, some dishes can actually be conversation pieces. Appetizer recipes take minimal ingredients and most are simple to make. Here are a few recipes to get you started.
For party planning and/or consulting, send your request to firstname.lastname@example.com
Caprese bites
The best thing about this recipe is that there is no baking required. It is also a great recipe for the kiddos to help with!
What you will need:
2 pints grape tomatoes
1 to 1 1/2 rolls of fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 tbsp fresh, finely chopped basil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Party toothpicks
How to prepare:
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, cover tightly and shake gently for 20-30 seconds. This will evenly coat the tomatoes and cheese with the oil and seasoning.
On each toothpick, place a cheese square and a tomato.
Arrange on a serving platter.
Bacon cheddar potato rounds
These potatoes are very tasty and will definitely go fast, so make plenty!
What you will need:
1 lb russet potatoes
1 lb shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 green onions, chopped
How to prepare:
Slice potatoes about 1/8 inch thick and lay a single layer across foil lined cookie sheets - the foil makes cleanup super easy! Drizzle butter across, then sprinkle shredded cheese over the top, followed by the bacon. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until potato slices have started to soften. Sprinkle with green onions. Allow to cool, then place on a serving platter.
Pie chips
Your taste buds will explode with pleasure with this combination of sweet, creamy, tart dip along with the flakiness of the chips!
What you will need:
2 rolls refrigerated pie crust, at room temperature
1 qt fresh strawberries
1 tbsp granulated sugar
1 8oz container mascarpone cheese
2 tbsp honey
3/4 tsp vanilla
How to prepare chips:
Pre-heat oven to 450. Lay out dough and cut into chip-size triangles (a pizza cutter works really well). Press extra pieces together, roll out and cut to use all of the dough. Lay flat on parchment paper and bake for 8 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely.
How to prepare dip:
Crush strawberries with sugar in a bowl and refrigerate.
In a separate bowl, mix together mascarpone cheese, honey and vanilla, then refrigerate.
In a bowl in the center of the serving platter, spread all of the mascarpone cheese dip thickly around the edges, then pour the strawberry mixture in the center of the bowl. Place chips on the platter around the dip bowl.


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The Retirement of Austin Amundsen
Gerry Johnson
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antelope dreaming 2
Published January 20, 2013
antelope dreaming
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For everything there is a season...
Published November 05, 2010
The Windows of St. Mark's Cathedral
Published March 29, 2009
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All Tressed Up Hair Blog
March 4, 20110 Comments
March 3, 20111 Comments
America's Top Salons and Spas
#1. New York, New York LaVar Hair Designs New York is home to many A-list celebrities, actors and entertainers. So where do these celebs have their tresses tamed? None other than the silver chair of Ms. Elin LaVar. LaVar hair designs is the exclusive salon of celebs such as Oprah Winfrey, Serena and Venus Williams, Naomi Campbell and Courtney Love. This upper west side salon covers a multitude of services, from shampoos to weave installations, cuts and colors. Book early to get a coveted spot ...
March 2, 20110 Comments
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Best Little Known Weight Loss Tips
It seems like everyone is in a struggle with their weight at some point or another. We're bombarded with ads for one fad diet or another that promise overnight weight loss with no effort. However, there are a few little known weight loss tips that will help you take the weight off and keep it off. Know your caloric needs This may seem obvious, but most people have no idea how many calories they should be taking in every day. You should know how many you need to be eating so you'll know how many ...
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Should Stylists Stock Human Hair or Should Clients Bring Their Own?
As a stylist, you may install many human hair weaves every week. From braided hairstyles to straight weaves, curly hairstyles and short cuts, you may handle many types of human hair weaves for your clients. Should you stock hair for your clients' use or advise them to bring in their own hair for installation?They may feel daunted by the myriad choices of hair available. Your expertise will go a long way in helping them make the right selection. By stocking these human hair weave selections in your ...
February 23, 20110 Comments
February 22, 20114 Comments
African American Children's Hairstyles and Tips
Braiding Many people choose braiding as the default method of styling their African American child's hair. There are many creative styles that can be created with braids, from French braiding, to zig zag parts and cornrows. Braided hairstyles can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, and these styles can greatly enhance a little girls appearance. Take care in braiding your child's hair in a way that will not cause permanent damage. Do not pull the child's hair when braiding. This can ...
February 21, 20112 Comments


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Gardening Articles: Landscaping :: Trees, Shrubs, & Vines
Magnolias (page 3 of 3)
by Eliot Tozer
What to Buy and How to Plant
When you shop for a magnolia, look for large, vibrant leaves and vigorous growth on the ends of twigs. A good time to shop is in the spring when you may see blossoms. It's fine to buy plants that are already in bloom. Because magnolias have soft, fleshy roots that damage easily, they're difficult to plant compared to many other trees. (Once established, however, magnolias forgive occasional neglect.) If possible, buy plants in containers.
When selecting a site, keep in mind the ultimate size of the plant. Magnolias don't like to be transplanted. Space trees about 25 feet apart. Because blossoms and leaves are susceptible to wind damage, try to choose a protected site. A north-facing location might delay bloom until after the last frost, saving the blossoms. Like many plants, magnolias prefer well-drained soil that's rich in organic matter and has a pH of 5.5 to 6.5.
Plant balled and burlapped magnolias when they're dormant, or in late spring after growth has started. Trees grown in containers, however, can be planted whenever the soil is moist. As for the planting hole, the old rule applies: a $10 hole for a $5 plant. Make the planting hole twice as wide as the rootball. Pruning roots at planting time stimulates faster growth early on, but the gain is lost after a year or so.
Because magnolias are surface feeders, plant them no more than an inch deeper than they were planted at the nursery. Fertilize lightly with a 5-10-5 formula, and mulch to retain soil moisture and to discourage weeds. Anchor the tree until it becomes established.
Maintaining Magnolias
Pruning and Mulching. It isn't necessary to prune branches to encourage growth after transplanting, although you can prune an ungainly plant to improve its appearance. In cold-winter climates, prune precocious magnolias in summer after they've bloomed. Prune all others when they're dormant.
Keep a circle of mulch around the tree, and continue fertilizing as needed. However, so the plant will stop producing new growth and will harden off, don't fertilize it after midsummer.
Magnolias can take an irritatingly long time to bloom, anywhere from 2 or 3 years to 12 to 15 years (M. campbellii can take 20).
Pests and Diseases. A few pests and diseases afflict magnolias. Among the most troublesome is magnolia scale (Neoleucanium cornuparvum), which settles on foliage and sucks out the plant's juices. Heavy infestations may be controlled with dormant oil spray if applied early in the season. Spray soft-bodied insects such as aphids with dish detergent mixed with water.
Other predators include slugs, borers, and deer. Control slugs by sinking shallow containers filled with beer into the soil; the slugs crawl in and drown. Figlar has lost a couple of treasured trees to borers and confesses he knows no way to stop them. Fortunately, they seem to attack only stressed trees.
Deterring deer is a black art. Dorothy Callaway in her excellent book, The World of Magnolias (Timber Press, 1994; $50) recommends hanging a bar of soap against the trunk of the tree about 4 feet above the ground. The odor may act as a repellent.
Eliot Tozer gardens and writes in Tappan, New York.
Photography by Suzanne DeJohn/National Gardening Association


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DISCOVER EGYPT Father & Son's journey
Barry Ford & Jeff Ford
"Our Editor's choice for 2012! This amazing new release is now available for sale. It's published by an acclaimed, yet little known, author and photographer"
This extraordinary book brings to life, for the first time ever, the sights, the sounds and the smells of this ancient land and it's inhabitants, both current and historical.
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This year marks California Hospital Medical Center's (CHMC) 125th year of caring for the health of Los Angeles. It's seen the early frontier pioneering days of the city, the boom in population and business in the first part of the 20th century, two world wars, status as a celebrity hospital serving Hollywood stars, and the advent of high-tech medicine. Today, the striking red-tiled high-rise hospital supports great diversity and an underserved urban population from its location at the intersection of Venice Boulevard and Grand Avenue.
California Hospital was founded in 1887 in a small and unpretentious two-story brick building on 6th Street in Los Angeles (population 80,000 at that time) by Dr. Walter Lindley, an enterprising young man born in Indiana. Shortly thereafter he gathered together 21 fellow physicians, who each chipped in $1,000 to buy a plot of land on South Hope Street, where they built the first physician-owned hospital in the U.S. It opened for business at 1414 South Hope in 1898, and was an attractive four-story wood-framed structure with gables, corner cupolas, awnings over the windows and a large well-landscaped garden facing 15th Street. It had 30 beds. The campus rapidly added three more buildings to house patients and facilities, employing the British-born architect John C. Austin, who also designed Griffith Observatory and many other iconic L.A. buildings.
A school of nursing, the California Hospital Training School for Nurses, was opened in 1898, and graduated its first class of four the next year. The nursing school closed in 1984, but California Hospital still has grads and an instructor working in the hospital. A brick apartment building now called the Villa Metropolitano, two doors north of California Hospital's Emergency Department entrance on Hope Street, was originally the Metropolitan Hotel. It was bought by the hospital in 1944 to house an increased number of nurses caused by the needs of World War II, and was called Moore Hall.
In 1916 an enterprising group of staunch Lutherans of Scandinavian heritage from the American Midwest formed the Lutheran Hospital Society of Southern California, with the express purpose of "establishing hospitals, dispensaries and clinics." The Society bought California Hospital in 1921, and successfully operated it and several other L.A. and San Diego hospitals for the next 70 years.
The turn of the century brick and wood buildings proved inadequate for "modern" healthcare, and in 1926 a new nine-story brick hospital was inaugurated at 1414 South Hope Street on the site of the old buildings. It was deemed to be the most progressive medical building in the country at that time. It served Los Angeles well until the Northridge Earthquake of 1994 damaged it to the extent that patients could no longer be housed there, and it was demolished in 2000. Meanwhile the current patient tower at 1401 South Grand Avenue was opened in 1987 – Tibbitts Tower, named after a much-respected hospital administrator, Samuel J. Tibbitts.
Total bed capacity at California Hospital is currently 319. There are 65,000 emergency room visits every year, 2,200 of which are trauma patients. About 360-400 babies a month come into this world at the hospital. The hospital's new Los Angeles Center for Women's Health opened in February of this year. Also new are extensive remodeling and upgrades to the 1414 South Hope Street Emergency Department, now underway.
- In 1910 California Hospital was put in charge of setting up the first-ever emergency aviation hospital – a portable cottage equipped with an operating table – at the country's first air meet, the Dominguez International Air Meet, at Dominquez Field south of Compton. A horse-drawn carriage "ambulance" stood outside.
- The first X-rays taken in Los Angeles were performed at California Hospital in 1889 by Dr. Albert Soiland with equipment he built himself at home. He was the founder of the Department of Radiology at USC's School of Medicine.
- Dec. 24, 1914: Internationally known and respected naturalist John Muir, aged 76, died of pneumonia at California Hospital.
- In 1917 thirty grads from the California Hospital Training School for Nurses joined the first World War I overseas nursing unit, the Naval Base Hospital Unit No. 3.
- In 1928 the cost of three days' stay with dressings, pharmacy and extra diet charges was $16.45.
- In 1932 California Hospital served as the official Olympic Games Hospital when Los Angeles hosted the games.
- A nine-story brick building belonging to California Hospital can still be found at 1401 South Hope St., and is now Esperanza Community Housing. It was completed in 1957 and was home to many doctors' and dentists' offices at that time.
- The first baby at California Hospital was born July 24, 1898. Baby number 20,000 was born March 5, 1937; number 35,000 was little Michael Rawley on November 24, 1945; number 50,000 was Kathryn Eloise Thompson on December 12, 1950. Labor and delivery continues to be a vibrant part of hospital activities.
- In 1944 the hospital attracted world-wide attention for its "Fathers' Room," equipped with a loudspeaker so dads could hear the first cries of their newborns. In 1956 the First Voice of Junior! program was inaugurated. Babies' first cries were broadcast and recorded in the delivery room and sent to the fathers' waiting room. A phonograph record of the event was presented to the happy parents when leaving the hospital.
- PacifiCare health insurance was founded at California Hospital by its then-owner, the LHS (Lutheran Hospital Society) Corp.
For more information about California Hospital's history or to arrange a visit to their archives, please visit http://www.
Thanks to Judith Thompson, volunteer and former CHMC Medical Librarian, for preparing this information.
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I was a student in the nursing school from 1964- 1967. All the names mentioned above were there and in fact I have pictures of them all in my nursing school year books. The director of the nursing school was Barbara Jury….someone I will never forget. So many amazing memories and opportunities were afforded to me in this wonderful place….
In 1961 I was fresh out of high school and went from a MWD camp on the Colorado River to Los Angeles to stay with my grandmother. I applied for a job at the Calif. hospital as a messenger. I later moved up to the pharmacy as a clerk and then to the cashiers office as a clerk ( I have forgotten the title of the job). I met my wife there (student in X-Ray technology)l I left in October 1965 to join the Marine Corps.
The Administrator at the time was Samuel Tibbitts, and Ass't Administrator's last name was Carlson. The head of the business office was William Wheaton. The head cashier was Dorothy Cunningham (not positive about the last name). The head X-ray technician was Joan Sherwood. I have often looked back on those days with fondness.


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It looks as though AT&T customers will be able to get the HTC One Mini. The HTC One, or the larger brother of the One Mini, has been heralded as the best Android smartphone to date. The Mini will hopefully follow in the footsteps of its big brother and continue to provide a premium Android experience with a slightly smaller screen.
The HTC One Mini is reported to feature a 4.3-inch display with a resolution of 720x1280. It will also feature a dual-core processor and UltraPixel camera. It's rumored to be launching in August. According to a report that cites a source close to HTC, AT&T will be getting the smaller Android handset whenever it debuts.


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set to be paralleled with hot-air ballooning. Unlike Nautica and Ralph Lauren, however, Hot Air brings streetwear influence to the historically posh sport's dress code.
Co-founders Bee Nguyen and Chike Ozah's collection of t-shirts,
pullovers and track jackets is an avant-garde series of balloon-inspired graphics. Both designers have a
background in the music industry—Ozah has directed music videos for Mos Def and Kanye West, and Nguyen worked for music label and fashion company, Sound In Color. The two launched Hot Air in August of 2007 and have since collaborated with mega-boutique Collette as well as California-based shops Greyone and The Closet.
With more store openings to come, it seems like Hot Air is bound to blow up on the mainstream market. The label has been donned by L.A. hipsters, and soon enough, the geometric graphics and popping colors will become synced with the mega-luxe lifestyles of ballooners as well as style-savvy street smarts.
For more information, see hotairbrand.wordpress.com.
—Vildana Kurtovic