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Back to School Night: Common Core, Ghosts and Seizing the DaySubmitted by Aldon Hynes on Fri, 09/12/2014 - 03:43
In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig talks about the ghosts from his past as he taught rhetoric and quality before his nervous breakdown. In Dead Poet's Society, the character of John Keating played by Robin Williams, invoked the ghosts of former students, urging his students to "seize the day".
Last night, I walked the halls of Amity Middle School in Bethany, accompanied by these ghosts and others. My wife was a student at this school over three decades ago. The mother of one of my daughter's classmates was one of my wife's classmate those many years ago. Did they imagine, back then, that their children would be classmates, carry small devices like the communicators from Star Trek and have access to machines that could print out three dimensional objects? What were their dreams, what were the dreams their teachers and parents had for them back when they walked these halls.
Back to School night started similar to the school day. The principal's voice crackled over the loudspeakers. We all stood to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, bringing recollections of the ghosts of those who fought for our freedom. There was a moment of silence, thirteen years after 9/11 as we recalled our friends and neighbors who died in that attack.
Then, it was off to meet the different teachers. There were a few themes that emerged, the total point system was repeated over and over again. There were frequent mentions of the Common Core, and at least to me, it seemed, there was too little focus on the actual curriculum and acknowledgement of the ghosts.
The first class I sent to was World Geography and Culture. There was a good syllabus presented and a discussion about the focus on argument and debate. Fiona, like her parents, loves debate and I'm excited for this class. I did wonder about how much the students will be encouraged to question the assumptions they have about culture based on the culture they've grown up in.
The second class was Spanish. I believe both Fiona's mother and uncle had Mrs. Young for world language classes when they were students.
This was followed by English. I am sure that this will be a fine class and that the teacher will inspire the students, but I have concerns. The teacher will be managing the class using a "behavior management plan" based on corporate structure. I've already written to the teacher expressing concern. I am not convinced that CEOs are the best role models for proper behavior. Nor do I believe that they are the best exemplars of the use of the English language.
She spoke about finding examples of good writing to emulate, of "mentor texts", and my mind went to e.e.cummings, Jack Kerouac and James Joyce. Somehow I suspect that may not be the sort of texts they'll focus on. She mentioned that because of the Common Core, the readings would be based more on the skills being taught than on the titles of famous books. I have mixed feelings about this. Skills are important, but so is being literate in certain classics. I hope Fiona will end up reading Lord of the Flies, The Pearl, A Separate Peace, and other great books that illustrate something more important about language than just skills.
The essay, 'Understanding Poetry,' by Dr. J. Evans Pritchard, Ph.D. comes to mind:
If the poem's score for perfection is plotted on the horizontal of a graph and its importance is plotted on the vertical, then calculating the total area of the poem yields the measure of its greatness.
For those who miss the reference, this is a section of the text book that Mr. Keating in Dead Poet's Society urges his students to rip out.
That said, I remain hopeful for the class and the work they will do. Perhaps the students can form a union to deal with the corporate structure. Perhaps some can even participate in the National Novel Writing Month Young Writers Program. I think everyone should try to write their first novel by the time they complete middle school.
There was a nod to integrated curricula connecting the English class with the social studies class. I was glad to hear that. I'm a big fan of integrated curricula.
The next class was science. The teacher highlighted the classroom and the lab equipment. My daughter wrote that she thought I would like the science teacher, and I do. They will be studying lab safety, metrics, the scientific method, earth movements, meteorology and astronomy. I wondered if AMSB had a weather station connected to Weather Underground. It doesn't appear as if they do. I figure I'll have to dig out my ten inch Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope soon. I wonder how much they will get into issues of climate change or the effect of fracking on earth movements. I also wonder to what extent the science curriculum can be connected to the social studies curriculum.
The following class was tech. The teacher recognized me because of my Google Glass and we talked about 3D printing. My daughter is pretty excited about this class as well. As the teacher lauded the school district. We do have a great school district with wonderful facilities, great teachers, all contributing to the success of the students. Yet I remember hearing former New York City school Chancellor Joel Klein talking about equality in education. He spoke about how if the school system is working properly parents should be happy with whatever school their children end up at knowing that they all have the same level of excellence. I thought about students at under performing schools in Connecticut and remembered a great quote attributed to Virginia Woolf, "There is only one thing wrong with privilege, it's that not everyone has it."
For the final period, my daughter wrote Phys-Ed/Choir and listed the teachers and rooms for each. I suspect that Fiona, like me, prefers choir over physical education, so I went to the choir room. No one else showed up. Since we were supposed to be following the A schedule, I should have gone to physical education. My daughter had made a similar mistake at one point, missing technology and going to choir instead. Yet it provided one of the best chances to spend time talking with a teacher.
We talked about folk music festivals, expanding musical horizons, and the role of the arts in STEM oriented systems. My middle daughter, with her masters in community arts education always points out that it really should be STEAM, with the A standing for Arts. Without the creativity of the arts, the inventions of STEM projects are too likely to be lifeless and soulless.
There wasn't any discussion of integrated curricula here, but it would be great if choir expanded the musical horizons of the students to include cultures being studied in social studies.
Like the students, when the classes were over, the parents found time to speak with their friends before heading home. As I drove home, I thought about the Common Core, various ghosts, and seizing the day.
OvalsSubmitted by Aldon Hynes on Tue, 06/03/2014 - 20:43
It had been a nearly picture perfect June day. The weather had been warm, but not unbearably so, and as the sun approached the distant horizon, the temperature began to drop. Young children rolled in the grass in front of the outdoor stage as their older siblings sang or played their instruments. It was the school's end of year concert.
As the orchestra played Handel's water music, I remembered summer days on the lawn at Tanglewood. They were rare, but special events when the family would gather to hear the Boston Symphony Orchestra. We would have a picnic lunch on the grass, and I would roll in the grass like the young kids sitting in front of me. I still carry fond memories of those days and the love of music they helped engender.
I looked around at many friends sitting on the hill. We had seen our children grow here, and learn so much. This would be my last elementary school concert as a parent of one of the young performers. I sought to soak it all in. My mother would devotedly show up at all my performance as a child and perhaps was looking down here from heaven. My father, always seemed to be occupied with other things and would rarely show up. Now, he's occupied in a senior living complex.
My wife's mother died before I met her, and may well have been sitting next to my mother. My wife's father remarried, and Papa and Nana would have been at the concert if it wasn't for something of graver concern.
At the end of the concert, it was announced that various groups had won high acclaim in their adjudication. I commented to my daughter that this acclaim, at least in my reckoning, was of much greater value to me than CMT or SBAC scores. The ability to read small ovals with stems rising from them is far more important the ability to select the right ovals to fill in on standardized tests. People come to believe that filling in the right oval is some sort of accomplishment in and of itself.
In the next town, adults were filling in little ovals indicating that they supported or opposed the proposed town budget. Such votes are important, but they aren't a real accomplishment. No one wants taxes to go up or services to go down. The real accomplishment is getting into the thick of it and hammering out specific instances where a town should increase or decrease its spending.
When the concert ended, parents struggled to round up their children and get them home to dinner, baths and bedtime. Meanwhile, in a nearby hospital, a Vietnam Veteran, who had struggled and suffered so much both during the war, and perhaps more significantly afterwards rested in his bed. Family was gathered around him as they talked quietly about his prospects and waited.
ReimaginingSubmitted by Aldon Hynes on Sun, 06/01/2014 - 20:14
Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit. Another month rolls down the hill like a Sisyphean bolder and a new month begins. What will this month bring? Last month, my 2014 campaign for State Representative began. What kind of impact can I have this time? I went to an event to reimagine the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. I've shared my reactions and wonder what sort of impact that will have. Meanwhile, I try to balance work and home.
As I try to pull together thoughts on reimaging both politics and religion in the twenty-first century, I keep in mind what a luxury that is. For too many, it is too much to just get by from day to day. How do we encourage those who are too exhausted from the daily grind to be more engaged in politics or religion?
For me, my relaxation often comes from trying to gain new perspectives, particularly through the arts. I'm trying to determine what my literary diet for the coming months will be. Should I dive back into poetry? From Maya Angelou and Nikki Giovanni to Billy Collins and Denise Levertov? Should I reread some Thomas Merton or perhaps the writings of some Great Awakening preacher?
How do I relate all of this to what I read on Facebook? I've been thinking of trying to post something upbeat each day, whether it be a picture of a flower, a great quote, or an inspiring article. I've been trying to highlight things going on around me where regular people make a difference. I've been avoiding jumping into many of the discussions where seem to be venting with no real solutions.
Saturday, someone posted a link to Download a Free Copy of Danah Boyd's Book, It's Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens. This led me to explore the Open Culture website for a while, and ultimately end up checking out their list of films by Andrei Tarkovsky that are online.
I ended up watching Ivan's Childhood. One person describe the film this way:
First Film by the prophet of modern cinema Andrei Tarkovsky
While Sergei Eisenstein literally wrote the grammar of cinema by inventing Montage, Tarkovsky found the true calling of cinema with his exposition of long shot where the roving camera wanders examining stuff and through its eyes reach into the heart and soul of the protagonist. Through him film became what it was meant to be, the purveyor of dreams. All other developments in cinema are borrowed from other visual and literary developments.
The film is set on the front lines of World War II and traces the experiences of a child, Ivan. It is the sort of film to make you think, especially about the lives of people very different those of us living comfortably in the twenty-first century.
So, let's see where the boulder rolls this month.
Life is Messy – Rethinking Educational Reform – Part 2, TriggersSubmitted by Aldon Hynes on Fri, 05/23/2014 - 08:54
This was written a few days ago, but I never got a chance to really go over it. I've been pretty busy, so I'll put this up now, as is. More soon...
This weekend, I came across three distinct and interesting articles that, perhaps, should be considered in light of one another. The Hartford Courant ran the article, Top Nominees Announced For Ct High School Musical Theater Awards. I was very interested in the production of two of these shows. Amity Regional High School, in my hometown, produced "In The Heights" (See Lamentations and The Heights). It was a great production, as productions at Amity usually are. It received several nominations, as did "Rent", produced by Trumbull High School. The Trumbull production of Rent, almost didn't happen and I wrote about it a couple times: Trumbull for Rent and World AIDS Day and Learning About Bullying - Trumbull RENT. I was glad to see both production receive nominations.
Also this weekend, the New York Times ran an article, Warning: The Literary Canon Could Make Students Squirm. Should students be forewarned about content in works they are assigned to read that might make them uncomfortable, or might trigger PTSD? To me, these two stories are related. How should have Trumbull High School dealt with the difficult issues that Rent brings up? Cancelling the show? Using some sort of Trigger Warnings? Some other approach?
I recognize the need for trigger warnings in certain cases, just as I recognize the need for warnings about peanuts for those with peanut allergies. For some people, these warning can be a matter of life and death. For others, they can be just an annoyance. I had the good fortunate to go to a small liberal arts college where the professors knew each of the students in their classes. In such a situation, I would expect the professor to be able to deal individually with students as necessary and to make wise decisions about warning students that needed to be warned. However, in large universities where there might be hundreds of students in a class, I can see where some sort of trigger warning might be needed.
Yet even in situations like this, it would seem that the trigger warning could be an educational tool. Prior to reading a text, a discussion about the difficult topics would seem beneficial. "This week, we will be reading The Great Gatsby, a masterpiece of American literature. The story depicts misogynistic violence, a problem that society still faces today…" and from their get into a discussion about misogyny in the twentieth and twenty first century.
Life is Messy – Rethinking Educational Reform - Part 1, SBACSubmitted by Aldon Hynes on Sun, 05/18/2014 - 18:01
This weekend, I've been thinking a bit about educational reform and have stumbled across several different interesting discussion. It started off when a discussion about the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, or SBAC, tests which have recently been administered at our schools.
A board of education member was fiercely defending the SBAC tests. She believed that the concerns with the tests were overblown and that the tests were properly administered. I opted my daughter out of the SBAC tests for many reasons and the feedback I've received about the tests do not square with the board members assessment.
The board member did admit that there were some difficulties, but there are always difficulties with any changes, and we eventually need to test changes in the real world. Setting aside the issue of whether or not there is real benefit to the changes that SBAC brings, I question whether there was sufficient testing prior to using the SBAC tests, and, perhaps more importantly, whether using the tests on students was wise, or perhaps even, ethical.
Having worked with computers for years, I recognize the importance of different aspects of testing, moving from unit testing to systems testing and integration testing. To put it into more contemporary terms, when do you move a system out of beta? Were the SBAC tests really ready to be moved out of beta? Where they properly tested? It does not seem so, from my perspective.
Yet there is a bigger question, about the efficacy and ethics of the testing. Thinking in terms of the scientific method, what was the hypothesis being tested? How will this test of the SBACs help prove or disprove the hypothesis? I have not heard this properly addressed. Working in health care, I constantly hear people talking about the importance of double blind tests. The SBAC tests were very far from this standard of testing. In fact, students were told that the tests wouldn't make a difference, it was just a test to see how well the test works. As a result, I've heard many stories of students making up silly answers on the tests, something that wouldn't happen if it were a real test that mattered.
I don't know how much this really happened, and how much these are the sort of stories middle school students like to tell, but it does raise serious questions about the validity of SBAC experiment.
Yet this takes me to a bigger issue. In 1961, Yale psychologist Stanley Milgram ran a series of experiments measuring people's willingness to follow orders, even if it could cause harm or death to others. In the experiments, the subjects were told to give shocks to students who failed to properly answer certain questions.
Many have questioned the ethics of these experiments and the Milgram experiments are regularly brought up in discussions about institutional review boards, or IRBs.
As I thought about the discussion with the board of education member, I had to wonder, are SBAC tests being administered in a way that would be approved by an IRB? Are risks to the subjects, or children in schools, minimized? Do the benefits of moving towards SBAC tests outweigh the risks to students? Are students, and their parents, adequately informed and asked to consent in ways that are free from coercion or undue influences? What measures are being taken to protect vulnerable populations?
There is a role for testing students in our educational system. Yet these tests need to be well thought out and administered in a fair way that benefits our students. In my mind, the SBAC tests fails this.


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FDR's New Deal
FDR's New Deal Terms
Wilsonian Internationalism, WilsonianA foreign policy based on aggressive international pursuit of democratic ideals. Named for Woodrow Wilson, not the volleyball company.
Isolationism, IsolationistA foreign policy based on withdrawal from international affairs. Popular with introverts.
Collective BargainingThe process by which workers, organized together in a union, negotiate a contract with their employer. The right to collective bargaining is considered to be the bedrock principle of the labor movement.
The most common way for employers and workers to settle their differences. Collective bargaining takes place when a union representing the collected employees sits down with managers to hammer out a contract.
Class ConsciousnessIn Marxist theory, the recognition of the working classes that they are being exploited by the bourgeoisie and the capitalist system in general.
Prohibition, ProhibitionistThe nationwide ban on alcoholic drinks, in effect from 1920 to 1933. Started by the 18th Amendment to the Constitution and repealed by the 21st.
Substantive Due ProcessA constitutional theory, developed in the late nineteenth century, that held that any government regulation that infringed upon an individual's freedom of contract was a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.
GNP, GDP, Gross National Product, Gross Domestic ProductGross National Product, a common measure of the overall size of a nation's economy. Gross, in this case, does not mean "disgusting."
UnconstitutionalThe Constitution of the United States is, in its own words, the "supreme Law of the Land." That means that no other law can counteract or override the Constitution itself. If Congress passes a law (or the President undertakes an executive action) that runs afoul of the Constitution, the Supreme Court can use its power of judicial review to rule that such a law (or executive action) is unconstitutional and therefore should be overturned.
A legislative act or executive action which violates the terms of the constitution is said to be unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has the authority to overturn laws or executive orders that it finds to be unconstitutional.

subset: commoncrawl


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Office of Undergraduate Research
OUR Research Support Grants
Academic Year Undergraduate Research Support Grants Available Spring 2015
The Office of Undergraduate Research will offer Academic Year Research Support Grants for the support of undergraduate research at UNC spring 2015. Undergraduate students may apply for the research support grants, which may be used for research supplies, travel, conference presentations, student stipends, or other research support.
Applications avaliable Spring 2015
Summer Stipends
The Office of Undergraduate Research offers a summer stipend program with funding available up to $1000 per student for undergraduate research projects conducted during the summer.
Summer Stipend 2014 Program Information
Summer Stipend 2015 Program Information availabe in Spring 2015.
External Grants and Research Aid
|Education and Behavioral Sciences
|Humanities and Social Sciences
|Monfort College of Business
|UNC Summer Stipends
|Natural and Health Sciences
|Performing and Visual Arts
|Interdisciplinary- University College


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Todd Hickey, Papyrologist
ASP Summer
The Tebtunis Papyri Collection and the Advanced Papyrological Information System Project at The Bancroft Library
The Tebtunis papyri were found in the winter of 1899/1900 at the site of ancient Tebtunis, Egypt. The expedition to Tebtunis, which was led by the British papyrologists Bernard P. Grenfell and Arthur S. Hunt, was financed for the University of California by Mrs. Phoebe Apperson Hearst.
The Tebtunis papyri form the largest collection of papyrus texts in the Americas. The collection has never been counted and inventoried completely, but the number of fragments contained in it exceeds 30,000.
This web site, which is under continuous development, will provide electronic access to images of the Tebtunis papyri as well as textual information. We are trying to enhance understanding of the collection by providing information about the sites where the papyri were found, the intellectual and physical history of the collection, and the contents of the papyri contained in it. A particularly interesting aspect of the collection is that it contains many related groups of texts, which can either be traced back to actual archives or collected to form dossiers. Since such texts, possessing a context, typically provide more information (and are more interesting) than pieces in isolation, we have given emphasis to them in this presentation.
The project of conserving, cataloguing and imaging these papyri has been supported by generous grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities as part of the Advanced Papyrological Information System (APIS).
The APIS project is the result of the efforts of papyrologists at a number of American universities to integrate in a "virtual" library the holdings of their collections through digital images and detailed catalogue records that provide information pertaining to the physical and textual characteristics of each papyrus, corrections to previously published papyri, and republications.


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The RCHRA will offer in person interpreters or telephone interpreters as requested by applicants/participants at no cost. Please call the RCHRA at 507-333-3787.
(RCHRA) xafiiskan waxaad ka heli kartaa turjumaan kula kulma ama khadka telefoonka kuugu turjuma kolba/marba sidaad codsatid taasoo waliba bilaash kuu ah. (RCHRA) 507-333-3787.
Department Overview
The Housing Office primary purpose is to administer the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. In addition to Section 8, the Housing Office offers other programs geared towards home ownership and improving housing opportunities in Rice County.
Rice County Housing Study
The Rice County HRA commissioned a comprehensive housing study to research and analyze the housing environment in the county. The final study contains chapters for each Rice County community with specific recommendations for that community, as well as an overall Rice County chapter with recommendations on the Rice County HRA's role in addressing the Rice County housing needs.
(Click to download PDFs)
- City of Dundas (Part 5)
- City of Faribault (Part 6)
- Downtown Faribault (Part 7)
- City of Lonsdale (Part 8)
- City of Morristown (Part 9)
- City of Nerstrand (Part 10)
- City of Northfield (Part 11)
RCHRA Language Access Plan
The Rice County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (RCHRA) receives funds from the federal government, and is required to provide meaningful access to its programs and activities by persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). Language for LEP persons can be a barrier to accessing important housing benefits and services, understanding and exercising important rights, complying with applicable responsibilities, or understanding other information provided by the Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher program. In certain circumstances, failure to ensure LEP persons can effectively participate in or benefit from federally-assisted programs and activities may violate the prohibition under Title VI against discrimination on the basis of national origin.
The RCHRA strives to treat all applicants and voucher holders fairly. To ensure that the local administration of the Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher Program is accessible to all persons, the RCHRA Language Access Plan (LAP) has been developed and approved by the HRA Board. The LAP is in accordance with federal guidelines (Executive Order 13166), and guidance provided by both the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Office of Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity.
To see the RCHRA Language Access Plan click here
Other Programs
Summary of other programs administered by the Housing Office
Minnesota Cities Participation Program
Related Links
- U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)
- Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA)
- Department of Employment & Economic Development (DEED)
- USDA Rural Development
- Minnesota Home Ownership Center
- Three Rivers Community Action, Inc.
- Community Action Center of Northfield
Other Housing Authorities in Rice County
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Click here for a full list of questions
Citizen Information
Citizen Information
No Citizen Information at this time.
Upcoming Events
September 01, 2016
September 06, 2016


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SEP 17, 2013 - Huffington Post
A Must Read - Share
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus appears convinced that President Barack Obama is aiming for a government shutdown.
In a Monday interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Priebus agreed with Hewitt's suggestion that Obama is orchestrating "domestic paralysis." The duo discussed two key fiscal deadlines that are looming -- the Oct. 1 deadline for a stopgap funding measure and the need to raise the debt ceiling to meet subsequent expenses.
"I think he wants this thing to happen, a shutdown of the government," Priebus told Hewitt. "I'm totally cynical on the thing. I think
Read More
Editor's Picks
Hey you have no friends!!! Get to work and start inviting friends to help build your Comunitee. Click Here to invite friends.
© 2011 Comunitee, Inc.


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Virtual Panda
By DS Effects
Open iTunes to buy and download apps.
Break out the bamboo! Your black-and-white ball of fun is ready to play with you but he's hungry and a little dirty from rolling around in the forests of China. That's where you come in! This bear is an endangered species, so if you adopt the little guy, you have to play with him, feed him, bathe him, help him study, and train him. Save your panda from extinction and adopt one today!
NEW. At the end of each action you get a chance to double your score by playing a mini game.
8 mini-games availables, more mini-games coming soon.
What's New in Version 2.1
ios5 bug fixed
iPhone Screenshots
Customer Reviews
Cute! Needs some improvements.
I wish there was sound your panda would make as you interact with him. Also some of the games I don't get because the icons aren't showing up, like in the Wall game one time, most of the bubbles were invisible. Also it would be cool to be able to rename your panda. Please add these improvements in soon!
It was fun the first oh say, 30 seconds but gets boring real quick.
Sorry, but this was an absolute piece of crap
- $0.99
- Category: Games
- Updated: Oct 28, 2011
- Version: 2.1
- Size: 0.5 MB
- Language: English
- Seller: DS Effects s.a.s.
- © DS Effects
Compatibility: Requires iOS 3.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.


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Contact Us
Search for:
The OmniVest Advantage
Creating OmniVest
Why Choose OmniVest?
How We Define Fiduciary
Our Investment Philosophy
Our Service Offering
Individuals & Families
Alternative Investments
OmniVest Japan Partners
Our Team
We are an independent registered investment advisory firm based in Princeton, NJ serving clients on a global basis.
Our Mission:
We built our firm to provide our clients a different financial advisory experience; one that is customized and benchmarked to our clients´ goals, and offered only with their best interests in mind.
Our Clients:
Our clients include high net worth individuals, and familes. We offer our advice on a holistic basis or based on an individual mandate, whether it be in equities, fixed income, or alternative investments. Client engagements begin with assets of $500,000.
Copyright 2010 OmniVest Group LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy


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Voice Actor Reveals New Mario Game Via Twitter
- Oct 19, 2009 2:13 PM EST
- [num] Comments
Mama mia, it's hard to keep voice actors quiet--particularly when they've got their own Twitter account. Charles Martinent, the long-time voice of everyone's favorite rotund Italian video game plumber revealed via a series of tweets that's he's been working on a top secret new chapter in the Mario library.
"Mama Mia!!!!" Martinent, who apparently long ago blurred the lines between voice acting and reality tweeted on the 10th. "I'm going to Seattle this week to record a new Mario game! Woo Hooo!!!!! I can hardly wait!!!!1"
"Awesome new Mario Game!" The actor tweeted a week later. "And it's not NSMB Wii, and it's not Galaxy 2, but it's going to be crazy fun!"
No details beyond that, but it seems a safe bet that Martinent will likely see a bit of a jump in followers on the micro-blogging site.
- Categories:
- Social Networking,
- Video Games


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Definition of heteropolar in English:
adjectivechiefly Physics
1Characterized by opposite or alternating polarity.
Example sentences
- All cells in the colony are heteropolar, and all setae are directed toward one end of the chain.
- Valves bilaterally symmetrical, isopolar and circular, or heteropolar and subcircular or ± elliptical, with one pole smoothly rounded and the other very slightly pointed.
- A typical heteropolar magnetic bearing system is shown in the figure below.
1.1(Especially of an electric motor) with an armature passing north and south magnetic poles alternately.
For editors and proofreaders
Syllabification: het·er·o·po·lar
Definition of heteropolar in:
What do you find interesting about this word or phrase?
Comments that don't adhere to our Community Guidelines may be moderated or removed.
= trending


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Most video game heroes use muscle or a really big gun to solve problems. Faced with gorgons, Kratos from "God of War" rips the monsters apart with his bare hands, while Master Chief from "Halo" blows up Covenant forces with a rocket launcher. It's rare for a protagonist to rely on brains instead of brawn to advance a story.
But for Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright, using their minds to escape trouble is old hat. The two are the most likely video game characters to be accepted in Mensa, and they're also the two biggest names when it comes to solving puzzles and mysteries on the Nintendo 3DS system. For years, they have entertained players in their separate adventures. But their paths have never crossed until now.
In a rare case where a crossover works, "Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney" artfully melds the characters and gameplay styles from the two series to create a satisfying adventure for fans of both franchises. Much of the credit should go to the project's director, Shu Takumi, who is a master at crafting compelling tales.
The game starts slowly, after an odd incident involving witches leads a girl named Espella Cantabella to Layton's doorstep. She's carrying a magical book that sucks up and transports the title characters to another world. The two heroes and their sidekicks land in the city of Labyrinthia, where magic is woven through the area's history. It's also a place stuck in the past with a medieval mentality that dictates that any witch should be burned. (For two franchises known for a light-hearted touch, the subject matter here can get dark.)
On the gameplay side, Takumi and his team focus half the campaign on exploration, where players tackle "Professor Layton"-type brain-teasers. These can be anything from mazes to problems you'd find on an IQ test. The other part is the "Phoenix Wright"-style courtroom drama defending Espella against charges she is a witch. The defense attorney will listen to witnesses' testimony and find contradictions that will clear his client.
Although the Layton side is familiar with players looking for hint coins, most of the twists occur on the legal end. Players will question more than four witnesses at a time, while keeping an eye on their reactions for clues and contradictions. Meanwhile, players have to adjust to a world where magic is the norm and forensic science is in the dark ages. Despite this, logic and testing hypotheses are still key to solving cases.
But where "Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright" excels is in its narrative. It has been a long time since either game in the series was this unpredictable. Anything can and will happen. The friction between the two series ignites a spark of life in both franchises, and the story grows bolder and more intense as the stakes get higher. Once again, Takumi shows that outsmarting an adversary can be more satisfying than outmuscling them.
Reach Gieson Cacho at 510-735-7076 or email@example.com. Read his blog at http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei.
'Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney'
* * *
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Rating: Teen


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Rebirth: Five Questions to Ponder
Announcing THE HUNTRESS #1 and PENGUIN: PAIN AND PREJUDICE #1
This October, two new mini-series will be joining the BATMAN family. This afternoon, NEWSARAMA announced THE HUNTRESS #1 and COMIC BOOK RESOURCES announced PENGUIN: PAIN AND PREJUDICE #1.
With all these new villains, Arkham Asylum is going to need a new wing
This October, Gotham City will be overrun by new villains. In DETECTIVE COMICS, Batman will face the Gotham Ripper. In BATGIRL, Barbara Gordon will take on Mirror. Mysterious villains will be terrorizing Gotham in BATMAN, BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT, BATWOMAN and NIGHTWING. And around the globe, evil takes new forms in BATWING and RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS.
The Conclusion to "Golden Dawn"
As time runs out for Batman to rescue Dawn Golden from deep beneath Gotham City, the city above is at the mercy of the Demon possessing Ragman. And when The Penguin kidnaps innocent civilians and Commissioner Gordon begins to lose hope, will Batman's efforts be enough to save the city from its demons?
The second printing of BOOSTER GOLD #44 is already in stores.
Batman and Hawkman's Showdown in Space
When Batman and Hawkman outsmart the shape-shifting criminal Byth, they think their battle has already been won. But when the duo travels through space to lock Byth up on the planet Thanagar, their spaceship falls under attack by Byth's associates. Can Batman and Hawkman prevent the war raging outside of their ship while simultaneously preventing the war inside with Byth?
James Jr.'s Plans Revealed
For years, Jim Gordon tried to deny to himself the possibility that his son, James Jr., could be a cold-blooded serial killer. But when Barbara Gordon figures out her brother's dark plan, Jim will have no choice but to accept his son's identity and stop him before he corrupts Gotham City from the inside out.
DC Comics' Road to San Diego: Wayne Casinos Poker Chips
FLASHPOINT FRIDAY: A first look at the cover for FLASHPOINT: BATMAN – THE KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE #3
If you haven't already picked up your copy of FLASHPOINT: BATMAN – THE KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE #2, then whatever you do, do not click on the jump (major spoiler alert!).
FLASHPOINT FRIDAY: "We have to move from here as soon as we dignify our dead."
While en route to an undisclosed location in Norway, The Ravager is attacked by Aquaman and his army.


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Hearing set in Waynesboro child abuse case
FRANKLIN COUNTY — A Waynesboro man accused of assaulting his girlfriend's 17-month-old daughter is scheduled to appear Tuesday in court.
Patrick Aaron Smith, 30, of 18 S. Franklin St., is slated for a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. in Franklin County Central Court. Charged with simple assault and endangering the welfare of a child, he has been in Franklin County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail since his Oct. 31 arrest.
Waynesboro Police said officers were called to investigate at Waynesboro Hospital after the child was brought to the emergency room. The toddler had bruises and swelling on her forehead and bruises on various other parts of her face. She also had bruises on her torso and buttocks.
A doctor told investigators that the bruises on the child's body were in various stages of healing.
According to an affidavit filed with Magisterial District Judge Kelly Rock, Chelsey Queen told police that she left her daughter with Smith when she went to work about 7:30 a.m. Oct. 31. She said the girl had no visible injuries on her face when she put her to bed the night before.
Smith reportedly talked to Queen while she was at work about 12:30 p.m. and told her that the child had tripped and fell on the sidewalk, causing her lip to swell and bleed. When she talked to him about an hour later, he told her "We had another accident."
Queen told police that Smith said her daughter fell down some steps. He had described her injuries as "some little dings and stuff
but nothing serious." She first learned that the injuries were more significant when her sister called later.
"I have personally observed many injuries to children from falls or bike accidents, and the injuries that I observed do not fit with the explanation provided," Officer Thomas Storey wrote in the affidavit.
Chelsey's sister, Kristi Queen, told police that she sent Smith a text message the afternoon of the incident, asking him to have Chelsey call her later. According to the affidavit, he replied with a text message that said, "Will do, babys having a bad day L."
When she ask why, he replied that, "I was cleaning out the stroller at the bottom of the stairs and she snuck up four or five and fell down and busted her forehead and then she puked on me J."
Kristi Queen decided to go check on the child. Smith further explained that he heard a "clunk, clunk, clunk" and saw the toddler's head on the concrete with her legs still on the stairs. He placed a bag of frozen french fries on the child's head and told Kristi Queen "he felt really bad because he wasn't watching her."
Chelsey Queen left work, getting home around 4:30 p.m. After seeing her daughter's injuries, she decided to take her to the hospital.
Smith was arrested that evening, read his Miranda rights and interviewed at the police station. According to the affidavit, he said the child fell down "six or seven steps" while she was trying to climb down them. He also told them that he has a drug problem, and that he had taken "benzos" while watching the girl.
When the police told Smith that they didn't believe his story about how the child was hurt, he eventually stopped speaking to them and requested an attorney. According to the affidavit, Smith told police "he had not been truthful about how the injuries occurred."
Jim Tuttle can be reached at email@example.com or at 262-4754.
Article source: http://www.publicopiniononline.com/localnews/ci_19279851
Do something MORE about the problems our children face…


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Bret Easton Ellis breaks down an event with "unfortunate details." A part of SDFF Music Video Mixtape Vol. 1.
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CORPUS CHRISTI – The duo of senior Taylor Slagle and sophomore Vanessa Johnson of the Texas A&M – Corpus Christi golf team combined for a third-place finish today at the Women's Texas Four-Ball Championship, shooting a three-under 139 for the two-day event. The Championship took place on the Ram Rock Course at Horseshoe Bay Resort.
After a tough start in Tuesday's action, Slagle and Johnson rallied with a second-round 67 on day two. The twosome posted six birdies on the day, with the only blemish a double bogey on the 10th.
In the opening round, the duo teamed up for a one-over 72 to sit in fifth through the first day on Tuesday. They saw some potential birdie opportunities go for naught in the best-ball event, finding themselves nine shots back of the leaders through 18 holes.
Former Islander Ryann White won the event in 2011, along with her partner Marian Barker. The prior year, Slagle and teammate Sarah Hurt edged White and Barker in a playoff.
Slagle also competed in the Texas Women's Open at The Lakes at Castle Hill earlier this month. The Southlake native shot 79 in each round, finishing 48th overall (out of 96) and placing 13th among the 47 amateurs who took part in the event.
For all the latest on the team, stay tuned to GoIslanders.com and on the official Twitter (@IslandersGolf) and Facebook (Islanders Golf) pages for Islanders Golf.


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Little Help to Decide!!!
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By tallman2
Hey All,
I am looking to buy a new Semi-auot this season, I have read about several, seen ads, and have seen some post but what I like to see if anyone has one of th newer Semi's...Vinci, Versa Max...... and so on if you have had any issues with them and what the problem was and last but not least did the manufacturer take care of the problem
Thanks for any help.....most of all before I spend $1300.00 to $1600.00
By ESutter
This time last year I purchased a new Browning Maxus with a 28" barrel, 3.5 chamber and MODB Camo.
As far as shooting goes, I've put hundreds and hundreds of clays rounds through it, and a season's worth of 3" and 3.5" duck and goose loads. Super hot summer days down to single digit winter mornings and it hasn't jammed, stuck or slowed down.
I grew up shooting pump 3" guns and I would liken the kick of the 3.5" shell through the Maxus to a 3" shell through my old Mossberg 500.
Went back and forth quite a lot on camo finish vs. black and haven't been disappointed, but I'm still not sure that I care too much. It is nice to have that little bit of extra insurance of super wet/muddy days though.
Easy enough to tear down that a quick clean up and wipe down are a no-brainer after each hunt.
Some nice little features like the magazine cut-off are pretty useful too.
I got super nit-picky...down to the placement of the safety (behind the trigger) to make my decision. Take your time and have fun.
Good luck!
By Amish Amy
Maxus, I bought one the first year for my son, hadan issue with the magazine cutoff, Browning fixed it. I bought one last spring 2011 had issues with the trigger twice sent back Browning fixed it right the second time np probelems since hunted a lot with it last year . Anyway as much as I like the Golds I have the Maxus is a dream to shoot is points great lightweight. I've never had a jamm, neither has my son. I've held never shot the Versa Max just held one didnt feel right didnt point as nice I know they had some issues withte trigger as well but it has probably been corrected.. My $.02 Joe
By tallman2
Thanks for the info guys...
Myself I have only shot the Versas Max once during a layout shoot last year and it handled and performed well but with the early issues with the gun and Remintons rep not what it used to be I just want to look at other options. Overall its looks like all the makes have some degree on issues but it how they are dealt with to me is more important.
I am heading to a shop on Friday that has there own outdoor shooting range so I can shoot a couple of different guns.....
By Critter
My mom shoots the beretta xtrema 2 belive. I shot it last year be for hunting season and loved it. She would rather shoot the beretta then the wingmaster. Manly for the recoail. She will still take the wingmaster out from time to time.
By flannel
As both a Browning and Beretta owner, I don't think you can go wrong with either. I too, would avoid any newer Remington as their Q.C. has been less than ideal for the last several years (Freedom Arms Group). I had firing issues with my Xtrema 2 and sent it in (free of charge) and got it back with a new firing pin and bolt pin. This fixed the problem and only cost nothing more than a little time to get it done. Since then, the gun has performed flawlessly and is my favorite waterfowl and turkey gun. As far as the Brownings go, I have a 3.5" Silver that has been absolutely flawless, simple to clean and a joy to shoot. Like I said earlier, you can't really go wrong with either 'B' gun. Good Luck!
By Seth Wilde
Vinci, I have one and will get another one when I need one.
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The voice in the wilderness
In the week since Congressman Joe Wilson's display of ignorance, the issue of race, once again, has spun out of control. So, I will try to add some sanity to the debate. But first, let me lay the foundation for my argument. Without question, you can disagree with President Obama without being a racist.


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Sharing ideas for a prepared future
Sharing ideas to prepare for a sustainable future in Texas.
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From The Houston Center for Quality of Care and Utilization Studies, Sections of Gastroenterology and Health Services Research at The Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; and the National Cancer Institute and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland.
Grant Support: By the Health Services Research and Development Service, Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. El-Serag is a Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development Service Career Development awardee (RCD00-013-2).
Potential Financial Conflicts of Interest: None disclosed.
Requests for Single Reprints: Hashem B. El-Serag, MD, MPH, The Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Boulevard (152), Houston, TX 77030; e-mail, firstname.lastname@example.com.
Current Author Addresses Drs. El-Serag, Davila, and Petersen: The Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Boulevard (152), Houston, TX 77030.
Dr. McGlynn: National Cancer Institute, 6120 Executive Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20892-7234.
Author Contributions Conception and design: H.B. El-Serag.
Analysis and interpretation of the data: H.B. El-Serag, J.A. Davila, N.J. Petersen, K.A. McGlynn.
Drafting of the article: H.B. El-Serag.
Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: H.B. El-Serag, J.A. Davila, K.A. McGlynn.
Final approval of the article: H.B. El-Serag, J.A. Davila, N.J. Petersen, K.A. McGlynn.
Statistical expertise: H.B. El-Serag, N.J. Petersen.
Administrative, technical, or logistic support: H.B. El-Serag.
Incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma have been increasing in the United States.
This large, retrospective, population-based cohort study confirmed an almost 2-fold increase in the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma from 1975 to 1998. Increases were seen in all ethnic groups and in most age groups after 40 years of age. Although black people and older people remained most at risk, the largest recent increase in rates (from 1995 to 1998) occurred in white men 45 to 54 years of age.
The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma continues to increase rapidly in the United States, especially in white, middle-aged men.
–The Editors
We previously reported an increase in the incidence and mortality rates of hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States (1). Studies among U.S. hospitalized veterans, as well as those conducted in large single centers, indicated that approximately half of the observed increase was attributable to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, whereas the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma related to hepatitis B virus (HBV), alcoholic liver disease, or idiopathic cirrhosis remained relatively stable (2–3). If HCV were indeed responsible for the increasing rates of hepatocellular carcinoma, this increase would be expected to continue for at least several more years since 2 to 4 decades of chronic HCV infection is required to develop cirrhosis and subsequent hepatocellular carcinoma (4). On the other hand, if the increased rates of hepatocellular carcinoma were related to better detection due to technologically improved diagnostic testing, such an effect would be expected to plateau at some point in the future.
The observed increase in hepatocellular carcinoma could have other explanations. Changes in the demographic structure (age, sex, ethnicity, and geography) of the underlying population may have resulted in an increasing number of persons at high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (older age and increased number of ethnic and racial minorities). Hepatocellular carcinoma is an age-dependent cancer that peaks in incidence between 75 and 79 years of age, and direct standardization methods may not have been sufficient to control for the effect of aging in the underlying population (5). The observed increase could also have resulted from an increase in high-risk sex or racial or ethnic groups or the population residing in 1 or a few high-risk geographic regions (6). For example, rates of hepatocellular carcinoma were severalfold higher in Asian Americans than in white people, and African Americans had rates between those of the other 2 groups (1).
The current study was designed to update the recent trends in hepatocellular carcinoma incidence by using data from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries and to examine the temporal trends in hepatocellular carcinoma through adjustments for potential changes in several influential factors.
Beginning in 1973, the SEER registry program was established to identify all new cancer cases diagnosed in 7 geographic areas. By 1975, SEER included 9 geographic regions, 5 states (Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, New Mexico, and Utah) and 4 metropolitan areas (San Francisco–Oakland in California; Seattle–Puget Sound in Washington; Detroit, Michigan; and Atlanta, Georgia). In 1992, the Los Angeles County and San Jose–Monterey areas in California joined the SEER program, expanding the representation to approximately 14% of the U.S. population. Overall, the SEER population is similar to the general U.S. population, particularly in measures of poverty and education. However, SEER regions are more urban and have a higher proportion of foreign-born persons than the general U.S. population. Data for this study were obtained from SEER*STAT public-use data files (National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland), available on CD-ROM from the National Cancer Institute (7). Data from the SEER public-use CD-ROM were converted into SAS datasets for further analyses (SAS software, version 8.2, SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, North Carolina).
Demographic and cancer-related information included in this database are obtained by medical record review. Studies are conducted annually at each SEER registry site to verify that data are being collected accurately and that case ascertainment is at least 98%. Types of cancer are coded according to the International Classification of Disease for Oncology (ICD-O) (8). There are several categories of race or ethnicity, including Hispanic white, non-Hispanic white, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Pacific Islander, and American Indian. However, accurate information on the underlying population in the areas covered by the SEER program is available only on race classified as white (which includes Hispanic), black, or other (which includes all other ethnic groups listed). As a result, valid incidence rates can be calculated for only these 3 broad racial or ethnic groups (white, black, and other).
Patients eligible for inclusion in this study were all individuals with hepatocellular carcinoma (ICD-O code 8170) identified from 9 SEER registries between 1975 and 1998. Patients younger than 20 years of age were excluded to avoid including those with hepatoblastoma (<1% of total cases). Cases in which the patient's race or ethnicity was unknown (<1% of total cases) also were excluded. To examine the potential role of diagnostic bias, we calculated the proportion of cases with microscopic confirmation, which is defined by SEER as the presence of a confirmatory histologic or cytologic evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma.
The age-adjusted incidence rates for hepatocellular carcinoma were calculated for 3-year periods between 1975 and 1998. Sex- and ethnicity-specific, age-adjusted incidence rates and their 95% CIs were calculated. Adjustment was made to the 1990 U.S. population. Age-specific incidence rates were calculated for all patients and for each of the 3 broad categories of race or ethnicity (white, black, and other). Among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, we calculated the proportions of cases belonging to the following racial or ethnic groups: Hispanic white, non-Hispanic white, Asian (Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, or Pacific Islander), and others. We also calculated the proportion of patients with liver cancer who had microscopic confirmation for each time period. These calculations were made by using the SEER*STAT statistical software (7).
The temporal trends of the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma were examined in linear Poisson multivariate regression models. We used SAS PROC GENMOD for this task. The model was used to analyze the effect of the period of diagnosis (independent variable) on the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (dependent variable), while controlling for several other independent variables including age (20 to 49, 50 to 64, 65 to 74, or ≥ 75 years), sex, race or ethnicity (white, black, or other), and differences in the geographic regions (9 SEER registries). Similar categories were assembled for the underlying population and were included as an offset variable in the model. Risk estimates (incidence rates and incidence rate ratios) and 95% CIs were calculated for all the independent variables in the final model. The model was tested for interactions between time of diagnosis and each variable of age, sex, and race or ethnicity.
The funding source had no role in the design, conduct, or reporting of the study or in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
Between 1975 and 1998, there were 11 547 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. The overall age-adjusted incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma started to increase in the early 1980s, from 1.3 per 100 000 persons in 1981 to 1983 to 3.0 per 100 000 persons in 1996 to 1998 (Figure 1). This is equivalent to a 114% overall increase throughout the study period. There was a 25% increase during the last 3 years of the study (1996 to 1998) compared with the previous 3 years (1993 to 1995). The proportions of patients with liver cancer who underwent microscopic confirmation were relatively stable during the study period: 86%, 86%, 84%, 82%, 78%, and 80% in consecutive 3-year periods between 1981 and 1998, respectively. All hepatocellular carcinoma cases were included in subsequent analyses regardless of microscopic confirmation.
In addition to the variable of more recent time period, age, sex, race or ethnicity, and geographic region were statistically significant determinants of the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatocellular carcinoma was rare among individuals younger than 40 years of age, and the incidence peaked at 75 to 79 years of age. Concomitant with the increase in incidence, the age distribution of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma progressively shifted toward relatively younger persons. Figure 2 shows the temporal changes in the age distribution of new cases of hepatocellular carcinoma in men, with age-specific incidence rates for consecutive 3-year periods from 1975 to 1998. The incidence has increased in most age groups older than 40 years; the greatest increase occurred in patients 45 to 55 years of age. For example, in the 1990s, the incidence rates increased 110% among white men 45 to 49 years of age and 60% among white men 50 to 54 years of age (Figure 3). Similar trends were seen for women (data not shown); the greatest increase in incidence occurred in women 60 to 69 years of age.
Age-specific incidence rates are shown for consecutive 3-year periods between 1975 and 1998.
Throughout the study period, the age-adjusted incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma were 3 to 4 times higher in men than women. Similarly, the incidence rates were 2 times higher in black people than white people and 2 times higher in patients of "other" race or ethnicity (predominantly Asian) than black people (Figure 4). However, the age-adjusted incidence rates increased statistically significantly in both men and women in all racial or ethnic groups during more recent time periods. Over the entire study span (1975 to 1998), white men had the greatest rate of increase. In the subgroups, white men had the greatest percentage increase (31%) during the last time period (1996 to 1998) as compared with 1993 to 1995, whereas men of "other" race or ethnicity had the lowest percentage increase (11%). The age-adjusted incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma also varied statistically significantly by geographic region (as represented by the 9 SEER registries). The highest overall rates were in Hawaii (4.5 per 100 000 persons) and the lowest were in Utah (1.0 per 100 000 persons).
Of all patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, white people made up 63.4%, black people made up 12.5%, and people of "other" race or ethnicity made up 24.1%. Hispanics constituted 5% of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma labeled as white, and this proportion did not change appreciably throughout the study period. Similarly, persons of "other" race or ethnicity were predominantly Asian American (88%), with little change in this proportion throughout the study period. Age-adjusted rates could not be calculated for Hispanics, who were included with white people, or for subgroups constituting the "other" race or ethnicity category because of the absence of an appropriate denominator in the SEER database (see Methods section).
The Poisson regression analyses allowed adjustment for changes over time in the demographic features of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as in those of the underlying population at risk. Table 1 shows the results of the model. The model confirmed an almost 2-fold increase (82%) in the incidence rate ratio of hepatocellular carcinoma between 1975 to 1978 and 1996 to 1998 while controlling for concomitant changes in age, race or ethnicity, sex, and geographic region. The model also calculates an approximately 3-fold and 5-fold higher incidence rate ratio in black people and people of "other" race or ethnicity (predominantly Asian), respectively, as compared with white people. However, significant interaction between time of diagnosis and race or ethnicity was detected (P < 0.0001). This interaction indicated that white people had a greater incidence rate ratio of hepatocellular carcinoma than black people and persons of "other" race or ethnicity during more recent time periods (data not shown).
The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma continues to increase in the United States, with a 2-fold increase between 1975 and 1998 and a 25% increase since our last report in 1995. Our analysis of this increase in hepatocellular carcinoma incidence has accounted for potential changes over time in the age, sex, and race or ethnicity of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma as well as those of the underlying population. In addition, we controlled for differences in incidence among the geographic regions in which cases were diagnosed and for the potential clustering of persons with similar characteristics in the same geographic region. Among the races or ethnicities examined, white people had the lowest overall incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma but were affected the most by the recent increase. Persons of "other" race or ethnicity (predominantly Asian), on the other hand, had the highest overall rates but were affected the least by the increase. Although older people remain most at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma, a shift toward increasing incidence in young age groups continues.
The observed increase in the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma is unlikely to have resulted from changes in the demographic features (age, sex, and race or ethnicity) of the underlying population toward traditionally high-risk groups for this malignant condition. First, an aging population is an unlikely explanation for the increase in hepatocellular carcinoma, evidenced by increasing age-adjusted rates, the shift of cases with hepatocellular carcinoma toward younger age groups, and the persistence of the time-related increase while adjusting for age in a multilevel, multivariate model. Second, although men consistently had higher age-adjusted incidence rates than women, no disproportionate increase was detected in the frequency of men in either cases of hepatocellular carcinoma or in the underlying population at risk. In general, men constituted a constant proportion of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and persons at risk during a consecutive 3-year time period. Third, changes in the race or ethnic composition of the underlying population were unlikely to account for the observed temporal changes in the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Although black men or those of "other" race or ethnicity have the highest rates of hepatocellular carcinoma compared with women and white people, respectively, the incidence has increased in all racial or ethnic groups and has affected white men disproportionately in the most recent time period. In this study, the inclusion of sex or race or ethnicity as independent variables in the regression model had little effect on the observed increase over time. Although Hispanics were included with white people, they constituted approximately 5% of cases; thus, hepatocellular carcinoma in Hispanics is unlikely to have statistically significantly affected the overall rates for whites. Similarly, although the underlying population (denominator) was not available for persons of "other" race or ethnicity, Asian Americans were a constant majority (88%) throughout the study period.
The role of HBV in this increase is likely to be less important than that of HCV, with the exception of HBV among Asian Americans. Serologic studies have shown that recent immigrants from HBV-endemic areas (for example, Southeast Asia) and their descendants are at high risk for chronic HBV infection and HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (9). However, in our study, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders made up a relatively constant proportion that ranged between 18% and 25% of the total cases with hepatocellular carcinoma. Increased detection and diagnosis might also have contributed to the observed trends, although continuing increase and the relatively unchanged rates of microscopically confirmed cases argues in favor of a true increase.
Another strength of this study relates to the validity and generalizability of its data source. Annual studies of SEER registries evaluate quality and completeness of data being reported. The SEER data are considered highly valid; all of the SEER registries hold the highest certification of data quality by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries. Furthermore, the SEER standard for completeness of case ascertainment is 98%. The SEER registries provide population-based data with almost complete ascertainment of newly diagnosed cases of hepatocellular carcinoma between 1975 and 1998. This allows us to make comparisons over time while adjusting for changes in the demographic features of the underlying population in the 9 regions covered by SEER. Although the SEER registries were not randomly selected (rather they were chosen for the quality of the registries and to increase sampling of minorities), the SEER population is similar to the general U.S. population, particularly in measures of poverty and education (10–11). However, SEER regions are more urban and have a higher proportion of foreign-born persons than the general U.S. population. We therefore believe that the overall findings from this study should also be generalizable to the entire U.S. population. Although it is impossible to control for all environmental factors in a region, linear modeling allowed for adjustment for racial differences in inhabitants of the geographic regions covered by SEER registries. However, given the absence of data on individual-level specific risk factors in the geographic region in which hepatocellular carcinoma was diagnosed, residual confounding is always possible.
We speculate that HCV infection is the likely explanation for at least a substantial portion of the increase in the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States. Countries with overall HCV prevalence rates similar to that of the United States (approximately 2%) but with higher incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (2 to 3 times higher in Italy and 8 to 10 times higher in Japan) (12–13) are thought to have had earlier onset and peaks of the HCV epidemic than the United States. A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that used mathematical modeling estimated that the HCV epidemic started in the 1960s and peaked in the 1980s (14). Risk factors for transmitting HCV were rampant during this period (for example, injection drug use, needle sharing, and transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products). A recent study examined the constant evolutionary rate of HCV over time ("the molecular clock") in retrospectively collected serum samples of HCV carriers in Japan and the United States (15). The study concluded that HCV first appeared in Japan around 1882 and in the United States around 1910, whereas widespread dissemination occurred in the 1930s in Japan and in the 1960s in the United States (15). These findings suggest that hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States will continue to increase for the near future. Currently, the highest prevalence HCV infection rate is among 40- to 50-year-old persons (16) who have been infected for 1 to 2 decades and are expected to live for another 2 to 3 decades with the increased potential for developing HCV-related complications.
We previously reported that hepatocellular carcinoma related to HCV accounted for approximately 50% of the recent increase in hepatocellular carcinoma among hospitalized veterans. In the meantime, non–statistically significant increases were observed in the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma related to HBV, alcohol, or idiopathic cirrhosis (2). Similarly, in a single center study from the MD Anderson Cancer Center (3), hepatocellular carcinoma related to HCV increased from 18% during 1993 to 1995 to 31% during 1996 to 1998 (P = 0.01). Although not specifically examined with respect to the temporal trends of hepatocellular carcinoma, an increased risk for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and those with diabetes is supported by growing evidence (17–19). No population-based studies have examined the presence of specific risk factors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma; we strongly recommend that future studies use existing population-based SEER cancer registries to identify and collect these risk factors.
In conclusion (Table 2), hepatocellular carcinoma continues to increase rapidly in the United States, in all racial or ethnic groups, especially in white men, and in most age groups after 40 years of age, especially patients 45 to 55 years of age. The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States is likely to continue to increase for the near future, as those infected with HCV ultimately develop cirrhosis, unless secondary prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma improves.
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Increasing Rates of Primary Liver Cancer in the United States
The summary below is from the full report titled "The Continuing Increase in the Incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the United States: An Update." It is in the 18 November 2003 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine (volume 139, pages 817-823). The authors are H.B. El-Serag, J.A. Davila, N.J. Petersen, and K.A. McGlynn.
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Latest News
Poetic art show celebrates exhibit with closing reception March 11
Published: Tuesday, March 3, 2015
The Nesbitt Gallery will celebrate a unique art show featuring the work of three artists with a closing artists' reception at 6 p.m. March 11.
The show and the reception are free and open to the public.
Two Voices: Painter and Poet features the work of three artists, Carolyn Faseler, Corazon Watkins and Betty Wood. The show opened Feb. 21.
Day of volunteerism set for March 6
Published: Friday, February 27, 2015
Students, staff and faculty at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma will fan out across Chickasha on March 6 for a day of volunteerism as Drover Difference Day celebrates its fifth anniversary.
More than 175 students are signed up to participate in the annual day of service, working in conjunction with more than 15 Chickasha organizations.
Art alumni return to offer career guidance
Published: Thursday, February 26, 2015
Alumni Ali Crouch West and Jay Tracy are scheduled to return to the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma on March 11 to speak to students about their art and their careers for the seventh annual Art Career Lecture Series.
The lecture series is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. in Room 124 of Davis Hall.
USAO students selected for intercollegiate band
Published: Thursday, February 19, 2015
Three outstanding musicians from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma were recently named to the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Honor Band.
The honor band is a 90-member ensemble that is comprised of the finest band students from universities and colleges across the state.
Fun and games take over Festival Feb. 23, 24
Published: Thursday, February 12, 2015
Although fun and games are typically associated with childhood play and leisure activities, they actually can be one of the most productive forms of education.
The 10th season of the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma's Festival of Arts and Ideas will explore and celebrate the different roles fun and games play in a person's individual and social development.


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WXII 12's Nicole Ducouer took on the part as "Head Elf" to help help Santa find out what kids wanted for Christmas in this weeks I Dare Ya Ducouer...
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Identification and protection of (scenic) assets is an important component of smart growth and scenic stewardship.
— National Scenic Byways Program
With the diverse and wonderful scenic resources that Virginia has to offer it is imperative to protect them to assure their place in the future. Virginia recognizes the benefits of protecting its scenic resources as exemplified in the General Assembly report, The Impact of Aesthetics on the Economy and Quality of Life in Virginia and its Localities, as well as through DCR's Scenic Rivers, Virginia Byways and Land Conservation programs. There are a number of land conservation mechanisms that provide easements and other tools to conserve and protect lands throughout the Commonwealth that entice visitors and have a lasting appeal for residents.
Quaint towns and rolling landscapes reminiscent of days past add scenic value for Virginia's tourists by providing authentic windows in the Commonwealth's history. Protecting the natural and built scenic landscape is the mission of Scenic Virginia, a non-profit headquartered in Richmond. Members of Scenic Virginia are in the process of developing a scenic inventory of significant views across the state. It is their goal to identify those landscapes that have the most value to Virginian's so that efforts to protect Virginia scenic resources can be initiated protecting them against poor planning and rampant development.
Virginia has world renowned landscapes like the Blue Ridge Parkway, Shenandoah National Park along Skyline Drive and Williamsburg that draw visitors and attract economic vitality to those areas of the state. However, those regions rely heavily on the scenic qualities of the landscape they are in to help attract those visitors. The BRP is the most frequently visited National Park in the country and the protection of its scenic qualities is imperative to maintaining the pleasant traveling experience.
You'll find more information about Virginia's Scenic Resources in Chapter 8 of the Virginia Outdoors Plan.
Following are organizations whose mission includes recognition and protection of scenic resources:
For additional scenic resources information and references click here.
For more information on the Virginia's Scenic Resources, contact us through Lynn Crump, Environmental Programs Planner, firstname.lastname@example.com or (804) 786-5054.


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Ed J Brown
Ed J Brown is a freelance illustrator based in the Midlands (UK) who's been in touch to let us know about some of his recent commissions, for the likes of Readers Digest.
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Have your say
Mike Fischer
These are hilarious. Love the art school disco illustration, 'He's doing it'.
16th May 2012
9:05 am


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Pornstars: Ava Addams, Jessie Rogers, Nikki Benz, Eva Karera
This is the Brazzers Halloween live show that will you haunt you for a long time! That's because these girls will do things so dirty that you won't be able to forget them for a long time! Watch these crazy girls perform some of the nastiest sex acts that you could possibly imagine!get access now!
All models appearing on this website are 18 years or older. Click here for records required pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 2257 Record Keeping Requirements Compliance Statement. By entering this site you swear that you are of legal age in your area to view adult material and that you wish to view such material.


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Learn PHP with Sample PHP Code
What does it mean to be an Advanced PHP Programmer?
On a previous post I had someone comment that they did not agree that the code implementation that was presented in the article was advanced (which was described in the title). They also claimed that I was not an advanced PHP programmer.
This made me think. Not because my programming skill or knowledge was challenged. But because I'm not sure what makes code or a programmer "advanced". This article is meant to take a look at this from an analytical perspective. I'm less concerned about general labels, and more concerned in how to improve going things going forward. Read More…
Advanced PHP Form Validation
Last year I wrote an article in how to implement basic validation for a form with PHP. I decided to re-look at this and improve what I did in that article. This time we are going to make a more advanced PHP form that is more responsive and effective.
This PHP sample code has many advantages over the previous article. Not only that, but for the most part it is easier to implement with more complexed forms where you need more than basic validation. Read More…
Sample PHP Code: PHP Recursive Functions
Use PHP Recursive Functions to create PHP code that dynamically grows with your data. This will save you time and confusion, and understanding PHP recursive functions will make your PHP code much more scalable. At first, it may be a confusing concept to grasp (especially for PHP beginners).
Learn how to create recursive functions by taking a look at this sample PHP code. Read More…
Sample PHP Code: PHP For Loops, Foreach, While and Do While
There are different PHP loops: PHP for loops, foreach, while, and do while loops. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of PHP loop (depending on the scenario), and it is beneficial to understand how to work with them.
This PHP sample code should help you get a basic familiarity with creating and using PHP loops. Read More…
Sample PHP Code: PHP Variable Variable
The ability in being able to make a PHP variable name dynamic can be very useful. As long as you are confident in the data you are working with, this is a safe alternative in working with complex data systems and can make your PHP code more robust. Read More…
Beginning PHP Part 2: Learn PHP Functions and Security
Getting a basic familiarity with PHP is not difficult, but if you don't understand a few key elements you will find it difficult to work with. This beginning PHP series is meant to help you learn PHP. In this tutorial we take it to the next level and get down and dirty with PHP functions and take a look at basic PHP security.
This beginning PHP tutorial is part two in the series. Take a look at part one of the Beginning PHP series if you haven't already. Read More…
Beginning PHP Part 1: Working with Variables
Getting a basic familiarity with PHP is not difficult, but if you don't understand a few key elements you will find it difficult to work with. This beginning PHP tutorial attempts to break down a few of the core PHP programming elements through simple examples and descriptions. Read More…
PHP Form Validation
If you program custom PHP applications, you will often times need to work with a form and require certain form fields. A few real world examples would be a contact form, registration form or signup form. This form validation with PHP tutorial shows you a simple and quick method for creating a form page that handles errors and pre-populates fields if there is an error, and a method for processing the php form and validating the information. Read More…
The Most Useful Piece of PHP Code – Looping through Arrays
Working with and looping through arrays is one of the most useful things you can learn how to do with web applications. Anything from forms, API's to configuration values, arrays make it easy in working with values. Take look at this simple example that illustrates the basics in working with the $_POST array. Read More…
PHP Script Tips: Cool Secrets of PHP
Over the years I've come across some things in PHP that are not obvious, but are worth mentioning. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all of the useful tricks that you can do with PHP. If you have anything to add to the tips, please comment! Read More…
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Calais, Baileyville Police Conduct Probation/Bail Checks - Nov. 08, 2013
CALAIS, Maine (WQDY) - There were hard knocks on some doors around the city Friday --- all part of the recent operations begun by Calais and Baileyville police departments in dealing with the alleged sale and use of drugs in both communities.
Police are being obvious -- very obvious.
Agents of the U.S. Border Patrol travelled with Calais and Baileyville officers to several locations in Calais on Friday.
"We're doing some probation checks and bail checks as well as part of our operation," Calais Police Chief David Randall told WQDY NEWS on Friday.
"I feel if we can get some of the users scared to use because they're going to get tested or picked up, then maybe they will stop going to some of the dealers," Randall said.
At the time Randall spoke with us they had visited a few locations and had more places to check.
Some people that police were looking for were not home.
Randall said then it wasn't clear if they'd be arresting anyone, but "any negative findings will be reported to the probation officer."
"It's a long way to transport prisoners when you have to travel all the way to Machias now. We don't have dispatch --- we have to deal with that."
A few years ago, as a cost-cutting move, the city eliminated local dispatch in Calais and now dispatch services are provided by the Washington Regional Communications Center in Machias. When Calais had a local dispatcher, they could monitor the lockup at the city's police station.
The entourage of police vehicles went from one location to another Friday -- drawing lots of looks.
ABOVE: Police arrive at the next location-WQDY NEWS PHOTO
"People are going to see this a lot. (It) definitely draws a lot of attention when you see five or six police cars pulling into a neighborhood -- everybody getting out and start going to different houses," Randall said.
As Randall stood outside one location late Friday morning, he said "we'll be leaving here and going somewhere else. It'll be a surprise."
It was obviously a surprise for someone at one of the houses that police went to on Friday morning.
Officers went in and then one came back out to a cruiser to get something and went back inside the house carrying a clipboard and a cup. Then the officer came back outside a few minutes later to retrieve a camera and then went back inside the home.
ABOVE: Police on the move Friday morning-WQDY NEWS PHOTO
"We're trying to keep everybody guessing where we're going to turn up," said Randall.
Some of these visits may be the result of tips Calais police have received on their tip line.
The tip line is not just for Calais -- in fact, any tips regarding illicit activities in surrounding communities will be handed over to either the State Police or the Washington County Sheriff's Office for further investigation. The tip line number is 454-8730.
STORY/PICTURES: Tom McLaughlin WQDY-WALZ firstname.lastname@example.com


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Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Federal Direct Consolidation Loan Program Application Documents
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing a revision of an existing information collection.
Table of Contents Back to Top
DATES: Back to Top
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before February 24, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Back to Top
Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by selecting Docket ID number ED-2013-ICCD-0158 or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. Please note that comments submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the Director of the Information Collection Clearance Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room 2E103, Washington, DC 20202-4537.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Back to Top
For questions related to collection activities or burden, please call Kate Mullan, 202-401-0563 or electronically mail firstname.lastname@example.com. Please do not send comments here. We will ONLY accept comments in this mailbox when the regulations.gov site is not available to the public for any reason.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Back to Top
The Department of Education (ED), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records.
Title of Collection: Federal Direct Consolidation Loan Program Application Documents.
OMB Control Number: 1845-0053.
Type of Review: A revision of an existing information collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or households, Private Sector.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 2,430,000.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 575,100.
Abstract: This collection of information includes the following documents: (1) Federal Direct Consolidation Loan Application and Promissory Note (Application and Promissory Note); (2) Instructions for Completing the Federal Direct Consolidation Loan Application and Promissory Note (Instructions); (3) Additional Loan Listing Sheet; (4) Request to Add Loans; and (5) Loan Verification Certificate (LVC). The Application and Promissory Note serves as the means by which a borrower applies for a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan and promises to repay the loan. The Instructions explain to the borrower how to complete the Application and Promissory Note. The Additional Loan Listing Sheet provides additional space for a borrower to list loans that he or she wishes to consolidate, if there is insufficient space on the Application and Promissory Note. The Request to Add Loans serves as the means by which a borrower may add other loans to an existing Federal Direct Consolidation Loan within a specified time period. The LVC serves as the means by which the U.S. Department of Education obtains the information needed to pay off the holders of the loans that the borrower wants to consolidate.
This revision updates the forms to reflect certain statutory and regulatory changes revises language for greater clarity and for greater consistency with other Direct Loan Program promissory notes.
Dated: December 18, 2013.
Kate Mullan,
Acting Director,Information Collection Clearance Division,Privacy, Information and Records Management Services,Office of Management.
[FR Doc. 2013-30525 Filed 12-23-13; 8:45 am]


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The Awakening
by Kate Chopin
The Awakening Respect and Reputation Quotes
How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"There were a good many," replied Edna, who was eating her soup with evident satisfaction. "I found their cards when I got home; I was out."
"Out!" exclaimed her husband, with something like genuine consternation in his voice as he laid down the vinegar cruet and looked at her through his glasses. "Why, what could have taken you out on Tuesday? What did you have to do?"
"Nothing. I simply felt like going out, and I went out."
"Well, I hope you left some suitable excuse," said her husband, somewhat appeased, as he added a dash of cayenne pepper to the soup.
"No, I left no excuse. I told Joe to say I was out, that was all."
"Why, my dear, I should think you'd understand by this time that people don't do such things; we've got to observe les convenances if we ever expect to get on and keep up with the procession. If you felt that you had to leave home this afternoon, you should have left some suitable explanation for your absence. (17.7-13)
Mr. Pontellier is adamant that he and his wife must keep up appearances as much as possible.
Quote #5
The following morning Mr. Pontellier, upon leaving for his office, asked Edna if she would not meet him in town in order to look at some new fixtures for the library.
"I hardly think we need new fixtures, Leonce. Don't let us get anything new; you are too extravagant. I don't believe you ever think of saving or putting by."
"The way to become rich is to make money, my dear Edna, not to save it," he said. He regretted that she did not feel inclined to go with him and select new fixtures. He kissed her good-by, and told her she was not looking well and must take care of herself. She was unusually pale and very quiet. (18.1-3)
This passage reflects the enormous amount of time that Mr. Pontellier devotes to keeping up appearances.
Quote #6
In the large and pleasant salon which extended across the width of the house, the Ratignolles entertained their friends once a fortnight with a soiree musicale, sometimes diversified by card-playing. There was a friend who played upon the 'cello. One brought his flute and another his violin, while there were some who sang and a number who performed upon the piano with various degrees of taste and agility. The Ratignolles' soirees musicales were widely known, and it was considered a privilege to be invited to them. (18.9)
The Ratignolles are considered to be well-bred, popular people, and it enhances the reputations of community members when they are invited to the Ratignolle home.


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Hong Kong and Macau Add to Michelin Tally
Joël Robuchon can add one more Michelin star to his packed constellation.
The 2012 Michelin guide for Hong Kong and Macau, released on Thursday to the press, is likely to crowd a handful of newly crowned three-star restaurants. The two cities now have five three-star restaurants, Michelin's highest rating, up from four last year.
Mr. Robuchon, a French celebrity chef who already has more Michelin stars to his name than any other restaurateur in the world, was awarded a third star for his L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Hong Kong. His Macau restaurant, Robuchon a Galera, maintained its three-star rating again this year. Among his seven L'Atelier restaurants around the world, the Hong Kong outlet is the only one with the three-star endorsement.
Meanwhile, Italian restaurant 8½ Otto e Mezzo–Bombano was also upgraded to a three-star rating, while the Cantonese restaurant Sun Tung Lok dropped to two stars from last year's three-star rating.
Hong Kong and Macau have a long way to go before they'll be challenging Japan for culinary supremacy — the country counts 32 three-star restaurants as of this week, 17 in Tokyo alone.
Michelin brass nevertheless applauded Hong Kong's restaurants for steady improvements since the guide was released in 2009. "We can see that the chefs and restaurants are working harder," said Bob Miao, director of maps and guides for Michelin in Greater China. "They are becoming more consistent, and the food is getting better."
There's also more of it: 281 eateries are listed in this year's Hong Kong guide, with 59 making their first appearance. About one-fifth of the total listings are of so-called simple-shop restaurants, which serve basic local fare like noodles and congee.
Unlike in years past, Michelin inspectors didn't catapult one of these simple shops into fame by awarding it a star. That happened in 2010, when Ho Hung Kee, a cheap noodle shop, picked up a one-star rating, and the year before, to dim sum restaurant Tim Ho Wan. Both restaurants maintained their one-star ratings in the 2012 guide.
Mr. Miao said the tire company is working hard to hook Chinese travelers on its guides. Already, Michelin has translated to Chinese 13 "green" travel guides, and it has translated its "red" guides, which highlight restaurants and hotels, in the past. There are no plans for a mainland-Chinese restaurant guide, but the company says it's considering it.
Meanwhile, Mr. Miao said Michelin will unveil its first travel guide for China in the new year, aimed at the growing class of car owners who crave road trips and weekend getaways. "That's exactly what Michelin did when it started the guide 111 years ago in France," he said.
One difference: When Michelin began its guides in 1900, there were an estimated 3,500 drivers in France. China's car owners are expected to surpass 75 million this year.
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