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Author Affiliations: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Drs Paul, Port, Lee, Stiles, Nguyen, and Altorki and Mr Nasar) and Department of Public Health (Dr Sedrakyan), New York Presbyterian Hospital–Weill Cornell Medical College, New York.
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Objective To determine the comparative effectiveness of various approaches to diaphragmatic hernia (DH) repair, including open abdominal, laparoscopic abdominal, and thoracotomy.
Design, Setting, and Patients Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1999 to 2008, a comprehensive cohort of 38 764 patients (mean [SD] age, 60.8 [19.5] years) hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of DH who underwent repair was identified.
Main Outcomes Measures Morbidity and mortality of patients who underwent DH repair.
Results Open approaches were the most common, performed in 91% of patients (open abdominal, n = 28 824 [74.4%]; thoracotomy, n = 6573 [17.0%]). Hospital mortality was 1.1% or less for each of the approaches. However, patients who underwent a laparoscopic DH repair had a shorter length of stay (mean [SD], 4.5 [0.10] days) and fewer discharges to skilled nursing facilities than those who underwent open abdominal or thoracotomy repair approaches. Patients who underwent a DH repair through a thoracotomy approach had the longest length of stay (mean [SD], 7.8 [0.11] days) and a higher need for postoperative mechanical ventilation than those undergoing open or laparoscopic abdominal approaches (5.6% vs 3.2% vs 2.3%, respectively; P < .001). In addition, the thoracotomy approach was found to be an independent predictor for the development of a pulmonary embolism.
Conclusions This large national study demonstrates that most DH repairs are performed through open abdominal and thoracic approaches. Laparoscopic approaches are associated with decreased length of stay and more routine discharges than open abdominal and thoracotomy approaches.
Diaphragmatic hernias (DHs) are responsible for 1 in every 2000 inpatient hospital admissions annually. As the population ages, this rate is likely to increase.1- 3 Surgery is the only treatment for DH and can be performed using an abdominal approach (open laparotomy or laparoscopic techniques) or through the left chest with a thoracotomy. While the location of the DH might be related to the choice of the technique, surgical training and convictions are often main factors for deciding on the technique as DHs can be accessed from either chamber of the trunk (abdomen or thoracic cavity). The comparative effectiveness evidence is very limited; in some small institutional case series, laparoscopic repair has been suggested to be superior to other approaches in terms of improved postoperative outcomes.4- 6 We sought to determine the comparative effectiveness of the various approaches to DH repair using one of the largest national databases, the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, representing 20% of all inpatient admissions in the United States. An additional goal of our study was to examine the variation in the choice of approach to DH repair.
The primary source of the cohort for this study was the 1999-2008 NIS, developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.7 The NIS is the largest all-payer inpatient care registry in the United States. It contains data on more than 8 million hospital stays from approximately 1000 hospitals and represents 20% of all hospital discharges from nongovernment institutions. Data contained within the NIS include patient and hospital demographic characteristics, admission and treating diagnoses, inpatient procedures, in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay, hospital charges, and discharge status. The NIS data set has numerous internal quality measures and is validated by comparing other similar efforts such as the National Hospital Discharge Survey and the Medicare Provider Analysis and Review. This study was approved by the institutional review board of Weill Cornell Medical College and conforms to the data use agreement.
The study population consists of patients whose principal admitting diagnosis was uncomplicated DH (types I, II, and III paraesophageal hernia; International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision [ICD-9 ] code 553.3) from 1999 to 2008. Patients with DH obstruction (ICD-9 code 552.3) or with gangrene (ICD-9 code 552.3) or congenital hernias (ICD-9 codes 750.6 and 756.6) were excluded. Specific DH repair procedures were identified using the following ICD-9 Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) procedure codes: 53.7, 53.72, and 53.75 (open abdominal approach), 53.71 (laparoscopic abdominal approach), and 53.80, 53.83, and 53.84 (thoracotomy approach). As no specific codes existed for laparoscopic DH repair prior to 2008, ICD-9-CM procedure codes 54.21 and 54.51 in conjunction with 53.7 if listed together on the same procedure day were used together to identify laparoscopic procedures as described previously.8 The ICD-9-CM codes used for patient identification are summarized in the eTable). Hospital volume of DH repair cases was organized into quartiles based on the total number of DH repair cases performed during the study period regardless of approach.
Data collected for each patient admission included age at the time of admission, sex, patient comorbidities, in-hospital complications, in-hospital mortality, length of stay, discharge status, and overall hospitalization cost. Patient comorbidities and in-hospital complications were identified from the patient's ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes. Most patient comorbidities were recorded using the NIS comorbidity software version 3.6 format as summarized in the eTable.9
The primary end point of this study was comparison of the in-hospital mortality and morbidity of patients with uncomplicated DH who underwent repair by open abdominal, laparoscopic abdominal, or thoracotomy approaches. Secondary end points included trends in DH repair.
We had a multistep approach to our analyses. In a first stage, a descriptive analysis of baseline characteristics and outcomes was performed. In a second stage, the patients who underwent operations using different approaches were compared with regard to baseline characteristics, comorbid conditions, and surgical procedure–related variables using t tests and χ2 tests (bivariate analysis). In a third stage, a multivariable model was constructed. The variable selection for the multivariable analyses was based on peer-reviewed literature and clinical judgment. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent risk factors for mortality or composite mortality-morbidity end points. The variables considered in the model included the patient age, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes, chronic pulmonary disease, peripheral vascular disease, hospital setting, DH repair approach, and hospital DH repair volume. Colinearity between independent variables was assessed using κ > 0.4. No variables tested were found to be colinear. Methods that adjust for intracluster correlations (multicenter data coming from different hospitals were considered as clustered data) were used at the final stage of analysis (multilevel model). SUDAAN version 9.0.1 software (Research Triangle Institute) was used to convert raw counts generated from the NIS database into weighted counts that were used to generate national estimates. Weighted data were used for all statistical analysis. To test for statistical significance, χ2 analysis was used for categorical data and analysis of variance was used for continuous data. All P values were 2-sided with statistical significance evaluated at the α = .05 level. Bonferroni adjustment was considered when making multiple comparisons.
During the 10-year period of this study, 38 764 patients underwent DH repair as the principal procedure for their admission. Most repairs were through an open abdominal or open thoracic approach in each year of the study period (Figure). Laparoscopic abdominal and open thoracotomy approaches in comparison with open abdominal approaches were most frequently performed in urban teaching hospitals (Table 1 and Table 2).
Figure. Patients with uncomplicated diaphragmatic hernia admitted to US hospitals from 1999 to 2008 by procedures per 100 000 procedures.
The baseline characteristics of the 38 764 patients who underwent DH repair are shown in Table 1 and Table 2. We compared open abdominal approaches with either laparoscopic abdominal approaches or open thoracotomy approaches in 2 separate tables. Patients were predominantly white and female with a mean (SD) age of 60.8 (19.5) years. Compared with patients who had an open thoracic repair, those who underwent an abdominal approach, either open or laparoscopic, were slightly older (mean [SD] age, 57.4 [0.23] years for open thoracic repair vs 61.5 [0.12] years for open abdominal approach [P < .001] and 62.0 [0.28] years for laparoscopic abdominal approach [P < .001]). Patients who underwent open abdominal repair were more likely to have associated coronary artery disease than those undergoing laparoscopic abdominal or open thoracic repair (Table 1 and Table 2). Similarly, patients undergoing an open thoracic approach were more likely to have a chronic pulmonary disease than patients undergoing an abdominal approach (Table 1 and Table 2).
Operative mortality was low for all 3 repair approaches and not significantly different between the approaches (open abdominal, 1.1%; laparoscopic abdominal, 0.6%; open thoracic, 1.1%). Compared with patients undergoing open thoracic repair, those who underwent DH repair by an abdominal approach, whether open or laparoscopic, were less likely to need postoperative mechanical ventilation (5.6% for open thoracic repair vs 3.2% for open abdominal repair [P < .001] and 2.3% for laparoscopic abdominal repair [P < .001]) (Table 3 and Table 4). Patients undergoing a thoracic DH repair also had a higher occurrence of pulmonary embolism compared with those undergoing an open abdominal repair (1.0% vs 0.4%, respectively [P = .03]) (Table 4). Finally, patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal repair had lower rates of postoperative urinary tract infections compared with those undergoing open abdominal repair (1.7% vs 2.9%, respectively [P = .03]). No differences were noted among the 3 DH repair approaches in rates of postoperative pneumonia, deep venous thromboembolism, myocardial infarction, or sepsis (Table 3 and Table 4).
Patient who underwent a laparoscopic abdominal repair had the shortest length of stay compared with patients who underwent either open abdominal or open thoracic repair (4.5 days for laparoscopic abdominal repair vs 5.9 days for open abdominal repair [P < .001] and 7.8 days for open thoracic repair [P < .001]) (Table 3 and Table 4). Laparoscopic abdominal repair was also associated with fewer discharges to skilled nursing facilities than open abdominal or thoracotomy repair approaches (Table 3 and Table 4).
To evaluate the extent of confounding by indication, we performed an analysis of the variation in the choice of abdominal approaches (both open and laparoscopic) or thoracic approach at each center. As shown in eFigure 1, most centers performed abdominal approaches or thoracic approaches almost exclusively. Similarly, an analysis comparing the percentages of the open abdominal approach vs both the open and laparoscopic abdominal approaches at each center was performed. Most centers performed open abdominal or open thoracic approaches almost exclusively (eFigure 2).
To account for differences in the baseline characteristics of the patients undergoing DH repair with respect to outcomes, a multivariable analysis accounting for patient-specific factors as well as hospital characteristics was performed (Table 5 and Table 6). The thoracotomy approach was found to be an independent predictor for the development of a pulmonary embolism and the composite end point (mortality, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary embolism) in the multivariable models (Table 5 and Table 6). No other differences between the repair approaches were found for mortality and serious morbidity.
Age and presence of congestive heart failure were predictors of mortality, myocardial infarction, and the composite end point in all comparisons (Table 5 and Table 6). Coronary disease was a predictor of myocardial infarction. Finally, age was found to be a predictor of pulmonary embolism. No other factors were related to any end points.
In this largest comparative study to date, we found that DHs continue to be repaired mostly through open techniques despite the introduction of laparoscopic techniques more than 2 decades ago. We found that fewer complications and substantially shorter lengths of stay were associated with laparoscopic abdominal DH repair.
Thoracotomy approaches for DH repair are very frequent and associated with higher chances of pulmonary embolism, need for mechanical ventilation, and longer length of stay compared with open or laparoscopic abdominal repair approaches. The increased period of immobilization from requiring mechanical ventilation could potentially predispose the patient to deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism and could at least partially explain this finding. While we did not find substantial differences in mortality, the advantages of laparoscopic and then open abdominal approaches are difficult to ignore.
As the NIS database does not describe the location and extent of the DH, a valid concern is that our results are confounded by these 2 factors. However, the differences in outcome do not appear to be a result of confounding by indication. The conventional wisdom that larger, more difficult DHs should be approached by thoracotomy or open abdominal approaches was not supported when we used a simple but innovative analytical approach to evaluate confounding by indication. We evaluated variation in the choice of the technique and have shown that in the vast majority of centers only 1 approach is predominantly performed. This supports our hypothesis that there is very limited if any confounding by indication related to DH location as all DHs are approached in 1 uniform fashion within each center. Only a fraction of the centers examined used all 3 approaches. This also illustrates that the choice of open thoracic, open abdominal, or laparoscopic abdominal DH repair is more likely to be related to technical familiarity than to DH and patient attributes. We advocate this method for comparative effectiveness evaluations as a valid and unique way to assess confounding by indication.10,11
While to our knowledge this is the first comparative effectiveness study, it is supported by several prior reports in the literature comparing open abdominal DH repair with laparoscopic abdominal or open thoracotomy approaches.1,3- 6,12- 16 Most of these studies have shown that DH surgery is safe and that laparoscopic DH repair has been associated with shorter length of stay and earlier recovery.3,4,6 Our study also extends prior findings related to reduced morbidity and expedited functional recovery associated with the laparoscopic approach.3,4,6
We recognize that there are several limitations to this analysis. Our study is limited to only short-term inpatient mortality and outcomes. In the NIS cohort, we were not able to study long-term outcomes or the functional status after surgery. Hence, quality-of-life measures describing postoperative recovery such as the nature and duration of pain and return to daily activities are not known for each approach. Laparoscopic abdominal DH repair, although not vastly superior in terms of postoperative morbidity or mortality, may be better than open abdominal and thoracic DH repair approaches in this regard. Patients with laparoscopic DH repair were more likely to be discharged home with less need for support in skilled nursing facilities. Moreover, laparoscopic DH repair may be associated with less morbidity in special populations such as elderly patients or those with severe comorbidities. Alternatively, policies for early home discharge may be characteristic of hospitals performing laparoscopic DH repair. As only a handful of hospitals perform all 3 DH repair approaches, no meaningful comparison can be made to analyze this. The ICD-9-CM procedure code for laparoscopic DH repair became available in 2008. For the data prior to 2008, we coded open abdominal DH repair and laparoscopy as a laparoscopic procedure if they were both available. This assumption may not be valid in all cases. However, there is a small increase in the number of cases in 2008 associated with the presence of the new laparoscopic code, and the full benefits of laparoscopic DH repair would be underestimated. Long-term DH recurrence rates are not known for each approach. Long-term studies are needed to address this limitation. Finally, the specialty of the operating surgeon is not known within our cohort, which may be an important determinant of quality of care in addition to patient and hospital factors.
In conclusion, our analysis of the NIS database demonstrates that most DH repairs in the United States continue to be performed using an open abdominal or thoracic approach rather than a laparoscopic abdominal approach. While mortality and morbidity for all 3 DH repair approaches are low, laparoscopic approaches are associated with better short-term postoperative outcomes.
Correspondence: Subroto Paul, MD, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, New York Presbyterian Hospital–Weill Cornell Medical College, 525 E 68th St, M404, New York, NY 10065 (email@example.com).
Accepted for Publication: December 20, 2011.
Published Online: March 19, 2012. doi:10.1001/archsurg.2012.127
Author Contributions: Drs Paul and Sedrakyan and Mr Nasar had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design: Paul, Port, Stiles, Nguyen, Altorki, and Sedrakyan. Acquisition of data: Paul, Nasar, Nguyen, and Sedrakyan. Analysis and interpretation of data: Paul, Lee, and Sedrakyan. Drafting of the manuscript: Paul, Nguyen, Altorki, and Sedrakyan. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Paul, Nasar, Port, Lee, Stiles, Altorki, and Sedrakyan. Statistical analysis: Paul, Nasar, Nguyen, and Sedrakyan. Obtained funding: Altorki. Administrative, technical, and material support: Paul, Lee, Stiles, Nguyen, Altorki, and Sedrakyan. Study supervision: Paul, Port, and Sedrakyan.
Financial Disclosure: None reported.
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Paul S, Nasar A, Port JL, et al. Comparative analysis of diaphragmatic hernia repair outcomes using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. Arch Surg. Published online March 19, 2012. doi:10.1001/archsurg.2012.127.
eTable. ICD-9-CM Codes Used for Procedures Type, Demographics, and In-hospital Complications of Patient with UDH Undergoing Repair from 1999 to 2008
eFigure 1. Proportion of Thoracic DH Repair Cases as Percentage of Total DH Repair Cases (Thoracic, Laparoscopic and Open DH Repair) by Hospital Truncated at Hospital Number 700
eFigure 2. Proportion of Laparoscopic DH Repair Cases as Percentage of Total Abdominal DH Repair Cases (Laparoscopic and Open DH Repair) by Hospital Truncated at Hospital Number 400
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You are at: NWS Home » SRH Home » WFO Mobile Home » Tropical Weather Page » Hurricane Facts Page
|Facts about Hurricane/Tropical Storm Probabilities
The National Weather Service issues hurricane/tropical storm probabilities in public advisories to realistically assess the threat of a hurricane or tropical storm hitting your community. The probabilities are defined as the chance in percent that the center of the storm will pass within approximately 65 miles of 45 selected locations from Brownsville, Texas to Eastport, Maine. In our area, these include Gulfport, Mississippi, Mobile, Pensacola and Panama City.
Probabilities are intended primarily for decision makers in local government and private industry who must begin protective actions early. State and local officials use probabilities to help decide when to begin evacuation and to open shelters. The probability figures are made available through the news media. Probabilities are issued four times a day, at 4 AM, 10 AM, 4 PM, and 10 PM Central Daylight Time and when special public advisories are issued.
There are several key points to remember. First, if you live between two listed locations you may estimate your chance of being affected by averaging the numbers on either side. Second, to assess your threat, compare the probability of your community with those of neighboring locations. If you have the highest value, your hurricane threat is the greatest. Finally, you should be sensitive to values that increase from one advisory to the next. Increasing probabilities indicate a greater risk than those that remain the same or decrease.
When the hurricane is 36 to 72 hours from predicted landfall, probabilities are quite low. The numbers increase more rapidly as the storm gets closer than 36 hours. If a storm is forecast to be directly over your location in 72 hours the maximum probability is 10 percent. At 48 hours from predicted landfall the maximum is 13 to 18 percent. At 36 hours the maximum is 20 to 25 percent, and at 24 hours 35 to 45 percent. When the storm is less than 24 hours from forecast landfall, the values increase even more rapidly to 60 to 70 percent.
Use caution when interpreting the probabilities. Potential loss of life and property will vary depending on the intensity of the storm. The figures do not tell you about intensity, that information is given in the advisory. Secondly, hurricane/tropical storm probabilities must not be confused with precipitation probabilities which are routinely included in Weather Service forecasts. Not only are the two computed differently, but the implications of being rained on and being hit by a hurricane are markedly different.


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By Sanford C. Goldberg
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print Publication Year:2007
Online Publication Date:September 2009
Online ISBN:9780511487521
Hardback ISBN:9780521880480
Paperback ISBN:9780521169240
Book DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511487521
Subjects: Philosophy of Mind and Language
Sanford Goldberg argues that a proper account of the communication of knowledge through speech has anti-individualistic implications for both epistemology and the philosophy of mind and language. In Part 1 he offers a novel argument for anti-individualism about mind and language, the view that the contents of one's thoughts and the meanings of one's words depend for their individuation on one's social and natural environment. In Part 2 he discusses the epistemic dimension of knowledge communication, arguing that the epistemic characteristics of communication-based beliefs depend on features of the cognitive and linguistic acts of the subject's social peers. In acknowledging an ineliminable social dimension to mind, language, and the epistemic categories of knowledge, justification, and rationality, his book develops fundamental links between externalism in the philosophy of mind and language, on the one hand, and externalism is epistemology, on the other.
pp. i-viii
pp. ix-x
pp. xi-xiv
pp. 1-8
Part I - SEMANTIC ANTI-INDIVIDUALISM: Read PDF
pp. 9-10
1 - The nature of knowledge communication: Read PDF
pp. 11-35
2 - Public linguistic norms: the case from successful communication: Read PDF
pp. 36-82
3 - Public linguistic norms: the case from misunderstanding: Read PDF
pp. 83-101
4 - From public linguistic norms to anti-individualism regarding language and thought: Read PDF
pp. 102-130
Part II - EPISTEMIC ANTI-INDIVIDUALISM: Read PDF
pp. 131-132
5 - The epistemic dimension of knowledge communication: towards an anti-individualistic approach: Read PDF
pp. 133-155
6 - The objection from gullibility: Read PDF
pp. 156-173
7 - The objection from rationality: Read PDF
pp. 174-199
8 - Towards an 'active' epistemic anti-individualism: Read PDF
pp. 200-238
pp. 239-250
pp. 251-265


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Sales tax increase questioned
Published: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 9:24 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 9:24 p.m.
If Lafourche Parish taxpayers approve all potential sales tax increases this year, the tax would be at 9.5 percent in Thibodaux, 10 percent in north Lafourche outside the city and 9.7 percent in south Lafourche.
That's one of the reasons those opposing the 0.2 sales tax hike voters will consider Saturday to build a new Lafourche jail have instead favored an increase in the parish's hotel-motel tax, which is largely paid by visitors.
Local residents are unlikely to support a sales tax increase because they "simply can't afford another one," said Launch Lafourche Director Janet Rhodus.
"Let's let people coming into the parish pay for it. It's not unreasonable," Rhodus said in support of raising the hotel-motel tax.
Parish Council members have been split on the issue, with several saying they flat-out oppose any increase to the parish's sales tax.
Some councilmen have pointed out there are other potential sales tax increases on the horizon. The North Lafourche Levee and Conservation District could reintroduce a 1-cent sales tax for drainage, and the Parish Council has discussed rolling forward 0.3 percent sales tax for solid waste.
Currently, taxpayers pay 8 percent sales tax in Thibodaux, 8.5 in north Lafourche outside of Thibodaux and 9.2 percent in south Lafourche.
Most of the parish falls under the statewide average sales tax of 8.89 percent. However, if all the efforts are approved, all three districts would be aboveaverage.
Sheriff Craig Webre said he and his jail committee settled on an increase in the sales tax over a property tax because it is more equitable. The 0.2 tax, which is estimated to generate more than $2 million a year, would be levied over a 30-year period to build and operate a 600-bed, $30 million jail.
"The jail is ubiquitous in the sense that everyone benefits from a safe facility. If public safety is enhanced because we have a proper size facility, you're a benefactor," he said.
Make the visitors pay
Following the failed rededication last fall of property tax money for the library going for a new jail, Rhodus said she approached severalcouncilmen, including Jerry Lafont, Daniel Lorraine and Lindel Toups, about the possibility of increasing the parish's hotel-motel tax.
Lafourche Parish charges a 3 percent tax on all hotel room visits, compared to the 5 percent charged in Terrebonne Parish and the 15.25 percent visitors pay in Orleans Parish. All revenue from the tax is directed to the parish's tourism commission.
The 3 percent tax has been on the books since 1992 and brings in about $468,000 a year. A 1 percent increase would add about $150,000.
Carolyn Cheramie, executive director of the Bayou-Lafourche Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the bureau has not taken a position on a hotel-motel tax increase.
Terrebonne Parish voted in November to raise its hotel occupancy tax from 4 to 5 percent to construct a new sports complex.
Increasing the hotel-motel tax first requires approval by the Legislature, then a vote of the people.
Though some critics have questioned how an increase in the hotel-motel tax will affect accommodations industry in Lafourche, Rhodus said she's confident it won't be a factor.
"When people book a room they don't ask how much the hotel-motel tax is. Maybe if they're going to New York or New Orleans. But in little communities like this it's not an issue," Rhodus said.
Hotels down the bayou, where oilfield workers often stay between shifts, are experiencing staggeringly high occupancy rates.
But Thibodaux's hotel rates remain among the lowest in south Louisiana.
The average rate for a two-bed hotel room in Thibodaux for two weekdays is $81.50. The average in Galliano for the same two-night stays in the same period is over $136 per night.
Average hotel revenue in Lafourche Parish plummeted from $1.3 million a month in 2010-11 to just over $1 million the following year. So far this year, hotels took in an average of $1.4 million, a record pace through eight months.
Lafont, Toups and Councilmen Phillip Gouaux and Mike Delatte have expressed support for raising the hotel-motel tax.
Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph supports increasing the tax but wouldn't commit to using that money toward a new jail.
"We need to evaluate the needs of our parish as a whole first," she said.
Regardless of the outcome of this weekend's election, Toups believes the parish should turn its focus to raising the occupancy tax rate.
Should the council successfully increase the parish's hotel-motel tax and dedicate some of that money for the jail, Webre said he's willing to roll back the tax to take some of the burden off taxpayers.
Money for drainage
The North Lafourche Levee District may also seek a sales tax in the near future.
The district has increased its public outreach over the past few months and could look to reintroduce a tax voted down in 2012.
Executive Director Dwayne Bourgeois told the Lafourche Parish Council in December it was a possibility but said there isn't a specific proposal or timeline.
The district's Comprehensive Flood Protection Plan's levee and drainage projects have an estimated price tag of $250 million, but the levee district's annual revenue is $3 million, which is raised from property taxes. The 2012 sales tax measure would have raised more than $8 million annually.
Lafont said he thinks residents would prefer to have a sales tax for flood protection improvements than have to pay for more costly flood insurance because of higher risk. Lafont, who represents areas in South Lafourche, has been a vocal opponent to raising taxes, but said he may support the district's cause.
The levee district was formed in 1992 to provide drainage and flood protection for the northern portion of Lafourche Parish, including the entire area north of the Intracoastal Waterway. The district includes more than 250 miles of levees and drainage canals and more than 40 pump stations.
The levee district partners with Lafourche Parish on several projects, including the Lafourche Parish Drainage Study and the Lockport to Larose Hydrology Study.
In 2012, residents voted 54-46 percent against a 1-cent sales tax for the levee district to increase flood protection.
Almost out of money
Parish councilmen have also pointed to the shrinking revenue of the parish's solid waste money.
The 0.7 percent tax that brings in about $4 million has been slowly shrinking since the parish rolled back 0.3 percent of the tax in the 1990s.
A solid waste committee will look a number of issues regarding trash pickup in the parish, including rolling forward the 0.3 percent.
"We'll probably have to," Toups said. "We're hoping we don't have to, but it's likely we will. That 0.2 percent for the jail doesn't sound like a lot, but when you add that with this garbage tax, you're looking a big increase."
The five-member committee consists of representatives from Lockport and Golden Meadow and councilmen from the north, central and south areas of the parish.
Lorraine, who serves on the committee, said he's not convinced they'll need to roll the tax forward. Instead, the councilman said the committee is going to look at ways to reduce the roughly $500,000 monthly cost without cutting services. The first meeting is expected to be held in May.
"It's possible you might have (to roll forward), but I don't think it's necessary. The sales tax collection is always going up," he said.
Staff Writer Jacob Batte can be reached at 448-7635 or email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @ja_batte.
Staff Writer John Harper contributed to this report
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Swiss Seek Precision as Nations Shape Carbon Market
Nations setting up carbon markets must standardize their emission-reduction benchmarks to ensure international efforts to limit global warming stay on track, according to Switzerland's climate envoy.
At least 30 of 200 countries meeting at talks this week in Bonn are developing carbon trading systems to help meet emissions targets under a worldwide treaty to start in 2020. Nations should measure greenhouse-gas cuts as tons of carbon dioxide even if they pursue hard-to-quantify policies such as emissions taxes and energy efficiency rules, said Franz Perrez, who represents the alpine nation in United Nations talks.
The UN conference comes as China and the U.S., the two biggest emitters, spar over responsibility for pollution cuts to keep temperatures rising by a UN-endorsed maximum of 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) from pre-industrial times. Envoys at talks in November agreed to make "contributions" limiting greenhouse-gas output, rather than "commitments," allowing countries more leeway in tackling climate change.
"We were really not happy by the use of the word 'contributions,'" Perrez said by phone. "We have to be able to add up and understand all contributions together" so the world knows whether it's on the correct emissions trajectory, he said.
Switzerland is a member of the Environmental Integrity Group, a UN climate negotiating group that advocates strengthening current global emissions targets. The group, formed in 2000, includes South Korea, Liechtenstein, Mexico and Monaco.
Global Treaty
This week's meeting at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is the first of several in preparation for a global emissions-reduction treaty due to be signed in Paris next year and come into effect in 2020. The pact will replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, where emission limits applied only to industrial nations. The Paris treaty is expected to include emission cuts from all nations.
"By the first quarter of 2015, I would expect most major economies will submit their pledges" in a way that allows measurement of progress on greenhouse gases, Perrez said Feb. 27. "If they don't, they will be expected to explain why not."
Nations still don't agree on how to finance new programs, markets and emission cuts. November's climate talks in Warsaw bogged down as nations disagreed over who is to blame for global warming and how to pay for projects needed to fix and deal with it.
New Markets
From 2020, China wants developed countries to give at least 1 percent of their gross domestic product a year to the UN Green Climate Fund, set up to help poorer nations adapt to global warming, the country said March 6 in a submission on the UNFCCC website. Richer countries should provide annual funding of $40 billion this year, rising to $100 billion in 2020, it said.
The U.S. agrees some nations should pay more than others, though it wants emerging countries to have a level footing in the 2020 climate deal and accept their share of responsibility.
South Africa, Brazil and Ukraine are among countries considering carbon markets that met last week in Mexico City under the auspices of the Partnership for Market Readiness, a World Bank program to develop nations' emissions trading.
Tools to put a value on greenhouse gases include emissions trading systems or carbon taxes, Xueman Wang, PMR's team leader, said in a March 5 interview from Mexico's capital. "Carbon pricing will play a very important role in the post-2020 scenario," she said.
Emissions Cuts
Global greenhouse gas emissions need to decline to about 44 billion tons a year in 2020 from about 50 billion tons in 2012 for a 50 percent chance of limiting temperature gains to 2 degrees, according to the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment in London. Governments' current emissions cutting pledges indicate carbon output will be unchanged in 2020, the institute estimates.
"The 2020 pledges so far are not of the right order," said Bob Ward, the policy director at the institute, which is at the London School of Economics. "The climate is becoming more hostile, making it more difficult for poorer countries to develop economically," he said March 7 by phone.
Technical work on measuring the impact of markets, taxes and emissions regulation has begun, said the World Bank's Wang. Many poorer nations probably won't immediately choose emissions trading systems, she said.
Thailand is seeking to cut energy use under an energy efficiency trading market that may evolve into a carbon market, Wang said. In Europe, lawmakers are seeking to tighten the world's biggest carbon market after prices dropped by 68 percent in the past six years.


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Professional Affilaitions
•Defense Research Institute: Reinsurance Law Committee; Life, Health and Disability Committee; Insurance Law Committee
•American Bar Association
•International Bar Association
•New York State Bar Association
•Bar Association of Erie County
•Charles B. Desmond American Inn of Court
•Insurance Federation of New York (IFNY)
Jeff provides comprehensive legal representation for Fortune 500 companies, insurers, reinsurers, and other businesses to help them manage risk at every stage of business and protect their interests when disputes may arise. He works with clients during the developmental phase of business relationships to analyze agreements and potential strategies in order to reduce liability exposure and identify issues that may impede growth, including threats to a company's reputation or intellectual property rights.
Jeff currently serves as national litigation and regulatory counsel for one of the largest companies that provides vehicle service contracts and extended insurance warranties for both commercial and personal vehicles. In that role he handles the resolution of coverage claims and disputes with dealers, producers, and competitors, including representing the company in litigation and arbitration; drafts reinsurance agreements to create captive reinsurance companies; assists with the drafting of vehicle service contracts and warranties; and counsels on a range of regulatory matters, including advertising regulations. Jeff's recent experience also includes consulting with one of the world's top auto manufacturers in the development of a national program.
Drawing upon his extensive background in environmental law, Jeff represents individuals and companies in matters involving claims of property contamination and other environmental issues. He has handled cases involving the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and other federal and state regulations. His experience includes representing a wine producer in a salt contamination claim and assisting the Department of Justice's Environmental Enforcement Division in drafting its position relative to compliance-related issues involving coal facilities.
Jeff has lectured and written extensively on emerging issues in the insurance and reinsurance industry. He chaired ACI's Reinsurance Conference and served as a panelist with reinsurance industry representatives and thought leaders at the Facultative Reinsurance Roundtable held in Monte Carlo. In addition, he presented on the topic of dispute resolution clauses at the annual Brokers and Reinsurance Market Association (BRMA) Rendezvous in Florida in April 2013.
He coauthored the "Duties of Reinsurers" chapter in the New Appleman on Insurance Law Library Edition. Jeff is co-editor of Goldberg Segalla's Reinsurance Review , a monthly international publication that provides timely summaries of and access to the latest worldwide reinsurance law developments. He is the co-editor of Goldberg Segalla's The Insurance and Reinsurance Report blog and the co-editor of the Twitter account Insure ReReport, which provides a commentary on recent insurance and reinsurance industry trends.
In 2013, Jeff was selected as one of Business First's 40 Under 40 honorees. The annual awards honor rising local leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to bettering the community. Jeff was selected for inclusion on Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Stars list in the category of insurance coverage, as well as Business First's Who's Who in Law in the insurance category.
Community Involvement
•Founder and Chairperson for Village of Williamsville Mill Restoration Committee
•Treasurer, University at Buffalo Law School Alumni, G.O.L.D. Group
•Member, Amherst and Erie County Republican Committees
•Former Attorney Coach, Bennett High School Mock Trial Team
•Former Tutor/Mentor, Bennett High School
•Coordinator, United Way Campaign Drive
•Volunteer/Coordinator, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
•Upstate New York Super Lawyers, Rising Stars 2013-2014 (Insurance Coverage)
•Business First's 40 Under 40, 2013
•Business First's Who's Who in Law (Insurance), 2010 - 2012
•Pathfinder Award for Community Service, bestowed by Business First, the Buffalo Alliance for Education, and the Niagara Frontier Industry Education Council for service as a mentor, coach, and leader for the Bennett High School Law Magnet Program
•LexisNexis Top 50 Insurance Blog Recognition, 2009-2012
•Top 15 Insurance Professional Blog Recognition, Insurance Quotes, August 2011
•Quoted in " McClendon's Death Creates Complex Financial Picture, " CNBC.com, March 4, 2016
•Quoted in " U.S., E.U. Insurance Talks Could Undermine States' Authority, " Law360, February 24, 2016
•Featured in " Mutual Insurers Fight to Gain, Retain, and Communicate, " A.M. BestTV, October 2015
•Presenter, Reinsurance Contracts, BRMA, April, 19, 2015
•Editor, "Part III: The Claims Process, " in Reinsurance Professional's Deskbook: A Practical Guide, Thomson Reuters and DRI, January 2015
•Panelist, "Vermont's Legacy Insurance Management Act: How Will it Work?" AIRROC 2014 NJ Commutations & Networking Forum, New Brunswick, NJ, October 21, 2014
•Quoted in " Blogging Changes Law Firms' Discussion, " Buffalo Law Journal, August 6, 2014
•Conference Co-Chair and Presenter, "Insurance Linked Securities Year in Review: A Look Back at the Banner Year for Issuance and Assessing the Key Issues on the Horizon (Including Risk Transfer, TRIA, and More), " ACI Insurance-Linked Securities Conference, New York City, July 2014
•Quoted in "Environmental Risks Can Undermine Mergers and Acquisitions, " Business Insurance, February 2, 2014
•Quoted in "Policyholders See Golden Ticket in Syracuse Subpoena Ruling, " Law360, January 29, 2014
•Quoted in "Lawsuits in Chemical Spill That Fouled W.Va. River Will Target Insurance, " Business Insurance, January 17, 2014
•Co-Author, "Duties of Reinsurers" chapter, New Appleman on Insurance Law Library Edition, LexisNexis, 2013
•Featured in "Goldberg Segalla Partner Jeff Kingsley Explains Cyber Liability/Security, " Insurance Journal, September 27, 2013
•Quoted in "Wordings of ILS Deals Increasingly Novel, " Intelligent Insurer: Monte Carlo Today, September 11, 2013
•Quoted in "SDNY Gives Reinsurers' Late Notice Defense More Bite, " Law360, August 29, 2013
•Quoted in "NY Strikes Fear Into Insurers Waffling on Defense Coverage, " Law360, June 12, 2013
•Presenter, "Water, Water Everywhere: What Every Lawyer Should Know About Super Storm Sandy and Other Natural Disasters, " New York State Bar Association, Syracuse, NY, May 3, 2013
•Presenter, "Avoiding the Wheel of Fortune: Utilizing Dispute Resolution Clauses to Create Drafting Certainty, " Brokers and Reinsurance Market Association (BRMA) Rendezvous, Clearwater Beach, Florida, April 21-23, 2013
•Quoted in "NJ High Court Ruling Stresses Due Process in Enviro Actions, " Law360, April 4, 2013
•Co-Author, "Avoiding or Reducing Environmental Enforcement Headaches, " USLAW Magazine, Spring/Summer 2013
•Quoted in "Food for Thought in Baden-Baden, " Intelligent Insurer Baden-Baden Dailies, October 22, 2012
•Quoted in "Industry Faces Cyber Risks in Shift from Tangible to Intangible Property, " Insurance Journal, September 20, 2012
•Panelist, Inside FAC Roundtable, Monte Carlo, September 2012
•Presenter, "Dispute Resolution Clauses, " Aon Benfield National Reinsurance Training Program, July 2012
•Co-Author, "This Policy May Save Your Day, " Business First, May 4, 2012
•Chair and Presenter, American Conference Institute's Advanced Forum on Reinsurance Disputes in Litigation and Arbitration, New York, April 30-May 1, 2012
•Quoted in "Daredevil CEOs May Put Their Companies at Risk, " Reuters, February 7, 2012
•Author, "Who Pays for Irene?" The Review, October 24, 2011
•Author, "Contract Certainty in the Reinsurance Market: Lessons Learned from 9/11, " Reinsurance, October 2011
•Panelist, Inside FAC Roundtable, Monte Carlo, September 2011
•Author, "US Court Amplifies Uncertainty While Adopting House of Lords' Viewpoint, " Reinsurance, March 2011
•Presenter, A Close Examination of the Wasa v. Lexington Decision and its Impact on the Reinsurance Market Moving Forward, CPCU Society's Reinsurance Symposium, March 2010
•Co-Author, UK High Court Declares that 'Joint and Several Liability' Doctrine Cannot Be Applied to a Facultative Reinsurance Policy, The Voice, Defense Research Institute, October 2009
•Co-Author, "Reexamining the Relationship between Original Policyholder and Reinsurer in Direct Action Lawsuits, January 2009
•Co-Author, "Prophylactic Measures to Reduce/Shift the Costs of Recalls, " USLAW, Spring 2009
•Presenter, The Ever-Changing Landscape: Recent Developments Regarding the Risks, Responsibilities and Duties of Reinsurers and Cedents in the Post-AIG Bailout World, Hawksmere International Reinsurance Congress, Hamilton, Bermuda, October 2008
•Co-Author, Can a Reinsurer Be Exposed to Tort Damages for Bad Faith, Mealey's Emerging Insurance Disputes, August 2008
•Co-Author, New York's Standard with Respect to First-Party Bad Faith Claim, Mealey's Emerging Insurance Disputes, April 2008
•Co-Author, Examining the Scope of the Follow-theFortunes Doctrine in Settlement Allocations, Mealey's Emerging Insurance Disputes, March 2008
•Co-Author, Legal Developments in the Life Insurance Settlement Industry, Mealey's Emerging Insurance Disputes, December 2007
•Co-Author, Collections and the Enforcement of Money Judgments, 2006 Supplement, New York State Bar Association, 2006
•Goldberg Segalla Hosts Seminar on Insurance/Reinsurance Issues for the 21st Century
May 18, 2010
•Richard J. Cohen and Jeffrey L. Kingsley Presented at CPCU Reinsurance Symposium
March 10, 2010
•Professional Liability Matters
•The Insurance and Reinsurance Report
•Sexual Assault Not an "Occurrence" in Duty to Defend Case
May 8, 2013
•Forty-Six Goldberg Segalla Attorneys Listed in 2014 Upstate New York Super Lawyers
August 11, 2014
•Super Lawyers Names Nearly Three Quarters of Goldberg Segalla's Upstate New York Attorneys
August 19, 2013
•Jeffrey L. Kingsley is a Business First 40 Under 40 Honoree
August 2, 2013
•Sixteen Goldberg Segalla Attorneys Listed in 2012 Whos Who in Law, Buffalo Business First
September 2012
•Goldberg Segalla Attorneys Listed in Who's Who in Law, Buffalo Business First
September 23, 2011


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News & Local Info
Changes to the Road layout on Washington Street in Cork City ,
will be discussed this afternoon.
A group of Taxi D...
Cork Media Enterprises t/a Cork's 96FM
Registered Address: Broadcasting House, Wellington Road, Cork. VAT Number: IE 4883442V. Company Registration Number: 137313
Directors: D. Buckley (Chair), R. McManamy, N.McKeown (UK), K. McGeary, S. Barry.


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Office of Employee Development
Program Offerings and Continuous Learning Opportunities
The Office of Employee Development strives to foster a work force dedicated to performance excellence, mutual respect, diversity, and the well-being of all members of the community in the Catholic Jesuit tradition. We are service-oriented, relationship-based, and community-directed.
Current Program Offerings
Welcome to a new semester! Please view the program descriptions under Scheduled Programs and complete the registration form to join our sessions.
Classes to resume in the Fall - see you then!
If you have any ideas for future programs, please email email@example.com.
Continuous Learning Resources and Information
The Woods College of Advancing Studies offers courses on both the undergraduate and graduate level as well as certificate programs.
The Winter 2016 issue of the Well-Practiced Manager is available: "Using Project Management to Get Things Done!" See list of past issues.
Additional Learning Resources A compilation of other University-sponsored workshops or learning-related events. Information on role-specific functions and processes, credit and non-credit courses, as well as off-campus training opportunities.
Resources for New Employees and Their Supervisor
The Supervisor's Info-Pipeline (PDF) Resource entry point to HR policies, procedures, and processes and other information to get started.
Some Resources for Supervisors of Student Employees
Healthy You | Working Together for Your Wellness
Test Prep Courses for GRE, GMAT and LSAT through William F. Connell School of Nursing
This page links to PDF files. Use this link to download Adobe Reader if needed.


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..VoIP Hurricane Net to activate formally at 8 AM EST/7 AM CST/1200 UTC Wednesday June 30th, 2010 for Impact of Alex on the Northeast Mexico/Southern Texas coastline. Activation is expected to last through early Thursday Morning potentially. Activation will take place on the *WX_TALK* Echolink Conference Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system for the duration of this event..
...WX4NHC Operations Will Also Activate at 8 AM EST/7 AM CST/1200 UTC for Alex's Impact on the Northeast Mexico/Southern Texas coastline..
Tropical Storm Alex is expected to intensify and become a strong Category 1 to minimal Category 2 hurricane. Alex will impact the Northeast Mexico/Southern Texas coastline Wednesday Morning through Thursday Morning with hurricane force conditions expected over the region. The VoIP Hurricane Net will activate at 8 AM EST/7 AM CST/1200 UTC looking for surface reports from stations in the affected area of Hurricane Alex or from Amateur Radio Operators who have contact with the affected area of Hurricane Alex through any relays or people they know in the area.
For the latest advisory information including watches and warnings, you can go to the VoIPWXNet web site and click Atlantic Tropical Products and click on the advisory information for Ida under the Atlantic Tropical Products section. You can also gather the advisory information from the National Hurricane Center web site at the following link:
The reporting criteria and activation policy for our net during hurricane net activations can be found on our web site at http://www.voipwx.net and ARRL PR on the net activation can be seen via the following link: http://www.arrl.org/news/tropical-storm-alex-headed-for-south-texas-mexico-hurricane-warning-issued
Listen Only IRLP/EchoLink capability include the following systems (We ask that listen-only folks please provide this capability and connect by formal activation time if possible):
Reflector 9508 Sydney Australia Reflector channel 8.
Reflector 9129 New England Reflector channel 9.
*KC4QLP-C* Node: 290251
*VKEMCOMM* Node: 270177
*N5API* Node: 77433
*IRESC* Node: 278173
*N1TAI* Node: 269929
A streaming audio feed has been setup thanks to the assistance of David McAnally-WD5M. The links are listed below:
Bob Carter-KC4QLP has also setup an online stream for up to 32 listeners at the following link:
An EQSO listen-only feed is also available via KC4QLP-R.
Lu Vencl-KA4EPS has also set up streaming audio capability.
See links below:
Links to the WD5M streaming audio feeds have also been provided in the Main Menu of the VoIPWXNet web site.
Below is the typical activation announcement from WX4NHC Assistant Coordinator, Julio Ripoll-WD4R and WX4NHC Coordinator John McHugh-K4AG:
WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio station at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, will be activating it's HF and EchoLink/IRLP station on Wednesday June 30th, 2010 at 8 AM EST/7 PM CST (1200z).
We request all land based stations as well as ships at sea in the areas affected to send us weather data (measured or estimated) and damage reports.
If you are in the affected area and normally monitor on a local Net on VHF, 40 or 80 meters, we would appreciate your checking into the HWN NET or EchoLink/IRLP Net once per Hour to receive the latest Hurricane Advisories and to report your local conditions.
Please do not venture outside during the hurricane to gather weather data.
Your safety is the first priority.
There are many constantly changing atmospheric variables that affect the storm's track and strength.
Please refer to the National Hurricane Center Advisories for official information. www.nhc.noaa.gov
WX4NHC will be monitoring the Hurricane Watch Net www.hwn.org on 14.325 MHz.
Secondary HF frequencies will be 7.268 MHz and 3.950 MHz +/- QRM, should we loose propagation on 20 meters.
EchoLink "WX-Talk" Conference Room and IRLP node 9219 will also be monitored. www.voipwx.net
WX4NHC will also monitor CWOP, APRS and MADIS/MESONET Automated weather stations in the affected area.
Surface Reports using our On-line Hurricane Report form will be monitored.
Amateur Weather Enthusiasts and ON-NHC Volunteers may report directly to WX4NHC on-line.
ON-NHC Volunteers are both Ham Radio Operators and Non-Ham weather observers that use their own weather instruments to submit "Surface Reports" directly to NHC over the Internet via the WX4NHC on-line report form. These "Surface Reports" are very important as they give Hurricane Specialists at NHC a better idea of what is actually happening on the ground level during the storm.
The WX4NHC Group continues to expand its efforts to increase the quantity and quality of surface reports to include many different modes of reception and groups of people; including HF, VHF/UHF IRLP & EchoLink, VHF & HF APRS, CWOP NOAA Program and ON-NHC Weather Observers Network.
(see our web site for more information on these programs): www.wx4nhc.org
WX4NHC is very proud to have maintained an active Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center for the past 30 years.
We appreciate all of the volunteers who help with our efforts.
Julio Ripoll Architect WD4R
WX4NHC Amateur Radio Asst. Coordinator
National Hurricane Center
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net


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Jobs Score: What Will Cap-and-Trade Do To Employment?
As the House gets ready for another rumble between energy-policy heavyweights today—Al Gore and Newt Gingrich are on the ticket—one big issue is emerging as the flashpoint of the whole debate over climate legislation: Is it a job-killer or a job-creator?
Both, it turns out. Which is what makes the debate so acrimonious—both sides can be right and wrong in equal measure.
Take organized labor, a perfect illustration of climate policy's deer-in-the-headlights effect. Unions and environmentalists have joined forces to push for climate legislation (and, not coincidentally, the union free-choice act) as a way to create green jobs. The Blue Green Alliance is running ads of steel workers touting the potential of cap-and-trade to resuscitate steel mill jobs that have disappeared.
The problem is what to do about the jobs that are still here. Unions are worried that the extra energy costs from a cap-and-trade bill will handcuff U.S. manufacturing firms in key industries such as steel, cement, and the like, pushing those jobs into regulation-free havens from Mexico to China.
A new report from the National Energy Commission, a bipartisan energy think tank run by former Obama adviser Jason Grumet, set out to see what cap-and-trade would do to industry and how that blow could be softened. The extra costs from cap-and-trade are real, but not huge: The report found the steel industry would see costs rise 4% to 11% by 2030; the aluminum and chemicals business would see about a 2% cost increase.
The report identified two partial fixes: Improve energy efficiency at factories or give those industries emissions permits for free.
Plenty of plants could partially offset higher energy bills through new technology, though it's not cheap and could take years to do. Giving vulnerable industries free emissions permits would buy time to invest in more efficient technology and offset most of the extra energy costs. But, as the report fails to note, only at the cost of making the rest of the economy pick up the slack.
The whole question has become fodder for the battle of sound bites. This morning on Fox News, Rep. Joe Barton warned that cap-and-trade policies would kneecap Texas cement plants and send them and their jobs scurrying to Mexico.
"And that's why we'd give free allowances to industries like cement and steel," countered Rep. Jay Inslee of Washington.
Stay tuned. The fun is just beginning.


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Feathers Fly at Embarcadero Pillow Fight
Hundreds flock to Valentine's Day fracas.
February 16, 2006 8:35 PM
San Franciscans celebrated Valentine's Day in a variety of ways: roses, chocolates, cuddling — and others simply smacked complete strangers in downtown San Francisco with their pillows.
Any Cupids in the air had to divert their aim from the furiously flying feathers at Justin Herman Plaza Tuesday evening where a massive pillow fight took place. About 1,000 combatants waited for the Ferry Building clock to strike 6 p.m. so they could wallop away to their heart's content.
The scene almost resembled a blizzard, with feathers ankle deep on the plaza and sporadic pillows flying into the air.
"I thought San Francisco could totally have one of those and would totally have the energy for it," Ravenel said.
The idea dawned on him to hold the fight in San Francisco after discovering similar events while surfing the Internet. After some research, he discovered that public pillow fights are held around the world. Ravenel e-mailed a few friends, and word quickly spread.
"The Internet has really changed how these kinds of events can be organized," said participant Scott Beale, 37, who was surprised at how large the event became.
"Every pillow fight has a starting signal," explained Ravenel, a Web programmer. Not wanting to be the person in charge, he decided the Ferry Building clock across the Embarcadero would better sound off the start of the event.
Although this was San Francisco's first public pillow fight, many other battles have taken place around the world. The U.S. holds the Guinness World Record for having the world's largest pillow fight that took place at the University of Albany in New York on June 9, 2005.
While this wasn't a record-breaking event, stay tuned for next year, as Ravenel has every intention of holding another fight.
"Thank you, San Francisco!" Ravenel said.
Copyright © 2008 [X]press | Journalism Department - San Francisco State University


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MAY 10, 2013 - ScienceDaily
A Must Read - Share
On May 9, the daily mean concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of Mauna Loa, Hawaii, surpassed 400 parts per million (ppm) for the first time since measurements began in 1958. Independent measurements made by both NOAA and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography have been approaching this level during the past week. It marks an important milestone because Mauna Loa, as the oldest continuous carbon dioxide measurement station in the world, is the primary global benchmark site for monitoring the increase of this potent heat-trapping gas.
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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A woman is thankful that her daughter is well and preparing to go home after surviving grave heart issues.
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Broady Health Sciences was formed in 2010 to parlay the exciting research on Ca2+ATPase and the use of jasmine flower extracts to optimize Ca2+ATPase levels to produce a product that people can use to make their lives better.
The result is Strength24.
Broady Health Sciences is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Its founders include Dr. Lyle Wilson, Brunde Broady, and George Broady. As a team, there is a great synergy between medical knowledge and treatment, medical research and analytics, and deep business and financial expertise. These strengths ensure professional development, formulation, and production of Strength24 to the highest of standards.
Broady Health Sciences
Broady Health Sciences was formed in 2010 to parlay the exciting research on Ca2+ATPase and the use of jasmine flower extracts to optimize Ca2+ATPase levels to produce a product that people can use to make their lives better.
Contact Us
Broady Health Sciences, LLC
751 Canyon Drive, Suite 100
Coppell, Texas 75019
Toll Free: 800-444-3495
Local: 972-906-7056
Fax: 972-956-0536
The Product
Strength24 is an extraordinary dietary supplement that marries ancient wisdom with modern science to promote optimal cellular health. Enzymes are proteins built by the body that dramatically increase the efficiency of chemical reactions in all cells in all systems. The ability to build these enzymes declines with age.
Strength24 stimulates the production of Ca2+ATPase, an enzyme found in every cell in the body to restore and maintain cellular and systemic health. This return to dynamic equilibrium leads to improvements in muscle performance and recovery, sleep, bladder function, inflammatory response, and more.*
Jasmine flower extracts have been used for centuries by people all over the world to restore and promote health. Strength24 uses a naturally-sourced, concentrated and pharmaceutical grade form of this ingredient, combined in a proprietary formula with amino acids, the building blocks for proteins, to create a supplement that supports vibrant health. When cells are healthy, systems work better. And when all our systems work better, we thrive.*
The Team
Dr. Wilson brings more than 30 years of experience in healthcare research, practice and education to the BHS team. With advanced and professional degrees in both Western and Oriental Natural Medicine, as well as undergraduate degrees in Biology and in Business, he provides solidly founded and broad-based expertise to our research, product development and management.
Brunde Broady: CEO
After receiving her MBA from Yale University in 1994, Mrs. Broady worked as a financial analyst and private investor until 2000 at which point, due to her son's medical condition, turned attention full time to medical research. Her highly honed analytical skills, coupled with a burning desire for answers, led her to Ca2+ATPase and its importance in many disease states, and subsequently to jasmine flower extracts as a means to increase Ca2+ATPase levels.
Mr. Broady is a principal investor and director of several privately held companies in the fields of telecommunications and enterprise software applications. They are: Kings III of America Inc., Message Technologies, Inc., and TimeLink International Corp. Over a 30 year period, he founded and was Chairman/CEO of Network Security, Interactive Technologies, Inc. and Ultrak Inc., and brought each of them public on the NASDAQ. All three companies were involved in electronic security, including CCTV, wireless alarms and access control. Ultrak was a global leader in Enterprise Security Solutions with operations in 16 countries. Mr. Broady has more recently focused his considerable talents on the development and delivery of high quality health products, domestically and internationally, through his investment and direction in Natural Health Trends Corp, and Broady Health Sciences, LLC.


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Sample a variety of cuisines with your choice of restaurant at our El Quseir resort
With our extensive restaurant selection, your El Quseir visit will be a culinary delight. Savor dishes like barbeque and grilled seafood, and try a variety of items from our internationally themed buffets. Our main restaurant, Sherazade, hosts our daily Super Breakfast Buffet and delicious lunch and dinner buffets. Enjoy the cuisine of our other restaurants: Mosaic, Olivos, the seaside Bedouin and the Gazebo Lounge, which hosts private outdoor dinners by the sea.
Opening Hours19:00 – 22:00 (Daily)
ContactTel: +2 065 335 0260
Opening HoursBreakfast
06:30 – 10:00 (Daily)
13:00 – 15:00 (Daily)
19:00 – 22:00 (Daily)


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Learning in the Kent Library
Supporting literacy, a love of reading, and learning.
Our Library
Tour Our Library
Time to Read
Online Learning
Public Library
Time to Read
is a solid investment
in the future success
of your child's education, so
pledge 20 minutes
every day !
20 minutes to read every
day !
What are you waiting for? Questions? Need help? Ask Mrs. Dumas :)
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Wizards First Rule by Terry Goodkind
(498 ratings)
More reviews by author
(Aug 03, 2002)
Wizard's First Rule is a book that you definetly shouldn't miss out on. But if you do, your only hurting yourself. It's a truly great book. The story starts out as Richard, a simple woodsguide tries to help a young woman who is being chased by bandits to safety. The young woman turns out to be Kahlan Amnell, Mother Confessor to the midlands,Queens, Kings, and Emperor's alike will bow down to her. The bandits turn out to be powerful warriors working for Darken Rahl, The D Haran Emperor. This is the start to a great journey that starts of THE SWORD OF TRUTH, a very good Fantasy. Remember when after reading The Lord Of The Rings, everyone was sad because there would never be a fantasy to compare. Well guess what, Sword of Truth might not be as good as LOTR, I cannot decide, but it is still damn good. 5 THUMBS UP!!!!!!
Submitted by Ilia
(Jul 08, 2002)
Well, I read the first 3 books of the Sword of Truth series. I was really hooked, read the second book in 2 weeks, while I usually read 5 times slower. I never knew that there really are people out there like Mr. Goodkind who can understand and portray feelings that well. The fact that it's fantasy only added the emotions since anything could happen. I'm going to buy his 4th book soon.
Submitted by Bryan Widstrand
(Jun 04, 2002)
I was on vacation in Colorado when my older brother began reading "Wizard's First Rule". When he away from the book, I picked it up and started reading. From the first, I loved the characted Richard. He was a noble hero in times of trouble. The tension between him and his closest friends kept me on edge the whole book. I stayed in the hotel room, faking sick, to read the book while my family went rock climbing, a hobby of mine. I continued to read the entire day, and all that night. I finished the book just as we were up to go. I was about ready to continue my vacation when I saw my brother had the second book...
Note:Thank you Terry, for the inspiration you have given me. I look at the world differently and with more understanding for what you have wrote. Keep it up!
Submitted by Yehuda
(May 06, 2002)
Based on recommendations, I picked up this book. After the first 10 pages, I began to wonder why I was recommended this book. As I progressed, I became increasingly aware of how BAD this book was. The characters are shallow, the feeling is non-existent. The author tries to create an emotional scene (the speech) and instead we get this sense of the pathetic... Don't read it.. Try Martin's Ice and Fire series or Jordan's Wheel of Time instead.
Submitted by James Jalw
(Apr 22, 2002)
Personally this book gave me hope. As I've read it once and finished it, I felt like I needed or had to read again. Never before have I been lost and taken to that world! The paper and text didn't matter because somehow I felt to soaked in the story, that everything around me disappeared and only reappeared when I let it to. Terry Goodkind found something to which he could put his imagination and what came was a seriously top-quality story, it moved me in more ways than one. I cannot explain the feeling (because I'm not supposed to. This is a book review!) so I won't. Wizards First Rule is about Love between Ricahrd Cypher and Kahlan, and how they connect to one-another, I can't redeem the fact that this book is somewhat magical and to the climatic point becomes unputdownable! You'll read until you (literally) fall asleep.
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Mexican, ittalian and chinese.
Being mexican I know a lot of recipes, italian I have learned a lot from Laura Vitales web site but chinese I have no idea where to start!
How about you ladies?
Im waiting for my "Cuete Mechado" to be ready and then pick up my kids from school. (we eat at 2:30pm our dinner, I live in Mexico).


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The symptoms and treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis are different, and an accurate diagnosis is important for the patient's health. RA is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks healthy tissues in the body. Meanwhile, osteoarthritis is caused by aging and regular wear and tear of the body.
Comparison chart
|Rheumatoid Arthritis
|Presence of symptoms affecting the whole body (systemic)
|Systemic symptoms are not present. Localized joint pain (Knee and hips) but NO swelling Pain severity is important (mechanical, inflammatory, noctornal, sudden)
|Dull pain and inflammation Frequent fatigue (afternoon), stiffness, ulnar deviation, muscle atrophy, swelling of the knuckles , synovial Thickness complications: joint fail, depression, Osteoporosis, infections surgical complications
|Associated symptoms
|(no systemic symps) fatigue, muscle weakness, fever, organ involvement; Bony enlargement, deformity, instability, restricted movement, joint locked, sleep dist,depression, comorbid conditions (bursitis, fibromyalgia, gout)
|Frequent feelings of "being sick inside," with fevers, weight loss, or involvement of other organ systems. carpal tunnel Extra-articular manifestations: nodules, vasculitis, pulmonary, cardiac, skin (vasculitis), eye (sjorgen's syndrome, scleritis
|NSAIDs (short term use) Acetaminophen, Analgesics, exercise
|NSAIDs, steroids (prednisone), DMARDs (Methotrexate), antimalarial (Plaquenil), corticosteriods
|x-ray, pain assessment- perarticular and articular source of pain, presence of deformity, evidence of muscle wasting, local inflammation. asymmetrical joints
|1- Anemia (ferratin, ion. ion binding capacity) 2- bone (inc ALP) 3- Inflammatory markers (C reactive protein and ESR)
|Joint Symptoms
|Joints painful but without swelling; affects joints asymmetrically; affects bigger joints such as hips & knees. Localized with variable, progressive course
|Joints are painful, swollen, and stiff; affects joints symmetrically; affects smaller joints such as hands & ankles. Systemic with exacerbations and remissions
|Disease Process
|Normal wear and tear (chronic degenerative)
|chronic Autoimmune
|Common in both men and women. Before 50 more men than women, after 50 more women than men
|Affects more women than men
|wear and tear associated w/ aging or injury, also caused by injuries to the joints, obesity, heredity, overuse of the joints from sports
|Classified as an autoimmune disease, No real known cause.-Connection between environmental and genetic factors;female reproductive hormones
|Pattern of joints that are affected
|Asymmetrical & may spread to the other side. Symptoms begin gradually and are often limited to one set of joints, usually the finger joints closest to the fingernails or the thumbs, large weight-bearing joints,
|Symmetrical - often affects small and large joints on both sides of the body, such as both hands, both wrists or elbows, or the balls of both feet
|Age of onset
|Over 60
|35-45 years old
|Speed of onset
|Slow, over years
|Rapid, within a year
|local inflammation/effusion sometimes
|Herberden's & Bouchard's nodes
|Present, especially on extensor surfaces. Swan neck deformity. Biopsy important to eliminate gouty tophi
|Less severe
|More severe
|pain w/ movement
|movement increases pain
|movement decreases pain
|One or several joints; enlarged, cool, and hard on palpation;
|Joints are swollen, red, warm, tender, and painful;several joints involved; Extraarticular: Rheumatoid nodules, Sjogrens sydrome, Felty syndrome
|Radiologic findings
|Loss of joint space and articular cartilage, routine wear and tear osteophytes, sclerosis, cysts, loose bodies, alignment
|Bony erosions, soft tissue swelling, angular deformities
|Lab findings
|Rheumatoid Factors (RF) negative, transient elevation in ESR related to synovitis
|RF positive, increased ESR & CRP, antinuclear antibody, arthrocentesis
|Genetic Factors
|Family HX of OA-womenm
|RA and Leukocyte antigen- female reproductive hormones, Epstein-Barr virus
|Interdisciplinary Team
|collaborate with PT to provide heat or cool packs, positioning, and mobility,
|Helps control the disease and decrease intensity and number of exacerbations
|Patient Education
|Keep weight within normal limits, assist with smoking cessation, avoid risk taking activities, avoid/limit participation in recreational sports, wear supportive shoes, do not perform repetitive exercises.
|Healthy nutrition, report ASE from medication use, teach that RA is systemic and effects many body systems.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease in which your own immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, causing inflammation that damages your joints. No single cause for RA has been found; current theory suggests patients are genetically predisposed to the disease.
On the other hand, Osteoarthritis (OA) is not an autoimmune disease. It is a condition of wear and tear associated with aging or injury. The immune system is not affected. Common causes for OA include joint injury, repetitive strain/use, being overweight as well as genetic predisposition.
Signs and symptoms
- RA usually causes pain or stiffness lasting for more than 30 minutes in the morning or after long rest and lack of activity. OA stiffness tends to get worse with use throughout the day.
- RA is associated with symmetrical swelling e.g., both hands, both elbows, etc. whereas OA is associated with asymmetrical (not "matching") swelling in individual joints that are not part of a pair — e.g., one knee and an elbow, instead of both knees
- Most typically, RA symptoms include joint pain, swelling, tenderness, and redness of the joints; prolonged morning stiffness; and less range of movement. Some people also experience fever, weight loss, fatigue, and/or anemia Generally, OA symptoms include joint stiffness, pain, and enlarged joints and it does not have any systemic symptoms.
- RA tends to cause swelling and pain in smaller joints such as the hands and ankles while OA tends to cause pain and swelling in bigger joints such as the hips and knees.
Location of joints involved
With RA, inflammation generally occurs in the knuckles and at the joints closest to your hands, nearer the base of your fingers. On the other hand with OA, inflammation generally occurs at the joint closest to your fingernail.
OA is much more common than RA. In the United States alone, an estimated 20 million people have osteoarthritis, and approximately 2.1 million people have RA.
- Essential Orthopaedics by J . Maheshwari
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine volume 1 , 15th edition.
- http://ra.com/ra/rastore/cgi-bin/ProdSubEV_Cat_200156_NavRoot_303.htm
- Article on Yahoo Health portal
- Article on About.com


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Issue No.06 - June (1993 vol.42)
pp: 752-756
DOI Bookmark: http://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/12.277295

Two concurrent error detection (CED) methods are presented. The methods, skewed replicated computation streams and interleaved replicated computation streams, are both well-suited for shared register and other systolic arrays. They allow software tradeoffs between time- and space-multiplexing with no special hardware. The methods can be automatically applied to any systolic program.

programmable systolic arrays; concurrent error detection; skewed replicated computation streams; interleaved replicated computation streams; shared register; software tradeoffs; parallel programming; program diagnostics; systolic arrays.
R. Hughey, "Concurrent Error Detection on Programmable Systolic Arrays", IEEE Transactions on Computers, vol.42, no. 6, pp. 752-756, June 1993, doi:10.1109/12.277295


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DON'T MISS: "Breaking Bad" series finale -- It hardly seems fair that this electrifying drama aired for only five seasons, but all "Bad" things must come to an end. Fans will be perched on the edge of their sofas to see how the final act plays out for Walter White (Bryan Cranston), the mild-mannered chemistry teacher who morphed into a murderous drug lord. We have no idea what's going to go down, but Cranston tells viewers to expect an episode that's "unapologetic and very 'Breaking Bad.' " 9 p.m. Sunday, AMC.
Other bets
SUNDAY: This could be a bad sign: Season 23 of "The Amazing Race" begins tonight, and we're already out of breath. To the couch we go. 8 p.m., CBS.
SUNDAY: That tantalizing cliffhanger has us stoked for the new season of "The Good Wife." Now, can Alicia (Julianna Margulies) manage to keep her plans to leave the firm a secret? 9 p.m., CBS.
SUNDAY: As Season 3 of "Homeland" begins, Brody (Damian Lewis) is on the lam, and Carrie (Claire Danes) is off her meds. This can't end well. 9 p.m., Showtime.
SUNDAY: "Masters of Sex," the compelling new drama about William Masters and Virginia Johnson (Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan) contains a lot of naked people hooking up. Relax, it's all in the name of science. 10 p.m., Showtime.
MONDAY: "Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey" tells the inspiring, fairy talelike story of Arnel Pineda, who went from being a small-time club singer in the Philippines to the frontman for the rock band Journey. 10 p.m., PBS.
TUESDAY: They struck it rich in the lottery. Now what? The new drama "Lucky 7" continues as fame beckons and reality begins to set in for our little gas-station crew. 10 p.m., ABC.
WEDNESDAY: Bad guys, beware. Blair Underwood attempts to fill the shoes -- and the wheelchair -- of Raymond Burr in a remake of "Ironside" that has him playing the driven crime-fighter. 10 p.m., NBC.
THURSDAY: Ready for some Klaus encounters? "The Originals," a spinoff of "The Vampire Diaries," has the bad-boy bloodsucker (Joseph Morgan) setting up shop in New Orleans. 9 p.m., The CW.
THURSDAY: Buckle your seat belts: Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) and "Scandal" are back tonight. The turbocharged drama picks up just minutes after last season's stunning cliffhanger left off. 10 p.m., ABC.
FRIDAY: Book it, Danno: "Hawaii Five-0" may be airing on a new night, but it's still full of tropical splendor -- and plenty of murderers for McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin) to chase. 9 p.m., CBS.
SATURDAY: "Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight" isn't about his bouts with Joe Frazier or George Foreman. It's a film that recalls the boxer's Supreme Court legal battle after refusing to be drafted into the U.S. military. Frank Langella stars as Chief Justice Warren E. Burger. 8 p.m., HBO.
Contact Chuck Barney at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/chuckbarney and Facebook.com/bayareanewsgroup.chuckbarney.


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Definition of infall in English:
noun[mass noun] Astronomy
The falling of small objects or other matter on to or into a larger body: the infall of debris into a black hole
More example sentences
- The size of this infall is related directly to the amount of matter in the Universe.
- K-bentonite horizons, interpreted as altered volcanic infall, are interbedded with the limestones of the Precordillera.
- The strong form states that we're constantly being bombarded with biochemical material from space, and that there's a correlation between Viral outbreaks and patterns of infall.
For editors and proofreaders
Line breaks: in¦fall
Definition of infall in:
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Game Credits
|Sid Meier's Civilization IV (2005)
|Sid Meier's Pirates!: Live the Life (2004)
|(Locations Modeling)
|Sid Meier's SimGolf (2002)
|(Additional Art)
Quality Assurance
|Project Spark (2014)
|(Test Engineers)
|Gears of War 3 (2011)
|(Testing - Rose International Inc.)
|Lips (2008)
|(GTO Reserves Reserves Testers)
|Batman: The Telltale Series (2016)
|The Walking Dead: Michonne (2016)
|Minecraft: Story Mode (2015)
|Trials Evolution (2012)
|(Special Thanks)
|Sid Meier's Civilization III: Conquests (2003)
Developer Biography
Megan Quinn graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2002 with a degree in general sculptural studies. Her artwork includes everything from clay figurative sculpture, to fashion design, and of course, CG environments and objects.
After interning for Firaxis in 2001, Megan decided that working in the game industry was, quite possibly the coolest job ever. In her spare time Megan enjoys salsa dancing, fashion design, and working out.
(Source: Firaxis web site)
Last updated: Jul 06, 2003
circa 2002
Related Sites
There are no related websites on file for this developer. If you know of any related websites for the person, please consider contributing them.


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Flush the Poo, Not the Planet
What you flush down comes back around — it fertilizes our fields and is pumped back into the waterways that are our major sources of drinking water. Let's take the journey from toilet to tap, shall we? Oui oui. (We're affecting French here for a touch of sophistication in a post centering on fecal matter.)
Here's a guide to three reasons and three ways to flush more eco-consciously.
1. Modify your potty (it's super-easy) to save some water.
Americans use about 70 gallons of water indoors, every day. About three-quarters of that is used in the toilette — shower, bath, sink, potty — and over one-quarter is used whisking away our waste. You can cut that usage by making sure your toilet isn't leaking, using a composting toilet or low-flow toilet, adding a water-saving mechanism to your existing toilet, or simply displacing the water in the tank with a brick or a container filled with sand.
We don't want to bum you out, but water conservation means a lot in an era when more than a billion people lack access to safe drinking water. According to Claudia McMurray, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, "On any given day, approximately 50 percent of the world's hospital beds are filled with patients suffering from water and sanitation related diseases. Each year 1.8 million children in developing countries die from diarrheal disease — the second leading cause of death after pneumonia."
When aiming for more equitable water usage, hippie wisdom comes in handy: If it's brown flush it down; if it's yellow, let it mellow. S'il vous plait. (Our hippie is French.)
2. Keep toxic chemicals out of your potty — and your food and drinking water.
After the solid and liquid waste leave the bowl, they're routed through your house pipes to what's called a sanitary sewer. This is where the magic happens. Your precious cargo arrives at the treatment plant and passes through a series of mechanical screens. The solids get sent to a landfill, while the smaller bits get separated into sludge and liquid waste.
During secondary treatment, the sludge is pumped into concrete digesters where oxygen-hungry bacteria chomp on our poo and break organic sewage into simpler inorganic compounds. This concoction is drained, and the dehydrated "bio-solids" are sent to farmers to use as fertilizer on our fields.
Unfortunately, these refined poo pellets contain heavy metals, dioxins, PCBs, pesticides and hundreds of other toxic chemicals. They pollute surface water and cause rashes and infections in farmers and livestock. Some green groups maintain that with better safeguards, sludge might be one of the best ways to handle our waste, but until there's better oversight, you may want to seek out certified organic produce grown without bio-solids.
Back in the sewage treatment plant, the remaining water is disinfected chemically and discharged into a stream, river, lagoon or wetland or used for irrigation on golf courses or highway medians. Despite being chemically treated, municipal water is still rife with toxins and contaminants: birth-control substances, antidepressants and other pharmaceuticals we've ingested and wee-weed out. Sources of drinking water like the Puget Sound and the Potomac River harbor trace amounts of caffeine, heart medication, estrogen and more.
What are we to do?
Don't flush your drugs, for starters. Use natural, nontoxic cleaning products to clean your potty. And rejoice in the fact that scientists have now developed a way to turn pee into electricity, sprinkling a few drops onto copper chloride paper and generating about 1.5 volts of energy.
3. Don't kill trees to wipe your bum.
You could get yourself a bidet (those French!). Or, use recycled toilet paper.
Recycled, mon ami, not reused.
The average American uses over 100 rolls of bathroom tissue a year, most of which is made from a combination of softwood and hardwood trees — Southern pines and Douglas firs make the paper strong, while maples and oaks make the paper soft. Zut alors! Oak trees have been felled to give our rears a little more comfort!
Another reason to use recycled bathroom tissue: To ease our eyes, conventional toilet paper is brightened with chlorine bleach, which can lead to dioxin contamination in wastewater from manufacturing. T.P. made from recycled paper is usually whitened with hydrogen peroxide. C'est bon.
Republished courtesy of Intent. Originally published on The Huffington Post. Thanks to the University of Kansas School of Journalism and Lacey Johnston for research assistance.
Use caution when putting a heavy brick into your toilet tank. I did this some years ago at another house and cracked the tank - not good.
What about family cloth? Or is that too gross for most people? Hah!
Another great way to not use any t.p. is to install a hose to the toilet and wash away in lieu of wiping. Then simply use a washcloth or hand towel to dry with. A mini shower every time...and way cleaner than using paper. Try it out, it's a little weird at first but then you love it!
My grandparents were very poor - depression era. When visiting, we would notice toilet paper sections on the radiator in the bathroom . . . my dear grandmother, if she only "tinkled", would wipe, let dry and reuse. Talk about conservation!


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Anne chairs
the planning committee and hosts the annual Illinois Leadership Conference, and
directs funded projects in leadership development, community planning,
biofuels, and sustainable agriculture. Anne is past chair of the Board of
Directors for Rural Partners, the Illinois Rural Development Council; has served on
the Board of Directors and as Communications Chair for the International
Community Development Society; and serves as the Book Review Editor for the journal, Community Development. Anne's teaching includes Survey Design and Analysis in the
Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Introduction to Leadership Theory. Anne is a member of the North Central
Regional Center
for Rural Development's initiative, Foundations of Practice. Anne serves on
various committees and task forces for the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University
of Illinois Extension, and the State
of Illinois.
Anne is a graduate of the University
of Wisconsin at Madison
and earned an MBA from the University of Illinois.
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text:
Lucy Sonnenberg • Gerry Pinto • Nisse Goldberg • Anthony Ouellette
Education1989 Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences and Engineering – Water Chemistry), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina1984 M.S. (Environmental Engineering and Sciences – Water Chemistry), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida1980 B.A. (Chemistry and Biology), University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
Lucy Sonnenberg, Ph.D., is a research professor of chemistry and the research director of the Millar Wilson Laboratory for Chemical Research (MWL) at Jacksonville University. Under her directorship, the multifaceted mission of the MWL is to conduct novel research in environmental chemistry, provide rigorous and meaningful environmental research experiences to undergraduate students, and to serve as an environmental chemistry resource to area agencies and institutions. Sonnenberg and her students have conducted research on organochlorine contaminants in water and sediment, bioavailability and bioaccumulation of contaminants, carbon and nitrogen cycling in natural and wastewater systems, and the effects of natural organic matter on pollutant fates and effects. In addition, the laboratory has performed numerous assessments of stormwater management technologies. She is a member of the national American Chemical Society and Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry and she interacts regularly with local environmental scientists and engineers, in large part by participation in the Lower St. Johns River Technical Advisory Committee.
Dr. Sonnenberg is the River Report team member responsible for evaluating contamination of the St. Johns River sediments with toxic chemicals and lead author on the contaminants section. She also authored the water quality sections on nutrients and algal blooms, and provided information on local actions to improve the LSJR ecosystem and various management activities.
Associate Research ScientistMarine Science Research InstituteJacksonville University2800 University Blvd. N.Jacksonville, FL 32211-3394Email:
Phone: (904) 256-7338Fax: (904) 256-7573Manatee Hotline: (904) 256-7575
Education1993 Ph.D. (Fisheries & Allied Aquacultures), Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama1991. (Master of Aquaculture), Auburn University, Auburn, Albama1988. B.S. (Fishery Science), Plymouth Polytechnic, Plymouth, England
Gerard F. Pinto, Ph.D. is an Associate Research Scientist at the Marine Science Research Institute at Jacksonville University. Over the past decade he helped to develop and implement State approved Manatee Protection Plans for Duval and Clay Counties. He is a consultant to the City of Jacksonville Waterways Commission and conducts research to monitor manatee populations in northeast Florida. Gerry has worked to raise public awareness about manatee issues through the Manatee Research Center Online (MARCO) web site, safe boating and speed zone advisory guides, educational seminars, TV and print media. He conducts aerial surveys and manages a manatee Geographic Information System data base of aerial sightings. He has conducted research in habitat mapping for manatees and gopher tortoises, water quality monitoring, ecosystem restoration, vessel traffic and compliance studies, near water surface acoustical studies, and manatee scar patterns. In addition, he has a background in fisheries and aquaculture and has conducted research, teaching or work on commercial fish production systems and marketing in the Caribbean, Kenya and the U.S. His future research interests include fisheries sampling and the impact of freshwater withdrawals, sea level rise and harbor deepening activities on the flora and fauna of the Lower St. Johns River Basin.
Dr. Pinto gathered, evaluated data for, and authored the sections on Submerged Aquatic Vegetation and Federally Endangered & Threatened Species (Manatees, Bald Eagles, Wood Storks, Shortnose Sturgeon, Piping Plover, Florida Scrub-jay and Eastern Indigo Snake). In 2013 he also took over the role as author of the fisheries section of the report.
Associate ProfessorDepartment of Biology and Marine ScienceJacksonville University2800 University Blvd. N.Jacksonville, FL 32211-3394Email:
Phone: (904) 256-7322Fax: (904) 256-7573
EducationPh.D., University of Western AustraliaM.S., San Jose State UniversityB.A., University of California, Santa Cruz
Areas of Specialization: Terrestrial and Marine Botany and Ecology
Nisse Goldberg, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in Biology and Marine Science at Jacksonville University. She updated the Wetlands sections, including a new case studies feature, and she will explore wetland health as a function of environmental variables. She also covered nonnative species in the LSJRB. Dr. Goldberg research interests include temporal and spatial changes of photosynthetic organisms living in terrestrial, intertidal, and marine habitats. As a subtidal ecologist she has studied seaweed diversity in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Georgia, and is interested in seaweed and diatom diversity in the LSJRB as well. As a terrestrial ecologist she studies changes in plant diversity in the Florida rosemary scrub habitat and LSJR marsh islands, as well as temporal changes in an oak hammock after the devastation of red bays by invasive beetles. She is currently working on mangrove distribution and phenology in the Guana Tolomato Matanzas Estuarine Reserve. At JU she teaches courses in Ecology, Botany, Marine Botany and Conservation Ecology, among others, and incorporates a strong component of service-learning in many of her courses with community partners such as the National Park Service, Tree Hill Nature Center, Arlington Community Garden, and the SJR Riverkeeper.
Dr. Goldberg gathered, evaluated data for, and authored the sections on wetlands, macroinvertebrates, and non-native aquatic species.
Associate Professor and Co-ChairDepartment of Biology and Marine ScienceJacksonville University2800 University Blvd. N.Jacksonville, FL 32211-3394Email:
Phone: (904) 256-7299
EducationPh.D., University of MinnesotaB.A., University of Central Florida
Areas of Specialization: Aquatic microbiology (cyanobacteria)
Anthony Ouellette is an Associate Professor and Co-Chair of the Department of Biology and Marine Science at Jacksonville University. His interests are in toxic cyanobacteria, in particular Microcystis in the St. Johns River watershed. Microcystis is a cyanobacterial genus that includes toxic and non-toxic members. Toxic members synthesize microcystin a hepatotoxin that has many known structural variants. Toxic Microcystis are cosmopolitan and cause great health concern, particularly when they occur in drinking reservoirs or recreational areas.
Dr. Ouellette gathered, evaluated data for, and authored the algal blooms section of the report.