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From the Department of Otolaryngology, University of Michigan (Drs Taylor, Terrell, and Duffy), Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Hospital, Center of Practice Management and Outcomes Research (Drs Ronis and Duffy and Ms Fowler), and the University of Michigan School of Nursing (Dr Ronis), Ann Arbor; Department of Otolaryngology, Veterans Affairs Hospital, Gainesville, Fla (Ms Bishop); Departments of Psychiatry (Dr Lambert) and Otolaryngology (Dr Myers), University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Dallas; North Texas Veterans Health Care System, (Dr Lambert); and Department of Otolaryngology, Veterans Affairs Hospital (Dr Meyers), Dallas. The members of The University of Michigan Head and Neck Cancer Team, all of whom are authors of this article, are Carol R. Bradford, MD; Douglas B. Chepeha, MD; Norman D. Hogikyan, MD; Mark E. Prince, MD; Theodoros N. Teknos, MD; and Gregory T. Wolf, MD. Dr Prince is also with the Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Hospital. The authors have no relevant financial interest in this article.
Patients with head and neck cancer often experience debilitating speech, eating, and respiratory problems as well as the psychological effects of loss of function and change in body image. These patients often become unemployed as a result of their disease process, which adds financial burden to their already stressful lives. Yet the specific factors associated with unemployment have not been systematically studied.
This multisite study used survey and chart data to determine the predictors of work-related disability.
Of the 384 patients who were working prior to their diagnosis of head and neck cancer, 52% (n = 201) were disabled by their cancer treatment. Multivariate analysis demonstrated significant links between disability and chemotherapy (odds ratio [OR], 3.4; P <.001), neck dissection status (OR, 2.3; P = .01), pain scores (OR, 1.2; P = .01), and time since diagnosis (OR, 0.9; P = .04).
More than half of the patients in this study were disabled by their head and neck cancer or treatment. Patients with head and neck cancer who have undergone chemotherapy or neck dissection or have high pain scores are at increased risk for disability from their cancer or their treatment. Efforts to prevent (if possible), better assess, and treat pain and other adverse effects of head and neck cancer treatments may also have the potential to reduce patient disability.
More than 40 000 new cases of head and neck cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States and 500 000 new cases worldwide. Mortality in the United States from head and neck cancer is 12 000 deaths per year.1 Mortality statistics, however, do not reflect the entire scope of the problem. Studies of quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer have demonstrated substantial decrements in eating, communication, pain, general functional status, emotional well-being, and other quality of life scales.2,3 However, individual studies often use different instruments, and the true impact of a decrement in any particular scale (eg, physical function, pain, or eating) is difficult to interpret, even for the head and neck oncology team. Understanding the clinical predictors of a concrete tangible outcome such as work disability may help clinicians better interpret the impact of head and neck cancer therapy.
Previous research has demonstrated that cancer has the highest reported incidence of work-related impairment and the greatest number of impaired work days of all chronic medical conditions, including ulcers, major depression, panic disorder, and heart disease.4 It has been shown that oral problems, cancer, depression, smoking, decreased physical activity, and poor nutrition increase the odds for disability.5 Head and neck cancer can result in tremendous financial burdens for the individual, family, and society at large. Terrell et al3 found a 34% disability rate after treatment for head and neck cancer, yet the relationship between head and neck cancer and disability has not been systematically studied. Further investigation into disability issues in patients with head and neck cancer would complement current research on quality of life and may help clinicians better interpret the impact of head and neck cancer therapy. Hence, the aim of this study is to determine the relationship between major clinical variables and work disability.
This multisite study is part of a larger study to evaluate the quality of life of patients with head and neck cancer. This smaller study used survey and chart data to determine the predictors of work-related disability.
Respondents of the larger study (N = 994) were recruited from 4 sites, including the Ann Arbor, Mich (n = 147), Gainesville, Fla (n = 110), and Dallas, Tex (n = 127) Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and the University of Michigan Hospital (n = 610). Inclusion criteria included patients with head and neck cancer who, from the time of diagnosis and any time thereafter, were (1) not pregnant; (2) at least 18 years old; (3) English speaking; and (4) free from severe unstable psychiatric and/or mental conditions such as suicidal ideation, acute psychosis, or dementia. Exclusion criteria for this smaller study included (1) survey taken within 3 months of an initial diagnosis (n = 260); (2) subject not working at the time of initial diagosis (n = 322); and (3) failure to answer both of the items concerning work and work disability (n = 28). A total of 384 subjects met all eligibility criteria and provided data for these analyses.
The major independent variables of interest included clinical, mental health and/or substance abuse, and demographic variables. The dependent variable was disability.
A postsurvey chart review generated the clinical data for tumor site and stage, surgery (primary site, laryngectomy, and/or neck dissection), and whether the patient had undergone chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Tumor sites were later dichotomized into 2 groups, oropharynx and/or hypopharynx vs all others, based on previous quality of life studies that indicated worse outcomes in oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal tumors.3,6 Tumor stage was classified into stages 0, I, and II vs stages III and IV. Time since most recent diagnosis of head and neck cancer was collected by chart review and survey. Self-reported medical comorbidities were collected by survey.
The Head and Neck Quality of Life questionnaire (HNQOL)7 pain domain was included as the only quality of life variable because previous research found that the pain domain score was associated with disability.3 The HNQOL questionnaire pain domain addresses shoulder and/or neck pain, general physical problems, pain or burning in the mouth, and frequency of taking pain medication. It has been shown to correlate with patients' overall discomfort and has been validated.7 Although the other domains of the HNQOL and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36)8 were collected and reported, they were not included in the analysis of disability because the present study primarily focuses on clinical variables rather than quality of life or health status associations with disability.
The survey asked questions using previously validated instruments, including the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence ,9 the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT),10 and the Geriatric Depression Scale–Short Form (GDS-SF).11,12 Patients were considered smokers if they had smoked in the last 6 months. A score of 8 or higher on the AUDIT was used to identify problem drinkers. A score of 4 or more on the GDS-SF was used to identify probable depression.
Demographic control variables consisted of age, sex, race (white or nonwhite), marital status (separated, widowed, divorced, or never married), education (high school or less vs some college or more), and hospital site (University of Michigan or a Veterans Affairs hospital).
The dependent variable, disability, was assessed by asking whether the patients were working before their diagnosis of head and neck cancer and, if so, whether their physicians had told them they were unable to work because of their cancer or treatment. Patients were scored as disabled by their cancer only if they were working before receiving their diagnosis and were declared unable to work after treatment.
Descriptive statistics (means and frequencies) were analyzed for all demographic, clinical, treatment, health behavior, and quality of life characteristics. Associations among the independent variables including demographics, time since diagnosis, cancer site, cancer stage, radiation treatment, chemotherapy, treatment modality, comorbidities, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and depression characteristics were determined. χ2 Tests were used for categorical variables, and t tests were used for interval level variables. Logistic regression was used to conduct multivariate analyses to determine the associations with disability.
The data were double entered into a Microsoft Access database (Redmond, Wash) and analyzed using SAS software (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC). Since all of the respondents did not answer all of the questions, the sample size may vary for different results. For all tests, a 2-sided P value of less than .05 was considered statistically significant.
Most patients (n = 244, 70%) presented with stage III or IV disease. A large proportion of the study population (n = 321, 84%) had undergone irradiation during the course of their therapy. Two thirds of patients (n = 253, 66%) had primary site surgery, and 58% (n = 222) had a neck dissection. Fifty-five percent (n = 208) of all patients had 1 or more comorbidities. Thirty percent (n = 115) of patients had smoked within the last 6 months. Fourteen percent (n = 51) of patients had an alcohol problem, indicated by an AUDIT score of 8 or higher. Almost half (n = 164, 44%) had depressive symptoms indicated by a GDS-SF score of 4 or higher.
Most patients were male (n = 340, 89%) and white (n = 334, 88%). Just over half had been treated at the University of Michigan (n = 224, 58%), while the rest were treated at a Veterans Affairs hospital (n = 160, 42%). The mean age for the patients surveyed was 53 years at the time they were given their initial diagnosis and 58 years at the time of the survey. The mean number of months since they were given their initial diagnosis was 54 (Table 1).
Significant differences in rates of disability were found between those people who had a stage III or IV disease; underwent irradiation, chemotherapy, or primary site surgery; and/or had a more recent diagnosis compared with those who did not (P <.05). Patients with stage III or IV disease were more likely to be disabled than patients with stage 0, I, or II, but this association did not remain significant on multivariate analysis (P = .30). Moreover, patients who smoked, were depressed, and/or had less education also had greater disability than those without these characteristics (P <.05) (Table 2).
The major clinical associations of disability were found with chemotherapy, neck dissection, HNQOL pain score, and time since most recent head and neck cancer diagnosis. Patients who had undergone chemotherapy had almost 3½ times the odds of being disabled as those who had not undergone chemotherapy (P <.001). Patients who had undergone a neck dissection had over twice the odds of being disabled as those who had not (P <.01). Each 10-point decrease in score on the HNQOL Pain Scale led to a 20% increase in the odds of being disabled (P = .001). Greater time since most recent head and neck cancer diagnosis decreased the likelihood of disability (odds ratio, 0.9 for each decade; P <.05) (Table 3).
More than half of the respondents were disabled by their cancer treatment. Chemotherapy, neck dissection status, time since diagnosis, and scores on the pain domain of the HNQOL were major clinical variables associated with disability.
Several adverse effects of chemotherapy such as mucositis, anemia, immunosuppression, malaise, and nausea are well recognized. However, the long-term impact of chemotherapy on quality of life, employment, or disability has not been well described. The present study demonstrated that patients who underwent chemotherapy had over 3 times the odds of being disabled as patients who did not undergo chemotherapy. Our clinical impression is that patients who have undergone chemotherapy have a prolonged treatment course (since each round of chemotherapy typically takes 3-4 weeks).
It is not unusual for head and neck cancer treatment that includes chemotherapy to take 4 to 6 months, during which time patients often develop profound deconditioning or fatigue. Such deconditioning, in our experience, is a strong predictor for work-related disability. Moreover, the sheer length of treatment time and recovery period after treatment may warrant disability determination for employer-related reasons. In addition to the deconditioning related to treatment, patients who undergo chemotherapy often have mild to moderate neuropathies, dysphagia, loss of taste, and potentially other adverse effects.
The extent to which each of these chemotherapy-related factors affects disability status for patients with head and neck cancer is not well understood and deserves further study, so that such morbidity may be reduced with new therapies. However, these data do not support the notion that chemotherapy should be avoided in the treatment of head and neck cancer. Although chemotherapy appears to be associated with disability, decisions regarding treatment modalities typically should be more concerned with primary outcomes such as survival and recurrence rates and only secondarily influenced by disability rates or quality of life.
Of patients who underwent neck dissection as part of therapy, more than half were disabled. These results are similar to those of another study in which 48% of the patients who were employed before undergoing surgery with a neck dissection were unable to return to work afterwards.13 These data also confirm findings in previous neck dissection studies in which patients who underwent neck dissections had increased levels of pain, weakness, and overall loss of function.14- 17
When we controlled for other demographic, clinical, and treatment variables, multivariate analysis demonstrated that patients who underwent neck dissection had over 2 times the odds of being disabled compared with those patients who did not have a neck dissection. Unlike quality of life scores, disability status is a concrete marker of the negative impact of neck dissection on a person's quality of life. From a clinician's or patient's perspective, the odds of disability may be easier to comprehend or interpret than the "change in quality of life scores" that we and other authors have used to describe the impact of neck dissection on quality of life or functional status.17,18
Again, these data should not be used to argue against neck dissection because we strongly believe that treatment decisions should primarily be weighted toward treatments that maximize survival. If treatment options differ minimally in survival outcomes, then quality of life, functional status, and disability rates might factor into decision-making analysis for patients and clinicians. This type of data and future research on the impact of treatments such as neck dissection, chemotherapy, or primary site surgery on disability rates may be useful in choosing therapies with similar survival implications but different treatment morbidities that may have particular impact on individual patients.
Pain was a major predictor of disability. Based on the results of our multivariate analysis, a 10-point lower score on the HNQOL pain domain would be associated with a 20% increase in the odds of being disabled. In general, patients with cancer pain report higher levels of disability.19 For example, 40% of patients newly diagnosed with cancer reported having pain, and 40% of patients receiving pain medication reported inadequate relief.20
Pain can be disabling for multiple reasons. Disability due to pain might be related to disturbances in physical functioning and increased fatigue. Pain medications might also limit a patient's ability to work. A cancer patient's perception of pain may also affect disability status because many patients see pain as a sign of disease progression.19,21 Pain control issues have been linked specifically to patients with cancer22,23 and may result from a lack of training and support for physicians who treat pain.24 The present study shows that pain and discomfort have a substantial relationship to a patients' ability to return to work and suggests that future therapies that minimize patient discomfort could have substantial impact on the indirect costs of cancer and cancer care.
We found that for every decade that passed after the time of diagnosis, the odds of a patient being disabled decreased by 10%. This result may be due largely to survivorship. Since the present study surveyed all patients with head and neck cancer at various times in their treatment, and the average time from most recent diagnosis was more than 3 years, the patients who were surveyed years from their diagnosis might have been a healthier cohort (cancer survivors) and might have been less likely to be disabled from their condition. On the other hand, patients who were in worse clinical condition might not have survived to be in included in our survey years after receiving their diagnosis. Therefore, rates of disability might be higher in a group of patients who were all described, for instance, only 2 years after therapy. It is also possible that over time, patients recover or adapt to the consequences of their diagnosis and treatment. This association between time since diagnosis and disability should be further examined to tease out the extent to which survivorship, adaptation, recovery, fatigue, or other factors related to cancer survivorship are associated with disability.
While cancer stage was found to be associated with disability on the bivariate analysis (greater disability was found in patients with stage III or IV disease than in those with less severe disease), it was surprisingly unrelated to disability in the multivariate analysis. This finding suggests that treatment-related variables might have more important associations than cancer stage with disability outcome.
There was a nonsignificant association (P = .08) between lower educational levels and disability. A similar association was discovered in veterans with ankylosing spondylitits, in whom it was shown that patients with less than 12 years of formal education were much more likely to have work disability than patients with more than 12 years of formal education. The reason for this trend may be explained by differences in occupations and/or workplace environments for jobs held by workers with different educational levels.25
Previous research on patients with head and neck cancer found that smoking and depression were strongly linked to quality of life.26 However, the present study failed to show a relationship between these behavioral factors and patient disability. Nonetheless, about one third of the patients with cancer in the present study smoked (higher than the general population mean of 22%); about one tenth scored positive for problem drinking; and a little less than half had elevated depression scores. Perhaps heavy smokers or drinkers and depressed patients were not working prior to their cancer diagnosis, thus skewing the surveyed population to patients with milder problems. While one would expect that people nearing the end of their career would be prone to not return to work after treatment for cancer, surprisingly, age was not a significant factor in patient disability. The average patient age at diagnosis in the present study was in the early 50s, and clinical factors (chemotherapy, neck dissection, pain, and time since diagnosis) rather than age were most associated with disability.
Because of its cross-sectional design, the present study could evaluate only associations between clinical variables and disability. Thus causality cannot be proven. Although it may seem logical, for instance, that neck dissection, chemotherapy, and pain may cause patient disability, it is not necessarily clear, for example, that depression might lead to disability, or disability lead to depression. In the present study, we found no association between depression and disability. However, as our research continues longitudinally, and pretreatment and posttreatment predictors of outcome become available, we may be better able to define predictors of disability.
Another limitation of the study was that the patients self-reported whether they were disabled by their treatment or by the disease. To obtain disability data directly from treating physicians was technically too difficult to accomplish.
This study was also limited by sample size and could not include other possible predictors of disability (such as the 8 domains of the SF-36, the other 3 domains of the HNQOL, or other factors). Also, patients were surveyed at different times in their treatment course rather than at a consistent time such as "at diagnosis." Nonetheless, time since diagnosis was included as a control variable and was found to be linked to disability status.
Temporality might also have affected time-dependent variables like smoking and alcohol use. It is possible that patients who were smoking or drinking at the time of diagnosis or disability might have subsequently quit before taking the survey.
Due to the demographics of the population most affected by head and neck cancer and treated at the surveyed hospital sites, only a small number of women and nonwhite patients were included in our sample. Since cancer-related quality of life employment patterns differ for men and women,27 and treatment variables have been shown to vary among different ethnicities, rates of disability might have been different if the sample were more balanced.
Overall, more than half of the patients in this study were disabled as a result of their head and neck cancer or treatment. Patients with head and neck cancer who have undergone chemotherapy or neck dissection or who have high pain scores have increased odds of being disabled by their cancer or their treatment. Our data corroborate the consensus opinion of the National Institutes of Health State of the Science Conference Statement on Symptom Management in Cancer: that pain, fatigue, and depression were major problem areas affecting quality of life and disability.28 The report stated that efforts to manage the symptoms of cancer have not kept pace with the insights into cures.
Some of the problems associated with researching pain, fatigue, and depression include the inability to separate the 3 factors, a wide variety of measurement tools, reliance on patient self-report, and lack of intervention studies specifically related to fatigue. Recommended strategies to solve these problems include regular assessments, combination interventions, consistent measurement tools, and rigorous intervention studies to address these issues. Our data suggest that efforts to prevent (if possible), assess, and treat pain and the adverse effects of chemotherapy and neck dissection may also have the potential to reduce patient disability.
Corresponding author and reprints: Jeffrey E. Terrell, MD, University of Michigan, Department of Otolaryngology, 1500 E Medical Center Dr, Taubman 1904D–Box 0312, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0312 (e-mail: email@example.com).
Submitted for publication July 29, 2003; final revision received October 27, 2003; accepted November 26, 2003.
This research was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health through the University of Michigan's Head and Neck SPORE grant 1 P50 CA97248; GlaxoSmithKline through the Managed Care Forum; and the Department of Veterans Affairs grant IIR-98500.
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Ramon Esteve | Daybed FAZ
Daybed FAZ is part of the Faz outdoor furniture collection, manufactured by Vondom. The collection, designed by Ramón Esteve, is inspired by the mineral shapes we find in nature and each piece of the collection has a sculptural character. Daybed Faz has a sound system with built-in speakers we can connect by Bluetooth to our mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones, surrounding ourselves by sound while enjoying the sun or shade. Playing your favorite music or watching a movie with high sound quality due to its Dual component, becomes a new experience that moves away from the concept of furniture. The advanced devices of our daily lives are incorporated to the daybed's polygonal shapes.
Its light top of translucent fabric uses a hydraulic system to open or close. The built-in wheels allow easy displacement and a 360 ° rotation to change the orientation as needed. The piece itself offers the opportunity of creating unique spaces due to its possibility of adding Led lighting activated by remote control. Designer: Ramon Esteve Producer: Vondom

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21 November 2013
Milton Keynes is set to benefit from a £16m project to accelerate its 'Smart City Programme'. The MK: SMART project will gather real-time information from a range of sources across the city and provide innovative analysis tools to enable much more efficient use of transport, water and energy infrastructures.
BT is the major IT partner in the project consortium led by the Open University. The objective is to use the latest technologies to resolve the constraints to growth for the city and to improve quality of life for its citizens.
Milton Keynes is predicted to grow significantly over the coming years; its economy has a GVA of £7bn and could reach £11.5bn by 2026 (Oxford Economics, 2012).
Such growth has the potential to increase employment at the rate of over 2,600 jobs per year, or an additional 42,000 jobs by 2026 (MK Council Employment Technical paper, 2012).
However, the city's rapid expansion could outstrip the capacity of existing transport and water infrastructures, whilst energy companies face the challenge of reducing carbon output.
The collaborative project will see the development of a "MK Data Hub" with state-of-the-art data acquisition and management infrastructure capable of collecting large-scale city data relevant to how the city functions.
Specifically, the hub will have access to data streams from both key infrastructure networks, such as energy, transport and water, and other relevant sensor networks, including weather and pollution data.
The MK Data Hub will make it possible to implement radical new solutions for managing demand. With a forecasted growth potential of 64 per cent for Milton Keynes, by 2026, the data hub will go some way to realising this, in a sustainable manner.
The pioneering MK:SMART project, supported by an £8m grant from the Higher Education Funding Council for England's (HEFCE) Catalyst Fund, is being match-funded by a number of partners.
As the largest industry partner BT is working with the consortium, led by The Open University, to deliver the infrastructure for the project.
Pro-vice chancellor at The Open University, Professor Tim Blackman, believes the city will provide a strong example of how to achieve sustainable growth. He said:
"This exciting project will not only directly benefit Milton Keynes but will also demonstrate ways forward for other cities right round the world. The success of this bid builds on strong existing partnerships and the forward-looking vision of Milton Keynes Council. The funding will help us apply the expertise we have developed at the OU in data analytics to managing city infrastructures – working towards sustainable growth."
The data hub will also support business growth by creating opportunities for local enterprises to develop new projects and services by using and adding value to the data.
Along with MK Data Hub, a dedicated business incubation hub will be located at the University Milton Keynes (UCMK), part of the University of Bedfordshire, which will help businesses innovate and compete in the rapidly growing digital economy.
The facility will be connected into BT's existing, comprehensive 'Innovation Network' supporting collaboration for Milton Keynes across the UK and worldwide.
The MK: SMART project is expected to deliver up to 20 per cent in water savings, 50 per cent less traffic congestion, a 2.8 per cent reduction in electric consumption and two per cent gas reduction.
BT strives to ensure its environmental footprint is always a positive one. This project is a strong example of how communications technologies can be used to reduced the pressure on resources and cut carbon emissions.
Chris Bilton, director of Research & Technology at BT, said:
"We are delighted to be involved in this ground-breaking project. BT believes there is real potential to demonstrate how new communications technologies can help deliver positive economic and societal outcomes. Working with the OU, Milton Keynes Council and other consortium members, we look forward to bringing these to life and sharing the outcomes with other communities who could benefit from similar approaches."
But it doesn't stop in Milton Keynes. BT's 'Net Good' goal is to help customers reduce carbon emission by at least three times the end-to-end carbon impact of our business by 2020.
To find out more about our commitment to sustainable growth and a better future, please visit our Better Future website.


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|A better world is always waiting for a better you.
– Debasish Mridha, M.D.Rate it:
|A better world shall emerge based on faith and understanding.
– General Douglas MacArthurRate it:
|A Bible falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't.
– Charles Haddon (CH) SpurgeonRate it:
|A Bible that's falling apart usually belongs to a person who isn't.
– Charles SpurgeonRate it:
|A big book is a big bore.
– Callimachus (c. 260 B.C.)Rate it:
|A big desire is not enough to meet the expectations of lost dreams.
– Dejan StojanovicRate it:
|A big island of library, in the middle of an ocean, away from all the fools of the world, would this place not be a real paradise?
– Mehmet Murat ildanRate it:
|A big man is one who makes us feel bigger when we are with him.
– John C. MaxwellRate it:
|A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking about real money.
– Senator Everett DirksenRate it:
|A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon it adds up to real money.
– Senator Everett DirksenRate it:
|A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
– Chinese ProverbRate it:
|A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.
– Maya AngelouRate it:
|A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
– Miguel de CervantesRate it:
|A bird that fears falling off of a tree branch is ignorant of its gifts.
– Matshona DhliwayoRate it:
|A bird that you set free may be caught again, but a word that escapes your lips will not return.
– Jewish ProverbRate it:
|A bird without wings and a man without art are both condemned to wander in low places; they can never soar up to those unrivaled heights.
– Mehmet Murat ildanRate it:
|A bit of fragrance clings to the hand that gives flowers.
– Chinese ProverbRate it:
|A bizarre sensation pervades a relationship of pretense. No truth seems true. A simple morning's greeting and response appear loaded with innuendo and fraught with implications. Each nicety becomes more sterile and each withdrawal more permanent.
– Maya AngelouRate it:
|A black sheep in the family, no doubt
– John WayneRate it:
|A blank page has more power than a full page with blind thoughts.
– Debasish Mridha, M.D.Rate it:
|A blessed thing it is for any man or woman to have a friend, one human soul whom we can trust utterly, who knows the best and worst of us, and who loves us in spite of all our faults.
– Charles KingsleyRate it:
|A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword.
– Robert BurtonRate it:
|A bodily disease which we look upon as whole and entire within itself, may, after all, be but a symptom of some ailment in the spiritual part.
– Nathaniel HawthorneRate it:
|A body without wine is like a dessert without sugar. A pale woman can only be coloured with lipstick and rouge, and a pale man can only be coloured with wine!
– Mehmet Murat ildanRate it:
|A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the dog.
– Jack LondonRate it:


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on November 18, 2010 - 12:01 AM
MOVIES: Opening Friday, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1," "The Next Three Days" (PG-13); Nov. 24, "Tangled" (PG), "Burlesque" (PG-13).
DVD: Released Tuesday, "Avatar" (PG-13), "Disney's A Christmas Carol" (PG), "The Last Airbender" (PG), "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore" (PG), "Under the Sea" (G), "Lottery Ticket" (PG-13).
ON TV: "iStart a Fan War," starring Jack Black, 8 p.m. Nickelodeon.
CONCERTS: Coco Montoya, 7 p.m. Saturday, Tralf, 622 Main St.
Tiffany, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Lancaster Opera House, 21 Central Ave., Lancaster.
The Buckinghams, 8 p.m. Saturday, Bear's Den, Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel, 310 Fourth St., Niagara Falls.
All-Star Heifer Farm Revue with Clarence High School students Erin Sydney Welsh, Koby Trout and Zach Acee, noon Sunday, Epiphany United Church of Christ, 9365 Clarence Center Road, Clarence Center.
A Skylit Drive with Motionless in White, For All of Those Sleeping, Woe Is Me and Scarlett Ohara, 5 p.m. Sunday, Xtreme Wheels, 356 Hertel Ave.
Brian McKnight, 8 p.m. Sunday, Mainstage Theatre, UB Center for the Arts, North Campus, Amherst.
Delta Spirit with Darker My Love and the Fling, 7 p.m. Monday, Tralf, 622 Main St.
Stars, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Town Ballroom, 681 Main St.
A Tribute to the Doors. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Tralf, 622 Main St.
POETRY: Poetics Plus at UB with Steve McCaffery and Loss Pequeno Glazier, 8 p.m. Saturday, Karpeles Manuscript Museum, 453 Porter Ave.
AUTHOR VISIT: Sharon Green, 7:30 tonight, Kenmore Library, 160 Delaware Road, Kenmore, and 2 p.m. Saturday, Kenilworth Library, 318 Montrose Ave., Tonawanda.
THEATER: "Wonder of the World," 7 tonight, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Clune Center for Theatre, Niagara University.
It's officially boot season. Dress boots, casual boots, over the knee and just to the ankle, there is a style for everyone. One of the most popular looks this fall is the cuffed boot: often a dressier, high-heeled style made of either suede or leather with a rolled over or cuffed portion. Cuffed boots come in all colors and prices, and can be found at discount stores like Payless Shoe Source and Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW), as well as at high-end department stores. Reality TV star Audrina Patridge has a great shopping feature on her official Web site (www.audrinapatridge.com/shop.php), featuring dozens of cuffed styles in every price range. The boots typically range from about $40 to more than $100.
Made popular in the '80s, one-shoulder tops and dresses are making a bold comeback this fall. Most designs are made of light, dressy fabrics like silk and chiffon and come in deep fall shades like navy, maroon and evergreen. Some of the most trendy and affordable styles can be found at Forever 21 (www.forever21.com) and Charlotte Russe (www.charlotterusse.com). For a fancier occasion, a one-shoulder looks great because it is not only sleek and classy, but also has an exciting twist. Nordstrom offers a variety of one-shoulder styles for juniors, ranging in price from $45 to $75.
"I always thought it was going to be this soft sensual sort of moment, and suddenly there was this vigorous kissing happening to me."
-- Daniel Radcliff, in People, about his on-screen kiss with Emma Watson in "Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows: Part 1."


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November 15, 1993
Rap, Underground Rap, East Coast Rap
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Album Review
Perhaps no other album of the '90s musically exhibits the shift in the hip-hop ethos that occurred in 1993 better than
Black Moon
's classic gemstone
Enta da Stage
. Listen to this album and you can hear hip-hop change. Prior to this, many of hip-hop's most confrontational vibes were presented as gifts from bellicose outfits like
Public Enemy
Ice Cube
, and other acts whose music raged.
Enta da Stage
features enough of that, but it also offered, perhaps even introduced, a brooding vibe. It was a pioneer sound. The group released "Who Got the Props" in the winter of 1992, about a year before the album dropped in November of 1993. It was a song in the same vein of
's "Throw Ya Gunz," a hard track, with rough rhymes and a staple-NYC hook with a chorus of rowdy b-boys shouting in unison. The album featured similar tracks, from "Make Munne" to "Son Get Wrec" to "Buck Em Down" to the opener, "Powaful Impak!" -- all time-capsule tunes that embody early-'90s NYC hip-hop. The album begins like it was meant to be a Brooklyn version of
. But months prior to the album's release,
Black Moon
's second single, "How Many MC's...," hit the streets. It was a total departure from the vibe present on "Who Got da Props."
DJ Evil Dee
da Beatminerz
supplied a subtly horrific track over which
premiered a more deliberate flow that bespoke controlled menace. There is a story behind this transformation.
said he,
Evil Dee
, and the
5Ft Accelerator
recorded half of the album -- the "Who Got da Props" half -- in 1992 before he went on tour with
Kool G Rap
and a young
Nasty Nas
. During a freestyle cipher, listening to
Kool G Rap
to an epiphany that motivated him to switch up his rhyme-style, and
da Beatminerz
tweaked their production to complement. The "How Many MC's..." half of the album -- songs like "I Gotcha Opin," "Slave," "Shit Iz Real" -- displayed
's new motif: a raspier tone, a more intricate flow and cadence, and a serious presence that was just as threatening as the temperamental MC on the earlier songs. The rowdy crew hooks gave way to what were more like stripped down musical breaks that often featured a jazz horn sample and nothing else. The production -- which should enter into any discussion of the greatest hip-hop production efforts of all time -- was every bit as radical as what the
introduced this same year or the
Bomb Squad
cooked up in the late '80s. The elements existed before, but never had they been synthesized into a hardcore East Coast outfit with the skill and artistry of
Black Moon
Enta da Stage
. The release of this album was overshadowed by the landmark
Wu-Tang Clan
debut and the popular success of
Midnight Marauders
. But make no mistake, this is one of the '90s most important hip-hop classics, an album that deserves its own node on the hip-hop timeline.
Vincent Thomas, Rovi
Track Listing
Powaful Impak!
Niguz Talk Shit
Who Got da Props?
Ack Like U Want It
Buck Em Down
Black Smif-N-Wessun
Son Get Wrec
Make Munne
I Got Cha Opin
Shit Iz Real
Enta da Stage
How Many MC's...
U da Man
Similar Albums
Brand Nubian
In God We Trust
Organized Konfusion
Stress: The Extinction Agenda
Group Home
A Tear for the Ghetto
All of the Above
Boot Camp Clik
The Chosen Few
Various Artists
Slammin': The Ultimate Rap Hits
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|Home | Past Issues | Submission Guidelines | Reviewer's Page | About the Editor | NREA Homepage
Original manuscripts will be considered for publication from university faculty, specialists in the field of rural education, as well as teachers and administrators in rural schools. All manuscripts are submitted to a blind peer review without reference to name or institution. Authors will be notified of acceptance or rejection as soon as the review process is completed. Issues of The Rural Educator are published in the fall, winter, and spring of each academic year. All manuscripts should be submitted as an e-mail attachment to:
- or -
The Rural Educator
The Rural Educator © 2011
R. M. Roberts, Webmaster


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Utopian dependence
April 21, 2013
On what you say? Read on, the kindergartener was standing on the curb waiting for the school bus to pick him up....
There are those of us who are financially unable to attend a 4 year college and get a degree in hopes of better employment, so we're stuck working low paying jobs. It's an unfortunate but very common part of life.
You can have all the money in the world I don't care, I consider myself wealthier than most. I'm healthy, I have a healthy son and a Healthy wife and yes, while I barely make end meet, I DO make ends meet every month. I'd say I'm better off than at least 30% of America.
Getting back on the subject of our government, taxes, etc. You're right, if they gouge taxes out of the rich the rich may very well pack up and leave, as they should, and the poor will be burdened with taxes they cannot handle.
2 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Here is what I believe to be factual, about our society. If you're born into wealth, you have the chance NOT the guarantee, to stay that way. If you're born into a poor family, the chances of you becoming wealthy are not nonexistent but much less than those who are born into wealth.
This country IS established on the mentality of 'keep the rich rich and the poor poor. But that's how must 'revenue based' governments are established.
As far as 'to benefit a few', we already have WAY TOO MANY people on welfare and most of the people on welfare are just as well off as those who are wealthy, they just choose not to see that, not to admit that their free housing and food, etc is equivalent to the people who can easily afford it without the assistance.
Sure the bank accounts look very different and so do the overall life styles but the mentality, isn't really that different. The ability to survive certainly doesn't decrease. Some people CHOOSE to be on welfare.
1 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
"Chuck, it is me who's insane, not the right. My behavior is not the behavior of others."
Really, that apparently does not apply to liberals or Muslims or immigrants. But thanks for admitting you are insane. First step for getting help for yourself.
2 Agrees | 5 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
"The problem is rapidly becoming, how to ID the good guys from the bad." -rmiller [Bomb contorl - Apr-19-13 2:15 PM]
You might do well to consider my mirror comments again.
4 Agrees | 6 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Sideliner--you want Ramps? Go up to Greys Run up stream of the culvert crossing and you can fill a pick up with ramps.
1 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
"It's not the terrorists that we should fear, it is the mirror."
You'll understand while I take a moment and pause for the families in Boston who lost loved ones and don't give a moment of attention to your thoughtless and cruel statement.
6 Agrees | 3 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
We've endured years of high unemployment, millions of Americans have lost their homes and my neighbors delight in writing letters to the paper attacking the poor.
It's not the terrorists that we should fear, it is the mirror.
4 Agrees | 9 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Hello Cheyenne.. thanks for the polite reply. I could have more accurately myself stated that I don't approve of those who abuse our generous welfare system and I do think it's fair to say most like-minded individuals also don't approve. My broader point was that I don't hate the system because of those who abuse it, much like I don't revile the Catholic church because of a few perverted priests. Yes, Ricketts glen was wonderful yesterday, the waterfalls were in their full glory and the trail was exceptionally well attended. I had the added privilege of the company of a new young lady friend, making the day truly memorable. Enjoy your evening!
4 Agrees | 3 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Hi Buff. Personally, I have never heard anyone state that they do not believe the molestation accusations. However, I have noted that many times when someone makes a statement about those that abuse assistance programs, liberals tend to quickly attempt dispel such notions. By the way, I bet the waterfalls at Rickett's were exceptionally nice after the recent rainfall.
4 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Good letter, Mr. Kovich.
5 Agrees | 7 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Hi Cheyenne.. I'd argue that your comment is innaccurate. It's likely more accurate to say that most liberals do not support those who would abuse the welfare system. By your reasoning, do you also assume most conservatives refuse to believe there are Catholic priests who have molested children, typically boys?
2 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
In my opinion, there are two groups that receive assistance. One group dislikes the idea of being dependent on others and makes every effort to pull themselves out of their situation. The other group makes no effort and is quite content living off the labor of others. The majority of non-liberals have no complaints about assisting the first group. The majority of liberals, it seems, refuse to believe the second group exists.
11 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Chuck, it is me who's insane, not the right. My behavior is not the behavior of others.
5 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
"Whose john? Did i miss something? "
Obviously the letter. John is the name of the author of the letter.
2 Agrees | 5 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Ritty continues to display the right's insanity.
4 Agrees | 9 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Whose john? Did i miss something?
0 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
John, you are a whack-a-doodle! First, let me say, I despise the way our govt has grown the dependency of it's citizens. That enslavement is one of the greatest tragedies of our great nation. But, some research on your part would go a long way to making a coherent argument. There ARE many who are too lazy to get off their backsides and work. But, there are also MANY who need help and if they try to better themselves, they are punished by having the help removed. It is an f'd up situation and needs some realistic and honest dialogue, not some two bit whacko spouting his (racially tinged) venom.
5 Agrees | 6 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Quiz time!
CMReeder's bedroom contains the following item(s):
A) A pool table
B) A washer/dryer
C) A sump pump
D) Centipedes
Check all that apply.
10 Agrees | 7 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Thanks, Gavin...
0 Agrees | 5 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
It is no wonder the right is as twisted as they seem.
4 Agrees | 19 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
They can get free cable? How does that work? I heard the government will be giving free internet services for them soon.
2 Agrees | 4 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
"Ritty77 - my concern is the same. Give us FACTS."
Probably won't happen. Heck, someone disagreed that I even asked for an explanation. :)
6 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
@ sideliner, there is a good spot out along the 'sock somewhere, but I do not know where that one is located.
We pick them around Farrandsville, which is across the river from Lock Haven and we have transplanted some in the woods around the house.
1 Agrees | 3 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Ritty77 - my concern is the same. Give us FACTS.
5 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Gavin, where do you get ramps around here? I am originally from Bradford, PA (not Bradford County, but MCKean County) and loved this time of year digging leeks. My daughter was at Wegman's last week where she bought her drooling mother a handful at @ $12.99 a pound!! I've been looking for somewhere here where I can go harvesting. If you have the spot, PLEASE let me know!
3 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
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The Research Activityflow and Middleware Priorities (RAMP) project seeks to improve national research effectiveness by addressing two of the most challenging components of the DEST/JISC E-Framework for Education and Research and the DEST Accessibility Framework – the areas of people-oriented workflows for research processes, and open standards authorisation for protected repositories.
A key focus of the RAMP project is capturing E-Research activityflows so that they can be analysed, shared, re-used and adapted. This will lead to a national website providing a library of "actionable" best practice activityflows for common research processes. This approach draws on the success of capturing and sharing "Learning Designs" within e-learning, and applies it to the challenges of people-based workflow in E-Research. This work will be complemented by theoretical analysis of workflow standards and languages as applied to E-Research.
The second challenging component of the E-Framework that RAMP addresses is open standards authorisation (using XACML – eXtensible Access Control Markup Language). There is an increasing need for flexible management of protected content as part of repositories such as Institutional Repositories, E-Reserves, etc, but most approaches to protected content rely on hardwired or proprietary authorisation mechanisms that are inefficient, costly, inflexible and promote system lock-in. The RAMP project will address the need for open standards authorisation through the creation of a generalised XACML authorisation module that could potentially be adopted by any repository system. This module will be implemented and tested initially using the Fedora repository, based on existing work on Fedora and XACML from MAMS and ARROW. Subsequent implementation with other repository systems will be explored.
The final stage of RAMP will unify the workflow and authorisation components through a "fusion" project to explore interaction and integration between these two areas, and their overall combined impact on the E-Framework. This fusion project will lay the groundwork for potential future work in unified workflow and authorisation services, and their interaction with other E-Framework services.
We independently work with many organizations globally to provide such said e-research activities. One of which is Inversion Table Life, a website dedicated to providing inversion table reviews.


text:
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This sports promo backpack provides style, comfort and plenty of storage


text:
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
A private pilot from New Jersey donated his time and plane to transport a threatened sea turtle to the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue Program for treatment. William Kindle, a board member for the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, N.J., flew the 75-pound juvenile loggerhead to Charleston on his Cessna Citation II aircraft. The injured sea turtle is now receiving treatment at the aquarium sea turtle hospital, bringing the total number of patients to seven.
The loggerhead sea turtle was found in early September at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Forked River, N.J., missing the majority of its right rear flipper. Upon admission, staff at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center discovered that the turtle was not using its left rear flipper, essentially leaving it with no back flippers. The aquarium's sea turtle hospital staff, having just released three sea turtles back into the wild, responded to the Northeastern sea turtle coordinator's request to help the sea turtle with long term treatment. Rehabilitation for the turtle will include physical therapy of the paralyzed limb and cold laser therapy for the wounded limb.
The public can help care for sea turtles during recovery in the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue Program by going to scaquarium.org and making a donation. You can also find out more about visiting the hospital as part of a behind-the-scenes tour now offered twice daily, seven days a week, both schedule and more information are available online.
© 2016 Moultrie News an Evening Post Industries company. All Rights Reserved.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Parental Consent Form.


text:
More Other projects:
Offer some kudos...
Join the conversation...
Ask a question...
Add your comment...
|Here are some details about my project:
|Whimsical, Casual, Traditional, Cute, Classic
What materials did you use? Kona White and refurbished purple fabric that was originally dresses for my girls 14 years ago.
What are you most proud of? That I only had one little mistake and everything is lining up pretty darn good. I didn't let the complexity of the blocks deter me from doing this awesome quilt along.
What advice would you give someone starting this project? Just do it! I'm in no ways a quilter and I'm just learning all these fabulous techniques and it wasn't as bad as what it looks. They give you all the cut measurements to make sure you don't waste any fabric and have enough to do the piecing. Go slow, have fun and enjoy the spectacular results.
I love your block, I love your attitude, and I LOVE your "name"! Looking forward to seeing more-
The two colour palette makes these blocks really striking! Great work.
There are no mistakes...make this your mantra. ; ) Love the black/white contrast, great job!


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My, how time flies when you're having fun. My youngest granddaughter just turned 5 years old. It seems like only yesterday ...
I guess that's what comes with a busy life. And I sure have a busy life. I only work part time (20 hours a week) but am currently writing my eighth book, am working on a project for the state of West Virginia, am running a regular blog, write for several regional publications, write about two articles a day for Examiner.com (a national online-only news source), promote my books and occasionally sleep.
Last year I did 108 book signings, taught a class, worked my regular job and traveled to 18 states. One week this past month I had six book events in seven days. I am neither bragging nor complaining. I kind of like being busy. I look forward to each day with the excitement of knowing that it is a gift from God and needs to be cherished.
That being said, not only do exciting things happen to me, but very strange things happen to me. Is it me, or what? You decide.
I got an email, out of the blue, from a woman I do not know, and have to assume that she found me on the Internet. Her message was entitled "I double dare you." I normally delete those from people I do not know (viruses are everywhere). I am sorry I read this one. Her message was short.
"I love West Virginia. May I move in with you and provide all of your meals in trade for your helping me publish my first book?"
The woman, who is now known in my immediate circle of friends (real friends, not the Facebook kind) as DNHP (Desperate New Hampshire Person), got a terse and hopefully effective reply.
"No thanks."
Normally I would have added my usual cheery "Have a nice day" but in this instance I was not really certain I wanted her to have a nice day. Creepy - that's what that was.
In another instance, I received an email from a classmate from my college who found my recent book listed in the alumni news and grabbed my email address from that publication. He sent me an email in which he proceeded to discuss and question me about something that happened in a math class in 1965 that has always made him curious. I have absolutely no recall of him (he claimed we were buddies) and, in fact, absolutely no recall of ever taking that particular math class. And I also wondered if he had a life or how he managed to have been worried about this particular "important" incident for almost 50 years without resolution. Creepy again.
Recently my laptop had a flashing message that I now had 79 viruses (or is that virusii?). Wow. I had just run some of my cleaning programs that morning. I pondered why the "official looking" message waited until I had 79 viruses to tell me. A much more astute program would have alerted me at say two viruses instead of waiting until I had 79!
In a panic, I called Paul my "computer guy" and found out that what was appearing on my screen was called "scare ware." Good name for sure. Sure scared the heck out of me. Paul said the sites look official and want you to respond without thinking, sending them money so they can then use your credit card to drain your bank account. There should be a law against that. Creepy for a third time.
Those were definitely creepy. This incident is just plain weird. On a recent trip with the Civil War Roundtable of the Jefferson County Museum, a small group was touring the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. A large section had been set aside for the Civil War dead from Gettysburg. I walked past and was taking photographs down the road when my associates called to supposedly show me a grave of someone I would be interested in. The grave they claimed to have found was of John Wesley Culp, a Shepherdstown soldier and a main character in my latest book.
Knowing full well that Wesley's body had never been found, I wasn't taking the bait. I knew they were pulling my leg. They insisted. I resisted. They insisted some more. I relented. They were right. There was a headstone for him. I was puzzled, astonished and dumbfounded. (I rarely am all three at once, but in this instance, I was all three of the above.)
Upon further review, I discovered that the Hollywood Cemetery allows for memorial headstones for any Confederate soldier regardless of where they were buried and obviously even for those who aren't officially buried anywhere. A marker can be placed for the quite reasonable price (according to the brochure) of just $100. Great! Someone honored Wesley Culp with a fine marker. He deserved it. He gave his life for the cause.
The problem I have, and what makes it weird, is that researchers in the future will find that grave or other similar markers placed at a convenient spot rather than where the soldier is actually buried. Those students of history will probably then make the not too far-fetched assumption that John Wesley Culp is actually buried right there, at the marker, instead of being still missing. They will tell the world of their amazing new historic discovery. And history will be re-written with all the former research will be negated. And they will be wrong!
I do not make these things up. I just get up each morning and forge ahead.
And for all of you reading this right now, with the exception of the woman known now as DNHP, please have a nice day.


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Universe Shark circles into Crooked I on Thursday
The Chinese are wrong. This isn't the year of the snake; it's the year of the shark, thanks to Syfy's ridiculous "Sharknado" and record ratings for Discovery Network's Shark Week.
Now we have Universe Shark, a ferocious Buffalo band that circles into Crooked I tonight.
"I think it was during Shark Week we were thinking of (the name)," said Adam Bronstein, the band's guitarist. "We did have one friend, a mutual friend of the band, who really liked sharks. We pitched it to him, and he loved it."
This band has considerable chops and is also out for blood, namely yours, by bringing fearless improvisation to its live show. They play with the adventurousness of a jazz band, and their music has some fusion elements. But they rock.
"I think what people respond to is a couple things. One, the ferociousness that we all bring to improvisation," Bronstein said. "It's high energy, firing on all cylinders, take no prisoners improvisation.
"People also like that sense of watching a performance of us linking up and rolling along," he added. "Like, 'How is this next measure going to turn over? Oh, my God.' And we keep building and people get on board with that and sucked in. Sometimes we get people kind of half-dancing with jaws dropped."
When the band is totally on, members in sync, they ascend elsewhere.
"To us, it feels almost like going into a trance," Bronstein said. "We'll get done with like a half-hour improvisation, which is a long one, and feel like, 'Oh, where was I just there?' People tell us we have crazy faces. The keyboard player looks like he's possessed at times, his head waving in all sorts of directions."
Their proficiency at improvising is no accident. Bronstein said the band routinely leaves practice time to explore.
"It's almost like having exercises to help us be aware when the moment comes," he said. "It makes us more comfortable on stage. We feel when this is happening, we can go anywhere."
Not surprisingly, all four members love jazz. Keyboard player Scotty Martin is a Jimmy McGriff fan; Bronstein cites guitarists such as Pat DiMartino, Pat Metheny and John Scofield as influences. Yet, the one artist that binds the group -- the one which everyone loves -- is, surprisingly, Metallica. That explains why they're more rock than jazz.
"We call ourselves carnivorous space funk, but the carnivorous part seems to come out harder edged," Bronstein said. "It's like jazz in our heads. But it doesn't always come out sounding like jazz."
Universe Shark plays at Crooked I tonight, then hits Night Lights at the Heron, a two-day fest in Sherman, N.Y., on Friday, where they'll link up with their buddies in Aqueous, plus Marco Benevento and Schleigho.
Can a shark survive in that musical woods? This one can.


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Ghost investigator Cal Gearon calmly suggests I quit looking where the invisible stench clings and instead take in the hazy vista above me.
"You learn to look up," he says plainly, as if we are sitting poolside sipping margaritas and not traipsing through an abandoned gravesite in the middle of the night.
"Demons can hang right above your head." I snap my head back -- and quick. Much as I want to experience the paranormal, it doesn't upset me to see there is no snickering demon lurking above me, or anyone else in our ghost-busting party.
Do ghosts really exist? I've had too many experiences that I can't explain any other way. But I know there are plenty of people who scoff at the very notion of visitations from the "other side." They say ghosts are imaginary, reflections, shadows, scientifically explainable or simply nonsense. I'm open to being wrong, and that's one reason I'm tagging along on this hunt.
Can I prove or disprove the existence of otherworldly spirits?
No. But I can tell you this: There are people trying to do just that, and they are dead serious about it.
Cal is one of them. Tonight, the 35-year-old Ocean County man, who runs Spectors Investigations, is leading our exploration of the spooky Tomb of the 12 Nuns in Warren Township. Cal has a day job as a warehouse manager, but he started his no-pay night job about six years ago to prove, or debunk, the existence of ghosts and creepy myths and legends in the Garden State and beyond.
"It's a worldwide ghost hunt. Eventually we'll go to Canada and England," he says of his company's plans to meet up with other paranormal investigators.
Cal says he'll go wherever the ghost trail leads, though for now the group's adventures have been Jersey-based. Members have made trips to a former Lambertville high school, where they say a human-like entity watched the team from a window; the Alpine Clock Tower, nicknamed the Devil's Tower, which Cal calls "a paranormal pit stop" because spirits can stop to absorb energy from the area's high electromagnetic fields (EMFs); and the Gates of Hell in Clifton, where the team says it found free-flowing ectoplasmic mists outside a tunnel -- even though there was no air flow. Cal says the mists were ghostly manifestations showing physical mass and form.
Not all investigations turn up paranormality, though. Clinton Road in West Milford has a rep for being haunted, but the Spectors investigators say while the road is scary to drive at night, it's no ghostly gathering spot. On this investigation, I've come with a photographer and videographer. Cal also has his crew: his brother, Shane Gearon, 30; Jen Niedrach, 25; Joe Munger, 28; Craig Fisco, 35; and Todd "T.J." Larsen, 25, all of Ocean County. We'll spend the better part of three hours walking around the tomb and searching its environs, as well as clicking pictures and taking temperature and EMF readings. We're even going to try cajoling ghosts out into the open. Team members apply science and deduction to their gauzy observations.
"My theory is, to be in this world you have to be made of something," Shane says of the physical laws that govern our planet and every being in it. He adds that he and Cal test their theories before making determinations. "We don't fake stuff."
EMF readings rise and temperatures drop when positive or negative energy starts to manifest, the Spectors folks tell me. Cal explains a cold blast occurs because the entities are absorbing the energy surrounding their entry points to our realm. He says to imagine Swiss cheese, with the ghosts popping through the holes from their world to ours. Who knows what they are like on the other side, but he says here they must assume some form, be it an orb (more about that later) or a full-bodied entity. Cal says he has heard ghost laughter and hopes to be able to communicate at some point to learn whether -- and how much -- intelligence resides in them.
"To operate on our plane of reality, they have to play by our rules," Cal says. "A real haunting will always effect changes in the immediate physical environment." Most of Spectors' work involves places rumored to be haunted -- roads and various buildings, some public and some abandoned -- and Cal says the group has plans to film a television pilot based on its nocturnal hobby. If successful, the group's show would join the likes of Syfy's "Ghost Hunters" and the Travel Channel's "Most Haunted." In the meantime, team members have made a DVD of some of their ghost hunts, and a website, spectorsinvestigations.com.
They also have plans to visit the Burlington prison museum in Mount Holly and Cape May and Barnegat lighthouses, provided permission is granted. The group goes out once or twice a month during hunting season, which runs from April to early November. Ghost stories spill freely from Cal. There's the one about Cindy Ely, a Toms River convenience store employee who told Cal a few months ago that she felt a presence in her car. Cal used a high-pixel camera with a strong flash to photograph the green Hyundai Elantra's interior and found two outlines of human forms, one in the front passenger seat and another sitting diagonally behind it in the back seat. That night, Ely tells me in a separate interview, she stopped the car on her way home from work, opened a door on the passenger side and ordered "Everyone out!"
The freeloading ghosts apparently hit the road -- and presumably found another ride. Cal says he likes that story because Ely stood up for herself. He tells another story, this one about a Brick Township woman, to illustrate a different lesson.
The woman, who he cannot name because she has not given her permission, e-mailed Cal earlier this year to say she had seen her father's ghost at the end of her driveway. The ghost was now in the house and was tormenting her young children. At one point, she says, her son felt like his head was being covered and he couldn't breathe.
"This thing is holding my kids down to the bed. I'm starting to think it might not be my dead father," Cal recalls the mother saying. "I said, 'Duh.' "Taking the woman at her word, Cal told her that from his experience she most likely was visited by a dark mass -- negative energy that impersonated her father to gain entry to the home.
"They feed off of emotion," he says. The team doesn't conduct many house investigations, though that may change when the crew finishes custom building more detection equipment. Cal estimates that so far he has spent $100,000 on the Spectors venture -- from his customized black Dodge Durango, with ghost-logo detailing and Hallow1 license plates, to assorted tools like cameras, electromagnetic detectors, thermometers and, of course, flashlights. (Team members tell me they carry loads of batteries because paranormal phenomena consider them food and keep draining their power.)
So do they believe in ghosts?
"If we believed in them, we would just sit home on our butts and believe all the myths and legends," Cal says. "People say 'I don't believe in ghosts,' and we say 'We don't either, that's why we check it out.' "
And that's why we're here at this decrepit gray, stone tomb in Somerset County after midnight on a nearly breathless and moonless hot night in late July. The tomb is a mausoleum, and while nuns may have visited, it appears none was ever lain to rest here. Spectors' investigators believe the name is local lore but so far have been unable to fathom how it came about. The websites weirdnj.com and lostdestinations.com also have been unsuccessful in tracing the name's origin. The crypt actually belonged to the Hofheimer family, which a century ago owned land and a copper mine in the area, according to both websites. The name is chiseled above an interior that appears ravaged behind its Doric columns and wrought-metal gate. A stone slab is missing from the roof.
The area is said to be a favorite haunt of lovers -- though we see no such evidence on our visit and I cannot imagine anyone, Dracula and Edward Cullen included, finding the place remotely romantic. It's not even that secluded: Sure, it's down a dirt road, but there are houses close by. In fact, early on we hear mumbled conversation, which we initially mistake for ghosts, coming from one of the homes.
Before long, however, a little spirit action gets going.
"We have a very large orb here," one of the crew calls out from an area to the right of the tomb. We all tramp over and -- snap! -- a camera goes off to capture the image. An orb, Cal says, is the simplest form of a spirit manifestation. For Spectors to consider it a spirit orb and not simply garden-variety water vapor, it has to have movement, an EMF reading, an energy trail like a comet, a color (purple, green, white, blue, red, orange/amber) or the outline of facial features or a letter -- as if it's trying to communicate.
"Just as there are different types of people, we believe there are different types of ghosts," Cal says. At Lambertville, the group saw a "master organizer," or a full-bodied manifestation, in a window. Orbs surrounded the entity, but Cal notes it was a dominant spirit and had negative attributes because it drained the team's batteries. "We come across so many classes of ghosts, it's kind of like a society."
According to the Skeptic's Dictionary at skepdic.com, paranormal phenomena can have all-too-normal explanations. The orbs some call multidimensional beings that can only be seen with a camera, for instance, could be nothing more than captured reflections or specks of dirt or bugs on camera lenses.
Cal and company ardently disagree. They say they have photographed many orbs in their travels and on this night take pains to rule out reflections and other contaminating sources. One orb goes into a tree, and we also see the faint outline of a face with a red mouth and eyes. The team tries to rule nature in, or out.
"We're getting major spirit activity back here," someone calls out.
Snap! Snap! Snap!
The investigators determine it's the same orb moving from place to place. Meanwhile, Craig is behind the tomb, leaning over the worn chain-link fence that surrounds it. Some mischievous soul has spray-painted "Exit!" on the exterior wall, and Craig tries to take an EMF reading. He sees decaying wood -- coffins? -- before he is overcome by the smell of rotten meat. Then something pushes him back. Spooked, he hauls you know what out of there.
"Craig doesn't scare easily," Joe says.
Not that he hasn't had the opportunity. Craig has become something of a paranormal magnet, Cal says, and he later observes three orbs over his teammate's head. Near the end of our visit, we invite any ghosts who may be present to show themselves, but the spirits apparently are not with us and we give up after 20 minutes or so.
"Ghosts are very intimidated, too," Cal says. "If there are too many people, they just won't show up." What do show up, however, are bloodthirsty bugs. We also stumble on uneven ground and overgrown foliage and wonder uneasily whether those animals -- deer? coyotes? bears?! -- whose eyes are glinting in the beams of our flashlights are going to charge at us.
We're not too proud to run like scared children when a beast with blue eyes spooks us. But out of kindness we won't say which one of us fell and which one started laughing as a result.
As we pack up to head out, the belief is there is "activity" at the tomb, but it does not appear to be as haunted as other places the Spectors' crew has investigated.
"We believe there is something there," Cal says in a followup interview two weeks later. "But because we were not able to get inside the tomb, we don't believe we were a threat to whatever may be there -- so there was no need for a ghost to manifest. We believe sometimes ghosts show themselves to show that's their turf."
Like that time at the Ringoes train station.
"That's where I got attacked," says Jen. During a spring visit, a man from another ghost-hunting team was heckling a dark shadow that was peeking its "head" in and out of a train car where the groups were investigating. The ghost was not amused, and it rushed her, she says.
"I felt flushed. I felt like something was laying on my body," she recalls. Jen says she had the sensation of heat on the front of her body and cold on the back. After the spirit moved past, or through, her, she was left shivering, she says. On another haunt jaunt late last fall at the Grenville Hotel and Restaurant in Bay Head, the temperature dropped 50-plus degrees for a moment on the porch as an ethereal creature whisked past a camera lens, Cal says. Earlier that same night, Joe had a close encounter with a ghost when he followed Craig from Room 304 into Room 303, and his friend simply vanished.
"I never left" the first room, Craig says. "I don't know what he followed out -- it wasn't me." After the investigation, team members pore over their photos of the Tomb of the 12 Nuns looking for orbs and mist-like distortions. Their findings eventually join the evidence from other investigations on Spectors' website. The site also offers a paranormal primer, identifying, for example, three types of dark masses and describing the doomsday scenario some predict will occur on or around Dec. 21, 2012. "There's a paranormal imprint here due to history," Cal says as we leave the tomb. "But as far as it being straight-up haunted, we can't tell until the evidence is fully reviewed."
So, what do you think, do you believe in ghosts?
If you've got more at stake with vampires, check out our story on the Vampires of New Jersey here: http://www.nj.com/insidejersey/index.ssf/2009/10/vampires_of_new_jersey.html


text:
Morrissey Is Working on an Album and a Novel
Multitasking.By Amanda Dobbins
Multitasking.By Amanda Dobbins
It's from the pilot for Alpha House, and it's the best.By Jesse David Fox
He's also doing a week on Fallon.By Amanda Dobbins
Through his own HarperCollins imprint.By Zach Dionne
Host and musical guest.By Amanda Dobbins
Called Proof, about verifying life after death.By Zach Dionne
Not music videos. Shows.By Zach Dionne
Based on Steve Harvey's book, 'Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man.'By Andre Tartar
While also doing other things.By Amanda Dobbins


text:
To the Editor.—Dr Lam and colleagues1 and Dr Chen and colleagues2
report striking data that quantify the impact of tobacco use on smoking-related
mortality in China. These generally well-designed studies have a deficiency
in research methods that is common to virtually all scientific reports of
smoking-related disease statistics: they use an inaccurate and potentially
misleading categorization of smoking status.
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text: The Quiet Life follows up its Au Natural pack with a Hawaii-inspired Mahalo pack for spring. Like many of The Quiet Life's offerings, this pack features a bright all-over print — Hawaiian flora and topless ladies in this case — across a selection of camp caps and bucket hats. Bright, fun and just a little bit daring, the Mahalo pack is for those who are ready for a splash of color this spring. Look for these at select stockists and online starting April 26.


text:
Featured Golf News
EWGA Earns First-Place Award at Annual ING Industry Honors
January 31, 2012. The Executive Women's Golf Association - an organization that enables current and aspiring business and professional women to learn, connect and play through golf - captured first place in the Player Development category at the 19th Annual ING Industry Honors awards program on January 27 at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla.
The EWGA beat out two other finalists - Tradition Golf Club and the Virginia State Golf Association Foundation - in the category, one of 12 at the awards ceremony attended by leaders in the industry last week. EWGA was lauded for connecting more than 100,000 women through golf, offering ongoing education and training to improve both their game and careers.
"At its core, golf is a social sport that connects people," said EWGA Chief Executive Officer Pam Swensen. "It's a great honor to be recognized for harnessing that power among working women, knowing it helps in keeping them in the game longer, and providing a platform of mentorship and support for golf's next generation."
The EWGA is the largest women-focused amateur golf association in the U.S., with 125 chapters in nearly every U.S. major market and corporate center, and in Canada and Europe. It provides affordable, organized golf; free networking; business and success insights from accomplished executives; travel and equipment discounts; and a variety of local and national benefits. Nearly 75 percent of the members play more than 25 rounds per year and are considered avid golfers. The organization welcomes an average of 3,000 new or beginner golfers annually.
The ING Industry Honors were created 20 years ago to recognize outstanding achievement in numerous categories from the golf business, and are presented annually. The program is conducted by the non-profit International Network of Golf (www.inggolf.com).
Nominations for the ING Industry Honors were solicited and accepted from anyone involved in the golf industry. Subcommittees, including experts related to each specific category, then reviewed all nominations and trimmed the list to three in each category. The inclusion of these subcommittee experts, who are not necessarily ING members, ensured a thorough review of all nominees. A ballot describing nominees in each category was placed on the ING voting site. Voting was open to all current ING members.
For more information about the EWGA, membership and chapter locations, visit www.ewga.com.
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text:
Our pop-up Christmas design store The Temporium has opened at 65 Monmouth Street in Seven Dials, Covent Garden in London. More »
Tag: christmas shop
Playbutton musical badges at The Temporium
The Temporium 2011: Playbutton is a badge with a built-in MP3 player that plays a preloaded album when headphones are attached. Playbutton is available at our Christmas pop-up store The Temporium but we only have ten so get there fast! More »
Latest designers and brands
at The Temporium
Our Christmas pop-up store The Temporium opens tomorrow and will host an eclectic array of designers and brands including Australian company Matilda, who will showcase a selection of products and furniture by designers from Down Under (Dove Stools by Brian Steendyk shown above).
Read on for details of other products that will be available at The Temporium including padded pockets for portable devices, indestructible maps and much more... More »
Even more designers and brands
at The Temporium
The latest batch of designers and brands to be added to the line up for our Christmas pop-up store The Temporium include WRAP magazine (above), whose large format pull-out illustrations are perfect for wrapping presents.
There are also pencils in the shape of crucifixes, lace-up leather grips for handlebars, deluxe paper planes and much more… More »
20% discount at Seven Dials Christmas
shopping event on 1 December
Dezeen promotion: the opening of our Christmas pop-up store The Temporium on Thursday 1 December coincides with the Seven Dials shopping event and you can receive a 20% discount on all Dezeen Watch Store products as well as at other nearby stores on the evening by registering on the Seven Dials website. More »
Dezeen presents The Temporium: take part
in our Christmas design shop
The Temporium 2011: we're now accepting applications to take part in The Temporium, our pop-up design store in London this Christmas. More »
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text:
Essence Carson remembers the games at the West 4th Street Courts in Manhattan. That's where her playing days with Kia Vaughn began, not long before the pair played together at Rutgers.
"The Cage," as the courts have come to be known, promotes a tough, physical style of play, especially for inside players. And through countless games, one thing stands out to Carson.
"It was just consistent," Carson said Tuesday, "that Kia would always own the paint."
Carson saw Vaughn continue that while they played together at Rutgers under coach C. Vivian Stringer. And she's seeing it continue this year, as Vaughn has emerged as a force inside for the Liberty and has flourished under Liberty head coach John Whisenant's system.
Vaughn will look to continue her breakout season as the Liberty (9-7) return to action at the Prudential Center, taking on Washington (3-12) at 7 p.m.
After last weekend's All-Star Game, the Liberty sit at third in the Eastern Conference. Among the biggest reasons for that is the play of Vaughn and fellow inside threat Plenette Pierson.
The duo took the places of Taj McWilliams-Franklin and Janel McCarville, who combined to average 11.3 rebounds last season.
"It was mixed feelings," Vaughn said of her mindset at the start of the season. "But something that I've learned — something that I love Coach Stringer for — is always being mentally prepared for anything."
Pierson came in with eight years of WNBA experience, and Vaughn, in her third season, saw most of her stats diminish last season — including her minutes.
Whisenant, though, was optimistic before the season. He said it was Vaughn's "time to shine."
So far this year, she's averaging 11.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. And she's shooting 53.3 percent from the floor, almost a 20 percent increase from last season.
"For a player who was the fourth post on this team a year ago," Whisenant said, "that's a dramatic improvement."
Vaughn met with Whisenant inside Madison Square Garden before she left to play in Israel during the WNBA offseason. He told her to work on specific post moves during her time in Israel to smooth the transition to his offense.
When she came back and the Liberty went through two weeks of nonstop training camp in May and June, Whisenant identified areas of her footwork where she needed improvement.
"John has allowed me to play," Vaughn said of Whisenant. " He's let me be a free bird offensively."
It's a free style that took her back to the confidence — and dominance — Carson recalls at West 4th Street. And from her recent stretch of 12 games out of 13 with double-digit points, it's a style that has paid dividends for the Liberty.
"Everything I feel with how I am now, with how I was even when I had my dominant play back at West 4th or what I do overseas," Vaughn said, "it's all based on the confidence you have in yourself."
Brett LoGiurato: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
DOHA: Banks in Qatar recorded the highest year-on-year growth of 21.3 percent in loan books in the fourth quarter of 2014 (4Q13) in the Gulf region. Given the strong growth in loan books, the region's net interest income (NII) was also led by Qatar-based banks with 22.6 percent in 4Q13.
Overall, the loan book growth among GCC banks increased 11.1 percent YoY to $669.5bn in 4Q13. The high growth rate of banks in Qatar was followed by the banks in UAE (9.3 percent), Saudi Arabia (9.1 percent) and Kuwait (6.5 percent).
The "GCC Banking Sector 4Q13" report of Global Investment House (GIH) noted that banks in Qatar maintained their loan growth momentum on increased public sector spending. Moreover, acquisitions by Qatar National Bank and Commercial Bank during the year boosted loan growth considerably. Among Qatar-based banks, Commercial Bank, Qatar National Bank, and Doha Bank registered loan book growth of 37.6 percent, 24.3 percent and 21.8 percent YoY, respectively
"NII of GCC banks grew 10.9 percent YoY and 2.1 percent quarter-on-quarter. Banks in Qatar recorded the highest NII growth (22.6 percent), followed by those in the UA E (10.9 percent) and Saudi Arabia (7.8 percent)," the report said. Commercial Bank witnessed a robust growth of 36.6 percent YoY in NII driven by increased loan book and other factors. Qatar National Bank reported a 26.1 percent due to the consolidation of subsidiary NSGB.
Total deposits of GCC banks under GIH converge expanded 11.7 percent YoY to $744.4bn in 4Q13. Qatar-based banks witnessed the strongest growth in deposits with 24.5 percent YoY, followed by banks in the UAE (10.5 percent) and Kuwait (10.2 percent). However, on QoQ basis, deposit growth was sluggish and remained at 2.1 percent YoY.
Loan-to-deposit ratios of GCC banks in GIH's coverage remained at 89.9 percent in 4Q13 compared with 90.5 percent in 4Q12. Among individual banks, Commercial Bank of Qatar led with a 53.2 percent YoY growth in deposit base, followed by Qatar National Bank (24.3 percent), Doha Bank (23.6 percent) and Burgan Bank (19.1 percent).
Provision expense of the banks increased 18.2 percent YoY during 4Q13, mainly due to significant increase in provisions of Qatar and Saudi-based banks. Commercial Bank of Qatar's provisions for impaired loans grew by a whopping 163.8 percent YoY due to provisions taken against emerging market emerging market strategic equity investments. Qatar National Bank registered a 60 percent YoY rise in provisions due to growth in its overall loan portfolio. The Peninsula


text:
• This article details the results of 114 abscesses found after 32 284 operations during a 30-day prospective infection surveillance. Abscesses occurred more often after gastric/esophageal (3.6%), colonic/appendiceal (2.8%), and pancreatic/biliary (1.5%) operations. Abscesses were intra-abdominal (58%), pelvic/perineal (31%), and retroperitoneal (3%). The most common pathogens were Escherichia coli, enterococci, and Bacteroides organisms. Abscess symptoms appeared 10±6 days (mean ±SEM) after surgery and were drained 8±8 days after onset of symptoms. Hospital stay from onset of symptoms to discharge was four times greater than that for wound infection. Twenty-seven patients (28%) died. Mortality was increased in patients older than 50 years and in those with renal failure or multiple abscesses. Nosocomial abscesses had a greater morbidity than wound infection. Excessive expense and high mortality warrant infection surveillance for both wound infection and ongoing nosocomial abscesses.
(Arch Surg 1989;124:356-361)
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