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A recessionary environment can provide a platform for innovation and economic growth through entrepreneurialism and creative thinking and we encourage our clients to take novel approaches to countering the downturn.
It's not that complicated. So tell me why everyone has to screw it up prolifically enough that I have to be brought in. The basic business model for a family restaurant is something like this: Sell the pizza for a decent price and don't give anyone food poisoning. Everything above that is a plus.
I am a restaurant consultant second, I am a business consultant first, and I choose to give credit where it is due, because it is a hard, long and often lonely journey for which success is not inevitable.
Digital TrendsOpenTable wants to make paying the check completely painlessDigital TrendsDetailed by the New York Times, the restaurant reservations company OpenTable is branching out into the mobile payments market. While an OpenTable user typically on…
Every week at least one business owner comes to me with self-pitying stories about how a bad employee single-handedly wrecked their ship and put them into the horrible place they're now treading to stay afloat in.
When I visit a restaurant, I do not spend my time focusing on the small fires because there are too many of them and even if I did, they would pop up again as soon as I leave.
I love the concept and execution of Kickstarter.com because it demands success while fostering innovation and growth in those whose contributions to the world would remain pipe dreams if not for crowd funding.
Yet in all these cases they are purely a reflection of a bad manager, a bad leader, but not necessarily a reflection of someone who is not a visionary, not great at what they do or cannot see the future for their company.
A restaurant thinking bankruptcy or financing is the solution to the problem is mistaken, it can be the nail in the coffin. Bankruptcy and financing are not solutions to a problem. They are tools to be used as part of an overall plan where these are the only viable options.
From years of experience, we have our list of restaurant operation tips not based on science or analysis but rather items you can react on and implement immediately.
Each KPI has its place as part of an overall restaurant revenue management system but only RevPASH focuses on profit and maximization of your capacity and how effectively a restaurant is using its inventory (seats) to generate revenue
Typically executed during the "good times", they have proved to be an onerous burden on struggling units and when cash flow is tight and a business needs to be lean, the ability to renegotiate these leases is often the 'make or break' factor.
Bringing in an experienced restaurant consultant can save money, find money and create money. A Restaurant Consultant provides expertise, insight and experience gained from countless clients and endless problems.
For someone who is familiar with six sigma, would they not prefer to eat a restaurant or stay at a hotel where they know the principles have been implemented?
Restaurants open their doors intending on building a unit with strong sales, a great product and a healthy cash flow – all at the expense of profit.
How do Livebookings, Rezbook Eveve and all the competition actually gain market dominance? They dont, they are focusing on competing not controlling.
Restaurant consultants that focuses on restaurant turnaround, with our handbook, contacts and defenses based on a mix of legal statute, experience and commercial savvy.
Sell All Casual Dining Stocks?Motley FoolBetween improving unemployment trends and the tax-padded paychecks that began going out this month, the restaurant chains that missed out on your regular …
The OpenTable Restaurant Reservation System should be looked at as brokers of restaurant inventory (open seats), the gatekeeper to restaurant inventory.
2011 Top Food Trends: Home Cookin'Phoenix New Times (blog)10 2011 @ 9:00AM Last week local chefs shared restaurant predictions with Michele Laudig, and Wynter Holden mused about her high hopes for Steampunk …and more »
Did we predict the new linear trend in the price index for "restaurants"?The Market FinancialIn 2011, one cannot exclude the difference to decline below the new trend. Thus, the index of "restaurants" will be growing faster that the core …
Top 10 dessert trends for 2011Examiner.com… list of emerging dessert trends was culled by such notable sources as the Center for Culinary Development and the National Restaurant Association. …
Columbus DispatchOn Restaurants Glass half-full?Columbus Dispatch(This year) it's gonna be less about trends and more about what people want for the long term." Although the Marshalls have had more setbacks than most …
The GuardianWish we were there: trends for 2011The GuardianYou'll probably want to save as much money as possible for pampas-fed steak and Malbec (or eat in on of the city's "secret" restaurants if you're on a …
Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)Oakland News: Tiki Tom Davies Still Missing After Restaurant FireSan Francisco Chronicle (blog)This Oakland News follow-up to this blogger's post about Tiki Tom's Restaurant and its owner Tom Davies in what turn…
The creation of a recipe book and menu bible for all ingredients and dishes in your restaurant,s reduces waste, increases efficiency and allows for restaurant growth.
As a restaurant owner you must remember to focus on happy, profitable customers rather than growth without regard to financial impact.
Penguins, Pinkberry and a hundred other copycats: These and countless other frozen yogurt stores go in and, all too often, out of fashion cyclically. At first glance, they are a very attractive business model both for property owners and for operators.
The economic challenges we are all facing compound the view that current incentives are inappropriate and can lead to problems triggered by a lack of short, medium or long term accountability for corporate decision making. Bonuses are generated by short term deliverables which may not be in the best interest of the company and a logical replacement to this practice is a more long term, golden handcuff arrangement. Share schemes are a safe and fair way to motivate staff whilst ensuring their goals are entirely aligned with those of the whole company.
As restaurant consultants we are required to explain to clients o a daily basis what we mean when we say that 'a customer does all the work' in a restaurant, not the operator. Whilst the concept is initially indigestible for an operator, it is nevertheless true. The customer does all the work.
Hotel Consulting | Why Mass Market and Generic Appeal Can Be The Strategy For The "Cheap Hotel Rooms" Epidemic
Economic crisis, lower than average consumer spending, third party booking sites, commission based sales and tourism taking a turn for the worse are all paths that lead to the same location – lower average room rates (ARR). The strain from the online retail model continues to put tremendous pressure on rates, forcing operators to believe that even lower rates must be offered to these online consortia.
How a casino's approach to staffing can affect the whole business | How slashing your workforce and promoting junior staff to senior positions saves cash flow in the short term …. But irrevocably and negatively affects the business as a whole in the medium to long term. OnSite look at how to take proactive steps to managing your workforce.
The Casino Floor has multimillion dollar software given the rate and speed of transactions and the automation of the gaming process. More often than not, Food and Beverage has excel spreadsheets at best. This is not about software. In these cases, software is mostly purchased as a solution to a problem when the problem is actually that very person formulating the solution. You cannot purchase food cost control, only people can. Software just cuts the man hours down and translates the data into more readable fashion for cross analysis.
Restaurant Consulting | Why A Blackberry Can Be A Restaurant Owner's Most Valuable Restaurant Promotion Tool
In a restaurant market full of competition, what separates you from your neighbor? Service, ambiance, price, parking and décor can all be strong factors in swaying a potential customer's decision. However one fact always seems to get lost somewhere and that is the ability for your customers to get in contact with you either to make a reservation, discuss special needs or even book their company holiday party. As restaurant consultants, we know that restaurant customer service is the critical and often overlooked as an area than can directly drive improved business when given appropriate attention.
The National Purchasing Program (NPP) is designed for our nationwide restaurant clients of all sizes, enabling them to join a network and benefit from the purchasing power of each other. Providing prices lower than one sole operator can negotiate whether you are a single unit location or a growing franchise. The combination of the NPP multi million dollar purchasing and the constant and aggressive negotiating on behalf of the whole group benefit each and every member.
OnSite Consulting references those restaurants offering 'unbeatable offers', we have for some time been expressing concerns that dropping prices or offering 'unbeatable deals' is not the quick fix that venues need. These offers rarely bring in the level of new business expected, the restaurant often carries the loss associated with such loss leading discounts for a long period of time and returning to a price point which does make sense for the business can be deeply unpopular.
For restaurants intending to implement an arbitration policy, there are many steps to take prior to an actual arbitration. These range from peer reviews to an 'open door policy' where employers and employees can negotiate without an arbitrator present. Whatever a company chooses to do, of primary importance is ensuring the policy is clearly defined and understood, with the intention always being to resolve the issue prior to arbitration but knowing that arbitration itself is a practical and cost effective alternative to entering the court room.
I asked one of the servers whether if someone asked me if she was pretty I responded "she is ok" would she be satisfied – immediately it clicked, if she is not satisfied with being described as OK then how can she be satisfied with asking our customers if the restaurant is OK. By definition OK means the minimum acceptable level and i have to believe your restaurant is striving for more.
In this market, not completing a form or having bad penmanship or having a sheet with something spilled on it, the lender is also looking that the application as an extension of your ability to run a business. If you turn in your "homework" and it's all messed up and you can't read it, it's going to be an indication of how you intend to handle a business, of how serious you are about getting this loan done. You're asking these guys to trust that you're going to repay the money.
When a waiter is trained and gets a position, he should be told what is expected from him in regards to service. He will be given x amount of tables in the establishment which will be called his station and even though he is paid a wage, his station is his own business. The better […]
This article is a great "reality check" between what the books preach and the reality of $$$ in your pocket. The ability to look at both the percentage as part of your overall operation (macro), and the real dollar value as part of your kitchen cost centre (micro). Most culinary schools today are still teaching […]
Over the past two years the State Board Of Equalization has been conducting a "pilot program" to determine the lost, unreported or otherwise uncollected restaurant sales and use tax revenue.
Q. I'm ready to open a bar; I have savings or a cool concept – what should my first step be? A. As a hospitality operations consultant, I spend a lot of time with first time clients – some have amazing concepts that belong in a metropolitan area; others have a desire just to […]
Given the current economic climate, the need to raise capital, and the difficulty in doing so. Why the problem can be more acute for the hospitality industry.
Restaurant Operators are not just having to deal with the annual, seasonal drop in sales, but also a simultaneous and overlapping crash on consumer confidence


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Election Day's Erie region forecast: Partly sunny skies
Today will be partly sunny with a high near 42, says the National Weather Service.
It will become partly cloudy tonight. The low is around 35.
Wednesday will be mostly sunny with light winds. The high is near 44.
Sunny skies and mid-40s temperatures are predicted for Thursday.
The high will move into the lower 50s on Friday. It will be mostly sunny.
Sign up for weather text alerts and a daily forecast message at GoErie.com/alerts. Go to GoErie.com/weather for forecasts and real-time radar.

subset: commoncrawl


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Terhune Orchards in Lawrenceville will host the third annual Sustainable Fare for Sustainable Jersey fundraiser to benefit Sustainable Jersey on Thursday, July 31, from 5-9 p.m.
Renowned chefs from across the state will come together to celebrate the farm-to-table movement and promote awareness about sustainability efforts while raising money for Sustainable Jersey's programs.
"Sustainable Jersey has played a critical role in the progress many towns across the Garden State have made in advancing environmental stewardship and healthy communities," said Pam Mount, owner of Terhune Orchards and chairman of the Sustainable Jersey Board of Directors. "The night will be a great celebration of local food and wonderful chefs who are known for their dedication to focusing on fresh local ingredients. The event has been a big hit the last two years and we are happy to be hosting it again at our farm."
Guests will enjoy cocktails and a seven-course meal made from New Jersey sourced ingredients and paired with Terhune Orchards' own award-winning wines. Live music will be performed by the popular Riverside Band, a local five-piece acoustic string group, throughout the meal. Diners will be treated to an overview of each course by the chef that prepared it, as well as an explanation of its wine pairing by Gary Mount of Terhune Orchards. and diners will be sent home with local produce grown right on the farm.
Chefs who have generously volunteered their time for the event include:
Chris Albrecht - Executive Chef, Princeton
Dan Richer - Arturos, Maplewood
Robyn Reiss - A Toute Heure, Cranford
Scott Anderson - Elements/Mistral, Princeton
Gary Giberson - Sustainable Fare, Island Heights
Terry Strong - Mediterra, Princeton
Demetrios Haronis - FIN, Atlantic City
Gabby Carbone - The Bent Spoon, Princeton
Christine McGrath - Washington House, Basking Ridge
Terhune Orchards is at 330 Cold Soil Road. Cocktails will be served starting at 5 p.m. and dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $150 per person and can be purchased at sustainablejersey.com.
Sustainable Jersey, a nonprofit, runs a certification program that empowers towns to build a better world for present and future generations. The program provides a roadmap towns can follow to initiate and promote sustainable actions that improve the quality of life. More than 410 towns have registered to become a part of the program and more than 130 towns are now certified.


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Keith Urban Bows at #1 on "Billboard" Top 200 Albums Chart with "Fuse"
Keith Urban's new album, Fuse, bows at #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart this week with nearly 100,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The debut also knocks Luke Bryan's Crash My Party out of the top spot on Billboard's Country Albums chart to #2. Fuse is Keith's second #1 debut on the Billboard 200 following 2009's Defying Gravity.
Sheryl Crow's debut country project, Feels Like Home, also debuts at #3 on the country chart.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Wednesday, September 18, 2013 at 3:00PM Music News Group Permalink


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Electrochemical Treatment of Tumors
Application ID: 253
This model incorporates the transport and electrolytic reaction in the treatment of tumor tissue.
Oxygen evolution at the anode produces protons, which lowers the pH, while chlorine production also leads to lowered pH through the hydrolysis of chlorine. One effect of a low pH is the permanent destruction of haemoglobin in the tissue, resulting in the eradication of tumor tissue.
This model uses the Nernst-Planck Equations interface to predict the transport and reaction in the electrolysis of tumor tissue in a liver.
This application was built using the following:Electrochemistry Module
The combination of COMSOL® products required to model your application depends on the physics interfaces that define it. Particular physics interfaces may be common to several products (see the Specification Chart for more details). To determine the right combination of products for your project, you should evaluate all of your needs in light of each product's capabilities, consultation with the COMSOL Sales and Support teams, and the use of an evaluation license.


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Star Tracks: Monday, May 16, 2016 42 years, 2,191 covers and 55,436 stories from PEOPLE magazine's history for you to enjoy
Latest News!
- Gwyneth Paltrow Celebrates Her 44th Birthday with a Makeup-Free Selfie
- Read the Cover Story: Brad & Angelina Split After 12 Years: It's Over
- Barack Obama Leads Tributes as Former Israeli President Shimon Peres Dies at 93
- Halle Berry Stuns in Pink and Black David Koma Bodycon Dress at Revlon Luncheon
- Protesters Gather as Man Is Shot and Wounded by San Diego Police: Report
People Top 5
LAST UPDATE: Tuesday February 10, 2015 01:10PM EST
PEOPLE Top 5 are the most-viewed stories on the site over the past three days, updated every 60 minutes
- December 04, 2000
- Vol. 54
- No. 24
Milk Made
When Nora Kravis's Cashmere Business Flopped, She Started to Clean Up—with Goat-Milk Soap
Professional satisfaction for Kravis, now 52, took a little longer. A few years later this single mom was struggling to build a cashmere business. But when her modest herd didn't produce enough of the fluffy stuff she had a brainstorm: use the goats' milk to make soaps and lotions. Today Kravis's premium Chianti Cashmere Company products, sold at Britain's House of Fraser department stores and specialty shops as well as through her Web site, have won her a devoted, dewy-skinned following. Goat-milk skin care may sound icky, but customers can't get enough of Kravis's wholesome-looking soap with rosemary, sage and bay leaf. Says Emma Parker, a spokeswoman for House of Fraser: "It works. Goat's milk is renowned for leaving the skin rejuvenated." Says Samantha: "All along I've thought my mother's been crazy. But she's made this a success."
Kravis acquired her first three goats in 1990, hoping they would eat the blackberry bushes overrunning her property, which she had bought in 1972, outside the village of Radda. But the animals multiplied, and she couldn't bear to have them slaughtered. So she crossbred them with cashmere goats from Scotland. "My grandiose plan," she chuckles, "was to become the central cashmere goat-breeding farm in the Mediterranean."
Alas, the hair from one goat proved enough for just one shawl a year. Floundering financially, Kravis started making soap using recipes she found on a trip to New England. After some false starts (her first batch smelled like "something I wouldn't wash my face in"), her business was on its way. She and an assistant now package the products, which are made with her goats' milk in local factories, in the barn beside Kravis's farmhouse. Prices range from $5 for a small bar of soap to $50 for a gift pack, and she expects the venture to net $30,000 to $50,000 this year. "My business has exploded," marvels Kravis.
That's thanks to hard work and serendipity, not to any grand plan. The animal-loving third child of Ludlow, a commercial artist, and Geraldine, a French teacher (both now deceased), Kravis grew up in Manhasset, N.Y., dreaming of one thing—"Living in a country house," she says. Captivated by Italy during a college stint studying art in Rome, she returned to the country to work as a riding instructor in Tuscany before coming upon her farmhouse, La Penisola. "I felt like I was home," says Kravis, who bought the 18th-century house with stable for $10,000. "People couldn't wait to get out of these stone farms. There was no electricity, no running water. They thought I was from outer space."
After her first frigid winter, Kravis decamped to Pisa to attend veterinary school. Working as a vet back in La Penisola in 1982, she gave birth to Samantha, her daughter with then-boyfriend Richard Birkett, who was teaching in Siena. Birkett, 42, is now an accountant in London, near where Samantha recently moved to attend high school.
Now Kravis (who is dating a marble-quarry owner) hopes to breed hundreds more goats, restarting her cashmere enterprise even as she expands her skin-care business. She'll still milk her goats at dawn herself—a mixed blessing. "I have to catch them first," she says. "But I like the physical contact. And baby kids being born—you see this little blob and all of a sudden it stands up. It really is amazing."
Kim Hubbard
Liz Corcoran in Radda and Eileen Finan in London
- Contributors:
- Liz Corcoran,
- Eileen Finan.
More in the Archive
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September 28, 2016
Hugh Grant, Plus David Beckham, Mandy Moore, Justin Bieber and More!
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The most buzzed about stars this minute!


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Plane crashes after take off
A plane crashed in a field shortly after it took off from Guernsey Airport.
Two people inside the light aircraft escaped unhurt but were taken to hospital as a precaution.
The airport was closed while firefighters tackled a suspected fuel leak from the plane, covering it with foam.
Nearby homes were evacuated after the crash, which happened shortly after 5pm.
Residents were allowed to return homes shortly before 9pm.
Airport director Colin Le Ray said the single-engine private aircraft reported an incident to the east of the airfield shortly after take off.
An eyewitness reported seeing black smoke coming from the back of the plane.Subscribe to our Newsletter


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1. St Pete Florida Blues (aka I Found My Baby)
2. Walkin and Talkin
3. Why Did You Go
4. I'm Wondering and Wondering
4 Track EP
At the time I recorded Ray Charles, my warehouse was at 505 West Flagler Street, behind a storefront. I was distributing records in the warehouse, and in the back section I had a little Ampex recording machine with an upright piano.
I met Ray Charles the night before at the Mary Elizabeth Hotel in Overtown, a happening section of Miami in the early 50s. He was performing at the Harlem Square, a nightclub in Miami.
He came into the warehouse the next day with a few of his musician buddies and I recorded them live right in the warehouse. The other guys brought their own instruments and that is where we recorded "St. Pete Florida Blues", "I'm Wondering and Wondering", "Walkin' and Talkin'", and "Why Did You Go". All four songs were recorded live in one session that day. The records were released on my label, Rockin' Records. – Henry Stone
2 Responses to "Ray Charles Rockin' Records EP"
[…] Click here To purchase the original Ray Charles 4 track EP CD […]
[…] We got into my big move to Miami, my first million selling single (The Charms, on DeLuxe), co founding James Brown, discovering Sam & Dave, and of course recording Ray Charles. […]


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A once magnificent television network launched on April 5th 1987 with "Married...With Children"(A personal fav.) and "The Tracey Ullman Show" (the original home of The Simpsons). As the 1990's hit, FOX would become the breeding ground for some of the best programming in the past decade (not to mention its outlandish specials) and the dump-tank for some of the BEST media promotion stunts i have ever heard of (ot: If there was a FOX Spring Break Wet T-Shirt Monster Truck Supermodel Striptease Bash now, that would become the DEFINING moment of My Teen years!!!) Now it has deteriorated into an FCC ass kisser w/ very grotesque programming. (W/ the exception of The O.C. and The Simpsons!!!) We can only hope it returns to its defiant ways
The 4th (and formerly the best) television network out there
af KK 3. marts 2005
Another way of sayin talk
"I Dont Fox With That Dood"
"Call Me Tonight, And We'll Fox"
"Call Me Tonight, And We'll Fox"
af Farid 19. januar 2004
a seriously phat millencolin song about a scooter
Shes my world, shes so rad, shes the best ride I've ever had :)
af Clownious 10. januar 2004
(adj.) Wholly without merit.
Rupert Murdoch's news network is Fox.
af Molitor 17. september 2003
Fox needs to get out
af Anonamouse 1. maj 2003
a television network that shouldnt be allowed to cover football games, because they new televise the game you actually want to see then when you order nfl sunday ticket fox will find a stupid way so you still cant see your game, fox needs to sell there nfl rights to a better network like nbc or abc
wow fox is fucking gay all i want to do i watch my game but these faggots at fox cant ever televise it
af xeno1033 1. januar 2006
A way or saying fuck in an office email without getting caught by the email police
Worker 1 - I'm foxed off, this foxing project is a load of foxing rubbish. I'm going to fox off home in a minute.
Worker 2 - Well fox u then!
Worker 2 - Well fox u then!
af JHQ 11. december 2005


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Old Man Winter flexed his mighty muscles this past week to the Eastern Panhandle.
An ice storm last Sunday and another one Friday bookended double-digit, negative wind chills that left many of us longing for the dog days of summer.
In the end, we sought an opportunity to escape the houses in which we hid with our milk, bread and toilet paper for a evening of relaxation in some nice diversion.
Article Photos
Like a high school basketball game perhaps.
There were several opportunities to watch a game Friday - Martinsburg at Hedgesville, Frankfort at Berkeley Springs and Broadfording Christian, Md., at Faith Christian.
The chance to get away after possibly slip-sliding away on the ice earlier in the day certainly was welcoming on a pleasant winter's eve after, comparatively speaking, a dreadful spat with January's scourge.
Should the games have been played, though?
After all, school had been canceled for the day because of the ice that coated the roads Friday morning.
Yet, the schools were open for sporting events later in the day.
Yes, the ice melted, the roads cleared and we could leave our gloves at home.
Weather changes certainly, and the forecasters can get it right half the time and still collect paychecks.
Impressions last much longer, however.
If games are played when school is not in session because of weather-related cancellations - or, in the case of the Charleston area, because of water issues - it leads one to wonder if athletics rates higher than academics.
Do sports become more important than educating our youth?
It's like the participants in scholastic athletic endeavors become "athlete-students," rather than "student-athletes."
The situation was not reserved for the Eastern Panhandle. Throughout the week, though, games took place for scholastic teams despite the fact school was canceled for the day. Any suggestion that it's too difficult to make up the games is being disengenuous; there's still six weeks of the regular season left.
And while regular-season games help set up seeding for the postseason, there's no absolute that the contests actually matter for the public schools, because positioning is based on a compilation of opinions of the coaches from a particular region. In essence, all of the contests are really exhibition games. In the open-playoff system in place in the Mountain State, allowing every team to participate, it's only the playoff games that actually matter.
Still, there is this insistence to play games, even when school is not in session.
Policies seem to differ throughout West Virginia and its school districts in regard to school and play.
Jefferson County, for instance, has a firm stance that if there's no school, there's no extracurricular activities, including sports. Protocol sometimes changes in other places based on what day of the week it happens to be, if you will.
The state's reputation suffers enough, and the stereotype of uneducated people from West Virginia remains unchanged regardless of academic achievement and those all-so-emphasized standardized-test scores.
Playing games despite the school day being canceled reinforces those negative images.
It undermines the main mission of education.
It's the schooling that's going to matter in the long run for most of the teenagers in West Virginia, not their athletic prowess, like it or not.
Student-athletes, not athlete-students.


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Top Definition
A long skinny dick or the opposite of a chode.
I'm gonna get my bickle out.
I'm gonna get my bickle out.
автор: bickleator 15 февраля 2014
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
An middle aged or older man obsesed with a much younger woman.
The old guy in the office down the hall is one of Nira's Bickles.
автор: Nirfan 27 января 2010
A bum tickle.
When one person tickles another persons bum.
When one person tickles another persons bum.
I really enjoy a good bickle from time to time.
автор: TheSeeker365 4 июля 2010
A situation in which an inebriated female is making out with a young male and reaches to caress his genitals in a masturbatory manner and accidentally slow-jacks the male's wallet, truly mistaking his wallet for his penis.
Last night Hannah bickled Woody out on the porch.
автор: No Eyed Schmee 29 июля 2008
when you tickle someones belly so it spazz's out a bit (:
"you just bickled me :o"
автор: Elijah McCoy 6 февраля 2008


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MP3Producer DE
Antivirus scan report
MP3Producer DE Antivirus Report
Powerful ripper and encoder to convert between CD, WAV, MP3, OGG Vorbis, WMA.
MP3Producer DE
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2614 Kb
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ESET NOD32 Antivirus 3.0 scan report:
SoftArea51 has checked MP3Producer DE, version 2.61, with ESET NOD32 Antivirus on 8, January 2010 and found it to be clean and safe to download and install.
ECLS Command-line scanner, version 3.0.566.0, (C) 2007 ESET, spol. s r.o. Module loader, version 1031 (20091029), build 1035 Module perseus, version 1256 (20100108), build 1306 Module scanner, version 4755 (20100108), build 6357 Module archiver, version 1107 (20100105), build 1063 Module advheur, version 1099 (20091030), build 1056 Command line: --base-dir=C:\Program Files\ESET\ESET NOD32 Antivirus /no-boots /arch /sfx /rtp /adware /unsafe /unwanted /pattern /heur /no-adv-heur /log-all /log-rewrite /log-file=c:\softarea51\scan.log c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe Scan started 01/08/10 22:48:32 object="file", name="c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe", threat="is OK", action="", info="" Scan completed 01/08/10 22:48:33 Scan time: 1 sec (0:00:01) Total: files - 1, objects 333 Infected: files - 0, objects 0 Cleaned: files - 0, objects 0
Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009 scan report:
SoftArea51 has checked MP3Producer DE, version 2.61, with Kaspersky Anti-Virus on 8, January 2010 and found it to be clean and safe to download and install.
2010-01-08 22:48:53 Scan_Objects$382300 starting 1% ; --- Settings --- ; Action on detect: Disinfect automatically ; Scan objects: All objects ; Use iChecker: No ; Use iSwift: No ; Try disinfect: No ; Try delete: No ; Try delete container: No ; Exclude by mask: No ; Include by mask: No ; Objects to scan: ; "c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe" Enable=Yes Recursive=No ; ------------------ 2010-01-08 22:48:53 Scan_Objects$382300 running 50% 2010-01-08 22:48:53 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe archive Astrum 2010-01-08 22:48:53 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0001 ok 2010-01-08 22:48:53 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0002 ok 2010-01-08 22:48:53 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0003 ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0004 ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0005 ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0006 archive CHM 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0006//#BSSC ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0006//00_tab_filename.htm ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0006//00_tab_id3_tag.htm ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0006//00_tab_mp3.htm ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0006//00_tab_ogg.htm ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0006//00_tab_wav.htm ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0006//00_tab_wma.htm ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0006//01_interface_overview.htm ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0006//01_introduction.htm ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0006//01_license.htm ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0006 ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0007 ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0008 ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0009 ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0010 ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0011 ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0012 ok 2010-01-08 22:48:54 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe//data0013 ok 2010-01-08 22:49:04 c:\softarea51\mp3producerde.exe ok 2010-01-08 22:49:04 Scan_Objects$382300 completed ; --- Statistics --- ; Time Start: 2010-01-08 22:48:38 ; Time Finish: 2010-01-08 22:49:04 ; Completion: 100% ; Processed objects: 25 ; Total detected: 0 ; Detected exact: 0 ; Suspicions: 0 ; Treats detected: 0 ; Untreated: 0 ; Disinfected: 0 ; Quarantined: 0 ; Deleted: 0 ; Skipped: 0 ; Archived: 2 ; Packed: 0 ; Password protected: 0 ; Corrupted: 0 ; Errors: 0 ; Last object: ; ------------------
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2 minutes ago, fanbaby wrote
evildictator, I'm a firm believer in capitalism, as I view it as the only just system, but I think that the current (ab)use of the patent law has nothing to do with it.
It is necessary if you want to be able to allow capitalism to judge the value of an idea, to make it possible to trade ideas with each other, and patents allow you to do that.
Patent companies are also fine - I have no problem with companies thinking up clever ideas and selling those ideas to people in a position to use them.
What I do have a problem with is people using patents to block ideas. Submarine patents, overly generic patents and vague patents aren't part of making ideas tradeable. If your idea isn't specific, novel, innovative and marketable, then society should have no time for it.
If you want to patent "an IDE that happens to be gray", or a "button with a picture of a turtle on it" then that shouldn't meet the bar - it's not innovative enough.
If you want to patent "some invention that might perhaps allow users to interact fluidly with the web", that should fail - it's not specific enough.
Submarine patents should be illegal too - you should be required to bring a patent lawsuit as soon as you become aware of an infringement or the patent should become invalid. You shouldn't be allowed to wait for them to make lots of money before you sue.
And finally, you shouldn't be allowed to patent "let's all be kind to each other" or "the manifesto of the republican party in the USA", because they're not marketable.
Once you fix those big problems, I think the patent system would go much further towards helping people be innovative.
My argument is not in favour of our current system of patents. It's in favour of patents in the abstract sense of being able to protect innovations and buy and sell ideas for money.


text:
Sliding bevel, try square, double square, joinery knife, marking knife, awl, Cohen knife, cutting gauge. Also Glen Drake Tite-Marks and accessories, vernier rulers with scale stoppers, Mitutoyo rulers and vernier calipers, Spoon carving hook knives, chip carving knives, and more! All the basic measuring and marking hand tools you need for woodworking of the highest quality.
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Chris Vesper, Toolmaker.


text:
Wall tile
England or France (Normandy)
About 1330
Lead-glazed earthenware, with carved slip decoration
Museum no. C.470-1927
Most decorative tiles in medieval England had stamped designs filled with clay of contrasting colour. Here, however, a more refined design was produced by covering red earthenware with a light-coloured slip, which was cut away and incised.
The tile, probably from a church at Tring, Hertfordshire, is based on manuscript illustrations. It shows Christ resurrecting three children who had died while playing with him and visiting a well, scenes from his childhood described in the apocryphal gospels.


text:
Smartwool Calico
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Felipez, Lina M.; Gokhale, Ranjana; Tierney, Matthew P.; Kirschner, Barbara S.
Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital, Chicago, IL.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Lina M. Felipez, MD, University of Chicago Medical Center, 5841 S Maryland Ave, MC-4065, Chicago, IL 60637 (e-mail: email@example.com).
Received 18 January, 2011
Accepted 3 June, 2011
The authors report no conflicts of interest.
Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate thalidomide as rescue therapy for pediatric patients with severe refractory Crohn disease (CD) who failed to respond to antitumor necrosis factor (TNF) biologic agents.
Patients and Methods: A computerized database was used to identify children with CD who had failed conventional immunosuppression therapy and received thalidomide rescue therapy. Twelve patients, mean age at diagnosis 10 years, were identified. Eight children had disease localized to the ileum and colon and 4 to the gastroduodenal area and colon. Five cases were complicated by strictures and 7 by fistulae. Previous drug therapy included azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine (11/12), methotrexate (7/12), and anti-TNF biologics (12/12). Outcome measures were Harvey-Bradshaw Index, change in prednisone dose, hospitalizations, bowel resections, and incision and drainage procedures. Laboratory evaluations were calculated before and after 1 to 6 months of thalidomide.
Results: Mean Harvey-Bradshaw Index score improved from 11.8 to 3.9 (P = 0.0004), mean prednisone dose decreased from 13.9 to 2.3 mg/day (P = 0.001), mean number of hospitalizations decreased from 6.3 to 1.3 (P = 0.002), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate decreased from 35 to 14 mm/h (P = 0.02). The surgery rate pre-thalidomide was 0.031 and on thalidomide was 0.004. Of the 7 patients with fistulae, 5 had complete fistula closure, 1 had partial closure, and 1 showed no improvement. Adverse reactions that resulted in discontinuation of thalidomide are as follows: 42% peripheral neuropathy, 17% worsening of the CD, 8% dizziness, and 8% allergic reaction. All 5 patients who developed peripheral neuropathy had clinical resolution of the neurologic symptoms within 2 to 3 months after stopping thalidomide.
Conclusions: Thalidomide is a potentially effective rescue therapy for severe refractory CD in children who fail to respond to anti-TNF medications.
Thalidomide (α-phthalimidoglutarimide) is a derivative of glutamic acid, which is formulated as a 1:1 racemic mixture of S and R isomers. The S isomer provides immunomodulatory effects, whereas the R isomer has the sedative effects and is associated with teratogenicity (phocomelia and amelia) (1). Thalidomide is well absorbed orally, maximal plasma levels being reached in 2 to 4 hours. The half-life is 5 hours, with minimal excretion via hepatic or renal pathways.
Thalidomide was introduced in Germany in 1956 and in the rest of Europe, Australia, Canada, and South America in 1957. It was widely used by pregnant women for the treatment of morning sickness. In 1961, the drug was withdrawn, leaving between 6000 and 10,000 affected children with birth defects characterized by phocomelia or amelia (2).
In 1965, Sheshkin et al (3) administered thalidomide for its sedative effect to patients with leprosy and observed virtually complete resolution of patients' lepromatous cutaneous manifestations. In 1991, Sampaio et al (4) demonstrated the antitumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α activity of thalidomide in in vitro studies. In 1998, the Food and Drug Administration approved thalidomide to treat the cutaneous manifestations of leprosy (erythema nodosum leprosum) (5).
Multiple studies have shown that diseases in which TNF-α is a mediator of inflammation respond to thalidomide treatment, including HIV-associated oral and esophageal aphthous ulcerations and cachexia, Behçet disease, cutaneous lupus erythematosus, pyoderma gangrenosum, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosis, Sjogren syndrome, multiple myeloma, graft-versus-host disease, and some solid tumors (3,6–10).
Thalidomide has 3 postulated mechanisms of action: immunomodulatory effects, inhibition of angiogenesis, and interference with cell adhesion. Immunologic mechanisms include inhibition of the synthesis of TNF-α, interference with cell adhesion by promoting the degradation of TNF messenger RNA, decreased TNF-α release from activated monocytes, reduced nuclear factor-κB activation by suppressing I-κB kinase activity, switch in cytokine production from TH1 to TH2 profile, inhibition of interleukin (IL)-12 synthesis (a potent proinflammatory cytokine), decreased interferon-γ synthesis, enhanced IL-4 production (essential for development of TH2 pathway), and IL-10 production (a proinflammatory cytokine). Inhibition of angiogenesis results from reduced synthesis of vascular endothelial-derived growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor. Interference with cell adhesion is caused by reduced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (11–13).
There are few published studies that address the role of thalidomide in treating Crohn disease (CD) in adults and children (14–19). This is the first study, to our knowledge, that evaluated thalidomide in children and adolescents with severe refractory CD, all of whom had failed anti-TNF biologics. This is also the first analysis of the effect of thalidomide in pediatric patients with fistulizing CD.
A computerized database of patients with pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease at the University of Chicago was used to identify all of the children and adolescents with severe refractory steroid-dependent CD who failed conventional medications including immunosuppression therapy (5-aminosalicylic acid, 6-mercaptopurine/azathioprine, methotrexate, anti-TNF biologics) and subsequently received thalidomide rescue therapy (Table 1). The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Chicago.
Data were obtained retrospectively from the patients' medical records from January 2001 to January 2010 and reviewed independently by 1 investigator (L.M.F.). Data collected included demographic information (eg, age, sex, ethnicity); medical history; CD history including disease location and behavior; radiologic studies including rectal and pelvic MRI, small bowel follow-through x-ray (SBFT), computed tomography scans, and magnetic resonance enterography; previous medications and surgical procedures (incision and drainage, setons, bowel resections); and hospitalizations. Patients were evaluated in the Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinics at the University of Chicago every 4 to 6 weeks. The patients' clinical symptoms, medications, physical examination, and weight and height were recorded in each visit. A comprehensive neurologic history was taken during each visit. For fistulizing disease, fistula number and drainage were assessed by the patient's gastroenterologist. Routine laboratory tests were ordered as per the attending physician.
Adverse events that occurred during thalidomide therapy were recorded at each clinic visit. Patients were specifically questioned about neurologic symptoms (paresthesias, pain, numbness, "pins and needles"). A detailed neurologic examination including responses to vibration and pin-prick as well as deep tendon reflexes was performed in every patient. If neurologic symptoms or signs developed, nerve conduction studies (electromyography [EMG]) were performed.
The doses of thalidomide and dose modifications during treatment were obtained from the clinic notes. The patient's local pharmacy was the supplier of the drug. An informed consent was obtained for each patient. Patient and family were fully informed of the risk of teratogenicity, peripheral neuropathy, and sedation, and enrolled in the S.T.E.P.S. program (System of Thalidomide Education and Prescribing Safety, Celgene Corporation, Summit, NJ). Thalidomide is approved for marketing only under this special restricted distribution program (S.T.E.P.S.), approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The program is used for controlling access to thalidomide, educating prescribers, pharmacists, and patients, and monitoring compliance (2).
Female patients of childbearing potential were required to use 2 methods of contraception (1 greatly effective such as Depo-Provera and 1 barrier method) starting 4 weeks before thalidomide until 4 weeks after discontinuing thalidomide. Men were instructed to use latex condoms 4 weeks before starting thalidomide at the time of heterosexual intercourse and 4 weeks after discontinuing thalidomide. Female patients with childbearing potential had pregnancy tests performed 24 hours before starting thalidomide, then once weekly for 4 weeks and subsequently once every 4 weeks if they had regular menstrual cycles, and once every 2 weeks if irregular cycles.
Based on studies in adults, thalidomide was administered at bedtime, at a starting dose of 50 mg and increased stepwise by 50 mg increments to a maximum dose of 150 mg (mean 1.44 mg · kg−1 · day−1 [0.7–3.0 mg · kg−1 · day−1], if needed for persisting symptoms) according to patient's weight, symptoms, and adverse effects. Other immunomodulatory agents (azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate, anti-TNF-α biologics) were discontinued and not given concomitantly with thalidomide. In the event of an adverse reaction, the dose was reduced, discontinued, or withheld until the adverse effect had resolved.
The Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI) (20) was used to evaluate clinical response and remission. Clinical response for luminal disease was defined as a reduction in symptoms at 2 to 6 months on thalidomide and an HBI of 5 to 7. Clinical remission was defined as resolution of symptoms and a HBI <5. For fistulizing disease, clinical response was defined as a decrease of at least 50% in the number of draining fistulas. Clinical remission was defined as complete fistula closure.
All of the patients who received thalidomide were included in the analysis. Quantitative variables are described as medians and/or means with ranges in parenthesis throughout the text. The results were compared using a paired Student t test. Statistical significance level was set at P < 0.05 (2-sided).
Twelve patients were identified, 3 of whom were girls and 9 boys. Mean age at diagnosis was 10 years (range 3–14 years). Mean age of initiation of thalidomide therapy was 15 years (range 8–19 years).
Eight children had disease localized to the ileum and colon, 4 to the gastroduodenal area and colon, and 4 of 12 patients also had perianal disease. Five cases were complicated by strictures and 7 by fistulae. The mean number of anti-TNF infusions before thalidomide was 7 (range 1–21 infusions). All of the patients had failed anti-TNF biologic treatment. All 7 patients with fistulae received intravenous and oral antibiotics (metronidazole and/or ciprofloxacin) before starting thalidomide therapy without significant improvement. Five of 7 patients with fistulae continued oral antibiotics concomitant with thalidomide, whereas 2 received thalidomide alone. The characteristics of the patient population are listed in Table 1. Mean duration of thalidomide use was 39.5 months (1–96 months). The mean observation period before thalidomide use was 5.8 years, and mean follow-up after thalidomide was 4.6 years (P = 0.8).
The HBI, prednisone dose, number of hospitalizations, number of bowel resections, number of incision and drainage procedures, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, albumin, platelets, hemoglobin, and C-reactive protein were calculated before and after a 1- to 6-month (median 2 months) course of thalidomide (Table 2 and Figs. 1–3). During this period, the HBI scores decreased to <5 in 10 of 12 (83.3%) patients following thalidomide intervention, indicating clinical remission. HBI in 2 patients was consistent with response, but remained >5 (see Fig. 1). Of the 7 patients with fistulae, 5 had complete fistula closure (71.4%), 1 had partial closure (14.2%), and 1 had no improvement (14.2%) on thalidomide. The mean prednisone dose decreased from 13.9 to 2.3 mg/day. Seven of 12 patients were able to discontinue steroids (58.3%), 3 of 12 patients (25%) decreased their steroid dose by >50%, and 1 of 12 patients (8.3%) had no change in prednisone dose (Fig. 2).
During the follow-up period, on average 4.6 years, we observed a decrease in the frequency of surgical procedures performed. Before thalidomide, 6 of 12 (50%) patients had undergone intestinal resections, ranging from 1 to 4 bowel resections. The mean time of resections from diagnosis of CD before thalidomide was 24 months (range 3–96 months) After thalidomide, only 2 of 12 (16.6%) patients required bowel resections.
Five of 12 (41.6%) patients had incision and drainage procedures before thalidomide. The mean time of incision and drainage from diagnosis of CD before thalidomide was 12 months (range 7–24 months). Three of 5 patients had required 2 to 3 incision and drainage procedures. None underwent incision and drainage while on thalidomide. Two patients required seton placement before thalidomide without significant response and the setons were removed before thalidomide therapy.
The surgery rate was calculated for the patients before thalidomide and on thalidomide. The surgery rate prethalidomide (total of 26 surgeries [resections, incision and drainage, and setons] within 826 patient months) was 0.031. The surgery rate on thalidomide (total of 2 surgeries within 473.5 patient months) was 0.004.
The laboratory evaluations also improved: The erythrocyte sedimentation rate in 10 of 12 (83.3%) patients on thalidomide decreased to <20 mm/h (normal value <20 mm/h, no sex difference; Fig. 3). Similar statistically significant improvement was noted for hemoglobin, platelets, albumin, and C-reactive protein (Table 2).
Nerve conduction studies were obtained in 5 of 12 patients. Results of nerve conduction studies in 4 of 5 patients were consistent with mild sensory neuropathy and 1 of 5 had moderate sensory neuropathy. One patient with mild sensory neuropathy had documented resolution on EMG studies, after dose reduction of thalidomide from 50 mg daily to 50 mg once per week, and he remains on thalidomide. Clinical symptoms and findings of peripheral neuropathy resolved in all of the patients within 2 to 3 months after discontinuation (n = 4) or dose reduction (n = 2) of thalidomide. The mean cumulative dose of thalidomide in all of the patients was 51.7 g (1.5–166.0 g). In the patients who developed peripheral neuropathy, the mean cumulative dose of thalidomide was 54.4 g (16.5–102.8 g) versus 49.0 g (1.5–166.0 g) in the patients who had no peripheral neuropathy (P = 0.85).
Adverse reactions resulting in the discontinuation of thalidomide were peripheral neuropathy in 42% (5/12), worsening of the CD in 17% (2/12), dizziness in 8% (1/12), and an allergic reaction (swollen eyes) in 8% (1/12). Three of 12 patients (25%) remain on thalidomide; their mean time on thalidomide was 72 months (range 48–96 months.). Of the patients who continue on thalidomide, 1 had peripheral neuropathy, which resolved after dose reduction (Table 3). The patients who subsequently discontinued thalidomide after improvement in their CD were transitioned to other immunosuppression agents (Table 4).
In our study, we found significant improvement in all of the parameters measured in these pediatric patients with severe refractory CD treated with thalidomide, and that the effect was sustained for a prolonged period. We describe the longest follow-up (4.6 years) in comparison with previous adult and pediatric studies (14–16,18,19,21).
Our results suggest that pediatric patients with severe refractory CD may have better clinical response and remission rates than adult patients. In previous studies in adult patients with CD, clinical response ranged from 56% to 70%, clinical remission from 20% to 33%, and the fistula response from 33% to 83% (14,15,17,18,21). In comparison, our results in pediatric patients treated with thalidomide were 83.3% clinical remission and 71.4% complete fistula closure.
Lenalidomide, an analogue of thalidomide with similar immunomodulatory effects but 1000-fold greater potency and lacking the teratogenicity effects of thalidomide, has been also studied in CD. In contrast to thalidomide, it was not effective in adults with active CD (22).
Our study differs from a report of thalidomide use in Italian children with CD in that 100% of our patients failed anti-TNF biologics (infliximab or adalimumab) compared with 18% in their study (19). It is also the first investigation to measure fistulizing CD, hospitalizations, and surgeries in pediatric patients on thalidomide.
The main adverse effect of thalidomide is peripheral neuropathy, which was seen in 50% of our patients. The peripheral neuropathy is predominantly sensory with axonal degeneration. In previous studies, the reported incidence varied from 1% to 70% (23–25). A previous report of thalidomide use in children noted that neuropathy, if present, occurred 9 to 18 months after starting thalidomide therapy. The dose range associated with neuropathy was 2.3 to 10 mg · kg−1 · day−1 or cumulative doses of 55 to 1435 g, but peripheral neuropathy has been observed with cumulative dose of only 2.8 g. (24). The presenting symptoms of sensory conduction disturbance are numbness, paresthesias, hyperaesthesia, "pins and needles" sensation, and leg cramps. Recovery is variable and often incomplete. In children, paresthesias may resolve within months after cessation of treatment, but significant recovery from severe thalidomide neuropathy appears uncommon in childhood (24). In our study, the mean cumulative doses in the patients who developed peripheral neuropathy was 54.4 g compared with 49.0 g in patients with no clinical signs of neuropathy, which is consistent with previous studies. One of our patients had full recovery of neuropathy by EMG after a dose reduction.
Our study had some limitations. It is a retrospective uncontrolled evaluation involving a small number of patients. Although impaired sensory nerve conduction is a potential complication of thalidomide therapy, EMG studies were not performed in patients without symptoms or signs of sensory impairment because of the discomfort associated with these tests. Our estimation of reduction of surgical procedures could be overestimated by the duration of follow-up, on average, 4.6 years.
Because of the small number of patients who have received thalidomide therapy, optimal dosing of thalidomide is unknown for adult or pediatric patients. We used low-dose thalidomide (50 mg/day), increasing gradually to 150 mg in adolescents if clinically indicated for active CD. In this small series, we observed clinical and fistulae remission rates in the majority of pediatric patients with severe refractory CD.
In conclusion, thalidomide is a potentially effective drug for severe, refractory, and fistulizing CD in pediatric patients who have failed anti-TNF-α therapy. Our results showed significant improvement in laboratory measurements, hospitalization rate, reduction in the daily corticosteroid dose, and fistula closure. The main side effect was peripheral neuropathy observed in 50% (6/12) of the patients, which resolved clinically in all of the patients.
We anticipate that the results of a randomized controlled trial, under way in Europe, will provide additional information concerning the role of thalidomide in the treatment of pediatric patients with refractory CD.
The authors thank the Barnett family for their support in the Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program at the University of Chicago.
anti-TNF biologics; Crohn disease; peripheral neuropathy; thalidomide
Copyright 2012 by ESPGHAN and NASPGHAN
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Take a spin at life with our Hasbro Life Spinner Standee!
This Hasbro Life Spinner Standee has the colorful look of the spinner for everyone's favorite game about life. Each Life Spinner Standee measures 4 feet 8 inches high x 4 feet 8 inches wide and is printed on one side of cardboard. The Hasbro Life Spinner Standee will add color and fun to your game night event. Easy assembly.
THE GAME OF LIFE is a trademark of Hasbro and is used with permission. ©2013 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
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Q:why does the center and numbers look like a plastic piece? is it?
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A:This is a cardboard printed prop. It is not made of plastic but has the look.
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March 5, 2012
Carbon Market a Government Fantasy
Mark Landsbaum, Orange County Register
Google Images
California's political class yearns to be European. Here's some advice for Gov. Jerry Brown and associates: Beware of what you desire. You just may get it. Their latest self-destructive fascination is the lunacy of a carbon trading market. It's part of the still-loonier cap-and-trade scheme to save California from the looniest concept of all, make-believe devastation from manmade global warming. It doesn't get more European than that. . .
TAGGED: Carbon Taxes, Carbon Emissions, Cap And Trade, California, Orange County Register


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Marijuana dealer ring broken up; officers trying to shut down sales
By Nick Hiltunen
Published in News on May 18, 2010 1:46 PM
Full Size
News-Argus/MICHAEL BETTS
Capt. Tom Effler of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office places the seized marijuana and money on the patrol room table at the Sheriff Department Annex.
A Goldsboro woman under investigation by authorities for about two years for alleged marijuana sales was arrested Friday, part of ongoing work that "spans up and down the East Coast of the United States," authorities said. Stephanie Elizabeth Miller,...
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19 Jul 2012
by Vince Reardon in REEEP
Ahead of REEEP's 9th programme cycle which kicks off in late August 2012, we're conducting a call for independent experts who could assist with tasks related to this funding cycle and beyond. Possible freelance assignments over the coming 12 months include:
In line with our mission and the sorts of projects we fund, we're seeking experts with qualifications and experience in:
Being selected as an REEEP Expert means you are then on a shortlist of people who we may approach for specific assignments on a freelance basis during the following 12 month period.
Please note: To maintain impartiality, any Expert who is contracted may not be linked in any way, professionally or personally, with any REEEP project implementing organisation, and will be excluded from submitting or assisting with future project proposals to the Partnership for a period of 3 years.
How do I apply?
It all happens online via the REEEP website. Applications are being accepted from now through 10th August 2012. The mechanics of how to apply will differ slightly depending on whether or not you are already registered as Friend of REEEP or not.
Click here for more information and to get started with the application process.
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Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic and Bishop Carroll squared off for sole possession of first place in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference girls volleyball standings Monday night, and round one went to BG, 3-1.
The Lady Marauders combined a balanced offensive attack with strong defense to defeat Bishop Carroll 25-17, 25-16, 21-25, 25-19 at the Pleasant Valley gym.
"We have a lot of weapons. That's what makes us a solid team," BG coach Bob Kasun said. "Teams can't concentrate on just one player."
Seven different Lady Marauders registered kills led by sophomore outside hitter Annie Dombrowski's 16 and senior middle hitter Jess Welteroth's 14.
BG, 8-1 in LHAC play, has reeled off 10 straight wins since a season-opening loss to Somerset. The Lady Huskies fell to 7-2 in the LHAC, 9-2 overall.
The two teams play again later this month at Bishop Carroll. A meeting in the district playoffs is a possibility as well.
"Bishop Guilfoyle has a strong all-around team," BC coach Joe Skura said. "They utilize every player on both offense and defense."
Four players topped double digits in digs, and Welteroth thwarted Carroll's power game with seven blocks.
Welteroth's back-to-back blocks on Dani Link late in game one helped propel BG to a 25-17 win and set the tone for the remainder of the match.
"That was a big momentum boost for us," Welteroth said. "Dani's one of the best athletes I've ever faced on the volleyball court. It's definitely a big challenge going up against her."
Rachel Potopa had a team-high 17 digs followed by Dombrowski with 15 and Alyssa Luther with 13. Defensive specialist Logan McIntosh added 11 digs.
"Logan McIntosh is a rock solid libero, and she passes so well," Kasun said. "She does so many good things for us."
BG's momentum from game one continued into the second game. Bishop Carroll answered with a win in game three and had the lead early in the fourth and final game.
"We came back strong in the third set. This team does not give easily. They have more heart than any team I've ever coached," Skura said. "We got flat at the end, though. We started messing around with the ball too much and not executing our offense. The tip and push shots killed us."
Trailing 12-8 in the final game, BG went on a 7-0 run and held on for the victory.
"The third game we weren't as aggressive serving and that allowed Bishop Carroll to run off its offense much better," Kasun said. "Game four, we survived more than anything else. We inched ahead and held on."
Link led the Lady Huskies with 27 kills and Sarah Gomish had 17. Senior setter Sunny Settle dished out 32 assists, and Rachel Kwisnek had 30 digs.
Luther led the BG offense with 37 assists.
"She's a phenomenal setter. She puts the ball right where it needs to be," Welteroth said. "We couldn't have done it without her. It was a total team effort."
BISHOP CARROLL: Gomish 13, Platt 7, Link 4, Settle 4, Przybys 3, Woomer 1.
BISHOP GUILFOYLE: Dombrowski 12, Luther 10, Potopa 6, Welteroth 3, Baughman 2.
Team records: Bishop Carroll (7-2 LHAC, 9-2 overall); Bishop Guilfoyle (8-1 LHAC, 10-1 overall).
JV: Bishop Guilfoyle 25-7, 25-13.


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Bravo for grilled oysters
Of the many delicious things I've tossed on the grill over the years, oysters never made it on my menu.
It simply never occurred to me that the flavor of this simple raw bar treat could be elevated by the application of a few flames.
That is, until I recently attended an oyster event at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival in Miami Beach, where numerous chefs offered up grilled oysters fresh off the flames.
One variation topped the oyster with a thick slab of chorizo and manchego cheese. Amazing.
But my favorite was from Hung Huynh, the chef at Catch Miami and winner of the third season of Bravo's "Top Chef." He topped the oysters with a sauce that was deeply savory and had just a bit of heat from jalapenos.
I decided I had to make them for myself, and that these oysters would make a fantastic starter for a cookout kicking off summer.


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Erie County Aquatic Hall lists new members
Strong Vincent's 1963-64 boys swimming team, champions of the PIAA meet that season, highlights the list of inductees for the 2013 Erie County Aquatic Hall of Fame ceremony.
The Colonels will have a heavy presence at the March 27 event, scheduled for the Hemingway Ballroom of the Courtyard by Marriott's Ambassador Center.
The doors will open at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 and the ceremony at 7:30.
Vincent's state title team will be inducted. Its roster included Leigh Rounds and Steve DiRaimo, who are also scheduled to enter as individuals.
Those scheduled for induction are:
- 1963-64 Strong Vincent boys team: Won the PIAA title.
- Paul Brugger: Anchored East's 200-yard freestyle relay team to the state title in 1943 and won 200 free state title.
- Charles Jack Cooke: Strong Vincent swimmer was the 100-yard freestyle gold medalist at the 1941 PIAA meet.
- Steve DeCota: An All-America swimmer at Strong Vincent, as well as a PIAA champion with its 200-yard freestyle relay team in 1960.
- Steve DiRaimo: Swam a leg of Strong Vincent's 200-yard freestyle relay team that won the PIAA final in 1964.
- Katie Duncombe Ellington: A former PIAA swimming champion at McDowell who went on to compete for Michigan State and qualify for the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials.
- Richard Etter: Will be posthumously honored for winning the PIAA's 50-yard freestyle final as an East swimmer in 1943.
- Pat Flanagan: Was an All-America swimmer at Strong Vincent, as well as a PIAA gold medalist with the Colonels' 200-yard freestyle relay team in 1960.
- John Grabowski: The East diver was a gold medalist at the 1952 state meet.
- Robert Holmes: The Cathedral Prep All-America swimmer competed on its 200-yard medley relay team, which finished first in that event at 1962 national Catholic meet.
- Matthew Kohler: Strong Vincent's All-America swimmer was a PIAA champion and competed with the Colonels' 200-yard freestyle relay in 1979.
- Michael Kohler: Strong Vincent's All-America swimmer was a PIAA champion and competed with the Colonels' 200-yard freestyle relay in 1979.
- Dennis Kolarik: Was an All-America swimmer at Cathedral Prep, where he was a member of its 200-yard medley relay team which won that event at the 1962 national Catholic meet.
- Andy Kontrick: All-America swimmer joined Kolarik on Prep's 200-yard medley relay team that won the 1962 national Catholic title.
- Reino Makela: Joined Kolarik, Kontrick and Holmes as the regular legs of Cathedral Prep's 200-yard medley relay team which won that event at the 1962 national Catholic meet.
- Eric Mizuba: The McDowell graduate became the 14th person to successfully swim across Lake Erie on July 29, 2012.
- George Pianka: The late East swimmer was a state 220 freestyle champion in 1946.
- Barry Poulson: Strong Vincent's diver was the PIAA gold medalist for its 1955 meet.
- Leigh Rounds: Was an All-America swimmer at Strong Vincent, where he was a PIAA champion as a member of the Colonels' 200-yard freestyle relay in 1964.
- Dave Schabacker: Strong Vincent All-America swimmer was a state champion in the 150-yard individual medley (1956) and the 200 freestyle (1958).
- Peter Smith: Was the 1965 national Catholic champion in the 500-yard freestyle and the 100 backstroke with Cathedral Prep.
- Robert Sprickman: The 1968 Strong Vincent graduate will receive the hall's lifetime achievement award for his contributions to county aquatics.
A slide presentation of former and current inductees will be part of the ceremony, which has tickets available by calling Jon Myrick at 455-6610. Reservations are due by March 13.
MIKE COPPER can be reached at 870-1614 or by e-mail.


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Your courses will address literature in the broadest sense, including canonical texts, popular literature, film, and opera from diverse national traditions. As a major, much of your work will be done in other literature departments and will involve reading in foreign languages.
Meghan O'Sullivan '15 discovered two new academic loves at Hamilton College – comparative literature and public policy – and majored in both. The common ground, she says, is that both areas of study delve into social and political issues.More >>
In 2012, Ross Ufberg '07 co-founded New Vessel Press, a publishing firm that specializes in translating foreign literature into English. And he's pursuing a doctorate in Slavic languages at Columbia University, working on Russian and Polish literature.More >>
Hamilton graduates who concentrated in comparative literature are pursuing careers in a variety of fields, including:


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Billionaire Prokhorov to Talk With Kudrin About Party, Aide Says
Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov may invite former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin to join his new middle-class political party, an adviser said.
"I am sure that Prokhorov will discuss this project with Kudrin," Gleb Pavlovsky, who heads the Moscow-based Effective Policy Foundation and advised the Russian businessman on his presidential election campaign, said by phone yesterday.
Prokhorov, whose fortune was valued at $18 billion by Forbes last year, received almost 8 percent of the vote in the March 4 presidential election, placing him third behind the winner, Vladimir Putin, and Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov.
Putin, 59, who faced unprecedented protests in major cities after allegations of fraud in December parliamentary elections, is seeking to form a "loyal, liberal opposition" to defuse opposition to his rule, according to Sergei Markov, a member of the ruling United Russia party.
Opposition groups are planning a campaign of rallies and civil disobedience to press for new parliamentary and presidential elections. Putin garnered 64 percent of the vote in an election that was criticized by international observers as unfair. The Russian leader, who's been in power for 12 years, hasn't ruled out standing again for president in 2018, which would give him almost a quarter-century at the helm.
Kudrin, who was ousted in September by outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev after opposing increases in military spending, said last month that he's trying to form an alliance of pro-democracy forces. The ex-minister sought to mediate between the opposition and Putin after the protests erupted in December.
While Kudrin and Prokhorov have backed calls for a new parliamentary vote, neither has questioned the legitimacy of Putin's election to a new Kremlin term.
The billionaire met Putin the day after the election together with two other losing candidates, later appearing on stage at an opposition meeting attended by thousands of people in Moscow. "You want change. I'll do everything to ensure you see these changes," he said.


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"Has anyone had the screen on the sunroof of their Passion come off the tracks. Anyone know how much it costs to fix if it is broken?"
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Hi, To let you and everyone know I have already started a Group In San Antonio.San Antonio SMART Team. I just need everyone to get on board....
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Serious financial problems are plaguing the Tri-County Community Action Program, an organization that helps low-income families in the northern part of the state.
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I had a neighbor whose wife was a diagnosed borderline. He took a very Zen like approach. He'd married her for better or worse, and when she went off her meds and stole stuff or disappeared, that was some of the worse. He did the best he could, enjoying her good days, and living a life slightly apart from her on her bad days.
I have no advice, just the anecdote.


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Union Jacked.
Timothy Oulton's First U.S. Shop Brings Some Old World Class to Knox-Henderson.
By Hance on Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 12:49 PM
About a month ago, Timothy Oulton Furniture Designs opened its first standalone U.S. location at the corner of 75 and Henderson. And the store, though new, relishes in the old. Oulton, who lives by the phrase "be relevant or be dead," has been in the furniture game for some time now -- his whole life, basically. He started designing pieces while growing up in his father's London antique shop in the '70s.
These days, every piece of furniture that bears his name is hand-crafted and made with reused, reclaimed materials (wood, metal, plastic and vintage items). But from its 4500 N. Central Expressway storefront, the shop offers more than just furniture. There's a floral department, a vintage clothing rack and even a wifi-ready cafe where shoppers are encouraged to hang out and sip on some organic coffees and desserts.
Timothy Oulton may be new to town, but it's hoping to make a mark quickly -- and not just a furniture store. It's a lifestyle brand, says store press agent Travis McHenry. And, with any luck, the store will add some British class to the Dallas scene in no time.


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SHEPHERDSTOWN - Three women on the Shepherd softball team have gone from rivals to best friends as they've helped lead the Rams throughout the season.
Shannon Lyons and Alexandra Witt, both Jefferson graduates, and Jess Mason, a Hedgesville graduate, have found success on the field and at the plate, leading the team Wednesday as the Rams split a doubleheader with Glenville State.
"I love it. They are such good teammates," said Witt, a freshman.
Article Photos
Left, Shepherd's Jess Mason tags out Glenville State's Charity Ramsey as Ramsey attempts to steal second base during the fourth Inning action of the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday. Right, Alexandra Witt snares a line drive during the third inning.
Shannon Lyons
Witt might be the baby of the group with Lyons as a sophomore and Mason a senior, but she's found her own niche quickly with the Rams. She leads the team in home runs with five and is fourth on the team in average at .316. She's also racked up nine doubles and 26 RBI.
"It's obviously a great feeling," Witt said of her success, "being able to come in as a freshman and being able to help my team and be effective."
That kind of great production at the plate doesn't surprise her coach or teammates, though.
"I kind of expected it from her," Shepherd coach Leslie Lopez said. "She has a very good bat."
As happy as her coach is to have her on the team, Lyons might be a bit more.
"I was so glad to hear she was coming here. She's been so clutch," Lyons said, adding the two had been friends and teammates at Jefferson for three years.
That clutch hitting was something that helped the Rams bounce back from being shut out 4-0 by Glenville in Game 1 to win the nightcap 11-3.
Shepherd took an early lead, going up 6-3 after three innings.
"From the first game, we made some adjustments, and that was obviously showed in the second game," Mason said. "We showed our potential. We just gotta keep it going."
After both teams were held scoreless in the fifth, Shepherd kept the bases loaded the majority of the fifth, showing good patience at the plate and good pitch selection.
Mason led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a single by Kass Taylor. Savannah Snyder reached on an error to load the bases. Back-to-back walks by Rachel Kline and Shanan Plunkett knocked in Mason and Taylor.
Lyons ended the game with a hard line-drive single to right field to drive in Kline and Plunkett, ending it on an eight-run mercy rule.
Lyons is working her way out of a small offensive slump.
"Once you get in a slump, you have to figure you're way out of it. It's another mental game," Lyons said. "I'm hoping this is a turning point."
Lyons has spent the season trying to balance playing outfield and being a relief pitcher.
"At first, I just could not learn how to balance the two," she said, adding now she's figured out how to focus on just one position at a time.
The three have supported each other tremendously this season, but it hasn't always been that way.
"We were little rivals," Lyons said about Mason in high school. "She's honestly become one of my best friends on this team."
"We were huge rivals," Mason added. "And now we're probably one of the closest two on the team. She's a complete sweetheart, and she's a hard worker."
The pair easily added Witt into their group, though all three agree the whole softball team is very close.
"We just have a bond," Witt said about local girls. "Makes you want to see them do good."
As much as the girls like each other now, Mason said joining a team with former rivals isn't always an easy transition.
"It's weird because when you come in, you're like, 'Are we going to hate each other?'" she said.
Nevertheless, all three are happy to be near home and able to represent the Eastern Panhandle on that level of competition.
"It's great there's a lot of girls from our area and the Eastern Panhandle," Witt said. "I can go back (to Jefferson) and people ask how you're doing."
She said it's nice to hear how parents and fans from high school still watch her games and stats at Shepherd, and she hopes she can encourage more local girls go to Shepherd.
Mason hopes she can do the same because Hedgesville coach Randy Shade and former coach Larry Laing bring some of the team to watch the Rams play and she enjoys being that close to home.
"I love it. My family's always here," Mason said. "Sometimes you need to feel like you're at home."
She added that it's great to have her home at Hedgesville and also one at Shepherd.
Lyons agrees being close to home is nice.
"My dad loves watching games," she said. "I feel like I'm far enough from home."
The family the three of them have created with their team leaves mixed feelings for the girls as the season starts to come to a close.
"I never thought it would come. It's kinda bittersweet," Mason said about being a senior.
She will leave behind her wisdom with the younger players, especially Witt.
"She's someone I look up to because she's such a hard worker," Witt said.


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"I Can't Afford A House" Syndrome
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On a drive up to a local restaurant last week to celebrate our friend's final Master's class, my wife and I were listening to this segment of Marketplace on commuter bikes. The segment talked about how more people are biking to work and how expensive these commuter bikes were. They range anywhere from a couple hundred to five figures! It's an astonishing price to pay for a bicycle but here's the truly astonishing part about it – many pay without any reason to.
First, Marketplace talked to Richard Fries of Bikes Belong, a bicycling advocacy group, and he said that you just need a simple bike to get you from A to B. All you need "is the bike that Curious George had. You know what I mean? Fenders, chain guard, a little rack to strap your books onto. Does wheelies. Gets around town."
Then they talked to Susan Brady, just a regular Jane consumer who bikes every day to work:
Brady: I mean, the cool thing about bikes is you can spend a little or spend a lot, and they're all gonna pretty much do the same thing.
Cole (Marketplace reporter): That's what I'm wondering, why you would spend a lot.
Brady: Cause I thought I'm never gonna be able to buy a house, so I might as well buy a nice bike.
Woah. Now, it's one thing to justify the price with good reasons and another to justify it like that. For example, high end mountain bikes are expensive because they are made of carbon fiber (to be lighter), have high end shock absorbers (to handle the rugged terrain), and other similar characteristics that improve performance and durability. While you do pay a premium, it's likely that most seasoned mountain bikers recognize what they are getting for their money. This is the very reason why I advocated Acting Your Age Financially and how you shouldn't hit the premium aisle before checking out the discount bin.
While the Marketplace segment might have had some editing involved, the fact that Brady's best response was that "she can't afford a house" is astonishing. That reasoning isn't uncommon though. I had a friend once email out to a bunch of our friends lamenting the fact that home prices are so high in our area. There's no way he could afford a home here. That's when someone pointed out that the reason he can't afford a home is because he has a boat and a new truck to tow the boat.
We all make decisions and trade offs, don't say you can't afford a house and then go out and buy a ridiculously expensive bicycle. You sound foolish and it's insulting, especially to all the hard working Americans scraping by and saving all of their money so they can afford a place of their own.
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Two women died and three people were seriously injured following a major accident Saturday evening near Saint-Alphonse-de-Granby.
Around 7:30 P.M. a semi-trailer truck slammed into six other vehicles on Highway 10.
Some passengers were trapped in their vehicles for several hours.
Highway 10 towards Montreal was closed completely Saturday evening.
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You've even set out along the path to making your dreams come true by previously completing the three-day Racing School earlier this year or the three-day High Performance program offered at The Mid-Ohio School in 2013.
Or you have a valid SCCA, NASA, Grand Am, or IMSA licence and you're looking for quality, top-flight instruction and to learn the fast way around the iconic Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course at a high value price point.
Now it's time to race.
Lapping Days – what are they? They call it lapping and the dictionary defines it "to get a lap or more ahead of (a competitor) in racing on an oval or road track." Lapping days at The Mid-Ohio School are all about learning advanced racing techniques.
To do so is no easy task.
"You have to have intimate knowledge of the track and its racing lines (apexes) at each corner," says Todd Snyder, Chief Instructor at The Mid-Ohio School. "That means you have to know where the racing line will be in a corner because you usually can't see it when you start your turn."
That takes intimate knowledge of the track and it is why racers learn to pace a track before an event; yes, they walk it.
What is the average course of activity look like during Lapping Days? On track? Off track?
Enrolees spend a full day lapping the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and learning why it has been called the "most competitive track in the United States. The highly experienced instructors at The Mid-Ohio School teach students the fastest way around Mid-Ohio, but also checkered flag techniques to keep them at the head of the pack.
"All of our instructors have a racing background with most of us having competed at the highest levels (INDYCAR, Daytona Prototype, etc.)," says Snyder. "Some of our instructors are current racers, trying to work their way up into the big leagues. They all know how to race and are good at passing along these lessons."
The instructor-to-racer ratio is 1:5; with a class of 30 students, that would mean six instructors while a smaller class of six-eight students would have two instructors.
The lapping days candidates (those who qualify) will spend a minimum of two-and-a-half hours putting the racing lessons they have learned that day to practical use.
So, what kind of racer will emerge from Lapping Days?
"A much better one," Snyder concludes.
Lapping Days at a glance:
• Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. Class begins at 9:30 a.m. and ends no later than 6:00 p.m.
• This course takes place at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, 7721 Lexington-Steam Corners Rd., Lexington, Ohio
• Van rides and a track walk examining the subtleties of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with professional Championship winning Instructors
• Instructor lead-follow session to review and understand proper lines and techniques
• Full-course, open lapping sessions with controlled passing areas
• Options to lead/follow the instructors or ride with instructors during open lapping sessions
• Instructor observations, feedback and critique of driving skills at key areas of the track
• Instructor critique of in-car video at participants request
• On Track Drills - 1 hour
• On Track Open Lapping - 4 hours or more (subject to enrollment)
• Cars used? Acura ILX
• Program cost: $595.00
• Inquire about our special afternoon lapping program option


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When Swedish furniture giant IKEA broke ground for a new store off I-205 last Tuesday, Portlanders responded with a resounding "Skol!"
What a difference from the angry reception another big-boxer, Wal-Mart, has faced when it has tried to plant its flag around these parts.
Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams, Wal-Mart's loudest opponent in City Hall, told WW he welcomes IKEA because it gives back to the community, treads lightly on the environment and encourages customers to take public transportation. Wal-Mart, he says, does not.
But is IKEA really such a different big box from Wal-Mart? While Portlanders count the days until next year's IKEA opening (when they'll no longer have to drive 160 miles north to get their fix of the company's sleek Euro design), here's a scorecard that compares IKEA with Wal-Mart.
Wal-Mart spokeswoman Jennifer Holder says its Oregon employees make $10.44 an hour on average, which would work out to about $18,450 a year for a "full-time" employee (as Wal-Mart views anyone working 34 or more hours per week). About 70 percent work full-time, and benefits are available after a six-month waiting period. Wal-Mart critics say the company drives up average-wage data by including managers' salaries and exaggerating its percentage of full-time workers.
IKEA doesn't release pay or benefit information, but spokesman Joseph Roth says, "Co-workers are paid a living wage," with no waiting period for benefits. Fortune magazine reports that IKEA salespeople earn $18,300 a year. Unlike Wal-Mart, IKEA regularly makes Fortune's "Top 100 companies to work for" but slipped from No. 62 to No. 96 this year.
A side note: Both list China, nobody's top choice for worker-friendly conditions, as their No. 1 supplier.
IKEA's Portland store will be 280,000 square feet, making even Wal-Mart's largest Supercenters (185,000 square feet) feel downright cozy by comparison. But the combined total of all seven Portland-area Wal-Marts is 959,000 square feet.
IKEA gets enviro props, proclaiming it "only buys wood from managed forests, never from natural forests." Roth says all new IKEA stores, including the one in Portland, will seek LEED green-building certification by meeting energy and environmental standards. Wal-Mart has moved recently to improve building and truck fleet efficiency and has become the world's biggest seller of organic milk and organic cotton. IKEA doesn't offer organic cotton in its line of bed-wear.
Wal-Mart is the world's largest retailer, employing 1.3 million in the United States and more than 10,000 in its 29 Oregon stores alone. IKEA has about 10,000 "co-workers" in all its 28 U.S. locations.
On its biggest day, the day after Thanksgiving 2002, Wal-Mart grossed $1.43 billion, nearly as much as IKEA took in that entire year. IKEA's U.S. earnings were $2 billion last year, barely 1 percent of Wal-Mart's $191.8 billion.
IKEA offers salmon plates and Swedish meatballs in its cafeteria-style restaurants; Wal-Mart rents out space to McDonald's and Subway. IKEA toys include "Ratta," the stuffed rat, and "Krabba," the stuffed crab. Wal-Mart offers "Barbie's Jammin' Jeep Wrangler" and John Deere toy tractors.
IKEA seems ahead of the curve on issues people care about. Nobody has tried seriously to unionize a U.S. IKEA store. Wal-Mart has faced numerous labor lawsuits and only recently began to clean up its environmental record. IKEA comes out looking like your friendly neighborhood store compared with Wal-Mart.


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Mary Jo Ola gets some Independence Day fireworks safety tips from Madison firefighters.
Marc Serota/Getty Images
Here's a look at some of the celebrities we've lost so far in 2016.
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Four women and one man were shot and killed at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, on September 23.
The Badgers were in East Lansing, Michigan, at Spartan Stadium Saturday to play Michigan State.
Check out who's turning 3, and send in your photo.
View from work building after storm rolled through this afternoon 9/19
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Dean Clinic and WISC-TV3 are focusing on a year-long campaign to promote healthy decisions for our kids.
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text: Lil RiderT FX 3-Wheel Battery Operated Ride On Bike - 2 colors Two colors - black/yellow Flag this deal What's the matter? Choose a reason Dead deal Duplicate Bad link Spam Inaccurate No value Alive again Edit deal glwrks Jul 13, 2013 Price drop + 6 color choices! Reply xrjohn May 08, 2013 My grandson would love this ride on bike. Nice deal. Reply ilene285 May 08, 2013 Such a cute little Ride On Bike. Great price too. Reply Load More Comments