text:
Portland Public Schools could see a budget gap of at least $22 million in the 2013-14 school year, district officials said Monday night.
Deputy Chief Financial Officer David Wynde stressed Monday's budget forecast was far from a proposal. He also noted it was preliminary for multiple reasons, including changes to the state's education funding level and the district's upcoming negotiations with the teachers union in 2013.
But using Gov. John Kitzhaber's proposal on education funding, he and Assistant Budget Director Sara Bottomley presented various possibilities for next year's spending plan that showed the district could have a budget gap of between $22 million and $33 million.
Kitzhaber recently released a proposed state budget that would allocate $6.15 billion to schools. He also announced he hoped to push through changes to the Public Employees Retirement System that would result in savings to districts that are getting hit by retirement costs next year.
The budget forecasts assume retirement costs would increase by about $14 million, or 40 percent, without the legislative changes -- and that would result in a budget gap of about $32 million. If legislators pass the proposed retirement cost changes, Portland officials said that number would be about $22 million.
In both scenarios, officials assume healthcare costs increase by about $4.9 million, or about eight percent, and that all expenditures increase by three percent. The district would have at least $20 million in contingency funds in both cases.
Wynde on Monday also noted how the district is getting hit by property tax compression, which places limits on how much local option levy taxes can raise. In 2012-13, the district is expected to collect about $50 million -- without compression, that number would be about $27 million more.
Board members seemed shocked by the compression figure. "'Wow' and 'ouch' are appropriate responses," Wynde said.
The superintendent is expected to propose her budget in April.
-- Nicole Dungca
Follow @ndungca


text:
St. Tammany bureau
By Charlie Chapple
St. Tammany bureau
St. Tammany Parish sued FEMA Friday, contending the agency is illegally refusing to provide federal relief dollars to clean marsh-grass clogged canals in Coin du Lestin subdivision west of Slidell.
"It's a sad occurrence when a local government has to file litigation against its partner," Parish President Kevin Davis said. But the parish had no choice but to file suit in federal court to help residents who have been waiting almost two years for help, he said.
"For 21 months, these people have had to suffer," Davis said on the steps of the federal courthouse in New Orleans minutes after parish attorneys filed the suit. "They're scared to death of drainage (problems) and flooding."
Davis was flanked by parish officials and several Coin du Lestin residents who said Katrina flooded the 175-home subdivision with nine feet of water. The storm surge filled the subdivision's canals, which feed into Bayou Bonfouca, with marsh grass and vegetation from the nearby Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.
The clogged canals not only create an imminent flood threat, residents said, but prevents them from using the canals for boating and recreation. The muck also has dramatically lowered subdivision property values, they said.
"I can get my sailboat out to the bayou only when there's full moon and a very high tide," said Sandy McKone, who bought her home in Coin du Lestin shortly before Katrina hit.
Residents noted that FEMA has approved millions of dollars for the parish to clear streams and rivers throughout the parish, including canals -- similar to those in Coin du Lestin -- in Eden Isles and Lakeshore Estates.
Residents said they can't understand why their canals remain clogged. "My opinion is we don't have enough rich people living here" resident Sandy Stone said.
The suit contends FEMA is violating its own regulations by refusing to approve the estimated $3 million needed to clean the canals and alleviate a situation that presents an immediate public safety and health threat. It seeks a court order to force FEMA to finance the project.
A FEMA spokesman Friday declined comment, saying the agency has not received the suit. The suit will be turned over for review to the Justice Department when it's received, Ronnie Simpson said. "In the meantime, we will continue helping in the recovery of St. Tammany Parish," he said.
The suit states a position taken by FEMA is the marsh grass removal in the canals would require dredging, which is not eligible for funding under agency regulations. But the suit counters that agency is financing dredging to remove hurricane silt from Biloxi Bay, Miss.
Another reason for FEMA's refusal is the canals are considered private property, according to the suit. But FEMA financed the removal of marsh grass from culverts and yards in the subdivision, the suit states, and agency directives and regulations allow work on private property if conditions present a threat to public health or safety.
Parish attorney Christopher Beary said the canals, which were 8- to 10-feet deep and 15- to 20-feet wide, provided the drainage for the subdivision. But clogged with marsh grass, the canals will force runoff to back up into homes, he said.
"These residents have just put their homes back together," Beary said, "and they're scared to death that there'll be a major rain or storm and they'll get flooded again."
Charlie Chapple can be reached at email@example.com or (985) 898-4828.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
ACTION ALERT: Monday November 19th, 2012
If you didn't like the results of the November 6th, 2012 elections then the good news is that we have two full years until the 2014 midterms…and four years until there's another chance to drive Democrats from the White House.
The hard part is realizing just how much the national media in this country has truly become a Ministry of Truth for the Left…and how Americans by-and-large accept what the tee-vee and newspapers tell them every day.
How do we counter that?
How do we discredit and defund Minitru?
How do we get our friends and neighbors to see that winning elections is not just about beating the opponent on a ballot…but also about defeating the media too?
If you watch the show The Walking Dead on AMC and you know how stressed, frustrated, and ragtag the survivors of the zombie apocalypse are at this point in the series, then you'll appreciate how many people out there feel this way in real life today. And not just when they're playing around on their phones, like my boyfriend Justin with his "Plants vs. Zombies" game — where he plants little flowers and mushrooms in rows to thwart hordes of ghouls — and screen after screen of attackers just keep coming; if Justin loses his cool or lets down his guard, he's overwhelmed and his happy little garden is devoured.
That's what it feels like listening to Chris Matthews, Rachel Maddow, Martin Bashir, and the rest of the cast of MSNBC pushing the Left's agenda on Americans every single day…or reading what their counterparts in the dinosaur ink-and-paper trade churn out in terms of propaganda every morning. Every day, there's something new from them…they just keep coming…and up to this point there's been no effective countermeasure, save for Andrew Breitbart…who sadly (and heartbreakingly) is no longer with us. So many people feel overwhelmed, while the faces of Minitru smile like jokers on the screen.
There's a whole lot of hope, though, just watching Justin lob watermelons or corn cobs at his marauding ghouls (and, frankly, amusement when imagining that happening to Chris Matthews especially). Justin wins if he stays focused…and all the ragtag little seedlings keep doing what they do best, never giving up or becoming discouraged. Eventually, Justin builds up a wall of defense and starts taking the fight to the zombies…and the tide turns on his iPhone.
The same will be true for our own struggle against Minitru…which starts today…and every day…in the lead-up to the next election.
If you ever wonder why Democrats win so often, it's largely because they begin focusing on the next race as soon as the last one ends. Republicans tend to wait a year and a half to get back in the game…which is why their GOTV efforts seemingly keep failing.
How about doing something different this time and borrowing the tricks and tactics of the Democrats' playbook to use against them?
And — more importantly — how about treating the national media the way it should be treated…as an active opponent even more powerful than the Democrats on the Left?
Every day is a chance to take action…so how are you going to do that today?
— This is an OPEN THREAD so please post links to anything you think is helpful in bringing down the Ministry of Truth or exposing the Left to Americans —
© 2012, Kevin DuJan. All rights reserved.
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55 Comments
Kevin, I am disgusted today with Bill Kristol (telling us that the Tea party supports higher taxes for the wealthy) HUH??? …and George Will (telling us that it is Republican policies keep people from paying their taxes) . WTH? These guys are not helping the Republican party….thus we need suggestions as to how we can get rid of them because they obviously have no idea what they are talking about.
When I read these idiotic comments from them, who are supposed to be on OUR side, it makes me want to scream. These dunderheads need to go. Why does the Republican party consistently eat their own after an election? Their stupidity is breathtaking…
I'm beginning to wonder if lefties have infiltrated the republican ranks—-RNC, minitrue's "repub." commentators, "approved" republican campaign advisors and strategists. Who leaked the audio of Romney speaking to donors? Did lefties or the media pose as donors to be included on this phonecall or was it a disgruntled Romney supporter?
The lefties and rinos are two different sides of the same coin.
Until the republican party is purged of rinos and conservatives
dominate the party, we will get noone elected and nothing accomplished.
If you are a voter who leans socialist/marxist/comunist, why vote for a leftie lite when you can vote for the real thing?
We need to offer voters a contrast and educate them on why
the differences matter, to them personally and for their families
and the country.
Actually it was one of Jimmy Carter's grand children.
George Will has one point correct, the Earned Income Credit has resulted in more people not paying federal income taxes and in fact receive a check from those of us who do pay it. The credit was greatly expanded under W, I think that is what he was referring to. Kristol is a fool, he was a fool on the Arab Spring and he's a fool now on taxes. The sad thing is, he gets the air time on TV to show what a fool he is…too bad he never mentions how the stimulus spending is embedded in the baseline, remember when the GOP said they would go back to 2008 spending, anyone? Bueller?
Your point on the stimulus is a good one—–most Americans believe the stimulus was a ONE time spending plan for that year.— and from what I understand, we have been spending that EACH AND EVERY YEAR SINCE. Is this correct?
This should be a big deal—–I'm somewhat of a political groupie—this is never talked about—–Someone needs to make it clear to the American people—–understanding this should make it clear that we have a "spending" problem—-not a revenue problem.
Here's a post on stimulus spending and baseline
Mark Levin is the only one who brings this up frequently. I called my rep, senators and Paul Ryan many times during the debt ceiling debacle to raise this point and never received an answer as to why the silence from the GOP. I have called again this week. If these expenditures were pulled out of the baseline, we would be much closer towards deficit reduction and could find a path to a balanced budget. This was a winning argument by the 2010 Congress and in the 2012 election but it was never made. Paul Ryan is the budget wonk, why was this never brought to the voters? We have a spending problem, reduced revenues is down due to chronic high unemployment.
The stupid GOP consultants make millions while ordinary Americans like Kevin and those who comment here could have easily crafted messages that would have won the election for Romney and the Senate but no, we are not DC insiders so we are dismissed as the common people.
Kevin apparently the same thing has been happening to Col. West in St. Lucie County Fl. Democrats are in full obstruction and fraud mode. Was the election stolen by voter fraud. You bet. Florida State auditors found a lot of questionable activities regarding this election. The SOE and County personnel deliberately went past the deadline for submitting voter totals to the State. So even though Col. West finally got the early votes recounted, the state did not receieve the results. lots of angry people here.
I concur Doris – I am starting out today by DELETING The Weekly Standard form my favorites toolbar and will no longer read that drivel….until I think of something else that's a start
Kristol and Will get the F out of our party that WE THE PEOPLE are going to take back!
I found another great website – Canada Free Press – check it
PS – Great reads from you Kevin – missed you terribly the last few days – you are my sunshine!
I'm still so depressed over the loss and then find out the RNC got a 30 year judgement against them in 1982 so they can't fight voter fraud. They tried to over-turn the Judgement in 2010 but the leftist judge that enforces it said no.
I'm officially an Independent this morning. I no longer will identify as a Republican – as the party has left me too.
I'm watching my country being destroyed and I can't do anything about it.
And Rubio is out there flapping his jaws and giving the LSM / MoT ammo. He needs to shut his yap and get back to DC and start fighting. The GOP does it to themselves.
Anyone got a mailing address for the RNC? I've got a little epistle planned for sending to them, with copies to every one of my Senators and Congressmen. It will be the written equivalent of a Tabasco enema.
I can't seen to find anything but a generic "Contact Us" e-mail form. If anyone has any info, many thanks in advance.
310 First Street, SE Washington, DC 20003
I am writing to them as well.
Thanks a million! I really really really appreciate it!
One thing I am doing now which is anti Minitru is avoiding the alphabet media. I do not need the alphabet media tee-vee's perspective on anything since I know they'll carry Obama's and the Democrats water and then they'll target Republicans. Fewer viewers, the better. May be others will do the same too by turning them off.
It may not be a bad idea to boycott their sponsors just like the leftists do to Conservative program advertisers.
Gee, I thought democrats won because they stole elections, but I get your meaning on starting early. Interesting side observation about old ink and print media. We cancelled the Plain Dealer after they endorsed Obama. When we called to cancel we couldn't get through. The lines were jammed, and I think alot of people were calling to cancel the paper. The woman tried to get us to at least get it on weekends, and we said no. That we were done with their totally slanted point of view. Even their forum section is almost 4 to 1 liberal responses and opinions. Now 2 weeks after the election the old PD is probably going to 3 days a week. I feel somewhat bad because my brother-in-law works for them, but even he can see the handwriting on the wall. I think most people use the newspaper for catching the oil when they change it in their car. It is what it is.
We need to have our own campaign of real truth. One of the things we need to do is trace the money in leftwing redistribution programs. My experience is that at least 25% if not more of money budgeted for "welfare" goes to administrators, and other overhead, not to poor people. We need to point out that the government always takes a high percentage for itself. These programs, like the schools, are run to benefit the administrative class and the rich who sell things like cell phones to poor people that the rest of us pay for. Some rich people have found that it pays to sell stuff to the government in the guise of taking care of the poor.
A huge action item for all evangelicals out there is to make sure that people who you go to church with don't make disparaging remarks against other religious sects. I'm convinced that some of the missing R voters were Evangelicals who didn't want to vote for a Mormon. So just gently remind any fellow evangelicals that say something prejudiced against another sect, especially Mormonism or Catholicism, that this isn't helpful.
I don't think that Evangelical voters had any problem with Paul Ryan who is Catholic or Rick Santorum. And remember that Sarah Palin grew up in the Catholic Church until she was nine years old when her mother joined a protestant church, I am quessing that many of their friends in Alaska were protestant and that might be the reason.
But Evangalical and other Chritians don't acknowlege Mormonism as a Christian faith because of their Prophet Joe Smith ho was a polygamist like Muhammed, and I cannot say I blame them.
It doesn't seem to me that Evangelicals had any problem with Paul Ryan or Rick Santorum who are Catholic. And remember that Sarah Palin grew up in the Catholic Church until she was nine years old and her mother joined a protestant church. I am guessing many of their friends and neighbors in Alaska were protestant. But Christians of many sects do not acknowlede Moromism as a Christian religion because of their prophet Joe Smith, a polygamist who has alot in common with Muhammed and nothing in common with Jesus.
Evangelicals didn't seem to have a problem with Paul Ryan or Rick Santorum who are both Catholic. And don't forget that Sarah Palin grew up in the Catholic Church until she was nine years old when her mother jpined a protestant church because many of their friends and neighbors were protestant.
This was a reply to kg1982.
Kevin, I so agree that the national media is an enemy, not a friend.
I've been harping at Republican voters to not think they have fulfilled their duty just by voting. We've got to get involved at the local level now (and not wait until right before the election, as you said). We need conservatives to run for precinct chair and to attend local/county/state conventions. We need conservatives to be election workers and especially election judges and poll watchers. This is the minimum we should be doing.
I'm a senior citizen, but I'm totally against the Republican tradition of nominating the "next in line," who has been "waiting his turn." That gave us McCain. And we know where that went.
We have many talented up-and-comers, including minorities, but we don't showcase or support them. Somehow we have to yank the party out of the hands of the good ol' boys.
Just listening to Rush today explain how "our" consultants who consistently lose elections (by nominating moderates) but then go on TV and blame him and the Tea Party makes my head want to explode! We need solid conservative candidates who know how to talk to a corrupt media, we need a secure voting process and need accountability from those who are elected. All this talk of watering down our conservative principals will make us indistinguishable from dems and further confuse the electorate on what we stand for!
Breitbart had an article explaining that Romney had to choose from "approved" consultants and advisors. In other words —crony politics. These people failed miserably and have a history of doing so. I think the election was lost with the repubs GOTV effort —or lack thereof. Evidently, it was just a numbers game, rather than studying the most effective targeting and messaging to potential Romney voters. I think this is important—–I have received repub. political phone calls that I know would turn off some voters. I'd call that incompetence—- — as Trump would
say " You're Fired"
The lame stream media is really enough to give a person a stroke. I've actually had days where I had to take a step back, go for a run or something, because my blood pressure otherwise would be through the roof. Canceling newspapers and turning off alphabet channels are things a lot of us have already done. I think a list of companies that support dems and the lsm would be a good next step. Money talks!
Mark Levin has been talking about similar things, Sara B — he pointed out that every race where a true conservative ran (such as Ted Cruz in TX), they won; whereas pretty much every race where a moderate ran (such as Tommy Thompson in WI), they lost.
He also said it is time for all the old guard establishment to step aside if the GOP is to move forward again.
What is going on with some of these so-called conservatives and even some tried and true conservatives since the election? It's almost like higher taxes is now inevitable, so they're jumping on the bandwagon.
Newly elected Assembly Speaker Rep. Robin Vos (R-Rochester) is floating the idea of toll roads (http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/179640081.html).
o.O ?????
Fortunately, Gov. Walker has said no to this idea.
To go back to your question — what can we do?
We need to back only true conservatives, not Republicans.
Minitru? I've stopped watching/listening to them. I don't subscribe to our local rag (cut that subscription over 8 years ago), and canceled the cable almost 3 years ago.
Sykes pointed out the bias shown by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel with one of Gov. Walker's supporters: http://www.620wtmj.com/blogs/charliesykes/179928451.html while not continually pointing out that millionaire Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele did not pay state income taxes for four years.
Minitru made a huge deal about Gov. Christie going on The Daily Show, criticizing him that he should be dealing with the Sandy recovery, but yet they were silent on the president's going on the talk show circuit in the aftermath of Benghazi.
How do we effectively deal with this double standard? It seems like people (and by that I mean the general public) just don't care that it exists.
Technology. That's one field, next to marketing, that really needs to be gotten up to speed. You've all heard by now how disastrous ORCA was, in comparison with all those behavior scientists and big data mining that was used by the BO campaign. Also, accountability for money spent by big donors on this – I mean, not testing the software thoroughly until practically on Election Day? Come on, this is ridiculous.
Surely there are smart libertarian geeks out there . . . they can't all be liberal in Silicon Valley, can they?
Replace liberals with leftists . . .
I heard that the "Anonymous" group took responsibility for hacking
into the ORCA system to bring it down.
"…not testing the software thoroughly until practically on Election Day? Come on, this is ridiculous."
To me, it is unbelievable. That may be what someone is saying NOW, but I don't believe that any business person on the Romney Team wouldn't have insisted on a test and knowing how it turned out. Businesses ALWAYS have to wait for a test(s) before they run the "real" run. It-is-a-given. Too much money is involved when there are bugs in the system…These are business people!
When I first heard that excuse, I knew that it was an inside-job, with more than one person involved.
When I read how bad the system was, from various comments online of volunteers: how they waited on the system for instructions the night before the election, how some of them never got crucial instruction details the day of the election (so bad that they couldn't even do anything to help The Cause) and how their training had been lacking in the two weeks leading up to the election, it seemed as though the general GOTV system was breaking down; not just ORCA. And in some areas it worked perfectly! (I wonder if those were the Red Starts.)
I base my opinions from having worked in the corporate world, particularly in an electronic date processing department. We tested all the time – otherwise we could cause the company to lose lots of bucks!
My concern is not CNN (new motto: "if it wasn't for airports we wouldn't exist") or MSNBC (permanent motto: "we suck just slightly less than Air America"). My concern is zombies who watch Jon Stewart and think they are informed. A world where snark is mistaken for intellectual discourse. There are a couple of ways to deal with this. First, if the leftists you know are the typical Jew-hating leftists, just refer to Mr. Stewart by his birth name: Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz. Second, take a page out of Kevin's book and engage in a passive-aggressive form of mocking. Things like: "wow you still watch Jon Stewart, figured you would have outgrown him" or "Jon is the Saturday morning cartoon version of the news" or "so where do you get your real news".
another response: It's time to take the laugh track out of American politics
Or that the Jon Stewart show is aimed at a college age audience.
Canceled the newspaper. Never watch alphabet news shows. When attacked in a debate, use Romney's "attacking me is not" … acknowledging that voter fraud occured, etc, whatever the leftist wants to avoid. We need to change the narrative. Few people identify with the upset about raising taxes on the rich. Most will identify with complaints of waste and fraud and the need to balance the budget. Why not position ourselves as the group who wants to straighten out the budget and get tax breaks for everyone. We should consider divide and conquer techniques. For example, hey all you folks out of work. Granting amnesty to illegals means fewer job opportunities for you. We should also take volunteer opportunities in the communities where Republicans are not normally found and in our interactions promote the concepts of freedom, self-reliance and smaller government with the reminder that the leftist want to take these away from them.
I think we need to find ways of getting our message out around the media. This would require third-party organizations funded by donations.
Here's what I'm thinking: We have our own news service that runs 30 second to 1 minute commercials during primetime TV, recapping the week's real news. It can officially be an ad for a website that has more details about each story (maybe breitbart could do this?). I know it requires $$, but it would be $ well spent. Maybe it only runs in key states?
Or, as I've said before, ads explaining our conservative message and contrasting it to the current regime. We need a marketing campaign and it needs to be 'cool'.
Again, trying to think outside of the box….
Anything we can do to get into the reality TV realm? I'm thinking of a James O'Keefe reality show, or a show about reporters trying to find the next big story related to the white house or something like that.
These days, those things can be shown on the internet and still have a decent following.
That's actually an excellent idea, and you should contact O'Keeffe directly about it.
Reality TV is pretty much scripted these days. Why not . . . go beyond reality TV? Create a new tv genre that people will flock to rather than watching reality tv. Upside – you get the target audience plus you get others interested in something new that just happens to present our perspective effectively.
My point is . . . there's going to be a lot of leapfrogging involved when it comes to technology and marketing if we're to catch up.
Hello Kevin
Today I received a letter asking for a donation for WHYY in Philadelphia which is the "public braodcasting network" of PBS and NPR.
I called WHYY and told them I wanted them to take me off their mailing list and that I wanted to explain why. First I told them that PBS and NPR have zero credibility because they are not capable of being objective when covering anything the Obama administration is doing. I went on in detail about the extreme leftist bais and explained that I had been a democrat for 28 years until 2008 when the party jumped the shark. I then explained that there is no longer any such thing as public broadcasting on TV because you have to pay for cable. I explained that while my tax dollars are going to public television and I was also being asked to donate I still cannot view "public television" without paying mt cable company. I sugested that they ask Comcast to support them. The woman I spoke to was polite and seemed to understand where I was coming from.
I heard something today on Rush (I think). He said that the day after an election, the Dems get busy for the next one. The GOP doesn't do that. They wait around pointing fingers & blame for the next year or so. The example given was a question posed during the exit polls – Who is to blame for the economy? More than 50+% said Bush. BUSH!!! O"I love to spend your $$"bama was not to blame.
I wondered "How can this be true? Have they been asleep?" Ever heard the expression, "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it." – Joseph Goebbels. (The remainder of the quote is astonishing.) Well, this is what has been happening for the since the O came into office. MSM & WH have been spewing this since the beginning.
They also followed more Goebbel advice – "The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly – it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over". They kept it short & "sweet" & kept repeating it.
Uneducated or undereducated minds can not grasp loftier ideas & thoughts as presented by conservatives & GOPers. Example – have students/people try to read the Declaration of Independence. Their eyes glazed over after the first sentence or two.
We must figure out just a few points to drill & then drill them over & over & over again for the next years. Pick the points & present it in just a few words, Twitter style.
Now, how do we present Liberty, Virtue, Hard Work, Self Reliance, & Freedom in just a few words? AND slam the O"I love to Spend your $$$"bama regime?
Sorry, I just have to post the rest of Goebbel's quote (esp the last sentence):
"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State."
Let's get out his playbook & use it. Many of his quotes can be found at: http://thinkexist.com/quotes/joseph_goebbels/
He may have been a murdering, nazi, SOB going to H@ll, but he was a brilliant propagandist.
Kevin, I know you are also a Catholic so I thought my experience of the other day would be interesting.
I visited the web-site of the Basilica or Saint Peter and Paul in Philadelphia to fill out an application for membership to the Church. I have always been Catholic but I wanted to join this church because I love their organist and the Basilica is breath taking. While I was on the website , before I went to the application form, I was distracted by a Catholic World News article head line at the bottom of the site. It reported that a member of the Obama administration and $1000 donor to his campaign was named the new president of the FADICA, or Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities! The article noted that Alexia Kelley (the new president of the FADICA) also donated $1000 each to Hillary Clinton and John Kerry in former campaigns. I can tell you that the hair on the back of my neck stood up when I read that a woman who works for and donated to the president, who is radically pro-abortion, even aggresively supported infanticide and who's support of the Muslim Brotherhood with words and arms has made life unlivable for Christians and Jews in the middle east , north Africa and Bosnia is the new president of the FADICA. I spent today getting the run around from the Basilica, the Philadelphia Arch Diocese and the US Catholics Bishops Conference, but I made sure that each person I spoke to knew why I ws calling and what concerned me . After my last call to the US Catholic Bishops Conference in D.C. 202 541-3000, I was asked to send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com . I am contemplating what to write to them. I think I need a day to cool down before I send them an email. I really don't know anything else about Alexia Kelley other than what I read on the Basilica's website. But I don't think this "choice" can be good for the Church.
Any thoughts?
Excuse me, I meant CAN'T be good for the Church.
Mimi, Mark Shannon, a local talk show host (who sadly has passed away), was investigating the Catholic church and other " progressive" churches and their ties to IAF—International Areas Foundation. This is an alinsky group, that has infiltrated the churches based on a "social justice" as a way of being charitable.
Conservative Catholics here in OKC were fighting it—-but IAF and other alinsky groups have been working through churches in the name of charity—–but are actually using the foothold they have in the churches to push a radical agenda-=—that church members are unaware of or do not recognize as the wolf in sheeps clothing that it is
Correction, IAF is the INDUSTRIAL Areas Foundation.
I think we need to get out the message about how much money our government simply wastes. Senator Tom Coburn has a "wastebook" on his website documenting some of this. http://www.coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2012/10/wastebook-2012
We need to find a way to get this information out to the general public and really get people pissed off that they are paying any taxes at all to fund this crap, and that we are borrowing money and saddling future generations with massive debts, while our government practically flushes money down the toilet. Since we have to fight Minitru, I think the idea of buying ads during popular shows that people watch live is the best idea.
I also wish that some billionaire conservative could buy one of the 3 major networks and turn it conservative, so that we could reach some of the people who watch the mainstream news. I wonder if this is ever a possibility.
Senator Leahy has given us an opening to fire up the Lefties…along with Conservatives and Libertarians but let's focus on the Lefties who would explode if this were proposed by the Right.
I highly recommend you read this article and then spread the word to all you know, post on comment sites and contact your elected officials, this cannot pass…
A Senate proposal touted as protecting Americans' e-mail privacy has been quietly rewritten, giving government agencies more surveillance power than they possess under current law.
CNET has learned that Patrick Leahy, the influential Democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee, has dramatically reshaped his legislation in response to law enforcement concerns. A vote on his bill, which now authorizes warrantless access to Americans' e-mail, is scheduled for next week.
Don't know if many of you know this yet, but Glenn Beck's station, The Blaze, is available via Dish satellite. After I convince my husband we should try Dish (OMG, can't believe what we pay for basic Direct service), will be sure to purchase his channel. We should support those who are "blazing" a path for us which may encourage others. Yeah, his ADHD makes me crazy most of the time, but he puts out news you can't get anywhere else.
The French Youth are awakening, have you seen this video?
Could this happen in America. France and other European nations have a long standing cultural identity that the young can see everywhere. It's in the architecture, the literature, language, food and social life. But America is different. Our European roots are a mixed bag of immigrants and refugees. I would like to think of American culture as the culture you can see in 1940's movies. A culture where people dressed well, and spoke properly and ate the normal amount of food needed to survive. Children had two parents unless one died and had their grandparents living with them when they were too old to care for themselves. There was respect, dignity and most importantly, God. Now that the spoiled brat baby boomers have taken over, their Jane Fonda attitudes of treasonist rebellion for the sake of getting attention have turned the freeist nation in the world into a socialist shake down hell hole. Idiots union workers are being manipulated by Soros funded thugs to destroy the companies that employ them so that they can go on welfare rather than work. Envirofacists have made it nearly imposible for anyone to start a factory that actually makes something. Even Solydara with all it's goverment gratnts could not compeat in the global economy. So what is left. Well in the 2000s there was the mortgage industry, and wall street casino. One Goldman Sachs bubble after another and if Al Gore and Obama have their way the next bubble will be the Carbon dirivetivs market. Idol hads are the devils work shop and the devil has taken up residence in the new socialist republica of Obamaland. What is American culture. Where is American culture. Has any young person we know ever even seen the cover of a magazine called The Saturday Evening Post?
Good luck to you young French patriots. Socialist are less than animals and you are smarter than they are. Go will God and kick them the hell out of your country for good!
I think the reason we conservatives take time between elections is because we have lives. I don't think the democrats do. I think the government and politics is their whole life, which explains a lot.
It was Mitt who said life isn't only about politics.
But for Obama and leftists, it is! Government is the only thing they all belong to!
It's hard to compete with that kind of obsession. For us the government is there to aid and assist in us enjoying our freedoms by keeping things in order and us secure – it's the means to a greater end. But, for the left, it is an end in itself.


text:
The Saline Planning Commission will hold three public hearings Wednesday at Saline City Hall, including a request for a combined site plan that would allow a 5,000-square-foot addition to an existing building.
Plaza West Saline, LLC has filed an application for its building at 901 W. Michigan Ave. Plans call for the addition, improvements to the storm management system and 33 new parking spaces.
A public hearing also will be held for an amendment to the St. Joseph Mercy Saline Hospital site plan that requests reconfiguring the parking lot at the entrance of the hospital at 400 Russell St.
The Saline District Library is seeking approval for additional parking and improvements to the storm water management system. The library wants to add 62 parking spaces on a 24,000-square-foot asphalt parking lot.
The public hearings will take place at 100 N. Harris St.


text:
As Iraq descends into chaos, and brutal Muslim extremists gain control over more of the country, calls for a strong U.S. response are escalating. Several Republican U.S. senators have urged President Obama to launch air strikes. President Obama has ruled out re-invading the country, but is considering other options.
Sunday, PennLive/The Patriot-News published an editorial saying that the violence in Iraq is not worth shedding another drop of American blood. And central Pennsylvania military veterans shared their thoughts about Iraq in this post on PennLive.
What, if anything, do you think the U.S. should do? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Note: This informal poll is not meant to be a scientific assessment of public opinion. It is merely a way for readers to express views on a topic of current interest.


text:
POW! Lombardi Sports Fashion Show - Free Beer, Free Food, Awesome Raffle Prizes
High Fives Non-Profit Foundation
Thursday, November 8, 2012 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM (PST)
Who's Going
San Francisco, California
London, United Kingdom
Florence, Italy
Event Details
Come check out the 2012-2013 Outerwear Collections from some of the best in the winter sports and support the High Fives Foundation.
100% of Donations from Raffle, Beer, and Food to High Fives
SEW ON SITE with bigtruck brand (Proceeds to High Fives Foundation)
Custom Hats made with LOVE
5% of Store Sales from November 9-11
Click here to download coupon, must have coupon for discount and 5% donation
Outerwear Collections From
Tomahawk Clothing * Holden Outerwear * Armada Outerwear * Nike 6.0 * Moment Outerwear
When & Where
Lombardi Sports
1600 Jackson St.
San Francisco,
Thursday, November 8, 2012 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM (PST)
Add to my calendar
High Fives Non-Profit Foundation
High Fives Non-Profit Foundation is a Tahoe-based 501.c.3 non-profit organization dedicated to raising money and awareness for athletes who have suffered a life-altering injury while pursuing their dream in the winter action sports community. Formed in 2009, the organization has helped provide the means for making goals to be met, after suffering a life-altering injury. For more information visit http://www.highfivesfoundation.org/


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ST. CHARLES transfers filed Dec. 3-7, 2012
Batture Property: Patsye V. Lunk to Wood Resources LLC, $100.
Magnolia Meadows Subdivision, lot L-2: Louis Morales Jr. to Ana V. Caldwell, $50,000.
Coteau de France, lot 3X: Sherry C. Luquete and Michael D. Luquete to Jessica T. Villasenor and Alultimo V. Villasenor, $7,500.
Nottaway Drive 304: Kimberly H. McNeely and Josiah C. McNeely to Kathleen M. Shields and Brandon M. Shields, $195,000.
Nottaway Drive 334: Simona L. Flores to Victoria G. Lackar and Gerald F. Lackar, $223,500.
Schexnaydre Drive 205: Robert T. Lack Jr. and Robin F. Patman to Irvin A. Naquin Jr. and Kelley H. Naquin, $232,000.
Maple St. 234: Morris P. Hymel and others to Cheryl C. Mahler and Douglas A. Mahler, $115,000.
Hawthorn Drive 208: Rustin L. St. Amant and Nacole C. St. Amant to Blaine M. Faucheux and Bethany R. Faucheux, $220,000.
Lake Catherine 113: Jan M. Mansfield and Lisa M. Krupa to Valerie S. Brown and Oscar M. Brown Jr., $276,900.
Lakewood Drive 139 1/2: Sidney A. Stabile to Touch of Class Homes Inc., $18,000.
Lakewood Estates, phase II, lot 35: Monica W. Garic and Kristen Garic to Mathilda B. Whitney and Harold Whitney Jr., $47,000.
Country Cottage Blvd. 403: Peggy B. Gallo to Shannon E. Crane, $202,500.
Almedia Plantation, lots 8, 9 and 11: Willette L. Norman to Wood Resources LLC, $100.


text:
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I think that the creator of the forum has the right to control it.
how cool would it be if we could all put off payment for weeks on end while still getting the benifits of payment...
it's essentially the same thing they ask of us.
I don't know what exactly you're complaining about. When you paid for your membership you knew exactly what you'd be getting for your money..
i think it is a big deal... not a deal breaker mind you, but still a big deal. it's just one more thing to add to the list that makes this site far less legit than they want us all to believe it is.
I think the positives far outweigh any negatives but let's agree to disagree..
Well wich is it? First you say that it's not a big deal and thereby admitting is somewhat of a deal but not a big one and then you say it is perfectly fine by saying that you think the creater of the post has the right to control the existance of that post.
Are you here to actually express an oppinion or just here to troll this thread?
the post you're referring to wasn't a complaint, it was an observation.
chess.com asks its members for money in good faith that specific things will improve here. sometimes these imporvements take far longer than the initially suggested amount of time. it would be nice if members could offer chess.com the same.
-where's your payment?
-i'm working on it. it really takes a lot of time to come up with this kind of money--my job is kind of in the beta stage right now so... i should have it to you in a few weeks.
-ok, here's your membership anyway.
I emphatically disagree. Topics generally take on a life of their own and I'd argue that the ownership collectively belongs to all of the contributors and, by extension, the community as a whole. This is why only moderators should be able to delete threads.
i too think the positives outweigh the negatives, but the negatives are always worth talking about...
Complain, complain, complain. Will it ever stop?
Where did it say this? I signed on based on the functionality that was being offered at the time I purchased my membership. I consider improvements after that to be 100% bonus.
There's a difference between complaining and constructive criticism:
you're probably right...
I just noticed the 'delete' button at the top of this thread. Wouldn't it be the ultimate irony if I deleted this thread? ;D
In what world is your whining about somehing unimportant considered constructive criticism?!?
Eric mentioned last year that chess.com would be looking to improve the forums this Summer. On that basis, he will surely welcome constructive criticism and alternative ideas, including I hope a thread citing potential annoyances that I recently initiated; also, a thread on this very topic that I raised about six months ago.
Oh, I didn't realise someone had beaten me to it. Sorry for the duplicate.
Maybe I should delete this thread after all. ;D
Just kidding, by the way—I wouldn't delete all your posts.
I don't think the OP owns the thread either. They own their posts in the thread, that's it.
EDIT: I guess being the creator of the thread and having the ability to delete the thread doesn't imply an ownership of the thread, for me. But I could see it the other way I suppose.
Precisely my point.
I believe mattattack99 is a 13-year-old (from profile) Internet troll. ;)
It's their thread.
My opinion is voiced by mattattack99.
erik and cc staff
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How do you play against someone who only wants a draw?
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10/26/2016 - What's Better Than Winning A Queen?
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en passant
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Chess improvement.
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Tadeusz Robak
Tadeusz Robak is a Professor of hematology at the Medical University of Lodz, Poland. Professor Robak studied medicine at this institution and after graduation in 1973 went on to specialize in internal medicine, clinical pharmacology and hematology at the Copernicus Memorial Hospital in Lodz. He undertook further postgraduate training at Hammersmith Hospital, London, in 1983 and 1984. He currently holds the posts of Professor of hematology at the Medical University of Lodz and the Chief of Department of Hematology at the Copernicus Memorial Hospital in Lodz. Professor Robak is an Editor-in-Chief of Acta Haematologica Polonica and the Member of the Editorial Board of the Leukemia & Lymphoma, Current Medicinal Chemistry, The Open Journal of Leukemia, Current Signal Transduction Therapy, and other journals. He is a Reviewer for numerous journals including Blood, Lancet Oncology, Leukemia, Leukaemia and Lymphoma, Drugs, Drugs and Aging, BioDrugs, European Journal of Haematology, and the American Journal of Cancer and other journals. Professor Robak is a Member of the European Hematology Association and the American Society for Hematology. The particular research emphasis has been on the application of purine analogs and monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma and interactions of antineoplastic agents. His research has been published in Journal of Clinical Oncology, Cancer, Blood, Leukemia, the European Journal of Hematology, the British Journal of Hematology, Leukemia and Lymphoma, Leukemia Research, Annals of Hematology, Haematologica, Hematology Journal, the European Journal of Cancer, Current Cancer Drug Targets, and several other journals. Professor Robak published more than 500 journal articles, 350 abstracts, and 15 books or chapters.
Biography Updated on 17 September 2009


text:
Voice: Dennis A. Roy, Oscoda
We live in a "trouble area." That is what the gentleman from my cellular telephone provider told me. I will not mention the name of the company because what I have gathered from family and friends who live/visit Northeast Michigan, the persistent problem of "dropped calls" applies to all carriers. For me, the difficulties have existed for five years, since I first purchased a cellular telephone. Among the reasons that my "service provider" has offered: leaves on the trees, snow, Lake Huron, summer/spring/fall/winter, humidity, lack of humidity, clouds and rain. The only excuses that I have not heard thus far have been daylight and darkness.
Today was the proverbial "last straw." I had four calls dropped while trying to contact my cellular telephone's Customer Service Department. I ultimately had to establish communication via my land-line telephone. I was polite, but firm. I told the representatives that I did not want the excuses. I want the service for which I am paying. As is customary, I was transferred to various representatives. Unfortunately for the company, I was watching the news on TV at the same time — they were reporting on the various "occupy" groups spreading throughout the nation. That gave me an idea.
When I spoke to the last representative, he offered to sell me an "extender," which apparently has to be connected to my high speed Internet computer system. The gentleman said that he would provide it to me at a "reduced price" (about $50) because of my ongoing problems and because I am a "valued customer." In turn, I offered him a proposition. Provide the device for free because I am already paying for service, but am rarely receiving same. If not, I told him that I would contact 10-25 people who I know to have similar problems with this provider and we would go to their local office at the same time. They chose to give me the "extender" unit free of cost.
Possibly the "occupiers" have the right idea, at least in part. Maybe it is time that we, paying customers, begin to take lawful, passive, organized resistance against poor service that we receive and for which we pay good money.
The problem is not just within my home or with only my phone. It is a regional problem for northeast Michigan. As is customary with so many things, residents of this area are again being treated as second-class citizens.


text:
Band history still to come.
More Reviews Current Updates Print article Rating explanation
In 2007, EVILE came out of nowhere and released one of the best Thrash albums in the last decade with "Enter The Grave". It was full hearted throwback Thrash that took what was great about Thrash on its first way around and gave it a modern day turn and twist. It was fast. It was chaotic without losing the structure. It was damn near perfect. So how would a band like EVILE try to even match up with the hype and success of their debut album for their sophomore effort? The answer for this lies in "Infected Nations" the latest slab of Thrash from the British heirs to the throne.
Ironically, the band did exactly what they needed to do with "Infected Nations". Instead of trying to out-Thrash their debut, they took a more mature and thoughtful process for their second album and simply took their music in a different direction. Of course, "Infected Nations" is still Thrash, but this time it's a much more methodical and focused attack instead of pure energy and shred.
I will admit that it took me a few spins to really catch what EVILE was doing here. My initial reaction to the album was: 'boy this is slow for these guys!', and yes, this album is mostly a mid tempo fist pumping romp through and through. Although they do have their quick moments here and there like on "Devoid Of Thought" or even in the context of song like on the opener "Infected Nation", but the majority of this album is a lot slower than most of their peers in the Thrash genre. EVILE seems to be moving in a similar pattern to what METALLICA started doing on "Master Of Puppets" for this album. There are longer songs that are a bit more crafted in writing with lots of movements in tempo and change up with rhythms. "Infected Nations" definitely moves far more epic in terms of writing with only one song clocking in around the 4 minute mark as its shortest piece. Of course, as if writing far more epic sounding Thrash wasn't enough, the band closes the album with a doozy of an instrumental; "Hundred Wrathful Deities" that brings to mind METALLICA once again in craft work, but surpasses anything that band has done in the last 2 decades easily.
Of course, great writing and masterful craftsmanship in song is only half the battle. The other half is the performances and EVILE doesn't let up there either. We get another talented display of instrumental prowess on this one with armfuls of memorable riffs from the brothers Drake (Ol on lead and Matt on rhythms and vocals) and some nice solid shredding once again with lots of nice feel for solos and leads. The bass and drum work hold their own with the brothers Drake and really pound in the mid tempos (and an impressive break on "Genocide"). Unfortunately, for all the great performances instrumentally on "Infected Nations" my most valuable player award has to go to the increased presence and approach from vocalist Matt Drake. Lyrically and musically, his performance on the vocals is 10 fold better than on "Enter The Grave", and I loved his work there too. He takes an old school Max Cavalera approach to singing and gives some nice extensions and musicality to his voice without losing that harsh edge that makes him undeniably a great Thrash vocalist. Throw on that some great lyrical work about world issues and epic Thrash topics like the end of the world and social issues and "Infected Nations" makes songs like "Thrasher" look like child's play. Bravo Mr. Drake for giving me the unexpected and succeeding so valiantly at it.
Honestly, if I had one complaint it would be that some of the songs do tend to drag on a bit too long at times. "Genocide" just tends to pull on a bit longer then I think it could have and "Metamorphosis" tends to follow up in the same trend. It works for some of the tracks like "Plague To End All Plagues" or the first single "Infected Nation", but it feels a bit forced at times. That's me being nit picky though.
Otherwise, "Infected Nations" is an amazing follow-up to an acclaimed debut from EVILE. It Thrashes, but carries itself like a damn epic story unfolding as it plays through and allowing the listeners to hear a more mature and structured work of art. I may not have enjoyed it quite as much as their debut, but its one more epic and monstrous success for these British Thrashers.
Songs to check out: "Infected Nation", "Plague To End All Plagues", "Hundred Wrathful Deities".
(Online October 12, 2009)


text:
via victoria1985
One of the girls who met R/K at the movies saw them last night at dinner.…
Added by JoS on March 16, 2011 at 4:45am — 14 Comments
Added by JoS on January 7, 2011 at 3:21am — No Comments
Story of a fan staying at the same hotel!
"I am from Sao Paulo and I lodged with my family in the hotel where the actors Kristen and Robert are - I'm visiting.
I'm not a fan of the saga, but I admire these actors. I found them at lunch, they were with Stephenie
Meyer and a girl at a table and other guys in another. I don't understand English very much, even less the
European accent the girl had, but I admire it and I could see that they are really…


text:
31 Halloween Craft Projects
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Fancy Cat Mask
By: DecoArt
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Click here to view your Craft Projects.
This Halloween be the cat's meow. Create this cat mask and no one will know it's you. Using acrylics, rhinestones and a boa this DIY mask can be the hit of the night.
- Liquid Beadz
- BE05C - Purple
- BE30C - Crystal Pearl
- BE39C - Kiwi
- BE40C - Blazing Orange
- Americana Acrylics
- DA229 - Jack-O'-Lantern Orange
- DA235 - Citron Green
- DA236 - Grape Juice
- DA239 - Warm White
- Palette Knife
- DT02 - Palette Knife
- #6 shader brush
- Large purple rhinestones
- Purple feather boa
- Wooden Halloween mask by Michael's
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Water container
- Paper towels
- Palette or plastic plate
- Scissors
- Paint mask face and handle Grape Juice.
- Paint cat's ears Jack-O-Lantern Orange.
- Paint pair of Citron Green almond-shaped eyes and a Citron Green line from inside corner of each eye down to each side of nose.
- Paint inverted triangle in Citron Green for nose.
- With Warm White, draw fang on either side of cat's mouth.
- Stirring Beadz thoroughly first, spread Purple Liquid Beadz with palette knife over entire Grape Juice painted area (except mask handle) and allow to dry.
- Cover ears with Blazing Orange Beadz.
- For eyes, spread with Kiwi Beadz. Also spread Kiwi Beadz along Citron Green line running from eyes to nose.
- Apply Crystal Pearl Beadz over fangs.
- After mask has completely dried, hot glue large purple rhinestone between each of cat's teeth.
- Cut length of purple feather boa long enough to line bottom half of mask and hot glue boa's edge to back of mask.
Tip: Allow each Americana Acrylic and Liquid Beadz color to dry as you go. You may want to speed up the drying time with a hairdryer.
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text:
|Numéro de publication
|Type de publication
|Numéro de demande
|Date de publication
|20 nov. 2001
|Date de dépôt
|28 avr. 1999
|Date de priorité
|28 janv. 1999
|État de paiement des frais
|Autre référence de publication
|Numéro de publication
|Gianni Plicchi, Bruno Garberoglio, Guido Gaggini, Franco Vallana, Emanuela Marcelli
|Cessionnaire d'origine
|Ministero Dell' Universita' E Della Ricera Scientifica E Tecnologica
|Exporter la citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Citations de brevets (10), Citations hors brevets (2), Référencé par (46), Classifications (8), Événements juridiques (5)
|Liens externes: USPTO, Cession USPTO, Espacenet
This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 99830032.1, filed on Jan. 28, 1999, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates in general to techniques for operating on the heart which are performed transvenously with the use of catheters.
During these transvenous heart procedures performed with the use of catheters, it is very important to be able to locate the pole of the catheter used—generally within a three-dimensional space. This need is very marked in radio-frequency ablation and electro-physiological mapping procedures which require so-called "navigation" of the catheter along a complex endocardial surface.
Recently, non-fluoroscopic locating systems based on magnetic systems for mapping the catheter-pole position have been proposed. Devices of this type have been used in the electro-physiological mapping of the endocardium with simultaneous recording of the pole position and of the electrogram. In this connection, the work "A novel method for nonfluoroscopic catheter-based electroanatomical mapping of the heart" by L. Gepstem, G. Hayam and S. A. Ben-Haim in Circ., Vol. 95, No. 6, Pages 1611-1622, 1977 may usefully be consulted.
The device concerned has been clinically evaluated and has demonstrated its usefulness in reducing exposure to X-rays so that it is possible to return to a specific anatomical site of interest.
A system based on sonomicrometry recently proposed for the same purpose consists of a scanning catheter fitted with a piezoelectric transducer which can send ultrasound pulses to seven reference sensors fitted on the epicardial surface of a sheep's heart. In this connection, the work "Application of sonomicrometry and multidimensional scaling to cardiac catheter tracking" by Scott A. Meyer and Patrick D. Wolf in IEEE transactions on Biomedical Engineering, Vol. 44, No. 11 November 1997 may usefully be consulted.
The present invention fits into this line of research which is directed towards locating the pole of a catheter operating in an endocardial site whilst avoiding fluoroscopic location.
According to the present invention, this object is achieved by means of a device having the characteristics recited specifically in the following claims.
Briefly, the solution according to the invention is based—in the currently preferred embodiment—on the principle of the vectorial de-composition of an electric field onto three axes, the electric field being generated by pulses below the stimulation threshold, delivered to the endocardial surface by the pole of a scanning catheter.
The device according to the invention, which is intended preferably for temporary use in acute situations, preferably comprises a four-pole, triaxial geometric reference system, associated with a lead having at least one core for scanning the endocardial surface, as well as an external unit for processing data in real time. The device, again preferably, is for use in combination with a pulse generator for generating direct-current pulses of programmable frequency and duration, and with a system for displaying and printing maps of the endocardial surface or of the physiological signals detected thereon.
Again in the currently-preferred embodiment, the system is based upon the detection, within a heart chamber, of the vectorial projections, onto a triaxial spatial reference system, of the electrical potential generated between a pole or electrode of a scanning lead (which is positioned at different sites of the endocardium by the operator) and a central pole acting as an origin of the triaxial reference system. The reference lead is also positioned inside the same heart chamber or in any case in a position such as to lead to little distortion of the electric field between the reference lead and the scanning pole.
The external data-processing unit analyzes the three vectorial components of the potential. This is done with reference to the inclination of the axes which, although they are fixed, are not necessarily perpendicular. The relative position of the scanning pole, which is guided by the operator so as to describe the endocardial surface under investigation, can thus be calculated by a suitable algorithm.
External electrical stimulation or electrotonic inhibition devices and/or devices for measuring electro-physiological quantities may optionally be connected to the scanning pole, enabling the respective data to be transmitted to the processing unit, possibly for association with the respective spatial position. This enables three-dimensional maps or two-dimensional developments of the parameter investigated to be displayed.
Whilst keeping the reference lead in situ, it is possible to replace the scanning lead with a lead of a different type, for example, having radio-frequency ablation electrodes, optical fibres for endoscopy and/or for topical application of radiation, or devices for performing microscopic surgical operations. Such a lead may nevertheless have a conductive pole with the same characteristics as the previous scanning lead to enable the lead to be positioned and a display to be provided on the previously-constructed map, by similar methods.
In order to be able to insert the reference system with its three axes and the respective poles in the blood vessel, it is possible to use, for example, two coaxial leads of which the outer one has the function of a movable sheath with facilitated relative sliding.
This facilitates transvenous insertion into the heart chamber under investigation and the subsequent opening-out in situ of a reference system having intrinsic mechanical stability. This stability can also be achieved actively, for example, by associating with each of the axes respective pole tubules made of a material and by techniques similar to those used for balloon catheters for angioplasty treatments (PTCA). These soft tubules can easily be housed inside a retractable sheath and can subsequently become stiff after being pressurized by a suitable gas or liquid. The reverse operation enables the reference lead to be recovered in each of the systems described.
Although the currently preferred embodiment provides for the production of a three-dimensional positioning system, the invention may also be implemented—in simplified versions—by means of two-dimensional reference systems or, potentially, even one-dimensional systems. Naturally, in this case, the greater ease of implementation compensates for the reduced richness of the data.
In this connection, it is again pointed out that the reference system does not necessarily have to be a perpendicular Cartesian system. Three-dimensional reference systems of different types, for example polar or cylindrical systems, may in fact be used within the scope of the invention.
The invention will now be described, purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows the structure of a device according to the invention as a whole, in the form of a block diagram, and
FIGS. 2 and 3 show the part of the device according to the invention which is intended to be introduced into the endocardial site, in the contracted, insertion configuration and in the opened-out, operative position, respectively.
In FIG. 1, four electrodes or poles which can be introduced into the endocardial region in an arrangement such as that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 below, are indicated 1, 2, 3 and 4.
All four of the electrodes in question (which are formed in accordance with techniques known in the field of endocardial electrical treatment and do not therefore require detailed description herein) are electrically conductive in the sense that they have at least one electrically-conductive portion (pole). This pole is connected to a corresponding polarization conductor or line which extends from the electrode towards the other components of the device shown in FIG. 1 which are usually situated in a region outside the body. This enables the electrodes 1 to 4 to be brought to respective predetermined potential levels and/or enables their relative positions and, in particular, the position of the electrode 1 relative to the other electrodes 2, 3 and 4 constituting the reference system, to be assessed by means of any variations of the aforementioned relative potentials (in practice, the potential differences existing between the electrode 1 and the other electrodes 2, 3 and 4).
The "metrics" of the respective space can be established clearly from the respective potentials detected between the electrodes 2, 3 and 4, which act as reference elements, since the relative positions, which can be established, for example, by providing for a predetermined opened-out geometrical arrangement (see, for example, FIG. 3), are known.
Once these metrics have been established, the problem of locating the electrode 1 can be brought down to the geometrical problem (the solution of which is known, irrespective of the type of reference system) of determining the coordinates of a point relative to a three-dimensional reference system (for example, a perpendicular Cartesian system), the distance of the electrode from each of the reference electrodes (which can be inferred from the respective potential difference) being known.
As already stated, the reference to a perpendicular Cartesian system is mainly theoretical. In most cases, the three reference electrodes 2, 3 and 4 do not precisely define a geometrical arrangement of this type. Any multidimensional reference system (and the coordinates of a point in the system) can nevertheless be brought back to a perpendicular Cartesian reference system and to the coordinates thereof by algorithmic means.
As already stated in the introductory part of this description, the electrode 1 (which is generally identified as the "scanning" electrode) can in fact adopt very different functional characteristics in dependence on the specific requirements of the endocardial treatment to be performed.
Respective units for processing/conditioning the signals coming from the various electrodes 1 to 4 are indicated 5 to 8 and each comprises, in the currently preferred embodiment, a filter 5 a-8 a having the main function of rejecting noise and interference, and an amplifier unit 5 b-8 b.
Upon the assumption that the electrode 1 concerned has the predominant function of scanning the myocardial wall, the signal output by the respective amplifier 5 b constitutes a set of endocardial scanning signals to be sent to an analog/digital conversion circuit 9 in dependence on subsequent processing by a timing and algorithmic processing unit 10.
This latter unit comprises basically:
a portion (of generally known type) which provides for the processing of the signals coming from the electrode 1, and
another portion, the function of which is basically to derive by algorithmic means (by solving the known geometrical problem stated above) the position of the electrode 1 relative to the reference system defined by the electrodes 2 to 4, for subsequent display, for example, on one or more display units 11.
The latter may advantageously be constituted by a video unit 11 a (for displaying visual data in real time) and/or by a printer 11 b (for generating graphical information), the information being inherent in the data resulting from the endocardial scanning.
The unit 10 also sends control signals (of generally known type and usually relating to an initiation or trigger signal, to amplitude and to width) towards a signal generator unit 13 (of known type, which may vary according to the nature of the electrode 1), on one or more lines, generally indicated 10 a.
The signals produced by the unit 13 are intended to be sent to the electrode 1 through the catheter which connects the electrode 1 to the portions of the device which are located outside the body.
For the purpose of implementing the present invention, the signals in question are preferably constituted by subthreshold stimulation signals (which are thus not able to induce undesired contraction of the heart muscle) which can be "picked up" by the reference leads 2 to 4. The respective signals picked up are passed through the filter and amplification units 6 to 8 and are transferred, preferably via respective sample-and-hold units, indicated 14 to 16, to the conversion unit 10 for transfer to the processing unit 11.
The lines generally indicated 17 identify lines by means of which the unit 10 transfers to the units 14 to 16 signals for driving the sampling function relating to each of the reference electrodes 2 to 4.
Finally, the unit 10 transfers respective gain-control signals (in known manner), by means of respective lines indicated 19 and 20, to the amplifier 5 b associated with the electrode 1 so as to perform the automatic gain-control function (known per se), as well as to the amplifiers 6 b-8 b. In this case, the signals transmitted are signals relating to the gains of the test pulses.
FIGS. 2 and 3 show the probe portion of the device according to the invention; in practice this is the head comprising the electrodes 2 to 4 which are intended to be inserted into one of the heart chambers by catheterization so that the scanning electrode 1, which is also inserted in the corresponding chamber by catheterization, can be located. The probe portion carrying the electrodes 2 to 4 is shown in the contracted, insertion position (FIG. 2) and in the opened-out or unfolded position of use (FIG. 3) in which the electrodes have been brought to the spread-out position by respective support elements 21, 31, and 41 of known type made, for example, of a material with a shape memory.
FIG. 2 shows the unit used for catheterization. This unit comprises, basically, a sheath 20 which can be retracted onto the body of the insertion catheter (which is not shown in detail but is of known type) as shown in FIG. 3 in order to achieve a dual effect of uncovering and releasing the elements 21, 31 and 41.
The three electrodes 2, 3 and 4, open out so as to be arranged in a spread-out configuration; they can thus constitute, in accordance with the criteria described above, the three axes of a reference system usable to identify and/or to display externally the position of the lead 1. In the proximal or root portion of the elements 21, 31, and 41, there is preferably at least one further reference electrode G, to which the potentials of the electrodes 2, 3 and 4 are in fact related, as is also that of the electrode 1, with regard to the determination of the potential established between the electrodes. In the electrical diagram of FIG. 1, this reference electrode is in fact identified by the earth or ground of the circuit.
In particular, it has been found preferable to arrange for the position of the electrode 1 to be detected by generating the respective signals in synchronism with the heart movement (deduced, for example, from an external electrocardiographic signal) so as to perform the detection in successive heart cycles, with the benefit of a substantially identical position of the heart muscle in the successive cycles. The necessary synchronization in order for the function of locating the electrode 1 to be performed at a predetermined stage (for example, the stage of maximum fullness, that is, the end of the diastole, or the stage of maximum emptiness, that is, the end of the systole) of the heart cycle can easily be performed by means of the unit 10.
Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the details of construction and forms of embodiment may be varied widely with respect to those described and illustrated, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention as claimed in the following claims.
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|Classification aux États-Unis
|Classification internationale
|Classification coopérative
|Classification européenne
|19 aoűt 1999
Owner name: MINISTERO DELL UNIVERSITA E DELLA RICERA SCIENTIFI
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:PLICCHI, GIANNI;GARBEROGLIO, BRUNO;GAGGINI, GUIDO;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:010172/0389
Effective date: 19990729
|1 avr. 2005
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|1 juin 2009
|Maintenance fee reminder mailed
|20 nov. 2009
|Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
|12 janv. 2010
|Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee
Effective date: 20091120


text:
Give Advice: He Wants To Have Sex With Me And The Other Woman
My husband and I have been together for 14 years. He had an affair with a coworker after we were married for 7 years, he moved out and left me with our 3 month old son. We ended up getting divorced. About two years later we got remarried. He said that he would never hurt me again and he realized what he lost. I really believed him and thought that he would never hurt me again. He would cry all the time and tell me how horrible he felt and how much he loved me. We had our second child and things seemed like they were going to be ok. I never believed that saying, once a cheater, always a cheater. I believe that people make mistakes and can really learn from them and change.
The beginning of October of this year he told me that he had failed me again. He said that it was another woman from work and that it wasn't anything serious. I had an appointment to go to, so I thought that we would talk about everything when I got back home. When I got home, I realized that my husband was not home. As I opened the garage door, he left with his things out the front. Since than he has been with this other woman, and maybe more - who knows. He has not been back home and doesn't want to work things out, which I know is best for me to. It hurts because, I know there isn't but I feel like something is wrong with me. I feel so rejected and betrayed and so stupid for trusting him again.
He has been making comments lately about how beautiful and sexy I am to him. He said that he wants to have sex with me but that it won't mean anything and that he doesn't want me to get the wrong idea. He showed up here the other night at 1 in the morning because he thought I had a guy over, and than he told me how he can't stop thinking about sleeping with me. I haven't slept with him and don't plan on it. I just don't know why he would want to have sex with me when he's got the one that he left me for. What kind of sense does that make??
Thank you for any comments or suggestions.


text:
Way Before That Hiatus From Music: 9 Big Songs You Probably Didn't Know Keri Hilson Wrote
The last few years haven't been the greatest for Keri Hilson when it comes to music. She hasn't put out an album since 2010, and that last effort, No Boys Allowed, wasn't necessarily album of the year caliber. And let's be honest, people haven't always been the nicest when talking about the singer, probably because of past allegations of ish talking when it comes to other big singers like Beyoncé and Ciara. But aside from all that, Hilson is really a talented artist, especially when it comes to her writing abilities. In fact, she actually has helped write many hits for big names as a part of the writing team, The Clutch (which included Candice Clotiel "Gg" Nelson, Ezekiel "Zeke" Lewis, Patrick Michael "J. Que" Smith, and Balewa Muhammad) as well as on her own. So what songs have you been jamming to that she contributed to or wrote on her own? Let's take a look and see shall we?