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Features: I assume the D.O.M is 2011 and made in China. Its a cutaway which is the reason I bought a new guitar, solid Stika Spruce top, Striped Ebony back and sides, glossy apart from the neck which is Mahogany and fretboard which is Rosewood. Comes with Fishman Presys - Sonicore pickup, with the amp plug in the strap holder. It has the built in tuner which is accurate, has base, mid, treble volume and "Brilliance" which I assume is tone. It came with an Aston brand hard case thrown in. // 9
Sound: Basically it is the best sound out of all the guitars around this price range in the shop. Compared to my Washburn D10S its sound is brighter with much less bass and warmth. This could be due to its new characteristics and I will update this review once its aged a bit. I plugged it in to my Peavey amp and on the cleanest setting I could find it sounded great. I was totally surprised at how well it sounds plugged in. // 8
Action, Fit & Finish: I consider the action too high for my liking but still very playable. It holds its tune very well considering how new it is, and it is comfortable to play. I love the look of the guitar. A guitar is kind of like a woman... If she looks good you'll want to play her all the time. This one looks good front and back with great finish, except a bit of messy glue on one side of the fretboard where it joins the body. What girl doesn't have the occasional flaw. // 8
Reliability & Durability: This guitar would stand live playing, although that's not my intention. Everything is solid and working perfectly and I believe that this guitar and its components will last a long time. (At least a year as that's it's warranty). I would busk without a backup if I trusted the strings wouldn't break. // 9
Overall Impression: I've been playing a while now and seemed to collect an Epiphone Riviera P93 (my most played guitar and I love her to bits), the Washburn D10 which would have been 'it' if it had a cutaway. I was drunk and bought a Washburn Rover when I was travelling, which is the most crappy thing I have ever played. If 'Cortney' was lost or stolen I would firstly be angry, and then get a different guitar.
One last thing... Before you buy a guitar please look at Cort guitars on Wikipedia. The company treated their Korean workers pretty bad, one in 2007 burned himself alive in protest and in 2008 the entire factory went on a 30 day hunger strike. Many guitar brands are made in the Cort Factory including Ibanez, Squier, Avalon and G&L. I therefore rate THIS GUITAR and not the company when I give it an 8. // 8
Price paid: A$ 399
Purchased from: Turramurra Music
Features: Probably around 2013. China. 14 frets plus cutaway. Solid sitka spruce top, laminate mahogany back and sides. Natural finish. Minimal gloss. Dreadnought with cutaway. Fishman pickup system. Fishman Presys - Sonicore pickup. No gig bag or case included. Changed bridge pins and saddle to Camel Bone which I swear by. Really brings warmth to the guitar. Can rob you a little of sustain and bottom end but brings a huge amount of vibrancy and movement to a guitar. Really opens up the sound. // 8
Sound: This is one of the reasons I bought this guitar. I've owned 2 but gave the first one away, after I loaned it to a friend, who broke the neck within 48 hrs. He had it fixed and it works 100%. I've owned about 30 acoustics so far, many top end guitars. The Cort is my go to guitar. I leave it out, whereas all others are left in their cases. I love the sound and feel of this guitar. It has such a warm, woody natural acoustic sound that I really warm to. With Elixir pb strings, it has plenty of sustain and life, but still has a lot of warmth. With D'Addario pb, it has a real bluesy growl about it that i love as well. I keep the elixirs on cause I like the feel and sound. Regular pbs are a bit too hard for me to slide around the fretboard. Overall, the guitar has a fantastic natural bottom end which I love, and a great even tone through out. It is really natural and a pleasure to play. I have owned several Baibcz, Breedlove, Gibson J45, Martin D16GT. Currently I have Martin D28, Gibson Songwriter Deluxe Standard, which is awesome, 2 x Maton CW80, Blueridge 180A, Ovation USA Custom Legend, plus others. I love this cheap, simple Cort. It really has much of what a fine guitar should have, and that's great warm, woody sound, sustain, not harsh, and a great bottom end. Choose carefully though cause 3 out of 5 don't have the bass. They vary hugely between individual units. When you find a good one, they are great. GREAT plug in sound as well. Big tip. Change pins to camel bone to get a real warm growly sound. Camel bone sounds very different to standard cow bone. Much more organic and open. // 9
Action, Fit & Finish: Action can be very temperamental when new. Persevere with it and it will settle down. Learn how to do neck adjustments cause it will need a few when new, more so than any other guitar I have owned. Same on both MR guitars I have owned. Settled down well after a couple of adjustments. Feel would be great with 11s but I go for 12s for the sound. Good straight neck, but is not the easiest guitar to play, possibly cause of narrow nut width. Is not a hard guitar to play but could be easier. Action is not high but could be a tad lower. I set this up for the best balance of sound and feel. Could go lower but the guitar suffers when the action is lowered. Distinct loss in bass. I love the natural finish, although the fretboard could have had a bit more attention. A bit of attention could have made this a faster guitar. Overall the guitar has a really nice feel, although the lack of lacquer on the fretboard is where it falls down. This is my only complaint, however, maybe it adds to the warm natural sound I like. // 7
Reliability & Durability: Loaned my first one to a friend and the neck was broken with 48 hours. Had it fixed and it works really well now. Neck is most likely stronger than ever. I do feel that there is some cost cutting in the quality of the neck. It shouldn't have broken but it didn't take much. Be warned. These guitars are not made to last several generations. If you handle it with care it should last a long time, but knock it around a bit and I think you wont have a neck left. Other than that, electronics is high quality Fishman, and the guitar feels well made. Not a toy but a great campfire guitar, busking, gigging or don't have to care too much about it guitar. // 6
Overall Impression: The first time I picked up one of these I was looking for an electric piano. I was just mucking around when I picked one up. It floored me immediately. A cheap guitar shouldn't sound and feel this good. It has one of the most pleasant bass sounds, and overall balance I have ever heard on a guitar. As a blues guitar, with the original strings it was fantastic. Growly, woody and loud. I know it's a laminate back and sides but so what. It it one of the most fun, pleasant, and overall musical guitars i have ever owned, and I have owned and own many great guitars. Funny that my cheapest guitar should be one of my favourites. What's that about? I have owned top end Breedlove but sold them, same as Gibson J45. Just didn't do it for me. // 9


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BEIJING (AP) - Browsing through a bookstore for guides on passing U.S. graduate school entrance tests, a Chinese student who goes by a very American-sounding name weighed a dilemma.
"America is not being friendly," said 23-year-old Ryan Shi. "But I am still thinking about the possibility of going to America to study."
Many of China's students are wrestling with the same conflicting mix of anger, admiration and pragmatism over a spy plane incident that has set Beijing and Washington at odds.
Students have played a key role in Chinese political movements throughout the 20th century. That is a big worry for communist leaders as they try to keep public anger from spilling onto the streets, threatening ties with Washington or communist rule itself.
Their anger is real, heightened by China's intensely nationalistic education system. But so is their appreciation of American openness and personal liberty - and the job opportunities offered by a U.S. education.
Students so far have cooperated with the government, confining their anger to dormitory discussions and online chat forums.
On one thing, they agree: Washington should apologize for the April 1 collision of a U.S. Navy spy plane and a Chinese jet fighter over the South China Sea.
"China needs to preserve its dignity, and just because the American government is rich and powerful doesn't mean they can do everything they want," said Bai Yang, a university junior.
However, he added, "As soon as America apologizes, I hope for good relations between the United States and China."
Yet some express hawkish views that communist leaders could find unsettling.
"China is being way too soft," said Liu Ting, a student at Central University for Nationalities. "We shouldn't let America walk all over us."
Chinese leaders have trapped themselves by stoking such nationalism among the young, reducing their room to compromise in international disputes without courting public outrage. Some Chinese accuse Beijing of failing to respond firmly enough to the 1999 NATO bombing of China's embassy in Yugoslavia.
© 2016. All Rights Reserved. | Contact Us

subset: commoncrawl


text:
4 posts tagged with internet by tdecius.
Displaying 1 through 4 of 4.
Philosophy in Cyberspace and Politics.com are wealths of information. Visit them if you want a complete bio of either Hatch or Hegel, Bradley or Baudrillard.
The Hamster Dance may be fun, but I like the Jesus Dance. The background sound is amusing, 'My Plastic Jesus'.
The Internet FAQ Consortium is a goldmine of information. The highlight of the site is the Internet RFC/FYI/STD/BCP Archives.
Want to know when the T3 will get set up in Chad, or how much access costs in Djibouti? Check out African Information Infrastructure. It's guaranteed to make you glad you don't live in the Third World and can connect at higher than 14.4.
Page: 1


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Free personalized radio that
plays the music you love
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
N.W.A's Eazy-E signed the group -- initially comprised of Krayzie Bone, Wish Bone, Flesh-N-Bone, Layzie Bone, and Bizzy Bone -- to Ruthless Records. The debut release from Bone was an EP, Creepin on ah Come Up (1994). The EP boasted "Thuggish Ruggish Bone," a conventional G-funk song with an unconventional array of Bone Thug rappers that became an overnight summer anthem, especially throughout the Midwest. The single crossed into the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 22.
Amid the fervor, the group immediately reentered the studio and emerged with a remarkable album, E 1999 Eternal (1995). The album topped the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts and spawned a pair of popular singles, "1st of the Month" and "Tha Crossroads," the latter a dedication to the deceased Eazy-E and a Grammy Award recipient. As was in vogue at the time, the group members subsequently pursued respective solo careers and also a Mo Thugs Family spinoff group; none of these ventures rivaled the proper Bone projects.
At this point, the onetime cohesive group, which specialized in interwoven, harmonious singing as well as rapping, became conflicted and the group members failed to collaborate well. However, their second album, Art of War (1997) -- an ambitious double-disc package -- was very successful. Not only did it top the same Billboard charts as E 1999 Eternal, but lead single "Look into My Eyes" went Top Five on the Hot 100. Within a year of release, it was certified quadruple platinum for over four million units sold in the U.S.
A second round of solo albums sold poorly, and Bone quickly slid off the mainstream radar. Occasional reunions, such as 2000's BTNHResurrection and 2002's Thug World Order, produced some moments of glory, but these were few and far between. Thug Stories, released in 2006 on Koch, placed the group -- at the time, a trio minus Bizzy -- in the Top 30 of the Billboard 200. Bone then signed to Swizz Beatz's Interscope-affiliated Full Surface boutique label, where they issued 2007's Strength & Loyalty. A major-label budget allowed for guest spots from the Game, Mariah Carey, Akon, Bow Wow, and Twista, and the set eventually sold over 500,000 copies, earning gold certification. Bizzy returned for 2010's Uni5: The World's Enemy. The album debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200. A handful of dates excepted, Bizzy was absent from the album's promotional tour. He returned for the 2013 release Art of War: WWIII, but this time Krayzie and Wish Bone were out of the group, with both working on solo careers. ~ Jason Birchmeier
Selected Discography
Track List: Art Of War WWIII (Explicit)
Track List: Uni-5: The World's Enemy (Explicit)
Track List: Still Creepin On Ah Come Up (Explicit)
Track List: T.H.U.G.S. (Explicit)
Track List: Thug Stories (Explicit)
Track List: Greatest Hits (Explicit)
Track List: Greatest Hits
Track List: Thug World Order (Explicit)
Track List: The Collection: Volume 2 (Explicit)
Track List: Btnhresurrection (Explicit)
Track List: The Collection, Vol. 1
Track List: E. 1999 Eternal (Explicit)
Track List: Creepin On Ah Come Up EP (Explicit)
Track List: Everyday Thugs (Explicit)
Track List: For Smokers Only (Single)
Track List: Strength & Loyalty (Explicit)
Track List: The Art Of War (Explicit)
Track List: The Art Of War: World War 2 (Explicit)
Similar Artists
Text...(775) 3 4 6 - 8 2 3 9 (medshop50@g m a i l . c o m )
You need a plug on:actavis promethazine syrup,Weed STRIANS like sour disel,white widow,grandd a d d y purple,purpl e kush,hindu kush,silver haze,ak47,ha w a i i skunk,moonro c k s , c a n n a b i s oil and pills like xannies,roxi e s , o c 8 0 , a d d e r a l , m o r p h i n e , p e r c s , h y d r o s , d i l a u d i d , o p a n a , l s d , f e n t pops and more...
Still bad a**!
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Since 1979, Rod Schroeder has directed one of the very best tennis camps in America on the beautiful campus of Carthage College, on Lake Michigan. Over 12,000 happy tennis campers have attended the RSTA where they have improved dramatically through Rod's "Stop 'N Go" teaching system. You'll never be the same after attending the Rod Schroeder National Tennis Camp in Chicago...not only because of the expert tennis training that's sure to help you reach your full potential, but for the pleasant summer camp memories that will last a lifetime!
Students that attend The Rod Schroeder National Tennis Camp learn the master the three concepts of the tennis game - technique, strategy, and mental game. The first is technique, which is taught through the Start Rite Tennis grip trainer (U.S. Pat. 7,896,762). This grip trainer helps students develop the correct grip and stroke technique, necessary for a solid foundation for a successful tennis game. The next concept is strategy, which is taught through the Stop 'n Go Tennis Teaching System. The last concept is the tennis mental game which is taught through characters and demonstrations by Rod and the rest of the staff in addition to daily match play. The biggest opponent in a tennis match is not the person standing on the other side of the net, but you! The mental game of tennis can either make or break a player which is why it is taught so extensively. The Start Rite Tennis Grip trainer and Stop 'n Go Tennis Teaching System are created, developed, and patented by Rod Schroeder. This unique tennis training system allows every rigorously trained instructor to teach stroke technique and strategy simultaneously. No other tennis camp in the whole world can say the same thing!
Rod was an outstanding athlete during high school, and while a finance major and scholarship recipient at the University of Illinois, he played both Number One singles and Doubles and was named to the All Big Ten Team. Even with his total commitment to coaching he plays regularly...consistently ranking among top finishers while competing against other teaching Pros and earning noteworthy USTA rankings. In 1997 Rod was named to the Midwest Hall of Fame, an honor given to only a few teaching professionals for their outstanding Service, Dedication, and Expertise in the field of tennis instruction.
Rod has helped develop hundreds of players who have achieved high local, sectional, and national rankings and tournaments laurels. An impressive number receive athletic scholarships, and a number have had success on the pro tour including Rod's protégé, Katrina Adams. The United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) selected him Midwest Pro of the Year and named him Coach of the Year as well. His Organizational and teaching background includes Club Manager, Head Professional, Camp Owner, and Director at major facilities in the Midwest and Southwest.
Brady Lindsley is originally from Coldwater, Mich. As a player for the Red Men of Carthage from 1992 to 1995, he compiled an 82-24 career mark in singles, which puts him third on the all-time wins list. He joined the Carthage faculty in 1997. He has coached the Red Men to eight CCIW championships and eight NCAA appearances, as well as leading the Lady Reds to three CCIW championships and three NCAA appearances. Rod and Brady have been working on the camp for over 10 years!
The Extended 1-week camp session, from July 31-August 7, is offered at $945 for Overnight campers who have attended a prior 2-week session this summer. This session is great for campers who are preparing for their high school tryouts!
Overnight camp fee includes lodging, meals, all tennis instruction, and on campus recreation. Extended Day camp fee includes lunch and dinner, all tennis instruction, and on campus recreation. Day camp fee includes lunch and all tennis instruction.'
Camp Tournament/Weekend Stayover Option For 1-Week Campers
On the weekends between consecutive camp sessions, we hold a camp tournament and our fun karaoke and camp dance nights. Want to stay for the weekend tournament but can't do the full second week? Great news! Simply add on the weekend for $200 and stay through Sunday (check-out between 1:30-3:30pm).
In addition to the All Skills program offered each session, each session also has a tournament training and high school program. Make sure to note that you would like to participate in these programs when you register.
The tournament training program is geared towards tournament level and ranked players looking to improve their tournament results, learn winning strategies, and work on mental toughness.
The high school program is provided for players ages 13-18 currently on their high school team and wanting to move up the ladder or those planning on making the high school team.
The student can improve faster by learning HOW to hit the ball and WHERE to hit the ball at the same time. The entire Stop 'n Go Tennis Teaching System is visual, color coded, and is always present. This allows the student to continue to learn even when the teacher is not instructing.
Every morning starts out with a lesson focusing on technique, stroke development of three basic strokes patterns. Each of these lessons are creative and entertaining with many visuals to help every student understand the concept. The morning is where the Start Rite Tennis Grip trainers come into play, especially when practicing volleys, serves, and backhands. Afterwards, drills are performed to stress different parts of previously discussed stroke developement and tennis game strategy using the Stop 'n Go Tennis Teaching System. This double exposure aides students in grasping important concepts faster so that their game can tremendously benefit.
Since the mental game of tennis has such a large impact, the Camp Program also stresses competition and how to be a better competitor. During the 2 week session there are 3 major tournaments (one individual and two team events). In addition, Rod and his staff give the students daily talks and demonstrations with characters like Homer from the Simpsons about competitive play. By working on the mental game every day, players can understand and learn how to cope with the pressures of competition. Above all, proper court manners and good sportsmanship are always stressed.
1:30-3:00pm first day of session (Day Campers will depart that afternoon at 8:00pm.)
1:30-3:00pm last day of session
Campers play on 10 outdoor courts. In case of rain, indoor courts are available.
Lakeside residence halls provide modern, comfortable rooms accommodating two to a room. Boys and girls are separated by floor. Instructors and camp directors live on the same floors with the campers. Reasonable bed times and rising times are required for all campers.
Our remodeled cafeteria now offers food-court style dining with 5 different restaurant type serving areas. Meals are served 3 times daily overlooking picturesque Lake Michigan. All meals are wholesome and nutritious. The campus Snack Bar, open evenings 'til 10:30, allows campers to grab a snack before bedtime. All meals are taken very seriously, especially breakfast. Breakfast is an essential meal of the day, as it provides the energy and nutrition necessary for optimal performance later in the day while playing and learning tennis. That's why everyone diets are monitored, so that no one skips out on meals.
Tennis is foremost in our schedule but rest times and evening hours are filled with other leisure enjoyments. There are lounges for games of all sorts, pool tables, table tennis, card games, and video games. There is also a camp wide karaoke night and a camp dance at the end of the first week. Everyone becomes closely acquainted with each other, so these activities are full of laughter and fun. In addition our program includes organized softball, basketball, volleyball and soccer games each evening.
Milwaukee Airport (45 hr from campus) O'Hare (1 hour from campus). Milwaukee is the easier airport to chose.
Nike Tennis Camps does not provide transportation to/from camp from airport, train stations or bus depots. If you fly into camp, we recommend that you fly into the Milwaukee or O'Hare Airport and take the airport shuttle from the airport to camp.
Airport Shuttle: Transportation to campus can be arranged through Go Airport Connection at 1-800-236-5450 or fax 414-769-0209. Reservations are required. www.goairportconnection.com. MKE approximate cost: $49 one-way, and $5 each additional person. Chicago ORD approximate cost: $142 one way,$150 for 2 people person). There is a 5% discount if you book online.
If you have a camper arriving by air and is deemed an "unaccompanied minor" by the airlines and must be met by a camp staff or shuttle company employee, there may be a fee that needs to be paid in advance of camp. You will still have to arrange transportation to/from camp. Please call 1-800-645-3226 two weeks prior to camp to provide camper's flight and shuttle information.
A detailed camper registration packet containing check in location, health/release forms, emergency contact info, and a list of things to bring will be emailed to all registered campers in the Spring. Our health and release forms do not require a doctor's signature and they will be collected on the first day of camp.
Camp Code: TNXRSO
My son enjoyed the camp so much last year, he had to do it again. This time he brought a friend! They were both so happy to be part of the group, and talked a lot about the great staff who helped them and the instruction they received. Next year is for sure!
Thank you for a wonderful experience. It was her first "away" camp and she loved it!
Enjoyed that the staff focused on "bigger picture," and covered technique instead of just hitting balls.
It was a really great experience and enhanced my tennis skills immensely
Rod is great - very friendly and the camp is awesome!
We can"t begin to tell you how much our kids loved the camp!! Their skill level was dramatically increased...which is the main reason for attending this camp. The kids are safe but yet they have fun activities for them to attend. Rod is strict but makes it all so much fun. We will be back next year for sure...as long as Rod is still in charge!
Great camp, great facilities, great staff. Fantastic experience for my son. This year was his second year and he can't wait for next year to go back
Best two weeks of the whole year! Rod really takes care of all of the kids and makes it so much fun. I can't wait to go back next year!
Our daughters, Paige and Maggie, absolutely LOVE Rod. It is so hard for them to say goodbye to him each year. His passion for tennis and life is contagious and they are so inspired by his wisdom.
Rod is great with the kids! In addition to terrific technical instruction, he always has a positive attitude. He stresses good sportsmanship and teamwork. Facility is also great with beautiful courts and campus on the lake. Will definitely attend next year again.
Fun all around camp. Great development of my volley skills. Thank you!
Tristan has attended this camp for years, and enjoys it enormously. Rod is a wonderful tennis pro, with great advice about all aspects of the sport, but especially the mental game. Tristan has recommended this camp to many of her friends.
I had a great time at the Rod Schroder National Tennis Camp and it was fun on and off the court. I would highly recommend this camp to other who enjoy tennis.
My son had a BLAST! He will be back next year and he wants to come for 2 weeks! Thank you!
Rod Schroeder is amazing. He is truly a legend. Much appreciation for the program he is running.
This was a wonderful camp!! My son will be returning next summer for 2 weeks instead of just one! Rod Schroeder and his staff are GREAT!
2017 Dates and Prices Coming Soon! Join our email list to be notified when the program is available.


text:
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The Beef Cattle Handbook, developed under the auspices of the Beef Cattle Resource Committee of the North Central Land Grant Universities, now is available as a searchable CD for both PC with Windows(95/3.1/NT) and Macintosh.
The CD contains 145 articles and extension bulletins in PDF format.
Daryl Strobehn, Iowa State University, served as overall leader and coordinator of the Beef Cattle Handbook project. Leaders and reviews of the major sections were Larry Corah, Kevin Dhuyvetter, Dale Blasi, and Don Mock, from Kansas State University; Dan Loy, Iowa State University; Brad Morgan, Oklahoma State University; Rich Randle, MU; John Sweeten, Texas A&M University; Pat Reece, University of Nebraska; Jack Whittier, Colorado State University; and Brent Woodward, University of Minnesota.
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Celebrating the life of John Glenn
December 9, 2016, 3:12 p.m. by Michael d'Estries
Former astronaut and U.S. senator who passed away this week at 95, is remembered as a true American hero.
7 stunning discoveries about Saturn from the Cassini mission
December 8, 2016, 4:36 p.m. by Michael d'Estries
The spacecraft will send itself on a collision course with the planet in 2017.
Matter is spontaneously appearing and then disappearing around this distant star
December 1, 2016, 1:52 p.m. by Bryan Nelson
The mystery seems to hint at the existence of 'virtual particles" that represent fluctuations in the quantum field.
Was Einstein wrong? His views about the speed of light may soon be challenged
November 28, 2016, 9:27 p.m. by Bryan Nelson
A new theory suggests that the speed of light was not always constant, which could shake up physics as we know it.
Immaculate star might be the most perfectly spherical object in the universe
November 18, 2016, 8:41 p.m. by Bryan Nelson
Is this star as close to perfection as it gets in nature?
What to expect from the Leonid meteor shower
November 17, 2016, 11:11 a.m. by Joe Rao, SPACE.com
The low-key Leonids can still offer up some thrills to dedicated skygazers.
New theory explains gravity better than Einstein's relativity
November 10, 2016, 9:10 p.m. by Bryan Nelson
Dark matter and dark energy aren't needed to explain large-scale gravitational movements under the new theory.
Garage reveals trove of grandmother's paintings, all inspired by the stars
November 4, 2016, 7:05 a.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo
Grandson finds lovely paintings in the garage and shares them on social media.
Don't miss the largest supermoon in 7 decades
November 3, 2016, 12:58 p.m. by Michael d'Estries
On Nov. 13-14, the moon will be the closest it's been to Earth since January 1948.
NASA: Way to go, Chicago!
November 3, 2016, 10:56 a.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo
In honor of the Cubs' victory, NASA tweets a special photo from space.
Would you like to see 3-D images of space?
November 1, 2016, 1:33 p.m. by Michael d'Estries
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope will work with Hubble to capture unprecedented images and videos of celestial objects.
The controversy behind the world's next great telescope
November 1, 2016, 11:31 a.m. by Robynne Boyd
Thirty Meter Telescope is being built in a culturally and ecologically sensitive area of Hawaii.
When rocket scientists carve pumpkins ...
October 31, 2016, 11:33 a.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo
Pumpkin carving session at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab will inspire you.


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Although the Los Angeles Dodgers have the highest payroll in baseball, they may be an active team at the 2014 MLB trade deadline.
When looking at the team's roster, it's tough to find much of a weakness. The outfield, when healthy, is so talented that Matt Kemp often finds himself as the odd man out. The rotation, which features two different pitchers who have thrown a no-hitter this season, is easily the best in the majors.
Los Angeles may look at dealing one of its high-priced outfielders in order to bring back some valuable pieces. The bullpen is an area that could certainly use some help.
As we have seen in recent seasons, ownership is willing to make a move if it helps the team. Don't be surprised if the Dodgers are active at this year's deadline.
Make sure to keep checking back here to see what rumors the Dodgers are involved in or what deals the team makes as the MLB trade deadline approaches.


text:
The obvious question
I find something really interesting. In my previous post on creating the 2 Quickscript fonts, no one asked what I'd think was an obvious question, which is, "Wait. You made fonts? How the hell do you make a font?"
I find it fascinating that, especially today, when we have daily access to electronic typography, there's so little interest in what fonts are, or how to make make them. Especially when literally anyone with a computer can make their own fonts. There's even a free, online bitmap font creation program called Fonstruct. We spend our lives surrounded by typography and almost no one cares about it at all.
Which brings me to a trilogy of fantastic documentaries about design by a film-maker named Gary Hustwit: Helvetica, Objectified, and Urbanized. All three of them are enormously interesting, and one of them is about a font, Helvetica, which every single person in the Western world sees every single day of their lives. You should watch all three of them.
Also you should go read my latest auto review at Medium: Doctor Hoon: 2013 Mini John Cooper Works GP. And you should "recommend" it after reading, to make my Medium stats shoot up really high.
Dale Franks
Google+ Profile
Twitter Feed
I made some Quickscript fonts. Yay!
One of my personal little personality quirks is a deep sense of privacy, bordering on misanthropy*. I mean, I'm civil enough, I suppose, but deep down, I don't really trust people very much, and I don't what them to know much about what I'm thinking or doing. For instance, because I have to attend meetings and take lots of notes, I don't want people to see what I'm writing. But, I also don't want to be the wierdo whose obviously guarding his notes from the prying eyes of the other meeting attendees.
So, I taught myself the Cyrillic alphabet, and for years I was able to take all my meeting notes in it. Sadly, last year, our team was joined by a perfectly nice Polish woman who is highly educated and speaks several languages, one of which is Russian. So, she can read everything I write in Cyrillic.
I thought about learning something like Teeline shorthand, which no one anywhere in the world uses but British journalists, who were taught it in journalism school. But shorthand is hard to learn, and I am lazy. Oh, and you have to transcribe it into English pretty quickly or you'll forget what it actually says. Which seems like a lot of work that I wouldn't want to do being, as I said, lazy.
Then I learned about Quickscript. Quickscript, also called the Read Alphabet, was invented several decades ago by a Brit named Kingsley Read. He was really into English-language spelling and writing reform. Over the course of several years, he created the Quickscript phonetic alphabet which uses 40 letters that correspond to the 40 phonemes of spoken English. You can learn all about it here, because I am, if you'll remember, too lazy to take the time to explain it in any more detail. Anyway, I learned it, and now I use it all the time, and no one has clue what I'm writing about them at meetings.
But, because I also like to play around with techy things, I've also created two OpenType fonts for Quickscript. Quickscript Regular is a sans-serif font that more or less is a tidier version of the handwritten alphabet they have at the Wikipedia page I linked above. But I thought there should be a classier, formal version of it, so I deconstructed the universal screen font known as Georgia, and made a type ready book font called Quickscript Georgian. I've uploaded them to QandO in a zip file here.
Some Quickscript letters are very similar, like the letters for "f" and "b", but they are placed differently on the baseline, like the English letters w and y. Also, English phonemes like "TH" or "OW" that are represented by two letters in English are represented by a single letter in Quickscript. And there's a different letter for the "TH" in "thick" and the "TH" in "that", or the "OO" sound in "book" and "boot". So, most of the time, you write significantly less text in Quickscript than you do in English, a boon for the lazy.
Here are some English/Quickscript samples of words that have a letter-to-letter correspondence with English. Note the b and f letter placements in Quickscript:
Here's a longer piece of text, showing a phrase in English, Quickscript Regular and Quickscript Georgian. After that are the keys I had to type to write in the Quickscript fonts.
The "As Typed" bit is weird, I know. Because Quickscript uses 40 letters instead of 26, and some English letters like c and q aren't used at all, the keyboard mapping is a bit odd. The numbers and punctuation and everything are the same, except for the Tilde (~), which I have replaced with the little dot that signifies proper nouns in Quickscript, in lieu of capital letters, of which, Quickscript has none.
Also, notice what I did with the word "the" in the sample above? We pronounce it two different ways, "thuh" and "thee", and we do it in the same sentence. SO, the same word can be spelled two different ways in Quickscript, because it's phonetic, and pronunciation, not spelling, rules. Unlike English, when you try to "sound it out" in Quickscript, the way grammar school teachers used to tell us, you really do sound it out.
Here is the keyboard mapping, which is the same for both fonts:
Basically, I've used the lower case for all the regular letters, and capitals for the odd phonemes or long vowel sounds. I've tried to make the mappings as logical as possible. For instance, the two TH phonemes are mapped to the T and t keys, SH is mapped to S, and so on. Though, admittedly, I just couldn't figure out what to do with the OO as in "book".
There are actually Quickscript users other than me, so I thought I'd contribute the fonts to the Quickscript community by making them publicly available here.
* "Bordering on"? Who am I kidding? I've invaded misanthropy, sacked the capitol, and set myself up as President For Life.
Dale Franks
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This is how I think the AL Central is likely to play out. Generally considered one of the weaker divisions in baseball, I've seen three teams cited as possible division winners by different sources.
The Twins have taken the lead in six of the last nine seasons, and remain a solid pick due to their talented core and seemingly intangible gift for winning.
The White Sox, last year's runner-ups, are the only team from this division to win a championship in the last decade. They have rebuilt in some key areas and are a trendy World Series pick.
The Tigers ended a decade of futility in the mid-2000s with the emergence of young talent on the mound and an unheralded, but effective, offense. Several key additions over the years have given them a competitive team in the mold of that 2006 squad.
The Indians are still awaiting the returns of the CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee deals of recent years. They have youth in spades, most of it unproven. Not without talent, they could surprise some people.
The Royals are not an inane pick for worst team in baseball. This is a crazy game, and the athletes who wear Royal Blue are a million times more talented than your average human being. Will they make fools of us all?
We'll see. Here are my bets.


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Third Quarter Highlights
• Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) grew 11% to a third quarter record of $1.19.• Revenue increased 5% to a record $3.09 billion for the third quarter.• Adjusted operating income rose 5% to $576 million.• Year-to-date free cash flow increased 39% to $1.20 billion.• Launched new immunoassays, analyzers and controls for specialty diagnostics, such as drugs-of-abuse testing, at AACC clinical laboratory expo.• Opened new molecular biology Center of Excellence to serve global life sciences customers and strengthen presence in high-growth Eastern European markets.• Completed acquisition of transplant diagnostics leader One Lambda, strengthening offering of in vitro specialty diagnostics for improving patient care. • Deployed $400 million to repurchase 7.1 million shares of common stock.
Adjusted EPS, adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin and free cash flow are non-GAAP measures that exclude certain items detailed later in this press release under the heading "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures." Results for the company's Laboratory Workstations business are reported as a discontinued operation for all periods presented and are not included in the company's 2012 guidance.
"We delivered another quarter of excellent revenue and earnings growth thanks to solid execution by our teams and strong results from our growth initiatives," said Marc N. Casper, president and chief executive officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific. "Our innovative products, presence in emerging markets and commercial capabilities uniquely position us to help our customers meet their goals in the current economic environment.
"In the quarter, we expanded our Thermo Scientific specialty diagnostics offering for clinical laboratories with the launch of our new QMS™ Tacrolimus immunoassay in Europe and a new generation of our clinical analyzer, the Indiko® Plus®, in the U.S. In our biosciences business, we established a new molecular biology Center of Excellence in Lithuania to meet growing demand from life sciences and biotech customers globally.
"From a capital deployment perspective, we're pleased to have completed our acquisition of One Lambda, which enhances our specialty diagnostics offering with tests that improve care for transplant patients. In addition, we continue to buy back our shares, and repurchased $400 million of our stock in the quarter."
For the third quarter of 2012, adjusted EPS grew 11% to $1.19, versus $1.07 in the third quarter of 2011. Revenue for the quarter grew 5% to $3.09 billion in 2012, versus $2.93 billion in 2011. On a pro forma basis, as if Phadia were owned for the entire third quarter of 2011, organic revenue grew 4%, with currency translation lowering revenue by 3% and acquisitions, other than Phadia, increasing revenue by 1%. Adjusted operating income for the third quarter of 2012 increased 5% compared with the year-ago quarter, and adjusted operating margin was 18.7% in both periods.
GAAP diluted EPS for the third quarter of 2012 was $0.79, versus $0.69 in the same quarter last year. GAAP operating income for the third quarter of 2012 increased 11% to $352 million, compared with $316 million in 2011. GAAP operating margin was 11.4%, compared with 10.8% in the third quarter of 2011.
Annual Guidance for 2012Thermo Fisher is raising its full year 2012 guidance based on strong year-to-date performance, completion of the One Lambda acquisition and slightly improved foreign exchange. As a result, the company now expects to generate revenue of $12.32 to $12.40 billion in 2012, resulting in 7% revenue growth year-over-year. The company is also raising its adjusted EPS guidance to a new range of $4.81 to $4.88, leading to 16% to 17% adjusted EPS growth over 2011.
Casper added, "Our excellent performance in the last nine months positions us to deliver a strong 2012, and gives us a solid foundation going into 2013."
The 2012 guidance does not include the impact of any future acquisitions or divestitures and is based on recent foreign exchange rates. In addition, the adjusted EPS estimate excludes amortization expense for acquisition-related intangible assets and certain other items detailed later in this press release under the heading "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures."
Segment ResultsManagement uses adjusted operating results to monitor and evaluate performance of the company's three business segments, as highlighted below.
Analytical Technologies SegmentIn the third quarter of 2012, Analytical Technologies Segment revenue increased 1% to $1.01 billion compared with the third quarter of 2011. Segment adjusted operating income decreased 2% in the third quarter of 2012, and adjusted operating margin was 18.9%, versus 19.5% in the 2011 quarter.
Specialty Diagnostics SegmentSpecialty Diagnostics Segment revenue in the third quarter increased 15% to $707 million in 2012, compared with revenue of $616 million in the third quarter of 2011. Segment adjusted operating income increased 13% in the third quarter of 2012, and adjusted operating margin decreased to 24.1%, versus 24.4% in the 2011 quarter.
Laboratory Products and Services SegmentIn the third quarter of 2012, Laboratory Products and Services Segment revenue increased 5% to $1.51 billion, compared with revenue of $1.44 billion in the third quarter of 2011. Segment adjusted operating income increased 7% in the third quarter of 2012, and adjusted operating margin was 14.2%, versus 13.9% in the 2011 quarter.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial MeasuresIn addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), we use certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted EPS, adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin, which exclude restructuring and other costs/income and amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets. Adjusted EPS also excludes certain other gains and losses, tax provisions/benefits related to the previous items, benefits from tax credit carryforwards, the impact of significant tax audits or events and discontinued operations. We exclude the above items because they are outside of our normal operations and/or, in certain cases, are difficult to forecast accurately for future periods. We also use a non-GAAP measure, free cash flow, which excludes operating cash flows from discontinued operations and deducts net capital expenditures. We believe that the use of non-GAAP measures helps investors to gain a better understanding of our core operating results and future prospects, consistent with how management measures and forecasts the company's performance, especially when comparing such results to previous periods or forecasts.
For example:We exclude costs and tax effects associated with restructuring activities, such as reducing overhead and consolidating facilities. We believe that the costs related to these restructuring activities are not indicative of our normal operating costs.
We exclude certain acquisition-related costs, including charges for the sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition and significant transaction costs. We exclude these costs because we do not believe they are indicative of our normal operating costs.
We exclude the expense and tax effects associated with the amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets because a significant portion of the purchase price for acquisitions may be allocated to intangible assets that have lives of 5 to 20 years. Our adjusted EPS estimate for 2012 excludes approximately $1.37 of expense for the amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets for acquisitions completed through the end of the third quarter of 2012. Exclusion of the amortization expense allows comparisons of operating results that are consistent over time for both our newly acquired and long-held businesses and with both acquisitive and non-acquisitive peer companies.
We also exclude certain gains/losses and related tax effects, benefits from tax credit carryforwards and the impact of significant tax audits or events (such as the one-time effect on deferred tax balances of enacted changes in tax rates), which are either isolated or cannot be expected to occur again with any regularity or predictability and that we believe are not indicative of our normal operating gains and losses. For example, we exclude gains/losses from items such as the sale of a business or real estate, gains or losses on significant litigation-related matters, gains on curtailments of pension plans, the early retirement of debt and discontinued operations.
We also report free cash flow, which is operating cash flow, net of capital expenditures, and also excludes operating cash flows from discontinued operations to provide a view of the continuing operations' ability to generate cash for use in acquisitions and other investing and financing activities.
Thermo Fisher's management uses these non-GAAP measures, in addition to GAAP financial measures, as the basis for measuring the company's core operating performance and comparing such performance to that of prior periods and to the performance of our competitors. Such measures are also used by management in their financial and operating decision-making and for compensation purposes.
The non-GAAP financial measures of Thermo Fisher's results of operations and cash flows included in this press release are not meant to be considered superior to or a substitute for Thermo Fisher's results of operations prepared in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of such non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are set forth in the accompanying tables. Thermo Fisher's earnings guidance, however, is only provided on an adjusted basis. It is not feasible to provide GAAP EPS guidance because the items excluded, other than the amortization expense, are difficult to predict and estimate and are primarily dependent on future events, such as acquisitions and decisions concerning the location and timing of facility consolidations.
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Schizophrenia - Questions And AnswersNational Institute of Mental Health
Public Health Service
Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration
Prepared by
What Is It?
Schizophrenia is a term used to describe a complex, extremely puzzling condition - the most chronic and disabling of the major mental illnesses. Schizophrenia may be one disorder, or it may be many disorders, with different causes. Because of the disorder's complexity, few generalizations hold true for all people who are diagnosed as schizophrenic.
With the sudden onset of severe psychotic symptoms, the individual is said to be experiencing acute schizophrenia. "Psychotic" means out of touch with reality, or unable to separate real from unreal experiences. Some people have only one such psychotic episode; others have many episodes during a lifetime but lead relatively normal lives during the interim periods. The individual with chronic (continuous or recurring) schizophrenia often does not fully recover normal functioning and typically requires long-term treatment, generally including medication, to control the symptoms. Some chronic schizophrenic patients may never be able to function without assistance of one sort or another.
Approximately 1 percent of the population develop schizophrenia during their lives. This disorder affects men and women with equal frequency, and the information in this booklet is equally applicable to both. The first psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia are often seen in the teens or twenties in men and in the twenties or early thirties in women. Less obvious symptoms, such as social isolation or withdrawal or unusual speech, thinking, or behavior may precede and/or follow the psychotic symptoms.
Sometimes people have psychotic symptoms due to undetected medical disorders. For this reason, a medical history should be taken and a physical examination and laboratory tests should be done during hospitalization to rule out other causes of the symptoms before concluding that a person has schizophrenia.
The World of People With Schizophrenia
UNUSUAL REALITIES: Just as "normal" individuals view the world from their own perspectives, schizophrenic people, too, have their own perceptions of reality. Their view of the world, however, is often strikingly different from the usual reality seen and shared by those around them.
Living in a world that can appear distorted, changeable, and lacking the reliable landmarks we all use to anchor ourselves to reality, a person with schizophrenia may feel anxious and confused. This person may seem distant, detached, or preoccupied, and may even sit as rigidly as a stone, not moving for hours and not uttering a sound. Or he or she may move about constantly, always occupied, wide awake, vigilant, and alert. A schizophrenic person may exhibit very different kinds of behavior at different times.
HALLUCINATIONS: The world of a schizophrenic individual may be filled with hallucinations; a person actually may sense things that in reality do not exist, such as hearing voices telling the person to do certain things, seeing people or objects that are not really there, or feeling invisible fingers touching his or her body. These hallucinations may be quite frightening. Hearing voices that other people don't hear is the most common type of hallucination in schizophrenia. Such voices may describe the patient's activities, carry on a conversation, warn of impending dangers, or tell the person what to do.
DELUSIONS: Delusions are false personal beliefs that are not subject to reason or contradictory evidence and are not part of the person's culture. They are common symptoms of schizophrenia and can involve themes of persecution or grandeur, for example. Sometimes delusions in schizophrenia are quite bizarre - for instance, believing that a neighbor is controlling the schizophrenic individual's behavior with magnetic waves, or that people on television are directing special messages specifically at him or her, or are broadcasting the individual's thoughts aloud to other people. Delusions of persecution, which are common in paranoid schizophrenia, are false and irrational beliefs that a person is being cheated, harassed, poisoned, or conspired against. The patient may believe that he or she, or a member of the family or other group, is the focus of this imagined persecution.
DISORDERED THINKING: Often the schizophrenic person's thinking is affected by the disorder. The person may endure many hours of not being able to "think straight." Thoughts may come and go so rapidly that it is not possible to "catch them." The person may not be able to concentrate on one thought for very long and may be easily distracted, unable to focus attention.
The person with schizophrenia may not be able to sort out what is relevant and what is not relevant to a situation. The person may be unable to connect thoughts into logical sequences, as thoughts may become disorganized and fragmented. Jumping from topic to topic in a way that is totally confusing to others may result.
This lack of logical continuity of thought, termed "thought disorder," can make conversation very difficult and contribute to social isolation. If people cannot make sense of what an individual is saying, they are likely to become uncomfortable and tend to leave that person alone.
EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION: People with schizophrenia sometimes exhibit what is called "inappropriate affect." This means showing emotion that is inconsistent with the person's speech or thoughts. For example, a schizophrenic person may say that he or she is being persecuted by demons and then laugh. This should not be confused with the behavior of normal individuals when, for instance, they giggle nervously after a minor accident.
Often people with schizophrenia show "blunted" or "flat" affect. This refers to a severe reduction in emotional expressiveness. A schizophrenic person may not show the signs of normal emotion, perhaps using a monotonous tone of voice and diminished facial expression.
Some people with symptoms of schizophrenia also exhibit prolonged extremes of elation or depression, and it is important to determine whether such a patient is schizophrenic, or actually has a bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder or major depressive disorder. Persons who cannot be clearly categorized are sometimes diagnosed as having a schizoaffective disorder.
NORMAL VERSUS ABNORMAL: At times, normal individuals may feel, think, or act in ways that resemble schizophrenia. Often normal people are unable to think straight. They can be made extremely anxious, for example, speaking in front of groups so that they could feel confused, be unable to pull their thoughts together, and forget what they had intended to say.
Just as normal people may occasionally do strange things, many schizophrenic people often think, feel, and act in a normal fashion. Unless in the midst of an extremely disorganized state, a schizophrenic person will have some sense of common reality, for instance, knowing that most people eat three times each day and sleep at night. Being out of touch with reality (which is one way to describe the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia) does not mean that an individual is living totally in another world. Rather, there are certain aspects of this individual's world that are not shared by others and that seem to have no real basis. Hearing a voice of warning that on one else can hear is not an experience shared by most people and is clearly a distortion of reality, but it is only a distortion of one part of reality. A schizophrenic person may, therefore, appear quite normal much of the time.
Schizophrenia Is Not "Split Personality"
There is a common notion that schizophrenia is the same as "split personality" - a Dr. Jekyll - Mr. Hyde switch in character. This is not an accurate description of schizophrenia. In fact, split or multiple personality is an entirely different disorder that is really quite rare.
Is Schizophrenia a New Disease?
Although the term "schizophrenia" was not used until the early 20th century, the disorder has existed for a great many years and has been found in all types of societies.
In Western society, "madness" or "insanity" was not generally regarded as a health problem until the early 19th century. At that time, a movement to offer more humane treatment to the mentally ill made it impossible for them to receive more scientific, medical treatment. The mentally ill were unchained, released from prisons, and given more appropriate care. Several categories of mental disease were subsequently identified. By the early 20th century, schizophrenia had been distinguished from manic-depressive illness, and subcategories had been described. In 1911, Dr. Eugen Bleuler, a Swiss psychiatrist, first used the term "the group of schizophrenias." Despite disagreement among scientists as to precisely what conditions should or should not be included in this group, the term has been commonly used since then.
Can Children Be Schizophrenic?
Children over the age of 5 can develop schizophrenia, but it is very rare before adolescence. Moreover, research is needed to clarify the relationship of schizophrenia occurring in childhood to that occurring in adolescence and adulthood. Although some people who later develop schizophrenia may have seemed different from other children at an early age, the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia (for example, hallucinations, delusions, and incoherence) are rarely seen in children.
Are People With Schizophrenia Likely To Be Violent?
Although news and entertainment media tend to link mental illness and criminal violence, studies tell us that if we set aside those persons with a record of criminal violence before hospitalization, mentally ill persons as a whole are probably no more prone to criminal violence than the general public. Studies are underway to refine our understanding of the different forms of mental illness to learn whether some groups are more prone to violence than others.
Certainly most schizophrenic individuals are not violent; more typically, they prefer to withdraw and be left alone. Some acutely disturbed patients may become physically violent, but such outbursts have become relatively infrequent following the introduction of more effective treatment programs, including the use of antipsychotic medications. There is general agreement that most violent crimes are not committed by schizophrenic persons, and that most schizophrenic persons do not commit violent crimes.
What About Suicide?
Suicide is a potential danger in those who have schizophrenia. If an individual tries to commit suicide or expresses plans to do so, he or she should receive immediate professional help. People with schizophrenia appear to have a higher rate of suicide than the general population. Unfortunately, the prediction of suicide in schizophrenic patients may be especially difficult.
What Causes Schizophrenia?
There is no known single cause of schizophrenia. As discussed later, it appears that genetic factors produce a vulnerability to schizophrenia, with environmental factors contributing to different degrees in different individuals. Just as each individual's personality is the result of an interplay of cultural, psychological, biological, and genetic factors, a disorganization of the personality, as in schizophrenia, may result from an interplay of many factors. Scientists do not agree on a particular formula that is necessary to produce the disorder. No specific gene has yet been found; no biochemical defect has been proven responsible; and no specific stressful event seems sufficient, by itself, to produce schizophrenia.
Is Schizophrenia Inherited?
It has long been known that schizophrenia runs in families. The close relatives of schizophrenia patients are more likely to develop schizophrenia than those who are not related to someone with schizophrenia. The children of a schizophrenic parent, for example, each have about a 10 percent chance of developing schizophrenia. By comparison, the risk of schizophrenia in the general population is about 1 percent.
Over the past 25 years, two types of increasingly sophisticated studies have demonstrated the importance of a genetic factor in the development of schizophrenia. One group of studies examined the occurrence of schizophrenia in identical and fraternal twins; the other group compared adoptive and biological families.
Recent studies of twins have confirmed the basic findings of earlier, scientifically less rigorous studies. Identical twins (who are genetically alike) generally have a higher rate of "concordance" for schizophrenia than fraternal twins (who are no more genetically alike than ordinary siblings). "Concordance" occurs when both members of a twin pair develop schizophrenia. Although studies of twins provide convincing evidence of an inherited factor in schizophrenia, the fact that concordance for schizophrenia among identical twins is only 40 to 60 percent suggests that some type of environmental factor or factors also must be involved.
A second major group of studies looked at adopted children to examine the effects of heredity and environment. In Denmark, an exhaustive investigation of the mental health of adopted-away children of schizophrenic parents was conducted. These children were compared with adopted children whose biological parents had no history of mental illness. A comparison was also made of the rates of mental disorder among the biological relatives of two groups of adoptees - one known to be schizophrenic and the other without a history of mental illness. Findings of adoption studies have indicated that being biologically related to a schizophrenic person increased the risk for schizophrenia, even when the related individuals have had little or no personal contact.
These studies indicate that schizophrenia has some hereditary basis, but the exact extent of this genetic influence needs further exploration. Most scientists agree that what may be inherited is a vulnerability or predisposition to the disorder - an inherited potential that, given a certain set of factors, can lead to schizophrenia. This predisposition may be due to an enzyme defect or some other biochemical abnormality, a subtle neurological deficit, or some other factor or combination of factors.
We do not yet understand how the genetic predisposition is transmitted and cannot predict accurately whether a given person will or will not develop the disorder. In some people, a genetic factor may be crucial for the development of the disorder; in others, it may be relatively unimportant.
Are The Parents at Fault?
Most schizophrenia researchers now agree that parents do not cause schizophrenia. In past decades, there was a tendency for some mental health workers to blame parents for their children's disorder. Today, this attitude is generally seen as both inaccurate and counterproductive. Mental health workers now commonly try to enlist family members' aid in the therapeutic program and also show a heightened sensitivity to the very real feelings of burden and isolation many families experience in their attempts to care for a schizophrenic family member.
Is Schizophrenia Caused by a Chemical Defect?
Although no neurochemical cause has yet been firmly established for schizophrenia, basic knowledge about brain chemistry and its link to schizophrenia is expanding rapidly. Neurotransmitters - substances that allow communication between nerve cells - have long been thought to be involved in the development of schizophrenia. It is likely that the disorder is associated with some imbalance of the complex, interrelated chemical systems of the brain. Although we have no definite answers, this area of schizophrenia research is very active and exciting.
Is Schizophrenia Caused by a Physical Abnormality in the Brain?
Interest in this research question has been stimulated by the development of CAT scans (Computerized Axial Tomography) - a kind of x-ray technique for visualizing the structures of living brains. Some studies using this technique suggest that schizophrenic patients are more likely to have abnormal brain structures (for example, enlargement of the cavities in the interior of the brain) than are normal persons of the same age. It should be emphasized that some of the abnormalities reported are quite subtle. These abnormalities have been found neither to be characteristic of all schizophrenic patients nor to occur only in individuals with schizophrenia.
A more recent development is the PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan. In contrast to the CAT scan, which produces images of brain structures, the PET scan is a way of measuring the metabolic activity of specific areas of the brain, including areas deep within the brain. Only very preliminary research has been done with the PET scan in schizophrenia, but this new technique, used in conjunction with other types of scans, promises to provide important information about the structure and function of the living brain.
Other special imaging studies that may increase our understanding of schizophrenia include MRI, rCBF, and computerized EEF measures. MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging, a technique involving precise measurements of brain structures based on the effects of a magnetic field on different substances in the brain. This technique has sometimes been referred to as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging. In rCBF, or regional cerebral blood flow, a radioactive gas is inhaled, and the rate of disappearance of this substance from different areas of the brain gives information about the relative activity of brain regions during various mental activities. The computerized EEG (electroencephalogram) is a kind of brain wave test that maps electrical responses of the brain as it reacts to different stimuli. All of these imaging techniques are being used for research. They are not new forms of treatment.
How Is It Treated?
Since schizophrenia may not be a single condition and its causes are not yet known, current treatment methods are based on both clinical research and experience. These approaches are chosen on the basis of their ability to reduce schizophrenic symptoms and lessen the chances that symptoms will return. A number of treatments and treatment combinations have been found to be helpful, and more are being developed.
What About Antipsychotic Drugs?
Antipsychotic medications (also called neuroleptics) have been available since the mid-1950's. They have greatly improved the outlook for individual patients. These medications reduce the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia and usually allow the patient to function more effectively and appropriately. Antipsychotic drugs are the best treatment now available, but they do not "cure" schizophrenia or ensure that there will be no further psychotic episodes. The choice and dosage of medication can be made only by a qualified physician who is well trained in the medical treatment of mental disorders. The dosage of medication is individualized for each patient, since patients may vary a great deal in the amount of drug needed to reduce symptoms without producing troublesome side effects.
Antipsychotic drugs are very effective in treating certain schizophrenic symptoms (for example, hallucinations and delusions). A large majority of schizophrenic patients, however, are not helped very much by such medications and a few do not seem to need them. It is difficult to predict which patients will fall into these two groups and to distinguish them from the large majority of patients who do benefit from treatment with antipsychotic drugs.
Sometimes patients and families become worried about the antipsychotic medications used to treat schizophrenia. In addition to concern about side effects (discussed elsewhere in this pamphlet), there may be worries that such drugs may lead to addiction. Antipsychotic medications, however, do not produce a "high" (euphoria) or a strong physical dependence, as some other drugs do.
Another misconception about antipsychotic drugs is that they act as a kind of mind control. Antipsychotic drugs do not control a person's thoughts; instead, they often help the patient to tell the difference between psychotic symptoms and the real world. These medications may diminish hallucinations, agitation, confusion, distortions, and delusions, allowing the schizophrenic individual to make decisions more rationally. Schizophrenia itself may seem to take control of the patient's mind and personality, and antipsychotic drugs can help to free the patient from his or her symptoms and allow the patient to think more clearly and make better informed decisions. While some patients taking these medications may experience sedation or diminished expressiveness, antipsychotic medications used in appropriate dosage for the treatment of schizophrenia are not chemical restraints. Frequently, with careful monitoring, the dosage of the medication can be reduced to provide relief from undesirable effects. There is now a trend in psychiatry that favors finding and using the lowest dosage that allows the schizophrenic person to function without a return of psychosis.
How Long Should Schizophrenic Patients Take Antipsychotic Drugs?
Antipsychotic drugs also reduce the risk of future psychotic episodes in recovered patients. With continued drug treatment, about 40 percent of recovered will suffer relapses within 2 years of discharge from a hospital. Still, this figure compares favorably with the 80 percent relapse rate when medication is discontinued. In most cases, it would not be accurate to say that continued drug treatment prevents relapses; rather, it reduces their frequency. The treatment of severe psychotic symptoms generally requires higher dosages than those used for maintenance treatment. If symptoms reappear with a lower dosage, a temporary increase in dosage may prevent a full-blown relapse.
Some patients may deny that they need medication and may discontinue antipsychotic drugs on their own or based on someone else's advice. This typically increases the risk of relapse (although symptoms may not reappear right away). It can be very difficult to convince certain schizophrenic people that they continue to need medication, particularly since some may feel better at first. For patients who are unreliable in taking antipsychotic drugs, a long-acting injectable form may be appropriate. Schizophrenic patients should not discontinue antipsychotic drugs without medical advice and monitoring.
What About Side Effects?
Antipsychotic drugs, like virtually all medications, have unwanted effects along with their beneficial effects. During the early phases of drug treatment, patients may be troubled by side effects such as drowsiness, restlessness, muscle spasms, tremor, dry mouth, or blurring of vision. Most of these can be corrected by lowering the dosage or can be controlled by other medications. Different patients have different treatment responses and side effects to various antipsychotic drugs. A patient may do better with one drug than another.
The long-term side effects of antipsychotic drugs may pose a considerably more serious problem. Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a disorder characterized by involuntary movements most often affecting the mouth, lips, and tongue, and sometimes the trunk or other parts of the body. It generally occurs in about 15 to 20 percent of patients who have been receiving antipsychotic drugs for many years, but TD can occur in patients who have been treated with these drugs for shorter periods of time. In most cases, the symptoms of TD are mild, and the patient may be unaware of the movements.
The risk-benefit issue in any kind of treatment for schizophrenia is an extremely important consideration. In this context, the risk of TD - as frightening as it is - must be carefully weighed against the risk of repeated breakdowns that can terribly disrupt patient's efforts to reestablish themselves at school, at work, at home, and in the community. For patients who develop TD, the use of medications must be reevaluated. Recent research suggests, however, that TD, once considered irreversible, often improves even when patients continue to receive antipsychotic medications.
What About Psychosocial Treatments?
Antipsychotic drugs have proven to be crucial in relieving psychotic schizophrenic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and incoherence, but do not consistently relieve all the symptoms of the disorder. Even when schizophrenic patients are relatively free of psychotic symptoms, many still have extraordinary difficulty establishing and maintaining relationships with others. Moreover, because schizophrenic patients frequently become ill during the critical trade-learning or career-forming years of life (ages 18 to 35), they are less likely to complete the training required for skilled work. As a result, many schizophrenic patients not only suffer thinking and emotional difficulties, but they lack social and work skills as well.
It is with these psychological, social, and occupational problems that psychosocial treatments help most. In general, psychosocial approaches have limited value for acutely psychotic patients (those who are out of touch with reality or have prominent hallucinations or delusions), but may be useful for those with less severe symptoms or those whose psychotic symptoms are under control. Numerous forms of psychosocial therapy are available for patients with schizophrenia, and most focus on improving the patient's functioning as a social being - whether in the hospital or community, at home or on the job. Some of these approaches are described here. Unfortunately, the availability of different forms of treatment varies greatly from place to place.
REHABILITATION: Broadly defined, rehabilitation includes a wide array of nonmedical interventions for those with schizophrenia. Rehabilitation programs emphasize social and vocational training to help patients and former patients overcome difficulties in these areas. Programs may include vocational counseling, job training, problem-solving and money management skills, use of public transportation, and social skills training. These approaches are important for the success of the community-centered treatment of schizophrenia, because they provide discharged patients with the skills necessary to lead productive lives outside the sheltered confines of a mental hospital.
INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY: Individual psychotherapy involves regularly scheduled talks between the patient and a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric social worker, or nurse. These talks may focus on current or past problems, experiences, thoughts, feelings, or relationships. By sharing their experiences with a trained, emphatic person and by talking about their world with someone outside it, schizophrenic individuals may gradually come to understand more about themselves and their problems. They can also learn to sort out the real from the unreal and distorted.
Recent studies tend to indicate that supportive, reality-oriented therapy is generally of more benefit to schizophrenic outpatients than more probing psychoanalytic or insight-oriented psychotherapy. In one large-scale study, patients given psychotherapy oriented toward reality adaptation and practical interpersonal skills generally did as well or better than patients given more frequent and intensive insight-oriented therapy.
FAMILY THERAPY: As usually practiced, family therapy involves the patient, the parents or spouse, and a therapist. Brothers and sisters, children, and other relatives may also be included. The purposes vary. Meeting in a family group can enable various family members and the therapist to understand each other's viewpoints. It also can help with treatment planning (such as discharge from the hospital) and enlisting the aid of family members in the therapeutic program. Family therapy can also provide a way for the therapist to offer the family needed support and understanding in a time of crisis.
Very often, patients are discharged from the hospital to their families' care, so it is important that family members have a clear understanding of schizophrenia and are aware of the difficulties and problems associated with the illness. It is also helpful for family members to understand the ways of minimizing the chance of future breakdowns and to be aware of the different kinds of outpatient and family services that are available in the period after hospitalization.
GROUP THERAPY: Group therapy sessions usually involve a small number of patients (for example, 6-12) and one or two trained therapists. Here, the focus is on learning from the experiences of others, testing out one person's perceptions against those of others, and correcting distortions and maladaptive interpersonal behavior by means of feedback from other members of the group. This form of therapy may be most helpful after symptoms have subsided somewhat and patients have emerged from the acute psychotic phase of the illness, since psychotic patients are often too disturbed or disorganized to participate. Later, when patients are beginning to recover, participation in group therapy will often be helpful in preparing them to cope with community life.
SELF-HELP GROUPS: Another kind of group that is becoming increasingly common is the self-help group. Although not led by a professional therapist, the groups are therapeutic because members - usually ex-patients or the family members of people with schizophrenia - provide continuing mutual support as well as comfort in knowing that they are not alone in the problems they face. These groups also serve other important functions. Families working together can more effectively serve as advocates for needed research and hospital and community treatment programs. Ex-patients as a group may be better able to dispel stigma and draw public attention to such abuses as discrimination against the formerly mentally ill.
Family and peer support and advocacy groups are now very active and provide useful information and assistance for patients and families of patients with schizophrenia and other mental disorders.
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill is composed exclusively of family groups, with 550 of them as of the end of 1985 and adding about 150 to 200 new groups each year. The National Mental Health Association, the nation's oldest and largest nongovernmental citizen's voluntary organization, is concerned with all aspects of mental disorders and mental health. The National Mental Health Consumer's Association, a network of self-help organizations across the country, now has about 150 affiliates and operates a Self-Help Clearinghouse. These groups can be contacted at the following addresses:
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
National Mental Health Association
The National Mental Health Consumers' Association
Residential Care
Prolonged hospitalization is now very much less common than it was 20 or 30 years ago, when approximately 300,000 schizophrenic patients were residents of State and county mental institutions. Despite this trend, a minority of patients still seem to require long-term inpatient care. For most patients, prolonged hospital stays are not recommended because they increase dependence on institutional care and result in a loss of social contacts with family, acquaintances, and the community. Short-term residential care in well-staffed facilities can give patients needed relief from stressful situations, provide a protective atmosphere for the troubled patient, allow restarting or adjustment of medication, and reduce pressure on the family.
Many schizophrenic persons can benefit from partial hospitalization (day care or night care), from outpatient treatment (going to a clinic or office regularly for individual, group, or occupational therapy), or from living in a halfway house (designed to aid patients in bridging the gap between 24-hour hospitalization and independent living in the community).
What About Other Forms of Treatment?
ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY (ECT) AND INSULIN COMA: These two forms of treatment are rarely used today in the treatment of schizophrenia. In particular situations, however, electroconvulsive therapy may be useful. It can be of help, for example, if a severe depression occurs in the course of a schizophrenic episode. Insulin coma treatment is virtually never used now because of the availability of other effective treatment methods that have fewer potentially serious complications.
PSYCHOSURGERY: Lobotomy, a brain operation formerly used in some patients with severe chronic schizophrenia, now is performed only under extremely rare circumstances. This is because of the serious, irreversible personality changes that the surgery may produce and the fact that far better results are generally attained from less drastic and hazardous procedures.
LARGE DOSES OF VITAMINS: Good physical hygiene, including a nourishing diet and proper exercise, is important to good health. Well-controlled studies have shown that the addition of large doses of vitamins to standard therapy regimens does NOT significantly improve the treatment of schizophrenia. Also, although vitamins have been thought to be relatively harmless, reports of side effects raise the possibility that these substances may have detrimental consequences when used in very high doses. Reliance on high-dose vitamins as a treatment for schizophrenia is not scientifically justified and does have risks.
HEMODIALYSIS: Preliminary reports that some schizophrenic patients appeared to improve following hemodialysis, a blood-cleansing treatment used in certain kidney disorders, attracted a great deal of attention. However, several more recent controlled scientific studies have reported that the procedure has no beneficial effect on the symptoms of schizophrenia. The weight of scientific evidence now indicates that hemodialysis is NOT useful in the treatment of schizophrenia.
How Can Other People Help?
A patient's support system may come from several sources, including the family, a professional residential or day program provider, shelter operators, friends or roommates, professional case managers, churches and synagogues, and others. Because the majority of patients live with their families, the following discussion frequently uses the term "family." However, this should not be taken to imply that families ought to be the primary support system.
There are numerous situations in which patients with schizophrenia can be helped by people in their support systems. First of all, for patients who do not recognize that they are ill, family or friends may need to take an active role in having them seen and evaluated by a professional. Often, a schizophrenic person will resist treatment, believing that delusions or hallucinations are real and that psychiatric help is not needed. Since laws regarding involuntary commitment have become very strict, families and community organizations may be frustrated in their attempts to see that a severely mentally ill individual gets needed help. These laws vary from State to State, but generally people who are dangerous to themselves or others due to a mental disorder can be taken by the police for emergency psychiatric evaluation and, if necessary, hospitalization. In some cases, a member of a local community mental health center can evaluate an individual's illness at home if he or she will not voluntarily go in for treatment.
Sometimes only the family or others close to the patient will be aware of strange behavior or ideas that the patient has expressed. Since schizophrenic patients may not volunteer such information during an examination, family members or friends should ask to speak with the person evaluating the patient so that all relevant information can be taken into account.
Seeing that a schizophrenic patient continues to get treatment after hospitalization is also important. Patients may discontinue medications or stop going for followup treatment - often leading to a return of psychotic symptoms. Encouraging and assisting the patient to continue treatment can be very important to recovery. Without treatment, some schizophrenic patients become so psychotic and disorganized that they cannot care for their basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter. All too often people with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia wind up on the streets or in jails, where they rarely receive the kinds of treatment they need.
Those close to people with schizophrenia are often unsure of how to respond when patients make statements that seem strange or are clearly false. The schizophrenic patient's bizarre beliefs or hallucinations seem quite real - they are not just "imaginary fantasies." Instead of going along with a patient's delusions, family members or friends can tell the patient that they do not see things the same way or do not agree with his or her conclusions, while acknowledging that things may seem that way to the patient.
It may also be useful for those who know the patient well to keep a record of what types of symptoms have appeared, what medications (including dosage) have been taken, and what effects various treatments have had. By knowing what symptoms have been present before, family members may know better what to look for in the future. Families may even be able to identify some "early warning signs" of potential relapses (such as increased withdrawal or changes in sleep patterns) better and earlier than the patients themselves. Return of the psychosis may thus be detected early and treatment may prevent a full-blown relapse. Also, by knowing which medications have helped and which have caused troublesome side effects in the past, the family can help those treating the patient to find the best treatment more quickly.
In addition to involvement in seeking help, family, friends, and peer groups can provide support and encourage the person with schizophrenia to regain his or her abilities. It is important that goals be attainable, since a patient who feels pressured and/or repeatedly criticized by others will probably experience this as a stress that may lead to a worsening of symptoms. Like anyone else, people with schizophrenia need to know when they are doing things right. A positive approach may be helpful and perhaps more effective in the long run than criticism, and this advice applies to all those who interact with the patient.
A common question raised by family and friends concerns "street drugs." Since some people who take street drugs may show symptoms similar to those typical of schizophrenia, people with schizophrenia may be accused of being "high on drugs." To help understand the cause of the patient's behavior, blood or urine samples can be tested for street drugs at many hospitals or physician's offices. While most researchers do not believe that schizophrenic patients develop their symptoms because of drug use, people who have schizophrenia often have particularly bad reactions to certain street drugs. Stimulants (such as amphetamines or cocaine) may cause major problems for schizophrenic patients, as may drugs like PCP or marijuana. In fact, some patients experience a worsening of their schizophrenic symptoms when they are taking such drugs. Schizophrenic patients may also abuse alcohol or other drugs for delusional reasons or in an attempt to lessen their symptoms. This can cause additional problems requiring multiple treatment approaches. Such patients may be helped by a combination of therapies such as medication, rehabilitation, psychotherapy, or Alcoholics Anonymous or other substance abuse programs.
What Is The Outlook?
The outlook for people with schizophrenia has improved over the last 25 years. Although no totally effective therapy has yet been devised, it is important to remember that many schizophrenic patients improve enough to lead independent, satisfying lives. As we learn more about the causes and treatment of schizophrenia, we should be able to help more schizophrenic patients achieve successful outcomes.
Studies that have followed schizophrenic patients for long periods, from the first breakdown to old age, reveal that a wide range of outcomes is possible. A review of almost 2,000 patients' life histories suggests that 25 percent achieve full recovery, 50 percent recover at least partially, and 25 percent require long-term care. When large groups of patients are studied, certain factors tend to be associated with a better outcome - for example, a pre-illness history of normal social, school, and work adjustment. Our current state of knowledge, however, does not allow for a sufficiently accurate prediction of long-term outcome.
The development of a variety of treatment methods and facilities is of crucial importance because schizophrenic patients vary greatly in their needs for treatment. In particular, better alternatives are needed to fill the gap between the relatively nonintensive treatment offered in outpatient clinics and the highly regulated treatment (including 24-hour supervision) provided in hospitals. With a variety of facilities available, mental health professionals will be better able to tailor treatment to the different needs of individual patients. Some patients require constant care and attention, while others need a place to learn how to function more independently without constant supervision.
Given the complexity of schizophrenia, the major questions about this disorder - its cause or causes, prevention, and treatment - are unlikely to be resolved in the near future. The public should beware of those offering "the cure" for (or "the cause" of) schizophrenia. Such claims can provoke unrealistic expectations that, when unfulfilled, lead to further disappointment. Although progress has been made toward a better understanding of schizophrenia, there is an urgent need for a more rigorous and broad-based program of basic and clinical research. Research on schizophrenia has benefitted greatly from recent basic scientific discoveries, and we hope that a better understanding of neurobiological and psychosocial factors in schizophrenia will be achieved in the next decade.
To Subscribe to the SCHIZOPHRENIA BULLETIN
The SCHIZOPHRENIA BULLETIN is a quarterly journal prepared by the Schizophrenia Research Branch of the National Institute of Mental Health. Intended as a forum for the multidisciplinary exchange of information about schizophrenia, the BULLETIN is the only periodical exclusively devoted to the exploration of this severe and puzzling disorder.
Frequently, an issue of the BULLETIN focuses on one critical topic. Themes of past issues, for example, have been the role of heredity in schizophrenia, psychosocial approaches to treatment, biological factors in the disorder, subtypes of schizophrenia, childhood psychoses, community support systems, stress and social networks, prognosis and long-term outcome, advances in diagnostic procedures, and research on individuals at high risk for the development of schizophrenia.
The BULLETIN publishes articles on all facets of schizophrenia research and treatment. Special emphasis is placed on the publication of detailed state-of-the-art reviews of critical areas in the study of schizophrenia. Although the BULLETIN wishes to encourage a variety of subscribers, most articles published in the journal are primarily directed to the scientific community.
The subscription price, covering four issues per year, is $16.00 domestic and $20.00 foreign. The single copy price is $4.75 domestic and $5.94 foreign. This price was in effect at time of printing. Prices are subject to change. We urge those intending to subscribe to complete the subscription form as soon as possible. Your check or money order should be made payable and mailed, together with your order form, to the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.
We greatly appreciate the assistance of those whose reviews and suggestions contributed to this report: Shervert H. Frazier, M.D., Frank J. Sullivan, Ph.D., Darrel A. Regier, M.D., M.P.H., Jack D. Burke, Jr., M.D., M.P.H., Samuel J. Keith, M.D., Nina R. Schooler, Ph.D., Seymour Kety, M.D., Joseph H. Autry, III, M.D., Julius Segal, Ph.D., Richard J. Wyatt, M.D., Irma Lann, M.Ed., A Hussain Tuma, Ph.D., Lorraine Torres, Elaine Pearl, Susan Matthews, Barbara Bruner, Camille Frezzo, Marilyn Sargent, Helen M. Lejnar, Bette Runck, and Joan Abell, all from the National Institute of Mental Health; Mildred K. Lehman, Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration; Bettie Payne of the National Mental Health Association; Charles Miles, M.D., Agnes Hatfield, Ph.D., James W. Howe, Richard T. Greer, Laurie Flynn, Maryellen Walsh, Jane Myers, and Peggy Straw, all from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill; E. Fuller Torrey, M.D.; Nancy Domenici; William T. Carpenter, Jr., M.D. of the University of Maryland at Baltimore; Magda Campbell, M.D. of the New York University Medical Center; and representatives of the National Mental Health Consumer's Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, National Association of Social Workers, and the American Sociological Association.
Portions of this booklet were contributed by Ann Reifman, Ph.D., and Loren R. Mosher, M.D. (first edition), and Sherry Buchsbaum (first revision).
DHHS Publication No. (ADM) 86-1457
Single copies are available at no charge from the Public Inquiries Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Room 15C-05, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857.


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SNAP/Food Stamp Participation Passes 30 Million Mark in September 2008
Washington, D.C. – December 3, 2008 – SNAP/Food Stamp participation leapt to 31.5 million Americans in September 2008, according to figures released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture yesterday.
According to an analysis by the Food Research and Action Center:
Commenting on the September 2008 data, Jim Weill, president of the Food Research and Action Center, stated: "The strength of SNAP/Food Stamps lies in its ability to respond quickly to meet increased need, whether due to economic downturns or natural disasters. Caseloads will continue to rise as more people grapple with rising unemployment, falling wages, rising food costs, and growing hunger. With this ongoing growth in participation, it is critical that Congress quickly passes a boost in benefits as part of economic recovery legislation, as well as more administrative funds to help states cope with growing caseloads."
Previously, participation in SNAP/Food Stamps reached a record high in November 2005, serving 29.85 million people in the wake of three hurricanes.
Click here for more information on September's numbers.
For ongoing analysis of the latest SNAP/Food Stamp participation numbers, including state-by-state trends, please visit www.frac.org.
* SNAP is the acronym for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the new federal name of the Food Stamp Program.
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The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) is the leading national nonprofit organization working to improve public policies and public-private partnerships to eradicate hunger and undernutrition in the United States.
Federal Food Programs | Hunger in the US
FRAC's Building Blocks Project | Campaign to End Childhood Hunger
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A fun filled day in Bulverde at the 2012 Bulverde Jubilee! The Bulverde Food Pantry won "Most Original Float" thanks to lots of hard work by Joe McNaul, Larry and Mary Jo Weaver, and everyone else who pitched in to build it! Lots of blue painted fish to be made! The fish hats stole the show, for sure! Hill Country Christian Church raffled off an iPad as a benefit for us, too. Lots of tickets were sold. The lucky winner of the iPad is Steve Muncaster…lucky guy! Thanks SO much to HCCC and to Clint Swindall and Verbalocity for donating the iPad! Also, we have to thank our friends from the Bulverde HEB. Their parade float was loaded with lots of good food, and after the parade they brought it ALL to the Pantry to donate! Christina Munoz-Baker and her crew brought in 330 lbs of food for us!!! It was a terrific day!
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Don't Miss
Tyson Chandler an ESPN Body Issue cover boy
- Updated: July 9, 2012
First off, ESPN the Magazine's The Body Issue is just great marketing. That's my opinion and debate for another day with any dissenters. For now, we're just here to share that one of four athletes to be featured on various cover versions of the 2012 "Body Issue" is a familiar face for Knicks fans (note, we said the face is familiar).
Ladies and gentlemen, get to know Tyson Chandler a bit more than you may have wanted to.
Good for him. Why not? We've loved what Chandler has done for the Knicks on the court and in the lockerroom. Personally, we care more about Defensive Player of the Year awards, but whatever keeps the man happy.
HT: Business Insider
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