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The act of giving can be an extremely rewarding experience. Click below to learn more about making a gift to Day Kimball Healthcare.Learn more about Giving »
Photo has link to PDF
of this Rendering
Vision of the future. These architectural renderings illustrate the planned exterior and interior designs of Day Kimball Hospital's new emergency department - to be named the Townsend Emergency Medical Center - which will provide much-needed additional space and include the critical features of all-private treatment rooms and a dedicated behavioral health area, as well as a reduction in waiting and treatment time.
PUTNAM, Conn. – Donations came from each of the 13 towns that make up Northeast Connecticut. Support came from all the other New England states. And from Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Missouri and Virginia. People gave what they could, ranging from $2 to $500,000.
Over the past 10 months, 930 individuals and businesses donated a total of $3,035,304.68 to the "Care in a Heartbeat" campaign, exceeding the $3 million fundraising goal needed to build a new emergency department at Day Kimball Hospital, which is part of the Day Kimball Healthcare network.
"We're overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and extremely thankful," said Pomfret resident Peter Deary, owner of Sunnyside Farms and campaign co-chair with his wife, Kimberly Lane, APRN. "Though I'm not surprised, it's heartwarming to have the firsthand experience of individuals and businesses pulling together for the overall good of the community."
Deary explained that donations came from various sectors of the community. Following is a breakdown of the $3,035,304.68 raised:
• Leadership, including some physician (donations of $50,000 or more): $1,625,000;
54 percent of the total raised
• Business and community: $848,792.68; 27 percent of the total raised
• Physicians: $481,250; 16 percent of the total raised
• Day Kimball employees and volunteers: $80,262; 3 percent of the total raised
To honor the largest contribution of $500,000 made by Steven and Marjolaine Townsend of Brooklyn, Conn., the new emergency department will be named the Townsend Emergency Medical Center.
Day Kimball Hospital's emergency department was constructed in 1970 and renovated in 1990. Originally designed to serve 18,000 patients per year, today over 30,000 people seek care there annually, with forecasts indicating the number growing even more over the next few years. Though patient care remains at optimum levels, demand has made the space obsolete.
"The expansion and upgrading of our emergency department is an important part of an overall, systemic vision for Day Kimball," explained Robert E. Smanik, FACHE, president and CEO, Day Kimball Healthcare. "We continue to work hard in all aspects of our operation to become the premier, integrated medical services network for the benefit of all Northeast Connecticut residents."


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Mikey Sin Photographer
Sarah Samra MUAMakeup Artist Female Toronto, Ontario, Canada
My Website: http://www.sarahsamra.comMy MM URL: http://www.modelmayhem.com/sarahsamraMUA
Mayhem # 2310301
About MeFrom Vancouver to Toronto, this makeup artist traveled to the east coast to pursue her dreams.
Sarah Samra, has over 9 years of experience in the beauty industry. Not your everyday Makeup artist though, this gal views every new face as her "canvas". A chance to transform and create art.
Her knowledge and experience comes from working for well known companies such as MAC Cosmetics, working along side and learning from industry professionals, as well as attending Vancouver's well known Blanche McDonald Institute.
Sarah has worked and collaborated with professional photographers, brides, models for music videos, fashion shows, weddings and also provided makeup for the TOIFA awards, also known as the Times of India Film Awards.
It doesn't stop there, Sarah Samra is also collaborating with the Village Magazine to bring you hot makeup and beauty trends. So be sure to check out her articles, tips and tricks of the trade in print and online.
Have you worked with Sarah Samra MUA? Add Credits for Sarah Samra MUA ! >>
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Win Tickets To Rangers' Home Game Three
Picture 1 of 10
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var spGalleryData35791 = ;
Jeff Evans our Operations Manger is doing "research" today at the Rangers' Game Two in Dallas — we are sure he will have plenty of pictures for us! You know that we have tickets for Game 3 to give away right? Super easy to win just go to our facebook and click the "Texas Rangers" tab.
Restaurants Serving Thanksgiving Dinner In Tyler
We are all Thankful for Thanksgiving. It's the traditions and hours spent in the kitchen that make it a such "chicken soup for the soul." But with all the traditions and endless menu planning and coordinating schedules with extended family we all get worn out. This year maybe consider taking some of the pressure off of yourself and treat yourself to a day out of the kitchen and enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal at a restaurant.
Epic Baseball Fails – Our Top Five [VIDEO]
Keith Allison, Flickr
Go Rangers! Let's hear it for our boys who eliminated the Los Angeles Angels from the play off race last night! W
Best Ever Baseball Songs – Our Top Five
This week our beloved Texas Rangers finished yet another great season — to show our support we found the top baseball theme songs. We want another year like last year — but where they win the World Series. It doesn'
Signs That Fall Is Officially Here
Texas really has three seasons which are spring, two doses of summer and fall. After the long hot summer we all start looking for the signs of fall — mainly because we want to escape the mind bending heat. Sur
Cowboys 9/11 Game Will Be 'A Special Moment'
Tonight's opening game between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Jets will be a special game not only because we are all eager to start the 2011 NFL season but because of the emotionally charged 9/11 anniversary. Check out the video telling us how some of the Cowboy players remember 9/11 after the jump.
How To Help The Brave East Texas Firefighters [UPDATE]
Local East Texas Fire Departments in need of supplies. (i.e Gatorade, water, fruit, etc etc). As you know we have many hard working men and women out fighting the wild fires that are endangering lives and destroying everything in it's path. We have been able to contact a few local area fire departments and have a list of where you can drop off some much needed supplies.
How To Be Prepared For A Fire Evacuation
With the fires still burning in our listening area we got with officials from Red Cross to help you be ready in the event of an evacuation from your home
Best BBQ in Tyler – Stanley's BBQ
Barbeque is serious business here in Texas. Don't think that throwing a chunk of meat on a grill is the same as BBQ'ing. Barbequing is a method of cooking meat in a slow, well marinated, rubbed charcoal/wood smoked way to enhance the flavor and tenderize the meat. Anyone new to Tyler or visiting needs to treat themselves to the array of flavors at Stanly's BBQ will stun the unsuspecting taste buds of all patrons. Taste tidbits after the jump.


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Plano Citizens Academy
Plano Citizens Academy
To allow Plano residents to experience a year within the life cycle of the city. The twelve month program will highlight a variety of programs, facilities and services at the actual times they are happening. As a Community Engagement program for the City of Plano, the Plano Citizens Academy will teach the basic roles and functions of municipal government through in-person simulations, tours and activities, as well as, online lectures of selected departments to educate and engage residents on council and city staff's responsibilities throughout the year.
Applications are now open.
Click here
to apply.
Program size will be set at no more than forty participants to ensure a manageable, engaged and select group. Our focus is to create a group that is as diverse and dynamic as our community. The selection process will be mindful of applicants interested in pursuing the Citizens Fire and Police academies also.
Application submission will begin August 1, 2016 and be closed on September 20, 2016.
Acceptance letters will be sent out on Sept 30th, 2016 along with the program itinerary, class schedule, and expectations.
Each month we will meet up in predetermined areas in the city for an hour and a half to two hours. The classes will be set after regular work hours or on the weekends for your convenience.
At these classes, participants will be learning about services like the Police's bomb squad, Emergency Management's disaster kits, and Plano's Animal Shelter.
The tentative schedule for 2016-17
October 13, 2016: 6:30-8 PM
October 18, 2016: 6:30-8 PM
November 8, 2016: 6:30-8 PM
December 6, 2016: 6:30-8:30 PM
January 12, 2017: 6:30-8 PM
February 4, 2017: 9-10:15 AM
March 2, 2017: 6:30-8 PM
Late April (Saturday Morning Day of Service with Love Where You Live)
May 18, 2017: 6:30-8 PM
June 13, 2017: 6:30-8:30 PM
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Posts Tagged 'chain'
Maina's Blue Velvet Dress, Nike Air Escape Sneakers & Tsumori Chisato Clutch
College student with gray pigtails, magenta eyebrows & eye-catching blue velvet dress.
Geometric Print Dress vs. Drawstring Top & Leggings in Harajuku
Girl with braids in geometric dress and guy in unique drawstring top with Limi Feu bag.
Japanese Girls w/ Fun Sunglasses in Harajuku
A pair of friendly girls with whimsical style that includes novelty sunglasses.
Cruella Deville Hair, Beret & Tight ANAP Skirt
Cute girl with two-tone hair in a Fun top with appliqué and tight striped ANAP skirt.
Blonde Japanese Couple in Happi Coats in Harajuku
Stylish couple in mix of traditional Japanese clothing and modern pieces.
Double-Breasted Trench vs. Nautical Stripes & Denim
Friendly girls with casual style including nautical striped dress, trench coat & sandals.
Rocking Horse Shoes, Pink TutuHA Cross & SPANK! in Harajuku
Japanese girl in denim jacket with Spank! button, TutuHa necklace, rocking horse shoes & lingerie-style dress.
Black Leather, Massive Chain & Algonquins Tutu
Cute student with hair buns and bows in polka dot skirt and motorcycle jacket.
Graphic Pants & Plush Chubby Jacket
Girl in Harajuku in short plush jacket and pink ballet flats.
Comme des Garcons vs. Sailor Moon & Southpaw
Guy in clothing from Comme des Garcons and girl in handmade remake outfit.


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Q&A: Omar Sheika
By Kurt Wolfheimer
On Friday night at the Cedar Gardens in Hamilton, New Jersey, light heavyweight sensation Omar Sheika (29-9, 20 KOs) will continue his quest for the elusive world title that has been just beyond his grasp. Sheika, The 2003 & 2004 ESPN fighter of the year will face the always dangerous Jim "Steel Chin" Strohl (27-8, 21 KOs). Fightnews had the opportunity to speak with Sheika as he prepared for his toughest fight of his comeback.
Omar, how are you?
I feel great everything and I am in great shape for the Friday night fight and I am ready to go and excited for the fight.
How has your training gone for your fight with Jim Strohl?
Everything has gone as planned and I have sparred with a lot tough fighters. Guys like Jason Escalera (8-0, 7 KOs) have really me prepared for anything.
What do you know about your opponent on Friday night, Jim "Steel Chin" Strohl?
I know that he is a big puncher who has scored a lot of knockouts.
You have looked really good on your comeback including a fourth round stoppage of heavy handed Garrett Wilson in your last bout. What is driving you on this comeback?
I want another crack at a world title. I think I should get a shot by the end of the year. I told Nedal Abuhumoud, my promoter and he is keeping me busy and that is the whole idea. I see a lot of fighters out there in the light heavyweight division that I could fight and there are a lot of good things that can happen for me.
In your last bout, you fought a big puncher in Garrett Wilson; does your strategy change as you fight a more experienced Strohl?
Not really, because I don't know much about him except that he can punch. I am going to try and jab more and throw more combinations, which I have been working on. He is a tough guy and this is the kind of fight that you could lose if you are not prepared for anything.
For those who may be seeing you for the first time on Friday night, how would you describe your style for them?
I am basically the type of fighter that likes to get the knockout.
How has signing with Nedal helped your career?
Nedal is a very good guy. He has kept me busy. I have two fights in three months and that is the whole idea which is to get me back in the ratings. I don't want to be the fighter that fights once a year and when the world title shot come that I won't be sharp. I want to be ready when that shot comes and Nedal is helping me to stay sharp and ready for when that time comes.
In closing, do you have anything to say to your fans?
I just ask that they come out and support me. I am prepared and ready to give 110%. It should be a great fight so I don't think you want to miss this one.


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|Community Based Outpatient Clinic and Primary Care Clinic Reviews at Syracuse VA Medical Center, Syracuse, New York
|Report Number:
|Issue Date:
|Auburn, NY
Binghamton, NY
Cortland, NY
Massena, NY
Oswego, NY
Rome, NY
Watertown, NY
|VA Office:
|Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
|Report Author:
|Office of Healthcare Inspections
|Report Type:
|CBOC Reports
|Release Type:
|The VA Office of Inspector General reviewed the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and primary care clinics (PCCs) of the Syracuse VA Medical Center. The purpose of the review was to determine whether the CBOCs and PCCs provide safe, consistent and high-quality health care for our veterans. The review covered the clinical care components of alcohol use disorder and medication management and evaluated if processes were in place for designated women's health providers to maintain proficiency in women's health. We also randomly selected the Oswego, NY, and Watertown, NY, CBOCs for site visits during the week of November 18, 2013, to evaluate the environments of care. OIG noted opportunities for improvement and made five recommendations in the following reviews: Alcohol Use Disorder, Medication Management, and Environment of Care.


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Indian art show tackles Gandhi, war and poverty
By Mike Collett-White
LONDON (Reuters Life!) - A new exhibition of art from India at Charles Saatchi's London gallery tackles issues including poverty, the environment, war, religion and the region of Kashmir disputed by Pakistan.
"The Empire Strikes Back: Indian Art Today," which runs from Friday until May 7 and is free, follows similar surveys of art from China, the Middle East and the United States which have attracted more than a million visitors to the new gallery.
It brings together 26 artists, mostly from India but a handful from neighboring Pakistan, who are either still working in their native countries or have moved abroad to the United States, Britain and South Korea.
The Saatchi Gallery said Indian art has begun to thrive in galleries in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore, and is increasingly reflecting political and social issues that come with rapid economic expansion in the world's largest democracy.
"They are certainly not purely decorative works which fit in with our notion of Indian art, which is of beautiful miniature paintings, for example," said Rebecca Wilson, associate director of the Saatchi Gallery.
"This is showing a whole other side of India and it's not surprising that the artists are engaging with things to do with migration, poverty, slums and refuse," she added.
Wilson said that Saatchi, one of the world's most influential art collectors, had been buying works from India for several years and felt he now had enough quality pieces to make up a show.
"With China and now India becoming more significant on the global stage, growing as powers in their own right with booming economies, our attention is on these countries. Continued...


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DotA 2 Lina - new year theme by MilliganVickWatch
©2013-2017 MilliganVick
Lil bit late)
Lill as Lina
photo by me
Lill as Lina
photo by me
Very beautiful model. You sure have good taste in choosing them
Такая Лина мне по душе awesome photo!
God, i think i love her. i love your Work. greetings from Chile
Nice! I like it! Even though it's no longer Christmas.
Лина как всегда жгучая) Все ваши работы изумительны) 5 баллов просто)
What equipment did you use?
Awesome photo btw.
Awesome photo btw.
Thank you!)
Oh, I don't have really good equipment, I'm using Canon 450 body and Canon 50mm 1.8 lens
Oh, I don't have really good equipment, I'm using Canon 450 body and Canon 50mm 1.8 lens
The nifty 50's are awesome lenses IMO. Use mine all the time and it doubles as a macro with extension tubes (I am so cheap). I still have a canon 30D myself; a fossil in comparison. XD
Прекрасная работа!
Как всегда, впрочем
Как всегда, впрочем
i'm breathless right now!


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The NFL is set to unveil its 2011 regular-season schedule in the coming days, despite the gloom forecast by the ongoing lockout.
So far, other than the Green Bay Packers' hosting the opening night game in the tradition of Super Bowl champions, the new slate of games is entirely a mystery.
The league has not confirmed details about the unveiling. But last year the league revealed the schedule two days prior to the draft. If it follows that same timetable, the schedule release could occur this year on April 26.
NFL officials have said they intend to move forward with their full planning routine for the 2011 season with the expectation that the labor standoff will be resolved and no games will be missed. Last week, the NFL unveiled its preseason schedule, which produced more bickering between the league and the NFL Players Association about which side shares more blame for the lockout.
But even if the games can only be considered "maybes" at this point, the schedule will emerge. And USA TODAY's Sean Leahy looks at what to expect for some of the season's marquee games:
Opening night opponent? The Packers will host the opener on Thursday, Sept. 8, at Lambeau Field as they celebrate the Super Bowl XLV title. Count on either the Bears or the Saints being there with them. It's likely the NFL will want to match up two TV-friendly teams, so the Lions, Bucs, Rams and Broncos can all likely be eliminated as contenders. Of the other four other opponents on Green Bay's home schedule, the Vikings -- in their post-Brett Favre era -- are the easiest to cross out. The Raiders, with the giant national following, have an outside shot. (They did appear in the 2005 opener at New England.) But the Saints, who won Super Bowl XLIV, and Bears, who lost to the Packers in the NFC title game last year, offer the biggest sizzle. It's probably 50-50 odds on which team draws the opening night assignment, but the bet here is it's New Orleans, which would allow the NFL to promote the Drew Brees-vs.-Aaron Rodgers matchup as it seeks to deflect the sting still felt by fans recovering from the lockout.
The 9-11 game? Most of the NFL will open the season on Sunday, Sept. 11, with the league paying tribute to the 10-year anniversary of the deadly terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. The Giants' once-a-quadrennial matchup with the Jets seems like a shoo-in for the Sunday night stage here. It would be televised nationally by NBC from Meadowlands Stadium, where the invisible shadow cast by the Twin Towers still looms large.
Super Bowl rematches: While the Packers and Steelers won't meet to fight Super Bowl XLV over again, the teams featured in the previous three Super Bowls all will meet for the first time since their championship faceoffs. The Giants will visit the Patriots, the Steelers travel to play the Cardinals and the Colts head down to see the Saints. Expect the Giants-Patriots matchup (particularly with those teams' strong TV reach) and the Colts-Saints faceoff (with the likely matchup of superstar QBs in the still-unsigned Peyton Manning vs. Drew Brees) to land in national TV windows.
Vick back to Atlanta: For the first time since becoming the Eagles' starting QB, Michael Vick will lead the team into Atlanta, his former home before going to prison for a federal dogfighting conviction. The Falcons, who are still a creditor in Vick's bankruptcy problems, have moved on with Matt Ryan at QB. But the return to Atlanta -- where Vick scored a TD in a relief role in a 2009 game -- will be symbolic of Vick's rise to prominence again. Expect a national TV window for this game too.
Sibling rivalries: New 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh will lock horns with his brother, Ravens coach John Harbaugh, in his first season. The 49ers will travel east for the game, which seems like a good bet for a Monday or a Thursday night national TV audience. That won't be the only fraternal faceoff, however, as Jets coach Rex Ryan will welcome his brother, new Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, into the Meadowlands. That game could gain national exposure too, although more for the TV appeal of the Cowboys in the New York market.
Jets-Patriots: Rex Ryan will find his way onto the national TV schedule often, and perhaps in no bigger spotlight than his two games against the archrival Patriots. The Jets danced in Foxborough in January when they sent the 14-2 Patriots home with an early playoff exit. The usual bravado and intensity surrounding this rivalry will only be heightened by the memory of the Jets' last win. The Jets and Patriots play twice; expect one matchup on either Sunday or Monday night and another in CBS' late-afternoon national TV window.
Yearly favorites: When the slate of national TV games is revealed, expect to see a heavy dose of the teams normally seen there (such as the Cowboys, Eagles, Patriots and Packers). Why? Because that's who America tunes in for. Of the NFL's 19 most-watched games last season, those four teams were involved in 53% of the matchups. So expect games such as Giants-Cowboys, Colts-Patriots, Eagles-Cowboys, Steelers-Ravens and Packers-Bears to appear regularly in the NFL's biggest TV windows.
The wild cards: Normally when the schedule is assembled, the NFL has some idea of the veteran player movement that could produce premier games the following season. Donovan McNabb's trade to the Redskins, for example, occurred about three weeks before last year's schedule was announced. But this year, with player movement forbidden during the lockout, veterans such as Vince Young, McNabb and Carson Palmer remain in limbo. If Palmer eventually forces a trade to the QB-hungry 49ers, for example, their trip into Cincinnati would hold much more TV appeal than it currently does.
Nate Davis is a reporter, blogger and editor who's been at USA TODAY since 2000. He has covered the NFL since 2005. No, he did not play quarterback for Ball State. Davis' succession of our esteemed colleague Sean Leahy at The Huddle is considered a Brady-for-Bledsoe swap by most "insiders."More about Nate


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|Sport, 1 pitch, 40'
|YDS: 5.10b French: 6a+ Ewbanks: 19 UIAA: VII- ZA: 19 British: E2 5b [details]
|J. Tully and A. Larsen
|Page Views:
|Submitted By:
|JohnT on Sep 16, 2010
|Comments on Hells Bells
|Add Comment
|Show which comments —
By the professor
Jun 7, 2013
rating: 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
|Some big flakes have broken off above the 5th bolt. A 5.10+ detour to the right is now necessary. This makes for a tricky undercling traverse to regain the line at the last bolts.
By Lazyclimber
Sep 24, 2013
|No flakes have broken off as I saw them removed when the guy put the route up. I climbed it the same week he finished it.
By J.T.R.
Sep 25, 2013
rating: 5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
|I agree with the professor. There is definitely a large flake missing. I don't think it makes it harder with the flake gone. It just gives you one choice as far as which way to go.
By J.T.R.
Sep 26, 2013
rating: 5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
|Thanks John! I appreciate your time and dedication to the area!
By Joncharlesdavis
May 23, 2015
rating: 5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
|I pulled rock off trying to go right/straight up once the ledge is gained easier-safer to go left and seems to stay on route.


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German Shepherd Dog Forums (http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum/)
- Pictures! Pictures! Pictures! (http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum/pictures-pictures-pictures/)
- - Finally, no more leash biting!! (http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum/pictures-pictures-pictures/400025-finally-no-more-leash-biting.html)
Finally, no more leash biting!!
3 Attachment(s)
Mishka is so happy about the toy daddy got her, that she forgot all about biting her leash! She won't put it down.... Maybe this is one she won't destroy. Attachment 170401Attachment 170409Attachment 170417
Sent from Petguide.com Free App
Cute pup-hope the toy survives
1 Attachment(s)
Those were one of Jasmine's favorite toys, in both that size and the next size smaller. Unfortunately she likes to chew them as much as she does chase and catch them, and as she got older would chew through them far too quickly ... I still have a pile of them in various states of destruction in the back yard actually, lol.
If that becomes the case with your pup there are a couple other balls made by the same company that I've found to be much more durable. The ones we have been using for the last year or so are these:
Very cute pup, by the way!
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|November 11th, 2005, 09:49 AM
formerly square eyed rio
Join Date: 11-07-05
Location: Howell
Posts: 549
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adder to Vet's day "what is a Veteran"
I just got this e mailed to me and thought it was fitting for today.
What is a vet?
He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel.
He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.
She or he-is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.
He is the POW who went away one person and came back another-or didn't come back AT ALL.
He is the Quantico drill instructor who has never seen combat-but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.
He is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.
He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.
He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep.
He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket-palsied now and aggravatingly slow-who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.
He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being-a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.
He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.
So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You. That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.
Two little words that mean a lot, "THANK YOU."
Remember November 11th is Veterans Day!
"It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag."
Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
|November 11th, 2005, 10:59 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: 11-05-05
Location: West Bloomfield, MI
Posts: 9,604
iTrader: (17)
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
How about this one...
He is the poor guy getting ****ed over by the country that he served as they continue to close VA hospitals all over the country.
That **** makes me sick...
|November 11th, 2005, 03:58 PM
formerly square eyed rio
Join Date: 11-07-05
Location: Howell
Posts: 549
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
I did not vote the liberals in who are taking the money away ..and I have spent time in a VA hospital and witnessed some crazy stuff.
You are part of the country who is F ing him over stand up and make a point ...or like many just b!tch about it on the internet . I am a life member with DAV and I've donated a fair amount of money to help my fellow disabled veterans .
If you arent part of the solution then you are part of the problem !!!
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I love working with new designers. In fact, I spend most of my time mentoring new designers through my ebook, business critique service, and blog. One of the most common questions I get from up and coming designers is this:
"Should I start out freelancing or start by working at an agency?"
It's a great question and can be a pretty difficult one to answer, but today, I want to offer some pros and cons for both freelancing first and joining an agency first.
After you read through my list of pros and cons, please leave a comment on this post and tell me what you think: which is better, starting as a freelancer or starting at a design agency?
Starting your design career as a freelancer
Possibly the most common decision by designers who hope to make a livelihood from design is to start your design career as a freelancer.
Let's explore both sides of the issue:
Pros of starting out as a freelancer
First, we'll start with the pros of being a freelance designer.
You build a name for yourself
A great reason to start freelancing first is to build a name for yourself as a designer. When freelancing, you get all the credit for all the design work that happens for your clients. When you do good work, your clients refer you to others and come back for more. When working for an agency, you're building their name and reputation.
You decide your income, hours, clients, etc.
As a freelancer, you have a little more liberty when it comes to your pay rate, your weekly work hours, the clients you work for, and the project you work on.
I remember when I started as a designer, I worked for an agency and it sickened me to fill out a time sheet knowing that our clients were being billed ten times the amount of money I was getting paid. Additionally, I frequently had to work on projects for clients I wasn't passionate about.
You decide how fast your business grows
Starting as a freelancer could ultimately turn into growing a business as well. When starting out as a freelance designer, you have the luxury of deciding how quickly your business grows, who to hire (or not hire), when to increase prices, and more! The control is completely yours.
Cons of starting out as a freelancer
Next, we'll look at the down side of freelancing first.
You have to do the work of finding clients
You may want to simply be a designer. And that's great. If you don't want the hassle of finding clients and managing their expectations, don't start out as a freelancer. It's a sacrifice all freelance designers make: usually spending more time finding and working directly with clients than actually designing.
Your paycheck relies entirely on your ability to find and keep clients
Not only do you have to find clients, you have to continually impress them beyond anything they've seen before in order to justify your paycheck. If you lose one client, you have to immediately find another so that your income doesn't take a turn for the worst.
That's why I always recommend that freelance designers find a few key ways to make passive income.
You have to manage a business in addition to being a designer
Lastly, if you're the kind of designer who hates finances, client management, or clocking in, I wouldn't recommend the freelance-first route. Being a freelancer also means being an accountant, an account executive, a secretary, the customer service representative, the facilities manager, the payroll clerk, and the list goes on and on.
Be prepared to manage a business if you decide to freelance first.
Starting your design career at an agency
Even though most designers try to start out freelancing, there's nothing wrong with trying out an agency first.
Let's explore both sides of the issue:
Pros of starting out at a design agency
First, we'll start with the pros of starting your design career working for an agency:
You get to design all day long
One of the most enticing aspects of working for a design agency is that you get to design all day long. Since the company you work for is taking care of all the details of finding clients, managing finances, and handling customer service, you get to spend all day every day doing what you love: design. If you love sitting at your computer all day with a Wacom tablet by your side, then joining a design agency is definitely the route for you!
You work with other designers who teach and mentor you
Another great aspect of working with an agency is the mentorship and help you get from fellow designers. Most likely, they've been designing longer than you have and can offer serious help, insights, and guidance to help make you a better designer.
You don't have to work directly with rude or inconsiderate clients
Lastly, one great advantage of starting at an agency is you don't have to learn how to deal with rude or inconsiderate clients right out of the gate. Instead, you get to watch your boss work with clients. This allows you to learn from them, form your own strategies and learn what makes a good client and a bad one. Again, you get to spend most of your time designing instead of communicating with clients.
Cons of starting out at a design agency
There are also a few down sides of working at an agency first. A few of them include:
You get paid significantly less per hour
One real downer of working for a design agency is that you get paid significantly less per hour than if you worked on your own.
Granted, the work is more steady, so your weekly total could be higher, but for some designers it's hard to know that you're only earning a fraction of the income the client is paying for your work.
Your boss decides who your clients are, what projects you work on, and when
Working at an agency, you also have little say on who your clients are, what projects you work on and what your hours are. You don't get to turn down a project because you don't agree with the company's standards or point of view which means you might end up designing materials for politicians you don't see eye to eye with, companies who do things you don't agree with, or project that simply bore you.
The final results don't belong to you or carry your name
The last down side of working with an agency is that once you're done at the agency, none of your hard work follows you. Sure, you can take your portfolio with you. Sure, you can get some references, but the bulk of the good name and reputation you spent time building get attributed to the company you've worked for.
Will you freelance first or join an agency first?
Now that we've explored both sides of the issue, which choice are you going to make? Will you be a freelance designer first or join an agency first? Leave a comment and let's talk about it!


text:
THIS is the moment a train carrying military equipment smashes into a truck stuck on tracks.
A motorist shot the explosive accident in California on the weekend.
He was waiting at the rail crossing, saw the stranded truck and started taking video.
The video shows the truck driver walking down the tracks, frantically waving his arms to stop the train, but the train kept on coming.
The instant the train hit, the trailer of the truck exploded, sending its cargo flying.
Fortunately, the driver had left the truck and no-one was injured.
The truck was carrying boxes of trail mix.
However the nearly mile-long Union Pacific train was carrying military equipment — including several tanks — when it hit the truck in Chowchilla on Sunday.
Labels on the vehicles indicated they were being shipped from Ft. Lewis, Washington, to Fort Irwin, California, in the Mojave Desert, ABC 30 reports.
The train was not damaged, and was able to move down the track within a couple of hours after the incident.
An investigation is underway into the accident.


text:
Tata out shopping early in the day, too, evidence shows
Kids may have been left several times on day of fatal day care fire
Updated 10:57 pm, Thursday, October 25, 2012
She was at Target, shopping while the babies burned. That's what Jessica Tata is accused of doing the afternoon of Feb. 24, 2011, when she left seven children alone at her west Houston home day care, with a pot of oil burning on the stove.
The house caught fire, killing four children and injuring three others.
But new evidence presented at Tata's murder trial on Thursday shows that the 24-year-old woman may have left the children alone multiple times that day on shopping trips.
Jurors were shown several of Tata's receipts, one at 7:46 a.m. that morning from Gold Star Donuts on Richmond and another from 7:58 a.m. from Walmart, where she purchased groceries including hot dogs, a bag of grapes and habanero peppers. That was almost an hour after parents dropped their kids off at her day care.
A Walmart security specialist testified Thursday that close-up video of Tata's minivan, which she parked in the emergency lane in front of the store, did not seem to show anyone else in the vehicle.
Store videos
And the jury saw two store videos, one at Walmart in the morning and one in the afternoon at Target with Tata shopping alone. The oft-mentioned Target surveillance videos and a receipt from the time the fire broke out at Tata's day care show that she spent about 20 minutes in the store. Tata is seen walking into the store around 1:05 p.m, checking out at 1:18 p.m., walking to the connected Starbucks, then leaving through the exit around 1:22 p.m. Desynick McCullough, a Target manager who reviewed the tapes, testified that she did not appear to be in a rush.
The defense also showed jurors video from the day of the fire. Tata used a cellphone to take a short video of getting the children up from a nap on the floor of the main room of the day care and putting them in her minivan. Three-year-old Shomari Leon Dickerson, 20-month-old Kendyll Stradford, 19-month-old Elizabeth Kajoh and 16-month-old Elias Castillo, who were killed in the fire hours later, can be seen wandering, crying and laughing.
Crying, confusion
One of the children on the video who survived, Da'John Ashley, can be seen crying, then being gently scolded by Tata.
His mother, April Jackson, testified about the confusing situation at the hospital where the children were taken. Jackson finally found her son in a hospital bed waiting to be taken to Shriner's burn hospital in Galveston.
Her voice cracked when she testified about seeing her son swaddled in bandages after the fire.
"He was just lying there," she said. "They had him completely covered, and he was sedated."
Mike DeGeurin, Tata's lawyer, asked few questions of the victims' parents on cross-examination, but he did ask each of the survivor's parents if they were told Tata helped bring the children out.
DeGeurin is expected to ask the jury to find that Tata made a mistake that became a horrible accident.
Prosecutors will ask the jury to convict her of felony murder, which means she committed the felony of child abandonment that caused a death, and sentence her to life in prison.
Tata, who fled to Nigeria after the fire, has been jailed on more than $1 million in bail since she was captured and returned to the U.S. The trial, in state District Judge Marc Brown's court, is expected to take about a month.


text:
Cultured cardiac explants produce a heterogeneous population of cells including a distinctive population of refractile cells described here as small round cardiac explant derived cells (EDCs). The aim of this study was to explore the source, morphology and cardiogenic potential of EDCs.
Transgenic MLC2v-Cre/ZEG, and actin-eGFP mice were used for lineage-tracing of EDCs in vitro and in vivo. C57B16 mice were used as cell transplant recipients of EDCs from transgenic hearts, as well as for the general characterisation of EDCs. The activation of cardiac-specific markers were analysed by: immunohistochemistry with bright field and immunofluorescent microscopy, electron microscopy, PCR and RT-PCR. Functional engraftment of transplanted cells was further investigated with calcium transient studies.
Production of EDCs was highly dependent on the retention of blood-derived cells or factors in the cultured explants. These cells shared some characteristics of cardiac myocytes in vitro and survived engraftment in the adult heart in vivo. However, EDCs failed to differentiate into functional cardiac myocytes in vivo as demonstrated by the absence of stimulation-evoked intracellular calcium transients following transplantation into the peri-infarct zone.
Citation: Shenje LT, Field LJ, Pritchard CA, Guerin CJ, Rubart M, Soonpaa MH, et al. (2008) Lineage Tracing of Cardiac Explant Derived Cells. PLoS ONE 3(4): e1929. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0001929
Editor: Suzannah Rutherford, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, United States of America
Received: November 23, 2007; Accepted: February 20, 2008; Published: April 16, 2008
Copyright: © 2008 Shenje et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Funding: Bristol Myer Squib Cardiovascular Prize Fellowship 2003 (LTS)
Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
The identification and isolation of adult cardiac stem cells offers the possibility of developing new treatment strategies for heart disease. It has recently been reported that cells derived from cultured adult human and murine explants have cardiogenic potential[1]. Understanding the biological characteristics of these cardiac explant derived cells would be important in order to gain a better insight of their role in maintaining cardiac function and their therapeutic potential as cardiac progenitors for myocardial repair.
Previous studies have reported that cardiac explant derived cells express markers of stem cells[1], [2]. They showed that after production of a layer of fibroblast-like cells, cultured adult mouse cardiac explants produced cardiogenic small, round "phase bright" cells after 2 to 3 weeks in culture. These results were replicated with biopsies of cultured human cardiac explants[3]. The cells were clonogenic and could be expanded in vitro to form cardiospheres, providing the possibility of scalable production for myocardial repair for clinical trials. Following transplantation in experimental models of myocardial infarction, the explant-derived cells differentiated into cardiac myocytes accompanied by an improvement in cardiac function[1], [3]. Additional evidence also shows that stem-like cells derived from cultured cardiac explants improved vascularisation of the injured myocardium[2].
To expand upon these interesting results, we sought to define the source, morphology and cardiogenic potential of a highly refractile population of small, round cardiac explant derived cells, termed here as EDCs, and using different lineage-tracing techniques in vitro and in vivo.
Characteristics of Cultured Cardiac Explants in vitro
Mouse cardiac muscle obtained from the ventricles of 8–12 week old C57Bl6 mice were diced into small explants and cultured. After a week in culture, the explants became adherent to the culture substrate, the surface becoming smooth and lined by a fibroblast-like layer of cells. From the second week onwards, proliferating fibroblast-like cells migrated radially away from the explants. During the same period, a highly refractile population of small round EDCs, began to bud vigorously through the smooth surface of the explants, forming colonies of EDCs interspersed by fibroblast-like cells. Figure 1a shows the appearance of a typical explant after 3 weeks in culture. Histochemical analyses revealed the presence of eosinophilic anuclear remnants of cardiomyocytes in the centre of the explants (Figure 1b). The fibroblast-like cells lining the surface of the cultured explant were positive for smooth muscle actin (Figure 1c, blue arrows). Only four percent of the EDCs incorporated BrdU after 6 hrs of labelling (data not shown). The formation of EDCs from the explants could be inhibited by cytarabinoside (a cell cycle inhibitor), but resumed when the cytarabinoside was withdrawn.
(a) Phase contrast image of numerous highly refractile EDCs (white arrows) from a mouse ventricular explant (green arrows) in culture for 3 weeks (scale bar, 100 microns). (b) Hematoxylin and eosin staining of a mouse ventricular explant in culture for 3 weeks showing that the explant has an eosinophilic core of anuclear myocyte remnants and a new region of basophilic cells in the periphery (scale bar, 100 microns). (c) Explants were stained for the presence of smooth muscle actin and counterstained with hematoxylin. EDCs, which do not express smooth muscle actin (black arrows) bud through an epithelial-like layer of fibroblast-like cells (blue arrowheads) that express smooth muscle actin (DAB brown) to reach the surface of the explant (scale bar, 20 microns).
Transmission Electron Microscopy (EM) was employed to further characterise the EDCs. EDCs exhibited multiple electron dense sub-cellular structures in the cytoplasm and numerous fine pseudopodia (Fig 2a). Cells with identical ultrastructural attributes were observed on the surface as well as just within the explant tissue (Figure 2b), and frequently were found to be closely opposed to fibroblast at the edge of the explants (Figure 2c). Similar cells were also present within the core of the culture explants (Figure 2d). EDC-like cells within the explant interstitium exhibit a large number of dense intercellular inclusions (Figure 2e–f).
(a) EDCs have numerous electron dense cytoplasmic structures (white arrowheads) and pseudopodia (scale bar, 2 microns). (b) View at the surface of a cardiac explant reveals numerous EDCs (black arrows) on the surface and immediately within the explant (scale bar, 5 microns). (c) An EDC (black arrow) near an epithelial-like cell (blue arrow) adjacent to the surface of a cultured cardiac explant after 3 weeks in culture (scale bar 5 microns). (d) Cells with ultrastructural attributes identical to EDCs are present deep within the cultured explants (scale bar, 20 microns). (e) EDC-like cells within the explant interstitium exhibit a large number of dense intercellular inclusions and presumptive lysosomes (scale bar, 20 microns). (f) is the insert from figure 2e (scale bar, 5 microns).
RT-PCR analyses were performed to determine if EDCs expressed cardiac-specific markers. Transcripts encoding GATA4 were detected, but not MyoD, nor ANF transcripts (Figure 3a). The transcriptional factor for NKx2.5 was also undetected (data not shown). Expression of other markers was examined by immune histochemistry. EDCs were stained positive for the mesenchymal marker vimentin (Figure 3b) and α-sarcomeric actinin (Figure 3c), but were negative for the endothelial cell marker von-Willebrand factor and the pericyte marker NG2. Furthermore, they did not express the stem cell markers stem cell antigen (Sca-1) or c-kit (see figure S1). To determine if the EDCs were present in the myocardial interstitium, blood was flushed out of the hearts by retrograde perfusion on a Langendorff apparatus for approximately three minutes at room temperature. Migrating EDCs were observed in only one of 498 explants tested from the perfused hearts (n = 4 mice, see Figure 4), suggesting that EDCs might be blood borne. The observed attributes of the EDCs (i.e., delayed appearance of a highly refractile population of small cells following fibroblast outgrowth, and partial activation of a cardiomyogenic program) were consistent with other studies describing cardiomyogeic stem cells from explanted heart tissue[1]–[3].
(a) RT PCR analysis of EDCs gene expression: Transcripts encoding GATA-4 were detected by no MyoD and ANF transcripts. (b and c) Vimentin and α-sarcomeric actinin immune reactivity, respectively, in cultured EDCs (b-scale bar, 5 microns; c -scale bar, 20 microns).
Colonies of EDCs were quantified as a percentage of the total of explants per culture dish (one dish per heart, n = 4 hearts/group). *: p<0.05 vs. the non-perfused explant group.
Cardiomyogenic Lineage Tracing in EDCs using a Transgenic Reporter Model
A binary, conditional, cardiac restricted transgenic reporter system, the double heterozygous MLC2v-Cre/ZEG reporter mouse, was employed for cardiac specific lineage tracing. In the MLC2v-Cre mouse, the promoter of the ventricular isoform of myosin light chain drives the expression of cre-recombinase exclusively in ventricular cardiac myocytes[4]. Cre-recombinase recognises and excises lox-p sites in DNA. In the ZEG reporter mouse, the ZEG transgene results in the expression of ß-galactosidase (LAC Z) by most tissues via a ß-geo insert[5], which is flanked by lox-p sites. Hence in the MLC2v-Cre/ZEG reporter mouse, the presence of cre-recombinase results in the excision of the ß-geo, activating the constitutional expression of GFP in the ventricular myocytes. On the other hand, non-myocytes express LAC Z. In MLC2v-Cre/ZEG double-transgenic mice, the vast majority (94±0.5%) of ventricular cardiomyocytes expressed eGFP (n = 3) due to the cardiomyocyte-restricted Cre recombinase as evidenced by the presence of anti-GFP immune reactivity (Figure 5a–b).
(a) Demonstration of GFP immune reactivity in fresh uncultured heart tissue from MLC2v-Cre/ZEG hearts. Signal was developed with a nickel-enhanced DAB-reaction (blue/black; scale bar, 10 microns). (b) Minus anti-body negative control for the image shown in panel a. (c) Cultured cardiac explants from MLC2v-Cre/ZEG mice were stained simultaneously with the chromogenic dye X-gal (generates a blue signal in the presence of beta-galactosidase) and with nuclear fast red counterstain. The spindle-shaped fibroblast-like cells were beta-galactosidase positive (blue arrows) whilst the EDCs were beta-galactosidase negative (scale bar, 20 microns) (d) GFP immune reactivity in EDCs (black arrows). Signal was developed with a nickel-enhanced DAB reaction. Red arrows indicate the edge of the explant (scale bar, 5 microns). (e–f) Phase contrast and fluorescent illumination of the same field of cultured EDCs (scale bar, 100 microns).
Cardiac explants from the MLC2v-Cre/ZEG mice were cultured. Fibroblast-like cells and EDCs were produced in a similar temporal pattern as observed with the non-transgenic hearts above. The interstitial fibroblast-like cells in cultured explants expressed beta-galactosidase as evidenced by blue staining with the chromogenic substrate X-GAL (Fig. 5c, see blue arrows), whilst the budding EDCs did not (black arrows). Anti-GFP immune reactivity was detected in the budding EDCs (Figure 5d) using DAB staining to further confirm that the GFP epi-fluorescence detected in remote EDC colonies, but not in the underlying fibroblast outgrowths (Fig. 5e–f), was not due to autofluorescence.
Collectively, these results suggest that EDCs exhibit a limited number of cardiac attributes. Routine PCR control experiments were performed to confirm that the GFP immune reactivity and epifluorescence resulted from Cre-mediated activation of the ZEG reporter transgene (Figure 6a). Surprisingly, PCR primers designed to amplify a 450 bp fragment specific for the ZEG reporter following Cre-mediated recombination did not give rise to the expected amplification product when using DNA prepared from EDCs (Figure 6b, lanes 1–4), although the product was readily detected with DNA prepared from a freshly obtained MLC2v-Cre/ZEG double-transgenic mouse heart (Figure 6b, lane 9). The recombination-specific amplification product was only faintly detected in the explants (Fig. 6b lanes 5–8) due to selective cardiomyocyte death and ensuing nuclear loss (see Figure 1). In contrast, a 250 bp amplification product corresponding to the non-recombined ZEG allele (Figure 6a) was readily detected in all samples, including the EDCs, indicating that amplification-competent DNA was present (Figure 6c; strong signal was detected with explant DNA due to the survival on non-cardiomyocytes). These results unexpectedly showed that cre-mediated recombination of the ZEG transgene, and, concomitantly, activation of the eGFP reporter, had not occurred in the EDCs, in spite of the presence of GFP immune reactivity and epifluorescence.
(a) Structure of the ZEG reporter transgene before and after Cre recombinase-mediated deletion of the beta-galactosidase encoding sequences (adapted from gttf.uchc.edu/images/Cre%20marker/Slide1.jpg). Blue and black arrows indicate the positions of the PCR amplification primers used to distinguish native (450 bp amplification product) and recombined (450 bp amplification product) transgenes. (b) PCR amplification products using oligonucleotide primers to detect the Cre-mediated recombination event. DNA was from EDCs (lanes 1–4) and their corresponding explants (lanes 5–8), a positive control double transgenic mouse heart (lane 9) and a negative control double transgenic mouse kidney (lane 10). (c) PCR amplification products using oligonucleotide primers to detect the native ZEG reporter transgene. DNA samples were as in panel b.
Additional ultrastructural analyses were performed to ascertain the basis for GFP immune reactivity in EDCs from MLC2v-Cre/ZEG double-transgenic mice. Examination of EDCs within explant tissue at higher magnification revealed structures suggestive of active phagocytosis of mitochondria (Figure 7a, black arrows) and of sarcomeres (Figure 7b, red arrows). This view was supported by anti-GFP immunogold staining, which showed immune reactivity over what appeared to be an endocytic compartment within an EDC (Figure 7c–d). In light of these observations, the EDCs were tested for the presence of leukocyte and macrophage markers. EDCs did not express the pan-leukocyte marker CD45 or the macrophage marker MAC-1 (Figure 7e–h; sections of mouse spleen were used as the positive control).
(a–b) Apparent phagocytosis of cardiac myocyte mitochondria (a; black arrowheads) and sarcomeric structures (b; red arrowheads) by EDC-like cells within the interstitum of a cultured explant from an MLC2v-Cre/ZEG double transgenic mouse heart. (Scale bar, 2 microns). (c–d) Immunogold labelling of GFP in fresh non-cultured MLC2v-Cre/ZEG cardiac tissue (c), and in an endocytic compartment within an interstitial EDC-like cell (d) (Scale bars, 0.5 microns) (e) EDCs did not stain with an anti-CD 45 antibody (signal developed with a nickel-enhanced DAB reaction; scale bars, 20 microns) however (f) mouse spleen germinal centres processed in an identical manner as the EDCs in panel as expected showed a positive signal. (g) EDCs did not react with an anti-MAC-1 antibody (signal developed with a nickel-enhanced DAB reaction; scale bars, 20 microns) however (f) mouse splenic cords processed in an identical manner as the EDCs in panel g; had a positive signal.
EDCs Do Not Differentiate Into Functional Cardiomyocytes in the Injured Heart
Although the data presented above indicate that EDCs do not exhibit substantive spontaneous cardiomyogenic activity in vitro, it remains possible that they might exhibit such activity in the setting of myocardial injury in vivo. To directly address this, EDCs were prepared from cardiac explant cultures of actin-eGFP mice, and transplanted into the peri-infarct border of syngeneic non-transgenic mice following permanent ligation of the coronary artery. Three weeks later, the hearts were harvested, perfused with the calcium sensing dye rhod-2, and subjected to field stimulation for imaging with the Two Photon Molecular Excitation (TPME) Microscopy. Host cardiomyocytes (which exhibited red fluorescence due to the rhod-2 dye) were readily identified by their rod shaped morphology (Figure 8a, left panel). Data acquired in line-scan mode revealed transient increases in rhod-2 fluorescence, indicative of stimulation-evoked intracellular calcium transients (Figure 8a, right panel; the corresponding integrated traces are shown in Figure 8c). The transplanted cells were readily identified by green eGFP fluorescence (Figure 8b, left panel). As can be seen from the line scan data and the corresponding integrated traces (Figure 8b, right panel and Figure 8d, respectively), the eGFP-expressing donor cells lacked intracellular calcium transients, even under field stimulation (n = 3 transplanted hearts, more than 50 individual donor cells were analyzed). These data indicate that, although the donor cells survived for at least 3 weeks following transplantation into injured hearts, they lack structural correlates of myocyte-specific excitation-contraction machinery.
(a) Full-frame TPME image (left panel) and line-scan image of myocardium in the infarct border zone of an engrafted heart. Host cardiomyocytes readily exhibit electrically evoked, synchronized calcium transients in a 1∶1 fashion during field stimulation at 4 Hz. Under these conditions, cardiomyocyte excitation is independent of cell-to-cell action potential propagation. Calcium transients appear as ripple-like wavefronts. Scale bar, 20 microns. (b) Electrical field stimulation of the same heart did not induce calcium transients in eGFP-expressing donor cell-derived cells or in non-expressing cells in an area contiguous to that shown in panel A, suggesting absence of functional cardiomyocytes in this field of view. Note the two horizontal red lines in the left panel which correspond to localized photodamage that had occurred during preceding line scans and are not to be confused with action potential-induced calcium transients. (c–d) Time course of the red (rhod-2) and green (eGFP) fluorescence in host cardiomyocytes (c) and donor-derived cells (d) obtained by spatially averaging the respective line-scans in panels a and b, respectively. No action potential-induced calcium transients were recorded in eGFP-expressing cells, whereas host cardiomyocytes show synchronized transients with identical kinetics.
The EDCs described here share several characteristics of cardiac explant derived progenitors described by other investigators[1]–[3]. In agreement with previous works, EDCs are a distinct population of small, round highly refractile cells which appeared 1–3 weeks after cardiac explants were cultured despite some differences in culture conditions. The appearance of EDCs was also preceded by the formation of a layer of fibroblast-like smooth muscle actin positive cells. Transmission EM analyses revealed the presence of interstitial cells within the explant with ultrastructural attributes very similar to the EDCs, suggesting that these cells track through the interstitium towards surface layer, and then emerge from the explant. Preliminary expression studies detected GATA-4 mRNA (a cardiomyogenic transcription factor) and vimentin and sarcomeric actinin protein, consistent with the cardiomyogenic activity reported for the other explant-derived cells[1], [2].
Given these promising attributes, it was rather disappointing that analyses with the MLC2v-Cre/ZEG reporter system failed to support the presence of cardiomyogenic activity in cultured EDCs (as evidenced by the absence of cre-mediated recombination of the reporter locus). To eliminate confounding effects of autofluorescence, DAB immunostaining was performed with adequate negative controls. There was no background staining where the primary antibody was omitted. Backgound endogenous peroxidase activity was also excluded by peroxidase pre-treatment. The presence of GFP as well as vimentin and sarcomeric actinin immune reactivity, appeared to result from phagocytotic activity. This view was supported by ultrastructural analyses which demonstrated the presence of mitochondria, cardiac myocyte sarcomeric structures, and anti-GFP immunogold staining within the endocytic vesicles of the EDCs. Although the EDCs appeared to exhibit phagocytic activity, they did not express leukocyte or macrophage markers. It is also possible that the observed GFP fluorescence resulted from nanotube formation between EDCs and cardiomyocytes, as was recently reported for cardiomyocyte/endothelial progenitor cell co-cultures[6], although it is unlikely that molecules transported in this manner would localize to endocytic vesicles.
The notion that EDCs are macrophage-like cells is also supported by the observation that explants generated from perfused hearts gave rise to fibroblast-like out-growths but not to EDCs. Thus, the EDCs are more likely to arise from circulating cells which migrated into the heart, rather than from a static component of the cardiac interstitium. A recent study has suggested a similar origin for c-kit+ cardiac progenitors[7]. This idea was further supported by another study, suggesting that hematopoietic progenitor cells trafficked through blood and other peripheral tissues as part of immunosurveillance[8]. The main difference between EDCs & cells described in the latter study[8] is that EDCs did not express c-kit, Sca-1 nor CD45. Although it is possible that the loss of EDCs from perfused heart explants could be due to the wash-out of a requisite growth factor, this is unlikely given the high serum content employed in the culture media.
The absence of electrically-evoked calcium transients in EDCs following transplantation into infarcted hearts provided additional evidence for the lack of cardiomyogenic potential. Since the cell culture techniques used to generate the EDCs was similar to those employed in earlier studies, which obtained positive results[1], [2], it is unlikely that in vitro culturing per se resulted in a loss of cardiomyogenic potential. It is however possible that culturing in suspension (i.e., generation of so-called cardiospheres) is required to unmask cardiomyogenic potential. Indeed, cardiomyogenesis proceeds much more efficiently when ES cells are differentiated in suspension culture rather than in monolayer culture. Regardless of such theoretical activities, the inability of EDCs to form functional myocardium following transplantation into injured hearts strongly argues that their normal activity in vivo does not entail direct cardiomyogenic activity.
The initial observation of GATA-4 transcripts in EDCs from non-transgenic mice and GFP fluorescence in EDCs from MLC2v-Cre/ZEG reporter mice underscores potential difficulties encountered when examining cardiomyogenic differentiation in vitro. In the case of GATA-4 expression, it is noteworthy that previous analyses of mesenchymal derived cells showed partial activation of "myocyte specific" transcription in the absence of cardiomyogenic activity[9], [10]. Thus, transcriptional induction of a limited number of target genes is insufficient evidence of lineage induction. Although phagocytosis offers a ready explanation for the presence of GFP epifluorescence in the absence of reporter gene recombination in EDCs isolated from MLC2v-Cre/ZEG reporter mice, the absence of beta-galactosidase activity is problematic. This phenomenon of failed beta-galactosidase activity in the ZEG mouse lines has been previously described: beta-galactosidase activity was absent in the liver and lungs of ZEG lines, but robust GFP fluorescence was observed following cre-mediated recombination[5]. The author of that study suggested that low or absent expression of β-galactosidase may be an occasional phenomenon related to the poor expression of prokaryotic genes in eukaryotes. A similar mechanism could be at play in our model.
In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that, under our conditions, EDCs are not cardiac progenitors and raises caution about using cells from this source in human clinical trials. This study has also shown that the use of a limited number of parameters may not be sufficient to correctly identify the source and fate of cardiomyogenic progenitor cells.
Materials and Methods
The investigations described in this article conform with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals published by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH Publication No. 85-23, revised 1996).
Transgenic Mice
MLC2v-Cre/ZEG double heterozygous transgenic mice were generated by crossing the MLC2v-Cre mouse (generously provided by Dr C.A. Pritchard) with ZEG reporter mouse (purchased from Jackson laboratories, UK). In addition, actin-eGFP (generously provided by Professor L.J. Field), which ubiquitously express eGFP under the regulation of the beta-actin promoter[11], was also used.
Explant Cultures
Isolated adult mouse hearts were diced into small tissue pieces less than 1 mm3 in size. The explants were vigorously triturated with calcium free Hanks buffered saline solution. The explants were then resuspended and cultured in DMEM HAM /F12 supplemented with 10%FCS and LIF (cardiac explant culture medium). The media was changed every 4 days for up to five weeks.
Mouse Heart Perfusion
Mice were anticoagulated with 200 units of heparin intraperitoneally. Fifteen minutes later animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation, the heart dissected free and the aorta cannulated with the visual aid of a stereomicroscope. In an attempt to determine whether EDCs are cardiac or extra-cardiac, mouse hearts were perfused with a crystal buffered solution immediately after their excision, until no blood could be observed from the coronary sinus; the hearts were then diced into small muscle explants for culture for 3 weeks. The number of colonies of EDCs in a 6cm dish (one dish per heart) was counted and expressed a percentage of the total number of explants cultured (n = 4 hearts for each group). The results from perfused cardiac explants were compared to those of non-perfused cardiac explants cultured for the same period of time.
BRDU Labelling and TUNEL Staining for Apoptosis
EDCs were grown on cover slips and fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde. Fixed cells were labelled with BrDU using a kit according to the manufactures instructions (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Germany).
Cytosine Arabinoside Treatment
Explants were cultured in explant medium containing 5 µM cytosine arabinoside (Sigma, UK), a cell cycle inhibitor for 2 weeks. The controls for these experiments were explants cultured in normal cardiac explant medium. After 2 weeks, the control explants were switched and cultured in media with the cytosine arabinoside, whilst the explants that had been cultured with cytosine arabinoside were crossed over to normal cardiac explant medium.
Microscopy and Immunohistochemistry
Explants fixed in 2–4% paraformaldehyde, were embedded in paraffin and sectioned at 5 µm for H&E staining. EDCs were grown on cover slips and fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde for immunocytochemistry. Fixed explants were cryoprotected in 30% sucrose in PBS overnight, embedded in optimum cutting temperature (OCT) medium and sectioned at a thickness of 10 µm. Primary antibodies used included: smooth muscle actin, vimentin, von Willebrand factor, c-kit (all from Abcam, UK), Sca-1, CD45 (both from Pharmingen, UK), α-sarcomeric actinin (Sigma, UK), MAC 1 and NG2 (both from Chemicon, USA). Secondary staining was performed using appropriate horseradish peroxidase (Zymed Laboratories, USA), Vector Impress and DAB kits (Vector, UK) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Bright field images were acquired using the Leica DM5000b microscope and DSC 400C camera system (Leica Microsystem, UK), and fluorescent images were obtained using the Zeiss Axiovert 200M microscope (Zeiss, UK).
X-gal Staining
Cryoprotected explants were embedded in OCT media and sectioned at 10 µm. For detection of LAC-Z, sections were immersed in X-GAL solution [comprising of 1 mg/ml 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl–d-galactoside (X-GAL), 5 mM potassium ferricyanide, 5 mM potassium ferrocyanide, and 2 mM magnesium chloride in PBS-all reagents from Sigma, UK], at 37°C overnight. LAC-Z stained cardiac explants from MLC2v-Cre/ZEG were counterstained with nuclear fast red (Vector, UK).
Transmission EM
For Transmission EM (Simens 102 Transmission Electron Microscope, Simens, UK), EDCs were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in Dulbecco's PBS and post-fixed in 0.5% osmium tetroxide in PBS. After serial dehydration in graded alcohol, specimens were immersed in propylene, and embedded in Spurs resin. For immunogold staining tissue was fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and embedded in LR White™ embedding resin before standard labelling with immunogold.
DNA Extraction and PCR
Explants and their cells were trypsinised. The cells were separated from their corresponding explants with a 40 µm filter. DNA was extracted from the cells alone or from the explants alone using the DNeasy Kit (Qiagen, UK) according to instructions provided. GCTAACCATGTTCATGCCTTC and GTTTTCCCAGTCACGACGTT were the forward and reverse primers for the intact floxed ZEG transgene, with an expected product size of 250 bp. GCTAACCATGTTCATGCCTTC and GTAGGTCAGGGTGGTCACGA were the forward and reverse primers for the cre-deleted ZEG transgene with a product of 450 bp.
RNA Isolation and RT-PCR
RNA was extracted using the Sensicript RNA Isolation Kit (Qiagen, UK) according to the manufacturer's instructions. For RNA extraction, EDCs were detached from the periphery of the explant at 3 weeks, when the EDCs are the predominant cell type produced from the explant by gentle agitation of the explants in 24 well culture plates. Only wells with EDCs were selected for RNA isolation based on physical appearance by visual inspection. Excess DNA was cleaned up from the preparation by use of RNase free DNase. Reverse transcription and the cDNA obtained stored at −20°C for PCR under the appropriate conditions. EDCs were tested for expression of GATA-4, MyoD, ANF and NKx2.5, using primers from Invitrogen, UK (See table S1). β-actin (Invitrogen, UK) was used as control[12].
Myocardial Infarction
A left thoracotomy and permanent ligation of the left anterior descending artery was carried out in wild type mice as previously described[13]. Approximately 100 000 cultured cells suspended in 20 µl of PBS from the explants were injected into the border zone in a single injection. After 3 weeks the hearts were excised for immunohistochemistry or for TPME microscopy to assess coupling of the grafted cells as previously described[14]. For immunohistochemistry, the hearts were then fixed with 2–4% paraformaldehyde and stained as described above.
TMPE Microscopy Imaging of Intracellular Calcium Transients in Intact Hearts
Preparation of the hearts carrying grafts of cardiospheres and TPME imaging was performed as described previously[15]. Images were recorded with an MRC 1024 laser scanning microscope (Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., USA). Langendorff-perfused hearts were loaded with the fluorescent calcium indicator rhod-2 using the cell membrane permeable AM-ester of the dye (10 µmol/L rhod-2-AM for 10 minutes). Illumination for two-photon excitation was provided by a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser (Spectra-Physics, USA); the excitation wavelength was 810 nm. Hearts were imaged through a Nikon x60 1.2 numerical aperture water-immersion lens with a working distance of 200 µm. Emitted light was collected by two photo-multiplier tubes fitted with narrow bandwidth filters for 560–650 nm and 500–550 nm, respectively. Images were collected at a resolution of 0.43 µm/pixel along the x and y axes. For full-frame mode analyses (512×512 pixels), hearts were scanned at 1.46 and 0.73 frames per second on horizontal (x, y) planes, and the resulting images were digitized at 8-bit resolution and stored directly on the hard disk. For line-scan mode analyses, hearts were scanned repetitively at 500 Hz along a line spanning at least two juxtaposed cardiomyocytes. Line-scan images were then constructed by stacking all lines vertically. Post-acquisition analysis was performed using MetaMorph software version 4.6 (Universal Imaging Corp, USA).
During TPME imaging, hearts were perfused with oxygenated normal Tyrode's solution containing 50 µmol/l cytochalasin D to eliminate contraction-induced movement. Records were made during electrical point stimulation or during electrical field stimulation as described previously[15], [16]. Plots of changes in [Ca2+]i as a function of time were obtained by averaging rhod-2 fluorescent intensities along the scan lines in line-scan images.
Supporting Information
We acknowledge the Biomedical Sciences Department at the University of Leicester for their technical support and Jenny and Richard Edwards for their help with histopathology.
Author Contributions
Conceived and designed the experiments: LF LS MG MR CG CP. Performed the experiments: LS MR MS CG KA. Analyzed the data: LF LS MG MR MS CG KA CP. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: LF LS MG MR CG CP. Wrote the paper: LF LS MG MR CG KA CP.
- 1. Messina E, De Angelis L, Frati G, Morrone S, Chimenti S, et al. (2004) Isolation and expansion of adult cardiac stem cells from human and murine heart. Circ Res 95: 911–921.E. MessinaL. De AngelisG. FratiS. MorroneS. Chimenti2004Isolation and expansion of adult cardiac stem cells from human and murine heart.Circ Res95911921
- 2. Steele A, Jones OY, Gok F, Marikar Y, Steele P, et al. (2005) Stem-like cells traffic from heart ex vivo, expand in vitro, and can be transplanted in vivo. J Heart Lung Transplant 24: 1930–1939.A. SteeleOY JonesF. GokY. MarikarP. Steele2005Stem-like cells traffic from heart ex vivo, expand in vitro, and can be transplanted in vivo.J Heart Lung Transplant2419301939
- 3. Smith RR, Barile L, Cho HC, Leppo MK, Hare JM, et al. (2007) Regenerative potential of cardiosphere-derived cells expanded from percutaneous endomyocardial biopsy specimens. Circulation 115: 896–908.RR SmithL. BarileHC ChoMK LeppoJM Hare2007Regenerative potential of cardiosphere-derived cells expanded from percutaneous endomyocardial biopsy specimens.Circulation115896908
- 4. Chen J, Kubalak SW, Minamisawa S, Price RL, Becker KD, et al. (1998) Selective requirement of myosin light chain 2v in embryonic heart function. J Biol Chem 273: 1252–1256.J. ChenSW KubalakS. MinamisawaRL PriceKD Becker1998Selective requirement of myosin light chain 2v in embryonic heart function.J Biol Chem27312521256
- 5. Novak A, Guo C, Yang W, Nagy A, Lobe CG (2000) Z/EG, a double reporter mouse line that expresses enhanced green fluorescent protein upon Cre-mediated excision. Genesis 28: 147–155.A. NovakC. GuoW. YangA. NagyCG Lobe2000Z/EG, a double reporter mouse line that expresses enhanced green fluorescent protein upon Cre-mediated excision.Genesis28147155
- 6. Koyanagi M, Brandes RP, Haendeler J, Zeiher AM, Dimmeler S (2005) Cell-to-cell connection of endothelial progenitor cells with cardiac myocytes by nanotubes: a novel mechanism for cell fate changes? Circ Res 96: 1039–1041.M. KoyanagiRP BrandesJ. HaendelerAM ZeiherS. Dimmeler2005Cell-to-cell connection of endothelial progenitor cells with cardiac myocytes by nanotubes: a novel mechanism for cell fate changes?Circ Res9610391041
- 7. Fazel S, Cimini M, Chen L, Li S, Angoulvant D, et al. (2006) Cardioprotective c-kit+ cells are from the bone marrow and regulate the myocardial balance of angiogenic cytokines. J Clin Invest 116: 1865–1877.S. FazelM. CiminiL. ChenS. LiD. Angoulvant2006Cardioprotective c-kit+ cells are from the bone marrow and regulate the myocardial balance of angiogenic cytokines.J Clin Invest11618651877
- 8. Massberg S, Schaerli P, Knezevic-Maramica I, Kollnberger M, Tubo N, et al. (2007) Immunosurveillance by hematopoietic progenitor cells trafficking through blood, lymph, and peripheral tissues. Cell 131: 994–1008.S. MassbergP. SchaerliI. Knezevic-MaramicaM. KollnbergerN. Tubo2007Immunosurveillance by hematopoietic progenitor cells trafficking through blood, lymph, and peripheral tissues.Cell1319941008
- 9. Belema Bedada F, Technau A, Ebelt H, Schulze M, Braun T (2005) Activation of myogenic differentiation pathways in adult bone marrow-derived stem cells. Mol Cell Biol 25: 9509–9519.F. Belema BedadaA. TechnauH. EbeltM. SchulzeT. Braun2005Activation of myogenic differentiation pathways in adult bone marrow-derived stem cells.Mol Cell Biol2595099519
- 10. Schulze M, Belema-Bedada F, Technau A, Braun T (2005) Mesenchymal stem cells are recruited to striated muscle by NFAT/IL-4-mediated cell fusion. Genes Dev 19: 1787–1798.M. SchulzeF. Belema-BedadaA. TechnauT. Braun2005Mesenchymal stem cells are recruited to striated muscle by NFAT/IL-4-mediated cell fusion.Genes Dev1917871798
- 11. Okabe M, Ikawa M, Kominami K, Nakanishi T, Nishimune Y (1997) 'Green mice' as a source of ubiquitous green cells. FEBS Lett 407: 313–319.M. OkabeM. IkawaK. KominamiT. NakanishiY. Nishimune1997'Green mice' as a source of ubiquitous green cells.FEBS Lett407313319
- 12. Planat-Benard V, Silvestre JS, Cousin B, Andre M, Nibbelink M, et al. (2004) Plasticity of human adipose lineage cells toward endothelial cells: physiological and therapeutic perspectives. Circulation 109: 656–663.V. Planat-BenardJS SilvestreB. CousinM. AndreM. Nibbelink2004Plasticity of human adipose lineage cells toward endothelial cells: physiological and therapeutic perspectives.Circulation109656663
- 13. Murry CE, Soonpaa MH, Reinecke H, Nakajima H, Nakajima HO, et al. (2004) Haematopoietic stem cells do not transdifferentiate into cardiac myocytes in myocardial infarcts. Nature 428: 664–668.CE MurryMH SoonpaaH. ReineckeH. NakajimaHO Nakajima2004Haematopoietic stem cells do not transdifferentiate into cardiac myocytes in myocardial infarcts.Nature428664668
- 14. Rubart M, Soonpaa MH, Nakajima H, Field LJ (2004) Spontaneous and evoked intracellular calcium transients in donor-derived myocytes following intracardiac myoblast transplantation. J Clin Invest 114: 775–783.M. RubartMH SoonpaaH. NakajimaLJ Field2004Spontaneous and evoked intracellular calcium transients in donor-derived myocytes following intracardiac myoblast transplantation.J Clin Invest114775783
- 15. Rubart M, Pasumarthi KB, Nakajima H, Soonpaa MH, Nakajima HO, et al. (2003) Physiological coupling of donor and host cardiomyocytes after cellular transplantation. Circ Res 92: 1217–1224.M. RubartKB PasumarthiH. NakajimaMH SoonpaaHO Nakajima2003Physiological coupling of donor and host cardiomyocytes after cellular transplantation.Circ Res9212171224
- 16. Rubart M, Wang E, Dunn KW, Field LJ (2003) Two-photon molecular excitation imaging of Ca2+ transients in Langendorff-perfused mouse hearts. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 284: C1654–1668.M. RubartE. WangKW DunnLJ Field2003Two-photon molecular excitation imaging of Ca2+ transients in Langendorff-perfused mouse hearts.Am J Physiol Cell Physiol284C16541668


text:
There's been quite a buzz about Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's call to get rid of legalized prostitution in Nevada as a way to attract more businesses to his home state.
The story is a talker on cable networks and the blogosphere. But as the Las Vegas Sun reports today, there was dead silence on Tuesday in the Nevada Legislature at the moment one of Washington's most powerful Democrats said: "The time has come for us to outlaw prostitution."
When Reid was asked by reporters after his remarks about the timing of his aim at the oldest profession, the senator did not back down. He noted that his comments about prostitution were only a tiny portion of the speech, which was devoted mostly to a discussion about the economy and the need for better schools and clean energy programs.
"My answer is, if not now, when?" Reid said, according to the Las Vegas newspaper. "... It's pretty clear having legalized prostitution doesn't bring new business here."
Dennis Hof, owner of the Moonlite Bunny Ranch in Nevada, said Reid is attacking the civil rights of the women who work in brothels. "These women have a right to work," Hof told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "He should be proud of us. We have a clean industry."
Gov. Brian Sandoval, a Republican, said he's never heard that brothels detract from getting new businesses to come to Nevada. He says prostitution is a local issue.
Under Nevada law, prostitution is illegal in counties with more than 400,000 residents -- such as Clark County, home to Sin City itself, Las Vegas. There are 10 smaller, rural Nevada counties that license, tax and regulate brothels.
Catalina Camia leads the OnPolitics online community and has been at USA TODAY since 2005. She has been a reporter or editor covering politics and Congress for two decades, including stints at The Dallas Morning News and Congressional Quarterly. Follow her at @USATOnPolitics.
USA TODAY's Jackie Kucinich (@jfkucinich) and Fredreka Schouten (@fschouten) also contribute to the OnPolitics blog.


text: I realize this topic, in various forms, has been raised already, but after searching on here and googling, I can't find a clear answer but have seen some suggestions that FIOS VOD might be accessible on my 1 year old TivoHD. Does anyone have any more info? Is FIOS VOD just going to be available on the Premiere model? I do use the netflix and amazon services but unfortunately neither has closed captions which I need. Thanks for any help on this


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StartUpHire is the place to find jobs at Oak Ridge startups. Review the list of Oak Ridge career opportunities to the left. These Oak Ridge, TN jobs at startups represent some of the most rewarding careers available.
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I Went To The Zoopermarket
by Nick Sharratt
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Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0439950635, Paperback)A great reissuing of this lift-the-flap book from the endlessly popular author / illustrator, Nick Sharratt. Come and shop at the zoopermarket, where the food is not all it seems! Tying in with Nick Sharratt's position as official illustrator for World Book Day 2006, this larger format edition, with its best cover yet, will ensure ZOOPERMARKET's continuing longevity.
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This is a book for all young shoppers who like to be shocked and surprised. It contains special illustrations that unfold to reveal some very crazy creatures!
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AVSC alpine racers make a statement at Breckenridge
February 1, 2013
It was a week to remember for Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club alpine racers. First, alumnus Wiley Maple won a Europa Cup downhill Jan. 23 in Val d'Isere, France. On this side of the Atlantic, AVSC's U18 racers traveled to the Midwest for three slaloms at Spirit Mountain, Minn. Its proximity to Lake Superior assured icy conditions; the racers with strong gliding skills performed best on this flat slope.
Podiums were plentiful. Ben Throm took a silver and a bronze in two of the races, and Julia Mueller-Ristine, long known for her strength in speed events, was second on Saturday behind Paula Moltzan, who has benefited from several World Cup starts.
According to AVSC alpine director Greg Needell, "We went out there to these events to see some new competition and ski on some different hills. It worked out well for all of our athletes, and they should be proud of their effort and results, every one of them."
Meanwhile, the U14 team enjoyed some unusually warm weather at Breckenridge, where the team dominated the top spots during a trio of super G races. In addition to hosting the International Snow Sculpture Championships, Breckenridge also hosted a field of more than 220 racers the weekend of Jan. 26 and 27.
Aspen native Anna Patterson won two of the three races, as did teammate Cooper Cornelius. Dexter Edelman continued his excellent season with two silver medals (he was only five-hundredths behind Cornelius in the final super G) and one bronze.
Anna Patterson was so fast in the second race that she would have placed among the top 10 of the men!
"The super G at Breck was a great weekend for us," Needell said, adding that the four wins and eight podiums "were beyond expectations."
In addition to the podiums by Patterson, Cornelius and Edelman, "we also saw great results from Olivia Clauss, who had two top-10s," Needell said. "But more than anything, I was very impressed with the improvement throughout the weekend by all of our kids. There were also several athletes who were just a tiny mistake away from having their personal best results. In all, it was a very encouraging weekend."
The youngest members of the alpine squad traveled to Sunlight Mountain Resort, where they competed in the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association Skills Quest race Saturday and a pair of slaloms Sunday. Again, the fields were large, reflecting the growing interest in the discipline (AVSC's largest team is alpine).
"The kids who attended the race all fought hard and skied well," Needell said. Many are now looking ahead to the Roaring Fork Series slaloms on Saturday at Aspen Highlands. The following weekend, Feb. 9 and 10, Aspen hosts four Age Class Open slaloms, which also are open to racers from Steamboat, Loveland and Sunlight.
It's fitting that the week of AVSC alpine excellence concluded with Alice McKennis, who trained with Aspen during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons, being named to the 2013 World Alpine Championships Team for the United States.


text:
FLORENCE---Francis Marion University officials will make a presentation to the legislature's Senate Finance Committee at 4 p.m. today (Feb. 10), seeking $8.9 million in capital improvements for the campus.
FMU President Lee A. Vickers said there are three items on FMU's request for funding for the 1999-2000 year.
The first priority is $525,000 for energy upgrade. The money would be used to replace a 24-year-old 550 ton centrifugal chiller which is at the end of its useful life and uses a type of refrigerant that is no longer manufactured.
This project is included in the Commission on Higher Education's budget request to the legislature. This project was included in FMU's budget request last year, but was vetoed by the governor.
FMU is requesting $1,475,250 for deferred maintenance, repair and equipment upgrade. This project will address a substantial deferred maintenance backlog that has been identified as being beyond the financial capability of the university.
A 1994 study by CHE and the Budget and Control Board found deferred maintenance at FMU in access of $6 million. The current request includes the repair, renovation and updating of facilities and equipment due to accumulated age and obsolescence, and to address improvements needed for the conservation of energy.
The last item on FMU's request is $6,917,500 to build a 45,000 square foot addition to the Stanton Academic Computer Center. This addition will provide classrooms specifically equipped for technology applications, computer laboratories and office and supporting space for the School of Business and the Education Department.
The Senate Finance Committee is holding a hearing today to consider capital requests from state universities that may be financed through bonds.


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Townhall's Katie Pavlich: To Stop Gun Trafficking, "Get Rid Of The ATF"
Blog ››› ››› CHRIS BROWN
For more Media Matters coverage of gun violence and extremism, visit our Gun Facts microsite.
Previously Media Matters has noted gun lobby efforts to falsely suggest that guns used by Mexican cartels come from anywhere but the United States, except for the guns involved in the failed Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) operation Fast and Furious. During a visit to the National Rifle Association's (NRA) radio program Townhall.com's Katie Pavlich took the argument a step further, suggesting that we just get rid of all federal law enforcement efforts to stop gun trafficking to Mexico.
Riffing off NRA radio host Cam Edwards, Pavlich quipped that getting rid of the ATF and Department of Justice was the way to end gun trafficking to Mexico.
PAVLICH: My whole thing has always been through this process, you know, if you really want to stop trafficking of guns into Mexico from America get rid of ATF and DOJ because they are the number one supplier of guns to Mexican drug cartels at this point.
Pavlich's claim that the federal government is the top supplier of drug cartels is flat-out false. Overall 64,000 U.S. guns have been traced from Mexican crime scenes in the last five years. The ATF has seized more 10,000 firearms and more then 1.1. million rounds of ammunition headed to the southwest border in the same period. In the last 2 years on the Mexican side of the border, 20,504 or 70 percent of the total firearms submitted to be traced were U.S. sourced. In July The Washington Post reported 227 guns associated with Fast and Furious has been recovered in Mexico, which if included in the trace data for the last two years would be less than one percent of the total. During those same two years only one percent of the guns were traced to anywhere other than the United States.
You could dismiss the line as a joke, but Pavlich's suggestion to eliminate ATF and DOJ largely mirrors the attitude and faulty facts used by the gun lobby and the right-wing media. The loudest critic of Fast and Furious doesn't think the ATF is constitutional no matter what tactics it employs. The NRA has done everything in it's power to weaken the ATF and has showed sustained hostility to their mission. They've spent years blocking a permanent director for the ATF, including President Bush's nominee.
The suggestion that Fast and Furious guns constitute the vast majority of U.S. guns arming the cartels is absurd and ignores a serious and ongoing issue. Eliminating the ATF would eliminate virtually the only mechanism to prevent guns from being trafficked.
Many conservative states have few state laws enabling law enforcement to fight gun trafficking. As documented by Mayors Against Illegal Guns' Trace The Guns project, Arizona state law doesn't have a straw buying statute that would let state prosecutors target the criminals that bought the guns in the Fast and Furious operation. Without federal government efforts there's few mechanisms to fight gun trafficking, since states like Arizona show little interest in combating gun trafficking.
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I speak 3 languages Romanian,English and German.I am a hobbyist I love photography-life, I want to make this as my work.
I am very sociable, I like to meet new people and again I am a photography lover.
Now i search for make sessions that can be : -Portraits
- or maybe your idea?
For those that are interested please send a note and we will talk forward.
Follow me on Facebook page www.facebook.com/pages/Lorena-…
The photos are non commercial and are made as passion.
Current Residence: Hamburg - Germany
deviantWEAR sizing preference: normal-large
Favourite genre of music: rock,metal