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It is the end of September, and Jeff Stober does not look worried. The Toronto International Film Festival – that yearly deadline for restaurateurs and hoteliers to launch their new wares – has passed, and he's sitting in a cove at his new restaurant, Drake One Fifty, as it prepares to open two weeks later than planned. Some of his 200 employees amble in to test the restaurant's first lunch service. The retro photo booth, just like the one at the hotel, is being assembled. The marble bistro counter is shining with just the right degree of lustre.
Everything is, or will soon be, just right. And the timing? It opens Oct. 2. "There's always another TIFF," says Mr. Stober, his thin, cardiganed figure in a yoga-perfect posture on the banquette. "When you're opening for 10 or 20 years, there will be many TIFFs." This sounds audacious – but to believe Mr. Stober and his creative staff, it's absolutely sincere. His company has a 10-year lease on the space, a former bank in the Financial District, and it's been expensively fitted out with custom-made cabinetry, furnishings and panelling – some of which is made of plywood. Drake One Fifty shows the scope of Mr. Stober's ambition, for his businesses and for the unusual design sensibility that sets them apart. This is a restaurant, but it is also a brand extension: "Drake without beds," as Mr. Stober puts it. Will it work on Bay Street?
If it does, that plywood will be an important detail. The restaurant's interior is by the London designer Martin Brudnizki, who's worked with the private Soho House clubs, but it draws on a style born in Parkdale.
When the Drake Hotel opened in 2004, it was distinguished by its mashup sensibility, blending the old terrazzo floors and wainscoting of the rundown hotel with contemporary additions. Cabinets and panels made of Douglas fir plywood, designed by Torontonian John Tong, were everywhere: straight from the lumberyard but used in a sophisticated manner, and as Canadian as your Dad's garage workshop.
Here, the plywood stands in counterpoint to much more refined materials, like that Calacatta marble bartop – which is thick and solid and keeps going where you can't see it. "We talk a lot about authenticity," Mr. Stober says. "When you put your hand under a marble bar, and you feel that it stops after one or two inches? I hate that stuff. Build it quality, build it to last, and people will recognize that, and you'll be rewarded for those design choices."
This is one of Mr. Stober's credos, and it has turned this former IT-industry entrepreneur into a hospitality impresario and, he is hoping, a Toronto ambassador of design.
At some point, the Drake style became a brand and the heart of a business. The enterprise includes Drake One Fifty, the hotel, three retail stores, and as of April another hotel, Drake Devonshire, in Prince Edward County, designed by Mr. Tong's office. All carry a blend of materials and products that evoke urban thrift-shop Canadiana with hints of Europe and a big dash of Brooklyn.
After that comes an expansion of the original Drake Hotel that will add about 20 rooms and new event space, and then, Mr. Stober hopes, a hotel-restaurant-cultural venue, taking over an entire building in "a fabulous American city." (Mr. Stober has a second home in Manhattan.)
"Going forward, we are the small Queen West brand that we believe has legs," he says. "We believe Torontonians want to stand behind us and we've got something to offer that is relevant."
And the heart of Drake's offering is design: an eclectic combination of new and old, rough and polished, modernist and (very loosely) historic. While the food and beverage program at the Drake properties is serious, the design sensibility is what sets them apart. Sitting with Mr. Stober at the restaurant are two of his collaborators: Mia Nielsen, the Drake's curator, and Michael Awad, an architect, former academic and artist who works as Mr. Stober's sounding board and detail master.
Mr. Awad quotes from a corporate "style guide," really a manifesto for the Drake's vision: "A playful hybrid of respect for heritage and forward-looking contemporary design." There is a slide show of perhaps 100 photos, mostly culled or taken by Mr. Stober himself. Flipping through the sequence, rapt by the presentation, Mr. Stober and company call out references: a hotel in Berlin, the restaurant at the Standard Hotel in New York, a house by the Chilean architect Sebastian Irarrazaval, who worked on a never-built plan for the Drake Hotel. Some themes emerge: a prominent role for art; lots of wood, in various states and finishes; contrasts of old and new, high and low art.
All this plays out clearly in the restaurant, which Mr. Awad says was almost named "Drake Brasserie and Bar." In keeping with the nouveau-brasserie genre of the moment, it feels vaguely classic, but is in fact absolutely 2013. There are seven different kinds of seating, including wooden Thonet chairs, modernist webbed-leather ones and high stools (elaborately custom-made) that look like sixties car seats, only more comfortable.Report Typo/Error
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Type of Document Dissertation Author Rhodes, Joseph E Author's Email Address email@example.com URN etd-04302012-163058 Title Reinhold Niebuhr's Ethics of Rhetoric Degree Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Department Communication Studies Advisory Committee
Advisor Name Title Crick, Nathan Committee Chair Eubanks, Cecil Committee Member King, Andy Committee Member Rollins, Brooke Dean's Representative Keywords
- christianity
- religion
- niebuhr
- mythos
- dialectic
- rhetoric
- ethics
Date of Defense 2012-04-18 Availability unrestricted AbstractThis dissertation explores the writings of the American public intellectual and theologian Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971). My project is a unique contribution to Niebuhrian studies in that I approach these works from the perspective of a rhetorical theorist. My intention is to parse from Niebuhr's editorial commentaries, his philosophical inquiries and lectures, his theological treatises, and his sermonic essays an specifically "Niebuhrian ethics of rhetoric." In order to accomplish this task I investigate the rhetorical situation Niebuhr was embedded in and to which he was responding to at the turn of the twentieth century. Part of the analysis of his rhetorical situation places him in conversation with other thinkers writing at the turn of the century, such as John Dewey and Walter Lippmann. From the rhetorical situation, the dissertation tackles Niebuhr's thought in three categories: Niebuhr's mythic—specifically Christian—approach to history, his dialectical approach to love, justice, grace and power, and finally, his rhetorical approach to the contemporary situations that call for judgment. I argue that Niebuhr's ethics of rhetoric are specifically Christian, in that they provide, on the one hand, the necessary mythic and dialectical tools one needs to make judgments in tragic realm of contingency, and on the other hand, the hope and faith that is required to move beyond the tragic realm of rhetoric without despair or cynicism. Niebuhr's characteristic "pragmatic Christian realism," I argue, is a much-needed approach to the ethics of rhetoric, one that is important for us to understand in a globalized "electric age," wherein the shared myths that found communities elude us, though we remain asked to make judgments that effect collectives we may never see face-to-face. Niebuhr's ethics of rhetoric is a guiding light for a rhetorical approach that moves past the local community, fragmented since the industrial revolution and rationalized since the Enlightenment, to a broader sense of community that is neither Jewish nor Greek—neither, me might add, Muslim or Western. It is a rhetoric that moves us confidently, yet qualifiedly, into the future that is beyond tragedy. Files
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subset: commoncrawl


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Ranjitha, one of the beautiful actresses of Kollywood film Industry entered through none other than the legendary director Bharathiraja in the Tamil film Nadodi Mannan with Karthik.
She played the role of a village belle in the pre independence era. She continued to act with top stars including Arjun in Jaihind and Karna, Napolean in Tamizhatchi, Mammootty in Makkalatchi, Vijayakanth in Periya Marudhu, Nana Patekar in Bommalattam, Prabhu in Chinna Vaathiyar, etc.
In the late 90's she has enrolled herself in doing mother and sister roles. She played Vijay's mother in Villu. This dusky beauty entertains her fans with her excellent performances. She is one of the good performing actress and married to an army person and in the recent time she has acted in few Tv serials also one of her famous serial is ROJA,Thekkathi Ponnu.
Ranjitha is a hardcore devotee of Swamiji Nithyananda and she used to spent most of the time in his ashram. Now she has become more famous by getting caught red handedly in a sex scandal intimating with Swamiji Nithyananda.
The video was aired in sun tv and they have confirmed the female in the video was dusky tamil beauty ranjitha. One of the devotee after watching the video reported media that he had visited ashram for 3 months of summer vacation and she observed ranjtha with swamiji most of the time.
Later in 2011, Ranjitha filed a police complaint at Chennai City Police Commissioner's Office accusing Sun Network owner Kalanidhi Maran & few magazines of morphing and telecasting visuals showing her in a compromising position with controversial spiritual guru Nithyananda.


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420 12th StreetApt. M4R
Between 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue Park Slope
This home has been sold
We have 14 similar homes for sale.
Subway Lines
Nearby Subway Stations
- Price$965,000
- TypeCo-op
- Bedrooms2
- Bathrooms2
- Rooms6
- Approx. Sq. Ft.1,500
- Exposure North & West
Key Features
- Roof rights
- Pet friendly
- Full city view
VIEWS, VIEWS, VIEWS~This is it! 1500 square feet in one of the most coveted pet friendly loft buildings in the Slope. This 2 bedroom, 2 bath loft property at the Ansonia Court co-op is situated on 7th Ave and 12th Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Find yourself surrounded by gorgeous full grown trees and lovely landscaping in the common courtyard complete with flowers and fountains. This top floor corner unit has UNBELIEVABLE Manhattan skyline views from all 11 oversized windows. This spacious apartment can easily be converted to a three bedroom; please note on the floor plan how easy it would be. The master bedroom complete with ensuite bath has excellent storage and walk-in closets. The second bedroom has exposed brick, views of the city and great storage too. Loft details include: soaring 11 foot ceilings, hardwood floors, 11 oversized windows, beamed ceilings, washer/ dryer, dishwasher, exposed brick and an open kitchen plan looking out to the living room and dining room. The last detail that makes this apartment too good to be true is that it comes with private, exclusive roof rights. The possibilities are endless; the designated roof top area available to deck has unobstructed views of Manhattan, New York harbor and the Statue of Liberty. Breath taking views, open loft living, South Slope amenities, P.S. 107, 2 blocks from Prospect Park and the F train...what more could one want?
Agent Ask me a question
firstname.lastname@example.com Email Me See my 13 other sale listings
Park Slope
Runs from Fourth Avenue to Prospect Park West, Prospect Avenue to Flatbush Avenue.
One of Brooklyn's largest neighborhoods, Park Slope offers an amazing array of meticulously renovated brownstone and limestone townhouses — both single-family and with rental units — as well as full-service loft and apartment co-op and condominium buildings. Residents and house-hunters delight in Park Slope's elegant layouts, 12-foot ceilings, wood-burning fireplaces, pocket doors and other turn-of-the-century details. Newer zoning changes on Fourth Avenue are adding condos to Park Slope, with new buildings including The Argyle, Novo Park Slope at Fourth Avenue and Fourth Street, and the Crest at Fourth Avenue and Second Street.
420 12th Street
7th Ave - 9th St7 mins
7th Ave - 9th St7 mins
4th Ave - 9th St7 mins
The Ansonia Court is a cooperative adapted from the Ansonia Clock Factory, built in 1882. It was converted in 1980 and is located on 12th Street near bustling 7th Avenue. The building has amazing features like a gorgeous tree-filled interior courtyard, is two blocks from Prospect Park and less than a five-minute walk to the 7th Avenue F train subway line.
Additional features of this building include: COMMON COURTYARD, PET FRIENDLY.
- Postwar
- Built in 1970
- 4 floors
- 1 units
- Pet friendly
- Common courtyard
- Common garden


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Please report your safety incident on the form below. Use the map below to locate the area and follow the instructions on screen to complete the process.
You can also see what incidents have been reported to us from around the country.
Use the map on the left to locate where the incident occurred.
Click anywhere on the map to place a marker representing the incident location.
To locate the incident you can:
- Denotes a required field


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But unlike the character he plays in the new movie "Jerry Maguire," Cuba Gooding Jr. isn't counting on anything.
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NEW YORK -- It could well be the role that launches him from "who-dom" to stardom.
But unlike the character he plays in the new movie "Jerry Maguire," Cuba Gooding Jr. isn't counting on anything.
"It's so hard to predict," he says of where his latest role might lead. "If I'm accurate, it's out of luck. And if I'm inaccurate, I'll feel like an idiot for guessing in the first place."
Besides, he's experienced the hype once before: Gooding was the Hot New Thing after winning raves for his role as "Tre" in 1991's "Boyz in the Hood," and was singled out for his outstanding performance opposite Dustin Hoffman in "Outbreak" in 1995.
This time, he gets star billing just behind Tom Cruise for the role of Rod Tidwell, a blustery, thin-skinned football player who demands that his agent "show me the money" while negotiating his new contract.
In real life, Gooding is the married father of two small boys, Spencer, 2, and Mason, one month. He says he became a born-again Christian at age 13.
Now 28, he reflects that everything he does is "a direct stem from God's plan."
"I'm a sinner and I fall to some of the enticing sins of the world," he says. "But my relationship with God has guided me."
Slightly hoarse from numerous interviews, Gooding sits down in a restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel for his first meal of the day at 4:30 p.m.
Dressed in a dark-blue, pinstriped suit and yellow-print tie, Gooding exudes the cordiality and reserve of a minister when he declares, "All the benefits that I've received already make me feel undeserving of the blessings God has bestowed on me."
Methodically slicing into a lobster-with-bacon sandwch, he continues, "The Old Testament is something you observe. The New Testament is something you learn from." It also contains his favorite quotation, which he can't immediately reference, but which he recites every night before bed: "I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me."
As for the temptations that might be viewed as inherent to being a rich and famous actor, Gooding insists that they are not exclusive to the entertainment industry.
As he sees it, potential transgressions constantly lurk in the way people rear their children, talk to their neighbors or deal with their employers.
"You don't think there's strip bars and things that tempt people in their everyday lives?" he asks.
If there's any temptation for him to fall by the wayside, Gooding says it lies in wanting to "sin upside the head" of some egotistical actors he's encountered in his career.
Relax. Tom Cruise isn't among them.
Gooding also appeared with Cruise in "A Few Good Men" in 1992 and found the actor "didn't push disrespect. He relaxes around you and allows you to be yourself. Some superstars push you to act their way."
But Gooding isn't a complete newcomer to the scene. His father was the lead singer for the Main Ingredient, whose 1972 hit "Everybody Plays the Fool," had the family living in luxury. They moved from the Bronx to Southern California where his parents eventually split up. He was only 6 at the time.
Then it was a bumpy road as his mother, Shirley, headed a household of three children.
Gooding became interested in acting after playing "Pappy" in a high school production of "Li'l Abner."
A friend's mother was an agent and saw the play. She offered to represent Gooding and immediately began sending him on auditions for commercials and television shows.
His break came in a 1982 episode of "Hill Street Blues," in which he played a neighborhood thug. After the director admonished him several times for missing his mark, Gooding says it dawned on him that that was what the tape on the floor was for. He knew he needed to get serious.
A few years later, with some acting workshops under his belt, he landed "Boyz in the Hood."
"I think I watched 'Boyz in the Hood' six times before I liked the movie," he says. "It's hard to watch yourself on film. You're thinking about the mannerisms, about what works, how you look."
Screening his films is not pleasant, he says. "All I know is that I have a headache when it starts, my stomach gets a little queasy in the middle, and I have a headache walking out."
Next up is a film called "Old Friends," with Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt.
When he's not playing ice hockey or listening to R&B music at top volume in his car, Gooding, with his wife, Sara, is fully committed to one goal.
"To raise my boys into men," he declares. "That's going to be a job. But I'm ready."
More Artists


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German Law
Have German Law Questions? Ask a Lawyer Now.
in case you do not have a written contract about the insurance it will be quite difficult to get any reimbursement as before court you will need to prove every detail the salesperson told you including the fact that the person understood that the insurance was an important issue for you.
It will all depend on your friend and it is quite likely that any judge will be very cautious in believing everything your friend states, because otherwise this way anyone could enforce a contract before court just by stating its content.
However, in contrast to most Common Law countries in Germany there is no "parole evidence rule" and it is theoretically possible to prove oral supplements of a written contract.
You should see the existing written contract. Check, what your friend remembers and then show up with your friend at the store and tell the manager the story. You should also make a written complaint and ask for the insurance benefit until a certain date (f.e. 4 weeks in advance).
If it doesn't help, you'll need to contact a colleague. Bear in mind, that chances are not too high to achieve something.
If you do not earn a lot of money and live in Germany, you may have most of the lawyer costs covered by so-called Beratungshilfe (you'll first need to ask for it at the local Amtsgericht).
You'll need to carry with you proof of your earnings and running costs (for example rent) and proof that you tried to solve the issue by yourself (for example the letter to Gravis).
Raub includes violence...
Theft (Diebstahl) does not.
It will be essential whether it was clear for the vendor that you desired insurance for theft.
You should try to make your point clear at the management in written by explicitly putting a deadline for the payment of compnesation or replacement of the phone.
Don't forget to mention you friend as witness.
Good luck!


text:
Aggressive Versus Conservative Blood Glucose Control in Hospitalized Type 2 Diabetic Patients Using Detemir and Aspart Insulin (RASCIN)
The recruitment status of this study is unknown. The completion date has passed and the status has not been verified in more than two years.
Verified May 2009 by University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Recruitment status was: Recruiting
Recruitment status was: Recruiting
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Novo Nordisk A/S
Information provided by:
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: May 8, 2009
Last updated: May 19, 2009
Last verified: May 2009
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
No Study Results Posted on ClinicalTrials.gov for this Study
|Study Status:
|This study is currently recruiting participants.
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|March 2011
|Estimated Primary Completion Date:
|December 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)


text:
Steven Rosenstone is the chief executive officer of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. He is responsible for providing academic leadership to the system's 31 colleges and universities, ensuring effective and efficient management and operation of the system, carrying out board policies, recommending operating and capital budgets to the board, and planning for the current and long-term educational needs of Minnesota. Chancellor Rosenstone's installation was on October 19, 2011 at the Minnesota State Capitol.
Steven J. Rosenstone
Nancy J. Joyer
Chief of Staff
Vicki Tschida
Executive Assistant
Kalae Verdeja
Executive Assistant
For media requests and interviews, please contact Doug Anderson, director of communications and media. To invite the chancellor to attend or speak at an event, please complete and submit an Appearance Request Form.
Steven Rosenstone began his service as chancellor of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities in August 2011. He is responsible for leading the seven state universities and 24 community and technical colleges that serve more than 400,000 students in 47 communities across the state and provide all Minnesotans with an opportunity to create a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Before he became chancellor, Rosenstone served as dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Vice President for Scholarly and Cultural Affairs at the University of Minnesota, where he was awarded the McKnight Presidential Leadership Chair. Prior to that, he taught at Yale University and the University of Michigan.
A political scientist, Rosenstone is the author of four books and numerous scholarly articles on elections and political participation. He is a nationally recognized expert on higher education issues. He holds a bachelor's degree from Washington University and master's and doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley.
Rosenstone serves on the Governor's Workforce Development Council, the Minnesota P-20 Education Partnership, the Itasca Project, the Minnesota Business Partnership, and the governing boards for Generation Next and the Midwestern Higher Education Compact. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Rosenstone is married to Maria Antonia Calvo, Spain's Honorary Consul for Minnesota and the Dakotas. They have three grown children.
Steven Rosenstone's installation was on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at the Minnesota State Capitol.


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In the early 1960s, Lee gave many interviews before she chose to step out of the public eye. One of them was first published in Roy Newquist's book, Counterpoint, another in Rogue magazine.
"Any writer worth his salt writes to please himself.... It's a self-exploratory operation that is endless. An exorcism of not necessarily his demon, but of his divine discontent."
—Harper Lee from a 1964 interview


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AT&T Delivers Innovative Mobile Applications to the College Classroom and Beyond
Working with Pyxis Mobile, AT&T Delivers a Wireless College Experience
Dallas, Texas, October 14, 2009
AT&T* today announced UpperClass from AT&T, a new mobile application for colleges and universities that extends the college experience to students' mobile devices.
Built with Application Studio, a mobile application platform from Pyxis Mobile, UpperClass from AT&T is a customizable application delivering a wide range of campus-related information to students, administrators, faculty, parents and alumni. The application provides a college community with real-time access to the information they need, virtually wherever they happen to be, including class information, student and faculty directories, scheduling, administration and community information, social networking, ticket purchasing and fundraising options, along with campus wide alerts such as weather conditions or class cancellations.
"Where college students once had to wait in long lines at the Registrar's Office, or set up an appointment with the dean, AT&T now puts at their fingertips information when they want it over a device and service that is an integral part of their daily life," said Chris Hill, vice president, mobility product management, AT&T Business Solutions. "UpperClass from AT&T is another example of AT&T's commitment to deliver innovative wireless applications that drive value for students, faculty, staff and alumni."
The application is an effective time management tool for the entire university community. In addition to retrieving scheduling information, the service allows students to use smartphones to track their GPAs, get maps to building locations, monitor balances or add money to campus spending cards, see what's on the menu at the campus dining hall, and even request an escort from campus security. Parents can use the service to monitor students' schedules, grades, spending balances and get campus news. Faculty can see dynamic reports on their projects and their students' progress, while alumni can check team scores, buy tickets to events – and yes – respond to solicitations. The service also integrates with popular social media sites, search engines and more.
"Time and again, AT&T demonstrates it understands the needs of the higher education customer," said Todd Christy, president and Chief Technology Officer, Pyxis Mobile. "We are pleased to be working with AT&T to deliver mobile application management capabilities to colleges and universities. With our Build Once, Run Anywhere technology, customers can create any type of mobile application they want with Application Studio, and we are proud that AT&T has decided to showcase UpperClass as a solution that customers can customize to their specific needs. UpperClass is an application that sets the bar for how a university not only can keep its community informed, but also enhance its reputation as a technology leader."
UpperClass from AT&T integrates with the leading academic information systems deployed by colleges and universities today. It can be integrated and deployed quickly across a universities' enterprise and easily customized using Pyxis Mobile's application management program called Application Studio. With an intuitive drag and drop interface, administrators, rather than developers, can customize, maintain and edit UpperClass without writing a single line of code.
AT&T has a long history of supporting higher education as well as providing services and products to help colleges and universities improve productivity both in and out of the classroom and in administrative support. Among other components, AT&T offers the University Advantage Program, which provides tailored contracts and discounts for colleges and universities.
For more information on AT&T's enterprise mobility offerings, visit http://www.business.att.com/enterprise/Portfolio/enterprise-mobility-enterprise/.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. AT&T offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verseSM and AT&T | DIRECTVSM brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T's Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations are known for their leadership in directory publishing and advertising sales. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE® magazine's list of the World's Most Admired Companies.
© 2009 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 3G service not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATTNews. Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services.


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The following are questions most often asked of our Technical Services Department. Please consult reference sources and request product information sheets for complete information on the items that are mentioned in these sections.
Quality Control
Media in General
Stock Culture Maintenance and Preservation
Technical Data/Information Sheets
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Susceptibility Testing
Spot Tests and Rapid Tests
Transport Media
Mycology Media
GC Media (Neisseria gonorrhoeae)
Enteric Media
EnteroScreen 4™
Staph Identification
Strep Media
Gardnerella Vaginalis
Q. On which kinds of media do I have to perform quality control?
A. Media listed in Table 2 of the current CLSI guideline M22-A, Quality Assurance for Commercially Prepared Microbiological Culture Media does not require the end user to repeat the QC, as long as your manufacturer provides the necessary certification and documentation of QC. Campylobacter Agar, Chocolate Agar and media for the isolation of pathogenic Neisseria spp. are listed as exempt, yet it is highly recommended that these media be re-tested by the end user. With each shipment Hardy Diagnostics includes a "QC Voucher" that certifies the media according to the CLSI guidelines (ref: Quality Assurance for Commercially Prepared Microbiological Culture Media, M22-A3, Vol. 24, No. 19. 2004. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI - formerly NCCLS), Wayne, PA). Hardy Diagnostics offers complete documentation contained in the software program, HUGO™. Refer to the keywords "The CLSI (NCCLS) Standard and Recommendations for User Quality Control of Media" for a complete list of media that does not require end user QC.
Q. How do I know which media needs to be QC'd by my lab?
A. Refer to the "QC Voucher" that arrives with your shipment to determine which products need end user QC on each lot or shipment. For each product there is a "Y" or "N" in the QC Required column.
Q. What organisms do I need to use to QC the media?
A. Most of our products have technical information sheets, which can be accessed on our software program, HUGO™, or on the Hardy Diagnostics' website. Each technical information sheet lists the organisms used at Hardy Diagnostics to QC the medium.
Q. Do I have to use all of the organisms listed on the technical information sheet?
A. The end user is only required to check the performance of media using an organism that will produce a positive reaction and another organism that will produce a negative reaction for each reaction tested. Hardy Diagnostics may include organisms to monitor weak positive reactions or test the growth of multiple organisms, but this testing is not required of the end user.
Q. What should the reactions look like?
A. Refer to the technical information sheets in our software program, HUGO™, or on our website for the product. Most of the technical information sheets have color photographs of expected reactions.
Q. How can I keep track of lot numbers and expiration dates without doing a lot of writing?
A. A "QC Voucher" comes with each shipment and contains a listing of the media, lot numbers, and expiration dates for each media item that is shipped. Simply sign and date the voucher at the bottom and retain it with your QC records. Refer to the keywords "The Hardy QC Voucher" in HUGO™ for more information on lot numbers and expiration dates.
Q. How often should I QC microbiology reagents like indole, oxidase, and beta-lactamase?
A. Current regulations require testing of each lot or shipment. Refer to the keywords "CLIA Quality Control Standards for Microbiology" in our software program HUGO™.
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Q. Where does your sheep blood come from?
A. Hardy Diagnostics obtains blood for its media from a ranch that maintains its animals for bleeding purposes only. These animals are maintained according to a veterinary supervised program to keep them healthy and disease free. The animal feed contains no antimicrobics, the addition of which is a common practice in feed lots. The blood containing media products are manufactured within five days after the sheep are bled. We never use less expensive slaughterhouse blood, which is commonly used by other media companies. These non-controlled sources of blood contain antimicrobics, are prone to spontaneous hemolysis, and tend to vary widely in hematocrits.
Q. Should I use a heavy or light inoculum when setting up biochemical tests?
A. For a more rapid result and clear reaction, inoculate your CTA and Urea Agar using a heavy inoculum. Simmons Citrate and Acetate Differential Slants should receive a light inoculum to avoid false-positives.
Q. Which tubes should be incubated with tight caps?
A. When incubating tubes for anaerobes (e.g., Thioglycollate or Cooked Meat), always tighten the caps. Caps on Strep B Carrot Broth™ should always be tightened to produce maximum color development by group B streptococci. Caps are also tightened on Transgrow bottles, which contain a CO2 enriched atmosphere. All other tubes and bottles should be incubated with slightly loose caps. Fungi especially need an exchange of air for optimal growth. Biochemical reactions, such as with TSI and LIA slants, also require an exchange of air in order to produce a pH shift resulting in proper color development.
Q. Which kinds of media require an oil overlay?
A. OF Media and Moeller's Decarboxylase broths require an overlay of sterile mineral oil. Always inoculate a "base" control (without carbohydrates or amino acids) along with your test, to compare the color.
Q. What should I do when my Fluid Thioglycollate Broths turn pink all over?
A. Fluid Thioglycollate contains the pH indicator resazurin, which turns pink in the presence of oxygen. It is normal to have a pink layer in the upper 10% of the broth. Often during shipment, the bottle or tubes become agitated and the entire medium turns pink due to dispersion of the small amount of oxygen present in the tube. Sometimes just allowing the broth to stand undisturbed for a few hours will settle the pink color/oxygen to just the upper layer. If this is not successful and more than 30% of the media remains pink, then the tubes or bottles should be immersed in a boiling waterbath for about 10 minutes with the caps loosened to drive off the oxygen (ref: Dehydrated Culture Media and Reagents for Microbiology, 10th ed. 1984. Difco Laboratories, Detroit, MI). The caps must be re-tightened while still hot to prevent re-oxygenation of the media.
Q. What should I do when my motility media has bubbles in it?
A. Sometimes motility media will become separated or have numerous bubbles due to rough treatment during shipping. If this happens, place the tubes briefly in a boiling waterbath, then allow them to cool in the upright position.
Q. Can I inoculate plates right after taking them out of the refrigerator?
A. Always warm your media to room temperature before inoculating. Some bacteria are sensitive to the cold (e.g., N. gonorrhoeae). Excess condensation on the surface of the plate can be evaporated by placing plates in the incubator for a short period with the lids slightly cracked open.
Q. Why does my Lauryl Tryptose Broth have a shiny precipitate?
A. A precipitate or cloudiness may form in refrigerated broth. Media will become clear when warmed to room temperature.
Q.When I received my media, the Durham tubes already contained bubbles.
A. Prior to inoculation of the medium, it may be necessary to invert the tube in order to release any bubbles that may be trapped in the Durham tube. Bubbles that are not removed before inoculation may lead to false-positive results.
Q.Why are some of my Dilu-Lok™ vials yellow?
A. The empty vials have been irradiated and, depending on their location in the run, some vials may have received more kGy than others in the same run.
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Q. What is the best way to preserve cultures for long-term storage?
A. We recommend our CryoSavers™ for preserving cultures at ultra-low temperatures. Formulas available are Skim Milk (Cat. no. CSM100), Skim Milk with Glycerol (Cat. no. CSMG100) and Brucella with Glycerol (Cat. no. CS100BNB). Brucella with Glycerol is also available with beads (Cat. no. CS100B, CS100G, CS100N, CS100R and CS100Y). The vials are conveniently packaged in a plastic CryoSaver™ box that can be used to store your cultures in the freezer. Stock cultures will last indefinitely in an ultra low or -70 degrees C. freezer. If stored in a household refrigerator freezer (usually -20 degrees), results may be disappointing.
Q. Why does Campy fail to grow when I try to reconstitute the lyophilized pellets?
A. Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most difficult organisms to revive from a preserved state. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully when reconstituting preserved microorganisms. Never attempt to grow any lyophilized organism in a broth. Always use an appropriate non-selective solid media for growing-up the reconstituted organism. The preferred medium on which to grow Campy is a Chocolate Agar plate. Once inoculated to the solid media, immediately transfer the culture to the appropriate atmosphere and incubation temperature. Campylobacter spp. must be placed immediately into a jar with a gas generator to create a microaerophilic atmosphere. The jar method is superior to the bag method for generating Campy from a pellet. Allow at least 48 hours at 35 degrees C. for growth; 42 degree C. incubation is not recommended when growing Campy from a preserved state.
Q. Once the Campy is growing, how do I keep it alive?
A. Transfer isolated colonies from the non-selective plate to a Thioglycollate with Supplements tube (Cat. no. K23). Keep the tube continuously in the 35 degree C. incubator. Oddly, this will maintain a viable culture of Campy for many months.
Q. Are there special requirements for reconstituting certain lyophilized microorganisms?
A. Many organisms require special media or incubation conditions upon rehydration. Consult Hardy Technical Services for questions or access the information on the MicroBioLogics' (MBL) website at www.microbiologics.com, under the Support section.
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Q. How can I reduce the frequency of skin contamination in my blood cultures?
A. Medi-Flex "Blood Culture Prep Kit II" (Cat. no. 260307) contains an alcohol scrub applicator that produces a thorough friction scrub that penetrates the skin surface. It also contains an iodine applicator, and an alcohol prep pad. Studies have shown that contamination rates have been cut in half using this system, thus creating a monetary savings due to the reduced rate of false-positives (ref: Schifman, Pindur; Proc. of ASM Annual Meeting, 1991).
Q. What should I do with contaminated plates?
A. No media company guarantees 100% sterility of their products. The bags and the air surrounding the plates are not sterile. The contamination rate with our plated media is usually no more than 1%. We recommend that our customers keep a tally of broken or contaminated plates, and report them to us once a month for replacement or credit. Any problem of excessive contamination (greater than 2%), discoloration, hemolysis, or breakage should be reported to us immediately.
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Q. How do I get a Technical Data/Information Sheet for your media?
A. Technical Data/Information is located on our website catalog. Call up the product and click on "More Info." Then click on Technical Data "View File." You may then print the Technical Data/Information for your records.
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Q. How do I get an MSDS for your media?
A. MSDS information is located on our website catalog. Call up the product and click on "More Info." Then click on MSDS "View File." You may then print the MSDS for your records.
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Q. Why should media be stored in the dark?
A. Some types of media contain dyes and other light sensitive ingredients. Excessive exposure to light can produce the formation of toxic peroxides that can inhibit growth. Store your media away from the light, especially sunlight or UV light.
Q. Why are my plates sometimes too soft and have a rough surface?
A. Media exposed to freezing temperatures may become mushy, wrinkled on the surface, or, if containing blood, may become hemolyzed; thus rendering it useless. If storing media in a standard refrigerator, do not store it next to the freezer compartment. It is a good idea to take temperature readings at different locations in your refrigerator in case there are excessively cold areas. Also, remember that a thermostat set at 2 degrees C. may, at times, permit the temperature to reach zero and destroy your media. It is safer to set it at a slightly higher temperature, such as 6 degrees C. (ref: Isenberg, H.D. Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook, Vol. I, II & III. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.).
Q. How can I store my media so it will stay as fresh as possible?
A. Always store and incubate your plates in the inverted position (media on top, lid on bottom). This prevents moisture from reaching the surface of the agar, which can cause contamination. Always store media in the dark. Reseal the bag to prevent excessive moisture loss. Never place plated media near the condenser fans in a large refrigerator. This will cause excessive drying of your media. Never leave plated media on the bench at room temperature for more than a few hours. Rotate your stock by using the oldest lots first.
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Q. At what temperature should I adjust my incubator?
A. Set your incubator at 35 degrees C., instead of 37 degrees C., for the cultivation of most bacteria. An incubator set at 37 degrees C. may, at times, reach higher temperatures that can inhibit some types of bacteria. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is inhibited by temperatures greater than 35 degrees C. It is recommended that the CO2 incubator for mycobacteria be set at 37 degrees C. (ref: Isenberg, H.D. Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook, Vol. I, II & III. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.). If your incubator does not have a humidifier, place a beaker of water inside; add some detergent to prevent bacterial growth.
Q. How should I clean my incubator?
A. Cleaning the inside of an incubator with disinfectant is known to result in many "no growth" cultures for several days, so allow it to "air out" thoroughly before using again. A 10% solution of household bleach is one of the best (and cheapest) disinfectants; be sure to make a fresh batch weekly, due to the rapid dissipation of chlorine ions. Periodic cleaning will prevent airborne fungal contamination of your cultures.
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Q. What is the best method of streaking, and which kind of loops are the best?
A. Avoid streaking your plates close to the outer edge. If a contaminant is present, it is most likely to be at the edge of the plate. Older loops may have a rough surface that can gouge the media. Replace your loops occasionally. Nichrome loops are less expensive than platinum and last about 80% as long. The nichrome twisted wire loops are more flexible. Another alternative is disposable plastic loops which are available in soft (flexible) and more rigid shafts. These loops are calibrated and come with a certificate of calibration and sterility.
Q. Can I use a nichrome loop for the oxidase test?
A. Nichrome loops should not be used for the oxidase test, since surface oxidation formed during flaming may cause false-positives. Always use a platinum loop or disposable loop for testing. Oxidase testing should be performed on isolates taken from non-selective media to prevent erroneous results.
Q. What is the easiest way to check the accuracy of my calibrated loops?
A. Our CalCheck™ loop calibrators take only seconds to check your wire loops. These calibrators are designed to be used only with our 26 gauge wire. They consist of surgical steel posts that are sized to check the diameter of your loop. The product numbers for the 1ul and 10ul loop calibrators are Cat. no. 7020 and 7010, respectively. The operation is simple; the green post should go through the loop, and the red post should not.
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Q. Why should I use an MRSA Screen plate in addition to a regular Mueller Hinton?
A. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus always exists as a mixed population of sensitive and resistant strains, hence the term "heteroresistant". The sensitive strains may mask the resistant portion of the population on an ordinary Mueller Hinton plate. The MRSA Screen plate contains added NaCl that the resistant strains prefer. It also contains oxacillin, so that any growth in 24 hours is considered positive for MRSA. It is recommended to incubate no longer than 24 hours at no more than 35 degrees C. for S. aureus. Refer to the technical information sheet for MRSA Screen plate (Cat. no. G47) for more information.
Q. Can I use the MRSA Screen plate when screening for methicillin-resistant, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp.?
A. No, CLSI documents currently recommend the MRSA Screen plate (agar screen test) for use with coagulase-positive S. aureus only. Coagulase-negative staphylococci may be tested using disk diffusion, MIC, agar gradient methods.
Testing of oxacillin against S. saprophyticus is not recommended, because mecA-negative strains of S. saprophyticus often appear resistant by interpretive criteria used for coagulase-negative staphylococci.
Q. What should I do when my QC zone sizes are out of range for one or two antimicrobics when testing my Mueller Hinton Agar?
A. First, try a different lot number or a different manufacturer of the antibiotic disk. Make sure you are keeping your penicillin, ampicillin, and cephalosporins in the freezer, since they are particularly labile. Also, make sure your dispenser is kept in an airtight container with fresh desiccant and indicator (DesiView™, Cat. no. DV10) in order to keep out moisture.
Next, try reconstituting new pellets of stock organisms. CLSI recommends starting a new stock organism from a frozen or lyophilized culture every month, and subculturing to a new plate every week. Next, to make sure that the inoculum is adjusted to the correct cell density for proper interpretation, see that your 0.5 McFarland Standard is in date and that you are vortexing the tube before each use. We recommend the Latex McFarland Standards, rather than traditional barium sulfate standards, due to their increased stability and decreased sensitivity to light; the latex standard should not be vortexed. Carefully adjust the turbidity of the inoculum each time. When using the "direct suspension method," suspensions should be made with overnight cultures. Zones that are too small can result if the inoculum is too turbid or the medium has been over inoculated. Read the plates no later than 24 hours (18 hours for HTM) or zone sizes may also be too small. Refer to the keywords, "Trouble Shooting Guide for Disk Diffusion Susceptibility Testing", in our software program HUGO™.
Q. What is the most current source of information on zone size limits for disk diffusion tests?
A. CLSI updates the interpretive and QC charts for disk diffusion in their most current publications of the M2-A, Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Disk Susceptibility Tests, M100-S, Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing, (also see current publications of their Supplemental Tables) and M31-A, Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Disk and Dilution Susceptibility Tests for Bacteria Isolated From Animals; Approved Standard. To obtain the most recent publication, check the following: www.clsi.org/Source/Custom/Currentdocs.cfm?Section=Current_Versions_of_CLSI_Documents. The source for all CLSI publications is:
Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI - formerly NCCLS)
940 West Valley Road, Suite 1400
Wayne, PA 19087-1898
(610) 688-0100
Website: www.clsi.org
Q. How do I measure a double zone?
A. If there are double zones, measure the inner zone. This may be caused by a disk sitting on top of the agar, not being pressed firmly enough to make good contact and not allowing sufficient diffusion of the antibiotic. Double check that the disk is pressed down firmly, even when using automatic dispensers. If the disk is fully moist after application, this means that the disk has good contact and the antibiotic should diffuse out as expected.
Q. When physicians request information on antimicrobials, they sometimes use their brand names rather than generic names; such as "Cefobid," "Flagyl," "Primaxin," "Suprax," "Timentin," and "Unasyn." Is there a good reference source on the newer antimicrobics?
A. The Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy by Sanford, MD (Cat. no. G08L) is an excellent source of current information on dosage, drug interactions, drugs of choice, side effects, etc. This pocket guide is updated annually. It has a complete chart of brand and generic names. You may also obtain this type of information by searching on the keywords "Trade Name," in our software program HUGO™. The five brand names mentioned above are cefoperazone, metronidazole, imipenem + cilastatin, cefixime, ticarcillin/clavulanic acid, and ampicillin/sulbactam, respectively.
Q. What stock organism should I use to QC my beta-lactamase test?
A. H. influenzae Type B (ATCC® 33533), Cat. no. 0338P, is beta-lactamase-positive. We also have a beta-lactamase-positive Neisseria gonorrhoeae (ATCC® 31426), Cat. no. 0375P.
Q. How do I perform QC on the HTM plates for Haemophilus influenzae susceptibility testing?
A. The current CLSI publication of the M100-S document contains revised tables of patient and QC zone sizes for disk diffusion testing of Haemophilus spp. on HTM plates. The QC organisms required by CLSI are H. influenzae, ATCC® 49247 and 49766. Additionally, E. coli ATCC® 35218 is required to QC amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. It is imperative with this medium that the turbidity of the inoculum be carefully adjusted, and that the plates be observed no later than 18 hours after incubation. A suspension that is too heavy will produce false-resistance results.
Q. How do I perform a disk diffusion test on N. gonorrhoeae?
A. Neisseria gonorrhoeae should be tested on GC Agar Base with Supplements according to CLSI guidelines (ref: Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Disk Susceptibility Test, M2-A. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI - formerly NCCLS), Wayne, PA). Use N. gonorrhoeae ATCC® 49226 for QC. The use of Mueller Hinton with Chocolate plates for Haemophilus or GC is now discouraged in favor of these two new types of media. Refer to the most current CLSI publications: M2-A and M100-S.
Q. Which kind of beta-lactamase test should I be using?
A. An acidometric test such as the Beta-Lactamase Test (Cat. no. Z51) is acceptable for testing only Staphylococcus spp., N. gonorrhoeae, and Haemophilus spp. It produces a rapid and very distinct color change. Our "Nitrocef Matchbook™" (Cat. no. Z108) or Nitrocef HardyDisks™ (Cat. no. Z7301) are chromogenic tests acceptable for beta-lactamase testing of Branhamella (Moraxella) catarrhalis, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bacteroides spp., in addition to the three organisms mentioned above.
Q. How should I screen for Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBLs) and other mechanisms of resistance?
A. CLSI has revised their position on the detection of ESBLs: previous recommendations were to perform ESBL screen and confirmatory tests for E. coli, Klebsiella spp., and Proteus mirabilis. However, new data suggests that ESBL phenotypic tests are not optimal due to the presence of multiple resistance mechanisms that may mask ESBLs in confirmatory tests; ESBLs are now known to exist in species of Enterobacteriaceae other than E. coli, Klebsiella spp., and P. mirabilis where confirmatory tests are more problematic; and some MICs correlate better with patient outcomes rather than the knowledge of the resistance mechanism.
New CLSI recommendations for ESBL testing under the revised breakpoints in the current version of the M100-S, Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing, state that ESBL screen and confirmatory tests and editing of the "S" to "R" for cephalosporins, penicillins, and aztreonam are no longer necessary for patient management. However, for infection control purposes, ESBL screen and confirmatory tests, if requested, may still provide useful information on ESBL positive and negative strains, yet editing of the "S" to "R" for cephalosporins, penicillins, and aztreonam is still not required. Many ESBL positive organisms are commonly associated with nosocomial infections and, when under selective pressure in environments of heavy antibiotic usage, may adapt to confer resistance to all penicillins and all cephalosporins (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation), with exception to cefepime (4th generation). It is highly suggestive of ESBL production when resistance to 4th generation cephalosporins (cefepime and cefpirome) is observed; see the Supplemental Table 2A in the current CLSI M100-S document. Therefore, if and when ESBL screening is conducted, careful reading of susceptibility results, combined with judicious interpretation and enhanced communication with infectious disease physicians, can often lead to the correct diagnosis and therapeutic success.
Q. How do I recognize unusual susceptibility patterns?
A. Susceptibility results can provide valuable information when carefully read and interpreted. Some genera present unique susceptibility patterns that can be easily recognized. Appendix A, in the current CLSI document M100-S, Suggestions for Verification of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test Results and Confirmation of Organism Identification, should be consulted for unusual or unexpected reactions.
Q. How do I screen for reduced susceptibility to vancomycin and vancomycin resistance in staphylococci?
A. Disk diffusion is not recommended for differentiation of reduced susceptibility to vancomycin (MICs 4 to 8ug/mL) from susceptible strains (0.5 to 2ug/mL). MIC determination should be performed. The vancomycin screen agar used for enterococci (BHIA with Vancomycin, Cat. no. G14) may be used, but should be confirmed by MIC.
Q. How can I best store my antimicrobial disks?
A. Cartridges of commercially prepared paper disks used specifically for susceptibility testing are usually packaged to maintain anhydrous conditions.
Disks should be stored as follows:
Refrigerate cartridges at 8 degrees C. or below, or you can freeze at -14 degrees C. or below in a nonfrost-free freezer. Sealed packages of disks with beta-lactams should be stored frozen, except for a small working supply, which should be refrigerated for no longer than one week. Some of the more labile drugs (imipenem, meropenem, cefaclor, and clavulanic acid combinations) are more stable when stored frozen until the day of use.
Unopened disk containers should always be allowed to equilibrate to room temperature before opening. This will minimize excess condensation when warm air comes in contact with cold disks.
Once a sealed package of disks has been opened, it should be placed in a tightly sealed, desiccated container. Disk dispensers should always be stored refrigerated with a tight cover and desiccant (DesiView™, Cat. no. DV10). The disk dispenser should be allowed to come to room temperature before opening the cover. Replace desiccant when the indicator changes color.
Disks should always be discarded on the expiration date.
Q. How do I store my quality control strains for sensitivity testing?
A. For storage of less than one year, stock cultures may be maintained at -20 degrees C. or below with suitable stabilizer (e.g., Brucella Broth with Glycerol (Cat. no. D04), CryoSaver™ Skim Milk (Cat. no. CSM100), CryoSaver™ Skim Milk with Glycerol (Cat. no. CSMG100) or freeze-dried. Lower temperatures such as -70 degrees C. will preserve organisms indefinitely.
Working cultures should be stored on Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) slants (Cat. no. L60) for the non-fastidious strains and Chocolate Agar slants (Cat. no. L37) for the fastidious strains at 2 to 8 degrees C. These should be subcultured each week for no more than 3 weeks. New working cultures should be prepared monthly from frozen, freeze dried or commercial cultures. Before using, these strains should be subcultured onto agar plates and streaked for isolation. Frozen or freeze dried preparations should be subcultured twice before testing.
For quality control strains of E. coli ATCC® 35218 and K. pneumoniae ATCC® 700603, it is best to store at -60 degrees C. or below and use a minimal number of subcultures, because spontaneous loss of the plasmid encoding beta-lactamase has been documented. This may lead to quality control results of increased zone diameters for E. coli ATCC® 35218 with ampicillin, piperacillin and ticarcillin, and increased zone diameters for K. pneumoniae ATCC® 700603 with cephalosporins and aztreonam.
Q. When do I use transmitted light to read my sensitivity plates?
A. Use transmitted, rather than reflected, light when measuring staphylococci with oxacillin and vancomycin, and/or enterococci with vancomycin. If there are double zones, measure the inner zone. Look for hazy zones or satellite colonies which may denote a resistant sub-population.
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Q. Which indole reagent should I be using?
A. There are three indole reagents. Kovacs Indole (Cat. no. Z67) can be used with the "tube" test or with the "spot" test for aerobic bacteria. It is the least sensitive of the three. The Indole DMACA (Cat. no. Z65) is more sensitive and can only be used with the "spot" test. It is for aerobes and anaerobes. Ehrlichs Indole is for the tube test and requires a xylene extraction. It is the most sensitive of the three (ref: Isenberg, H.D. Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook, Vol. I, II & III. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.).
Q. How can I do a simple confirmation test for Branhamella (Moraxella) catarrhalis?
A. Hardy Diagnostics rapid CatScreen™ (Cat. no. Z110) performs a butyrate reaction within minutes for this organism. The disk turns blue within five minutes when positive.
Q. Why are my CatScreen™ disks turning blue?
A. The disks are temperature sensitive. Take them out only when you need to use them and return them to the refrigerator as soon as possible.
Q. What types of oxidase reagents do you have?
A. Oxidase reagent is available in two different formats: OxiDrops™ (Cat. no. Z119) and OxiStrips™ (Cat. no. Z93). The OxiStrips™ are reagent impregnated paper strips and the OxiDrops™ is a liquid reagent that can be used directly on growing colonies or on a piece of filter paper.
Q. What types of rapid test kits and reagents do you have?
A. Ask your sales representative for a copy of our most recent "Rapid Test Kits and Reagents" brochure. You can also access this information at the Hardy Diagnostics website by selecting a product like Indole (Cat. no. Z67) and choosing "Brochures and Studies."
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Q. Is there a single transport media I can use for Chlamydia, Herpes, and Mycoplasma?
A. Our CVM Transport (Cat. no. R96) can be used for all three organisms above. It inhibits most other bacteria and yeast. The transport is available with or without a collection swab. CVM Transport has been proven suitable for maintaining viability of most chlamydia, viruses and mycoplasma when transported at ambient temperature (15 to 30 degrees C.) for up to 48 hours.
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Q. The disposal of mercury-containing PVA is becoming more of a problem in our lab. What is a good substitute?
A. We now have Modified PVA which contains either copper sulfate or Zinc PVA; both of which do not contain mercury. Although most technologists feel that these alternatives do not produce the same degree of clarity as traditional PVA, some studies are showing acceptable results. Please contact us for literature.
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Q. What is the best media for fungal cultures?
A. Many experts are now recommending Inhibitory Mold Agar (Cat. no. W25), which is an excellent medium for the primary set-up of fungal cultures. It is a highly enriched medium suitable for fungal pathogens. It contains chloramphenicol to inhibit bacterial contamination. BHI with or without blood may also be used as a non-inhibitory medium. Malt Extract Agar (Cat. no. W28) is another popular fungal medium. V9 Agar and Potato Flake Agar are especially good to enhance the conidia and spore formation of molds.
Q. How can I do a Germ Tube test for Candida without the hazards of using human serum?
A. Our Germ Tube Cryo™ (Cat. no. Z217) consists of newborn calf serum and Tryptic Soy Broth. It comes pre-measured and ready-to-use in small CryoSaver™ vials that are stored in the freezer. This eliminates the hazards of using human serum and saves the technologist time, since it is "ready-to-use."
Q. How can I keep my mycology plates from drying out when I incubate them for long periods of time?
A. Our petri plate seals MycoSeals™ (Cat. no. SS9225) are designed to prevent media from drying out by forming an air permeable seal over the lid. MycoSeals™ are composed of a cellulose band that shrinks upon drying to keep the lid attached to the bottom dish. For greater safety, MycoSeals™ can also be used to prevent the dispersal of fungal spores and conidia when the lid is accidentally lifted outside of a safety cabinet.
Q. Do you have a chromogenic medium for Candida?
A. Yes, HardyCHROM™ Candida (Cat. no. G301). Colonies of Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis produce distinctive colored colonies which aid in the identification of these species. Rapid Trehalose Broth (Cat. no. Z205) or GlabrataQuick™ (Cat. no. Z298) can be used for definitive identification of C. glabrata.
Q. What is the easiest way to perform a slide culture?
A. MycoVue™ (Cat. no. MV1, MV2 and MV3) is available in three formats: Potato Dextrose Agar, Sabouraud's Dextrose Agar with Cycloheximide and Gentamicin and Cornmeal with Tween®. It simplifies the slide culture technique by providing all the necessary components for this procedure in one ready-to-use, disposable unit. The device is designed to fit easily onto a microscope stage, thus allowing a direct view of the developing fungus through the device and eliminating disruption of the fungal colony. If desired, the lid of the device can be removed and the coverslip stained for further evaluation or preservation.
Q. Do you have a rapid test for the identification of Candida albicans?
A. AlbiQuick™ (Cat. no. Z121) can be used for the rapid identification of Candida albicans based on the detection of the enzymes beta-galactosaminidase and L-proline aminopeptidase in yeasts.
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Q. Why do I occasionally get slight growth in the X quadrant of the Haemophilus ID Quad plate?
A. This "carryover" effect is often seen when testing H. influenzae on the Haemophilus Quad plate. Nutrients from the Chocolate Agar plate can be accidentally carried over with the inoculum to the Quad plate, resulting in slight growth in the X and V quadrants. Always compare the amount of growth in the X and V quadrants to the growth in the Chocolate (fourth) quadrant. Slight growth on the X or V quadrant, compared to luxuriant growth on the Chocolate quadrant, is interpreted as a negative. As a precaution against the "carryover" effect, always prepare a dilution of your inoculum and flame your loop between streaking each quadrant.
Q. How can I prevent an overgrowth of normal respiratory flora when culturing for Haemophilus?
A. Because Haemophilus influenzae colonies are slow growing and small, they are often missed on a Chocolate plate when there is heavy growth of normal flora. Our Chocolate Agar with Bacitracin plate (Cat. no. E11) will inhibit most normal flora (S. viridans, Neisseria, staph, and diphtheroids) and allow for the growth of Haemophilus without competition from other colonies for nutrients.
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GC MEDIA (Neisseria gonorrhoeae)
Q. Why should Transgrow Bottles not be tilted when inoculating?
A. Transgrow Bottles contain a CO2 enriched atmosphere. CO2 is heavier than air. Therefore, tilting the open bottle will cause the CO2 to run out. Always hold the bottle upright when inoculating or whenever the cap is off. Excess moisture, if present, can be removed with a sterile swab; also while holding the bottle upright.
Q. After inoculating my Martin Lewis with Lincomycin Pill Pocket Plate, should I put a drop of water on the CO2 tablet?
A. After inoculating the plate, place the CO2 generating tablet in the round well, then seal the zip-lock bag. Do not add any water to the well. There is enough moisture in the bag due to condensation to slowly release the CO2. If water is added, the pill will fizz up too rapidly and the CO2 will be dissipated before the bag can be sealed.
Q. Why do bacteria other than GC grow on the Thayer Martin plates?
A. Although designed to be selective for N. gonorrhoeae, this medium will allow the growth of other types of bacteria and yeast, especially towards the end of its shelf life when the antimicrobics are less effective. Always perform additional screening tests on all suspicious isolates (i.e., Gram staining, oxidase test, carbohydrate fermentation, etc.).
For better inhibition of bacteria and yeasts, use our improved plate Martin Lewis with Lincomycin (Cat. no. E39). It contains amphotericin B, which is an excellent anti-fungal agent. It also contains a reduced amount of vancomycin, since some strains of vancomycin-sensitive GC have been reported.
Q. How come N. gonorrhoeae can grow on a regular Blood Agar Plate?
A. Our TSA with 5% Sheep Blood plate is so enriched that some strains of N. gonorrhoeae will grow quite well. Never use "growth/no growth" on a blood plate as a criteria for identifying N. gonorrhoeae.
Q. What is a good way to confirm the identification of N. gonorrhoeae?
A. We recommend our "CarboFerm™ Neisseria Kit" (Cat. no. Z98), which is a reliable carbohydrate fermentation method. The carbohydrates are in a dried form, so the kit has a long shelf life. This method takes less than four hours to complete.
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Q. What is the best media for isolating Shigella?
A. Selenite Cystine Broth and SS Agar are excellent for Salmonella, but poor for the isolation of Shigella. HE Agar and GN Broth are recommended for both Salmonella and Shigella.
Q. Why do the enteric plates sometimes look like they are contaminated with fungus?
A. During prolonged storage, SS and HE plates will occasionally exhibit "spider" or "snowflake" like formations in the media. These formations are caused by bile precipitates. Although it may look like fungal contamination, it is not. Both of these media contain a high concentration of bile which is used to inhibit gram-positive bacteria. Although a cosmetic defect, it does not influence the growth characteristics of the media.
Q. Is there any advantage to using the new Blood-Free Campy media?
A. Some studies have shown an increased rate of recovery using the charcoal agar based Campy, Blood-Free (Cat. no. G06, Karmali formula). The charcoal helps to neutralize any toxins that might inhibit the growth of C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. laridis. The inhibitory characteristics of this medium are the same as our Campy CVA (Cat. no. A40). Information and samples are available upon request. (ref: J. Clin. Micro., Vol. 23:456-459, Mar. 1986.)
Q. Do you have a rapid test to help identify Campylobacter spp.?
A. Indoxyl Acetate Disks (Cat. no. Z111) help differentiate Campylobacter spp. on the basis of indoxyl acetate hydrolysis. Positives will show a blue-green color within 30 minutes.
Q. How can I isolate and identify E. coli O157:H7?
A. An initial screen can be performed by looking for clear colonies on MacConkey with Sorbitol (Cat. no. G36) or better yet, CT-SMAC (Cefixime Tellurite-Sorbitol MacConkey) Agar (Cat. no. G129). CT-SMAC is more selective for E. coli O157 and reduces false-positives. CT-SMAC is currently being recommended by many Public Health Departments. These colonies can then be tested by latex agglutination with Hardy's "E. coliPRO™ O157 Kit" (Cat. no. PL070HD). To test for the flagella H7 antigen use Denka Seiken's "Antiserum Tube Test" (Cat. no. 295569). Please contact us for more information and product information sheets.
Our CIN / MacConkey with Sorbitol Agar biplate allows you to screen for Aeromonas and Yersinia on the CIN Agar side, as well as E. coli O157 on the other side.
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Q. How do I interpret a yellow slant on an EnteroScreen 4™ tube?
A. The slant of an EnteroScreen 4™ tube (Cat. no. L225) determines the deaminase reaction. A negative reaction would be recorded for a purple or yellow slant. A red slant is indicative of a positive reaction for lysine deaminase.
Q. Can I use the EnteroScreen 4™ to speciate enteric organisms?
A. This product was developed as a single tube screen for non-lactose-fermenting, oxidase-negative, enteric pathogens isolated from stool specimens. A positive lysine deaminase and/or strongly positive urea will immediately rule out Salmonella and Shigella species. A weak positive urea with a negative lysine deamination, no H2S and no gas should be investigated further as a possible Yersinia enterocolitica.
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Q. With my latex kit for Staphylococcus, I sometimes get rough negatives or weak positives.
A. Try the StaphTEX™ Latex Kit (Cat. no. ST50), which is noted for its easy to read reactions. The negatives are exceptionally smooth, and the positives are strong and easy to read, since the latex beads are blue on a white background.
Q. Can I do the latex test on colonies taken from Mannitol Salt Agar?
A. Do not use colonies grown on high salt containing media (such as Mannitol Salt Agar) to perform the latex agglutination test. Rough, stringy non-interpretable results can occur if isolates are tested from high salt containing media or colonies that are greater than 48 hours old.
Q. Do you have a test to help differentiate S. lugdunensis?
A. Our Rapid Ornithine tubes (Cat. no. K279) provide results in as little as two to four hours. The test can be used to determine ornithine decarboxylase activity in the family Enterobacteriaceae and can be used to differentiate Staphylococcus lugdunensis from other species of Staphylococcus.
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Q. What additional tests can I do to confirm group A strep?
A. False-positives will often be encountered when using bacitracin disks to identify group A strep (up to 15%), because groups C and G will often be inhibited by bacitracin as well. Use the more specific PYR (Cat. no. Z75) method to confirm. Studies have shown PYR to have a specificity of 98% for S. pyogenes (ref: J. Clin. Micro., Vol. 15:987, 1982). It produces an instantaneous color change to red if positive. PYR is also a rapid way to assist in confirming Enterococcus faecalis, which will also be positive.
Q. What rapid tests do you have for the identification of gram-positive, catalase-negative cocci?
A. StrepQuick™ (Cat. no. Z122) is a card test containing PYR, LAP and esculin for rapid gram-positive, catalase-negative cocci based on pyroglutamate aminopeptidase (PYR), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), and esculin hydrolysis (ESC) activity. This test kit simplifies identification of Enterococcus spp., group A streptococci (Streptococcus pyogenes), Gemella spp., Aerococcus spp., Leuconostoc spp., and Pediococcus spp. An interpretation can be made within 15 minutes.
We also have a Rapid Anginosus ID Kit (Cat. no. Z14), which can be used to detect arginine decarboxylase activity and perform the Voges-Proskauer test in as little as four hours. This kit can be used in the presumptive identification of streptococcal isolates suspected of belonging to the Streptococcus anginosus, formerly known as S. milleri, group (S. anginosus, S. constellatus, S. intermedius).
Q. Sometimes I have difficulty in getting reliable results using the CAMP test for group B strep.
A. Due to uncontrollable lot-to-lot variation and seasonal differences in the sheep blood, the CAMP test will sometimes produce weak or non-existent zones of enhanced hemolysis with group B strep. We suggest a more reliable means of identification; such as Hardy's latex agglutination test, "StrepPRO™" Grouping Kit (Cat. no. PL030HD), or a rapid Hippurate Test (Cat. no. Z52). However, if you must do a CAMP test, always run a positive and negative control.
Q. How can I test for group B strep from a vaginal/rectal OB specimen?
A. Currently, the CDC recommends overnight incubation of the specimen in LIM Broth (Cat. no. L57) or other selective enrichment, and then subculture to a non-selective Sheep Blood Agar plate (Cat. no. A10). Catalase-negative, beta-hemolytic and non-beta-hemolytic colonies after 18-24 hours of incubation should be tested further using a slide agglutination test such as Hardy's StrepPRO™ Grouping Kit (Cat. no. PL030HD).
An alternate method would be to plate the specimen directly to Granada Medium (Cat. no. G123) or use our Strep B Carrot Broth™ Kit (Cat. no. Z140). Our Strep B Carrot Broth™ Kit is a novel way of identifying positive group B strep cultures from pregnant women. It has been found to be more sensitive than LIM Broth and even PCR. The CDC found it to be 100% accurate when tested against 50 strains of Streptococcus and Enterococcus. A color change to bright orange in as little as six hours indicates a positive culture. Only beta-hemolytic group B streps will be positive, so the negatives need to be subcultured for the rare non-hemolytic strains (less than 4%). You can safely retain the tubes for up to two weeks at room temperature for future subculturing for susceptibility studies. See the technical information sheets or contact us for more information.
Subcultures from LIM Broth or Strep B Carrot Broth™ can be subcultured to GBS Detect (Cat. no. A300), a selective agar formulated to detect non-hemolytic GBS. This special formulation enables all GBS (even those that appear non-hemolytic on a regular blood agar plate) to demonstrate a strong hemolytic reaction in 24 hours.
What is "Blood Agar EH"?
A. Blood Agar with Enhanced Hemolysis (Cat. no. A03) utilizes a new powder base that produces larger and clearer zones of hemolysis around the colonies of beta-hemolytic streptococci. These extremely distinct zones develop more rapidly than on regular Blood Agar. This media should not be used with the CAMP test, and may cause confusing results with bacitracin disks (due to the large hemolytic zones which may spread close to the disk).
Q. What exactly does your "Selective Strep Agar" select for?
A. This type of media (Cat. no. A70) allows for the growth of all types of strep while inhibiting the growth of most other organisms. This media may also be used to selectively isolate groups A, B, C, F, and G strep as well as S. pneumoniae.
We also have another media that selects for group A beta-hemolytic streptococci only. It will inhibit viridans strep and most other normal throat flora. It is called Group A Beta Strep Agar (Cat. no. A72).
Q. How can I differentiate between a possible pathogenic Enterococcus species and a non-pathogenic one?
A. Rapid MGP Medium (Cat. no. Z225) can be used to differentiate the non-pathogenic Enterococcus casseliflavus and Enterococcus gallinarum (MGP-positive) from Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium (MGP-negative). Non-pathogens will turn yellow within 5 hours.
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Q. How can I get the best recovery of anaerobes from my Thioglycollate Broth?
A. Inoculate Thioglycollate media all the way to the bottom of the tube where anaerobic conditions exist. Also, be careful not to agitate or invert the tube, which will cause oxygen to reach the lower area of the tube. Thioglycollate contains a small amount of agar which may appear as a white precipitate, not to be confused with growth. Consider using our Thio with Supplements (Cat. no. K23) or Thioglycollate with H and K without Indicator (Cat. no. AG22H). It contains hemin and vitamin K which are required by some fastidious anaerobes. It also contains a calcium carbonate chip (CaCO3), which serves as a buffer to neutralize the build-up of harmful acids as the organisms grow, thus prolonging their viability.
Q. What is the best media for preserving stock cultures of anaerobes?
A. Our Cooked Meat Medium (Cat. no. K19) or Chopped Meat Glucose Broth (Cat. no. AG19H) contains chopped meat, hemin, vitamin K, iron filings, and yeast extract. It has been shown to be a good medium for long-term storage of anaerobic bacteria, when freezing is not convenient. If freezing of the cultures is desired, use our CryoSaver™ Skim Milk (Cat. no. CSM100). Each vial is pre-measured with skim milk, which is an excellent cryopreservative (ref: Summanen, P. et al. 1993. Wadsworth Anaerobic Bacteriology Manual, 5th ed. Star Publishing, Belmont, CA).
Q. How can I optimize my recovery of anaerobes?
A. Transport your specimens in a specialized anaerobic transport medium (such as SD120D, see the "Anaerobic Microbiology" section of our catalog), and plate them out immediately upon arrival. If using an anaerobe jar, avoid using a gas generating system that requires a catalyst. These types of systems are unreliable and produce explosive hydrogen gas. Instead, use an ascorbic acid oxygen scavenger system such as AnaeroGen™. See "AnaeroGen™" (Cat. no. AN25US or AN35US), Oxoid's Gas Generator that does not require a catalyst or the addition of water.
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Q. Why does V Agar have such a short outdate?
A. V Agar which contains 5% human blood is very prone to spontaneous hemolysis. It is made with expired units of blood bank blood. The cells in each unit may vary in their ability to remain intact in the agar. This is why this product is given only a six week shelf-life. The units of blood have been thoroughly tested, and found to be negative for HIV antibody, RPR, and hepatitis B surface antigen. However, biohazard precautions should be exercised, as with all blood products and specimens. Autoclave all units before disposal. Remember that G. vaginalis will produce only a faint beta-hemolysis on this medium, which can take up to 48 hours of incubation. Incubation must be in a CO2 atmosphere to stimulate growth and beta-hemolysis.
Q. What are some other tests to help confirm the identification of Gardnerella vaginalis?
A. G. vaginalis will be sensitive to a Metronidazole 50mcg disk (Cat. no. DD8) and resistant to a Sulfonamide 1mg disk (Cat. no. DD11). These disks can be placed directly on a V Agar or Chocolate Agar plate. Please contact us for more information.
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Q. My AFB cultures often turn out contaminated after doing the digestion procedure.
A. The stock bottle of the Phosphate Buffer and NALC Reagent can easily become contaminated if allowed to touch the rim of the centrifuge tube. Also, as the liquid is being poured out, air is being sucked back into the bottle. This can be another source of contamination. To eliminate this problem we offer Phosphate Buffer (Cat. no. X43) and TB Base Digestant (Cat. no. X45) in smaller, single use, sizes (50ml) that can be discarded after each use to reduce the chance of contamination.
Q. During digestion procedures, how do I know that the specimen has been adequately neutralized by the buffer?
A. Our TB Prep Kit Red™ (Cat. no. Z158) has a pH indicator. When the specimen is adequately neutralized the specimen will be colorless.
Q. How can I culture for the types of mycobacteria that will not grow on ordinary Middlebrook and Lowenstein Jensen?
A. Mycobacterium haemophilum can be grown on a Middlebrook 7H11 plate that has an "X-Factor Strip" placed on the surface. This supplies hemin that this organism requires (ref: Clin. Micro. Newsletter, Vol. 14:11, June 1, 1992).
Mycobacterium genavense can be cultured on our Middlebrook 7H10 with 10% Human Blood (Cat. no. C42).
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Q. What is the best reference source for clinical microbiology?
A. The most complete and easy to use reference text on the market, we believe, is the Color Atlas and Text of Diagnostic Microbiology, by Koneman (Cat. no. 730147). Another good one to have is Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology, by Finegold, Baron and Peterson (Cat. no. 3030653). It contains step by step procedures and a wealth of practical information on infectious diseases, with many color photographs. ASM's Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 9th ed. (Cat. no. 5813710, hardcover) is another valuable source of information.
Q. What is the best source of help for writing a procedure manual for microbiology?
A. The CLSI publication GP2, Clinical Laboratory Technical Procedure Manuals, provides guidelines for writing procedures. The ASM's Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook (contact Hardy Diagnostics for latest edition) provides hundreds of procedures, all written in the approved CLSI format, and is available in a three ring binder. All of our technical information sheets, located in our software program HUGO™, are written in the recommended CLSI format so they can be used in your manual.
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ATCC is a registered trademark of the American Type Culture Collection.
Tween is a registered trademark of ICI Americas, Inc.
AnaeroGen is a trademark of Oxoid, Ltd.


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Need Appliance Repair Help? Ask a Technician for Answers ASAP
Hello from our service,
My name is Chas, I am so happy to help you today.Before we get started, I would like to help us get on the same page so that our interaction will go smoothly.I might give you an answer immediately, or ask you a question. Either way, we are likely to be in a question and answer format, so you will need to click reply to expert if:a. You want to add detail.b. Your question was not fully answered.c. You want to ask further questions.I would like to say that we are also on the honors system. I in good faith am going to do my utmost to ensure your satisfaction.
When the error comes up, and you press cancel, does the error ever show up in under 60 seconds again? Or does it take longer than 60 seconds?
When the error code comes up I can start the oven,clock or do anything and it works fine. Then it may stop in a few minutes or hours later. Then the screen is blank and will not respond to any button I push. Then it may come back on a couple hours later
Attachments are only available to registered users.
All I ask of you is to please rate me with one of the top 3 ratings. If there is anything else I can help you with today just let me know. You can continue asking questions for as long as you like even after you rate me. If you are done and rate a 1 or 2 s please consider replying and telling me what more I can do or what more you would have liked that was within my power so that I possibly give you that information or help me improve my customer satisfaction rating. . .
Bonuses are welcome if I have helped you a lot, however they are not mandatory
The touch pad was replaced yesterday by a repairman for a charge of $495.00. It does not work. Two hours after he left ,it went back to the blank screen and it is doing the same thing.


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Career women looking to get ahead will find straight answers and nine proven strategies in this guide from one of the most savvy, successful, powerful women in American business. Top magazine executive Kate White shares the systematic plan that took her from being a "good girl" to a "gutsy girl".
Genre: Business & Economics
On Sale: May 12th 1995


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Internet Video Marketing Hands on Workshop
L&A Computer Services | Israel Leichtman
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 7:30 PM (CST)
Event Details
Are you ready?
If you are a service based professional (coach, consultant, speaker, financial planner, massage therapist, personal trainer, network marketer, real estate broker, etc. ) and want to grow your business, we invite you to join us for an incredible opportunity.
Video converts casual browsers into solid leads and then paying customers. Videos engage, inform and build trust quicker, easier and more effectively than any other marketing tool.
One video is worth a thousand photos, and YouTube is the perfect outlet to tell your story. It has become the second largest search engine with millions of eyeballs every day. In this session, you'll learn, step by step, how to create video content that will create interest in your organization and increase your revenue. You'll leave with all the skills you'll need to showcase your talents or promote your cause.
You are 53x more likely to appear on page one of Google's
search results if you have video on your Website.
Forrester Research, January 2009
Video in email marketing increases
click-through rates by 96%.
Implix 2010 Email Marketing Trends Survey
Press releases that include video components
receive a 500% increase in views.
Eloqua, April 2010
About the Workshop
This information packed, hands-on, three session event will inspire and teach you what you need to do to take your marketing to a whole new level.
This three session workshop will teach you how to produce an internet video and use it on popular websites such as YouTube and FaceBook to market your business.
This workshop is designed for creative individuals who own or manage businesses that provide either professional services or unique products. This workshop will be ideal for consultants who need to stand out from the other experts in their field.
Presented over three evenings, this workshop will help you learn what you need to get started, how to use both free and inexpensive tools, and provide hands on experience in the major aspects of production.
It is not enough to just hear information. You will get the structure of guided practice to absorb what you've learned. Participants will practice writing what they are going to say and practice being videoed. This way you will know what other people think before you go live.
Workshop runs from 7:30pm to 9:00pm each evening. Light refreshments provided.
Seating is limited to 20, to give personal attention to each participant, so act quickly.
Who Should Attend?
- Small Business Owners - Promote what you know
- Consultants - Showcase your expertise
- Independent Sales Representatives - Highlight your products' advantages
- Professional Speakers - Show them what you can do
- Coaches - Create Training and Coaching Materials to Sell
- Inventors - Demonstrate your new product
- Nonprofits - Promote your cause
- Writers - Stimulate interest in your book(s)
- Journalists - Tell your story
Create Videos like these:
Class Outline
This is a Hands on training. Each participant will have the opportunity to record video and be recorded on video. Topics to be covered include:
- Learn How to create a compelling marketing Message that will bring in clients
- How internet video ties in with your current marketing
- Setting goals for your video
- Ten different types of content
- How to take video effectively
- How to make compelling video content
- Five common mistakes amateur video enthusiasts make; how to avoid them
- How to present your message
- Creating a YouTube Channel
- Other places to publish your video
- Publicizing your Video
- Participants will practice writing what they are going to say
- Participants will practice taking videos and being recorded
- Light Refreshments will be served.(Coffee Plus)
The event will be recorded with video. Your registering for this event gives us permission to use your image.
When & Where
Plenty of Free Parking
4059 Dempster St
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 7:30 PM (CST)
Add to my calendar
L&A Computer Services | Israel Leichtman
L&A Computer Services is based in Chicago and is a pioneer in creating internet marketing since 1996. L&A's pragmatic approach helps clients maximize their computer and internet use saving them time and money.
L&A's clients include professionals such as Doctors, Attorneys and Real Estate agents as well as Small and Home offices.


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Frequently Asked Questions
Download complete Continuing Education Student Handbook
Who may take a Continuing Education course?
Continuing Education courses are open to all members of our community (high school age and up) and have been developed to foster personal and professional growth. Classes are conveniently conducted in the evenings and on the weekends.
What does a non-credit course mean?
Students who enroll in a non-credit CE course may request a Pass or Fail grade upon course completion. Students receive continuing education units (CEUs) upon successful completion of a class. CEUS are nationally recognized units earned by participation in qualified CE Programs which document non-credit work completed. One CEU is awarded for every 10 hours of class participation. CEUs are not equivalent to college credits and no letter grade or official transcript is provided for non-credit coursework.
In addition:
- students enrolled in a DCAD Certificate Program take a class on a non-credit basis.
- any student (whether in a Certificate Program or not) is welcome to take any class provided pre-requisites are met.
Where may I park?
The Delaware College of Art and Design is located on the Market Street Mall in the heart of Wilmington's Downtown Historic District, a few blocks from Rodney Square, the Grand Opera House, the Christina Cultural Center, and Delaware History Museum, as well as many other downtown destinations. DCAD is easily accessible by multiple DART buses. Street parking is also readily available at no charge after 6:00 pm.
How much is tuition?
Tuition for each course is indicated as a part of the course description. A one-time per semester, non-refundable registration fee is required. Some courses may require an additional lab fee, which is indicated with the course description. Tuition and fees must be paid in full before the start of class. Registration is taken on a first-come, first-serve basis.
IRS Education Credit
If eligible, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows students to apply for educational credits. The Lifetime Learning Credit is a tax credit which may be available to help offset the cost of higher education by reducing the amount of your income tax. For more information regarding education credit, eligibility, and instructions, please see IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education.
State of Delaware - Governor's Education Grant for Working Adults
Students who live and work in Delaware may be eligible for tuition assistance through the State of Delaware. To view qualifications, requirments, and the application, click here.
Stay up to date on Continuing Education at DCAD! Sign up below to receive our enewsletters:
Resources for Continuing Education Faculty
CE Faculty Addendum to Handbook
Degree Program Faculty Handbook
Institutional Policies Overview


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Our elegant standard double rooms have a 180 cm x 200 cm double bed and are equipped with LCD TV and Sky digital service.
The pleasant rooms combine traditional local style with modern comforts such as Wi-Fi.
All rooms have newly installed bathrooms with either shower or bath.
Hotel Olimpia


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For those interested in theology, I encourage you to reflect on this perspective on humanity's distinctiveness among the primates on this planet. That which distinguishes us as human beings is responsible for most things that are wrong on this planet – and most of what we consider to make life worth living. I think this offers a nice perspective that complements one possible understanding of the Eden myth – human "fallenness" is not a condition that we could have avoided. The loss of innocence, independent thought, and even rebellion that accompany becoming a mature human being are part of what makes us human, for better or worse.
One Primate's Fall is Another Primate's Progress
Related posts from Religion Prof: The Blog of James F. McGrath:
- Kaz
Interesting perspective, James, thanks for sharing it. For those who are happy to adopt a theology/anthropology that's based on anything but the Bible, it will likely be satisfying.
- Mary
Actually, since this mentions the Eden myth, it is based on the Bible, just not the traditional interpretation. I have often wondered whether the symbolic meaning of this is the separation of humanity from purely animal consciousness. The Adam and Eve story starts out with mankind being totally in harmony with nature and completely innocent. I think innocence here could be interpreted as not necessarily innocent as far as actions are concerned, but rather having the innocence of animals that act according to instincts rather than thought. When Adam and Even ate the forbidden fruit their eyes were opened and they saw that they were naked (a symbol of shame). This indicates that "sin" or rather actions that hurt others (not necessarily evil) was ALREADY in existence, because they were naked before the "fall" occurred. Note that the Tree was not a tree of evil itself, but of "The KNOWLEDGE of Good and Evil". The snake, which many people have interpreted as being Satan (even though the story does not make that claim), is a symbol of WISDOM in many religious cultures. The Hindus believe a snake represents the energy of enlightenment, going through the spine from the bottom upward. As this energy winds its way through the chakras (energy centers) it starts with base animal instincts (sex, survival) progressing to higher levels of consciousness (such as love and intellect) and finally through the top of the head to achieve transcendent God consciousness. The tree could also represent the spine depicted in the Hindu belief system.
The second tree, the Tree of Life represents God consciousness. For some reason it is forbidden to eat the fruit because Adam and Eve would become "like us (the Gods)". Apparently mankind has to go through the long process of working through our "sin" or lower consciousness before we can attain enlightenment. That means separating ourselves from our state of "innocence", or animal consciousness, represented by our eviction from Eden. We now inhabit what seems to be a harsh world because we have to deal with the consequences of our wrongdoings and find our way back to God or higher consciousness.
You can see this story as both pertaining to our animal ancestry but also as an individual growth process as you indicate in your article.
- Kaz
Hi Mary,
I don't believe that the mention of the "Eden myth" makes the description biblical in any way. There are profound theological problems with attempts to marry an unguided evolutionary process with the Bible, not least of which is the fact that it shifts the blame for all the troubles mankind has endured and places it on God's shoulders. In this view, man isn't suffering because of a past fall, but because God just hasn't bothered to lend a hand. On the traditional Christian view there is a principle involved; on the modern attempted synthesis, it just is what it is.
- Mary
Thanks for your reply. However I think you missed my point. I see this whole process as a profoundly spiritual one. The story to me indicates a growth process we all have to go through, as indicated by the author of this article. I am not at all saying that all the troubles mankind has endured is on God's shoulders. However I do understand that it does go against traditional interpretation of God as Savior. My view is that rather seeing ourselves as sinners that need to be rescued, that we see our problems and mistakes as a learning process. When we work through our "stuff", we remove the obstacles to God.
However, this is just my interpretation. My intent for posting this was to stimulate thought on the subject. Thank you for your input.


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Herald Leader To Begin Charging For Some Digital Content
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Visitors to the Lexington Herald-Leader's website (kentucky.com) will no longer be allowed free unlimited access to stories after December 4th.
Following the lead of the Courier-Journal, The Messenger, and other Kentucky papers, the Herald-Leader announced Monday it plans to put its mobile apps and part of its website, Kentucky.com, behind a pay wall.
That means web readers will get 15 stories free every month. Beyond that, readers will have to purchase a "digital bundle" which will cost .36 cents a week for newspaper subscribers who already receive the eEdition, .60 cents a week for those with only a newspaper subscription, and $9.99 a month as a stand-alone service.
In the announcement, the Herald-Leader reports that traffic to its site has seen a dramatic increase in 2012 with an average of 1.4 million unique visitors each month.
The announcement says changes in digital media require a change in the paper's business model.
When asked to comment on the announcement Herald Leader Editor and Vice President Peter Baniak referred all inquiries to an FAQ link found on the paper's website.