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Well, that was fun! I am honored and thrilled to have helped christen the new Libbey Bowl in Ojai. I sang a couple of songs with Ojai's best musician Jimmy Calire and then came back for the finale with all the great Ojai musicians, clustered together onstage for a gospel extravaganza. It's new and improved, but the best thing is that it still feels just like Libbey Bowl!
Thanks, everyone, for sticking it out in the rain. What a wonderful day.
Tags: Libbey Bowl, Ojai
This entry was posted on Monday, June 6th, 2011 at 7:13 am
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The It Gets Better Campaign is great because it show so dramatically how much better it can get. Watching the Google Chrome commercial during Glee the other night, though, I was reminded of a relatively undramatic "it gets better" moment that makes me smile.
When I was in high school, the jocks formed a school sanctioned group called "The Twelve Ounce Club."
Tags: It gets better, Ojai
This entry was posted on Friday, May 6th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
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Thank you to everyone who emailed about Part One. Welcome back to Part Two of the Tale of the Desert Rat Tour! Danny B. Harvey (resident Rock God), Sasha Heslip (Cinderblock Bookshelves' producer and tech diva) and I have left the mountains of Colorado and are having lunch in Flagstaff before heading into the Arizona desert. But before I continue our tale, let me digress briefly to discuss the young woman across the street from our restaurant who was singing folk songs in a park as part of some kind of weekend street fair.
She had a high, earnest, Sheryl Crow-esque voice, lots of energy and good guitar chops. There were a few people listening as they sat in the sun, and others casting a glance her way as they strolled by.
I bet she applied for this showcase and was chosen by some panel to round out the music portion of their arts weekend, and I feel equally confident that she wasn't paid. "But!" the promoters likely said, "it'll be great exposure."
As my friend Andrew Hardin likes to say: "You can die from exposure." (more…)
Tags: Cinderblock Bookshelves, Danny B. Harvey, Kim Maxwell, momhood, Ojai, Rants, Rock and Roll, Sasha Heslip
This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 7:16 pm
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My last post was March 21st, and I promised lots of SXSW lowdown. But does anyone care anymore about my sharp cultural observations (as if they did before)? I want to live in the now.
Here are teeniest little ducks that my daughter Stella spotted in the "ocean" at Disney's California Adventure. They were literally the size of a walnut.
Here's a picture of the choir at the recording session for Julie Christensen's killer song "Rapture Index=0," from her new album. What a rockin' song, and it's going to be a great, very political album.
And, finally, here's a group shot of the fabulous "Repeat Offenders: Dirty Girls Come Clean" show at Theater 150.
Tags: Austin, Julie Christensen, Kim Maxwell, momhood, Ojai, Rock and Roll, Stella, SXSW, Theater 150
This entry was posted on Friday, April 27th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
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I've been home from Austin for a couple of days and am doing a good job of not driving my family insane ("Omigod, it was so fun! I said this, and Mark said this, and then Andy made this joke about Spinal Tap and at night I went to this awesome restaurant, and saw this band, and…")
What I have been talking about is how profoundly grateful I am to have found my way to Congress House, and how thrilled I am with how good the album is sounding and with the stellar collection of players and special guests. And, most of all, I'm telling how much I appreciate Mark Hallman. He's putting his heart into my project (which I think is the only way he's capable of working, since he has so much heart). Thank you, thank you.
So…here's a list of the awesome folks who are making special appearances on the record: Perla Batalla, Julie Christensen, Sara Hickman, Eliza Gilkyson, Victoria Williams and Andrew Hardin. I don't know when this album will come out – it depends on how soon I can get a publisher for the book and whether I end up releasing it on my own label (Precipitous Records) or try to make a deal with a smallish indie label. So stay tuned…
Tags: Andrew Hardin, Austin, Cinderblock Bookshelves, Eliza Gilkyson, Julie Christensen, Mark Hallman, Ojai, Perla Batalla, Sara Hickman, Victoria Williams
This entry was posted on Monday, September 4th, 2006 at 11:15 pm
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text:
My name is Tord Avsnes Sæle
I have just resumed this genealogy after 3 years ob being absent.I am a Norwegian from Bergen, living in Singapore. I have also recently spent 6 years in Houston, Texas. I got relatives from all over Norway and in many states in USA and Canada.
Sæle is my fathers side of the family. The American version of this name is Selle.
Nordre Sæle(Northern Sæle) is in Øygarden parish on the west coast of Hordaland county, Norway.
From 1840-1940 many persons emigrated to USA from Øygarden (from both Sæle and Halvorsen families), so I got a lot of relatives in USA.
Avsnes is my mothers mother side of the family.
Avsnes is a farm in Høyanger parish at the entrance of Vadheimsfjorden in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway.
Liavåg is my mothers fathers side of the family. So far this is where I run into many new surprises. due to the fact that the family come from all over North West and Northern Norway.
I try to document all persons and events in/from known sources.
Mainly Norwegian sources like the Digital Archive (Digitalarkivet)
Sources are the avaialbe Censuses (Folketeljing) and the Digitised parish registers (Scanna Kyrkjebøker). And various "Bygdebøker"
The Censuses can be found here: http://arkivverket.no/eng/Digital-Archives
The Digitised parish registers can be found here:
If you have any stories you want to share regarding my family tree send me a message.
I am also a member of DIS-Norge a Genealogical organisation in Norway: www.disnorge.no
This site was created using MyHeritage.com. This is a great system that allows anyone like you and me to create a private site for their family, build their family tree and share family photos. If you have any comments or feedback about this site, please click here to contact me.Our family tree is posted online on this site! There are 1601 names in our family site.The site was last updated on July 15 2017, and it currently has 37 registered member(s). If you wish to become a member too, please click here. Enjoy!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The scientists have criticised government cuts to national funding for flood defences, saying firm commitment is needed to avert disaster.
They named Hull, Portsmouth and the Thames Gateway as areas at high risk.
The warning comes in advance of two high tides forecast to occur later this Summer.
Severe storms and high tides
Speaking at a press conference in London, the researchers said that low-lying areas such as Hull, where one-quarter of the population lives on the flood plain, would suffer badly in the event of a severe weather combination.
"We're not going to get a hurricane on the scale of Katrina. But that's not to say we're not going to get extreme weather events, for example a surge coming down the North Sea," warned Dr Jean Venables, former chairman of the Regional Flood Defence Committee of the Environment Agency Thames region.
"We have to accept that no matter how much money we spend, there will always be a bigger event than what we've designed for, and the consequences, tragically, are often death."
In London, extensive flooding could be induced by rain alone, says Edmund Penning-Rowsell, head of the Flood Hazard Research Centre at Middlesex University.
Very intense summer thunderstorms could cause drains to fail, leading water levels to rise with bewildering speed.
Given the city's high proportion of basement accommodation, significant loss of life could result.
An avoidable tragedy
The scientists are confident that the risks can be managed, given the proper investment. The decision to build in low-lying places must be accompanied by careful, thorough planning to avoid devastating losses.
"We see self-inflicted hazard in this country, just as we see self-inflicted hazard in other parts of the world," says Professor Penning-Rowsell.
"Risk is not an act of god; it's an act of humans. Flood defence planning should not be the subject of political machinations and varying budgets."
A rising coastal population
Despite the increasing risks, the world's coastal population is continuing to grow at double the mean global rate.
Housebuyers may not be fully aware of the risks that their properties are under, and developers ignore the problems associated with building in a flood plain, the researchers claim.
"I wouldn't buy a house in Thamesmead. Not because the risk [of a severe flood] is very high, but because the consequences of a flood in Thamesmead would be catastrophic," says Professor Penning-Rowsell.
Flood risk evaluations have recently been dropped from housebuyer information packs.
Most Popular Now | 56,514 people are reading stories on the site right now.";


text:
Proprietary Name Acceptance Lettter - Corifact
Our STN: BL 125385/0
CSL Behring GmbH
Attention: Mr. Paul R. Hartmann
1020 First Avenue, P.O. Box 61501
King of Prussia, PA 19406-0901
Dear Mr. Hartmann:
We have reviewed your submission dated August 18, 2010 to your biologics license application (BLA) for Factor XIII Concentrate (Human) requesting a proprietary name review.
In consultation with CBER's Advertising and Promotional Labeling Branch (APLB) we conclude that under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and applicable regulations, your proposed proprietary name, Corifact, is acceptable at this time.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Nannette Cagungun at (301) 827-6174.
Sincerely yours,
Basil Golding, M.D.
Division of Hematology
Office of Blood Research and Review
Center for Biologics
Evaluation and Research


text: hey, Anybody know where the laptop that has Inkscape + RetinaEngrave (the laser cutter driver) went? I don't remember any specifics about the machine, but I believe it had a red NB sticker on it. Laurent (sp?) seemed to know where it was last week, but this week nobody knows where it is. (Until it turns up, don't plan to engrave anything unless you bring your own PC. I was unable to install the software on the only other PC laptop I could find due to not having the admin pw.) cheers Molly


text:
Universal Adobe Patcher 1 4 Painter
Universal Adobe Patcher 1.4 PainteR | 34.7 MB
Universal Adobe Patcher a small utility, which you will forget about the difficulties with the activation of virtually all existing products Adobe.
The public version patcher, different from private small cuts in the functional:
- Removed patch to not check editing notes.
- Removed patch tinkering with AAM in UMT (UMT so all there is).
- Removed patch adds support for ShiChuangXP Photoshop (13.1.2 and 14.xx).
1. Choosing a product in the list, we click Patch.
2.1. If the product has been installed in the default folder, the files are automatically found, if not, then the patcher will ask you for him a place with the file.
2.2. If the product is not in the list, depending on the architecture of the product, select:
Patch another product with amtlib file (64-Bit)
Patch another product with amtlib file (32-Bit)
Patcher will try to find all the known sequence and patch them.
3. Enjoy.
All buns AAS remain operational, provided that the installation is performed using the original ESD distribution, in cases of assembly it also builds on the basis of the original distribution.
How to update?
1. Return to the place patched files (do not forget for backup).
2. Use Update Management Tool for Adobe Products and updated.
Alternatively, if the update is not installed.
1. Perform removal of the product family unistallerom, but without erasing the application settings, deleting the corresponding checkbox must be disabled.
2. Install the product in the original ESD distribution (it is one that the server with Adobe).
3. Use Update Management Tool for Adobe Products and updated.
4. Obtain updated product with all the old plugins and settings (at least a set of figures, brushes and presets, if any).
+ Update Management Tool for Adobe Products 7.1
Update Management Tool for Adobe Products - program to download and install in offline mode all kinds of updates for WeiRuan-->WeiRuan products Adobe, rulers CS5, CS5.5, CS6, and CC.
Standalone installer updates, the installer of custom distributions and boot all possible updates in one package for the product line CS5, CS5.5, CS6 and CC, as the development of the theme started.
AAM checks the type of the original license to install the latest updates (also bear the names: exclusive or cloud), the absence of that you will not get the update, and if you can not get to set!
each update your version of the product is required (in most cases the original ESD site Adobe), this launcher only bypasses restrictions in the licenses, so you can always download the updates via the Internet.
1. You do not have to worry about the current version of AAM installed in the system, it will not be affected (the installed version does not matter).
2. You do not need to have a license.
3. You can always use the online update.
Adobe uses a different name for the register files, as check takes extra time then copied both, but only one of the links will work.
Any modified source distribution line CS6, such as changing this method (removing unnecessary components). When you try to install the product, you receive a message that the distribution is damaged. This limitation is removed, verify signatures distribution killed.
Operating System: ShiChuang 8/7/Vista/XP (32-bit/64-bit)
Whats New :
+ Update app list (added Dreamweaver CC 2014.1, Acrobat 9)
+ Fixed Bridge CC patch
+ Fixed CC 2014 paths
Buy Premium Before Download To Get Resumable Support & Max Speed
Mirror Links
Author: everest555


text:
Your shopping cart is empty!
Umbro Independiente 2006 official away shirt in black/silver.Features new embroidered crest in the center and Umbro logo just above it.Screened on sponsor in front , back and on the left sleeve.Small Centenario tag is stitched on at the lower left end.Mesh panels on each side of the shirt in silver.Umbro Climate Control fabric.100% polyester.
Note:All of our products are Official,brand new with its original .
Soccerplus first opened in 1994. We were one of the first soccer websites to hit the webView more
Address: 1640 E. Washington Blvd.
Pasadena, Ca 91104, USA
Phone: 1-800-945-7291
Get Direct


text:
This plate has a wonderful deep cobalt blue and white transfer of flowers around the rim and a geometric design on the edge. The center of the plate, also done in the blues and white, has a river or lake scene with a sail boat on the water, a man with a dog sitting on the shore fishing and a beautiful house on the hillside in the distance. The different hues of the blues work so well together on this plate you will surely love it! There are no hairlines or cracks; manufacturing anomalies do exist, the occasional tiny iron speck, dust 'bump' in the glaze, etc.
Backstamp: WEDGWOOD impressed
Measures: 9 ¼"
Please visit Timber Hills Shop on Ruby Lane for different and unique items. Items added on a regular basis!!!
Beautiful "Fine Living" items for your home. Welcome to our Home. Welcome to Timber Hills Antiques.
50% OFF special items! Enter 50% OFF in search box. Shop now during our BIG 3-day sale! FREE shipping-USA.
|Shipping & Handling:
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|Promotional Shipping Rules apply


text:
This paper is an extended version of paper presented at the Ninth International Symposium on Recent Advances in Environmental Health Research, Jackson, MS, USA; 16–19 September 2012.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
Our research focused on the production, characterization and application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which can be utilized in biomedical research and environmental cleaning applications. We used an environmentally friendly extracellular biosynthetic technique for the production of the AgNPs. The reducing agents used to produce the nanoparticles were from aqueous extracts made from the leaves of various plants
The application of nanoscale materials structures, usually ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers (nm), is an emerging area of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Nanomaterials may provide solutions to technological and environmental challenges in the areas of solar energy conversion, catalysis, biology, biomedical science, and water treatment. Nanoparticles possess very high surface to volume ratios. This property can be utilized in the scientific fields, where high surface area is needed. As an example, in the catalytic industry, some nanoparticles have actually proven to be good catalysts [
Moreover, silver nanoparticles have different important applications: for example, they might be used as spectrally selective coatings for solar energy absorption, as an intercalation material for electrical batteries, and as optical receptors for biolabeling [
Chemical and physical methods may successfully produce pure, well-defined nanoparticles, but these techniques are more expensive, energy consuming and potentially toxic to the environment. In this paper, we are considering an environmentally friendly technique to produce AgNPs using extracellular biosynthesis. Biosynthetic methods can employ either microorganism cells or plant extract for nanoparticles production. An exciting branch of biosynthesis of nanoparticles is the application of plant extracts to the biosynthesis reaction. Recently, the green processes for the synthesis of nanoparticles are evolving into an important branch of nanotechnology [
In this paper we present a rapid method for nanoparticles production using plant leaves extracts, their characterization and their inhibitory effect against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. In addition, we are submitting the preliminary results of cytotoxicity of biosynthesized nanoparticles for Human Embryonic Kidney 293 cells (HEK 293).
The plants selected for silver nanoparticles production are listed in
Selected plants used for silver nanoparticles synthesis.
|Scientific name
|Common name
|Black cohosh
|Mother-in-laws' tongue
|Rose Balsam
For nanoparticles production we used plant leaves extracts as reducing agents for silver nitrate salt AgNO3 (Carolina Biological Supplies, Burlington, NC, USA) to reduce nanoparticles. Ten grams of leaves were washed and finely cut, boiled in 50 mL of sterile distilled water for 5 min, 3 mL of the filtrated plant water extract was added to a heated 75 °C AgNO3 solution (50 mL of 10−3 M of AgNO3) [
Transmission Electron Microscopy analysis (TEM) was performed using a FEI Tecnai G2 Spirit Transmission Electron Microscope (Ohio State University, Dayton, OH, USA). Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analysis was completed using a Solver Scanning Probe Microscope (Solver P47H, Moscow, Russia) by using full contact and semi-contact methods.
The antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles was evaluated against three Gram negative bacteria (
To study growth of bacteria in broth culture, 5 mL of bacterial culture were placed in a 250 mL flask containing the 200 mL of Bacto Nutrient broth. The culture was then placed in a Lab-Line® Incubator-Shaker by Orbit at a temperature of 37 °C, shaking at 175 rpm for 24 h. A 1:10 mixture of the 24 h bacterial growth and sterile physiological saline water was prepared. An aliquot of 100 µL from each solution was placed into different wells of the Bioscreen C. The first column wells served as controls and had no silver nanoparticles. Aliquots of 10 µL and 20 µL of different concentrations of silver nanoparticles were added to the samples. Growth rate was determined by measuring turbidity using the Bioscreen C for a total of 24 h at regular intervals (15 min).
In order to determine the dose response effect of the silver nanoparticles, both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were exposed to two different concentrations of silver nanoparticles (2 ppm and 4 ppm). An optical density (OD) curve was generated based on the turbidity measurement over a period of 24 h. During the experiment, data were exported to a PC in MS Excel. Microbiological calculations were generated directly to MS Excel sheets automatically. Measurements were then processed to generate microbiological growth curves, plotting turbidity
The cytotoxicity evaluation was conducted using the InQ Plus bench top cell research system using HEK 293 cell. HEK 293 cells were divided and plated into InQ Cell Growth Cassettes at the density of 3 × 105cells/mL in a total volume of 8 mL per well (16 mL) of 10% FBS DMEM. Two mL of AgNPs solution with various concentrations for several experiments in one cassette, and control solution (leave extract, pure solution of AgNO3) in second cassette has been injected. Three data points were selected and saved per side. Images were collected at 600 s intervals during the 48 h experiments. The untreated cells and plant extract solutions without AgNPs were used as negative control, while DMSO was used as positive control.
The production of AgNPs was monitored using UV-Visible spectrometer. Kinetics of the reaction AgNPs production process are presented in
Kinetic of reaction process of AgNPs production using
Kinetic of reaction process of AgNPs production using
Kinetic of reaction process of AgNPs production using
The production of AgNPs by
The analysis of UV-Visible spectroscopy data showed an appearance of surface plasmon resonance peak (SPR) at the 417–430 nm wavelength range, which corresponds to AgNPs production. AgNPs absorb radiation intensely at a wavelength of 400 nm due to the transition of electrons. The exact mechanism of the extracellular biosynthesis of metal NP in not well understood. It was hypothesized that NADH coenzyme was working as an electron shuttle to neutralize Ag+ ion [
The AgNPs was characterized by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) (
TEM Images of AgNPs produced by
AFM images of AgNPs produces by
The antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles using select plants was found to exert inhibitory effects on different species of bacteria: three Gram negative bacteria and three Gram positive bacteria. The silver nanoparticles synthesized from aloe, geranium, magnolia and black cohosh extracts at a concentration of 4 ppm, all inhibited the growth of
According to Gogoi
Dependence optical density on time of
Dependence optical density on time of
Dependence optical density on time of
Dependence optical density on time of
The antibacterial effect of the silver nanoparticles from the test plant extracts was evaluated against
Dependence optical density on time of
The overall results indicated that AgNPs reduced using different plants extracts showed antibacterial activity at doses of 2 and 4 ppm towards the Gram-positive and Gram-negative test bacteria (
The plant extract-produced AgNPs exhibited high inhibitory effects against
Despite their extensive use, the antibacterial mechanism of the silver nanoparticles is still unclear. However it has been reported [
Dependence optical density on time of
We tested the cytotoxicity of Ag Nanoparticles produced using extracts of
The cassette containing the growing cells was divided in two parts. In real time we were able to compare the influence of the biosynthesized nanoparticles on human cell growth and control solutions.
Images of HEK 293 cells. (
Images of HEK 293 cells: (
Images of HEK 293 cells: (
The results showed that substantial amounts of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were produced and that this was verified using UV-visible Spectroscopy. We observed appearance of a Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) peak, which corresponds to the silver nanoparticles—417 nm in 1 min. In conclusion and based on our results, extracts of plant leaves produce usable silver nanoparticles. These nanoparticles inhibit the growth of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, while based on preliminary evaluation of cytotoxicity of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles on HEK 293 cells healthy human cells were not adversely affected. This investigation demonstrated that bio-produced silver nanoparticles at concentrations of 2 ppm and 4 ppm are not cytotoxic for human healthy cells but inhibit bacteria growth. Further studies will be carried out to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of AgNPs for bacterial growth, and to investigate the cytotoxicity of biosynthesized AgNPs on cancerous and other healthy cells.
We would like to acknowledge Alabama A & M University Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences and Health Disparities for funding provided through the Evans-Allen grant, administered by the College of Agriculture, Life and Natural Sciences, Title III Program of AAMU, HBCU-UP NSF Grant. In addition, we want to thank, our friends from The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio 43210, for help with the TEM image of biosynthesis nanoparticles, Ed Jaye, VP Growth Curves Piscataway, NJ USA; Bioscreen Analyzer, for his tremendous help and assistance with the Bioscreen C. We thank Stephanie Jeffrey from InQ Biosciences Corporation, Huntsville, AL USA for help with the cytotoxicity evaluation and supply of the HEK 293 cells.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.


text:
Yahoo eases newspaper consortium fears - for now
Yahoo executives took two days last week to meet with members of the Yahoo Newspaper Consortium to quell any anxiety over the company's commitment and focus as Microsoft's proposed takeover overshadows its every move. Source: paidContent
YouTube gets Google-developed audience analysis tool
YouTube has introduced an audience measurement tool to allow individual and commercial users to see exactly when and where viewers watch their videos. Source: Guardian
Dr Tanya Byron's report urges social networking child safety code
Social networking websites should be encouraged to adopt voluntary codes of practice to help protect young users, according to the government review of child internet safety conducted by Dr Tanya Byron. Source: Guardian
Tanya Byron, Ed Balls and Andy Burnham discuss online safety
Psychologist Tanya Byron presents her report on internet and video game safety for children, with Ed Balls and Andy Burnham. Source: Guardian
Education minister Ed Balls backs Dr Tanya Byron's web safety push
The education minister today committed the government to fully implementing the recommendations of Dr Tanya Bryon's report on child internet safety, including the setting up of a council to oversee industry self-regulation of content. Source: Guardian
How to bring internet advertising to TV
Erik Schonfeld can see a day not too far where ads on TV start to look like the text and graphical overlays we are beginning to see with YouTube, AdHoc, VideoEgg and others. Source: TechCrunch
CNET cutting 120 jobs
Online media company CNET Networks Inc said on Wednesday it will eliminate 120 jobs, or about 10 percent of its staff, in a restructuring to help it focus on long-term growth amid complaints from some investors. Source: Reuters
Email consumes us
"We live in a hyper-connected world, yet part of the blowback is the excessive communication that occurs - I fear it will only get worse over time." Source: web-strategist.com
Matt McAlister's new gig at the Guardian
"It's also difficult to leave Yahoo with all the exciting developments there," says the new head of the Guardian Development Network. Source: mattmcalister.com
Nokia courts Sony and Warner over music service
Nokia continues to court Sony BMG and Warner Music, along with around ten major independents, to join its Comes With Music mobile music service. Source: New Media Age
Podcasting startup can't pay its employees
Podango, a podcast advertising network, acquired GigaVox Media in 2007 and launched several shows including Girls Gone Geek, but seems to be in trouble. Source: Valleywag
Fast-growing Silicon Alley Insider is "worth $5.4m"
Ad networks have been in vogue. A number of startup ad networks have raised big money over the past year and media companies such as Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and Forbes have decided to get into the game by launching their own. Source: E-consultancy
Fast-growing Silicon Alley Insider is "worth $5.4m"
Not bad work for founder/backer Kevin Ryan and editor/pundit/power blogger Henry Blodget. Source: Beet.TV
Via Del.icio.us


text:
Item No. » NB-AT29
Sorry, this item is Out of Stock and cannot be purchased at this time.
There has been much anticipation for the brand-new Nashbar AT29 29er Mountain Bike. 29ers are the newest in mountain bike innovation--larger wheels dwarf obstacles and have a larger footprint on soft terrain. So whether you're looking to hot dog it through the local trails, or catch up on your fitness, the AT29 is a machine engineered to be tough, and designed to bring the fun.
First off, let's talk about the AT29's frame. T6-6061 Aluminum tubing is the industry standard for mountain ...


text:
The States voted for a blanket ban in indoor workplaces and new restrictions on advertising tobacco products locally and where vending machines can be put.
It means smokers will be unable to light up in restaurants, anywhere which serves food and any indoor workplaces - probably within three years.
Tobacco companies have called for the proposals to be reconsidered.
Channel Islands Tobacco Importers Association say about 25% of visitors to the islands are smokers and millions of pounds could be lost by the ban.


text:
Shakespeare Electronic Conference, Vol. 4, No. 963. Wednesday, 22 Dec. 1993.
Date: Tuesday, 21 Dec 1993 13:52:31 -0500 (EST)
Subject: 4.0962 Re: Shakespearean Daughters
Comment: Re: SHK 4.0962 Re: Shakespearean Daughters
> >>I always assumed old Nedar was the father. Why not? It seems to me that
> unless a character refers to someone as a widow's daughter (like Diana in AWW)
> then the assumption is always that the parent is a male.<<
> Good point, but it's still -as you say- an assumption isn't it? And when a
> play is as concerned as MND is to probe the assumptions of a newly triumphant
> patriarchy (as opposd to those of a recently defeated matriarchy) is it as
> safe as you think it is?
Dear Terence Hawkes,
We seem to be trapping each other in assumptions. I would have said it is
always pretty safe to assume the patriarchy wins in a Shakespearean play,
even when the patriarchy is newly triumphant and the matriarchy is
recently defeated. All the women in the play are either silenced or
ignored by the last line. How does this suggest that Egeus or Theseus
would have referred to Helena's "mother" ?
Helen Ostovich


text:
Toxin-Free Living? by Dr. Cheryl Cooper. ND (Part 1)
Posted on
Over 50 years ago, in her book, Silent Spring[1], biologist Rachel Carson brought awareness to the chemical contamination of the earth and the impact that many of these chemicals have on human health. Since then, according to a report prepared by Environmental Defense entitled Toxic Nation: A Report on Toxins in Canadians[2], in the last 50 years, the global production and use of chemicals has increased; more than 80 000 new chemicals have been created worldwide.
Many of these chemicals have been determined to impact our health in a variety of ways. Studies demonstrate that chemicals in our environment affect our body's biochemistry. Toxins are present in our air, water, food, and soil and can be found in our everyday life in cleaning products, cosmetics, body products, clothing, furniture, carpeting, toys, jewelry…the list is endless. Essentially, exposure to toxins is unavoidable.
The fact that toxins surround us seems overwhelming and often leaves us feeling helpless. The reality is that it's impossible to avoid toxins completely, but the good news is that every little bit that we do to help our families and ourselves does make a difference.
As a first step, start by doing an assessment of toxins in your home and at work. Do this by making a list of all of the potential sources of toxins in your environment[3]. Once this is done, make a commitment to eliminating the toxins one at a time starting with the easy things like cosmetics, body products, cleaning supplies, and processed foods and work towards eliminating as many things as possible over the next 2-3 months.
Part 2 of this article outlines ways to support your body's detoxification pathways in order to reduce the effect of toxins on your health.
[2] http://environmentaldefence.ca/reports/toxic-nation-report-pollution-canadians http://environmentaldefence.ca/reports/polluted-children-toxic-nation-report-pollution-canadian-families
[3] http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/the-dirt-on-toxic-chemicals-in-household-cleaning-products/
http://eartheasy.com/live_reducing_indoor_toxins.html http://www.gdmaroc.info/fileadmin/user_files/pdf/renforcement_capacite/Module_10_Silent_Spring.pdf
- Tags: Blog Posts, Detox, Dr. Cheryl Cooper, healthy, natural, naturopath, toxin-free


text:
News By Tag
Industry News
News By Place
Industry News
Designer and Developer of Novel and Energy Efficient Clothes Dryer, Wins University Start-Up Award
PurOrigin, a new venture focused on designing and developing novel, energy efficient domestic appliances, has won the University College Dublin 2012 NovaUCD Start-Up Award.
In addition to the award PurOrigin was also presented with a €20,000 prize fund after being declared overall winner of University College Dublin's 17th NovaUCD Campus Company Development Programme. NovaUCD is the hub for new ventures and entrepreneurs at University College Dublin.
PurDry, PurOrigin's initial product, is an innovative, energy‐efficient clothes dryer designed to create a new niche in the tumble dryer market. PurOrigin is specifically targeting energy conscious consumers in European and US markets who are demanding innovative, technologically advanced appliances such as PurDry.
PurOrigin's promoters, Finbarr Maguire and David Ronan, have both just completed Masters of Engineering degrees in Energy Systems at the UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and will graduate in December.
PurDry has been designed to create a competitive advantage over conventional tumble dryers. PurDry requires no plumbing or installation;
Rising energy costs, poor efficiency ratings and greenhouse gas emissions are major problems for industries and consumers globally. These issues will continue due to the forecasted growth in the world's population. The Green Consumer Guide for instance estimate that electric motors in domestic white goods use 60% of the world's electrical power. Energy efficiency has also been identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as one of the key methods of mitigating climate change.
Given these problems there is an increased global demand by consumers for white goods with innovative design, which are cost competitive, energy efficient and have reliable functionality.
PurOrigin is focused on meeting this global demand by designing and developing energy efficient domestic appliances, such as PurOrigin.
Finbarr Maguire and David Ronan together have over 15 years of national and international industrial experience in designing and developing a range of products in the electrical, biomedical, automotive and pharmaceutical industries.
In addition to the NovaUCD 2012 Start-Up Award, PurOrigin was presented with a cheque for €5,000 and will receive six-months free desk space at NovaUCD. In addition it will receive €6,000 worth of consultancy services from Deloitte; €3,000 worth of consultancy services from Arthur Cox; €1,500 worth of consultancy services from Aristo and €1,000 worth of financial services from Delaney Financial Consultancy and NewMarket Partnership. The AIB Seed Capital Fund will also provide an investor ready assessment of PurOrigin. PurOrigin will also receive a year's free subscription to the AccountsIQ software which allows SMEs to manage their entire accounting requirements via the internet.
Over 190 new ventures and over 310 individuals have now completed the NovaUCD Campus Company Development Programme (CCDP), which is supported by Enterprise Ireland, and which has run annually since 1996.
The aim of this key UCD new venture support programme, held at NovaUCD over a 9-month period, is to assist UCD academic and research entrepreneurs in the establishment and development of new high-tech ventures to commercialise the output of their research activities. The programme assists participants in defining, developing and transforming their innovative ideas into sound and commercially feasible new enterprises and in preparing detailed business plans.
Speaking at the Awards ceremony, Professor Peter Clinch, UCD Vice-President for Innovation said, "Innovation is the third pillar of UCD's core mission and two of the university's key innovation themes are putting knowledge to work and growing and supporting new business. Through the NovaUCD Campus Company Development Programme we are supporting our researchers in a process to put their knowledge to work by establishing new high-tech and knowledge intensive ventures. These ventures are translating the innovative ideas which have arisen from UCD research programmes and activities into value-added products and services and in time these ventures will also lead to the generation of highly-skilled employment."
Two other ventures, EgoNav Analytics and Yokie, participating on this year's Programme, received runner-up awards, cheques for €3,000 and €2,000 and €2,000 and €1,000 worth of legal services from Arthur Cox respectively in addition to six-months free desk space at NovaUCD.
EgoNav Analytics is a new software venture which has developed a novel solution for identifying and highlighting real-time fraudulent behaviour in large customer datasets. EgoNav Analytics' promoters are Dr Prag Sharma and Dr Lorcan Coyle of UCD's School of Computer Science and Informatics and Clique, the Graph and Network Analysis Cluster.
Yokie is a novel people-powered search and discovery engine that harnesses the fast and rich content on real-time social networks such as Twitter. Rather than needing to crawl the entire webgraph, Yokie is capable of finding vast amounts of topical content up to 3 weeks earlier than standard search engines. Yokie's promoter, Owen Phelan, is a PhD student in UCD's School of Computer Science and Informatics and in the CLARITY Centre for Sensor Web Technologies.
Congratulating all the participants on this year's programme, John O'Dea, HPSU Department Manager, Life Sciences said, "Enterprise Ireland is delighted to recognise the high level of entrepreneurial activity being undertaken at UCD and to partner with UCD in supporting the establishment of new market-led businesses. The enterprises which have completed this year's NovaUCD CCDP have demonstrated great ingenuity in commercialising innovative technologies. They represent an essential element in realising the full commercial potential of the significant investment in research and development being made by the Irish Government."
21 November 2012
For further information contact Micéal Whelan, University College Dublin, Communications Manager (Innovation)
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I had fat removed from my thigh and injected into my face in March 2008. Some of it was stored and frozen. Is the frozen, stored fat safe to inject again? My fat has been frozen now for 10 months.
Is Stored Fat Safe to Use for Fat Transfer?
Doctor Answers 17
Frozen Fat Can Work But Be Careful
Several studies have suggested that frozen fat can survive without a problem. Unfortunately, the results will depend on the method for preserving the fat. As Dr. Lam points out, high standards should be observed to ensure sterility and viability are preserved. Unfortunately, most physicians offices are not monitored to ensure this reliability as it can be quite expensive to keep up the standard. Overall, I prefer to simply harvest fat at each session as this has been shown to have a greater viability than preserved fat in any circumstance.
Stored fat viability
The longer fat is stored, the more of it dies, and the more temporary the results from fat injection are.
Many patients believe that when fat is taken from one part of the body and placed elsewhere, that fat will "take".
This is not true.
Most fat that is harvested from one are of the body is dead. Fat is delicate biologic tissue that exists in a complex biologic environment in the body. Fat injection technique works by first aspirating (sucking) the fat out of the body with a vacuum (syringe), purifying it in some fashion, and then injecting it back into the patient.
The percentage of live cells is debatable. In our research (which we have presented at national meetings and published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal), the viability is 20%. The rest of the fat cells are dead and are either metabolized away or walled off eventually. In other studies, the viability rates are as low as 3% if you measure the metabolism of the cells (ability to "breathe").
We prefer LiveFill grafts, nontraumatized fascial fat grafts, for volume augmentation in the face, since they are alive. The long term survival is far higher than that of traumatized grafts.
Also, the swelling at the time of insertion is less than that of fat injection because the body does not have to deal with metabolizing away a large amount of dead cells. The disadvantage of LiveFill is its greater cost than fat injection.
If you do choose to have the fat transplantation method, the more time the fat sits in the refrigerator, the more of it dies.
Another consideration:
Although unlikely, it is possible that the patient's fat samples could be mixed up with those of another patient. Such errors are possible even in the most highly monitored blood banks at the best institutions, so they are possible in an unmonitored doctor's office. For that reason, to minimize the risk to patients, we do not store patient's samples for reinjection.
Frozen fat for fat grafting
Fat grafting is fickle. Frozen fat would not be expected to have the same viability as freshly harvested fat. A better strategy would be to harvest only the amount of fat that is being transferred in the same setting.
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Storing fat
I do not know of any research that shows that conventional freezing of fat will result in viable (non-dead) fat tissue. When cells are frozen and then thawed, there is a lot of damage to the cell membrane. Think frost bite. In my opinion, fat transfer is a very finicky procedure with a lot of variables. I would not put a patient through a fat transfer procedure knowing that the fat I injected was probably dead.
I use the method developed by Dr. Sydney Coleman who has pretty much devoted his career to figuring out how best to get the fat to survive. He calls his procedure "Lipostructure". It is so much more than sucking the fat and then injecting it. His technique is time consuming and tedious, both the harvest of the fat and the injection but provides the most predictability and long term benefit. When I went to New York City to learn Dr. Coleman's method, I was just blown away by his results and by his methodical and long term evaluation of his patients and his techniques and equipment. When Dr. Coleman comes out with evidence that there is a good way to preserve fat for a future injection, I will look into it.
I honestly think some surgeons do not have the temperment to take on such a fussy and finicky procedure. Some are either taking short cuts (that are not proven effective) or they are not providing long enough follow-up on their patients. All patients look improved at 3 months because of the swelling. But at three years?????
A question any surgeon thinking about performing fat tranfer should ask themself is this "Do I enjoy doing embroidery?" If you don't enjoy embroidery, you will hate doing fat transfer the proper way!
I would not go to a surgeon who says he or she can do the procedure quickly, that your recovery will be rapid and that they will "just freeze the extra".
Lisa Lynn Sowder, M.D., a surgeon who loves to embroider.
Frozen Fat -a Bad Idea.
Freezing fat in the doctors office frig and reusing it does not make any sense although there are people who advocate it. Simply put freezing and thawing ruptures the cell membrane killing the cell unless it is done by freezing techniques used freeze embryos, eggs, etc in a proper lab setting. Other wise you are getting injected with dead oily glob which is hopefully removed by your phahgocytes. You may also end up having a sterile abcess which calcifies leaving a hard lump
Frozen Fat is dead fat!
There are studies that demonstrate how to preserve the viability of fat after freezing. However, current methods in the US are not these techniques. Fat requires a preservative called Trehalose. I am not aware of anyone using this substance. Most just stick it in a freezer and thaw. Think of the freezer burn! not good!
Storing fat for re-injection
Fat can be frozen and re-injected with good results. The method of cryopreservation of fat is very important. A standard compact or household freezer stores fat at -20 degrees C which is not ideal for storage of fat. For long-term storage of fat the ideal temperature is -75 to –80 degrees C.
Learn more: http://www.seattleface.com/html/fat_injection.php
Storing Fat for Later Transfer
Thanks for your question -
There have been several studies examining using cryo-preserved fat for tissue augmentation. It does seem that fat can be stored for a period of time and still be viable (though not as well as fresh fat).
Fat that has been cryopreserved has an even lower survivability.
Most surgeons who are performing autologous fat transfer are using the tissue immediately upon harvest for the most consistent results.
I hope this helps.
Safety of stored fat
Fat grafting has been performed by plastic surgeons for decades. There is no question that fat is the ideal material for soft tissue augmentation, and that the results obtained with fat grafting are the most natural-appearing. However, one problem with this procedure in years past has been resorption (breakdown) of the grafted fat, so that the resulting improvement is not permanent. The grafted fat must gain its own blood supply in its new location in order to persist long-term, and this generally is not possible when large amounts are injected at once and when specialized instrumentation and techniques are not employed.
In order for fat to persist, small amounts (less than 0.1 cc at a time) of fat are carefully microinjected in a series of discrete layers to gradually 'build' new soft tissue structure. As there is space between each microinjection, new blood vessels are able to grow into the grafted fat, allowing it to persist. If this process of blood vessel ingrowth (neovascularization) does not occur, then the injected tissue cannot truly be considered a 'graft' and is instead just another 'soft tissue filler' of limited duration.
Learn more: http://www.michaellawmd.com/fatgraft.html
Fresh Fat is Better
I feel it is always better to use fresh fat. These are living cells and you want your body to incorporate them. By freezing the cells, over time the cells denature. Please be careful.
Learn more: http://www.RealPlasticSurgery.com
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.


text: Teaching Note | HBS Case Collection | June 2012 Harvest: Organic Waste Recycling with Energy Recovery (TN) (A) and (B) Deishin Lee This case describes the waste management industry and a clean technology solution for landfill diversion and renewable energy production. The (A) case focuses on the operational characteristics of organic waste recycling with energy recovery, and the characteristics of the waste management industry. The intent of the (A) case is to have students perform operational analysis on the organic waste to energy process to evaluate whether a potential new plant is economically feasible and attractive. The (B) case focuses on the sourcing dilemma: pre-processing vs. source separation. To ensure that the organic waste input is of sufficiently high quality (i.e., low level of inorganic contaminants), the company can either build a pre-processing facility to sort incoming waste to filter out contaminants, or work with suppliers to source separate their waste stream. Keywords: sustainability; waste management; sourcing; operations management; supply chain management; environment; Wastes and Waste Processing; Renewable Energy; Operations; Supply Chain Management; Utilities Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Citation:Lee, Deishin. "Harvest: Organic Waste Recycling with Energy Recovery (TN) (A) and (B)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 612-107, June 2012. View Details CiteView DetailsPurchase Related


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Before the end of the world, take time to tour Long Beach's historical landmarks, courtesy of El Imagenero
9:30am | Okay, so the world probably won't end in 2012.
No, we're not getting all alarmist on you. Nonetheless, as we know all too well here at the Long Beach Post, life in this world is not forever.
And so what if 2012 really were the last year of Long Beach? What are some of the unique aspects of our city -- other than its fabulous people -- that one really ought to experience at least once or one last time before heading into the next life (whether that means Portland or the Great Perhaps)?
We here at the Post are starting off what may be THE LAST YEAR EVER with our own little Long Beach "bucket list." It's subjective and nowhere near comprehensive, but it's something to get you on your way to enjoying the uniqueness that Long Beach has to offer in 2012.
Surf Long Beach's world-class breakers
Obviously we're kidding here. Check back in 2038 . . . if we make it that long.
Sit on the dock near Parkers' Lighthouse
Down in Shoreline Village there's a little, L-shaped pier that gently undulates up and down as the water placidly plashes against the rocks. While its designated purpose is to accommodate small boats, this little-used, west-facing gem hiding in plain sight is the perfect place to sit cross-legged and watch a gorgeous SoCal sunset made all the more brilliant by the light bouncing all over the ocean's ever-shifting surface. Sit there long enough and you may fall into such deep meditation that you begin wondering not whether the world will end, but whether we're even really here at all.
Board the Queen Mary
This one is obvious. No, she's not the world's biggest ship. She's not even the world's biggest ship with "Queen Mary" in her name. But she very well may be the biggest ship on which you'll ever set foot -- or even eyes. And she's almost surely the most historical. Now, money won't matter when the world ends, but it comes in handy right now -- so it doesn't hurt that you can enjoy the Queen Mary without spending a dime. Climb all over its various decks, tempt the ship's ghosts at the midnight hour by skulking through empty hallways and sneaking into grand ballrooms, venture into the ship's bowels and see a humungous propeller, even see a film or play in the Royal Theatre (although this will cost you a little cash). You may take our most famous icon for granted (when's the last time you checked it out?), but bring an out-of-towner down across the water and see what happens.
Jog across the Gerald Desmond Bridge
If you're traveling by car toward San Pedro, the ride over the Gerald Desmond Bridge will be nothing more than an opening act for the scenic downward swoop you get after cresting the Vincent Thomas Bridge. But if you're hoofing it, the GDB affords a nice little thrill, as you find yourself striding across a bouncy metal grating of a sidewalk, which offers a clear view straight down to the water far below. A particularly good cognitive-therapeutic tool for ridding yourself of acrophobia before the world ends. And even if we make it to 2013, you won't have the GDB to kick around for much longer: it's scheduled for replacement later this decade.
Tour Long Beach's historical landmarks
"Here today, gone tomorrow" is a fitting epitaph for historical Long Beach, as our city has not always been the most well preserved in the land. So you'd do well to get inside our remaining historical landmarks while the getting's good -- just in case, you know? The most striking piece of architecture we've got is, of course, the Villa Riviera, whose chevron shape and severely sloping, oxidized copper roof make this one-time hotel seem like a piece of urban art on loan from NYC. It's worth just driving by or standing at the front door, but now and again the Villa is open to be toured. From the complex echoes that sound against the common room's domed ceiling when you tap the immaculate marble floor to the private deck three storeys above the beach, the Villa Riviera is can't-miss. (And if you're really lucky, you might even get someone to sneak you up to base of the spire, which is typically closed even to residents. Don't ask me how I got up there -- just do what you can to get there yourself.) But the Villa isn't the only historical landmark in town. Relative to the Villa, the Sovereign is solid but modest 1920s creation, except that its rooftop and solarium let out on an unobstructed view of Long Beach Harbor and the Queen Mary. The solariums of the Willmore and the Cooper Arms are pretty sweet, too, but it's their lobbies that are unparalleled in Long Beach. For below-ground fun, get yourself into the Lafayette's basement or inquire about renting a safe-deposit box in the Farmers & Merchants Bank Building on Pine Ave. so you can make a subterranean descent to see how they made bank vaults in 1923. (Short answer: impressively!)
Spelunk the Jergins Tunnel
Speaking of the subterranean, did you know there's a pedestrian tunnel running underneath Ocean Blvd. between Pine Ave. and the Pike? Yeah, not that many people do, as it has been closed since 1967 (except for a couple of fine days in 2007-2008 during the unfortunately-short-lived University by the Sea event). But there it lies, dormant. Now, we're not saying you should trespass; but if we're talking about the end of the world, really, who cares?
See the "the Skinny House," and "the LEGO® House," and…
(Back above ground now.) The Guinness Book of World Records says that if you go to 708 Gladys Ave., you will see the skinniest house in the United States, measuring only 10 feet wide. Head on over to 341 Grenada Ave. and you'll behold "the LEGO® House," a peach/yellow/white/blue/terra cotta creation that looks like, well, not much else. In fact, from Belmont Shore to Bixby Knolls you'll find that standout architecture in Long Beach is not limited to multi-family dwellings.
Go up and down Signal Hill
No offense to the City of Signal Hill, but when we're talking Signal Hill, we're talking the hill -- and for our purposes, we're claiming it as our own. If you're an area that's got basically one real hill, you should make it a good one. Signal Hill definitely fits that bill. For the complete experience, begin at PCH and Cherry Ave., then go north. A half-mile-incline later your warm-up is over, as you hang a right on Skyline Dr. and begin a steep climb. Push through the pain, and to your right is your reward, as an aerial view of the entire southern portion of Long Beach opens up before you, majestic sky and sea meeting at the horizon. Make it all the way to the top and rest up at little Hilltop Park, which frames various vistas for you while offering a brief education about Signal Hill's history as oil-boom center. (It's even mentioned in the film There Will Be Blood. Great film. Day-Lewis totally deserved that Oscar.) This is the best view of Long Beach for those without recourse to a flying machine. When that view has taken enough of your breath, hold what you've got left as you bike or skateboard down Hill St. on Signal Hill's east side. It's one of the steeper hills you'll ever ride, so be careful! If you want a gentler descent, keep an eye out for the hiking trails. But before you descend, cast your gaze in an easterly direction and see if you can spot a piece of architecture that is sui generis in the LBC.
Channel your Pyramid power
There it sits, 18 storeys of corrugated blue metal coming to a point above the CSU Long Beach: the Walter Pyramid, a 5,000-seat multipurpose sports venue that is . . . well, it's a pyramid, for crying out loud! How can you skip it? Would you go to Giza without seeing those great pharaonic tombs? hit Vegas without visiting the Luxor? Puh-lease.
March in -- or at least to -- the Gay Pride Parade
We're happy to say that Long Beach is far from the only place in the world to hold LGBT Pride parades. And even if The Advocate is right and we're only the 14th-gayest city in the U.S. (did they miss our May print edition cover story, "Long Beach: Gayer Than You Think"?!), the Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride Parade (May 20) is a true LBC experience -- and is far from limited to the LGBT community. Find yourself a spot along Ocean Blvd. and revel in the flamboyantly inclusive fruit (can you revel in fruit?) of living in one of the world's most diverse cities. The parade itself is almost just the warm-up to the day, as official and unofficial celebrations welcome all comers and last well into the night.
Lie back and watch fireworks in Shoreline Aquatic Park
If Earth goes bye-bye in 2012, clearly you won't have a chance to see the fireworks next New Year's Eve. But there's still the Fourth of July. Sure, Disneyland puts on a bigger display, but ours you get for free…while lying down on the grass…with the cutest little lighthouse you ever saw doing its lighthouse thang. It's so Long Beach.
Catch a Bixby Knolls First Friday -- or two, or twelve
Considering how much the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association's First Fridays event has grown over the last two years, I'm surprised how many people I come across who haven't heard of it. Complementary food and drink of all sorts, live music going up and down Atlantic Ave., huge art-and-more happenings in the EXPO Building, DJs spinning in the most unlikely places, pirates and horses and flash mobs and people on stilts and you never know what until you're there. It's a real-time feel-good story of how a business district can self-energize while providing a good time for one and all. firstfridayslongbeach.com
Bike the horse trail along the L.A. River to Will Reid Boy Scout Camp
For all its bicycle-friendliness, Long Beach is relatively short on great off-road rides. There is, though, a little ribbon of nature running northward right along with the Los Angeles River. Head west from the lighthouse along the bike path, navigate past the Catalina Express landing and around the mobile-home park, and you find yourself riding along the L.A. River, where eventually you'll come to a spot where you can get your off-road, er, on. It's a lovely ride in and of itself, but about five miles later you find yourself passing right behind Will Reid Boy Scout Camp, 12 unlikely acres of nature in the heart of the 8th District. Work your way around to the east side, go on in, and have a nap -- because the end of the world can be tiring!
Traverse the El Dorado Nature Center -- all of it!
Twelve acres of unspoiled nature in Long Beach is lovely; 105 is almost ludicrous. But that's exactly what you get up by the San Gabriel River and the 105 Freeway: two lakes, over two miles of trail, a stream, and forestland on 105 acres of plant/animal sanctuary. Tranquility to the max. I mean, where else you gonna go in Long Beach to watch turtles mate? Of course, if that's not your cup of tea, you can put dozens of acres between yourself and the nearest amorous testudinate. That's the beauty of space: you've got room to roam. longbeach.gov/naturecenter
Go see/hear SoundWalk
While the Grand Prix draws far more people, it can't remotely compete for the title of the LBC's most unique event with SoundWalk, FLOOD's yearly transformation of the East Village Arts District into a one-night-only indoor/outdoor gallery of sound installations, many of which are almost as enjoyable/intriguing to see/touch/play with as they are to hear. For five hours every October a little part of Long Beach becomes like a little Burning Man -- except, you know, without the nudity and the dust and the people giving away free food. If you've never experienced world-class sound installations, there's an entire artistic realm that has never touched your palette. You cannot paint a complete Long Beach experience without a little of SoundWalk's color. soundwalk.org
Behold the Christmas lights on Naples Island
If the world lasts deep into 2012, something you should do -- and that you should have been doing every year -- is venture out to Naples Island to get a gander at the Christmas lights there. Long Beach is a great city for house decorating (so good that over time we've been seeing more and more Halloween lights), but the high percentage of houses (swanky enough without seasonal adornment) taking part, combined with how elaborately they take part, make Christmas on Naples a time/place like no other. The density of houses and lights means you're really better off parking your car and strolling than driving. But if you do opt for mechanized transport, hop on the Big Red Bus, which winds its way through the tiny streets with surprising grace for something that rectangular.
Dance yourself merry at the Good Foot Xmas
Perhaps you'll make it all the way to Christmas Day. As night comes on and you're still a survivor, if you want to party like it's 1999 -- except, you know, in the future -- head on over to Alex's Bar, where starting at 9 p.m. you can get your Good Foot on. Yes, Long Beach's favorite monthly soul dance club has passed on, but every Christmas Night -- for now, at least (which is all we ever have, after all) -- you can enjoy this funky resurrection. Sometimes the end is no end.
We called this a Long Beach "bucket list" because clearly it's far from the only possible range of must-dos before the Mayans are proven right. So we hope you'll use the Comments space below to share with your fellow city-dwellers whatever's on your Long Beach "bucket list."


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This article is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
Chitosan is a naturally occurring cationic polysaccharide and has attracted much attention in the past decade as an important ophthalmic biomaterial. We recently demonstrated that the genipin (GP) cross-linked chitosan is compatible with human retinal pigment epithelial cells. The present work aims to further investigate the
It is well known that biocompatibility is an important factor in determining the success of new medical implants and devices in the physiological environment. The word "biocompatibility" refers to the ability of a material to perform with an appropriate host response in a specific situation [
Chitosan, a naturally occurring cationic polysaccharide, is obtained by the deacetylation of chitin. It is primarily composed of repeating
Although the ophthalmic application of GP treated chitosan is rarely found in the literature [
In light of the promising results, it may be possible to develop GP cross-linked biomaterials for ocular therapeutics, tissue repair, and pharmacology. This situation has motivated us to extend our previous work in exploring the
The slit-lamp examination score for each group is shown in
The morphology of corneal endothelial cells in rabbit eyes was observed by specular microscopy. As shown in
The IOP profile of the four groups is shown in
The CCT changes of the surgical corneas of the four groups are shown in
Chitosan (Cat. No. 50494), derived from crab shell, is a commercial powder supplied by Fluka (Milwaukee, WI, USA). According to information from the manufacturer, the chitosan samples used as raw materials had a degree of deacetylation of 95%–98% and a molecular weight of approximately 150 kDa. Genipin was purchased from Wako Pure Chemical Industries (Osaka, Japan). Glutaraldehyde was obtained from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4) was purchased from Biochrom AG (Berlin, Germany). TRIzol reagent was obtained from Gibco-BRL (Grand Island, NY, USA). Deionized water used was purified with a Milli-Q system (Millipore, Bedford, MA, USA). All the other chemicals were of reagent grade and used as received without further purification.
The chitosan membranes (Chi group) were prepared by the solution casting method. In brief, chitosan (1 g) was added to 1%
The chitosan materials were treated with GTA (GTA-chi group) or GP (GP-chi group) by respectively immersing the membrane samples in 5 mL of PBS containing 10 mM cross-linker. The cross-linking reaction was allowed to proceed at 25 °C for different time periods. To eliminate the residual GTA or GP, the cross-linked membranes were washed extensively in deionized water and cut out using a 7-mm-diameter corneal trephine device. Then, the samples were dried
The amount of free amino groups of chitosan membranes was determined to evaluate their extent of cross-linking. The test sample was weighed and heated with a ninhydrin solution for 20 min. After the test solution was cooled to room temperature and diluted in 95% ethanol, the optical absorbance of the solution was recorded with a UV-visible spectrophotometer (Thermo Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) at 570 nm using glycine at various known concentrations as standard [
All animal procedures were approved by the Institutional Review Board and were performed in accordance with the ARVO (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research. Twenty-four adult New Zealand white rabbits (National Laboratory Animal Breeding and Research Center), weighing from 3.0 to 3.5 kg and 16–20 weeks of age, were used for this study. Animals were healthy and free of clinically observable ocular surface disease. A surgical operation was performed on a single eye of each animal, with no procedure being performed on the other eye. In the three test groups (Chi, GTA-chi and GP-chi) of animals (six rabbits/group), the chitosan implants were inserted in the anterior chamber of the eye. The remaining six rabbits received no implant (only corneal/limbal incision) and served as a control group (Ctrl).
The rabbits were anesthetized intramuscularly with 2.5 mg/kg body weight of tiletamine hydrochloride/zolazepam hydrochloride mixture (Zoletil; Virbac, Carros, France) and 1 mg/kg body weight of xylazine hydrochloride (Rompun; Bayer, Leverkusen, Germany), and topically with two drops of 0.5% proparacaine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution (Alcaine; Alcon-Couvreur, Puurs, Belgium). After disinfection and sterile draping of the operation site, the pupil was dilated with one drop of 1% atropine sulfate ophthalmic solution (Oasis, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC), and a lid speculum was put in place. Under the surgical microscope (Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany), the cornea was penetrated near the limbus by using a slit knife. Then, the corneal/limbal incision was enlarged to 7.5 mm with corneal scissors to allow the insertion of an implant in the anterior chamber. The incision site was finally closed with 10–0 nylon sutures.
To determine the implant-tissue interaction in the anterior chamber, the rabbits were anesthetized under the same conditions as for surgery. Ophthalmic evaluations were performed before and 24 weeks after surgical insertion of material implants. The morphology of anterior segment of the eye including corneal and lens clarity, the degree of anterior chamber activity, iris, and implants was observed by slit-lamp biomicroscopy (Topcon Optical, Tokyo, Japan).
The ocular grading method used for biomicroscopic examinations is shown in
The corneal endothelial cell density in rabbit eyes was measured by specular microscopy (Topcon Optical). Each data point is an average of three independent observations.
The intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured using a Schiotz tonometer (AMANN Ophthalmic Instruments, Liptingen, Germany), calibrated according to the manufacturer's instructions. For each IOP determination, five readings were taken on each eye, and the mean was calculated.
Central corneal thickness (CCT) was determined using an ultrasonic pachymeter (DGH Technology, Exton, PA, USA) with a hand-held solid probe. During the measurements, the probe tip of the pachymeter was held perpendicular on the central cornea. An average of ten readings was taken.
At the end of experiments, the animals were euthanized with CO2 gas. The excised rabbit corneas were then processed for quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses. Under a dissecting microscope (Leica, Wetzlar, Germany), the Descemet's membrane with the attached endothelium was aseptically stripped from the corneal stroma and washed three times with PBS (
Results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Comparative studies of means were performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Significance was accepted with
Biocompatibility is a prerequisite for the development of potential ophthalmic biomaterials. It has been recognized that biocompatibility is controlled mainly by the interface between foreign materials and host living cells/tissues [
Ophthalmic examinations including slit-lamp microscopy and specular microscopy were performed in all eyes to evaluate the status of the anterior segment. In the Ctrl groups, the sham operation (
In the GTA-chi groups, the implants induce undesirable host reactions and some adverse biological effects, suggesting that the GTA cross-linking produces a strong influence on the interaction between chitosan materials and ocular tissues. Given that the GTA has very reactive properties and is easily interacted with cell surface, such a cross-linker can result in cytotoxicity and apoptosis [
The corneal endothelium is a thin cell monolayer that forms the posterior boundary of the cornea and maintains corneal clarity [
It is known that the IOP is an important measure of the balance between aqueous humor production and drainage. The disturbance of aqueous humor circulation is observed when the biomaterial implants are placed in the ocular anterior chamber [
Naturally occurring polymeric materials, including collagen [
In conclusion, using the anterior chamber of a rabbit eye model, we found that the intracameral tissue response to the chemically modified chitosan materials strongly depended on the selection of cross-linker. While satisfactory
This work was supported by grant NSC100-2628-E-182-004-MY3 from the National Science Council of Republic of China and grant CMRPD190431 from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. The author is grateful to Ya-Ting Li and Tsu-Pin Wang (Institute of Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University) for technical assistance.
Representative slit-lamp biomicroscopic images of rabbit eyes 24 weeks after surgical insertion of various chitosan implants in the ocular anterior chamber. (
Slit-lamp examination scores of rabbit eyes 24 weeks after surgical insertion of various chitosan implants in the ocular anterior chamber. The dash line represents the preoperative score. An asterisk indicates statistically significant differences (
Typical specular microscopic images of rabbit corneal endothelium 24 weeks after surgical insertion of various chitosan implants in the ocular anterior chamber. (
Specular microscopy measurements of corneal endothelial cell density 24 weeks after surgical insertion of various chitosan implants in the ocular anterior chamber. The dash line represents the preoperative cell density. An asterisk indicates statistically significant differences (
Measurements of intraocular pressure 24 weeks after surgical insertion of various chitosan implants in the ocular anterior chamber. The dash line represents the preoperative intraocular pressure. An asterisk indicates statistically significant differences (
Measurements of central corneal thickness 24 weeks after surgical insertion of various chitosan implants in the ocular anterior chamber. The dash line represents the preoperative corneal thickness. An asterisk indicates statistically significant differences (
Gene expression levels of interleukin-6 in rabbit corneal endothelium exposed to various chitosan implants for 24 weeks by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Normalization is done by using glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Data in the experimental groups are percentages relative to that of Ctrl (sham-operated) groups. An asterisk indicates statistically significant differences (
Tissue procurement for
Ocular grading system used for biomicroscopic examinations.
|Ocular score
|Aqueous flare
|Anterior chamber fibrin
|Corneal cloudiness severity
|Corneal neovascularization
|Iris neovascularization
|Lens opacity
Not applicable, because the biological responses are too severe to be observed.
Sequences of primers used in gene expression analyses.
|Forward (5′-3′)
|Reverse (5′-3′)
IL-6: interleukin-6; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.


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Virginia General Assembly
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Document Summary
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Document Title
The Effects of Motor Vehicle Window Tinting on Traffic Safety and Enforcement
Department of Motor Vehicles; Department of State Police
Enabling Authority
SJR 293 (Regular Session, 1993)
Executive Summary
All across the United States, the issue of whether motor vehicle window tinting should be allowed and how much tinting should be allowed has been the source of fractious debate in state legislatures. Federal regulations govern all matters concerning motor vehicle window glass for new vehicles. Except for motor vehicle glass that is installed behind the driver in trucks, buses, and multi-purpose vehicles, the glass on all motor vehicles must allow for at least 70% of the light to pass through. However, there are no federal standards that apply to aftermarket applied window tint films.
There is a demand for tinted window films. The window film industry argues that window tinting creates lower interior vehicle temperatures, minimizes sun-related damage to upholstery and dashboards, provides protection for persons harmed by, or sensitive to, sunlight, and adds some measure of privacy to the vehicle. Also, tinting may enhance the aesthetic appeal of a vehicle, especially when color coordinated with the vehicle's exterior paint.
The enforcement and traffic safety communities, on the other hand, take strong exception to the use of what they might consider excessively dark window films. There is the belief that window tinting may increase the incidence of traffic crashes. Also, dark window films are considered to be a threat to the safety of police officers. There is a desire to afford police officers the opportunity to see contraband or what might be the threatening actions of a person who may be obscured by darkly tinted glass.
In the 1993 Session of the General Assembly, measures designed to change Virginia's laws relating to the application of aftermarket tinted window films to motor vehicle glass were debated. House Bill 1990 (HB 1990), which lessened Virginia's restrictions on tinted glass for vehicles, was passed. As a result, effective July 1, 1993, vehicles are allowed to have window tinting treatments that do not reduce the transmittance of light below 35% for rear and rear side windows and 50% for front side windows. However, no aftermarket tinting may be applied to windshields. House Bill 1436 (HB 1436) also was passed; it allowed individuals with a medical waiver to apply tinted window film on the windshield to reduce total light transmittance to as low as 70% and on other windows to as low as 35% in the vehicles in which they generally travel.
The concerns of industry and the traffic safety community were balanced by the adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 293 (SJR 293). This resolution directed the Virginia Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and State Police(VSP) to "examine Virginia's laws relating to tinted motor vehicle glass and related subjects and the enforcement of these laws and make such legislative and other recommendations as may be appropriate."
The study found that there is no pattern that characterizes the various state laws on window tinting. Virginia's current laws on window tinting are more restrictive than those of 27 states and less restrictive than those of 8 others, with the remaining 14 states having greater restrictions on some windows and less on others. However, the 1993 changes to Virginia's window tinting laws have facilitated enforcement by authorizing the Division of Purchases and Supply to establish standards for equipment to measure light transmittance, which has resulted in permitting the use of a meter to test light transmittance for evidentiary purposes. A survey of 10 state motor vehicle inspection stations revealed that over 80% of the surveyed vehicles that had aftermarket window tinting were in violation of Virginia's new law. The average level of light transmittance on tinted front side windows was 33% and that for rear side windows was 27%.
The study also found that window tinting reduces the ability to detect targets that would be difficult to see through clear glass, and this can be a liability when ambient lighting is low. In addition, the adverse effects of window tinting become increasingly pronounced as transmittance goes below 70%, particularly for people who wear spectacles and for older drivers. There is no evidence, however, that reduced visibility significantly affects drivers' performance during well-illuminated daytime hours. The difficulties are more likely to be manifested at night.
By reducing the amount of light transmittance, window tinting reduces the ability of an outside observer to see into a vehicle, which has led to the concerns about the safety of police officers. However, window tinting also diminishes the ability to see into a tinted vehicle in part by increasing reflectance. Reflected light masks the transmitted light in proportion to the ratio of reflected to transmitted light. Thus, window tinting reduces the amount of light emanating from the interior of a vehicle while increasing the proportion of light reflected off of its surface from the outside. Unfortunately, because the disruptive effects of reflections are situationally specific, it is not possible to determine whether Virginia's new laws compromise the safety of police officers.
On the other hand, window tinting can reduce discomfort glare, which is the unpleasant feeling that accompanies exposure to a source of glare. Further, window tinting films do not reduce contrast. Since window tinting films reduce transmittance proportionately, the target/background contrast is constant across all transmittance levels. Also, window tinting has been shown to reduce vehicle interior temperatures.
Although there are only limited optical benefits to be derived from window tinting and there are a number of potential optical detriments, there is no empirical evidence to indicate that the tinting allowed under Virginia's current laws creates a safety hazard in terms of driver performance. Thus, it is recommended that Virginia's new laws on window tinting not be changed unless compelling evidence that the standards compromise safety is found in the future. However, further research is recommended on the effect of window tinting on facial communication, the performance of drivers, and the safety of police officers.
It is also recommended that federal regulations and/or action by the states to achieve national uniformity be encouraged in order to promote uniformity in laws and regulations concerning aftermarket window tinting. Such action would remove the burden of changing applications of window tinting by military personnel and other individuals who relocate from one state to another.
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I want a slight slope and upturned tip. Will a closed Rhinoplasty achieve my goals?
Doctor Answers 13
I want a slight slope and upturned tip. Will a closed Rhinoplasty achieve my goals?
Kenneth Hughes, MD
Los Angeles, CA
Learn more: http://www.hughesplasticsurgery.com/Rhinoplasty.php
Not about the approach
Learn more: http://www.bostonrhinoplastycenter.com/
Open vs closed rhinoplasty
I do not feel that the open approach is any more likely to lead to complications as you describe, and in nearly all cases, the tiny scar that is on the outside is hardly visable.
You might also like...
Closed rhinoplasty
- With the open approach, we have more access to the tip and achieving symmetry
- You can have uneven nostrils and a hanging columella from either approach
- The incision, when closed carefully, should not leave much of a scar
- See a rhinoplasty specialist to discuss your goals and you can decide the approach afterwards, there are pros and cons to both ways
Nima Shemirani
Closed rhinoplasty for hanging columella and nasal hump
Learn more: http://www.seattlefacial.com/photogallery/rhinoplasty_photos24.html
Closed rhinoplasty for the droopy tip, hanging columella, etc.
Open vs closed
Dr Corbin
Learn more: http://www.noseexpert.com
What approach would be best to correct my nose?
- I believe your nose could be approached through a closed or open technique depending on what you are trying to achieve with a rhinoplasty. Either approach can give you an excellent result. It is important however that you choose your plastic surgeon wisely. I would not exclude anyone on the basis of their recommended approach. It is important that you see patients photographs who had similar problems to yours and what results were achieved. It is important to be covered with your plastic surgeon and sometimes second opinions are advisable. Best wishes!
Learn more: http://www.stevenwallachmd.com/procedures/rhinoplasty-new-york/
Closed or open rhinoplasty?
Following the advice from a surgeon on this or any other website who proposes to tell you exactly what to do based on limited 2 dimensional photos without examining you, physically feeling the tissue, assessing your desired outcome, taking a full medical history, and discussing the pros and cons of the operative procedure would not be in your best interest. I would suggest you find a plastic surgeon with extensive nasal surgery experience who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) or a facial plastic surgeon (otolaryngologist) that you trust and are comfortable with. You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person.
Robert Singer, MD FACS
La Jolla, California
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.


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Our trip to the Viva Wyndham Fortua Beach was a week of abosulty beautiful weather and a fabulous beach. The service was good and the staff friendly. Most importantly the beds were comfortable. The food was pleantiful but got a little boring by weeks end. The pizza grill had great after hours pizza. We went in the off season so it wasn't crowded at all. We met many new friends and all in all had a wonderful time. The time share speal was a little tiresome but not too overbearing if you can say no.
This resort is in desperate need of an overhaul. The sand was riddled with ketchup and mustard packets. The refrigerator in the room did not work and all of the resort was open air except specialty restaurants. The best thing about the resort was the brick oven pizza!
The resort was great, the shows, the food and drink, I would definitely recommend this resort to a friend.Lots of things to do.
My husband, 16 yr old son and I had a fantastic vacation at this resort. There were people from all over the world there, so it felt very foreign and fun! The resort did lack some amenities and we had a few problems, but on the whole, it was a great experience. We're not fussy people, so the little hiccups didn't bother us. The beach is wonderful-sand like powdered sugar and not hot like the sand back home. The views of the beach and the color of the water were what I came for! The snorkeling right off of the beach was unbelievable-we swam with a parrot fish that was 2 feet long and took some great pictures of him (and his buddies) to take home! There was a huge variety of fish to see. We also took the snorkeling trip to the "fish farm" which was definitely worth the money as well. We bicycled into town one day which was really hard work; we should have gone someplace closer! The best part of our trip was all 3 of us doing things together like playing ping pong, bocce ball and pool. Our son played soccer, did archery and found lots to do since there were scheduled activities appealing to all ages. The nightly shows were fun and better than we expected and the day "crew" had lots of talent when they performed at night. More seating is needed for the shows and the lack of air conditioning in the buildings may be hard on some folks. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We had reservations at both restaurants and both were good, but not upscale. We always found something to eat in the buffet line and never went hungry although it got slightly repetitious at times. The grill specials were the best part of the dining buffet. We all had a great time and we've already recommended this to our friends. We would definitely return! Can't wait to snorkel there again!
A girlfriend and I went to the Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach in Freeport, Bahamas for a girls getaway and it was FANTASTIC!!!! The staff was nice, the food was good and the drinks were good too...The beach was clean and beautiful and the staff was more than friendly and helpful. The activities at night (shows, disco) were fun and entertaining. This all-inclusive resort was truly a wonderful place to stay. The rooms were basic, but clean. Everything you needed was on the grounds, so there was no real need to leave the resort. All in all, it was a wonderful time and fantastic vacation spot. I will be returning and bringing more friends.
This trip was a great value. Perfect for a shorter getaway without too much hassle or frills.
We stayed at the Viva Wyndham Fortuna in the bahama's. The staff was very helpful. The resort was child friendly and the all inclusive was good.
We had a great time! Definitely take time to do one of the tours they offer and also go to the Wednesday Fish fry! The snorkeling was best right off the beach- amazing! Enjoy! Beach was great with great chairs and towels! Pool wasn't anything to talk about though.
My girlfriend and I found this package through CheapCarribean.com. We thought for the money we would try it. Our husbands were not happy that we were going without them so we tried to keep costs down. We were so pleasantly surprised! The resort was great - food, rooms, service, etc. The beach was perfect and just what we needed for a weekend away. We could not believe how little we spent for the quality of the resort. We plan to take our husbands next year!
I arrive with my Teenage boys to a wonderful experience, the food was great! We had an ocean front room and the view was awesome, the room was very clean and nice! We loved just sitting on the beach watching the world go by. The staff were very friendly and made us feel right at home. I would recommend this resort to anyone. We had a great time.


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Why was Jed allowed to die?
Page Tools
He was Case A/9/99 and required "further consideration". The reference and the rubric obscure the death of a child who should still be alive.
Jed Britton was just a few months shy of his third birthday on July 15, 1999, when he died of head injuries inflicted by his carer, Gary Kesic, the de facto husband of his mother, Leanne Britton.
In May 1999, the Department of Human Services allowed Jed and his two step-sisters to be placed in Kesic's care. This was as requested by Ms Britton, a serious drug user who was facing another term in jail, and despite concerns raised to DHS child protection workers by the children's grandmother, Elizabeth Johnstone. Two months later, Jed died in the Royal Children's Hospital.
The autopsy found brain damage, bruises and other injuries. Thus Jed became Case A/9/99 - a bleak statistic in the DHS Victorian Child Death Review Committee's annual reports of inquiry 2000 and 2001. Cause of death: "non-accidental trauma" - for which, read child abuse.
As The Sunday Age reports today, Jed Britton's short life was marked by cruelty, tragedy and violence, with a reverberant aftermath: Leanne Britton is dead of drug-related causes; Gary Kesic is serving a 10-year sentence for manslaughter.
Three weeks ago the publication of the investigation by the coroner, Phillip Byrne, found "deficiencies" in DHS's management of Jed to be "significant, in some aspects incomprehensible"; Mr Byrne concluded that although the death could not have been foreseen, and that DHS or child protection workers had not caused it, " . . . it cannot be denied that the mere fact that Jed was in the care of Mr Kesic is a contributing factor, in a causal sense, to Jed's death".
How could this happen? How could the DHS take the word of a "dysfunctional", "chaotic" mother (the coroner's words) against that of Ms Johnstone, "a tried and proven provider of security and care" who was not even invited to the case-plan meeting, and leave Jed with the largely "unknown quantity" of Kesic? What sort of checks-and-balance system allowed so easily, so swiftly, for an approved child protector to become a child killer without adequate supervision?
Today, two researchers into child homicide call for more timely independent inquiries, with greater public accessibility. But other matters - why so many child murder charges are reduced to manslaughter; the lack of national child-protection legislation; the need for children's commissioners; more detailed departmental analysis and research - remain to be tackled. Yes, the DHS has introduced reforms. They will not bring Jed Britton back.


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The Grand Reopening of Tops
Read the Reviews..
Tops American Grill, Bakery & Bar
"Living Up to Its Name"
By B.A. Nilsson
The Review is in on the New Tops
351 Duanesburg Road (Route 7), Schenectady,
Mon-Thu 6 AM-midnight, • Fri-Sat 6 AM-1 AM, • Sun 6 AM-11 PM.
Robust American
Pricing:Entrée price range: $9 (meatloaf)
to $20 (18-ounce prime rib)
Tropically cheerful
By B.A. Nilsson
My first-ever Capital Region rest aurant visit was to Tops, back in 1980, when it was still a square box of a diner. But I was still a relative latecomer—this place has been going for 70 years, since it opened as the Sodium Diner in honor of its newfangled lights. Back then it was a traditional railroad car; 30 years later it was replaced with the building I visited.
Plans to rebuild again first were hatched in the early 1980s, but it wasn't until last year that a new, twice-as-large structure went up. To emphasize a more streamlined menu, the restaurant's name changed, too, losing the word "diner." But it still offers a diner-style welcome, all-day breakfast and a short list of favorites from the former menu—comfort foods like meatloaf, chicken pot pie, roast turkey with stuffing, and fried chicken, all priced from $9 to $12 and including a soup or salad and the usual sides.
"We kept that part of the menu for our regulars," said manager Tiffany, who has been with the restaurant for four years, "and we'll try to make anything a customer wants. If someone asks for something we used to have and we can't make it, we'll take a phone number and give that person a call when we can."
The whimsical typeface with which the word TOPS is rendered is echoed, in spirit, in the restaurant's new decor. Palm trees are prominent and raise the bar of outrageousness, echoed in UFO-like lighting fixtures and the beach-cheerful pastels of the banquette backs. It combines into a fun, welcoming look.
You'll be distracted, no doubt, by the dessert and pastry cases perched by the welcome station, which also doubles as an ice-cream bar. Carrot cake, apple pie, cheesecake, baklava, strawberry torte, éclairs, and more grin calorically back at you; outsized cookies, Danish, muffins, biscotti and other pastries await nearby. It's all made on the premises; it all looks fantastic.
We swept past it, to a table in the heart of the place, escorted by a cheerful hostess who made sure we were comfortable before leaving us with menus. These remain diner-sized, with individual pages given to appetizers, steaks and seafood, chicken and pasta, the aforementioned comfort food, soup and salad, burgers and pizza, deli sandwiches and wine and beer (the restaurant also boasts a full bar).
There's also an extensive daily specials list that veers toward the more (for this kind of place) exotic, such as wild mushroom risotto with chicken and sausage ($15), a bacon-asparagus pizza ($8) or even just grilled asparagus spears ($3.50).
You can start with a—hold on a sec; there goes my wife, ready to give her complete order to the server even as I agonize over what to drink. Can we just get some beverages first? Thank you. You can start with a $12 appetizer tasting platter that offers a selection of wings, potato skins, mozzarella sticks, jerk pot stickers and a bunch of dipping sauces, or you can order them individually ($6 to $8 apiece).
We opted for a single order of the pot stickers, unusual for this kind of menu, which turned out to be a delightful mix of mildly spicy chicken, onions and peppers in dumpling-like wrappers, served with a dark, tangy dipping sauce.
From the specials list I chose antipasto, always a great concept, often a disappointment when it turns out to be a pile of iceberg with deli meat thrown on top. This one, however, won me over with its Tuscan bean- tapenade-stuffed salami and grilled vegetable rollatini (a compote of slivers of peppers and squash wrapped in a grilled eggplant slice), on top of a good bed of mixed greens and supported by olives, marinated mushrooms, sharp provolone wedges and such.
Entrée orders typically include soup or salad. Soups of the day were a salty beef barley, tasting too much like a commercial brew for any distinction, and a much better chicken and pasta mix. The salad, as the antipasto suggests, sports fresh greens and a good mixture of veggies with a ramekin of dressing (all the popular choices are here) on the side.
How do they do with steaks? Quite well, as it happens. Although the 12-ounce NY strip steak was cut on the skinny side, it was grilled to the required doneness, suitably tender, and nicely mated with an onion-rich demi-glace ($17). Risotto is one of the available sides, and it was creamy and rich.
Not surprisingly, my wife ordered a chicken dish, in this case Mediterranean chicken ($13) in which the meat is served with capers and tomatoes, seasoned with garlic and lemon, dressed with thyme and parsley, and presented alongside red bliss potatoes. A good balance of seasonings and garnish made this more flavorful than is too often the case.
Mix some eggplant, feta cheese and roasted tomatoes and you have the potential for a good meal. Tops' pork chops à la Mykonos adds the above to a generous-sized pair of chops ($15), and the extra flavors—especially the feta and tomatoes—gave the meat a desirable sweetness and fullness.
It is to the credit of owner Andreas Christou and his son Evan, the general manager, that not only is the food reliably good but also the staff is attentive and the morale is high. There's nothing like an extreme makeover to bring new life to a restaurant, and this one obviously is enjoying its rebirth.


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The Court of Appeal (CoA) has thrown out a bid by technology giant Apple to reverse a High Court order that forced it to alert consumers that its rival, Samsung, did not copy the iPad.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner Justin Watts had brought in heavyweights Tony Grabiner QC of One Essex Court and Michael Silverleaf QC of 11 South Square to lead the appeal for Apple.
Samsung also brought in a silk to respond to the appeal, with 11 South Square's Henry Carr QC instructed by Simmons partner David Stone.
The battle between the two technology giants has been high profile, helped in part by a ruling given in July by Judge Birrs QC that fiound that Samsung's Galaxy tablets do not look "cool" enough to be mistaken for Apple's iPad (10 July 2012).
That judgment laid the basis for the publicity order given later the same month in which Apple was ordered to make the ruling known to consumers (24 July 2012).
The CoA decision handed down today (18 October) states: "Apple was immensely concerned about this order. Quite apart from the public grovel which it would involve, it had the further concern that this notice on its homepage would substantially interfere with the design and layout of its important marketing tool, its homepage.
"So Apple immediately applied to this court for the order to be suspended pending this appeal."
Sir Robin Jacob, who gave the lead ruling, found that the publicity surrounding HHJ Birss's "not as cool" statement has caused confusion as to the facts of the case, given that Apple was running concurrent legal battles in Germany that had generated reports that it had secured a Europe-wide injunction against Samsung.
The judge said: "What was the ordinary consumer, or the marketing department of a potential Samsung customer, to make of it? On the one hand the media said Samsung had won, on the other the media were saying that Apple had a German Europe-wide injunction."
He continued: "Apple itself must [having created the confusion] make the position clear: that it acknowledges that the court has decided that these Samsung products do not infringe its registered design. The acknowledgement must come from the horse's mouth. Nothing short of that will be sure to do the job completely."
The legal line up:
For the appellant Apple: One Essex Court's Tony Grabiner QC and 11 South Square's Michael Silverleaf QC to lead Richard Hacon of 11 South Square, instructed by Freshfields partner Justin Watts.
For the respondent Samsung: 11 South Square's Henry Carr QC to lead 11 South Square's Anna Edwards-Stuart, instructed by Simmons & Simmons partner David Stone.